Holiday Gift Sets 2022 under $50 ~ Become a favorite of friends and family with these quality gift sets

It’s that time of year!  Time for all things holiday, some on sale, as retailers compete for your attention and hard-earned cash.  Here are a few I love for gift giving, or as a gift to yourself.

Sephora Crème Lip Stain Set

This set is part of the Sephora “Wishing You” holiday collection.  It is an amazing value at $30 for 6 crème lip stains in shades from pink to deep red.  These have a doe foot applicator and a creamy formula that doesn’t completely dry down for a while – but it isn’t sticky.  There is some light transfer early in the wear, but they stay on through morning coffee, lunch, and dinner.  They compare to Huda Beauty’s Liquid Matte Ultra Comfort Transfer Proof Lipstick, which is a favorite of mine.  I was introduced to these lip stains a few years ago during a Sephora Beauty Advisor appointment.  These crème stains mix well, too, so you can create your own signature shade.  The gift set is great to break apart and give as stocking stuffers or go ahead and treat that special friend to the whole set.

Tarte Quick Stick Eyeshadow and Liner Trio

I love sets that give me a chance to try that brand’s products.  This one has three sticks, and each is a cream shadow on one end, with a coordinating liner on the other.  The cream shadows go on nicely and stay all day.  And the liners!  Talk about staying power.  Honestly, a bit of a “con” on these is that it was difficult to remove the liner at the end of the day.  So be aware of that.  All in all, I highly recommend this set for ease of use and staying power.  Another great gift to break apart and share and keep one for yourself and a great value at $35.

Charlotte Tilbury Dreamy Superstar Glow Kit (Beauty Light Wand Gift Set)

Ahhhh Charlotte!  Someone recently posted on social media that she is the P.T. Barnum of Beauty.  I thought that was an apt title for this prestige brand that is well loved, though crazy expensive, and with an astounding inventory of products that solve all of your beauty problems.  I had been looking at this set for quite a while, as I wanted to try the glow wands, but couldn’t pull the trigger on the full-size price ($40 for 10 ml).  This set retails for $32, and comes with two mini wands, one in fan fave Pinkgasm and one in Spotlight.  I am a huge fan of minis and travel sizes, as I like to try a product before I make the commitment to purchasing a full size.  And let’s be honest:  do we really need that much in each package?  The likelihood of finishing it before it expires is low. 

I use the mini Pinkgasm as a blush and highlighter combo.  Be careful though:  these are highly pigmented, and a tiny bit goes a long way.  You can always build it up if desired.  The Spotlight is more of a traditional highlighter and is a good neutral color.  The sponge applicators are easy to use, and I like that you can twist and close the tip so product doesn’t leak while in your makeup bag or while traveling.  I use this by either tapping directly onto my face or dabbing on with my fingers.  It blends easily, and I have become a big fan.

Laura Mercier The Gift of Rose - Caviar Stick Trio

These were my first try with shadow sticks, and they are known to be one of the best.  The Rose Trio colors nicely complement each other, and I can get depth with the dark shades on the outer corners of my eyes.  You can also use these as liners.  They are my go-to eye makeup for weekend trips – they don’t require brushes to blend (just use fingers), are easy to pack, and I can do a simple day look, or go for a more glamourous look by building the color.  As I mentioned, I like smaller size cosmetics so I can try the formula and use them before they expire.  This set is a great value at $29 and will be appreciated by all the ladies on your gift list.

Laura Mercier Cheek to Cheek Tinted Moisturizer Blush Duo

I had been curious about this cream/liquid blush for a while and decided to try the set so I could sample two colors.  The set includes a universally flattering peachy pink color called Southbound, and a darker color called Coastline.  On my light skin, I like to use Coastline as a contour under the cheekbone and top off with Southbound for a nice flush.  Neither of these are shimmery, so you may like to add a highlighter once applied.  I have also put these on before foundation, for a lit-from-within look.  These are highly pigmented, so a little goes a long way, and they are easily buildable.  Because I have an oily T Zone, I can use these moisturizing blushes since we generally don’t “blush” in that area.  The formula is unscented and is the quality you expect from a brand like Laura Mercier.

So what do you think?  There are, of course, a lot of gift sets to choose from, but I like to stick with brands that have stood the test of time.  That will be appreciated by your friends and family, too, as they open these up on Christmas morning.

I hope you enjoyed this information and remember:  wear sunscreen every day!

~ Kelly😎