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Stuff It!

I love compiling the list of my favorite stocking stuffers for the season!  Ever since I was a little kid the stocking held the most amazing treasures and even as I got older my parents always managed to fill it with delightful things.  It still is my favorite part of Christmas.  So, without further ado, the best stocking stuffers for 2013 (in my humble opinion)...

Rock Star Hand Creme by Julep is downright fantastic!  This non-greasy, lightly scented tube of fantastic-ness leaves hands feeling super soft and it's shocking how fast it sinks into skin.  It's free of Parabens, Sulfates and Phthalates and full of shea butter, glycerin, coconut oil, and vitamin E.  This is a powerhouse for hands and my new favorite.  Retails for $20.00 (and even though it says online only at Sephora, I actually picked it up at my local Sephora.)

Nyakio Hydrating Face Cleanser with Kola Nut is so luxurious.  I know it seems strange to stuff a stocking with a facial cleanser but this one is so fabulous, you'll be a hero for including it!  It is super hydrating so your skin won't feel like it's been stripped (especially nice if you have dry skin like me). It smells lovely and contains all sorts of good things like Rooibos Tea, Ivory Coast Kola Nut and African Trichilia and Chamomile Oils.  It's formulated without all the icky stuff - parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes, phthalates, triclosan.  I love this cleanser and even though it's a bit pricey at $29.00 it's worth every penny!

Beauty Addicts new GlimmerSHEERS are a delightful surprise and a lovely stocking filler.  Each duo comes in a cute, pink compact and is the perfect formula to highlight and luminize eyes, cheeks and face.  I love how pretty the colors are and how easily they apply.  My fave is Motivate (pinks) but all four color combos are really pretty.  I carry it in my bag for touch-ups throughout the day and it's a fantastic item for airplane trips (you know, that much-needed added glow right before you land).  Retails for $28.00.

em by Michelle Phan has a delightful new lip balm that is a must-gift to anyone.  Pillow Plush lipbalm comes in 7 tints and while Berries (pretty, deep burgundy) is my definite favorite, they are all really pretty.  Formula is non-drying and color is more rich than a usual tint.  I also adore the little pot it comes in.  Retails for $15.00.

SkinCeuticals Eye Balm is... well... the balm.  This is by-far my favorite eye cream - super hydrating, thick formula and has really made a difference on my undereye area (reduced wrinkles and brightened my skin).  SkinCeuticals is the best skincare line anyway, so no surprise that their eye balm is to die for.  Yes, it's expensive, but it's so beyond worth it.  I never thought I could love an eye balm the way I love this one.  Retails for $81.00.

Note:  A few of these items were sent to me by PR representatives working with the above companies.

 

America The Beautiful

You guys, how fun is this new Julep nail polish?  I kind of love it.  It's called America the Beautiful and Julep describes it as "a shiny red with royal blue glitter and sterling silver stars." It's absolutely the perfect pedicure color, especially if you're as into glitter on your toes as I am.  (Why yes, I just turned twelve.  Why do you ask?)   

And as if you needed more incentive to buy it, through their Powered by Girlfriends program, Julep will be donating a portion of the sale proceeds from the shade to the National Women's Sports Foundation.  Even more reason to buy it!   

Julep Goes Mainstream

After only recently discovering the awesomeness that is Julep polish, I'm very excited about this news.  Starting this week, Julep Nail Varnish will be much easier to get your hands on because it's going to be available at Sephora stores and on Sephora.com.  Fantastic news, right?  It's their first-ever retail partnership and as such, they'll be rolling out 20 Nail Vernis shades in 240 Sephora stores in North America, plus more shades online and in a select three New York City locations.  Love this!  They'll also be continuing their partnership with Powered By Girlfriends, a program that donates a portion of the sale price from every bottle to organizations that empower and support women.  That just makes me like them even more.  (Do you think if I asked nicely, they'd donate to the "Let's buy Stacey a pair of Louboutins" fund that I've recently started?)  I can't wait to start seeing the shades at my local Sephora.  There are so many I need!

Give Your Nails Their Own Oscar

 

 

The Oscars may have come and gone for another year (already?) but if you didn't find yourself on the red carpet, you can still console yourself with Julep's fabulous new Oscar collection.  This is the first time I've tried any Julep shades and I'm kinda blown away by how awesome they are and how much I love them.

There are seven shades in the new collection and there's not a single one I wouldn't wear.  (How often does that happen?)  Each shade is named after a woman who, as Julep cleverly puts it, has "nailed it" on movie screens over the years.  Here's the full list of shades you'll be coveting:

• Glenn - A bold berry red shimmer
• Meryl - The perfect natural, sophisticated gray crème
• Viola - The deepest dark purple crème
• Rachel - A warm rich copper shimmer
• Marisa - A dark, rich cobalt blue shimmer
• Elizabeth - A midnight blue with a hint of shimmer 
• Oscar - A 3-D gold glitter

I seriously can't even pick a favorite because they're all so gorgeous, but due to my current glitter obsession, Oscar is the one I can't stop staring at.  It is definitely going to be my next pedicure shade, but the rest of them are going to have to fight it out for my fingers.  I might go with Meryl - partly in honor of the fabulous Meryl Street who actually grew up in my hometown and partly because I love its neutral gray shade.  But I also might have to go with Elizabeth since I adore the shimmery dark, dark blue.  I think I'm just going to bring them all with me and decide last minute so it doesn't stress me out until then!

Also, I've recently discovered the Julep Color Stylist on their site and it's super fun.  It shows you different polish shades based on choices you make (skin tone, season, occasion...) so you can see what the experts recommend you wear.  So fun!

You can pick up the Oscar collection at Julep.com, which is also where you can sign up for their Julep Maven program (definitely worth it if you love polish).  See you on the red carpet!

Note: Samples of this product were sent to me by a PR representative working with Julep