Beauty Splurges & Steals: Insiders' Tips

Sure, all those ads say "give the gift of beauty this holiday season" but that's easier said than done.

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Beauty products are deeply personal. Take lipstick, for instance. One person's pretty is another person's trampy. And the line between classy and trashy is pretty fine when it comes to perfume.

So, what's a poor gift-giver to do? Fear not. Beauty editors at women's magazines spend their days thinking about this stuff, and that's why we talked to the best of the best to get their take on the most fabulous sure-to-please stocking stuffers and splurge beauty gifts for the holidays.

Victoria Kirby, Beauty Editor, Allure magazine

There's no end to the number of beauty stocking stuffers you could pick out for the holidays but Allure's beauty editor, Victoria Kirby, offered a can't miss suggestion from Sephora.

The makeup emporium offers a five-brush set that comes in a faux black crocodile round hard case ($45). "I love it, because brushes can get smushed and bent, but this is a hard case, very stylish and small enough that you can just throw in your bag."

And for a splurge, try the Frederic Malle Editions de Parfum 14-piece gift set ($325). "His fragrances are beautiful and unique," said Kirby.

In the wishful-thinking-but-you-never-know" category, Kirby suggested the $18,000 hand-stitched Goyard train case stuffed full of Lancome makeup products, 36 pieces in fact, hand selected by makeup guru Gucci Westman. "There aren't going to be many people who have the guts to put this on their Christmas list." Maybe not. But you never know.

Liesa Goins, Beauty Editor, Women's Health magazine

Goins picked the Tarte Ready-to-Wear/Pret-a-Porter Dual Look Palette that comes in a hard black case with a mix of eye, cheek and lip color ($44). Victoria's Secret also offers a few stocking-size gifts. Check out the Supermodel Mini Gloss Set - a set of 4 lip gloss minis. ($19.50)

For a beauty splurge, Goins loves Spa-addicts.com. You can buy a gift certificate in any amount, good at spas all over the country so you don't have to worry about finding that perfect place. "It's a fabulous way to get a great gift with minimal effort," said Goins.