14. Home for the Holidays
Slatkin & Co. The Perfect Christmas candle in Tree blends notes of vanilla with crisp Douglas fir for an unapologetically seasonal aroma that evokes the scent of cookies baking on Christmas Eve. $16.50; bathandbodyworks.com
15. Like Butter
Clinique Butter Shine Lipstick in Parisian Red (available in December) is as creamy as its moniker suggests. And because the shade is a tad pinker than a classic rouge, it’s especially flattering against fair skin. $14; clinique.com
16. Uncommon Scents
Fledgling New York company Nest Fragrances’ Luxury Votive set of 13 pint-size candles offers an unusually fun assortment of aromas. Quirky combinations such as Moss & Mint, Wasabi Pear, and Wild Oats & Bourbon are surprisingly appealing, while the clove and cinnamon–scented Holiday (shown here) lends a festive
touch to the mix. $98 for the set;
at Neiman Marcus.
17. What a Pill
Florence, Italy, pharmacy brand Santa Maria Novella’s lovely new pillbox is just the thing for storing Aleve or more outlandish remedies like the company’s own anti-hysteria drops (actually a
cinnamon, spearmint and peppermint-flavored lozenge), perfect for taking the edge off the impending arrival of in-laws. $52; lafcony.com
18. Small Packages
Nicky Kinnaird is famous for stocking her Space NK beauty boutiques with a discerning eye. This season, she’s put her nose to the test by designing a new Space NK fragrance line. The four eaux de toilette, including the feminine jasmine-and-amber hybrid Jasamber, are housed in chunky, palm-size bottles that were created in collaboration with design whiz Fabien Baron. $70; spacenk.com
19. Band Together
Bumble and Bumble’s new Bb.Bandball is a slightly more grown-up take on the nostalgic rubber-band ball. The handy
orb is made of 100 brightly
colored hair elastics, and it bounces just like the real thing. $20; bumbleandbumble.com
20. Cool Jewel
Judith Leiber made its name with structural, stone-bedecked minaudières, so it’s no wonder that the company is dressing up its house fragrance in a sparkling pink crystal costume for the holidays. The solid scent, simply called Leiber, is a sophisticated blend of rose, gardenia, mimosa and mandarin notes. $185; at Neiman Marcus.
21. Got the Blues
For Proenza Schouler’s fall 2008 fashion show, makeup artist Dick Page, Shiseido’s creative director, blended teal and blue to create a colorfully exaggerated smoky eye. Shiseido The Makeup Hydro-Powder Eye Shadow in Proenza Schouler Blue captures the pleasing peacock azure that waltzed down the runway. $23; sephora.com
22. Photo Finish
Shu Uemura tapped Japanese photographer Mika Ninagawa to add a high-art bent to its holiday cosmetics collection. Ninagawa, who is known for her liberal use of color, chose an especially cheerful composition for the outside of the Adorned Marguerite eye palette. Inside, rainbow-
bright shadows offer infinite
options for artistic expression.
$65; shuuemura-usa.com
