I figured I’d start with something easy: your know-it-all beauty expert friend (e.g. ME). I love the fact that Too Faced took it upon themselves to create a kit with products deemed “amazing” by beauty experts…hence, the Too Faced Beauty Editor Darlings kit. This is honestly one of my favorite gifts to give since every product is beauty editor-approved/Jamie-approved and, get this, it’s only $19. Sure the products are small but once your friend tries them out, she’ll definitely become a repeat customer. I’m especially into the Primed & Poreless primer and the Lash Orgasm mascara, FYI.
1. Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water: I know what you’re thinking…spa water? Really? But it’s just soooo good. The Cleansing Spa Water is actually Koh Gen Do’s bestselling skincare product and is easy and gentle to use for all skin types. Made with mineral-rich hot spring water, it’s basically infused with six essential herbs to protect and nurture skin. White birch sap, harvested only three weeks each spring, adds minerals and Xylitol as it removes makeup, oils, and residue. The formula includes the extracts of essential herbs including: rosemary leaf, sage leaf, lavender, artemsia princeps leaf, perilla ocymoides, and ginger root…so yeah, it’s not actually JUST spa water.
2. Jouer Liquid Shimmer Eyeliner: Aside from the awesome animal-themed color names (Panter, Lynx, Fox, Leopard, Mink and Sable), this liquid liner is just ridiculously good…and more importantly, easy to use. The subtle shimmer in each shade offers extreme wearability while the water-base formula allows for a little extra dry-down time; it’s also rich in vitamins A and E…bonus.
3. Boscia Konjac Cleansing Sponge: This sponge is serious business. The Japanese have traditionally used konjac root as a dietary staple that helps to detoxify and calm the skin so it makes total sense that it now comes in sponge form. Konjac Root is naturally alkaline, and balances the acidity of the skin’s impurities and oils while being naturally enriched with protein, carbohydrate, iron, phosphorus, copper, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin D, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, and folic acid. Interesting fact: Konjac was originally introduced to Japan as a medicine in the sixth century, and continues to lend its incredible benefits to health foods as well as skincare. Today, it is grown wild and in farms at very high altitudes, which help to keep the sponge extremely pure and free of pollutants.
4. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara: First of all, I LOVE that this mascara is inspired by the curves of a woman’s body; the hourglass-shaped brush was designed with extra stiff bristles to maximize the performance of this carbon black, collagen-fueled formula. All it takes is one coat and your lashes are full and defined…this is definitely a mascara winner in my book.
5. Olie Biologique Rejuvenating Oil: I love a good face oil, let me tell you. This product boasts a blend of eight organic plant botanicals and floral extracts that provide all-natural skin quenching properties with lightweight, healing potency. Anti-oxidants, fatty acids and naturally occurring retinoic acid preserve elasticity, plump lines and improve firmness. Oh, and it’s non-greasy for anyone worried about that.
I’ve expressed my obsession with pretty beauty product packaging before, so it should come as no surprise that I decided to round up the top 10 prettiest beauty products, according to moi. What are your favorite beauty products for packaging?