A DOZEN ROSES Holiday Collector's Set

I receive many press releases about holiday gift sets and can publish only a few. The A DOZEN ROSES Holiday Collector's Set ($85) caught my eye because I love my A DOZEN ROSES fragrances. It has a catchy tag line, "Wear Your Passion."

The set contains four 8.5 ml rollerballs of four A DOZEN ROSES fragrances.All four fragrances contain A DOZEN ROSES' signature rose absolute blended with other intoxicating notes.

• Gold Rush - one of my favorites, "the sexy scent with blackberry, neroli, and bittersweet chocolate
• Iced White - another favorite that I somehow failed to purchase (cannot have everything I want), "the cool scent with white peony, white primrose, and white musk"
• Shakespeare in Love - another beauty, "the romantic scent with jasmine, gardenia, ylang ylang, and fresh pear"
• Electron - another one I purchased, "the shocking scent with green tea, violet, cattleya orchid, and neon musk"

I'm sure you can purchase this gorgeous collection at Neiman Marcus. How you could part with it is another story.

Photo courtesy of A DOZEN ROSES

Coming Attraction: Chanel Limited-Edition Holiday 2012 Gift Sets

Every year, Chanel introduces gorgeous gift sets for the holidays. I assume the idea is that you should give them as gifts, but I can't give away any of them, despite my intentions when I purchase them.

My photos of photos from Chanel's brochure are just as miserable as the other Chanel photos I've published over the last few days. I figured you'd rather see bad photos than nothing. It's extremely hard to get good photos from brochures in stores, with store lighting. Remember, you can click on the photos to enlarge them.

The set shown above is Les Trois Essentiels: Lèvres et Ongles (Essential Trio for Lips and Nails) ($88) - irresistible. Two best-selling Chanel high-shine lip glosses in Amour, a shimmering pink coral, and Plaisir, a milky rose, are paired with Vertigo for your nails. Vertigo, a nearly black shade with a pearlized red effect, offers a dramatic counterpunch to the pastel glosses.

Les Deux Lèvres Scintillantes Glossimer Duo ($63) is a perennial favorite. The Glossimer Duo returns this holiday season with a new limited-edition pairing of Wild Rose, a muted mauve, and Spark, a golden berry (one of my favorites). The perfect complement is a mini Le Crayon Lèvres Precision Lip Definer in Nude, along with a sharpener.

If those two sets didn't rev you, check out Les Essentiels Les Pinceaux Essential Brush Set ($225). Carefully selected by the Chanel Makeup Studio, this collection of five meticulously crafted professional brushes will help you create a perfect makeup look.

• Angled Powder Brush #2
• Blush Brush #4
• Foundation Brush #6
• Large Eyeshadow Brush #25
• Contour Shadow Brush #14

After seeing this set, I wish I had waited before I purchased my new Chanel brushes. This is an amazing set. Could you give it away? When I purchase it, it will be with full intentions of keeping it. No pretenses that it's a gift!

All three sets are presented in a custom-designed Chanel makeup bag. You'll be able to purchase them in the fall. They will be limited-editions, so don't let any grass grow under your feet once they appear in the stores.

Photos of Chanel brochure by Best Things in Beauty

Le Métier de Beauté Limited-Edition Fragrance Cufflinks

By now, I'm sure you've figured out I'm a bit of a spendthrift. I love to buy myself little gifts - way too frequently. Fortunately, I "got real" when I saw Le Métier's de Beauté's Custom, Limited-Edition Fragrance Cufflinks ($3,500) at Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie. I thought about all the makeup I could have, and I also reminded myself that I've spent too much lately. I had a critical case of the I-wants that started to stray into the I-need realm. Fortunately, Michael gave me a glass of Champagne, which calmed my nervous impulse to spend. They would look fabulous with an elegant white shirt.

Below the shimmer of their black diamond surface, Le Métier de Beauté's skillfully crafted cufflinks harness the power of scent. Designed by Le Métier de Beauté with leading jewelry experts from Harry Winston, along with fragrance experts, these exclusive baubles are the first and most magnificent of their kind. Called "the ultimate gift for the man who has it all" (hello, friends, women wear traditional shirts too!), the 18K white gold construction is adorned with two carats of hand-set black diamonds. They look much better in person than they look in the photo above.

The "original item for the individual with discerning style and a taste for innovation," the Métier Fragrance Cufflink set includes three distinct scents, designed so the wearer can alternate as desired. Using cutting-edge, embedded resin fragrance technology, craftsmen infused fragrance into a small chip and seamlessly concealed it within the elegance of a cuff link. There are three fragrance chips, allowing the wearer to alternate among Classic, Modern, and Bold scents. You slip the scent chip into the cufflink, and away you go.

The Classic scent is refined and elegant, projecting fig and leather, with a rich heart of musk. The Modern scent is woody and aromatic, fresh, polished, and contemporary. The Bold scent is described as spicy, seductive, masculine, and strong. When you smell the fragrance inserts, they smell light and refined. Supposedly, the heat from your body magnifies the fragrance, giving it sillage so that you and those in your immediate proximity can enjoy the fragrance. I didn't have a chance to wear them, so I can't attest to the intensity of the scent.

Neiman Marcus keeps these little numbers in clear boxes under lock and key. I can see why. They are extremely attractive and way too easy for criminals to steal. I felt privileged to play with them! Then I gave them back.

The Le Métier de Beauté Limited-Edition Fragrance Cufflinks are available at select Neiman Marcus stores. If you want to splurge for a loved one this holiday season, they are a classy splurge. They come in a beautiful box, hand crafted black piano wood and a silver-tone locking clasp, approximately 6 1/2" high x 7" wide x 2 3/4" deep. I'm sure they will be appreciated.

Le Métier de Beauté photo courtesy of Neiman Marcus

Chanel Les Deux Lèvres Scintillantes Glossimer Duo for Holiday 2011

Chanel has packaged the season's essential lip gloss pairing in its limited-edition Les Deux Lèvres Scintillantes Glossimer Duo ($55) for Holiday 2011. The best-selling Spark, described by Chanel as a golden berry, and Liaison, a sparkling translucent shade that Chanel said is only available in this set (see Paula's comment), are joined with a mini Le Crayon Lèvres Precision Lip Definer in Nude and a pencil sharpener in Chanel's chic black patent makeup bag. The bag comes packaged in a luxurious gold box that proclaims "Chanel" on the front. The duo is an elegant gift.

Spark can be deceiving in the tube, just as it is in Chanel's photo above or at first glance in the store. It is not rusty, orange, or brown. It's a clean rose pink, exactly the way it appears in the tube in my photo at left and in the swatches below. You could call the shade golden berry, as Chanel does, but the "berry" word brings to my mind a shade that has a touch of plum in it. If you think strawberry or raspberry, you'll be on the right track.

The two gloss shades are extremely appealing. Berry can be worn alone or used to top other shades to add a gorgeous rose glow. Liaison is almost clear, but it will make any lip color pop.

My photos were taken in full sun. Liaison is shown at the top of my arm, and Spark is below. Can you believe I hesitated before I bought this gift set? Even though it's a great value - and I knew I would keep it for myself - I wasn't sure I wanted another clear lip gloss. Now that I've played with Liaison and seen the multidimensional, glistening sparkle it adds to any lipstick, I'm glad I bought it.

Consider that each gloss, if purchased alone, would cost you $28.50, and you'll realize the gift set offers a nice bonus with the mini lip liner (a perfect size for your handbag) and a sharpener you can use with all your Chanel pencils. The classy Chanel makeup bag could house the full set in your handbag, ensuring you've always got a perfect lip look within reach. I think it's a nice set. It would be hard to give away, but if you are feeling generous, I'm sure your gift recipient will love it.

Chanel's holiday gift sets are shown at this Chanel link, where you can purchase them online. I bought mine at Neiman Marcus. I hear the Miroir Double Facettes is a hot seller.

Photo at top courtesy of Chanel; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Need a Last-Minute Makeup Gift? Bobbi Brown to the Rescue

You procrastinated. You need a gift for a gal pal, but you don't know what to buy. Bobbi Brown's Honey Glaze Set ($55) will work for everyone. I'd be thrilled to receive one!

A palette of "sexy nudes" that will work for every skin tone, the set has a warm, pearly beige and a matte, taupe Long-Wear Cream Shadow for soft, neutral eyes (in Dove Gray and Honey Glaze). There are two Long-Wear Gel Eye Liners - Mahogany Ink and Black Topaz - to add some drama. As a bonus, Bobbi threw in a Sand Sugar Shimmer Lip Gloss. The set is topped off with a mini dual-ended brush that has an Ultra-Fine Eye Liner Brush on one end and a Cream Shadow Brush on the other. Perfection!

Visit Bobbi Brown's Web site for more inspiration. Who wouldn't love to receive a Bobbi Brown gift?

Make sure to check Bobbi's site to see what shipping offers or free gifts are available. For the last few days, free shipping and two deluxe samples have been offered with code LUX5. That expired about four hours ago, but maybe it will be replaced with another offer. Later in the day, I will update this posting if there's a great offer.

No matter what special offers are available, spend $65 and you'll get free shipping anyhow. I always say, "One for them...two for me!" You can buy yourself some goodies to reach that $65 spend.

Photo courtesy of Bobbi Brown

Costco Beauty Bonanza

I have raved before about Costco's beauty deals. Sunday, I was blown away by the incredible gift selections in the "beauty" section.

I learned from my mistake of buying only one NÉOLIA Olive Oil soap eight-pack when I saw it (it never reappeared). Sunday, I found the nicest gift sets and stocked up. When I stumbled upon the Anthousa mini fragrance diffuser sets, I thought I was in the wrong store! The Trios were $19.99. At Neiman Marcus and Saks, they cost $85.

Each Trio includes three 100 ml diffusers. The Citrus Trio has Aqua Verbena, Pomegranate & Mint, and Vanilla Grapefruit & Blood Orange. The Orchard Trio has Nectarine & Red Currant, Cucumber & Green Grass, and Fig Leaf & Bitter Almond. The Blossom Trio has Athenian Orchid & Jasmine, White Gardenia, and Cliff Rose & White Carnation. Sorry that I can't identify the fragrances in the Chinoiserie Trio. I didn't buy any of those. Costco often has different products in different stores, but if you head that way, make sure to look for these.

For the body, Costco has a four-pack of Tree Hut Shea Body Butters. In Original, Tahitian Grass, Coconut Lime, and Hawaiian Kukui, these are heavenly scented and intense body moisturizers. A three-pack set at Amazon costs $15. At Costco, there are four in the set for $12.99.

There is also a great Bliss Spa and Aaaah Set with a Tried + Blue Bubbling Body Wash and a Body Lotion - both large. The set is priced at $14.99 in the store. On Costco's Web site, the set is priced at $24.99.

Costco has plenty of co-branded Borghese sets too - all at bargain prices.

If you are shopping for really nice gifts at incredible prices, you can't beat Costco!

Logo and photo courtesy of Costco

Beauty Gifts and Santa

Buying beauty gifts for friends and family can be tricky. What I think is delightful might end up in a drawer, never used, or be regifted by the recipient. I always try to buy something I think the recipient will love - but it's hard to know for sure. Good friends have bought me tea (I don't drink it), plants that are poisonous to my cats (they go straight from the car to a pet-free house), and other gifts that were just not me. "It's the thought that counts" only goes so far!

The hardest gift of all is fragrance! Unless you know what someone likes or wears, there is a good chance the expensive perfume you bought will never be worn. I'm a great example. I hate patchouli, and it's in so many fragrances. If something comes in the door with patchouli I can detect, it leaves just as quickly. I'll give it away as fast as possible.

Unless you know someone well, skin care can also be perilous. Your recipient may wonder, "Is there a message here?" On the other hand, I jumped for joy when I received a jar of Crème de la Mer one Christmas.

That said, there are beauty gifts that can delight. I know that the blockbuster color sets sold by Sephora, Ulta, and Nordstrom are a young lady's dream come true (not that adults don't love them too). My mother has always appreciated a fragrance she wears. If you know a friend likes a certain line, NARS for example, she will probably like a NARS gift set. Gift cards are always a good bet if you know someone loves beauty products, but want them to have the opportunity to select what they like. I don't think that kind of gift card is a cop out.

If I were making a list, here are just a few things I would love to receive. People who know me well could guess these.

• Chanel N°5 Eau Premiere, a lighter, softer version of the legendary fragrance
  
• Any Armani Beauty cosmetics or skin care Loyd Cassler picked out, knowing it was a gift for me
  
• Home and body fragrances and soaps that are purely floral or fruity (particularly white flowers)
• Organic anything - so many new things to try!

What's on you list? Any beauty gifts that would make you leap for joy? Let us know in the comments. You might give someone a good idea!

Over the next few weeks, I'll select one reader to receive a gift he or she identified (let's keep the price under $100, please). My holiday gift to one of you! When you leave your comment, you will also have to send me an e-mail at bestthingsinbeauty@gmail.com identifying your comment. That way, I will know how to find you.

Really stuck on what to to give the person who has everything? Check out Network for Good. Your gift allows your recipient to donate to the charity of his or her choice, and there are more than 1.8 million charities from which to choose. This is a tough time for so many people, many of whom never thought they would be in a position to need help from a charitable organization. Charities are stretched thin, with returns on their endowments at an all-time low, but there are more unmet needs than ever. An opportunity to help is a heartwarming gift. You could help save a homeless family, rescue a horse, or stock a food bank - just by giving to a friend.

Update 12/6: Anna has a holiday gift winging her way. So, the promo mentioned above is closed.

Photo courtesy of wallpaperez.info