I buy a lot of them to review, so I do receive in that fashion, but I explicitly tell everyone who might be a gift-giver to not purchase anything beauty-related for me! Occasionally, if I see just the right set, and it’s backed by a good value, I’ll purchase it for friends/family – usually skincare or body care.
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No, I don’t really have any other makeup lovers in my life. But I’ve done a group purchase of a holiday mini lipstick set with several of my coworkers for the past couple years.
Years ago, when my friends’ daughters were younger (teens, early 20’s and still in school), I bought holiday gift sets from Philosophy and similar companies that offered nice bath/shower sets that often included lip balms as well for them. They’re all older now and “launched” so the exchanges of holiday gifts to the younger generation has stopped. And I wouldn’t presume to buy a holiday gift set of makeup or skin care for my adult friends who have their own tastes and preferences. I’d sure be happy to receive either the Tatcha or Kerastase gift sets you just posted, though!
My mom always gives me some type of Holiday set… but it is usually a whole kit of different lip products or last year I got the full range of mini chubby sticks (which was great because I used them all and ended up buying quite a few full sizes of my favorites). Other than that I don’t get or give holiday sets. My friends and family are specific (mom only wants mattes, friend only wants neutral shimmers, etc) and I’d rather get products with quality I’ve tested myself or trust vs trying out a holiday palette where you never quite know what you’ll get. I, however, am game to try any makeup someone gives me 😉
Give, now only if it’s relevant on 2 aspects, like airstream + Hula or pineapple + fruit salad. I used to get occasionally. Suspect my WL was too HE for most folks to consider. Plus, if that person had been to my house, he/she would know I needed nothing.
I don’t give them because I don’t have anybody to give them to; I only buy them for myself. I love the Holiday packaging!
I don’t receive any and typically anything that comes in a gift set or more like gift pack is just bought so they can cross my name off of a list without any thought to my preferences so into the donation bin it goes.
No–I am alone among my loved ones in my makeup love. /sigh
Me, too. It’s kind of depressing.
I buy them for myself.
Because of postage costs and my family having everything, a decision was made a year or so ago to limit holiday gifts to around $100 or so per person. Mainly gift cards now and a little stocking stuffer type gift. I might tuck in some samples my sister might like.
Bath and Body Works and The Body Shop usually have sales and I might buy some small gift sets for coworkers or break up a set and give a hand cream and hand sanitizer as part of a gift, They are usually safer in terms of fragrance than say some Winners/TJ Max sets.
I sometimes indulge in the Lancôme holiday train case purchase with purchase. Other than that, it is hit and miss with me for holiday sets.
I usually get at least one or two for my daughter and they are usually the perfume sets or sometimes a lipstick set if I think the majority of colors will work for her. I also have picked up skin care sets if there are products that I know she might like to try. Other than that, I really don’t buy them. As others have said, there is usually some shade of lipstick that I will never use or in my case, more than one shade. I do like trying the perfume sets but lately it seems like it is the same scents offered every year so I haven’t even purchased those the last couple of years
I never buy perfume sets for myself (I’m very specific with perfume), but my mom likes almost any perfume. She actually prefers having a bag of minis, she likes to use something different each time; she always gets excited by my `trash bag` of Sephora samples. This year Sephora wasn’t as bad with sending perfume samples when the ones I select aren’t available (and I made fewer orders) so I might end up needing to buy one of the perfume gift sets. She’ll be disappointed if I don’t gift her at least 10 minis. 😆
Neither one! But I do occasionally buy one for myself as a treat. Especially bath/shower/skin type sets or the Sephora skincare sample jumbo size set.
I love giving beauty things. My neighbor and stepdaughters are recipients of my destashes. I suspect my SiL will be this year as everyone is coming here for Christmas.
I love shopping for my stepdaughters for birthdays and holidays. I usually get them a nice palette (crossing fingers for PMG six pans) and a few gift sets. Last year I got my more aritistic one a Glam Glow mask set and the other a Peter Thomas Roth set. My friend who doesn’t wear a lot of make up I got a Sephora Favorite skin care set and she is hooked now on Fresh masks. My neighbor who just beat breast cancer, I love getting her pampering bath sets. She’s crazy for the BumBum lotion so I will be getting her that set.
I can’t wait for my nieces to get older too.
I always said that I can’t wait for my sister to get older so I can gift her skincare / bodycare / make-up … turns out that buying presents for a child is way easier than a teenager that changes styles / preferences each 6 months. 😆
Your family and neighbours are very, very lucky to have you in their family/circle of friends. What a kind and generous person you are.
I’m very specific with my make-up and skincare, so people who know me know better than not to gift me holiday sets. 😀
Usually I visit my family back in Europe at the end of November, so I actually purchase holiday sets (especially ones with mini) and make customized `goodie` gifts for my mom, my sister (lately, as she became a teenager), my brother’s girlfriend and my best friend from college. It ends up usually being a good deal, especially if the Sephora fall sale happens in time.
No on both. Most people I know aren’t into makeup. It’s fun when I can buy makeup for someone, though! My husband and sons will get sets for me as birthday or holiday gifts if I request them. Nobody else gives me gifts, so unless my family or I get them, I don’t receive them.
It’s exactly the same in our household Rachel, I have, in the past, put up a little list behind the bathroom door as to ‘mum’s Christmas wishlist” so they know what I would like.
Years ago, when I was a uni student, I worked at the Estee Lauder beauty counter in a major dept. store and a few days before Christmas, all these guys would come in wanting some presents for their wives, girlfriends, mothers and sisters. They had some very strange notions about what their female relatives would like and I had to work very hard to try and find out which fragrance/beauty product would work best for whom. The guys had no idea.
LOL Most guys are clueless about women’s gifts. My husband is usual awful if I don’t give him a list from which to choose things. My kids are pretty good at it, though. Hubby usually takes the kids gift shopping for me, so I just make a list they all can choose from.
There were a few years where my husband was working so much overtime I had to buy my own presents, though. Hubby let the boys pick what to give me, helped them wrap them, and just let them think he’d bought them and that I’d totally be surprised. Whatever got us through the holidays! LOLOLOL
I really love getting holiday sets for my daughter. My family all know that I am a makeup fanatic. And so they often have tried to get me beauty products for the holidays. I wish they would not, and should let them know. Like Christine has said before, if you are a long term makeup fan, it’s very hard for others to ‘get it right.’ Even if they know your brand. When my daughter was newer to makeup she was thrilled over any set I bought her. Now she has become like me and has her own distinct favorites. So now I am leaning away from that. It was so fun while it lasted.
And I should clarify, by saying ‘get it right,’ I mean for me personally. I think that is what Christine meant by not wanting beauty gifts from family.
I know what you mean Renee, which is why I tend to pick out the beauty/skincare sets myself for my family to give me as presents. I would not get my friends any beauty products because they are not interested in them. So I pick the bodycare products from brands that I know that they use and love as presents for them.
With my daughter in law, she usually lets me know what kind of beauty products she needs (mascara, foundation) and skincare products so I get her exactly what she needs and likes.
Hi Genevieve! It takes away the element of surprise a bit, but I agree with you in that it’s the only way to go. It’s disappointing to get something that is completely not you that will be exchanged or doomed to sit in a drawer. Maybe giving them a broad list of the ‘right’ brands/shades to avoid this and keep some surprise there?
I often purchase skincare products and sets with good value during the holiday season. They are usually for myself as I don’t have many enthusiasts on my list. I do purchase holiday fragrances sets as gifts
I often give holiday sets, usually skincare or bodycare, only to my closest girlfriends and daughter in law for Christmas and birthdays. The bodycare sets go to my friends and the skincare ones go to my daughter in law. It depends on their personal preferences and the travel minis work well with my friends as they travel quite a bit.
I tend to ‘order’ some for myself as presents from my sons and husband, as otherwise they would have absolutely no idea what I would like.
I used to get the lip sets, break them up and gift them separately but not anymore. It just wasn’t received as well as I thought it would. I gave coffee/tea mugs last year. Everyone was happier with that gift. I try to keep it easy for myself and get everyone the same thing that they all will probably like & use.