2012 Stocking Stuffers: Festive Gifts Sets For the Face, Body, Nails & Hair

Holiday Tutorial: How to Make a Handmade Stocking

I grew up in Southern California, so our home didn't have a fireplace. There was simply no need for one. However, this meant that Santa Claus needed another point of entry to unload his haul of gift goodies. 

My parents solved the problem by leaving the front door unlocked (not such a scandalous idea back then). They also placed a big red handmade stocking with "Santa" imprinted on the cuff on the tree. It was stuffed with lots of candies and cookies as a special treat for St. Nick's annual global trek.

As an adult, I continue the tradition of hanging holiday stockings. In addition to making one for Santa, I also create one for each member of the family (click on the video tutorial above to see how to do it for your own loved ones). However, the Christmas confections have now been replaced with other sweet treats--beauty products for the hair, body, nails and skin. 

Check out the following must-have gift sets for the special people in your life. You don't need an oversized red suit or a big white beard to enjoy them!  

SHINE: 100% Pure Super Fruits Skin Care Gift Set For Age Correction. BEAUTY: Super Fruits Scrub + Mask, Serum, Reparative Cream, Night Balm and Eye Balm provide powerful antioxidants to reduce signs of aging. BEACON: Vegan, and gluten and cruelty free. Also contains no detergents, synthetic chemicals, or artificial fragrances or colorants.

SHINE: Elizabeth Grant Winter Dreams Shower Gel and Christmas Morning Shower Gel Duo. BEAUTY: Moisturize and cleanse the skin with these maple- and ginger-scented delicious delights. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports the World Society for the Protection of Animals.

SHINE: Kitoko Hydro-Revive Gift Set For Dull, Dry & Coarse Hair. BEAUTY: Nourish and moisturize the skin and hair with Hydro-Revive Cleanser, Hydro-Revive Balm and Body Cream. BEACON: Contains no sodium laureth sulfate or sodium lauryl sulfate. 

SHINE: Malie Organics Coconut Vanilla Perfume Oil. BEAUTY: This calming scent promotes aromatherapy for the skin. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of petroleum, sulfates and parabens.

SHINE: Moonessence Glowing Holiday Skin Kit. BEAUTY: Restore a youthful looking appearance in three easy steps with Exfoliating Cleanser Refining Scrub, Pumpkin Peel Dermal Resurfacer and Hydrating Serum. BEACON: Vegan and gluten free. Supports The Carousel Fund. 

SHINE: MOR Cosmetics Triple Treasures Hand Cream Gift Pack. BEAUTY: Treat your senses to a scented trio of Blood Orange, Snow Gardenia and Lychee Flower for on-the-go hydration. BEACON: Supports TLC For Kids.

SHINE: Number 4 All That Glitters Le Golden Sac. BEAUTY: Replenish the splendor of shiny hair with Hydrating Shampoo, Hydrating Conditioner, Hydrating Body Lotion and Fluoro5 Elixer Restore & Repair Oil. BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Contains no sulfates, gluten or parabens.

SHINE: Naturopathica Sicilian Bergamot Body Care Gift Set. BEAUTY: Soothe and smooth the skin with Sicilian Bergamot Shower Gel and Sicilian Bergamot Body Lotion. BEACON: Free of detergents, PEGs, DEA, TEA, parabens, glycols and urea. Supports the American Botanical Council, Natural Resources Defense Council and The Nature Conservancy.

SHINE: Pevonia Dare to Defy Lumafirm Body Firm & Glow Gift Set. BEAUTY: Resurface and revitalize the skin with Lumafirm Body Moisturizer, Black Sequined Cosmetic Bag, Loofah Terry Pad and Gift Box with Silver Ribbon (not shown). BEACON: No animal testing. Supports the Beauty Bus Foundation.

SHINE: Priti NYC Hollywood Vixen Kit. BEAUTY: Sparkle, shimmer and shine with lovely lacquers--Black Moon Pansies, Mulberry Jam, Brussels Lace and Tuscany Superb--packaged in an eco-friendly brown purse. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, toluene and camphor. 

SHINE: Ren Clean Skincare Mini Rose Set. BEAUTY: Bath time will never be the same with nourishing and cleansing Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil, Body Cream and Body Wash. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of synthetic colorants and fragrances, petrochemicals, sulfate detergents and parabens.

SHINE: Sanítas Skincare Holiday Men's Gift Set. BEAUTY: Ramp up the shaving routine for the special man in your life with Energizing Face & Body Wash, Essential Saving Cream and Restorative After Shave Serum. BEACON: Supports the Cinderella Foundation. 

SHINE: VMV Hypoallergenics Mistle Glow Mascara & Lipstick Set. BEAUTY: Ooh-La-Lash! Volumizing Mascara and Glitz Lipstick in Drama Queen (deep pink) help achieve luscious lips and longer lashes. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of fragrances, phthalates, dyes and parabens. Supports The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Holiday Season Makeup Looks: Color Block Inspired Cheeks, Eyes & Lips

Not sure when it happened, but color took an unexpected style sabbatical a few years ago. Perhaps the gloom and doom of the recession served as the inspiration, as muted went mainstream in all aspects of our lives--fashion, nails and cosmetics. In fact, the smoky eye/nude lip craze underscored the trend.   

Thank goodness for Gucci and other iconic designers. They created a style sensation when they began combining hot hues that complement each other, such as orange, purple and emerald green. It didn't take long before fashionistas hailed the trend, and bold colors returned to the style scene in a big way.

During holiday party season, it's a bright time and the right time to rock the night away with color block inspired cosmetics. They're designed to help you jingle around the clock while mixing and a-mingling. Check out our latest, greatest finds. 

SHINE: 100% Pure by Purity Cosmetics Fruit Pigmented Blush in Peppermint Candy (shimmery pink), Fruit Pigmented Satin Eye Shadows in Maui (shimmery golden plum) and Star (shimmery gold), Fruit Pigmented Pot Rouge in Posey (coral) and Fruit Pigmented Satin Eye Shadow in Halo (shimmery pearl). BEAUTY: All is calm and all is bright with this colorful collection, which gets its intensity from fruit and vegetable pigments. BEACON: Vegan, and gluten and cruelty free.

SHINE: Elizabeth Grant Eyeshadow Palette in Shades of Romance and Light Up Your Lips in Shimmering Red. BEAUTY: Get in the holiday spirit as a dancer, prancer and vixen in these stunning shades. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports Hollyrod Foundation, Fashion Cares and Look Good...Feel Better.

SHINE: Jesse's Girl Cosmetics 9 Pan Eye Shadow Compact in The Eyes Have It. BEAUTY: This palette of similar colors has fun, flirty and festive written all over it. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Luna Star Fancy Fairy Dust Blush (top), Bubble Gum Shimmer Lip Balm, Very Violet Eye Shadow and Midnight Blue Eye Shadow. BEAUTY: Your young daughters will feel like they're walking through a winter wonderful with these mom-approved, kid-safe mineral powders designed specifically for pre-teens who like to play dress up. BEACON: Free of synthetic dyes, parabens and artificial colors.

SHINE: Mineral Fusion Blush in Flashy (top), Lip Gloss in Captivate and Eye Shadow Trio in Imagine. BEAUTY: You'll be dancing through the snow and laughing all the way with these sparkling shades. BEACON: Free of gluten, parabens, SLS, phthalates, artificial colors and synthetic fragrances. Supports the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

SHINE: Purely Pro Cosmetics Five Well Eyeshadow Pallet in Precious Metals, Lipstick in Glamour Puss and Blusher in Curvy. BEAUTY: Make memories underneath the mistletoe with this medley of merriment. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports Dress for Success.

SHINE: Sormé Treatment Cosmetics Lip Thick Gloss in Empress, Perfect Performance Lip Color in Glamour Red and Long Lasting Blush in Pomegranate. BEAUTY: 'Tis the season to sparkle with these captivating colors. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports the Noreen Fraser Foundation and Look Good...Feel Better.

SHINE: VMV Hypoallergenics Glitz Lipstick in It Girl (top), Two True Hues Eyeshadow Duo in Bardot (Princess and Misty) and Velvet Matte Lipstick in Bikini Machine. BEAUTY: Your days will be merry and bright with these hot holiday hues. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of fragrances, phthalates, dyes and parabens. Supports The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 

Tropical Fruit Skin Care

Mangoes, papayas and pineapples--oh my!

Tropical fruit seduces the senses. It tastes and smells luscious, and the eye candy colors almost always lift the spirits.

Best of all, citrus provides lots of health benefits. Antioxidants, minerals and vitamins serve as powerful immune system boosters. Plus, when used in skin care, natural fruit enzymes help remove dead skin cells, prevent premature aging and restore a youthful complexion.

November marks National Healthy Skin Month. As we celebrate the bounty of the fall harvest, take a moment to nourish your skin with healing tropical fruit extracts.

SHINE: 100% Pure Pineapple Juice Facial Scrub utilizes pineapple and papaya enzymes, and vitamins C and E to exfoliate skin and provide antiaging benefits. BEAUTY: Blackberry, blueberry and strawberry extracts also help brighten dull looking skin. BEACON: Vegan, and gluten and cruelty free. Also contains no synthetic chemicals or artificial fragrances.

SHINE: Alba Botanica Pineapple Enzyme Facial Cleanser washes away impurities with pineapple, papaya and awapuhi enzymes. BEAUTY: Aloe and jojoba butter beads hydrate skin to give it a glowing complexion. BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Also contains no sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens or phthalates.

SHINE: Burt's Bees Mango & Orange Sugar Scrub exfoliates dead skin cells with sugar crystals and orange peel powder. BEAUTY: Mango seed and coconut oils soften skin to help it look radiant. BEACON: No animal testing, and contains no sulfates, parabens, phthalates or petrochemicals. Also supports The Greater Good Foundation.

SHINE: Dermelect Cosmeceuticals Thermaj Self-Heating Total Body Polish reduces inflammation and removes dead skin cells with pineapple and papaya enzymes. BEAUTY: Jojoba butter beads and vitamin E help keep skin supple. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Lavanila The Healthy Body Wash 2-in-1 Shower & Shave hydrates the skin with coconut oil, hyaluronic acid and noni juice. BEAUTY: Soothing aloe, calendula and white tea extract help prevent irritation as you shave. BEACON: No animal testing. Also contains no mineral oils, parabens, petrochemicals, phthalates, synthetics dyes, sulfates or silicone.

SHINE: Pacifica Coconut Crushed Pearl Luminizing Body Butter deeply moisturizes with coconut oil, shea butter, and passion fruit, papaya and pineapple extracts. BEAUTY: Pearl powder, and vitamins A, C and E add shimmer and glow. BEACON: Donates products to local women’s shelters. 

Face and Body Spring Cleaning

The devoted pursuit of personal cleanliness can be traced as far back as ancient civilization. In fact, the Romans elevated it to a fine art. Their rituals included disrobing, bathing, sweating, receiving a massage and resting--procedures most American spas follow today. 

Fast forward several hundred centuries, and our faces and bodies now contend with an assortment of undesirable factors. Dirt and debris from our environment, hair, clothing, bedding and even oils from our own skin wreak havoc. Plus, makeup, moisturizers and sunscreens produce added contaminants.


The latest facial and body cleansers purify and protect. They provide multiple benefits to minimize premature aging, clogged pores, inflammation, sagging skin and pigmentation issues.

BEAUTY: 100% Pure Pink Grapefruit Hydrating Body Wash nourishes with vitamins and antioxidants, and brightens with pink grapefruit, pomegranate and goji berry. BEACON: Vegan, and gluten and cruelty free.

BEAUTY: Eminence Organic Skin Care Lime Cleansing Masque repairs with antioxidant-rich green, white and rooibos teas, and revitalizes with lime juice. BEACON: The company's ingredient farm in Hungary is powered by solar and wind energy. 

BEAUTY: Goldfaden Daily Cleanser increases radiance and antiaging protection with red tea, and moisturizes with hyaluronic acid and seaweed extract. BEACON: Vegan, no animal testing, and free of parabens, colorants, alcohol, mineral oils, petrochemicals and silicones. 

BEAUTY: iS CLINICAL Cream Cleanser softens skin with safflower seed and coconut oils, and doesn't need to be rinsed with water. BEACON: An active duty female soldier inspired the company to create this product, so she and other military personnel could use it in the field where water isn't readily available.

BEAUTY: Luzern Laboratories Pure Cleansing Créme purifies and hydrates with lemon peel and cucumber fruit extracts. BEACON: Free of parabens, fragrance, glycols, colorants, mineral oil, petrolatum, alcohol, nitrates, dyes and formaldehyde releasers.

BEAUTY: MAYAWATER Facial Mist revitalizes and cleanses dry, tired skin with Norwegian thermal spa water. BEACON: For every bottle purchased, the company donates 1% to charitable organizations that support clean water projects.

BEAUTY: One Love Organics Foaming Cleanser softens skin with glycerin, organic quillaja bark extract and apple seed oil. BEACON: Cruelty free, and supports Care and Children’s Scholarship Fund.

BEAUTY: Saian Perle Replenishing Cleanser hydrates and calms with aloe vera, chamomile and azulene. BEACON: Vegan and cruelty free, and contains no parabens, artificial fragrance, colorants or propylene glycol. 

Hollywood Mona Lisas

Happy birthday to Leonardo da Vinci. He celebrated the big 5-5-9 this month.


Little did he know that when he painted the Mona Lisa in approximately 1505, he'd spark so much speculation about her enigmatic expression. Is she scowling or smiling? Is she radiating sassiness or serenity? 

Whether you believe she's a hellion or a heroine, her legacy continues to live on. In honor of National Smile Month and da Vinci's greatest muse, we present three celebrities who grin and wear it like Mona Lisa--and how they're creating their own legacies through charitable work.

EVA LONGORIA

BEAUTY: Desperately devilish. BEACON: Founded Eva's Heroes, a charity which helps developmentally disabled children. She's also the national spokesperson for PADRES Contra El Cancer (Parents Against Cancer).

ANGELINA JOLIE

BEAUTY: Elegantly enigmatic. BEACON: Co-founded the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation, which supports Global Action for Children and Doctors Without Borders. Also co-chairs the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict.


LADY GAGA

BEAUTY: Monstrous mystique. BEACON: Recently donated $1.5 million to Save the Children’s Japan Earthquake Tsunami Relief and the American Red Cross. 


The following products help to maximize glamorous grinning:

BEAUTY: 100% Pure Sugar Plum Sheer and Watermelon Sorbet Lip Glosses moisturize with fruits pigments from pomegranate, cherry, cranberry, blackberry and raspberry, and vitamins C and E. BEACON: Contains no gluten, synthetic chemicals, preservatives, artificial fragrances or colors, or harsh detergents.

BEAUTY: Dermalogica Renewal Lip Complex restores chapped and aging puckers with cocoa butter, avocado oil and hyaluronic acid. BEACON: The Dermalogica Foundation supports S.K.I.N. (Skincare for Kids in Need).

BEAUTY: Eminence Organic Skin Care Cinnamon Kiss Lip Plumper stimulates circulation for more fullness and nourishes with pomegranate oil. BEACON: Supports National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, Canadian Liver Foundation and The Cinderella Project.

BEAUTY: gloMinerals gloRoyal Lip Crayon provides long-lasting shine when worn alone or applied on top of lipstick. BEACON: Non-comedogenic, and contains no talc, perfumes and chemical dyes.

BEAUTY: Lavera Naturkosmetik Lip Gloss No. 6 (Burgundy) repairs and moisturizes with vitamin E and jojoba. BEACON: Cruelty free, and contains no parabens, synthetic preservatives, fragrances, GMO, gluten, emulsifiers and petroleum-based ingredients.

BEAUTY: Palladio Beauty Herbal Lip Gloss (Ruby Red) combats the breakdown of skin`s elasticity with antioxidants such as green tea, and vitamins A, C, D and E. BEACON: No animal testing.