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Whether you love or loathe the holiday season, it's the time to think about holiday gift-giving and what you'll need to look your best right now.  Uncertain economic times means being more creative and more careful when you're buying in the store or online. The Advice Sisters "What Works Beauty, Cosmetics and Fashion Review Column for November and December provides  suggestions for your own needs, and for gift-giving. We have included products that work for a wide variety of needs, personalities and budgets. In addition, The Advice Sisters® Exclusive "What Works" Buying Guide Has It's Own Page where you can purchase every product shown below, save gas, time and worry, and do your shopping from home. We wish you the happiest of holidays and love, success and happiness in the New Year -- Alison Blackman Dunham for the Advice Sisters. This is Page One featuring gifts for everyone on your list, holiday home accents, and festive bath & body products.   

 Go forward to Page 2 featuring fantastic fragrances, hair and beauty helpers, nails, color cosmetics, and holiday skincare.  

Go Forward to the Advice Sisters Holiday 2008 Shopping Guide featuring buying and information  links to every product - shop at home and save time, effort and money!

 

UNIQUE GIFTS FOR HER

 

 

Rejuvenation Gifts was started by Mary Wilson after many years as a beauty industry executive. The web-only company provides high quality, inspirational gifts and products and personal retreat programs that promote wellness, relaxation, reflection, and rejuvenation.  One unisex gift they're offering that we think works well for every member of the family, no matter what their age, is the Infinity Message Circle Charm Necklace $10.00. It sends a personalized wish in a unique way that's lasting, and affordable. You start by choosing a style of silvery necklace with adjustable chain and lobster claw clasp in either a ball-type chain, or a snake chain (in 16' or 20"). For $5.00 more, you can choose up to two  "infinity" message ring charms (double-sided open circles, layered in sterling silver) or double-sided message charm disks.  Express your sentiments with over 30 choices or words, such as  courage, survivor, love, joy, peace, daughter, forever, dream, etc. The simple styling works well for men as well as women.   If you want to add more than two sentiments, you can purchase additional ones for $5.00 each.  The necklaces look like they should cost a fortune, but they don't. The web site has Inspirational books, journals, games and bookmarks, jewelry, bath and body products, T-shirts, music, candles, and more!

Give a gift, and get a gift...what could be better than that?  You can't go wrong with Clinique's Trina Turk for Clinique Gift free with any Clinique purchase of $25.00 or more November 5-22, 2008 at Nordstrom and Nordstrom.com. The $60.00 value starts with a large, zippered makeup bag, especially designed by the fabulous, Trina Turk for Clinique in a silver and white "Tigress" print. It's big enough to use as a clutch, or hold a week's worth of beauty must-haves. Inside, there's not one, not two, not three, but six great Clinique products, and one silvery, mirrored lipstick case. If you're planning on purchasing any Clinique fragrances or makeup for yourself or for gifts, getting this bonus is a no-brainer. Read the entire review of what's in the bag on the Advice Sisters Blog.

More than a year ago, the Advice Sisters suggested a unique product for Mother's Day that won't moisturize your face, but it will put a smile on it: The OhMiBod $69.00. Now there's a new version: the Naughtibod $69.00. This wavy vibe in four colors: green, blue, pink or black, is similar to the OhMiBod but it is slightly shorter, and has a unique, wave design. It is also compatible with all iPod / iPhone / iTouch and mp3 players. The slim vibe is coated with a soft, rubbery coating, and it will definitely add a new dimension to your electronic music options!. Plug the Naughtibod  into  your music source (it comes with a dual-ended cord and a "splitter" for your own earphones.  Turn on your device, and watch the Naughtibod spring to life and vibrate to the rhythm and intensity of the music. This is novel, but it's not a toy--it provides quite a range of wild sensations for adult use. If you don't want to listen to music, the Naughtibod has a separate top with seven different pulses, to use as a more traditional "relaxation" device.  Also included is a soft, pink velvet drawstring pouch for storage, and 1.5V "N" type batteries to power it up ("Ns" are half the size of AAA's).  This is the gift to buy for yourself to chill out this holiday season.  Of course, it makes a good gift for an open-minded friend, too. If you're liberated enough to share with your partner, "our song" could possibly take on a new meaning.

Chewylou Designs  is a line of shirts with inspirational words that let you say how you feel. One that is particularly special  is the super-soft, 100% cotton, 'LIVE" T-Shirt for women $32.00 with the word 'LIVE" on the front, and "Love, Imagine, Value, Embrace " on the back.  Alyssa Dinowitz created the shirt in honor of her mother who is fighting the disease for the third time. A portion of the proceeds support breast cancer research via the GreaterGood Network.  Read the Entire Review on the Advice Sisters blog

The television drama "Mad Men" about the world of Madison Avenue in the early 1960's, has gathered awards and avid fans. For a perfect 60's "mad men" pout, the Stila Paint Your Pout Red Palette $45.00 is essential. Three sensual, red lipsticks in true, warm and cool, and a lip smoother, are housed under one clever roof:  a silver cardboard compact with winking lips on the cover that actually talks to you.  Press the inside button and a Stila Pro Artist talks you through the process, step by step.  You get a slender, folding lip brush and a mini "how-to"  brochure as well. Red lips are festive, but the red's got to be right. Get this one for yourself, and one for a lipstick loving friend!  Read the review on the AdviceSisters blog.

The Advice Sisters have reviewed The Balm’s wonderful Lip glosses in the past, but The Balm also makes color palettes that they offered to makeup artists. Now, The Balm has taken notice of makeup lovers who also covet theses pro-style palettes. Shady Lady $38.00 is a perfect gift for a fashionista, featuring nine gorgeous, jewel-toned eye shadows in a really cute, leopard-print cardboard compact with interior mirror and magnetic closure. This palette features trendy, mild-to-wild colors I both shimmer and glitter formulas with cute names: Three Earth tons: "Caught in the Act Courtney" (glittery warm brown); "Shameless Hana" (shimmery copper); "Luscious Lani" (pearly light pink, three greens: "Jealous Jordana" (shimmery dark green); "All about Alex" (shimmery grayed khaki); and "Jet Setting Jennifer" (gold with a greenish tinge). Rounding out the palette are the gorgeous deep blue, subtly shimmery liner "Risqué Renee," plus a pearly medium grey "easy Wheezie" and sexy shimmery plum "Curvi Cami." The colors, the packaging and the quality of the shadows that go on smoothly and last beautifully, are a delight. Add another cute cardboard palette to your collection by choosing Big Mamma $32.00, a trio of face/blush powders that let you blush, highlight and bronze in one slim, mirrored cardboard palette that features a ship and a sexy, retro pinup girl on the cover. Inside, a toasty bronzer with just a bit of pearle called: "Bahama Mama" lets you revisit that Summer glow, even if it’s cold outside. "Hot Mama" is a gorgeous sheer, pink shimmer with a hit of gold to give you another type of glow. "Sexy Mama" is a light, matte, beige highlighter to add dimension to your cheeks, but we also used it dusted very lightly with a large powder brush over our entire face buddy that loves blush/bronzers.

When is a blush a great gift? When it's from Givenchy, of course!  Givenchy's Prisme Again! Blush Glow $40.00 is a  tiny "jewel box"  quartet of shimmery, silky, pressed powder squares of color that work together to add a glow to your complexion that genuinely looks lit from within, with layerable color.  The blush contains wild rose extracts to soften and smooth and ginkgo biloba to nourish skin. But what I really love about this product is the presentation.  A small, square black logo compact opens to reveal a mirror and a top layer featuring the quartet of color.  Ours, a limited edition called "Glowing Rose," (only at Sephora) features vibrant pink/ soft coral/ muted mauve pink and a light, pink pearl. But right beneath the blush is another compartment with a small blush brush, flat enough to fit "under the seat" but excellent in swiping just the right amount of product onto cheeks. The compact is small enough to fit in a makeup bag, and you'll want to take it with you because the overall effect of this product is a perfectly balanced shimmer blush that flatters just about everyone.  There are six quartets to try.  Wish for one this holiday season or just treat yourself and feel elegant with a chic glow, all season long.

A high-quality makeup brush set is always a coveted gift. A high-quality, mini-sized brush set in a gorgeous case is even more special.  Treat yourself, and someone special, to the Portable Beauty Brush Set $58.00 by Trish McEvoy in "Pure Platinum." and shine all year long.  We already know that Trish McEvoy's brushes are gorgeous, and we love to take them with us. The Portable Brush Sets make it easy (and who says good things don't come in little packages)?  In this set, new for this year's holiday season, each superb Trish McEvoy pro-style brush has been paired down to 3" clear, plastic handles with shiny silver collars, but still with full, generously-sized bristles.  The five essentials include an elegantly shaped oval powder/blush brush, covered lip brush,  Eye Shadow Brush, Angled Liner Brush, and a blender brush. That's not all that dazzles in this set, however. The quilted, shiny silver zippered travel pouch holds the mini tools with a superstar presentation. The inside of the silver pouch is lined with a light mauve "Trish" logo fabric with two elastic pouches to hold the mini brushes and perhaps a favorite lipstick or mascara.  The outside of the pouch has a credit-card sized pocket told hold money and other essentials. When you got out in the evening, this little pouch 4" x 3" purse is all you need to tuck into your purse or pocket for a dazzling display day or evening. Great travel brushes don't get any better than this, inside or out!  Great tools help you look beautiful and feel great--this is a little splurge holiday "must-have."

The Advice Sisters are huge fans of the travel-friendly kits and gifts from Minimus.biz. Their latest and greatest new offering is a limited edition, Spa Treatment on the Go Kit $67.36 *free ground shipping in the Continental USA. This amazing kit is really a two in one:  You get a really great, re-useable,  washable, nylon travel bag (in black, blue, or brown) housing a cornucopia of  relaxation products for body and soul. Stuffed full, the bag is still less than a foot long, and six inches wide. There are two internal, zippered, net pouches,  and a large, velcro pocket, plus two zippered pockets  on the outside. Once you are at your destination, it unsnaps into a really nice, user-friendly dopp kit about 24" long.  The travel-sized products inside (photo) are from brand-name companies you already love.  To give you an idea of the type and range of items (many organic or natural), here are some of the included items: organic aromatherapy shampoo, conditioner and shower gel, natural revitalizing lotion, organic hand cream, invigorating apricot scrub, pumice scrub, foot softening balm, organic bubble bath, organic lavender/vanilla shower cap, emery boards, lip balm, Toms natural deodorizing body spray, lavender body lotion by Pharmacopia, earplugs, a plastic web “sponge,” aromatherapy body patches & scent inhaler, all natural body spray, natural mineral water moisturizing spray freshener.....there's even an Evian Brumisateur in a 1.7 fl. oz travel size (see our review of the product in this column). I can’t imagine how much it would cost you in money and effort to find all of these travel-sized spa products on your own! When the products are all gone, use the bag for your travel supplies or makeup. The Spa Treatment On the Go Kit a dream come true for someone who travels a lot, for a couples wedding shower or newlyweds, a new mom, and for anyone who loves little luxuries.  Everyone needs a bit of TLC and this kit will only be around for a short while until the supply is gone.  Don't stress out--just go to the web site an order yours! TIP: Mimimus has for than 2,000 products in stock, including lots of other customized travel kits. We recently reviewed Wedding Day Survival Gear Bag in our Fall 2008 column –a must-have for a holiday wedding day!This sophisticated version of a basic, vanilla scent,

  Sparkle, and help save lives, with the L’Oréal Paris Hope Necklace $29.95, designed by 2008 Swarovski Award for Accessory Design recipient Philip Crangi (I met him during Fashion Week in the American Express Skybox --see photos).  This necklace has two rings, with  21 channel set, 2mm brilliant cubic zirconias set in sterling silver. One ring is worn for remembrance and one ring is worn as a symbol of hope for the future. The Advice Sisters have reviewed previous collections and this one is better than ever. This necklace comes in an impressive, blue velvet presentation case that makes the sparkling rings, look even more spectacular. Crangi's pieces are sold in upscale stores like Barneys, and they're pricey. This necklace would be a bargain at it's normal retail price of $99.00, but is being offered for only $29.95 (plus $5.95 s&h) to support ongoing research to defeat the horrible disease of ovarian cancer. Net profits (five dollars per sale) will benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.http://www.lorealcolorofhope.com/.  Makeup fans will love the Limited Edition L’Oréal Paris Color of Hope Cosmetics Bag $25.00 and  $5.00 of the sale of this fantastic bag will be donated to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund . Inside the silvery, zippered, soft-sided bag? Truly great, key products from the L'Oreal Color of Hope Makeup Collection and there are also beautiful Color of Hope Colour Riche Lipcolours$8.95 each,   Read the Entire Review with photos on the Advice Sisters Blog!  TIP: L’Oréal Paris has developed http://www.lorealcolorofhope.com/ as a one-stop resource for information pertaining to ovarian cancer, including signs and symptoms. Visit, and you might save your own life, or the live of someone you love.

A Professional Brush Set w/ Bag $84.95 by sukicolor™  make a great gift for a vegan fashionista, or anyone who loves great mineral makeup and of course, great brushes. The company prides itself on 100% natural mineral pigments, and organic botanicals, creating products that are healthy and holistic. Their color cosmetics blend finely crushed, completely natural minerals with wholesome, targeted skin care ingredients to make your skin look better, and actually be better.  The sukicolor™ Professional Brush Set w/ Bag offers five pro-style mini brushes and a round, cotton puff,  is made from high-quality, cruelty-free fibers especially suited for minerals makeup, such as  sukicolor™ cream + lotion formulas. A slim, sleek, black nylon travel pouch with snap closure (and an inner, protective flap over the brushes) opens to reveal a small mirror, and six individual inside pockets holding: 2 eye shadow/concealer brushes; an angled brush; brow shaper/lash brush; lip brush; and an applicator puff. The bristles are nicely formed and hold their shape, the handles are rounded so they're nice to hold, and they're very sturdy.

The Ole Henriksen range of products, new to our review this column, features products with active extracts, good for all skin types.  One that makes a little but luxe stocking stuffer is their Fresh Lips Lip Treatment SPF 15  $15.00 that does a lot, for still, very little money.  It's a lip balm and that's not very sexy, but the end result will be!  This very silky, moisturizing, nurturing,  glossy, clear, lip balm is flavored with just a hint of cocoa (and a tiny tingle thanks to camphor that plumps up your lips) to give lips a treat and a treatment day and night. Beta hydroxy acids help to slough off excess cells, while anti-oxidants and rich cocoa butter help heal and nourish. The  SPF 15 provides daily protection from the sun. The squeeze tube makes it easy to tote so apply it often for smoother, softer, more kissable lips, and give these as gifts for special friends.

  The Australian company, Warmbat makes boots, but no just any boots. Warmbat boots  are wonderful, soft, warm, and cozy. They're created from authentic Australian sheepskin -- a soft and sensual hide on the outside, with an incredibly soft, plush wool fleece inside  and they feature the world's first Eco-Friendly Sheepskin™.  These luxe boots were created to meet the demands of people who care about their health, and the health of the environment. health of everyone and for the duty to the environment. The sheepskin is tanned and finished strictly with Chrome-free tanning agents and chemicals. The Eco-Friendly Sheepskin™ consists of double face for boots and single face for shoe lining and some other varieties. Look at the gorgeous detail on the back of the "Geko" boots, for example.  Warmbat boots have been faves in Australia for decades, but now the boots have a global marketplace. Read the entire review on the Advice Sisters Blog

A friend of mine recently introduced me to a product that's just plain fun to use:  YoYo Lip Gloss $7.98 replacement tube $3.98.  It's a sheer, sparkle lip gloss (with just a touch of a lip-plumping tingle) in as squeeze tube, that's tethered (by a clear snap closure) to a retractable housing attached to clear, plastic clip. Attached the clip to your jeans, pocket, or anyplace else that you want to keep it handy.  When you're ready to apply the gloss, just pull on the lip gloss and cord (it extends 3 ½ feet long), apply, and then  just let the gloss, go ( the cord and gloss will retract automatically to the original location). This is a  fun, fashion accessory that might appear to be a just-for-teens idea, but it's actually quite practical for adults too,  It's especially great for women who find themselves foraging deeply into the recesses of their handbags or totes for a lip gloss.  I've been clipping mine to one of the inside pockets of my bag, and now I'm never at a loss (for my lip gloss).  Five colors are sheer and a with just a hint of shimmer, in shades of red, pink, brown, clear and raspberry. There are also five different retractable reels, so you can clip a new one to a different gloss to accessorize any time you want. Visit the YoYo Lip Gloss Web Site to get all the variations, and see the cute avatars that have been designed especially for each flavor.

A gift you can buy this holiday season that is an award-winning game about...buying gifts, is GiftTRAP $29.99. The board game in a boxed cube has a full size game board, 640 Gift Ideas on cards each with a photograph, 1 Rules booklet, colored Organza Gift Bags each containing, 1 Get scoring marker, 1 Give scoring marker, 9 gift tokens and 4 choice tokens. The game asks: "What do you want?"  Look at the gifts and look at your friends and decide which gift to give to which friend.  Then look at the gifts and choose which gifts you would want and which gift you wouldn’t want.  You win by knowing your friends and choosing the right gifts.   As each player matches the gifts they received to the gifts they choose, if you give or get a good gift, you get points, but if you give or get a bad gift you lose points.
Winning is about being as good at giving the right gift as you are at being given gifts you most want.  This is more a game of social interactions and talking about the things that matter to you. There's no silly acting, and you won't feel like a pop culture illiterate  when you don't know a piece of trivia.  It's easy to play and works for a mixed crowd of all ages. Get and give and get great gifts, without spending more than the $29.99 it costs for the game, and gather your family together for a change, instead of running to the computer or the television to play a solitary, video game.  TIP: the game is available in English/French and English/Spanish --you can even play  "live" online 

Racing to the sun for the holidays?  The sexy Coco Brazil bikinis from Modadezza will make the sun, even more fun! cb Coco Brazil™ features classic styles in fun, fresh colors, combining sexy, Brazilian style and colors, with the fit that is more in line with those of us who look good, but weren't blessed with Brazilian model bodies. Part of feeling great in a bikini is looking great in it--so fear not!  Read the entire review on the Advice Sisters Blog

Give the gift of information and entertainment!  Professional Hair Stylist Kimberly Clo's DVD called:  "Now You Know How...To Blow-Dry Your Hair"  is a 65-minute DVD "course" that shows you, step by step, on models, and even on Kimberly herself, how to get a fantastic blow dry.  This video, packaged in 100% recycled paperboard, was actually one of the features in the "Everybody Wins at the Emmys" Nominee Bag, given out  as a consolation to nominees in the top categories who don't win the Emmy. The DVD is easy to navigate and I like Kimberly's pleasant manner. She shows you how you can get a blow-dry with salon-quality results, at home, on yourself!  She really breaks it down and even better, you see it happening right in front of your eyes.  She works on two models to create straight and wavy styles and the video really show everything she does, up close.  I sat in front of the television, literally transfixed!  The real bonus (for me at least) was watching Kimberly actually blow-dry her own hair without the aid of another person. After all, it's easier to deal with holding a dryer and putting tension on the hair with a brush when you are doing it on someone else. But I learned several tips from Kimberly about do-it-yourself that I have already incorporated into my blow-dry techniques. They have really made a visible difference.  The good news is that anyone can follow this DVD and get results. The downside, if there really is one, that in the end,  like anything worth doing well, getting a salon-quality blow dry still takes a lot of time and effort.

PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics was founded by a political activist, and the company donates all of it's profits, after taxes, to women's health and human rights advocacy issues. That would be impressive enough, but the Heart As Big As The World Gift Set $9.99 is not only affordable, it gives you multi-gifts in one:  the PeaceKeeper Eternal Equity Lip Gloss is a flattering, soft rose with a hint of gold shimmer that's pretty on all skin tones. The wanded gloss also has nourishing minerals, green tea extract, hydrating shea butter, Vitamin E and a vanilla/citrus base that makes the product so pampering, you won't be able to stop yourself from applying it! But the 75% certified organic lip gloss comes with an additional bonus (besides a way to look good, feel good and do goo) -- it comes with a bright red, hand-blown glass heart charm from Thailand, ready to wear by running a ribbon or chain through its Sterling silver loop. $1.00 from every gloss goes to help women who live on a dollar a day, helping them in a sustainable trade.  Have a heart , and give a heart with gloss set to  women of all ages who love lip gloss and making a difference in the world.  It's also a unique choice for a "Secret Santa."

 

UNIQUE UNISEX GIFTS--AND JUST FOR THE GUYS:

 

When Givenchy created a man's scent call Pi in 1998, it invited men to go ‘beyond infinity."   Ten years later, Givenchy invites men who dream of the future as "Cyber-Travelers"  to: "explore another place within the confines of time, space and matter, moving towards a fourth dimension" with a new interpretation of Pi called Pi-Neo Eau de Toilette $64.00 3.4 fl. oz; $47.50 1.7 fl. oz. (also a Roll-on Deodorant $18.00  and Soothing After Shave $45.00).  With natural and synthetic notes in harmony,  Pi Neo moves Givenchy Fragrances light years ahead. For a discerning man, Pi Neo is the choice of  holiday, 2008.  Read the Entire Review on the Advice Sisters Blog.

For guys, almost nothing is more impressive than seeing a Mustang (the sports car, not the wild horse).  Now, Estee Lauder's Aramis Division has teamed up with Ford Motor Cars to launch Mustang Blue Eau De Cologne Spray $32.00 3.4 fl. 0z. $25.00;  1.7 fl. oz, $20.00 1 fl oz.  An unlikely paring, perhaps, but it captures the excitement and sex appeal of that beloved automobile with a novel fragrance. The masculine bottle is clear, square glass, with a silvery ribbed top and a mustang logo (a horse galloping over a blue background of a car grille). It comes in a blue metal tin that's hinged, and good for keeping spare change, a watch, cufflinks, body jewelry, etc. The scent is light, very pleasing blend of fresh, herbal, and just a tinge, spicy. The top notes include mint and basil, with a heart of geranium, sage, and Artemisia. pine and cedar leaf that add a familiar,  masculine woody feel.  Spicy, wet cardamom, clove leaf, and cypress plus a bottom of sandalwood, hay and patchouli re-invent the traditional, masculine scent. This easy to wear scent will be of interest to guys who love the Mustang, but  you don't have to be a car nut to like the scent that's nice, but  not too “out there."  The affordable fragrance also comes in After Shave $25.00 3.4 fl. oz.

Hilfiger Eau De Toilette $59.00 3.4 fl. oz; $47.00 1.7 fl. 0z., After Shave Balm $47.00 3.4 fl oz has burst on the scene!  It's a cheerful, light, masculine fragrance:  “made for the man who knows what he wants and knows how to get it. He has an inner strength that comes from knowing exactly who he is and what he wants out of life.” That said, if appreciation of one’s hopes, dreams and aspirations come with a bit of experience and self-knowledge, and if that can be bottled in an optimistic fragrance, it's definitely Hilfiger Eau De Toilette.  The bottle is modern, but also  somewhat traditional – a simple, dark blue outer cardboard box with a large, hot-stamped, brushed silver label/plaque stating “Hilfiger Est. 1985, “rivited” in place. Inside, a substantial square of clear glass with a recessed middle portion holds , the same silver plaque (this time in real metal), highlighting the light blue juice inside. A brushed silver top with TH (Tommy Hilfiger) initials covers the spray diffuser. Three “accords” in the fragrance are called:  Drive  (top), Confidence (middle) and Sexy (bottom). The Drive accord has that nice citrus that’s so noticeable on top, including bergamot, mandarin and energizing pink grapefruit plus essences of Juniper and rosemary, with hints of papaya. The Confidence (heart) is quite interesting and sophisticated: curcuma and rich mahogany wood, with white tea rose and warm skin accord. The Sexy (bottom) is an undeniably masculine one: sandalwood, suede, cistus infused with papaya, and cashmere wood. The overall effect brings all of the traditional spice, woods and citrus with a hint of herbs, to a fragrance that feels sophisticated and modern, but still familiar. This sophisticated fragrance will appeal across generations –not just for men who have “arrived.” Tommy Hilfiger stated his company in 1969 with $150 and 2 pairs of bell bottom jeans He definitely embodies the spirit of this new fragrance.

Can you grow a strawberry from an egg? Yes! if it's an  $34.95/three offered by RedEnvelope, a company that prides itself on unique and personalized gifts.  In Asian cultures, a gift is often presented in a red envelope to symbolize honor and appreciation.  Gifts purchased through RedEnvelope can be gift wrapped in beautiful, red boxes. Egglings are super-cute, and appropriate for family fun (especially a child learning about how things grow, or a budding gardener).  You get a set of three brightly colored cardboard boxes that contain "eggs" and tiny, terra-cotta trays." These look exactly like the real thing!  Take a spoon and crack open the top, and you'll see organic soil and ready-to-sprout seeds for wild strawberry, mint and petunia (extra seeds are included to ensure germination). The instructions are simple, and in six languages. After the seeds sprout and set down roots, you can replant the seedlings outside,  biodegradable shell. The set can be broken up into three, individual stocking stuffers, and would make a unique office gift that's appropriate for everyone.

Every product from the Gentlemans Refinery new to our column,  is 100% natural, paraben and alcohol free, formulated with no artificial colors or fragrance and all ingredients are from renewable plant and mineral sources, and the environment is protected in their production.  For a truly pampering and luxurious gift, get that special man one of  four gift sets.  The most affordable but still quite special is The Standard Shave System $219.00. Inside a re-useable, faux black leather gift box are five shaving essentials:  Pre Shave Oil, Shave Cream, After Shave Balm, Moisturizer and Eye Gel. Or, start him out with just one item, such as a jar of The Standard Shave Cream  $28.00 2.53 fl. oz. (or TSA-approved travel size) or choose unscented, or a lovely, lightly scented with anise, bergamot and basil oils  "Black Ice" version.  Each jar of silky cream will produce generous lather (with a shaving brush) and contains only natural ingredients such as coconut oil and glycerin.  Add The Standard After Shave Balm $48.00 1 fl. oz. in a nice, black and silver pump bottle,. Get a Standard version (very lightly scented) or unscented version--both a good for all skin types. The Gentlemens Refinery After Shave Balm is antibacterial and contains cooling and moisturizing benefits that our male reviewers rated very highly.  *Upurea.com has a list of ingredients, how to use, etc.

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Every holiday season, computers are still a prized, big ticket gift. This year perhaps, the new laptop will have to wait, but you can still gift that special person with a brand new laptop bag! We really like the quality of the bags by Casuari. The company was started by two sisters, one who got the idea as a class project at Columbia University Business School. Casuari has design innovations that were recognized by a nomination for the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award in 2007. One computer bag that's slim and elegant, and comes in various sizes to suit any laptop, big or small, is the attractive, Envelope Laptop Case 12" $55.00; 13.3" $75.00; 15" $80.00; 17" $90.00.   This bag is also fun to use as it comes in camel, kiwi, pink, and black, plus a pattern called “Luna” of light blue, brown and beige and orange stripes and a beige lining, and a funky 60's pattern of offbeat " circles called “Blocks” with an orange lining.  We particularly liked the unisex “Kiwi, a cheerful, solid lime green with a grey lining. Although it’s so streamlined you can put it inside a larger tote to carry more onboard an airplane, the bag is nicely padded to keep your computer safe.  It's water-resistant nylon or polyester; featuring a  removable padded shoulder strap and two sturdy web handles; zippered front pocket; clear ID back pocket, and a  zippered pocket on the outside to hold larger files or accessories. One of the ways you can tell a good quality bag is by the hardware. On this Casuari bag, the hardware is rugged, with 360 degree swiveling clips to hold the shoulder strap. Even the rectangular pull tags are large and gracefully curved, crafted in a silvery brushed metal.  What I like so much about this style is that is gives you just what you need to protect and tote a laptop, without a lot of extra "stuff" to add size and weight. It would have been perfect during Fashion Week, when editors lug laptops around all day in cramped quarters.  And, you can pop this bag (computer and all) into a large tote and still get on an airplane with all the other things you don't want to check anymore.  Even if there's no room in the budget for a new laptop, you can at least protect and jazz up the one you have with a Casuari bag. TIP: Get the right fit: measure the width of your laptop and the depth, add the two numbers together, plus 0.5 (foam allowance). If the total is the same or greater than the measurement of this case, your laptop will NOT fit.

  Are you looking for a classy way to serve water at your holiday feast, or perhaps offer a gift to a friend who isn't into alcohol?  Evian has several classy items including the  Evian® Palace Bottle $43.95/dozen, a plastic bottle, made of recyclable plastic is long and slim, embossed at the bottom with a 3D depiction of the French Alps. Add a Palace Bottle Pourer $15.00 to make the presentation, and pouring, even more luxe. The 100% stainless steel pourer fits perfectly on the Evian® Palace Bottle. We also like the Christian Lacroix Prêt-à-Porter glass bottle $13.95 or $118.00/12 completely decorated with an intricate design of ice crystals. Read the review on the Advice Sisters Blog.

Hip Hip Hooray for Poo Pourri $12.95 4 oz, $8.95 2oz . It removes odors from the bathroom from what's going out, so the next person going in, won't swoon!--and it really works. It's just a simple liquid that you spray onto the  onto the surface of the water in the toilet bowl before you "do your business." It comes in original, and several scents with tongue-in-cheek names (e.g. "Royal Flush" and "No2").  I'd suggest getting one of these for member of your family--but especially when you're sharing a bathroom. The odor neutralizer in Poo Pourri dissolves odors so the next person using the toilet won't be experience what you left behind (bad pun intended). The 2 oz spray bottle is small enough for travel, but it gives up to 100 applications. This might be considered a gag gift for a person with a sense of humor, but actually, the product works exceedingly well --and that's no joke!  Sitting in a smelly bathroom is no laughing matter....get several!

Want a unisex gift that's truly unique? Get the  Magnetik Distractions Interactive Magnetic Jewelry Set $16.00 (basic set) by UNO.  A test tube holds a mass of "chain" made out of tiny metal beads that look like an old-fashioned light switch chain, but these are in 15 fabulous colors like red, blue, black and purple. With each set you get a small but powerful magnet that acts as a clasp, to hold the chain together in a myriad of designs from bracelet to necklace, to anklet, to hair band, to belt. They're seriously great fun and the possibilities are endless. The magnets are also cute: a heart, a star, a circle, in gold or silver. There are luxury collections in sterling silver and even one with Swarovski crystals.  The creator is Miami Designer Luis Pons, known for his work in magnetics. Get several different colors and mix and match them, or use several magnets together. How cool is that!  You are sure to be hailed as the most innovative gift-giver of the season. 

One of my dearest friends went to a posh hotel and came back in love with Tarocco.  These bath and body products with Sicilian Red Orange extracts impressed him so much (and this, from a guy) that he begged me to find out more about them. I learned that Tarocco is am Italian name for "Blood Orange" and "Red Orange." It also means" beautiful" in Sicilian dialect. Blood orange is a fruit rich in antioxidants, that helps make skin soft, replenished and toned. The products are wonderful, and the scent is to die for great--the scent of sweet, fresh-squeezed oranges but without overt sweetness. The Tarocco Travel Set $20.00 may be just the thing to convert your special man to the joys of bath and bodycare. Inside a copper cardboard box with clear cello window are all five Tarocco products; Tarocco Wash, Tarocco Moisturizer, Tarocco Shampoo, Tarocco Conditioner and Tarocco Soap.  Like my friend, and now, The Advice Sisters, once you try the products you'll be hooked. TIP: Each full sized product comes in a range of sizes, so you can get more or less, to suit your needs and your budget.

  Eco Lips as created by Andrea Danielson in the early 1990's. She began brewing small batches of natural lip balm in her kitchen for family and friends. Her love of lip balm eventually led to finding the love of her life, Steve Shriver. Together, they built a private label natural body care company and eventually Eco Lips, a line of lip balms that are 99% organic. We tried four different types:  Eco Lips Pure & Simple $1.99 is clear, moist but not shiny, and comes in a traditional, swivel-up tube. The ingredients are 100% edible, and they smell so great in "coconut," "Kiwi Strawberry" or "Grape" that you might be tempted to do more than taste them on your lips. The balms are moisturizing and soothing, smell great, and have a sweet taste . The ingredients are easy to identify: sunflower seed oil, beeswax, organic flavor, and Vitamin E. These are safe for kids so the balm is great for the entire family. Eco Lips Gold $3.49 is 95% certified organic, with golden jojoba oil, and organic beeswax, Vitamin E, A, C and organic marigold. The balm comes in a clear, swivel-up tube, and makes even the driest lips feel renewed.  One of the most unusual lip balms I’ve ever tried is Eco Lips Energy $3.49 . The black, swivel-up tube contains a clear, moist, silky-smooth lip balm that smells like mint, leaves a tingle on your lips, and has something extra; caffeine, green tea, and Vitamin B12.  It’s not exactly a power drink, but it does feel energizing. Finally, for women who want a hint of tint in a moisturizing balm, there’s Eco Lips Eco Tints $3.99, The swivel-up tube of lip balm is 90% organic and packed with good things: beeswax mixed with sunflower oil, organic castor oil, organic coconut oil, organic vanilla (for a hint of taste and smell) , and aloe vera, plus mineral tints. "Plush Red"  gave our lips just a bit of natural-looking, warm, reddish tint. There’s also "Pink Quartz" and "Mocha Velvet."  If you’re giving these as stocking stuffers, be sure to include an Eco Leash $1.99 (photo). This lightweight, neoprene sleeve holds Eco Lips lip balms securely on your belt loop, handbag or jacket zipper, thanks to a black, plastic hook. You can even clip it to your bathing suit–it floats! How cool is that?!

 

 

Stop by Misikko for a great deal on today's hottest flat irons like a CHI flat iron or from top brands like FHI.

 

The Advice Sisters Giveaway Ends December 1, 2008 ENTER NOW To Win These Amazing Earrings by  Twisted Silver: CLICK HERE!

Trish McEvoy is just as loved for her wonderful fragrances as for her luxe, color cosmetics. Brighten up your holiday home, or give a classic and always welcome gift, of a Trish McEvoy Scented Candle. The nicely scented candle in Large Size $48.00 has a silver cover over a clear glass votive with an off-white candle but we like the Trio of 2.0 sized candles for the holiday season--more scent and more light mean more ambiance.  Each candle has a lead-free wick that won't smoke, and the along with the scent, it will last for months and months. These candles come in a smaller size too, and in a 2.0 oz. trio of votives:  Orange Ginger, Wild Blackberry Vanilla *see our review of the fragrance in the Fantastic Holiday Fragrances Section, and sensual,  spicy, Egyptian Jasmine.  Housed in a clear, cello-box, topped with a wide, black, gross-grain bow, it's the perfect gift to keep on hand for everyone and in your home to make the holidays truly "merry and bright."  We like ours surrounded by pine boughs and a touch of glitter.  TIP:  Flames aren't allowed in most offices, but this votive, even unlit, is like a festive "air freshener."

The first scented candle I ever purchased was one by Votivo. I didn’t have a big budget for splurges, but once I smelled the Red Currant Votivo candle I fell in love with the intoxicating scent and I  just had to have it! Since then I’ve fallen in love with other Votivo Aromatic Candles,  that make even an ordinary day feel more special . They literally, “light up my life.” One for the holidays is the Winter Solstice scented candle $25.00 7.3 oz, . Inside a striking, black cardboard box with shiny silver “riviting” is a chunky glass container with a thin rope and silver medallion detail . Its filled to the brim with midnight candle, ,scented with a spicy berry fragrance that freshens your room with the smell of holiday festivities, but doesn’t blow you away with it. These high quality candles feature paraffin with a paper core wick that burns cleanly and slowly–for about 50-60 hours. One should get you through the holiday season nicely, but two placed in your holiday centerpiece pack a really festive, fragrant,  punch! This scent also comes in small votives and a larger, three wick candle version, too. Votivo has several other special occasion/holiday scents, and literally dozens of other selections in eleven different collections. The list is amazing and the scents...simply divine! Those in the know, love Votivo. They make great gifts, too.

 Archipelago Botanicals has a superb line of high-quality, well-scented, luxurious candles. The Archipelago Soy Wax Candle $32.50 14 oz  in "Joy," for example, is wrapped and ready to give as a very impressive gift.  The outer packaging is a shiny, silver cardboard box is tied with a wide, cranberry, gross-grain ribbon, held in place with an elegant, black and gold label...it's gorgeous!  Inside a very large, silver votive container nestles a cranberry-red , soy wax candle that will burn for 90 hours!  Each candle is hand poured - using only the finest ingredients and fragrance oils available.  Natural soy burns longer and cleaner than regular paraffin or beeswax candles. "Joy" is a spicy-sweet blend of Orange, Cinnamon and Spice that smells like spiced, baked apples are cooking in your kitchen.  The candle's red color and lively scent invigorates even without lighting it.  Another impressive but affordable gift is the Archipelago Botanicals 4 Piece Votive Set $50.00 in "Black Forest."  Inside a heavy cardboard box patterned subtly in Moc-croc,  sit four small black votives featuring the Archipelago signature medallion, that looks like an old, silver, Chinese coin.  These are hand poured in striking, black wax, scented with a strong, luxurious blend of Douglas Fir, blended with hints of currant and ebony wood. It smells like you've walked through a dense forest on fresh pine needles! Men particularly like the pine scent.  Candles like these are so high quality they are an affordable indulgence to help you and your loved ones relax and enjoy the holiday season. 

The Advice Sisters have always looked forward to seeing the latest that Aveda offers as limited edition gifts for the holidays.  They have wonderfully packaged, high quality products in their holiday collections. Aveda's limited edition,  Holiday 2008 Collection pairs great products from their collection for mind, body and spirit, with eye-catching, no-need-to-wrap, packaging, celebrating the 500 year-old craft of Nepalese papermaking. Every gift set is embellished with Lokta paper handcrafted by men and women in Malika and Dalika—two rural regions in the Himalayas. Aveda’s partnership with these Nepalese communities to source the Lokta paper helps keep families together and reverse local deforestation. There are seven different gifts to choose from. Himalayan Glow $32.00 is an impressive gift for women and men on your gift list. Inside a black and goldenrod-colored, re-useable box, made with Nepalese Lokta paper and wrapped with an eye-catching, intricate paper band of a red and orange Nepalese design, is one of Aveda’s signature, aromatherapy candles. The substantial, 95% post-consumer recycled (PCR), green glass container is filled to the brim with a clean-burning, ivory colored, soy-wax candle,  infused with certified organic essential oils of cinnamon, clove and vanilla.The scent is spicy and uplifting, a bit like gingerbread mixed with rich cinnamon, an aroma inspired by the rituals and culture of the Himalayas in Nepal, and a perfect holiday scent for your home, or for gift-giving.  These candles last a long time and we know from experience the scent won't fade. Make one the focal point of your holiday centerpiece, surrounding it with fruits, nuts, berries or pine boughs.

Hollybeths,  new to our reviews this columns, are products for people and home, are a minimum of 95% organic, artisan-crafted and environmentally sustainable. We really liked the limited edition Hand Poured All Natural Soy Candle $20.00 3 oz  in "Shine, " that smells deliciously like a holiday treat:  rich peppermint candy cane mixed with rich vanilla.  Cool and refreshing peppermint oil stimulates the mind and increases focus while the rich sweet aroma of vanilla oil is calming and soothing, aiding relaxation and creating a peaceful environment -- isn't that something everyone wants? The pure white soy candle in it's clear, glass votive with  pretty, flower-shaped, silvery Hollybeth logo, burns clean and long (up to 20 hours) and helps promote health, healing and happiness.  It's also good to know that the candles are in recyclable glass jars and 100% post consumer waste boxes. .TIP: Each purchase of HollyBeth's hand-poured all natural soy candles donates 5% to charities ranging from UNICEF and the Circle of Hope Women's Center,  to Atlanta Pet Rescue & Adoption.

Chesapeake Bay makes wonderfully-affordable home accent gift sets, beautifully packaged in nicely printed cardboard and clear cello presentation box. Holiday gift sets from the "Reflect & Escape" collection are available exclusively at Target in October. Home scents are always welcome gifts for both men and women, and they make little but fun indulgences for yourself during the holidays as well. An easy way to scent your space without flames, is with a Reed diffuser.  The Chesapeake Bay Reed Diffuser $19.99 comes in Ruby Mandarin, Bamboo Jasmine, Amber Vanilla, Sandalwood Cedar, Tamarind and Spice, or the one we tried, Lavender Thyme, mixing a lovely, calming, Provence Lavender , with a hint of relaxing , herbal, Thyme. These beautifully boxed diffusers come with a ceramic charm attached. Inside is a clear glass jar engraved with a delicate, frosted design of leave, flowers, and enchanted birds. All you have to do to have a scented object of beauty is to pour the scented oil into the jar, and put the ten slender, dark wooden reeds that are included, inside the jar. In a few hours, the scented will travel up each reed and release the gorgeous scent into the air. Within a day to two days, the scent will grow stronger, and last for weeks.  When the scent begins to fade, simple flip the reed so the wet ends are on top and in the air.  Keep flipping the reeds to renew the scent until the oil is gone. A reed diffuser with a 9.54 fl. oz bottle of scented oil as in this set, will last you for months. If you want more scents in a smaller size, the 3 Piece Mini Diffuser Set $19.99 comes in a rust and green,  tribal printed box with a cello top. Inside are three small sets of wooden reeds, and three, small bottles attractively labeled with exotic and colorful graphic labels and pre-filled with fragranced oil:  Casablanca Tamarind Spice; Madagascar Amber Vanilla, and Havana Sandalwood Cedar.  All three of these soothing, spicy, and comforting scents are unisex, so you can give this to your favorite co-worker or brother-in-law, and he will actually look forward to use the diffuser set.

I met Jimmy Belasco at the New York International Gift Show earlier this Fall. In a sea of faces, his smile and warm personality, plus his amazingly scented and colorful display of candles, stood out. Jimmy's Soy Candles $34.00 7 oz.  are housed in  clear glass votives with copper-y metal tops featuring an embossed cartoon of Jimmy's head.  They're luxurious and beautifully scented. Choose from colorful cardboard sleeves to personalize. The actual candles  made from soy wax so pure, Jimmy claims to have fried chicken in it and eaten it (we don't suggest you do the same). Soy candles burn better, longer, and cleaner than other waxes. The scents are strong enough to add fragrance to a room without lighting the wick and they're as pure as possible.  There are so many delicious types to choose from, you'll have a hard time deciding upon just one.  I loved the "Tangerine Pear" scent, a bright, sparkling fruit that smells tart and sweet and is a real mood-lifter, and "Blackberry Currant" that smells rich and tart, but without any harshness. "Merry Merry Cranberry" is the perfect scent to evoke holiday joy all year round. This limited addition fragrance and is sold only during the holiday season. It is a spicy, fragrant mix of cinnamon, oranges, cranberry and a hint of vanilla and it uses real cinnamon oil so it smells like something is baking in the oven, not like chemicals!  It is a perfect, one-size-fits all gift, especially with a cute, "vintage" holiday themed outer sleeve. When you visit the Jimmy Belasco web site you'll see all sorts of things you can do, including making Jimmy dance 5 different dances.  TIP: Jimmy Belasco is a very warm-hearted and generous individual. When you buy Jimmy Belasco candles from his online store, he will donate $5 for every candle purchased to the organization of your choice--from a list provided during the check-out process.

Aetó Botanica's hand-poured Wellness candle $36.00 looks calming and luxurious, in a frosted, lime-green glass jar with tight-fitting top.  And, what could be more appropriate for the holidays than a candle lightly scented with precious myrrh, one of the gifts of the Magi?  Myrrh smells a bit exotic, like earth and air combined. This lovely candle not only looks impressive, it's a unisex gift that helps create a relaxing ambiance. The clean-burning candle isn't just pretty to look at and nice to smell, the natural olive oil in the melted, cooled wax, can be used to soften dry skin!   The candle will burn for over 36 hours, so you can indulge in a bit of spa-ambiance over and over again!  Aetó Botanica's products are paraben and sulfate free, don't contain coloring or synthetic ingredients, are eco-friendly, biodegradable, and recyclable in both content and packaging. Nothing is tested on animals, so you can relax and enjoy this candle your pets, and still look them in the eyes!  Of course, it makes a wonderful gift that your lucky recipient will appreciate throughout the Winter.

  I can't believe it's almost holiday time--but we're almost there.  One of the things I'm giving this year is a lot of candles.  They are great for people who like scent, but not on themselves, and even though guys don't eagerly admit it, they love the smell of scent in the room (candles are a 'must-have" to set the mood for romance, and guys know it). Until I discovered Blissliving Home at the New York International Gift Fair, I didn’t realize that Mei Xu, the owner and creator of that company, is also the owner and creator the Chesapeake Bay Candle Company Blissliving Home is available online, and through a catalogue. They have lots of chic but affordable home decor items including pillow and linens but the candle selection is really super! We got a chance to experience a number of candles featured at Blissliving Home, for the holidays. Read our detailed review on the Advice Sisters Blog.

Do you love fragrance but don't like to wear it yourself, or would you like to gift of fragrance, but not perfume or cologne? Scented candles are a perfect  gift for virtually everyone. They also help create a home atmosphere. The Chalkboard Candle $24.00 by RedEnvelope (a catalogue/online company that specializes in unique and personalized gifts for every occasion, and for everybody on your list) is a strongly scented ivory candle will entice you with it's berry fragrance. The tart notes are  Persian fig, lemongrass and ginger mandarin.   But this premium, 100%  soy candle isn't just a way to add scent to the room--they are a unique way to get your message across loud and clear!  The black or green ceramic votive can be used as an actual chalkboard! Write your special message on it with one of the three, included chalk sticks in pin, blue or classic white.  You or your lucky gift recipient can easily wipe it off and create another!  The ceramic chalkboard candleholder is dishwasher safe, and can be reused, the 7 oz. candle measures 3" in diameter x 3 3/4" high and burns for 40 hours. We think this is the perfect way to say "I love you" or "Happy Holidays" or "Thank You" or maybe:  "Will you marry me?"   TIP:  RedEnvelolpe has amazing gifts...be sure to check out their web site and order a catalogue, too.

Laura Slatkin, founder and owner of Candela Group, co-founded Slatkin & Co. with her husband, Harry.  And she created private label products for clients such as Ralph Lauren, Christian Dior and Tory Burch. But now Slatkin has created  NEST, high-end, luxe scents that are available to everyone. You can get a 8.1oz candle $32.00  that burns for 50 hours, and a set of luxury votives $98.00 give you a chance to try every delicious scent.  Some of the most unusual ones include Wasabi Pear and Beeswax & Whipped Cream.  Slatkin's invention, "Flitrus" offers a combo of floral and citrus.  Set a romantic table or mood with the intense floral:  "Periwinkle Hyacinth" - a blend of Periwinkle, Hyacinth, and Lilac combined with Crisp Green Leaves and Cloves.  Another festive scent perfect for the holidays is "Holiday," a pure white,  rich, spice candle housed in a bright red glass votive. Each NEST fragrances combine concentrated fragrance oils with an exclusive soft wax (you can leave your fingerprints in it with a gentle push) that creates a slow even burn that easily permeates any size room. Our votive lasted 3 hours and filled our room with beautiful scent. There's also Bamboo, Grapefruit, Pink Jasmine, Wild Oats & Bourbon, Moss & Mint, Moroccan Amber, and Orange Blossom, Mahogany. Scent your "nest" with impressive NEST fragrances, and have a lovely holiday season!

Lady Primrose "Fresh Cut" scent is the holidays in a green and black gift box!  The intense fragrance smells like a Christmas tree farm, or the air after you've walked in a forest of fir balsam, aromatic cedar, and pine boughs.  There are several gift-able version of the scent.  My favorite is the Oil Burner $36.00 that offers a very attractive alternative to burning scented candles for holiday ambiance. It arrives in a hard-sided, cardboard gift box, colored deep forest green, with three black pine trees depicted on the side.  The tall column with hammered design is glazed in a shiny bronze to emulate metal.  There are several holes on each side to vent the scent, and a cubbyhole at the bottom of the burner to house a tealight. At the top, there's a large well to hold up to 20 drops of  Fresh Cut" scented fragrance oil.  As the oil heats up, it quickly diffuses into the air -- instant Christmas tree!  The Boxed "Fresh Cut" Candle $46.00 12 oz.  comes in the green and black gift box.  Inside the pure white, hand-poured candle made of the finest vegetable wax with an all natural lead-free wick, burns for approximately 65 hours while keeping the scent, strong.  It is housed in a hammered green glass votive that looks stunning as-is, or draped with holly or pine boughs for a holiday centerpiece. You can also enjoy the same holiday scent in a set of three "Fresh Cut" Boxed Soaps $36.00.  A long, slim box reveals  three creamy , French-milled, natural oatmeal and glycerin soaps, embossed with pine boughs and pinecones.  The scent for these soaps is a bit less intense and more fresh -- a mix of fresh cut greens and woods. The moisturizing soaps also gently  exfoliate. All of these biodegradable, eco-friendly items are exceptional--and they make luxurious, welcome gifts.  

A scented candle in a beautiful jar makes a gift even more special. The Holiday Keepsake™ Large Jar Candle $22.00 22 oz. and Holiday Keepsake™ Small Jar Candle $15.00 14 oz. from the Bridgewater Candle Company are generously sized, and beautifully scented, but they arrive in re-useable, apothecary style clear glass jars with tight fitting black lids with a very decorative, spiral top. A black and white cord holds is wrapped around the spiral, from which hangs a laminated plastic tag.  Add a bow, and you don't even need to wrap these!  Our deep red candle, featuring the "Welcome Home" scent, had a tag with a white door and a red holiday wreath and the words "Welcome Home."  The scent is uplifting--the type you want to inhale, deeply.  It's a lush and spicy,  tart and yummy mixture of cinnamon, plums and apples, perfect for Thanksgiving and throughout the Winter holidays. This South Carolina company has candles with the highest concentration of fragrance possible, in a wide variety of scents and colors . The  Holiday Keepsake™ candles are clean and slow burning, so even the smaller one will last for weeks, maybe months. The tight fitting lid means the scent remains in the candle so it's fresh every time you use it. The scent also comes in fragrance oil, reed diffusers,  tea lights, candles without the glass containers and even paper sachets for your drawers and shelves. There are a wide variety of scented candles and oils on the Bridgewater Candle Company web site, including four just for the holidays that evoke the spicy, fruity and woodsy scents of the season: Christmas Bliss, Let's Be Jolly, Holiday Keepsake, and Evergreen Rain.

We already know and love LUSH for their fresh, unique, and always lovely-smelling products. The Advice Sisters have reviewed various LUSH Bath Bombs just about every season. But all those glowing reviews were frustrating for our readers who don't like to take baths (we didn't say who don't bathe) . The Bath Bombs, large "fizzies" to dissolve in bath water and infuse it with aromatherapy benefits, were not useable in the shower. But now LUSH has created something similar for use in the shower: Emotibombs $3.95. These single-use, flat, heavily molded "bombs" have cute designs. They sit in the bottom of your shower, and dissolve as the water hits them, providing a strong, if brief, aromatherapy delight. A bonus is that Emotibombs won't leave a ring in your tub. There are four different scents. "Sex in the Shower" blends essential oils of jasmine absolute, ylang ylang, and rose otto, plus juniperberry and ginger oil. The resulting scent lingers --and invitation to get clean, a deux. "Too Drunk To" has a blend of marigold, cleansing fennel, and sweet orange oil. We don't know whether it would really cure a hangover, but at least the reviving smell will keep you standing upright! "Up You Gets" is like a lemon drop in your shower, with essential oils of grapefruit, lime, and lemon. And 'Up the Wooden Hill" is the one to try if you shower before bed-time. It's blend of chamomile blue oil plus calming lavender and lavender absolute smells lovely and helps you start shedding some of the day's stress. All of these are "must-haves" during the holidays, and beyond. Their allure is fleeting....just a shower's worth of joy, but aren't you worth it?

Soap is something you use all the time without giving it much thought. But think how much nicer it would be if you were using a hand crafted, beautifully boxed, exotically-scented soap. That would make washing, a true pleasure! Auromere has beautiful, Hand Crafted Soap $1.95 2.75 oz., exotically-scented soaps that are made in India from natural oils and herbal extracts. Five soaps: Lavender-Neem, Tulsi-Neem, Sandal-Tumeric, Vanilla-Neem and Himalayan Rose, each work to clear-up different skin conditions. We tried the Lavender-Neem soap. It has a light, lavender scent and is good for balancing for all types of skin. It combines the restorative qualities of Lavender with the soothing emollient properties of Neem oil and 16 other Ayurvedic ingredients to balance and help restore radiance to the skin. The beautiful, glossy box with a profusion of flowers and leaves, and the great scent, makes us relax and feel better, instantly. We also tried Tulsi-Neem. Neem is a natural emollient and antiseptic. It also has toning and soothing properties and helps guard against environmental damage, too. It smells a bit like French clay, but I think I was sniffing the Tulsi, known as the "holy basil of India" Sandal-Turmeric is recommended for blemished skin, and for normal to oily, skin. Himalayan Rose is recommended for sensitive and dry to normal skin. Moisturizing Vanilla-Neem is the choice for delicate and aging skin. A soap isn't just soap...it can be a holistic, sensory experience. These make great stocking stuffers too.

Did you know that pumpkin is one of the scents men find most alluring? Spicy pumpkin is the scent most always associated with the holiday season, too. I don't know how they do it, but Philosophy has created an all-in-one, Spicy Pumpkin Muffin Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath $16.00 16 fl. oz. that smells deliciously like the real thing, only less fattening! The rich, amber gel foams nicely and leaves skin nicely soft and hydrated, with the warm, lovely smell of spiced pumpkin muffin. It's a scent that is so irresistible, s/he won't be able to resist you, either. This generously-sized, plastic bottle of body product with a flip top, is the perfect gift for a multi-tasking man or woman (or a busy mom) who wants one great product to end clutter-- not three. It also comes in Caramel Apple and Black Licorice...we can only guess at the possibilities these fun bath-time treats, could create!

We love the benefits of products with olive oil that help our skin and hair look soft and shiny, but we don't like an oily or greasy residue!  Oliva Spa by Cali Cosmetics gives you bath and body products that feature extracts of Italian olive oil and all of it's benefits without being heavy or oily.  Each of the five products in the Oliva Spa Travel Set $20.00, for example, have Vitamin A  (antioxidant ,anti-aging benefits); Vitamin E - (antioxidant with skin moisturizing systems and anti-inflammatory properties);  Beta Carotene (photoprotection properties); and Squalene, a good moisturizer and lubricant that also helps to reduce skin irritation. The super-silky and nurturing, 1.75 oz products in this set  arrive in plastic bottles that reminds me of tiny, precious, liqueur bottles. The products have a soft, floral scent, and include: Oliva Capelli (shampoo), Oliva Crema (conditioner), Oliva Corpo (hand & body moisturizer), Oliva Bagno (shower & bath gel), and Oliva Salata (body scrub).  Now that Winter is coming and your skin will be even more dry than usual, Oliva Spa products will do your body, a world of good.

When I think of the holiday season, starting with Thanksgiving, I think of cranberries. These red, festive berries are a holiday staple. Creative Nail Design has taken the tart scent of cranberries and infused it into CND’s Scentsations Cranberry Hand & Body Wash $11.50 8.3 fl. oz. and Lotion $11.50 8.3 fl. oz. There are more than 15 different combos of Scentsations body washes and lotions, but this cheerful duo is perfect for your holiday bathroom, kitchen, and guest room. All the lotions and washes are housed in clear plastic pump bottles–the cranberry set features an overall design of bright red clusters of cranberries topped with a sprig of green leaves The Scentsation lotion is strongly scented with this tart and fruity scent. It has Vitamins A and E and aloe vera, so no matter how dry your skin gets in the Winter cold and heat, they will stay soft and supple. Our skin felt immediately softer and smoother, but without a trace of residue! The body wash has a slight, peach tint and the same bright, cranberry scent. It lathers nicely, enveloping you in cheerful cranberry, but washing of easily and cleanly. CND’s Scentsations are so great, you won’t want to be without them when you travel. Luckily, there are 2 oz travel sizes $3.90 that are tote-along to gym or in your suitcase. A set of the full-sized items, or a bunch of the travel sizes in different scents, make a great gift. TIP: package a bunch of small sized items in a clear, zippered pouch for travel or a re-useable box or basket...tied with a festive bow

I love pomegranates...they're beautiful to look at, with a tart taste that makes me happy.  Pomegranates are also healthy and full of antioxidant properties.  Greenleaf , new to our column, has a line of pomegranate products that smell amazingly like the real thing, but with a bit of juicy, green apple to smooth  pout the tartness just a bit.  A welcome treat for home or as a hostess gift is their Pomegranate Antibacterial Foaming Hand Soap $6.00 6 fl. oz.  The clear, plastic bottle has a  very large white pump top that is easy to use.  Inside, there's a pink-tinted hand soap that comes out as a light-as-air, puff of white foam. It is infused with aloe and chamomile, smells wonderfully of pomegranate, and does a great job of cleansing your skin, while moisturizing it.  Now that Winter is coming, along with Winter colds, washing your hands frequently with an antibacterial soap can help protect against some of those germs you definitely do not want to carry around with you.  Greenleaf's soap makes it easy, fun, and very, very pleasant!  We are eager to try some of their other products, too!

When you go to your favorite coffee shop during the holidays, what do you order? Eggnog or Caramel Latte? Perhaps a less fattening but no less delicious, Cafe Au Lait? The Coffee House Gift Set $30.00 by Philosophy contains three , 6 oz., coffee-themed , Shampoo. Shower Gel * Bubble Bath gel cleansers, in clear plastic bottles with flip top caps. Each bottle has the correct recipe for the real coffee drink on the front, and each one is realistically and deliciously scented with a coffee-house favorite: eggnog latte, caramel latte, and cafe au lait. The nicely foaming cleansers leave skin clean, soft, and hydrated, but what makes them so exciting are the scents that linger for a while on your skin, making a morning ritual more invigorating and pleasant, without adding an ounce of fat! Even better, the trio of cleansing treats comes in an absolutely adorable, no-need-to-wrap, cardboard gift box in the shape of a coffee house. It's very detailed, with photos of the cleansers on the back, and a depiction of an actual coffee house, complete with patrons and a waiter bringing a steaming cafe to the table. There's even a friendly dog on the side, waiting for his master! This cute and impressive gift set works for men and women. For those who don't like coffee scents, Philosophy offers up a quartet of cookie-scented Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath cleansers. The Cookie Exchange $30.00 makes sugar dreams come true! This set features four, 4 oz. clear plastic bottles with flip caps each in a different, beloved cookie scent. Encased in a brown and white checkered box with large cello window, trimmed with rick/rack just like grandma's tablecloth, are Oatmeal Raisin, Chocolate Chip, Sugar Cookie, and Snicker Doodle. Each bottle has a recipe for the cookie it smells like. The nicely foaming and cleansing gel smells amazingly like the real cookies, but without the calories. My favorite is the spicy Snickerdoodle, but all were drool-worthy! There's no need to ruin your waistline or your budget with just one...for this price you'll get all four..and they'll satisfy your sweet tooth throughout the Winter. This set is perfect for cookie lovers ages nine to ninety...the no-need-to-wrap gift box from Philosophy makes an impressive presentation you can afford, even when the market's down.

Pangea Organics Holiday Gift Boxes $30.00-$40.00 are super special -- and good for our planet, too. We sampled the Eccocentric Bodycare Gift Box $30.00 in "JOY" featuring a natural, cardboard carton that holds two of Pangea's absolutely awesome, hard-milled soaps. Both spicy scents will add an exotic and pleasurable scent when you cleanse. There's an invigorating, mind-inspiring, Indian Green Tea with Mint and Rose Petals, and an invigorating, spicy, Malagasy Cinnamon Cassia Wirth Cloves that gives you an instant pick-me up. The third goodie in the box is a large clear, moistly-matte, really silky and hydrating, LipCare Balm amazingly scented with Pyrenees Lavender with Cardamom. That would be gift enough, but that's not all you get....for starters, the truly lovely, cold-pressed bar soaps have a surprise "something extra" --cardboard packaging made from post-consumer recycled newspaper that’s embedded with spruce-tree seeds and plant-able in the garden, come Springtime (simply soak the box for 24 hours, then plant it 1/8" deep, after the frost has ended). And, the larger cardboard box the trio comes in is also created of 100% compostable, biodegradable fiber--this time infused with spruce tree seeds. This plantable box is a holiday tree for the future, just waiting to be planted! Instructions and information about how trees help the environment, come within the label. The seeds should germinate within two weeks if you're fortunate. TIP: According to Pangea, if everyone plants one of the 32,000 gift boxes and germinates 32,000 trees, that's the equivalent to taking 646 compact cars off the road for a whole year or not driving 7.8 million miles--so don't throw that no-need-to-wrap gift box away!

One of the things I love about traveling to high-end resorts is the opportunity to try new, luxe bath and body products. But you don't have to travel to enjoy the Beauty Essentials Body Care Trial Kit $30.00 by Sothys.  Inside a petite, clear plastic pouch with two snaps are Sothys spa essentials:  one ounce each plastic tubes of: Soft Peeling (gentle exfoliation); Energizing Shower  (with a refreshing, cucumber scent);  Hydra-Nourishing Body Lotion (very fast absorbing and hydrating), an effervescent, energizing Bath Pebble. This is a great way to get to know the luxurious,  Sothys bath and bodycare products, and to bring a bit of pampering with you wherever you go. There's enough product for two, if you're planning a spa night at home, too!

We have come to truly love Perlier Products. Perlier Melograno del Mediteranneo & Shower Cream $18.50  in "Mediterranean Pomegranate" has 100% organic pomegranate extract, a natural antioxidant rich in vitamin C. The creamy gel lotion is sweetly scented with a fruity fragrance that smells a bit tart like pomegranate, and a bit juicy, like strawberries. The pearly, pink color looks so pretty and festive in a clear, plastic bottle with cheerful red flip top. The cleanser does a good job of gently washing off the day’s or evening’s dirt and grime, and your skin will be left lightly scented and feeling pampering-ly soft. But pomegranate seed oil supposedly also helps to promote healthy skin growth, so that your skin actually stays younger, longer. We didn’t try the other products in the line, but there is a coordinating Body Cream, Hand Cream, Body Scrub and Body Oil. All will make a nice gift for a special friend or relative...and a nice spa-type treat for yourself.

Essential Stuff, new to our reviews this column, creates beautifully scented bath, body, and wick*ed (candle) products, made by hand in small batches. The lotions and body washes are simply divine, with authentic scents that provide true pleasure:  a crisp apple pear; refreshing cucumber gardenia; zesty cucumber lime; grapefruit gardenia; honeysuckle pear lotion ; Fig n Peach, and soothing vanilla grapefruit. The amber colored plastic bottles with black caps and colorful, "apothecary" style "hand written" labels are charming and attractive in your bathroom.  There's a really nice, hydrating Body Lotion and Body Wash in a 2 oz. sample size $6.00 or an 8 ounce pump  size $20.00. They smell so great you'll actually look forward to getting in the shower or tub!  These products are the same quality as those featured in the best hotels in the world. In fact, many celebrated hotels and spa feature Essential Stuff products under their own, private labels.  Bring the pampering home--it's affordable! TIP: If you love the Essential Stuff scents on your body, you'll love them in your environment, too.  Wick*ed Stuff candles 2 x 3 Small $14.00 ("One Nite Can") and 4 x 5 Large Square Pillar $36.00 feature intense scent  in a slow burning candle that will give you enjoyment for weeks.

Botanica Spa Olio Benessere Wellness Oil for the Body by Oloff Beauty is a botanical body oil in a clear plastic bottle. The oil is free of harsh chemicals that might irritate sensitive skin.The 100% virgin oil is healing, anti-bacterial, and a natural antibiotic with anti-oxidant properties. The oil has only high quality ingredients, such as pure coconut and Tamanu essential oils, that will lightly moisturize your skin for up to 8 hours. Read the Review on the Advice Sisters Blog.

The Advice Sisters love the beautifully scented, for-the-girls, shaving product called Shave Crave Shave Cream $32.00 6.7 oz.  You lather it up with a Whish Body Brush $65.00, featuring a large, soft head of 100% badger bristles. We have tried a number of the Whish scents, but we particularly like "Lemongrass" for now because lemongrass not only helps to soothe muscle aches, ease stiff joints and improve muscle tone, it smells refreshingly like tart lemons and it calms and de-stresses.  A gentle glycerin soap soothes and moisturizes, protecting the surface of your skin from nicks and scrapes and good for even sensitive skin, nice. You get an aromatherapy boost while you deal with what would ordinarily just be a mundane and unappealing chore.  Even better, a little shave cream goes a long, long way...so you won't be restocking as quickly as if you were using a regular (boring!) pump or spray shave cream. Go ahead...indulge and enjoy silky, smooth, sexy legs all the time.  We whish (ugh, a play on words!) we'd known about this great product, sooner. TIP: Using a shaving brush not only looks cool and sets you apart as a shaving aficionado, the bristles also gently exfoliate your skin to help ensure a perfect shave.

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