No matter what the season a great lip balm is a must-have for every member of the family. SoftLips Lip Conditioning Balms $2.79/each $3.99/2 pack by SoftLips is slim enough to fit into a tiny handbag or tight jeans. But it's the silky, nurturing balm with SPF 20! and novel, limited edition, seasonal scents, that make them coveted stocking stuffers and Winter lipcare must-haves: SugarPlum Berry with Cherry:  Sugar & Spice and Vanilla; SoftLips Winter Mint with Vanilla, Sugar Cooke with Cherry.  There are plenty of other year-round faves, too The flavors are subtle and not too "sugary."  The guys will even love them because they're fun to use, moistly-matte, and the scents acceptable for adults.  The cardboard backing has silvery snowflakes to make them even more gift-able. They're truly addictive!  Even if the sun isn't shining, your lips are always exposed to the sun's rays, and to wind and other "drying" factors and a lip balm helps soothe, protect, and heal. SoftLips taste so good and feel so great, you'll want to use them often. These little lip balms may be inexpensive, but they're top notch! 

Softsoap’s latest bath goody is their Nutri Serums Body Nourishing wash srp. $3.50- $4.50.The clear gel looks pretty in the dolphin-nosed, clear plastic flip top bottles, but what really makes these body washes stand out are the little beads of serum that are activated as you rub them onto your body. The product cleanses nicely, with good, moisturizing foam. These feel like expensive spa products, but they cost less than a large latte! This  Body Wash is available in two types: Restoring with Vitamin E, and Moisture Retaining with Omegas 3 & 6. Both have very light and pleasant scents that the entire family will feel comfortable with. Pop one of these under the tree (with a huge bow) -- they little, colorful serum beads look festive enough as-is, suspended like sprinkles or confetti in the clear body wash. 

Fresh Minerals  is a line of cosmetics made with fine ground, or micronized minerals & inorganic pigments that exist in nature and that are treated or coated with other pigments to create different colors and effects. All their foundations and bronzer products offer an SPF20. The loose powder minerals are also water resistant, so they won’t come off with perspiration. Give someone a gift of the sun even if they're nowhere near it this Winter, with Fresh Minerals' Blazin' Bronze Kit $20.00.  It makes an impressive gift that is really affordable.   Packaged in an attractive, hard-sided cardboard presentation box with clear window and snap closure, are three items to make you look sun-kissed:  Loose Mineral Bronzing Powder (in "Bahama" and there is a lighter version, too);  Loose Mineral Luminizing Powder (pink and very sparkly--dab it on lids and lips as well as on cheekbones); and a nice, lightweight, retractable Brush housed in a chic, matte black case.  Also impressive, and a great way to introduce someone to loose mineral makeup, is The KickStart Mini Starter Kit $20.00.  Packaged in an attractive, hard-sided cardboard presentation box with clear window and snap closure are the essentials to a perfect complexions. You get a Duo Loose Mineral Foundation--there are five different duos The foundation is 100% pure, all natural, talc free, oil free, fragrance free, and non-comedogenic.  You also get a mineral based, vitamin enhanced, Smoothing Prep Primer (a gel in a tube) that helps makeup look smoother and last longer. If your skin is dry or rough, a primer really helps!  The kit also comes with a small Kabuki Brush -- a must-have for anyone who likes loose mineral makeup. Either kit will delight without making a huge dent in your wallet!

It has been a while since The Advice Sisters reviewed anything from Bourjois, but this makeup brand has been alive and well since 1863. Their baked eye shadows have been favorites of mine, for years. The powder eye shadows are silky, the color, intense, and the little, round compacts with interior mirror and cute, mini sponge-tipped applicators, the stuff makeup lovers dreams are made of. As a stocking stuffer of a little gift for yourself, you can't help but love the newest eye shadow collection called “Rendez-vous a Paris." Bourjois enlisted the creativity of French artist and illustrator Nathalie Lete, to festoon the cover of four special edition eye shadow pots with beautiful illustrations that celebrate specific places in Paris. Included among the eight new colors are:  Noir Precieux, a purple-black shimmer with a view of the Seine, Beige Rose a nude highlighter with a view of Paris, central in a fanciful “map”, Argent, a blue/grey iridescent with the Opera Garnier on the lid, and the one I tried: Violet Absolu, featuring the Place Vendome and a deep, iridescent purple that’s trendy, wearable as both as a lid color and liner. All of these work well with all complexions and eye colors, and., of course, they’re long lasting and stay true to color -- lovely to look at, great to use, wonderful to wear.

L’Oreal HIP Matte Shadow Duos $8.00/each are trendy and make fun fashion statements, as well as stocking stuffers.  Each round pot of color comes with a light and dark color to make eye matte but not dull. Try a color you might not have considered and enjoy a new look, for less . Perky," for example, pair a bright, grass green with a deep blackened green for liner or accent. "Animated," pairs stark white with a clear, deep blue. And I love "Poppy," a bold peach that looks warm and earthy, paired with a deep cocoa brown that can be used as a liner, or as part of a more modern, smoky eye look. Be a "big spender" and add a HIP High Intensity Pigments Chrome Eyeliner $10.00 in an intense, metallic, black, silver, gold or violet. You can't help but have fun with these!

Here's something that's truly affordable for yourself or for a little gift that also helps provide support for breast cancer research: Karen Neuburger Low Cut Sock - Pink Ribbon $7.00. This pure white sports sock is made of fine-gage micro velour and it feel super-soft and silky. The elasticized top is covered and soft so it won't dig or bind. There's also a tiny, pink ribbon at the top of each sock, to remind everyone who sees it that breast cancer isn't beaten...yet. It's a useful and thoughtful gift for survivors and supporters. KN Karen Neuburger® new to our columns, is known for comfort-inspired fashion apparel and home merchandise. In 2009, KN will donate $75,000 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, which is dedicated to preventing breast cancer and finding a cure in our lifetime. That's another good reason to purchase these and other "pink" KN items.

Nothing can ruin your holiday cheer faster than a winter illness. Keep your hands clean, even when you can't get to a sink to wash them with soap and water, with a good hand sanitizer. One I like is the new, eco-friendly Frais Hand Sanitizer $3.50 0.2 fl. oz; $7.00 1.7 fl. oz, $29.00 15 fl. oz.  The product is 100% vegan, made of all natural ingredients. The light gel feels refreshing and cooling on your skin, and  "Les Huit," the company's mélange of eight natural Australian-blended essential oils, creates a scent is as complex as a fancy perfume: a delightful, spicy, blend of ginger, tangerine, lemon myrtle, niaouli, orange, basil, grapefruit and cardamom. This is a green company, that not only has recyclable packaging, but it's sugarcane alcohol requires five to ten times less energy to produce than the corn alcohol used in other hand sanitizer brands. The company headquarters sources Green power such as wind and solar. Part of every purchase of the product to the Just A Drop Foundation, supporting water, sanitation and health projects around the world. Get the big bottle for yourself and your home. Gift the smaller-sized bottle (fits into any pocket or purse, and it looks so cute!)  into everyone's stocking. Better yet, tie a ribbon on a bottle for each of your work colleagues, and let the "Secret Santa" help keep them from spreading germs, too.

For those on a budget who want the high level, star-quality pampering, I suggest Rodial Glam Balm Wipes $19.00 25 wipes. These come in a re-sealable, soft-sided packette done in star-quality silver, so you feel glam, while you’re doing a boring chore of removing makeup and the day’s or evening’s dirt and grime. The paraben free formula is extra gentle to your skin, good for even those with super sensitive skin. It has natural bisabolol, Vitamin E, ProVitamin B5, and chamomile extracts, to protect and moisturize, while they get rid of makeup, sweat, and grime. I love the silver packaging and the gentle formula that feels special. For under $20.00 you can gift someone with the most luxe wipes around, and they’ll thank you for the next 25 days, at least!

Give stocking stuffers that are not only good for the entire family, but could save their skin. Shady Day Daily SPF 30 Wipes $14.00/pkg 15 come in a re-sealable, soft-sided packette that lets you take SPF protection everywhere. You can use them on face and body, and they will absorb quickly. The wipes have no artificial ingredients or synthetic fragrances, but they do have good for your skin Vitamins E, A, mango fruit extract, cactus flower extract and organic aloe vera to moisturize and protect.  The active ingredients are Octocrylene 10%, Octinoxate 7.5%, Oxybenzone 3%, Avobenzone 2% . Every member of the family should have their own, refreshing, SPF 30 wipes, and they're a must-have for parents of young children, who may be resistant to being slathered with greasy lotions.These broad spectrum wipes are efficient, effective, and so clean you will have absolutely no excuses for going unprotected ever again! TIP:  for maximum effectiveness and protection, apply the wipe 30 minutes before you go out into the sun.  Use another wipe and re-apply if you've been swimming, sweating, or towel-drying your skin.

This holiday season, delight all your young sisters, nieces, and young-at-heart friends with a unique stocking stuffer that will bring smiles of delight:  YoYo LipGloss Minis $2.99.  We originally reviewed the full-sized product our Winter 2009 What Works column, but the minis are maxi fun to use!  YoYo Lipgloss is a sheer gloss with lots of sparkle, and girly flavors like bubble gum, chocolate, green apple, and kiwi. The gloss is a paraben-free, shiny, sheer, silky, sparkle lip gloss (with just a touch of a lip-plumping tingle and color). It comes in a slant-tipped squeeze tube tethered by a clear plastic snap loop on a retractable housing. That has a clear, plastic clip, so you can clip to a purse or pocket,. or even your jeans.  The cord extends several feet so you and get your gloss, and go.  The cord will automatically retract when you let go. The idea will appeal most of young girls, but if you're the type that always seems to lose that lipgloss in your handbag, this gloss won't get away from you so easily!  You can change the glosses, and the styles of the retractable reels. Larger sizes are just $4.99.  The minis are on little cardboard backs, making them the best "Secret Santa" gift ever!

If you're looking for something  that celebrities already love, but at a price you can afford, try the eye-catching canisters  of loose tea from the Village Tea Company. Cameron Diaz, Khloe Kardashian, Fergie & Taylor Swift, among others, are already fans. Each tea is packed in 100% recycled and recyclable packaging, with 3 re-useable, cotton muslin bags for brewing the tea. Each package has a "just for fun" limerick, and of course, instructions on how to brew tea. I  liked the Sweet Grace Vanilla Rooibos Tea $12.95 3.88 oz. (makes 35-40 servings) with South African Rooibos (a non-caloric, naturally sweet caffeine free herb) full of antioxidants and it's caffeine free. Try it as an after-dinner drink, or as a relaxing treat anytime. I was also very impressed with the quality of the rich, aromatic Royal English Breakfast Black Tea $13.95 4.6oz (makes:40-45 servings). I've had plenty of EBT in my life, but this one is particularly black, rich, and fragrant, thanks to tea leaves from Sri Lanka,.  use the colorful, 100% recycled container after the tea is gone for holding makeup brushes, pens, or even jewelry! You can re-use the muslin tea bags, too! 

Clinique's High Shine-To-Go $30.00 is the ultimate goodie box for lip product lovers, and everyone who likes tiny treasures in a big package! A dozen tiny, travel-worthy tubes of Clinique's Long Last Glosswear SPF 15, are packaged into a clear, plastic showcase box, featuring a rainbow of flattering, sheer-to-intense, shiny colors. These glosses are not just cute, they're really excellent, high performers. They don't just moisturize and comfort lips with SPF 15, they last for up to 8 hours. That's a long time for a gloss to stick around!  Colors include: (Nudes): Bamboo Pink, First Blush, Guavagold, Whisper; (Tawnies): Brandy Twist, Juicy Apple, Sunset; (Pinks): Air Kiss, Cabana Crush, Clearly Pink, and (Violets): Mystic, Fireberry. There's something for everyone in this amazing collection. At just $2.50 a gloss, it's a great value. Give the entire set to someone special, or split up the dozen and make 12 girls, very happy!

Netbooks are the latest computer craze -- small, easy to use, and economical. Yes, Netbooks are nifty, but you still have to protect them as you would any computer. I have a full carry case for my Netbook, but sometimes I want something lighter and sleeker with just enough padding to keep it safe from jolts and scratches. Targus makes a number of high quality cases for computers of all kinds, but their 12" Slipcase with Accessory Pocket weighs just .55 lbs, with a 11.7" x 1.5" x 8.3" interior laptop compartment. It will fit any Netbook computer up to a 12" screen. It is super-slim, but has just enough padding to keep it safe in a car, or a desk, or in a tote bag. The black, neoprene zippered slipcase  is accented by a rugged, yellow zipper on the outer storage pouch, perfect for a mouse, portable hard drive, cable, USB sticks, or other items.  If you know someone who has just gotten a Netbook, the unisex design makes it a perfect gift for him or her. And, the company offers a lifetime limited warranty. For a high-ticket gift, get them the Netbook and the Targus Slipcase (or another case that Targus offers for Netbooks).  That's a truly impressive gift

These days, things that are inexpensive, easy and fun make life more bearable. While finding the time for fitness may be challenging, I've round a company called "FitnessUwear" that could actually help you get your fitness goals on track, without trying too hard: Banglz ($24.95-$27.95).  These are  wrist and leg weights with velcro closures, covered in cute patterns and colors. You simply wear them, and get some resistance action going, just by going about your busy day.  Read the entire review on the Advice Sisters Blog.

 Handbag holders don't just hold your bag off the floor (away from dirt), but they also help keep it safe where you can see it,  Superstition says that if you put your handbag on the floor, you might become poor, but it's more likely that if you leave it on the floor, someone might snatch it and take your credit cards,  iPhone, etc. Spring Street's Handbag Holders $30.00 not only make useful gifts, but they're a must-have these days. Handbag holders are metal hooks with a decorative top (on a soft,  felted bottom) that rests on the table, while the bottom part holds your handbag in the air, under the table. Once you've used one, you'll wonder how you ever did without it! And there are practical reasons to use a handbag holder, too.  Keeping your bag suspended in the air also keeps germs away.  They're fun to use, and a sure-fire conversation starter.  My favorite design is the 'Royalty Charms' Handbag Hanger, featuring glittering clear and aurora borealis rhinestones on a silvery crown.  I also like the girly, Martini Cocktail holder, featuring a silver martini glass encrusted with pink and AB rhinestones, on a hot pink enamel background, a lasting flower, with the teal enamel flower with light blue and AB rhinestone center. Nearly every woman uses a handbag on a daily basis. These days, handbags can be big investments-- you've got to take care of them! A handbag holder is perfect for every princess on your gift list and they're also a one-size-fits-all gift. 

There's nothing more unique and fun than wearable art --especially in the form of great T-shirts. Skrapper’s first venture brings artist William Quigley’s paintings and work into the world of fashion with a collection of luxury T-shirts designed by his partner, designer/photographer Katie Theofilos. The Tee-shirt line, Skrapper, was hatched in 1999, when William was asked to paint a boxer for his close friend. The result was a series from 1999-2009 where Quigley painted over 40 boxers, learning the history of the sport through each painting. In his eyes, the intellectual, physical, financial and emotional challenges between boxing and painting created the Skrapper credo. In 2008, his neighbor, photographer and designer Katie Theofilos, interpreted 20 years of his struggles, loves, passions, and images into a brand. Skrapper T-shirts are a collective reinvention of Quigley’s artwork, featuring luxe fabrics and styles that you'll want to show off as walk-able, wearable, works of art.  To see more, visit the Advice Sisters Blog