Last minute beauty gift ideas

Article by BR Tabatha

We don't want to panic anyone but there are less than two weeks to the big day.  And only one more weekend.

Ok, so now we've undoubtedly paniced a few of you, breathe easy - the Beauty Crew have scoured the stores in the line of duty and come up with the ultimate last minute Christmas Gift Guide. 

Technology

Please the techno in your life with a gadget that amplifies the results of both professional treatments and daily skincare regimens.  The must-have cleansing brush has to be the Clarisonic Mia 2 Sonic Skin Cleansing Brush ($225), which boasts some impressive benefts:

- Cleanses 6x better than hands alone.
- 61% great absorption of anti-aging treatments after use
- 2x daily use is proven to be safe and gentle

Of course, there are cleansing brushes to suit all budgets, with the Olay Regenerist Advanced Cleansing System has an average 4.5 / 5 rating on BR and comes in at $35!

Hair Care

Hair Care is surprisingly easy to get right for someone else - if you know your mum, sister, bestie, whoever well, let's be honest you'll have spoken about hair on more than one occasion!  So check out the salons for some great gift sets and say "I care" with hair care.

Redken offers a wide selection of Christmas Packs catering to all haircare needs. All packs also include a hear protection mat - how cool is that?

For $58 you can pick up the Redken Color Extend Magnetics Christmas Pack, the All Soft Christmas Pack or the Body Full Christmas Pack; all of which contain full sized shampoos and conditioners.

The Redken Blonde Idol Christmas Pack ($63) is perfect for the blonde in your life; the pack includes Blonde Idol Shampoo and the star product Blonde Idol Custom-Tone Conditioner with an adjustable dual chamber which releases a tailored blend of color-depositing and conditioning formula. 

Other fantastic giftsets available this year include the L’Oréal Professionnel Christmas 2014 Packs at $58.  The range includes: Nourish Dry & Damaged Hair, Deep Nourishment & Intense Shine, Brighten & Replenish Blonde Hair, Protect Colour & Enhance Shine and Volumise & Bodify Fine Hair.

And if you buy any three L'Oreal Professionnel products from authorised stockists you'll receive a free Trelise Cooper Home Fragrance Gift Set!

Skin Care

Combine Christmas with fabulous skin care with festive themed goodies.  

The Kiehl’s x Craig & Karl Limited Edition Holiday Collection is the gift that keeps on giving, with $20 from each product sold going to NZ charity Garden to Table.  The standout product for us is the Creme de Corps ($59.00), Kiehl's most moisturising moisturiser! Available in Auckland from Britomart and Smith & Caughey’s, Wellington Kirkcaldie & Stains and Christchurch Ballantynes. These stores are able to take phone orders and shipping is free if two or more products are purchased.

Nobody does Christmas quite like Lush, from novelty bath bombs to shower gels, the Christmas range is made even more festive because it's all handmade. We love the bubble bar Holly Go Lightly, a bargain at $11.90 and the Dashing Santa bath bomb - the perfect stocking filler at $6.50.

We're loving the L'Oreal Skin Perfection range and for just under $35 you can grab two of the best selling products in a cute pink vanity bag.  The Skin Perfection Concentrated Correcting Serum and Skin Perfection Correcting Day Moisturiser  will help transform the appearance of skin quality, tone and texture while adding 24hr hydration for the warmer months ahead.

Cosmetics

Pucker up for that mistletoe moment with the Lush's Santa lip range, including Santa's Lip Scrub ($11.90) and Santa Baby Lip Tint ($11.90).  Perfect stocking fillers for your bestie!

Encourage good sun safety and give one of the most practical beauty products this Christmas! The Garnier Ambre Solaire new BB Cream Sun Protection SPF50 ($17.49) has been created specifically to meet the need for high SPF protection for the face and neck with all the benefits of a beautifying BB Cream. And you know we're big on SPF right?

One of the biggest successes in cosmetics this year has to be the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel. Give the gift of a salon manicure for the bargain price of $20.  Miracle Gel delivers the high shine, glossy look of a salon-quality manicure, with the colour and shine lasting up to 2 weeks. With a vast colour range there's something for everyone!

Men Folk

And let's not forget about the fellas in our life.  How about some Matrix Design Pulse Messy Couture Moulding Paste for $21?  This moulding paste is perfect fr short, choppy cuts. Giving firm, yet flexible delivering medium control for a tousled, chunky texture. 

For the party animal in your life, how about L’Oréal Paris Men Expert Hydra Energetic Ice Cool Eye Roll-On for $16.99.  Enriched with Vitamin C it'll recharge your man's skin with energy and reduce the appearance of dark circles and bags.

So there's our last minute gift ideas - how is your Christmas shopping going?  Did we help you out?  Get chatting below!