Christmas Beauty Stocking Stuffers for 2010, the best for less

By April MacIntyre Dec 6, 2010, 6:10 GMT

You can rock a Geisha-look with this tiny trio of fine Maifanshi face powders, encased in pink, white and red cups with their own mini powder puff. The loose powders are to be applied after foundation for sheer, natural coverage without drying. I love the Snow Pink with the touch of shimmer and Natural Lighting Powder will camouflage uneven skin tone too. Fun gift to give. Better one to receive.

Filling the stockings for the holidays is one of the most gratifying and pleasurable endeavors; you can really hone in and find the important little things that make life worth living, and surprise people with your thoughtfulness. 

The stocking can hold candy, fruit, and socks and with our suggestions, the little details that make you glow, shine and sparkle all over.

Monthly, Monsters and Critics writes up the best in beauty, and for the holiday season we combined November and December to create a great organized list of items, all tried and true, for you to consider gifting a loved one this Christmas and Holiday season.

Without further ado, take us shopping online or at retail stores and buy with confidence; here are some of the most unique and useful smaller stocking perfect gifts for the beauty addicts and those who love personal grooming items.

Regardless if you are male, female, younger or older, enjoy these delightful products. Happy holidays to you all!

MAKEUP
    
Dermablend Leg and Body Tattoo Primer
www.dermablend.com

Everybody makes mistakes, and some are permanent ones, like those ill-informed tattoos, not quite as daring as they once were, but still a career kill unless 
you work for Kat Von D.   When it is time to cover the ink at the office holiday party or for a wedding, Dermablend's unique opaque formula is pretty tough to 
beat.  Like most all their products, it is a smudge-proof, water-resistant primer and will conceal for up to 12 hours when used with the shading cover up. Also 
brilliant for leg veins and scars too. This is a workhorse for serious camouflage, and a thoughtful gift for someone who has some concealing to do.

Too Faced Amazing Face SPF 15 Foundation Powder
www.TooFaced.com

This is the lightest long-wearing powder foundation you will ever try. It is great for normal to oily skins. Drier skins can use this silky formula as a touch up for the 
places that need it. 

You can fully adjust the coverage from sheer to full, flawless with their innovative Regu-Seb, which helps to control and reduce oil production and leaves skin looking fresh. It also features Bamboo Silk, a nutrient-rich ingredient that revives and renews the skintone to promote a balanced texture. 

This powder foundation also protects from the sun's damaging rays with SPF 15.  I use it as a finish powder over Face Atelier's genius liquid Ultra foundation too, when I want perfect coverage.

Koh Gen Do Face Powders
www.kohgendocosmetics.com

You can rock a Geisha-look with this tiny trio of fine Maifanshi face powders, encased in pink, white and red cups with their own mini powder puff. The 
loose powders are to be applied after foundation for sheer, natural coverage without drying. I love the Snow Pink with the touch of shimmer and Natural Lighting Powder will camouflage uneven skin tone too. Fun gift to give. Better one to receive.

HissyFit Saving Face Buffing Powder
www.hissyfit.com

M&C loves all the HissyFit products, so when the Buffing Powder, made with Aspen bark extract, green tea and wine extract and Jojoba and Aloe crossed our 
desk in the shade of Tan, about two shades too dark to wear as powder, I was a wee bit bummed. 

However, I have used this Tan powder an all-over shader and bronzer with different types of brushes and I actually love if for that application, which is not what it 
was intended for.  The powder texture is ultra refined and for an oily skin would make a superb finish. Again, I am using this product as to warm up the complexion as a bronzer and a shader, and it works very well.  As a finishing powder I can imagine it works perfectly too.

HOME SPA LUXE

Borghese Fango, Sea Salt Scrub and Restorative Eye Compresses
http://www.borghese.com/index_flash.cfm

The Fango line for Borghese has been around a very long time, before the company evolved in its retail doors. The spa in Montecatini, Italy is home to rich, volcanic ash and chock full of the nutrients that the company uses in many beauty treatments.

The most popular being the Fango Hydrating Mud for face and body that can be 
slathered on thick (really super thick as thin applications dry out too fast) so you can soak in a tub and pamper yourself as if you were in a spa. Full of the Acqua de Vita complex Borghese concocted, leave on for 5-10 minutes and rinse off. A great weekly treat. 

Their complementary Sali Exfoliante Sea Salt Scrub is another grooming staple, perfect to get skin ready for any self tanning.  Loaded with Olive, Grape Seed oils plus Avocado, Mango and She butters, the sea salt and pumice demolishes any dry flaky skin patches. 

A bonus is the Botanico Eye Compresses that can be used at the same time. For men and women.  I recommend you keep them in the refrigerator; the tea leaf, golden seal and witch hazel is aided by Euprhrasia to reduce swelling and moisturize the eye area. One of my favorite beauty finds of 2010.  Use while in the tub Fango-ing for the same length of time.

Comfort Zone Tranquility Body Cream and Shower Cream

www.comfortzone.it

First off, the packaging is exquisite; made of heavy glass in cube shape with a brushed nickel finish top, the product looks amazing.  Then you open the body 
cream and fall into the most luxurious whipped dense lovely smelling moisture you have ever used. If you are a L'Occitane Almond cream, Laura Mercier or 
Lazlo body cream junkie, acquaint yourself with this line.

The cream is outstanding and not inexpensive; it retails at $49 and is totally worth it. The Shower Cream is compatible and smells like heaven, I would have 
packaged it in a pump delivery, as the screw cap top for me was a hindrance in the shower, but the product itself is beautiful and leaves skin clean, fragrant and 
soft.

SKINCARE

Avalon Organics Vitamin C Skin Care Line
www.avalon-organics.com

Made in the USA. Paraben and phthalate free. Standout items are Vitamin C Face Renewal Crème for normal to dry skins, for face, neck, décolleté and even backs of hands.   Smells like fresh orange juice, deeply moisturizes and makes skin feel wonderful.  Never tested on animals.

The Soothing Lip Balm can be used by the entire family, and is loaded with antioxidants and is twice the circumference of your average chaptick. Also has a pleasing orange scent and slight taste.

Nu Skin Trio of Skin Essentials: Polishing Peel Skin Refinisher, Tru Face Revealing Gel and Creamy Hydrating Masque Nourishing Treatment
www.nuskinusa.com

These three products should be used together, and the instant boost it gives your skin is pretty amazing for over-the-counter topicals.  Gentle acids like 
polyhydroxy acids and gluconolactone work mini miracles and improve the skin, even sensitive skins.  The price point is reasonable (all are under $48) and the 
results are demonstrable.  Nice gift for a woman who loves effective skincare.

ClickR Skincare for young adults
www.clckr.com

Adopted by the film "Burlesque" to combat acne and breakouts for their large cast, their No More Derma Drama line of action care products is perfect for 
blemish-prone skin. 

Vegan, paraben free, the products are easy to use and have no heavy odor that many acne fighting products carry.  Stand out items include their Acne Spot 
Serum, a portable zit zapper that flames out the redness, and their Figure it Out Diamond Dust Skin Polisher, a skin refining serum that clears up all sorts of 
sins and the Daily Dermabrasion Pearl Wash that exfoliates and dissolves makeup.

Obagi ElastiLash
http://www.obagi.com/Homepage.aspx

An answer to the hard to get prescription Latisse, this no prescription needed product is easy to use, and you do not need to change the wand with every 
application.  For best results, apply 1 generous brush stroke along the entire upper eyelash line every night.

Also, for those concerned about pigmentation of the iris, there is no evidence of eyelid darkening or change in iris coloring. Your lashes will feel and look thicker; I am still using this product and I really love it. 

Demalogica Age Reversal Eye Complex and Concealing Spot Treatment
http://buy.dermalogica.com

Two things anyone can use: A great eye crème that is lightweight and a bag killer, and a spot treatment that covers up too.  I am always searching for great eye 
creams and this one is a favorite I use daily.  Appreciate the fact it is not packaged in jar.

These two effective products that can totally rock out a stocking and both items are in easy to pack TSA friendly tubes.  Perfect for both men and women, the Age Reversal Eye Complex and the Concealing Spot Treatment are home-run thoughtful gifts of basic skincare to gift any adults in the family.

ORGANIZERS

Modella Holiday Bags, assorted

Inexpensive, easy to find at Wal Mart and super cute, these awesome stocking stuffers come in tons of colors patterns and styles to add a little brightness 
inside a handbag or for travel.  The nail kit is a lovely gift too.  Modella is the perfect stocking stuffer for all the ladies in the house.

Trina Collection of makeup bags
www.trinastyle.com

I love Trina bags to no end; they are easy to keep clean, shaped in nice squared bottoms so they don't flop around in your bag and they hold a lot of items.  
Plus, they name all their collections after cinema vixens or exotic locals. My favorite is the Cheetah blur collection referred to as "Raquel." The price point is moderate but they last and last.

Bling Hangit for jewelry
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=147559555284597&topic=221

Ingenious design holds up to 28 pairs of earrings and 16 necklaces. The design keeps the earrings, necklaces and bracelets separated, untangled and easy to 
access. Hang in your wardrobe, back of a door or wall hook. Categorize your jewelry into day, and evening using different hangers for your own collection. 
Under $10 and a great stocking stuffer for the women of the house.

MEN

Every Man Jack Holiday Gift Sets for Men
www.everymanjack.com/holiday

Amazing and useful, this inexpensive American-made line of targeted skincare stuffed into a No Sweat Gym Bag, a sturdy black bag for a weekend or the gym, is filled to the rafters with top notch goodies like their Body Wash, Face Wash, Face Scrub, Shave Cream and Post Shave Lotion, all of which is perfect for every man in the house. 

The company allows you to create a custom “Totally Stuffed Toiletry Bag” by logging onto www.EveryManJack.com/holiday.  Once there they can choose five items from a dozen different hair, skin, shave and body products in a variety of fragrances including Signature Mint, Cedarwood and Citrus.  And for the sensitive hombre there is a bevy of fragrance-free options to choose from.   Everything is packed in a premium duffel bag featuring a large main compartment, zipper side pockets, and smaller pockets on the outsides. and Every Man uses non fussy packaging filled with no-nonsense skin care and hair care that does the job, with natural ingredients and a low price point too.  Both my sons love this line of men's care.  

VitaMan Travel Kit
www.VitaManUSA.com

The sleek and sexy black leather-like travel pack offers every grooming product necessary for the sophisticated man to travel in style, with 50ml tubes of the VitaMan Shave Cream, After Shave, Face Moisturizer, Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Cleanser.  A bonus dopp bag houses everything so guys can stay groomed at the gym or on the road.  This is a luxe set and makes an exquisite gift for a business man or executive.

Hey Dude Men's Grooming
www.HeyDudeSkinCare.com

Perfect for any young man in the house, the packaging is silver streamline fun; the company takes basic skincare for men and gives it great service with 
effective products that make grooming an un-bogus affair for any dude. Stand out items to purchase are the Dude Wash, terrific pore cleanser for the dudes 
with problem backs and chests, Hey Dude Moisture Gel in a pump, always our favorite mode of delivery and lightweight moisture for the problem skins that 
need water moisture, Hey Dude Clean Skin, another brilliant pump that makes washing the face fast and easy in the shower or at the sink, and the Hey Dude 4 
Your Eyes Only, an eye cream so you don't look like a crusty old dude before your time.  Cute names that deliver super quality skin care for men who care.

StinkyBoyz soap
http://stinky-boyz.com/

This terrific stocking stuffer is a fun product for the bath to amuse and clean the young boys.  Stinky Boyz products are shaped like the balls from popular sports and the product is a two-in-one, for hair and body, and makes cleaning up less arduous for the little sportsters of the house.  The Hair and Body Wash includes a silicon wrist handle for easy grip and hanging. After the Hair and Body Wash is gone, the handle becomes an attractive wrist band. Smells really good too!

HAIR

Goody Hair accessories
www.goody.com

The line of Goody is available at mass retailers like Target.  The popularity is due to the constant updating of merchandise coupled with a very affordable price 
point, which makes this a terrific stocking stuffer for a house full of girls. 

Their new Ouchless Flex takes the migraine aspect out of headbands, and corals that hair stylishly. The line includes Updo barrettes Flex Claw Clips and pressure Free Headbands.  Sleek fashionable lines and a useful gift.

The Goody StayPut collection also features Gel Autoclasps, Claw Clips, Metallic Elastics, No Slide Headwraps, Adjustable headwraps and Contour Combs that 
make hairstyling full of possibility, the hold tight stay tight technology really works, without headaches or hair pulls.

Goody Brushes

We love their brushes, all of them, from the barrel cylinder styles to the flat smoothing brushes. The latest champ and excellent stocking stuffer for men and 
women is the Ionic Chic Touch for frizz free smoothing brush, it detangles and carves through hair without trauma. Nice flat head, easy to clean.

Solano Brushes
www.solanopower.com

You already know from our past reports that Solano makes the best hairdryer in the world, but their new line of brushes make styling your hair as easy as 
possible with gel grips and ceramic and tourmaline barrels that keep your hair from frying. Their new Platinum Gel Line is also designed for color-treated hair 
and is available in different barrel widths so you can hone in on the right brush for the style.  The 44mm brush was perfect for me.

Kymaro Fix My Roots Hair Mascara
www.ubuyez.com

Made in the USA, Kymaro's Fix My Roots is the answer to those days when you realize al the styling in the world won't cover those roots, and there's no time to stop drop and color. The hair nightmares are fixed by this mascara-like product that is dried with a hairdryer, and it covers gray, dark, or even blond light roots. Comes out when you shampoo and does not flake or get everywhere like a hair powder. The shades are made to match your hair color, simply choose the shade closest to 
your hair and it will blend in.  Love this item.

Aubrey Organics Men's Ginseng Hair Control
www.aubrey-organics.com

Made in the USA. This is a great smelling hair spray without the bad stuff that both sexes can use.  Everything Aubrey makes I adore, and there are no parabens, phthalates or residue leaving products.  Earth friendly pump spray, loaded with B-5 and Ginseng, good for all over styling.  Inexpensive too.

PreGame Texturizing Spray
www.stylingpowder.com

Made in the USA, this is a must-have for any stylista who loves his or her hair to be big, piecey and tousled just right. 

Made with sea salt, it is paraben and cruelty free, no alcohol and no petrochemicals, just eco-friendly scrunch in a spray. Argan oil and Himalayan pink salts and Dead Sea salts make this the perfect leave in styler aid when you want that hair Barbarella or Pammie big.  Got mid-day droop? Jazz your head with this and watch the volume return. Get that "JBF" hair in a few spritzes and scrunches with your hands.  Excellent product I use frequently and superb stocking stuffer.

CRAZY FUN

Kymaro Glamour Eyes Glitz and Glam and Miss Diva
http://www.ubuyez.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=32

Made in the USA, these fashion false eyelashes never got any crazier or more wearable for the club girl in the house. These inexpensive lash kits are a cornucopia of crazy eyes, all in good fun for those dress up days, Halloween or just for the heck of it  The kits include eyelash adhesive, and are designed to store the lashes for more than one wear each.  Awesome gift and an inexpensive item!

Hercules Magnetic Jewelry Clasp
www.luc-co.com

This is pure American genius at its finest, for jewelry and for those who suffer arthritis or other debilitating diseases it is a great gift.  For necklaces and 
bracelets, you can bypass the painstaking clasp and hook and attach this to both sides of the chain, and then putting on that favorite piece is a snap, and easy to 
manage.  Magnetic and strong, this eliminates that problem of putting on jewelry alone without a second pair of hands.  Very thoughtful stocking stuffer that 
comes in a variety of metal finishes to match the chain.

NAILS

Wet N Wild MegaLast NailColor
http://wnwbeauty.com

So much fun for so little cash, this is a great stocking stuffer for the ladies, with their new chip resistant formula and gorgeous colors that cover in one stroke with an improved bigger brush. Good times for the fingers and toes. My favorite new shades are Disturbia and Hush Hush.

NailTini Nail Laquer Collection
www.tinibeauty.com

Made in the USA, a nice large bottle, brush and pretty array of fashionable colors; we fell in love with the limited edition, fabric-inspired polishes designed exclusively for Nailtini by Emmy winner, style expert and "Mad Men" costume designer Janie Bryant. So fab! Love the French 75 shade, perfect for the Holidays!

FRAGRANCE (Young)

I Heart Unicorns
www.abeautifullife.com

Made in the USA.  Okay the packaging worked my nerves 'til Sunday in a good way; this is a blend of sweet Nag champa, Frankincense pomegranate, peppermint candy for a lucious smell, clean and light and perfect for a young Miss to start out with.  However, having said that, my dear friend who is 48 years-old swiped my bottle because she fell in love with it. I miss it.  You must give it a sniff.

Booty Parlor Flirty Little Secret
www.bootyparlor.com

Great starter fragrance for a teen, this roll-on jojoba oil based pretty fragrance is a jasmine, plum, and cedar, oriental combo that is sweet and not too sophisticated 
for a young Miss.  Love the packaging, a great stocking stuffer.

Essential Journeys Soap by the Slice, Natural Lip Balm and Lotion for the Body
www.essentialjourneys.com

Made in the USA, Paba-free, phthalate, mineral oil and cruelty free, this inexpensive colorful line of natural skincare and soaps make great gifts. Based in North 
Carolina, the company makes beautiful soap by the slice that is pretty and smells amazing. Their Cinnamon Cheer and Candy Cane soaps are must haves, 
Evergreen too. Also lovely is the Thai Lemongrass lotion, which is addictive.  Natural Lip Balm is loaded with Vitamin E and is an SPF 15, perfect for men and 
women. Love this company's line of fun skincare gifts.

April MacIntyre is Monsters and Critics' smallscreen and people/celebrity editor who loves to snoop around in makeup trailers when she can. You can follow her on Twitter.