The Beauty of Giving

With the Holiday season just around the corner and only a few shopping weeks left we have a few suggestions to give and receive which will be sure to please everyone on your list.

GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK:

· L’ORÉAL PARIS COLOR OF HOPE COSMETICS BAG

When you give the Color of Hope Cosmetics Bag ($29.95) this holiday season, L’Oréal Paris will donate $5 to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, L’Oréal Paris’ 12-year charitable partner in the fight against ovarian cancer. The silver cosmetics pouch includes an assortment of universally flattering shades of mauve, vibrant teal – the color symbolizing ovarian cancer awareness – and the on-trend accent shade of rich plum. Products include: Infallible Lip Gloss in Color of Hope, Colour Rich Lip Colour in Color of Hope and two Wear Infinité Eye Shadow Quads in Bouquet of Strength and Petals of Promise.

· THE BODY SHOP

The Body Shop, one of the pioneers of ecologically-sound practices and the use of Community Trade which benefits more than 25,000 people in 20 countries, presents a new range of holiday products which allow one to rejoice with family and friends while at the same time giving back to others. Here are a few things we just LOVE!

BATH & BODY: Each of the three bath and body holiday collections from The Body Shop, the NEW Nutmeg & Vanilla Collection, with its hint of home baked treats and deliciously accented with nutmeg, vanilla and sugar, the sweeter, fruitier scented NEW Black Velvet Apricot Collection and the Merry Cranberry Collection, contain products ranging from shimmering lotions to shower gels to lip balms that are sure to be all-around crowd pleasers.

NEW WINTER TREND MAKE-UP: These party-ready products for eyes, lips and cheeks features highly effective moisturizing and skin conditioning Community Trade Marula Oil from Namibia’s Eudafang Women’s Co-Operative.

SOFT HANDS KIND HEART HAND CREAM: This cream features soothing angelica extract to soften the skin and protect hands available for $10 and $6 from every purchase will be donated to ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) to combat child exploitation.

LOVE ETC… FRAGRANCE & BODY LOTIONS: Complements the Holiday Collection with its unique blend of jasmine, vanilla and sandalwood, and is the world’s first perfume to feature alcohol that is fairly traded and organically sourced from sugar cane farmers in Ecuador.

HOME FRAGRANCES: The Body Shop has an array of scintillating fragrances for the home, certain to convey a holiday feeling. The Home Fragrance collection features new scents of Mulled Berries, Mandarin Ginger, Vanilla Spice, Merry Cranberry, Black Velvet Apricot, and Nutmeg & Vanilla, as well as a range of diffuser options. BAG FOR LIFE: Funds raised from the sale of the Bag for Life and Create Your Own Gift Bags go to Somaly Mam Foundation to aid rehabilitation and support services in Cambodia. To top it all off, The Body Shop products are packaged in 80% post-consumer recycled and wrapped in Eco-Chic Gift Bags, packages that are certain to become reusable keepsakes throughout the year.

ULTIMATE STOCKING STUFFERS:

· DEMETER FRAGRANCES

The Demeter Fragrance Library consists of over 250 fragrances inspired by everyday objects and experiences – the scents you know and love from Baby Powder to Lavender to Cherry Blossom to Laundromat to Martini to Play Doh! Demeter is the olfactory version of “stopping to smell the roses.” Demeter fragrance is a personal choice that is all about the wearer, not an expression of the designer (so there is a scent that is perfect for everyone!) Better yet, the scents can now be purchased at your local drugstore (i.e. Rite Aid stores Nationwide) which makes buying gifts this season that much easier! 95% NATURAL INGREDIENTS: Alcohol naturally fermented, no artificial colors, no phthalates, no extra packaging. Scents ideal for the holiday season: all-NEW “Cinnamon Bark” fragrance matches the undeniably wonderful scent of cinnamon, in its purest and most natural state without any added sweeteners. Other scents that are reminiscent for this time of year include “Apple Pie”, “Egg Nog,” “Snow.” “Gingerbread,” “Mulled Cider” and the idyllic scent of “Christmas Tree.”

The ½ oz. Purse Spray and the ½ oz. Humungous Miniature Splashes make for terrific stocking stuffers and the gifts sets offer a larger selection of your favorite scents if having trouble picking just one. If you are searching for a housewarming gift, look no further than the Demeter Atmosphere Sprays which allow you to create an individually scented environment, perfectly and precisely suited to one's own tastes.

GIFTS FOR YOUR GIRLFRIENDS:

· JUICY COUTURE FRAGRANCES

Fragrance is a year-round must-have gift for women. During the holidays, it is especially desirable because you can usually get very nice gifts sets for the cost of a single bottle of fragrance, and the sets from Juicy Couture are no exception -- with prices ranging from $35 to $100 and including combinations of the Eau De Parfum Spray to Body Crème to Shower Gel you are able to choose from a wide assortment of sets that allow you to do your holiday shopping in one swoop! Couture Couture Spray is our fave! It was also seen in Harper’s Bazaar magazine just this November!