Gift of Freedom and Self-Expression

Giving makeup as gifts is actually a bit tricky because cosmetics is so diverse and personal. Let me give you some tips and recommendations on how you can select the right palettes or "beauty holiday sets" for your siblings, friends or girlfriends. Of course, asking them what they want and like eases everything but you would want it to be a surprise right?

1. Whether individual or set of products or palettes, know what her undertone is and you can select the right colors for her. You can check her veins (if green, she's warm!) or what she usually wears for her clothes and makeup (because this can lead you to the right color that she likes or is comfortable with)

2. It is also nice to give them the gift of freedom. Anything they can customize is of course always thoughtful without giving you a hard time ;) Inglot has this one where she can select colors, shapes of containers and product types (blush, lippies, brow colors)

Ingot Freedom Palette

 SRP: PHP 300 per mono, PHP 1000-5000 for the container

Availability: Inglot Philippines store at Glorietta 5

 (+) Aside from the convenience, Inglot is all about the quality of the pigment and its consistency as you can see below.

Swatch of Inglot Cheek Colour, Eye Shadow and Lipsticks - 2 coats, with flash

3. Gift of convenience - If she's on the go (or a starter), give her Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier!

Bobbi Brown Twilight Pink Lip & Eye Palette (limited edition)

SRP: PHP 4300

Availability: Bobbi Brown Counters (Megamall) and in Rustan's The Beauty Source

This double-decker compact includes everything you need to play up your eyes and lips all party season long. This palette offers 10 gorgeous eye shadows in a variety of textures- from metallic to sparkle to shimmer-and four pretty lip shades, plus a mini lip and mini eye shadow brush.

Shades: Ivory Eye Shadow, Dusk Sparkle Shadow, Canary Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow, Cool Ivory Eye Shadow, Nude Eye Shadow, Slate Eye Shadow, Opal Sparkle Eye Shadow, Truffle Eye Shadow, Twilight Pink Metallic Eye Shadow, Espresso Eye Shadow, Twilight Pink Creamy Lip Color, Nude Pink Creamy Lip Color, Pale Mauve Creamy Lip Color, Bronze Pink Creamy Lip Color

Laura MercierLuxe Colour Wardrobe Dual Decker Colour for Eyes & Cheeks

SRP: PHP 4350

Availability:  Rustan's The Beauty Source

This ultimate holiday accessory wrapped in a super-luxe two-level envelope.is filled with everything you need to perfect your flawless face.  8 fabulous shades for eyes, 3 Tightline Cake Eye Liners, 2 Second Skin Cheek Colours, 1 exclusive Face Highlighter and our latest Longwear Crème Eye Pencil.  Plus the perfect tools – a Double-Ended Crease/Smudge Brush, Travel Pony Tail Brush and Travel Flat Eye Liner Brush.  It’s luxury at its best.

• 8 Eye Colours (clockwise from top left corner)
• Morning Dew– Matte – Inline
• Coffee Ground – Matte – Inline
• African Violet – Luster – Inline
• Ballerina Pink – Sateen – Limited
• Deep Night – Matte – Inline
• Dusk – Luster – Inline
• Sable – Sateen – Inline
• Crystal Beige – Luster - Limited
• 1 Face Highlighter
• Golden Shimmer – Limited
• 2 Second Skin Cheek Colours
• Barely Pink – Inline
• Heather Pink – Inline
• 3 Tightline Cake Eye Liners
• Black Ebony – Inline
• Ground Espresso – Limited
• Bleu Marine – Inline
• 1 Mini Longwear Crème Eye Pencil
• Espresso - Inline
• 3 Brushes
• Travel Pony Tail Brush (for eye)
• Double-Ended Crease/Smudge Brush (for eye)
• Travel Flat Eye Liner Brush
• Instructional Insert

Laura Mercier Colour-To-Go Portable Palette for Eyes, Cheeks & Lips (limited edition)

SRP: PHP 2650

Availability:  Rustan's The Beauty Source

All you need colour essentials for glamour-on-the-go.

3. Gift of expertise/luxury - If you want to give her the best selection of colors, finishes and textures for eyes, cheeks or lips, Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier and Makeup Forever are the brands to trust!

Bobbi Brown Sequin Shimmer Brick eye Palette (limited edition)

SRP: PHP 2700

Availability: Bobbi Brown Counters (Megamall) and in Rustan's The Beauty Source

(+) Featuring 10 eye shadows in a  range of cool, shimmery shades in silver, dusty rose and golden tones, this is the ultimate accessory for the eyes. Use the Eye Shadow Brush to apply an individual shade across the lower lids for a glistening look. Or, sweep the Eye Shadow Brush across all the shades in the palette to achieve a radiant sheen.

Swatch of Bobbi Brown Sequin Shimmer Brick eye Palette (limited edition) - 2 coats, with flash

Laura Mercier Petite Baked Eye Colour Bonbons – Multi-Finish (limited edition)

SRP: PHP 1250
Availability: Rustan's The Beauty Source

My favorite Flawless festive pops of colour in a delicious trio as I reviewed here last year. This year, there are three new colors that are super nice! (Amethyst Trio, Bronze Trio & Emerald Trio)

Makeup Forever Midnight Glow Palette

SRP: PHP 2650

Availability: Makeup Forever Philippines Counter in SM Aura

The Midnight Glow Palette is a limited edition, 8 eye shadow palette featuring 6 new shades with a diamond finish to create a magnetic festive look.
(+) 6 new shades are made of a new formula of Diamond Eye Shadows to create an extreme shine for a festive eye look:  2 “It Shades” Gun Metal and Gold Pink, 4 soft cool colors made of Midnight Purple, Snow White, Icy blue and Icy pink. 2 shades are existing must-have Matte Black and Metallic Taupe.
(+) The color range lets you create a variety of looks from the most natural to dramatic with a highly pigmented, luminous result and variety of finishes.  The palette includes 2 exclusive mini eye brushes with “new cutting edge synthetic fibers.

Swatch of Makeup Forever Midnight Glow Palette - 2 coats, with flash

4. A Gift of Self-Expression: Let them choose and accentuate their personalities with color, finishes and textures.

Stila Masterpiece Series Eye & Cheek Palettes (limited edition)

SRP: $39

Availability; Rustan's The Beauty Source

An adorable three palette set that features products for eyes and cheeks in three separate palettes depending on personalities and beauty philosophies!

(+) The consistency and coverage are good with varying finishes.

Volume I:The Minimalist
Eye Shadows: natural light, simplicity, elegance, subtlety, balance
Cheek: harmony

Swatch of Stila Masterpiece Series Eye & Cheek Palettes (limited edition) - 2 coats, with flash

Volume II: The Impressionist
Eye Shadows: canvas, pastel, vision, watercolor, movement
Cheek: parisian pink

Swatch of Stila Masterpiece Series Eye & Cheek Palettes (limited edition) - 2 coats, with flash

Volume III: The Modernist
Eye Shadows: glaze, avant-garde, mondrian, abstract, charcoal
Cheek: nouveau

Swatch of Stila Masterpiece Series Eye & Cheek Palettes (limited edition) - 2 coats, with flash

5. A Special Gift. Give them nice packaging with expert content or a super limited edition and you make them smile. Try Stila, Shu Uemura, Majolica Majorca and MAC.

Stila Lip & Cheek Palette (limited edition)

SRP: $28

Availability: Rustan's The Beauty Source 

A slick palette with a gorgeous mixture of shades in a creamy formula for lips and cheeks!

 

6 Princess by Takashi Murakami for Shu Uemura Eye and Cheek Parallel Palette

SRP: $69

Availability: Shu Uemura counters (Trinoma, Shangrila East wing, etc)
This must-have palette includes 7 iridescent and pearly eye shadows, as well as 1 cheek blush to achieve enchanting holiday looks. With several options to choose from and play with, you can transform yourself into an angelic pink or coquettish black princess. Available in heart-full pink and enchanted black heart-full pink parallel palette– This romantic palette allows you to create a purely feminine pink princess look using mesmerizing shades of shimmery white, yellow, pink, orange and brown.

Majolica Majorca Little Humming Book 4

SRP: PHP 795

Availability: Watsons Department Stores

I've been a fan of these books and the last installment, Little Humming Book IV is a highlighting powder that can be used on the T-zone, temples and cheeks for a translucent finish. It can also double up as eyeshadow. See my reviews on the magical quality of these palettes here. 

MAC Stroke of Midnight Face Palette (limited edition)

SRP: $49

Availability: MAC COunters (Trinoma, Eastwood, Rustan's Shangrila, Makati etc)
Complete looks come coordinated with three Eye Shadows, one Bronzing Powder, two Lipsticks and one Eye Kohl. Combining deep bronzes and pearlescent pinks, Stroke of Midnight Face Palette/Warm gives you a captivating look with the perfect hint of shimmer. Stroke of Midnight Face Palette/Cool fuses deep plums, mauves and blue-greys in sophisticated shades meant to be seen. The limited-edition black palettes feature a chic graphic white pattern, elegantly edged with gold piping.

Hope these tips and product recommendations can help you find the perfect gift. Happy holidays in advance!