Holiday 2025 Shopping Advice Thread: What’s in Your Basket?

[TeamBIC]

Holiday Shopping Advice 2025

It's finally that tiiiiiiiime: Holiday season has entered the chat! 🥳 This thread can serve as your destination for giving – and receiving! – unbiased shopping advice all season long, whether you’re stacking gifts for others, or looking to treat yourself to these enticing beauty deals! Either way, you’re in the right place to trade beauty recs with your fellow Community members, show off what's in your basket so far, and get help making those hard gifting decisions… and don’t forget to share all your gorgeous swatches, unboxings, and more! 🎁❄

Don’t be shy! Hit the reply button below. What are you adding to your basket this holiday season? Be sure to tag any products you mention using the “#” sign! 

[WinglessOne]

@Suzanne713  Hope you find some winners in the perfume sampler set (if you don’t already know what you’ll use the voucher on)! 

My blush choice would be the Patrick Ta Double-Take blush, simply because it’s cream and powder and I’m very familiar with both formulas. My close second choice is Dior Rosy Glow powder blush, though all the testers felt too dry when I swatched ‘em. (Eh, testers get left open all day so it might not be Dior’s fault.) 

YSL Make Me Blush: swatch Peachy Nude in-store (if you haven’t yet) to make sure it’s a good shade for you. I’ve swatched them myself but don’t recall if it’s one of the very pigmented or barely there shades on my skin tone. 

Saie SuperSuede: I haven’t tried these blushes—don’t think I’ve even swatched one—and now I’m curious. Note to self!

[blackkitty2014]

Ooh I got those blushes either when first launched or the previous sale. They’re gorgeous. Enjoy all @Suzanne713 😍

[danielledanielle]

Ooh @Suzanne713 , the blushes 🤔, urge was like.... Get them all, but that's not the best advice 🤣 Sooo..... probably DIOR Rosy Glow Blush 012 Rosewood , the sticks are nice, reaaaalllllly fragrance heavy...or the WA set, but sometimes that'll get discounted vs the Dior.

[missjeanie]

@danielledanielle @Suzanne713  They all sound like they should go home to you was my first thought as well!  

[Suzanne713]

@danielledanielle 

All of them...was my first instinct too! That's not happening...well, at least not all at once🤣 

I have Dior Blush Stick in the bright baby pink shade but still haven't used it because of the shade. It is heavily fragranced but that doesn't completely turn me off from it because the scent does go away...from what I remember when I tried Cherry in the store. 

I'm leaning towards Dior Powder (maybe in Cherry instead of Rosewood)...but Westman Atelier products have a special place in my heart.   

Such a tough decision...I've been thinking about this for days!😂

[danielledanielle]

@Suzanne713 , I'd watch WA directly for a slightly higher discount sale, or even here, I was able to get the lip trio via sale on sale last year...Thennnnn, pick up your second choice.  And maybe your third....🙃

[SportyGirly125]

@Suzanne713 @I would pick the PT blush duo. 

[Suzanne713]

@SportyGirly125  I do love PT Blushes! 🥰

[curlychiquita]

I love your haul, @Suzanne713! The only two blushes I’ve tried that you listed are the Dior powder and the Patrick Ta. I like them both but I like the Dior better.

[Suzanne713]

@curlychiquita  I love the PT Blushes!  Everyone who responded is saying the Dior Powder, so I may go with that! 🥰

[Titian06]

@Suzanne713 - For the help me pick one, I've tried a few.  I recommend the Dior or the PT.

DIOR Rosy Glow Blush Stick 015 Cherry.  Haven't tried.

Yves Saint Laurent Make Me Blush 24H Buildable Powder Blush 37 Peachy Nude   I have this color.  I'm not all that thrilled with either the color or the product.  It is very pigmented, which is a plus.

Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks + Face Trace Sculpting Powder Duo Petal & Biscut  Haven't tried.

DIOR Rosy Glow Blush 012 Rosewood  I don't have this color, but I do have this blush in two other colors.  I like it much better than the YSL Make Me Blush.

Saie SuperSuede™ Talc-Free Powder Blush Ciao  Haven't tried.

PATRICK TA Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo She's Seductive  I don't have this color, but I did have this in a different color.  I didn't use it very much so I destashed it.  I believe it was a color issue, not a product issue.

[Suzanne713]

@Titian06  thank you so much!🥰 

Love the Patrick Ta Blush...I have Not Too Much and She's So LA (my fave Blonzer shade!)

So, I know that the formulas are beautiful.

I love everything from Westman Atelier...I had the other Duo with Tulle + Truffle but didn't love the shade Tulle on me so I returned. The formula is gorgeous! 

I have a Dior Blush Stick in the bright baby pink shade but still haven't used it because of the shade – got it from a Dior Brand Rep 

But, I tried Cherry in the store and it's beautiful...and a different shade than I would normally buy. 

Haven't tried Dior Powder Blush besides for in-store...I don't know how Cherry would be in Powder form. 

I tried YSL Make Me Blush in-store and can't remember if I liked it or not. 

I'm assuming if I liked it then I would have remembered...I think I just like the case it comes in😂 

I'll take your advice and skip this one. 

I haven't tried Saie Blush either but it looks pretty. 

Idk...I'm just bored with my Blushes. Any others that you recommend?

[Titian06]

@Suzanne713 - I really like...

Gucci Luminous Matte Powder Blush 05 Rosy Beige  It's a lovely neutral color you can wear with most everything and the formula is so easy to use.  I also have it in 

Gucci Luminous Matte Powder Blush 04 Bright Coral 

Saie Dew Blush Liquid Cream Blush Chilly. I'm not keen on liquid blushes, but these are so easy to use.  I also have it in

Saie Dew Blush Liquid Cream Blush Spicy 

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Fenty Cheeks Suede Waterproof Powder Blush Bakin' Cakez  I like this for the satiny look.  You don't need a highlighter if you're running late!  I also have it in

Fenty Tahiti Teaze (Fenty website)  This one looks great with Saie Spicy; one of my fave combos.

[teufel]

Just placed an order for the Make Up For Ever Mini Artist Color Lip Pencils Set (great value and I already have 2 of the lip pencils and wanted to try more colors), the Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder, the DM Yummy Skin Mattifying Water Powder Serum, the DM Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Mattifying Setting Spray, and Lore Disfruta Eau de Parfum. Most of my order is going towards trying to control my super oily skin. 

[ggurly]

Sounds like a great haul! 

[curlychiquita]

You can’t go wrong with Danessa Myricks, @teufel!

[WinglessOne]

Updating my list, now that I’ve placed an order.

🔬Test subjects:

• Glossier Cloud Paint Plush Blush - haven’t decided which shade; I still need to swatch ‘em in-store. 
• Hung Vanngo Beauty Longwear Waterproof Precision Gel Eyeliner One Eye at a Time - ordered.
• Either Hanni The Fatty, Fatty Acid Moisture Stick for moisture barrier 2.5 oz / 70 g  or Hanni Splash Salve In-Shower Body Moisture Treatment 8.8 oz / 250 mL  - decided I really want the fragrance-free Splash Salve that Sephora doesn’t carry. I might buy it direct from the brand. 
• ADD: Merit Solo Shadow shade Iris (one of the new shimmers) - ordered. Might pick a second shade after visiting a local Sephora store to swatch testers. 
• ADD: Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 Black Tea & Blackberry - I tried another scent/flavor long ago and kinda hated it. I’m told this particular one’s much better, so I’m tempting fate. 😅

✔️ Restocks:

• LANEIGE Cream Skin Refillable Toner & Moisturizer with Ceramides and Peptides 5.7 oz / 170 ml  - ordered to keep my body skin happy this winter. 

🧑‍🧒‍🧒  Expanding the family:

• Pat McGrath Labs Gilded Nirvana Mega Eyeshadow Palette - still haven’t seen it in person but, considering all the other Pat palettes and single shadows I already have, I absolutely don’t need this one for myself. 
• Soft Services Buffing Bar Miniature Body Gift Set: Volume 1 - ordered. If anyone’s considering buying this or the Soft Services Buffing Bar Exfoliating Body Bar for KP and Ingrown Hair (2 pack) 7.5 oz and hasn’t used these bars before: the blue bar can be very intense if you apply pressure during use. It works great, but try to ease up on the pressure—at least the first few times you use it. The orange affogato bar is milder as its part exfoliant, part moisturizer. Also, these aren’t cleansing bars; use them after you’ve used a cleanser.  

👻 Haunting me:

• TOM FORD Black Lacquer Eau de Parfum  - got my nose on a tester and yeah, now I get the Commes des Garcons Black comparisons. I love how smoky Black Lacquer is but, for me, I don’t think it’s worth its price (even at a 20% discount) when I can go full bottle with CdG for significantly less money. 

🔮 TBD (upcoming releases):

Nothing’s grabbed my eye yet. 

[curlychiquita]

I really enjoy the Jack Black lip balms, @WinglessOne. I hope you like this flavor better!

[WinglessOne]

Thanks @curlychiquita ! I hope so to, because I still need a good (for me) SPF balm to replace Vanicream’s, if they’re not bringing it back. 

[teufel]

I agree. Based on your existing Pat McGrath collection, you don’t need the new holiday palette. The feeling I have is that she’s stepped back from the brand so it’s not as innovative as it used to be. Maybe a good choice for those just getting into the brand but not for those of us who already have a few palettes, especially the large Mothership palettes. Curious about the Jack Black lip balm since I am a lip balm fanatic. What did you not like about the formula? Curious about this scent though. Black tea and blackberry sound like my jam.

[WinglessOne]

@teufel  I read a good article about what’s happening at Pat’s brand… I’ll come back later with the article title when I find it again. Basically, there’s been lots of exec management-level shuffle/exits. At time of article release, Pat was still in creative control. But to me, it seems she’s having to balance that with investor demands. And I think it was that article that mentioned “the average Sephora customer” having lots of trouble using Motherships, particularly the blitz & astral shades; too many palette returns were happening. That last part surprised me, yet also kinda didn’t since I know few people will take the time to read Pat’s how-to descriptions of her shadow formulas. I mean the astrals can be challenging to someone who doesn’t know how they’re meant to be used, or can’t think of other ways to successfully use them. 

About the Jack Black balm: since they’re mostly petrolatum, they should work well. I tried a minty one and it dried my lips out. That was years ago, before I realized my lips hate mint oils. 🤦‍♀️I’m hoping I won’t have that reaction with this one. My usual lip balm is plain ol’ Aquaphor Ointment which (for me) is fantastic, but I want something with UV filters to replace my favorite discontinued SPF balm (Vanicream’s). This Jack Black balm may be a contender.