Holiday 2023 Shopping Advice Thread: What’s in Your Basket?

[TeamBIC]

Holiday 2023 Shopping Advice Thread

If shopping beauty is your passion, it’s your time to shine: the holiday season is here! And in our opinion, it’s never too early to start building that basket! Think of this thread as your ultimate resource for getting – and giving! – unbiased shopping advice for all your gifting needs this season. Or maybe you’re not quite ready to start making a dent in that gift list, and instead want to scoop up a few beauty steals for yourself! Either way, you’ve come to the right place to swap beauty recs, show off your shopping haul, and get help making those hard purchase decisions… and don’t forget to share all your glorious unboxings, swatches, and more! ❄

Reply below and let us know: What are you adding to your basket this holiday season? Be sure to tag any products you mention using the “#” sign!

[CynthieLu]

You made some fun choices for the sale.@beautygurlllll The highlighter by Rare Beauty is so good! 

[missjeanie]

@beautygurlllll Nice variety!  I love the Summer Fridays The Mini Lip Butter Balm Set  and might pick up the set with the mini's to have a few to pass out in stockings. 

[MakeupByJo]

#canadian #fair #dryskin #clean

I am restocking my makeup collection while also transferring into my “winter” makeup rotation. 

concealer 

Tower 28 Beauty Swipe All-Over Hydrating Serum Concealer 4.0 DTLA  

mascara

Saie Mascara 101 Lengthening and Lifting Brown  in brown

Tower 28 Beauty Mini MakeWaves Lengthening + Volumizing Mascara Jet  

bronzer 

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Sun Stalk'r Instant Warmth Bronzer  in Inda Sun 

blush 

bareMinerals Glow Giver Blush & Blonzer Duo 

eyeliner

Kulfi Underlined Kajal Eyeliner Duo 

Setting spray

LYS Beauty LYS Beauty Skin Loyalty Setting Spray 3.38 oz / 100 ml  

[makeitup305]

@MakeupByJo I love both of those Tower 28 products, great picks!

[Guessgal]

@TeamBIC I'm pretty sure every year when this time rolls around, I wonder to myself, "what could I possibly need this time?" Turns out to be quite a lot after casually browsing Sephora's website 🙊

Here's my list so far:

I saw this ad in a subway station in Paris for The INKEY List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm  and it definitely caught my attention, as I didn't know the brand even sold lip products, but a quick search helped me figure out it is very new! So, great job to the Inkey List team bc even though I have quite full lips, now I'm considering it out of pure curiosity 😅

Summer Fridays The Lip Butter Balm Set - I was debating between this one and the mini set, but since this large version sold out already, I guess I mght go with the minis... at least I'll get to try a slew of new flavours! 

Valentino The Rosso Valentino Couture Lipstick Set - Honestly, the nice box with the brand logo is a selling feature haha! But also, I like that these are full size and encompasses refillables to encourage colour switching without as much waste! 👍🏻

Skincare

TULA Skincare No Place Like Chrome Eye Balm Duo Set - This product is new to me, but I want to try if it indeed brightens my undereyes! I used to use undereye patches, but my last ones expired quite quickly and I haven't gotten around to restocking any.

Haircare

Viori Hair Shampoo & Conditioner Bar with Bamboo Holder Set Terrace Garden  - I have been loving shampoo bars lately and the little bar holder is just what I need to keep these dry after showering! Plus, this brand is a bit expensive so this is a great time to save!

Fragrance

KILIAN Paris Miniature Perfume Set  - Okay, I have 3 of the 5 scents already... so it's probably not worth the $300CAD for me to get this, but the mini bottles look so cute 🥺

[Margalee]

@Guessgal I've used the Viori a couple times. At first I thought oh it is waxy on my hair. And my hair soaked up double the amount of ? CC repair? hair cream. But when I styled my hair it was much like when I was in my 20's. I used it again and the waxiness didn't seem as heavy and again my hair was fuller when styled. I am going to continue using it for now and see if any irritation or split ends etc developes. These are heavily scented so if you don't like heavy scents maybe try unscented. It doesn't seem overwhelming once rinsed, my hair smells good but the bars themselves are pretty potent to me. I was a little nervous to use.

[Guessgal]

@Margalee Thank you for the very detailed review! I’m happy to hear that you felt your hair reverted back to more youthful days 😁 And good to know about the potential waxiness… my hair is on the oily side so I hope this doesn’t add to it, but otherwise, it seems like a good shampoo bar!

[Margalee]

@Guessgal We have our sights on similar things, Valentino, Viori, and Kilian. Have you tried Viori yet? There is an offer for a Viori set with purchase. 

[Guessgal]

@Margalee Ooo yaaaay for twinning! 👯‍♀️ Oh, I didn’t know about the GWP on their direct site! No, I haven’t bought from them yet, but since I’m Canadian, it might be easier for me to purchase on Sephora. Would love to hear your thoughts if you end up trying one of the bars!

[GeorginaBT]

@Guessgal Think you just sold me on The INKEY List Tripeptide Plumping Lip Balm  ... not that I need another balm, but ... 😅

[Guessgal]

@GeorginaBT Hahahaha I know what you mean 😉 I was doing some research on the product and it looks like the tripeptide complex helps with promoting collagen production and also contains chia seed oil. The latter are is definitely an unexpected new lip ingredient for me! 🤔

[curlychiquita]

I like the look of the  KILIAN Paris Miniature Perfume Set , @Guessgal!

[Guessgal]

@curlychiquita Yes, I figure it would look magnificent on the vanity 🤩

@makeitup305 Fingers crossed we can snag them!!🤞🏻I’ve been dying to try at least one flavour haha

@missjeanie No, I haven’t tried this brand yet, but I’ve tried shampoo bars from another brand and I think it cleanses well and like @Cissy63 mentioned below, it’s super for travel! Also, saves space in the liquids bag for other goodies 😉

[makeitup305]

@Guessgal did you manage to pick up any sets? So many of them sold out super fast. I had to drive far to do an in-store pickup of the Summer Fridays one. They had so many of the full-size trio sets! I think they got the stock for the whole city instead of just theirs lol

[missjeanie]

Travel was exactly what I was thinking of @Guessgal !  A girl needs that liquids space! lol

[makeitup305]

@Guessgal I'm eyeing the Summer Fridays sets, too. Kohls still had the full size one last time I checked so I'm hoping it'll still be around on Friday.

[missjeanie]

@Guessgal Have you tried the Viori shampoo bars yet?  I've eyed them a few times but haven't yet tried. 

[Cissy63]

@missjeanie  I brought a set to our RV camp trailer this past season.  I really liked both the shampoo and conditioner bars.  The shampoo made a great lather and my hair liked it.  The conditioner worked really good too.  I may get another set in the spring sale.  The set was space saving for the trailer 🥰

[missjeanie]

@Cissy63 I love that idea!  I'm hoping that they could decrease my plastic bottles and be a good idea for travel.  I remember trying shampoo bars years ago from Lush, they were great... except for watching all my hair dye go down the drain lol

[Margalee]

Hopefully Valentino's LE lipstick undressed velvet will be back in soon. It already sold out! Roman grace is in every LE set so would be a bit excess if you are considering buying a LE set. 

I did plan to buy the one that sold out.

[Kiles]

Oh man… I really don’t NEED anything haha… but here are a few goodies I have my eyes on:
 
Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Pure Retinol Express Smoothing Eye Mask 12 Packettes x 2 Sheets  
these are sooo good but so pricey
 
COLOR WOW Money Mask Deep Hydrating & Strengthening Hair Treatment 7.5 oz/ 215 mL  
heard so many good things and love all the other products I’ve tried!

PATRICK TA Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo She's Wanted  
I realllllly want this shade but it’s currently sold out!
 
SEPHORA COLLECTION Velour Makeup Face Puff 
these look so nice and soft
 
HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Eye Library Talc-Free Eyeshadow Palette 
ummm Lady Gaga eyeshadow-yes please-and it’s limited edition so need to snatch it!!!
 
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Butta Drop Refillable Warm Cinnamon Shimmering Whipped Oil Body Cream 6.7 oz / 200 mL  
this sounds like it would smell good enough to eat!!



Givenchy Prisme Libre Loose Powder Highlighter 10 Organza Or  
Love their blushes! Wanna try this!
 
PATRICK TA Major Headlines Matte Suede Lipstick Blushing  
a perfect nude pink matte!
 
I shop too much and already own a lot of holiday releases I wanted so these are still on my radar! Excited to see everyone’s wishlists!