2013 Glow Gift Guide: Festive Skin, Hair, Cosmetics & Nail Products for the Beautynistas in Your Life

Photo courtesy Nandaro

Sleigh bells start ringing early in my household. Each year, my family begins craving classic confections during the holidays--brownies, brittle, cakes, candies and cookies. We call it, "The Santa Sugar Rush."

Another rush takes place at about the same time for all of us--shopping for the ideal gift. If you can't decide between electronics, jewelry or clothing, consider a sweet treat for the face and body, such as cosmetics, nail, hair and skin gift sets and kits. These beauty products appeal to a variety of ages and lifestyles. They can also be purchased online, so you don't need to trudge through the snow or combat crowds at the mall.

Take a look-see at our favorite beauty brands in our bi-annual Glow Gift Guide (the next one appears during Mother's Day month). These festive sets and kits are designed to brighten the holidays for you and your loved ones--and release the inner beautynista in all of us.

Have a safe and sweet celebration this season.

COSMETICS

SHINE: BareMinerals from Nordstrom Beauty Show Me the Shimmer Set. BEAUTY: Six spellbinding sparklers for your smoochers--Crowd Pleaser, Superstar, Icon, Scene Stealer, Head Turner and Femme Fatale--give you a glamorous glow. BEACON: No animal testing. The parent company, Bare Escentuals, supports BE Cares, Lupus Foundation of America, National Rosacea Society and The Skin Cancer Foundation.

SHINE: Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics Holiday 2013 All About Eyes. BEAUTY: Glam your gaze with Outrageous Lashes Mineral Lengthening Mascara (Blackout), Extreme Pigment Eye Liner Pencil (Blackest Black) and Eye Impact Quick Recovery Eye Cream (sample size). BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, petroleum, mineral oil, talc, alcohol, or artificial fragrances and colorants.

HAIR

SHINE: Neuma The Gift of Moisture Kit. BEAUTY: Create standout, stylish strands with neuMoisture Shampoo, neuMoisture Condition, neuStyling Smoothing Creme and neuRepair Argan Oil. BEACON: Contains no synthetic fragrance, phthalates, neurotoxins, sulfates, aluminum or ammonia compounds, parabens, laureths, glycols, benzyl alcohol, SLS, petrochemicals or synthetic coloring agents.

SHINE: Number 4 Hair Care Knot-ty or Nice Holiday Collection (Mighty Hair Spray, Fluoro5 Elixer Restore & Repair Oil and Maddyloo Hair Band Set). BEAUTY: Add texture, shine and style to polished or messy updos and ponytails, or soft flowing waves. BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Free of sulfates, gluten and parabens.

NAILS

SHINE: Dazzle Dry Mini Kit with 4 Xtreme Glitters. BEAUTY: Have yourself a merry metallic mani with these four festive lacquers--Caught Red Handed, Cold As Ice, Gold Digger and Pixie Green with Envy. BEACON: Vegan, and contains no formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, camphor or nitrocellulose. 

SHINE: Deborah Lippmann from Nordstrom Beauty Holiday Color Duet--Fast Girls and Addicted to Speed. BEAUTY: Dazzle your digits with lively lacquers, and base and top coats that come with a glamorous glittery carrying case. BEACON: No animal testing. Also contains no toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate.

SKIN

SHINE: Fleur's Moisturizing Duo Gift Set Scrub & Cream Duo (Golden Peel and Intense Moisturizing Cream). BEAUTY: The peel gently exfoliates and restores radiance to your skin with papaya enzymes, while the rose oil enriched cream helps create a dewy complexion. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of fragrances, dyes, sulfates, petrolatum, alcohol, mineral oil and parabens.

SHINE: From the Lab AM/PM Cleanser No. 586. BEAUTY: Minimize signs of premature aging, as this oil-free facial cleanser utilizes willow bark extract, lactic acid and winged kelp extract to tighten your pores, purify your skin and stimulate collagen production. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens.

SHINE: Jack Black Lip Balm Balm Squad. BEAUTY: For the men in your life, four flavors of Intense Therapy Lip Balms SPF 25--Natural Mint & Shea Butter, Grapefruit & Ginger, Black Cherry & Pomegranate and Asian Pear & White Tea--keep his lips softened and shielded from the sun all year long. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of synthetic fragrances, parabens, sulfates and colorants.

SHINE: MyChelle Dermaceuticals Hello Beautiful Collection (Age Defense). BEAUTY: Take a stand against signs of premature aging with this six-step regimen--Creamy Pumpkin Cleanser, Fruit Fiesta Peel, G2 Instant Firming Serum, Fruit Enzyme Mist, Revitalizing Night Cream and Sun Shield SPF 28 Unscented. BEACON: Cruelty free. Contains no gluten.

SHINE: Pacifica Natural Body Butter Trio. BEAUTY: Protect and pamper your skin with these must-have moisturizers--Tuscan Blood Orange, Indian Coconut Butter and Hawaiian Ruby Guava. BEACON: Vegan and cruelty free. Contains no mineral oil, sulfates, parabens, gluten, petroleum or FD&C colors.

SHINE: PevoniaPro Celebrate Radiance Micro-Retinol Repair Gift Set. BEAUTY: Get a deep skin, gotta-have-it glow with Spa Clinica Micro-Retinol Essential Moisturizer, Spa Clinica Micro-Retinol Essential Cleanser and Spa Clinica Micro-Retinol Essential Serum, as well as a white quilted cosmetics bag and gift box. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, alcohol, lanolin, mineral oil, PABA, urea, formaldehyde, artificial colors and sulfates. Supports the Beauty Bus Foundation.

SHINE: Phytocéane Holiday Body Beauty Gift Set. BEAUTY: Enjoy silky, smooth and scented skin with Toning Shower Gel and Rich Smooth Body Cream. BEACON: No animal testing. Treats wastewater from the production site using an eco-friendly process called Filtration Gardens.

SHINE: PrecisionMD Vivatia Advanced Skincare System Level 1. BEAUTY: This Gentle Cream Cleanser, Active Repair Complex, Brightening Complex and Restoring Moisturizer have been designed with a proprietary foam delivery system that helps minimize the appearance of fine lines, and maximize tone and texture. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens.

SHINE: Refineé Purifying Travel Kit (Exfoliating Fruit Cleanser, Soothing Floral Toner, Citrus C Purifying Mask and Line Stop Wrinkle Inhibitor). BEAUTY: Mend and moisturize your skin to maintain a youthful appearance with this restorative four-piece collection. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Sanítas Skincare Holiday Nourishing Body Duo (Nourishing Body Balm and Nourishing Hand Cream). BEAUTY: Soothe, smooth and soften hands, elbows, feet, cuticles and knees with this set by utilizing sunflower oil, vitamins A, C and E, and lemon essential oils. BEACON: Free of paraben and preservatives. Supports the Cinderella Foundation. 

Photo by Mike Pennington