Gift Giving

Don't forget to sign up for the House of Donuts Holiday Gift Giveaway. Just become a follower and post a comment about one of our posts and you will be entered to win a great beauty prize, to keep for yourself, or re-gift to a friend. Remember to add your email address either in the post or in your profile so we can contact you and send your holiday gift.
Happy Holidays from House of Donuts!

"Bliss"mas

I became a bliss convert last year after using "the youth as we know it" anti-aging skincare products. It is not often that I am blown away by every product in a line, but I fell deeply in love with this collection. I'll tell you why in a post for another day. Today I want to tell you about another bliss product that I have fallen hard for ... a product that anyone would be ecstatic to find in their Christmas stocking or under the Hanukah bush. I'm talking about the blood orange + white pepper body products. It had me at first sniff. I'm a sucker for citrus. But I don't like anything that's too fruity. That's why this is so perfect. It must be the sassy white pepper that spices up the orange, yet tones it down at the same time so that it is not cloying or overpowering. It's just simply delightful. And that was all before I even tried it. I don't know about you, but winter does a number on my skin. Combine that with the hard water here in my 'hood, and my skin is crying for moisture. The blood orange + white pepper body butter is a long, tall, drink of water for my thirsty skin. It's thick like most body butters, but it goes on smooth and sinks right into the skin. It's not greasy, or slick - just soft and moisturizing. Combined with the addictive scent, and I was hooked. You don't even really need to wear cologne when you use this, but I like to layer it with some of my favorite Jo Malone citrus scents. (I told you I'm mad for citrus.) I really like the effect, and the compliments, I get when I use the body butter and then spritz on a little of the Jo Malone Sweet Lime & Cedar fragrance. The Lime Basil & Mandarin also smells really nice. I haven't tried it with my favorite, Pomegranate Noir, but that gives me something to look forward to! I learned the whole beauty of layering when I started wearing Jo Malone, because that is her whole schtick. You create your own personal scent this way. The bliss blood orange + white pepper comes in the body butter, sugar scrub and bath + shower gel. Jo Malone has many gift sets, including the Fragrance Combining Collection, if you aren't sure what your giftee will like (or can't decide what you want for yourself!). And for my friends and readers in Charleston, SC, the first Jo Malone counter in South Carolina just opened at Saks Fifth Avenue so check it out.

Ho Ho Ho

It's the moment you've all been waiting for...drum roll please...the first annual House of Donuts Holiday Giveaway. 'Tis the season to share and share alike so we want to share some fabulous beauty products with House of Donuts readers. All you have to do is comment on a post and become a follower of this blog between Dec. 1 and Dec. 15 and you'll be entered in the drawing to win one of the many fabulous beauty products we love here at House of Donuts. Prizes are available until we run out so become a follower now today. Be sure to leave your email address either in a comment post or in your blogger profile, so we can contact you and find out where to send your holiday goody. Happy Holidays and thanks for reading!

LUSH-ous Friday

If you wake up at the crack of dawn, or before, on Friday morning to snag those 5 a.m. bargains, then you will really need a relaxing treat at the end of the day. Even if you don't, stop by the LUSH store near you and take advantage of its Black Friday special.

LUSH is having its first every Black Friday sale promotion. For every $40 you spend, you get a $10 product for free. This could work very nicely for you. For example, if you buy two pre-wrapped gift boxes for your friends at say, $20 a piece, you will get two $10 products for yourself.

LUSH has great pre-wrapped, packaged gift sets that range from a few dollars to more dollars. They are full of the naturally LUSH-ous products that the store is famous for - and many are vegan.

Let's break this down even further. If you buy one Best Wishes Holiday Gift Set for $19.95, which includes a Mr. Butterball, Christmas Kisses Bubble Bar, and a Marzibain (one of which can be won in the House of Donuts Holiday Giveaway,) and a 12 Days of Christmas Holiday Gift Set for $69.95, which includes a Christmas Party Bomb, LUSH pud Bath Bomb, Mr. Butterball, Twinkle, Candy Cane, a Christmas Kisses, Marzibain, Angel's Delight Soap, Snowcake, Christmas Morning Bubble Bar, Chocolate Santa and Jingle Spells then you will get four $10 items for yourself. AND give your friends the gift they will most want to find under the tree or around the Menorah.

I gave some of these gifts last year and the oohs and ahs were very satisfying.

I have loved LUSH for a long, long time. It is another store I always made sure to hit when I was in the UK. And just as an fyi - one of my favorite LUSH products of all time has nothing to do with holidays or holiday gifts but it is soooo yummy for your face and your senses. It is the Ocean Salt Cleanser, a wonderfully refreshing exfoliator. Here's what the site description says about it:

"Generous portions of fine and coarse sea salt line the rim of an enriching facial scrub to wash away everyday grime. Ocean Salt refreshes, nourishes, and tones, all while smelling deliciously of violet and lime. Butters of the avocado and coconut variety take the edge off, moisturizing and softening your face to reveal a brighter you. Try it on other parts of your body as well and take a trip to Margaritaville without the hangover."

Mmmmm. I think I'll go wash my face right now!