Brush Up - Last Minute Christ-Mash Gifts

Earlier this year, my younger sisters and I were thinking of a name for our salon and spa that we're planning to open in the near future. We began with using just one syllable of each of our names and we came up with "Chris" (Christini), "Mash" (Mashawnta), and "Dai" (Sherondai) -- "ChrisMashDai". After a few seconds we said in unison "Christmas Day!" and we burst out in laughter. That name will never work for the high end salon and spa we have in mind, so we just coined it as an inside joke around the holidays for now. 


The Christmas Holiday is an absolute dream when it comes to beauty value kits. If you're still looking for last minute gifts, there are many to choose from at beauty counters near you. Why not step out of the norm of the default gifts like lotions, bubble baths and fragrances from Bath and Body Works or Victoria's Secret to opt for tools that can make one feel and look as equally beautiful. The mantra of this article is "Brush your teeth, brush your hair, and brush your face!"


1. Makeup Brush Starter Kits


Every year MAC cosmetics and many other brands like Bobbi Brown offer very affordable high quality short handle, travel ready makeup brushes for the holidays. It's a perfect choice for young women that are just starting out with learning how to apply makeup. You get about 3-5 brushes in each kit, that are tailored for the face or eyes. Might I add, you get a cute bag to house them in as a bonus. Brush kits are usually the first things to go every holiday, so hopefully there are still a few for you to choose from. 




MAC Brush Bags, $49.50

Bobbi Brown Mini Brush Set,$55

2. The Facial Cleansing Brush


Exfoliation and stimulation for the face are important keys to beautiful skin promoting natural collagen production and resulting in radiance and smoothness. Here are three options of a facial brush at a few different price points to choose from.
a. This year I hope someone really loves me because I'm looking to upgrade from my natural loofahs that I've been buying for years to the fabulous electronic Clarisonic. At the highest in price, its about $195 - but it's well worth the money. It now comes in solid pink, prints, and a smaller travel size that's a bit cheaper.





























b. The manual facial brush with a handle that's just $3 from The Body Shop is also a great find that you could include in a personalized beauty basket with other goodies. It still gets the job done well of ridding dull dead skin. 

c. Last but not least, my dear friends - the Loofah Pad ($2 - $6 / 3 pack) that you can pick up at your local drug store or The Body Shop are also good stocking stuffers. I use it for those pesky hairs (we all get them don't judge me) that like to grow on your chin. It's important to really exfoliate those problem areas to prevent ingrown hairs that may result in bumps around the chin area. Exfoliating the skin releases the bounded hair to grow straight out so that you can pluck and eventually electrocute that sucker.


























3. The Airbrush Machine

With everything being in High Definition (you can literally see the pores in someone's skin while watching TV now), television personalities, celebrities, and makeup artists are opting for the flawless airbrushed look with airbrush machines. Companies that have been providing Hollywood with professional airbrush systems for years are now providing women with the luxury of affording their own at home airbrush system. 


You've probably seen the Luminess Air system infomercials late at night, but I'm loving the Temptu ($225) brand because it comes with little pods that you can easily switch out your foundation, blush, and highlighter for a perfectly contoured face. It's absolutely any girls dream. Another affordable airbrush look can be achieved with aerosol spray foundation cans that I use on a daily basis. I hate that the Sally Hansen brand of spray was discontinued but, more and more brands are slowly coming out with their versions like Boudoir's Spray Mist ($49).