Invisibobble Hair Ties | You can never have too many hair ties, and these protect from breakage and creases while also being sweat proof for the gym goer in your life.
Beautycounter Clean Deoderant Minis | A great option for the clean beauty lover! I just ordered these, and can't wait to try them. The set comes with four mini deodorants so they're easy to split up into stockings if you have more than one stocking to fill.
Tula Cooling & Brightening Eye Balm | One of Tula's best selling products, and a favorite in my collection. This eye balm hydrates, cools, and helps reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles. I like to apply this before the gym in the morning on a bare face, as well as over my makeup for a subtle highlight.
Klavuu Lip Sleeping Pack | Hands down the best lip mask on the market and it is currently 30% off with code BRIGHT30 making it $10.50. These sell out quickly! Moisturizes lips long term, and feels silky and smooth upon application.
Tula Beauty Gummy Vitamins | Not only do these taste good, they work! This comes with a two week supply of beauty gummies that support healthy skin, promote hair and nail growth, and include pro/prebiotics to calm bloating. Use code THECHEEKYBEEN for 15% off.
Knee High Butter Socks | The perfect cozy and warm winter gift for relaxing around the house.
Ivory Leopard Face Mask | I get so many compliments on this mask! For under $20 this makes the perfect practical stocking stuffer gift.
Miracle Face Eraser | An Amazon find and a great gift option for the sustainable one in your life. This cloth washes away a face full of makeup by simply adding water. Rinse, wash, and repeat - making it a more environmentally friendly option than makeup wipes.
One Step Makeup Remover Wipes | Perfect for the girl on the go! Gentle enough to use on your face and eyes every day, oil and fragrance free, and another clean beauty product. These also provide hydration and are a great starting point for people who aren't regimented with a skincare routine yet.
The second gift guide in my holiday edit is for the fitness enthusiast. We all have that one friend that is fitness obsessed. They know every instructor by name, own all the latest and greatest gear, and their athleisure collection far outweighs the rest of their wardrobe. So what do you get the fitness junkie? Lucky for you, this is my personality type -- so I've rounded up the most useful and unique gift options that are sure to please (speaking from personal experience, here).
Yoga Mat | Pretty and functional! One of my favorite Amazon finds to date. Being that so many of us are working out at home, it was time to invest in a new yoga mat. We have this next to our Peloton, so when my ride is over, I hop onto the mat and start a strength class. It's durable, pretty to look at, and great quality! A good option for anyone working out from home during the pandemic, any Peloton app users, or yoga lovers.
Apple iWatch | I'm not the only fitness fanatic in my circle and all the girls (except myself) own an Apple watch. The fitness features are endless, and a great motivational tool to help reach your daily fitness goals.
Dr. Scholl’s Performance Sized to Fit Running Insole | For the runner in your life! This is a unique gift option that most people wouldn't think to add to a xmas wishlist. Runners are always looking for the one thing that will help them run longer, go faster, and without injury - these are an awesome addition to their running game, and a great stocking stuffer!
Sweat Proof Hair Ties | You can never have too many of these! They are much better for your hair than the average hair tie, don't leave dents and creases, and don't get soaked with sweat. Another great stocking stuffer!
Weighted Jump Rope | A great cardio add that can be used at home, thrown into a backpack for at the gym, and works wonders for building strength and toning arms. The personal trainer I worked out with for years always incorporated a weighted jump rope into our routine, now you can provide a little PT for your favorite fitness lover at home.
Lululemon Leggings | A cult favorite. You can never go wrong here. A solid pair of leggings are a must, and if you're an avid gym goer - you know you can't ever have too many quality leggings. Wear, wash, repeat!
Self Cleaning Water Bottle | I love a reusable water bottle, but I hate how difficult they are to clean. They get dirty quickly, and with repetitive daily use germs can manifest. This is a bit of a splurge, but such a cool and unique gift! The bottle self-sanitizes the water and bottle via a built-in light. Definitely an idea for the one who has everything!
Smart Scale | Use code CHEEKYBEEN20 for 20% off of this one. I have this and absolutely love all the features it provides! I used to pay Orange Theory to run a full body scan periodically for me so I could keep track of measurements like body fat percentages, body mass index, water weight etc. This scale does all of that from home! If you have any Orange Theory lovers to shop for, I bet they'd like this!
Ankle Weights | These can also be worn around the wrist, and are fully adjustable for a little extra oomph to your daily walk or workout routine. Another item we used frequently in personal training sessions that double as great gear for at home. Lifting and toning, here you come!
In a recent poll on Instagram Stories, I asked you all what gift guides you would be most interested in seeing this year, and the answer was almost unanimously the same across the board: gifts for men. Requests ranged from gift guides for the husband, to gift guides for dad, to guides for the man who has everything. So, I went to work and did a little digging with the men in my life to figure out what they valued most. The answer from most of them was fairly similar no matter what category they fell in (dad, husband, boyfriend, friend) - men want items that are useful in their day to day life, and items they may not necessarily buy for themselves.
What is the best gift for a man?
Look for items that are thoughtful and useful. Something he may not buy for himself, but that are both practical and useful in every day life. A perfect of example of this is the Swanky Badger personalized wallet. I've gifted this to both my dad, and my husband, and both of them listed this as a gift they valued most when I asked. Not only do they both use the wallet daily, it symbolizes my relationship with them via the personalized message on the inside which makes it a unique option.
What is the best gift for the guy who has everything?
Experiences. Answers ranged from ski trips, to trips to Hawaii, to season tickets to their favorite sports teams. These are also things a man is less likely to spend money on himself. I've done this as an anniversary gift for Shane in the past, and the memories are the gift that keeps on giving.
What are good budget friendly gifts for a man?
The best smaller gifts for a man again, are items they use daily but may not buy themselves regularly. Think cologne, work socks, a nice tie for work, nicer boxers or briefs, or even a good chess board like this best selling one on Amazon. Believe it or not, both Shane and his best friend love to play Chess at the airbnb's we've rented in the past over a glass of whiskey after dinner.
In need of something in a hurry? Check out my Amazon finds here.
Top 5 Gifts For Dad
Starting this list with the top gift options for your dad. Here you'll find practical gifts that dad's appreciate and use year round with creative options to show that you care. Afterall, he's the guy whose been there for you through it all.
This customizable wallet is sure to make him proud. Wether he is one to brag or not, the personalized message inside is an unexpected but welcomed surprise that makes this a memorable and useful win.
This personalized vegan leather phone wallet is the perfect choice! Add the initials of your choice, and a message on the inside and make it a memorable gift for the minimalist who doesn't like to carry a phone and wallet in their pocket.
Us ladies love our Lululemon, but the men do too! My dad's favorite "weekend" pants are the Lululemon joggers, and with most of us working from home they're getting great use. Lululemons ABC joggers are in their men's best selling category, making it a great option for men of all ages. Who doesn't love a good pair of sweats?! Bonus points for style.
Give dad a better way to stay connected! Let him connect with video calling and messaging, read step by step recipes from a smart display screen in the kitchen, control smart home devices like the lights and security system, temperature etc. This is a great option for the "techy," the dad with grandbabies, or those who love to read the headlines during breakfast or dinner.
I've never met a dad who doesn't love Amazon, have you? Everyone loves Prime and the perks that come along with it, so there's no better gift than a 1 year subscription ($119). It's the gift that keeps on giving!
When I asked Shane what his favorite gifts ever have been, these were in his top 3. We both have a pair, and in my opinion they're much more practical and comfortable than earbuds. These make a great gift for the traveler, the gym fanatic, or the work from home zoom call husband and they're still ranked amongst men as one of the most wanted gifts to unwrap under the tree.
I know I mentioned this above for dad's, but it also doubles as a top pick for husbands. This customizable wallet is sure to make him proud. Wether he is one to brag or not, the personalized message inside is an unexpected but welcomed surprise that makes this a memorable and useful win. I would recommend keeping the sentiment short and sweet on the inside as men don't typically gravitate towards overly sentimental gifts. I wrote "Go Panthers - love wifey" on the inside of Shanes. He's a big Panthers fan, so anything Panthers related is a shoe in with him!
A watch is always sure to please. Wether it's the new Apple Watch Series 6 for the "tech" or fitness enthused hubby, or a higher end Movado watch for the luxe lover - all of the men in my life enjoy and wear a watch daily. This was in Shane's top 3 gifts, and he does wear it daily. And while you're probably thinking smart watches have been around for a while, it still comes up as one of the most sought after gifts for men.
Experiences, subscriptions, and memberships were hot answers amongst the men I asked! Furthermore, subscriptions like these seem more relevant than ever with limited travel and more people at home to enjoy life's finest crafts. If your man isn't a drinker, try a clothing subscription service like Stitch Fix. I know it sounds out of the ordinary, but surprisingly - men want these.
A great option for a wide variety of men. Wether they're a sports junky, love to listen to and play music, the tech guru, or a movie buff - most men appreciate a good sound system. This is the latest generation of the best selling Sonos One smart speaker. Built in voice control and a handsome/sleek design make this a good splurge!
How festive is this little dress?! I love all the metallics, glitter, and rhinestones that the holidays bring out in clothing. Finding something eye catching that makes you feel pretty, but not totally uncomfortable can be difficult sometimes. I get it. We work all week in clothes that don't feel like your sweatpants at home, so feeling pretty without being wrapped up like a pig in a blanket is key, and this dress does just that. It glimmers beautifully in the light, it's not skin tight, and it's super lightweight! While I'm not typically a fan of chokers, I love the choker detail on this dress. It brings your eye up, and gives people something interesting to look at. I wanted a little extra glam in my accesories, so I paired it with these Kendra Scott statement earrings and an envelope clutch that's not too big but still fits everything you need to take with you to the celebration.
I had a crazy busy weekend! I feel like I need a weekend from my weekend, haha. But I guess I'll be getting that with half the week off for Thanksgiving! Hope everyone is having a good Monday!
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmassss! Our artificial trees are up, the hot cocoa and marshmallows are stocked, and the Hallmark movies are running. The only thing missing are gift guides! With that being said, each week leading up until the Christmas holiday, I will be providing gift guides for all of the loved ones in your circle. Today I'm rounding up my favorite holiday beauty sets under $50.
Each year, my girlfriends and I get together at my house for a secret santa/white elephant gift exchange! The first thing that came to my mind when I ran across these holiday sets, was that party! These are the perfect gifts for your beauty obsessed friends (or daughter, sister, etc), while being easy on your wallet. Whose ready!?
MAC Snowball Nude Lip Bag, $39.50 // MAC killed it with the holiday gift sets this year! I think I want them all, so you'll see their name mentioned a few times in this post. This set is my number one favorite of the collection! It includes a full sized lipstick (Sending Love), liner (Doubletime), and gloss (Iced Dream) in beautiful pink-tinged nude shades. If you know me, you know I love a good nude lip over anything, so this was the perfect excuse to try a new color combination. The trio comes packaged inside of a really pretty case as well, which has plenty of room for a few additional lipsticks, liners and glosses. If I could, I would give one of these to every girlfriend I have! It's that good.
Smashbox Travel Primer Set, $22 // Smashbox is another brand I use regularly for makeup. This trio of travel sized face primers helps defeat shine and blur pores for a perfectly smooth appearance to skin. I swear by this if I'm going out to shoot pictures for the blog, heading to an event etc. This works great for all skin types, but I would especially recommend it to those who get shiny throughout the day!
Fresh Skincare Cult Classics, $19.50 // This little set will give you hydrated skin and nourished lips for 24 hours. The Soy Face Cleanser is one of my holy grail skincare products. It smells good, leaves my skin feeling clean and smooth, and it works for all skin types. I've been dying to test out the Sugar Lip Treatment Advanced Therapy, so when I saw it came inside of this kit it was a done deal. I struggle with dry lips and use Sugars regular lip treatment daily, but the advanced therapy is supposed to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and smooth cracks etc. I can't wait to try it!
MAC Snow Ball Eye Compact, $29.50 // Wintry shades for the win! This palette comes with six of MAC's most popular smokey eye shades to drench your lids in this seasons most lustrous colors. Personally, I'm a big fan of both the smokey eye and MAC makeup so I knew this was something I wanted to try, and it doesn't disappoint. The colors are very pigmented and last all day without reapplication. It comes in two color options (rose gold pictured above), and sold out in store at our Nordstrom within the first 48 hours of putting it out.
MAC Snow Ball Mini Brush Kit, $29.50 // Rose gold seems to be the color of the season for MAC! This kit comes with a full size powder brush, shadow brush, and liner brush nestled inside of the cutest little case (pom pom included). This is the perfect gift for the girl on the go! It's travel sized, so it fits inside of your purse perfectly for touch ups throughout the day. I also highly recommend the quality of these brushes, and what girl doesn't love a good brush set?
Sugar Lip Blooming Beauties Collection, $38 // Four of Sugar's best-selling lip treatments in one box. If you follow me on stories, or have been reading my blog for awhile, then you know I highly recommend Sugar Lip products. What I love about this particular product is that it smooths and nourishes your lips like a chapstick would, but it also tints them like lipstick. The four colors included are Original (has SPF in it), Rose, Bloom, and Petal. I got one of these for my sister last year as a stocking stuffer, and she's been hooked ever since!
MAC Snow Ball Nude Mini Lip Gloss Kit, $29.50 // This is one of MAC's limited edition kits. It includes three nude glosses in shades Below Freezing, Winter Warmer, and Iced Over. I am typically loyal to BareMinerals for gloss, however they discontinued the gloss I loved so I decided to try out this set from MAC instead. The glosses are creamy and the shades go perfectly over their lipsticks. I always use a gloss over my lipstick, and love to find new colors to pair together. This would be the perfect gift for the girl who loves natural hued makeup.
These are definitely sets for the girly girl who loves makeup or skincare, but I don't think you can go wrong with any of them! They are all on my personal wishlist, and I bought several of them as gifts to bring to the holiday parties I have this year. You can see additional gift set options at different price points here.
