Holiday Shopping - Ulta

The annual influx of holiday catalogs flooding my mailbox started about a week or so ago. While online shopping is a great way to avoid the holiday season mall crowds, sometimes it can be difficult to quickly browse through a website to find the perfect gift. For that, I still love old-fashioned, printed catalogs. You can quickly flip through them, looking for what catches your eye - circle your favorites, add notes, rip out pages, etc. So, I thought it would be a fun idea to start a new blog feature: gift guides based on my favorite catalog finds. My goal is to choose my favorites from every catalog that graces my mailboxes - we'll see if I can do it!

First up: Ulta Beauty. This catalog is for all the "girly girls" on your holiday shopping list! Here are my favorites:

Woodwick Candle in Cashmere - you can never go wrong with a candle, but to keep things from getting too dull (i.e. the ever ubiquitous Yankee Candle jar), Woodwick candles crackle when they burn, creating - in the Words of the Ulta catalog - "the soothing sound of a crackling fire." Working from a bigger budget? Pair the candle with a cashmere scarf!


For the makeup lover - Benefit Cosmetics Celebutante Set. This is the perfect gift for the sister or friend who is always trying new makeup. With pocket-sized portions of Benetint and High Beam, two of the brand's most well-known products, and Dallas - in my opinion one of the best bronzer's out there (I use it all summer to give my face a sunny glow), this set is sure to please.


For your friend who always has perfect nails - Burt's Bees Polka Dot Perfect Mani Pedi Set. This set has all sorts of cremes for hands and feet and a cute bumble bee print nail file. With many people "going natural" and trying to avoid chemicals in their makeup and skincare, Burt's Bees is a great brand to choose if you're not so sure of the recipient's preferences.


Finally, a classic that needs no explaining - Chanel No. 5. In fact, it's such a classic that it's not available on Ulta's website! So you'll have to head to your local Ulta store. I, however, might suggest going to the Chanel store instead and having it gift wrapped? That would make such a special and classic gift all the more special don't you think?