Gorgeous last minute gifts for under $50

If you're stuck for a gift to give last minute and are on a bit of a budget I highly recommend one of these:

For girls who love makeup and like to experiment with color, you can't get better than this: 78 Color Eyeshadow & Blush Combination and it's only $25.00!! The colors are amazing and go on beautifully. I have this and got one for my friend for her birthday too.

Give the gift of beautiful skin Murad Acne Complex Kit/ for problem skin ($80 Value) 60 day supply. This kit is great value at only $45.00.

For calming down after the hectic holiday season how about this for the women in your family Serenity Gift by LUSH. They can escape to the peace and quiet of the bathroom for an hour and pamper themselves. $34.95.

For party hair, give them Jonathan Dirty and Flirty Kit http://www.jonathanproduct.com/ this little beauty contains Travel size Silky Dirt Shine & Define Crème, Shimmer Silky Dirt in Soft Pink and in Golden Glow, perfect for New Years Eve hair and is on offer now at $20.00 (20% discount)!

This next gift is one I'd LOVE! I've bought these before and am hoping someone will give me a Sephora gift card for Christmas so I can get one! Sephora Favorites LashStash Mascara Deluxe Sampler ($104 Value) LashStash Mascara Deluxe Sampler It's $39.00 for 10 mini mascaras.

For a quick and easy tan (I used this before I went out last night and it was amazing!) get Fake Bake Instant Self-Tanning Spray Air Brush 207ml/7oz. It goes on fast and dries even quicker giving an instant tan that deepens over a few hours. $29.95

Candles make a great gift, I love them and have many around my house (be careful to blow them out though!) I recently was sent this one Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange 10.5oz Boxed Candle and it smells so good I want to eat it! At only $19.50 it's great value and they do a lot of other great scents too.

Another bathtime treat that is sure to transport you to the tropics (if only in your daydreams) isPure Fiji Spa Pure Fiji Coconut Milk Bath Soak-Coconut Infusion (16 oz) I love this line of products. The coconut smell is gorgeous and they make your skin sooo soft. $29.95.

A great and inforamtive beauty read is Liz Earle's Natural Beauty Kit $35.00 and is the gift that keeps on giving - giving great skin that is!

(some of the above brands were provided to me and some I bought)

Inflight beauty

As it's getting close to the time of year most people travel home for the holidays, I thought I'd let you in to a few of my secrets on how to arrive looking great, even after a long haul flight.

I travel a lot for work and like to be comfortable and for it all to go as smoothly as possible. So to start with, I always make sure I have a few essentials with me:

• My own pillow - I like to try and get some sleep and those little pillows they give out just won't do! Take your own and even if you don't sleep it's far more comfortable to lean on!
• A wrap or throw - I use the blanket they give out on my feet and legs, they are a bit scratchy so like to have my own wrap to put around my upper body to keep me warm.
• Noise cancelling headphones - their headphones don't usually work so well. My ones also block out the sound of all the commotion around me so I can sleep or catch up on movies in peace!
• A big bottle of water - get this after you've passed security and sip throughout the flight to keep you hydrated. I also like to bring a packet of Glowelle http://www.glowelle.com/ to add to it to give my skin a boost.
• Fruit - you can make a fruit salad at home or bring pieces with you. These also help to keep you hydrated and is better for you than all the salty snacks the crew pass around. Be sure to eat it all or get rid of it before you land though - you can be fined for bringing it in to other countries!
• Makeup remover wipes - I like to take my makeup off after I've gotten on to the plane. Wipes pass the security measures too.
• A bag with travel sized beauty products - I put my beauty travel items in a clear plastic bag before I leave the house. It enables you to pass security quicker as they are already together and within the limits of what you are allowed to take on.
• I bring: Liz Earle http://www.lizearle.com/ Instant Boost Skin Tonic - the travel size of this comes in a handy little spray bottle. I spritz with this throughout the flight to stop my skin from drying out.
• Arcona http://www.arcona.com/ Peptide Eye Serum from the Four Your Eyes Only kit. The serum helps repair and moisturize the eye area and also helps depuff, ideal after a long flight. The rest of the kit is great for travel too, I keep it in my checked baggage for the rest of my trip!
• Talika Eye Decompress http://www.talika.com/ These amazing little eye masks are in tablet form that you immerse in the liquid they come with. They transform into an instantly cooling and soothing mask that refreshes tired eyes and helps smooth fine lines. I put one under my sleep mask (www.dreamessentials.com do great ones that are molded so they don't press against your eyes) just before the lights come back on!
• Janson Beckett http://www.janson-beckett.com/ Alpha Derma CE comes in a small bottle too so that you can take this on with you. I moisturize with this at the start of the flight when I've removed my makeup, it keeps your skin from looking dry and tight at the end of your flight.
• Orlane http://www.orlane.com/ Morning Recovery Concentrate is a miracle in a little bottle! Just before you reapply your makeup at the end of the flight, apply this and give it a minute to work. It revs up circulation and gives you a glow making you look like you slept even if you didn't! It's also non greasy so you can put your makeup on straight over it.
• Colorescience Pro http://www.colorescience.com/ Lip Serum looks like a gloss so it does double duty, but is really an intensive treatment for dry, parched lips.
• Jonathan http://www.jonathanproduct.com/ Pocket Redo freshen up wipes are an ingenious product! They not only freshen your skin but are for use on your hair too. Removing smells and grease and leaving a subtle scent. Perfect for 'redoing' your hair just before you deplane.
• Pacifica http://www.pacificaperfume.com/ have a great selection of solid perfumes. I like to take these onboard as obviously they pass regulation and don't offend other passengers by clouding the air! Leave the plane smelling as sweet as you got on with a quick swipe of this behind the ears and on the wrists.

With these tips and products you can arrive looking as great as when you left, even after an 11 hour flight - I do this a lot!

Party ready - straight from work

I missed out on an opportunity tonight to go the Dancing with the Stars finale with Terri Seymour because I wasn't prepared at a moment's notice. It will NEVER happen again because I will always have a party kit on me! Here is how to get ready at a moment's notice and what to have in your desk/car to make sure you look amazing in 15 minutes:

Makeup sponges: Use these to smooth out and blend any smudges or greasy areas that have occured during the day.

Rosewater Balancing Mist by Jurlique http://www.jurlique.com/ : Spray a light mist over your whole face and neck to freshen your skin and let dry for a few seconds.

Photo Op Under Eye Brightener by Smashbox Cosmetics http://www.smashbox.com/ : Sweep this under your eyes, on your cheek and brow bones for a quick brightening effect that makes you look awake.

Disappear Smoothing Concealer by Estee Lauder http://www.esteelauder.com/ : Cover any blemishes with this highly pigmented, non creasing concealer and if you need any extra help under your eyes, blend a little there too.

Hello Flawless Powder Foundation by Benefit Cosmetics http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/ : This is my saviour! Great skin in an instant. Using the sponge that comes with it, apply this all over your face or just where you need a little help.

Opaline Creme Eye Definer by Three Custom Color in Aurora http://www.threecustom.com/ : This is a gorgeous black eyeliner shot through with blue opalescence that makes all eyes look brighter. You can define with a strong line using a pointy brush or blend out for a smokier look.

Diorshow Mascara in Black by Dior http://www.dior.com/ : One coat of this will thicken and lengthen your lashes.

Eyebrow Manicure by Shu Uemura http://www.shuuemura-usa.com/ : This is my latest find and I won't go anywhere without it now! It's a colored brow get that really does darken and hold your brows in shape all night and it's so fast to apply.

Mineral Bronzer by Tarte in Hotel Heiress http://www.tarte.com/ : Dust this lightly all over your face or just on your cheekbones for some glowing definition.

10 Years Younger Makeup Finish Spray by Skindinavia http://www.skindinavia.com/ : This sets your makeup all night and stops it creasing and looking dull, perfect if you've had a long day!

Quikee toothpaste and gum by Supersmile http://www.supersmile.com/ : These freshen your breath and whiten your smile without a drop of water in sight! The gum is in separate little packages of two pieces, perfect to keep in your purse or pocket.

Glossy Pencil by Lipstick Queen http://www.lipstickqueen.com/ : This makes defining and glossing your lips a cinch. My favorite color is Chinatown Crime - a bright pink that is a great party shade but not too shocking for those that usually steer away from color.

Straight and Curl hair irons by UBe http://www.defabulous.com/ : These are amazing! Tiny little irons that can straighten or curl and they heat up to 410 F in 10 seconds! Makes refreshing your style extremely quick and easy.

Keep it all in a little makeup case in your car or desk. I have the Mitte Case by Face Stockholm http://www.facestockhom.com/ which has several different compartments and a space for brushes but is big enough to carry all your essentials. I keep all Terri Seymour's personal makeup in one!

For the final finish I like to carry a solid perfume in my purse. Saves carrying a big bottle and any spills you might have. I love Lotus Garden Solid Perfume by Pacifica http://www.pacificaperfume.com/ it smells like you're on vacation - something you need during the cold Winter nights!

I will keep a little black dress and heels in my car too and will be ready for the next time!