With Christmas weeks away, I'm feeling festive, despite the fact that it's unseasonably warm outside. The holidays are about spending time with family and friends, making memories, giving back, and having fun. (Champagne, anyone?) I love that I can spend the entire month shopping—guilt-free! (Some gifts to give, and some gifts for me... what? A girl needs a new dress and shoes for the parties!)
I've put together a gift guide to make shopping stress-free this holiday season. There is something here for everyone on your list! I talked about these great products on Daytime and on CTV Morning Live... and here are the details (and link to the segment.)
LOULOU'S 2015 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Beauty, Hair, Skin Care and Fashion
Caudalie: Caudalie is a skin care company from France and I have been using their new Resveratrol LIFT collection for over a month. The results? Amazing. This formula help firm skin while stimulating the production of collagen. Caudalie has come out with two limited edition gift sets for the holidays to pamper and protect skin—perfect gift to give! You can shop Caudalie at Caudalie.com.
Clarisonic.ca: The Clarisonic is the best invention for skin care. It's incredibly powerful but not exfoliating, so you can use it on your face every single day—and I do. Clarisonic delivers a deep-skin clean that actually cleans 11 times better than hands alone, and the new Clarisonic Smart Profile is for the face and body—a first! The brush head modifies to each person's skin, and cleans only where it needs to. To shop, visit Clarisonic.ca.
I've put together a gift guide to make shopping stress-free this holiday season. There is something here for everyone on your list! I talked about these great products on Daytime and on CTV Morning Live... and here are the details (and link to the segment.)
LOULOU'S 2015 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Beauty, Hair, Skin Care and Fashion
Caudalie: Caudalie is a skin care company from France and I have been using their new Resveratrol LIFT collection for over a month. The results? Amazing. This formula help firm skin while stimulating the production of collagen. Caudalie has come out with two limited edition gift sets for the holidays to pamper and protect skin—perfect gift to give! You can shop Caudalie at Caudalie.com.
La Mer: Nordstrom, as you probably already know, is my favourite department store, and I've been faithfully shopping at Nordstrom for years. Since Nordstrom opening in Ottawa, I've been there at least once or twice a week, shopping my heart out. La Mer has some incredible gifts sets that everyone would appreciate under the Christmas tree this year—and I'm addicted to the eye concentrate cream and the La Mer classic moisturizer. Both work miraculously well on my skin, and smell delicious, too. It's worth the price, believe me. I believe taking care of your skin should start in your 30's! (Also a great gift idea from Nordstrom Ottawa: The Laura Mercier body souffle. With different scents, you're sure to find one that's perfect for you! I'm addicted to the Almond Coconut Milk Butter.)
Kerastase Canada: Kerastase products are the ultimate in hair care. I love the new Parfum Oil Chronologiste—this serum smells delicious and keeps my hair smelling great all day long. I can't get enough of the distinctive fragrances and exceptional formulas for all hair types, and Kerastase truly helps heal and protect my damaged hair. To shop, go to Kerastase.com.
Lise Watier: I'm ashamed to admit just how many lipsticks I own... but I don't think I'm alone in my love for lipstick, right? Lise Watier makes gorgeous shades of lipstick that are long-lasting, and super moisturizing, too. From eye shadow to bronzing powder and beautiful shades of lipstick, Lise Watier Cosmetics is an excellent gift choice. Available at Hudson's Bay and Shoppers Drug Mart.
Adidas Golf: If you love to golf, or know someone who is a golf lover, then you'll want to gift the new line from Adidas Golf—for men and women, the new golf shirts, stretch pants, vests, and golf shoes are simply fabulous and are guaranteed to get you in the mood to golf, even if you're just beginning! I love the soft pastel colours for women.
ALEX AND ANI: Jewellery for Christmas? You just can't go wrong giving someone a new ALEX AND ANI bracelet. I love the new ALEX AND ANI Claddagh bracelet, and the snowflake bracelet is cute, too. Their retro glam collection is perfect for the holidays. Shop www.alexandani.com.
Hadry: Here's a unique gift to give someone heading somewhere warm this winter. I love swimming in the ocean and pool when I'm on vacation, but I hate ruining a perfectly good blow-dry, and putting my hair in a ponytail doesn't always cut it. Hadry is a great beach fashion accessory you wear to protect your hair, keeping it dry and fashionable. It also protects from UV rays, which is a bonus. Hadry is available in different patters and colours, so you can find one perfect for you... to match your bathing suit and bikini. There are two styles: the Bun and Scarf, for two different looks. I can't wait to rock mine this winter in Florida!
Books, toys and treats
Chapters-Indigo: I spend hours in Chapters-Indigo every week. Spending time in a book store is my favourite thing to do, and my boys love playing in the children's section. Books are number one on my wish list. The books I'm gifting this year? Furiously Happy, In The Unlikely Event, Hemingway In Love, and Everything I Never Told You.
For the kids? The new BB-8 App enabled Droid by Sphero is awesome, and brings The Force Awakens to your home. Chapters-Indigo also has an incredible collection of baby toys and LEGO for the older kids.
Purdy's Chocolates: Give me books and chocolates and there's nothing else I need! Seriously, Purdy's makes my favourite chocolates. These delicious, hand-crafted chocolates are perfect for every chocolate lover in your family. The classic hedgehogs, the chocolate covered nuts, the sea salt caramels—they are all so yummy! I think the Warm Holidays Wishes Book Tin is a great gift to give a teacher, too. You can shop Purdy's at Rideau Centre and Place D'Orleans, as well as online at Purdys.com.
Nintendo Canada: I still remember the Christmas my sister and I got our first Nintendo. We spent the day playing Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt in our basement. Now, I love giving everything Nintendo to my boys because they love everything video games. The new Nintendo 3DS XL is going to be a huge hit this holiday season for so many kids... big and small. (And check out the new Yo-Kai Watch game, too—a perfect stocking stuffer to go with the Nintendo 3DS XL!)
Disney Jr. The Disney Junior channel returned to Canada earlier this month, making many children very happy, and just in time for the holidays, too! The kids can get reunited with their favourite characters, and bring home the fun, too. There is something for every child and their unique personality: gifts for the adventurer, gifts for the fashionista, and gifts for the nurturer. For more information, check out DisneyJunior.ca.
Katerina Mertikas colouring book: My mom is an incredibly talented and well-loved artist, and this year, she came out with her own adult colouring book. The book is selling fast online at Zen Coloring Pages, so if you want a copy before Christmas, I suggest you order yours now... and have fun drawing like Katerina.
Hamilton Beach: I love making my boys smoothies in the morning, or whenever, really and this new blender my Hamilton Beach makes the perfect gift for anyone.
Gifts that give back:
Hudson's Bay Tolmie: The Hudson's Bay Company Foundation introduces the 11th Annual Heritage Charity Bear, Tolmie. Benefiting charities across Canada, 100% net proceeds from the sale of each bear support the HBC Foundation's Strength In Stripes program. You can shop Tolmie at Hudson's Bay.
The Olympic Collection 2016 Canada Red Mittens is also a must-have gift to give and receive, and 30% of the sales go towards the Canadian Olympic Foundation.
UNICEF Canada: The holidays are all about giving, and any gift that gives back to charity and to children is a worthwhile gift to receive and to give. This year, purchase a UNICEF survival gift like water purification tablets, a vaccine pack, blankets for babies, or a water pump. There are many great options on UNICEF.ca.
Glama Girls: Glama Girls is a spa that caters to young people who want to have a fun spa experience, and Glama Girls also sells nail polish that is safe for kids, made in Canada, non-toxic, odourless, and easy to peel off—the perfect stocking stuffer for the younger kids! They also sell delicious smelling bath bombs. Best part? One dollar from each nail polish goes to Because I Am A Girl.
No matter who you're shopping for this holiday season, I hope you found something here that's perfect to gift... or keep for yourself! If you have any questions about any of these products, just email me.
Happy shopping... and Happy holidays!
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