Dallas Holiday Gift Guide: An Under-$50 Stocking Stuffer for Tweens

Tarte’s holiday set of LipSurgence “lip lustres” in peach, shimmery pinks, sparkly raspberry, and coral red comes in a playful silver glitter box and retails for $24. These pretty hues are shimmery sweet and great for younger ladies adding a little color to their pouts. Pick up a box of lipstick crayons at Sephora.

Check ShopTalk daily for new gift suggestions. See all of our stocking stuffer ideas here.

Dallas Holiday Gift Guide: An Under-$50 Stocking Stuffer for Retro Girls

photography by Matthew Shelley, design by Charlotte Tobin

This lip gloss trio is the holiday gift set from vintage-inspired makeup line, Besame. These minis are darling, but I recommend perusing the entire line of lipsticks, powders, shadows, and mascara, beautifully packaged in gold, at Dallas Pin Up in Deep Ellum. Each semi-matte lipstick comes in a bullet-molded case tucked in a red, velvet bag for $22. Every color is a reproduction of a real shade used on the lips of former favorite Hollywood starlets. Powders for $38 are equally exciting, housed in embossed cases and refillable for $15. The 1930s Mascara for $18 has a moisturizing combination of ingredients which was first mixed in the 30s. These are fitting stocking stuffers for history buffs, beauty junkies, retro lovers, and any other gal who like to powder her nose in style. Head to Dallas Pin Up to find them.

Check ShopTalk daily for new gift suggestions. See all of our stocking stuffer ideas here.

Dallas Holiday Gift Guide: An Under-$50 Stocking Stuffer for Luxury Lovers

photography by Matthew Shelley, design by Charlotte Tobin

The Santa Maria Novella Healing Hand Cream, left, and Almond Foot Cream, right, found at LAFCO New York are two of my absolute favorite beauty products ever. And I’ve tested a lot of product. (Some of you may remember these from last year’s gift guide.) The $50 hand cream has a fresh lemon scent and its whipped texture keeps your hands soft for hours. The $48 foot cream is magical. Grab an almond-scented blob, start rubbing, and you’ll experience the cream turning into a menthol mixture to soothe your poor heel-beaten feet. Both products are still hand-crafted in the original Florence Santa Maria Novella apothecary. These are quality, thoughtful gifts, but I recommend you grab a jar or two for yourself while you’re at it. Don’t miss all the other deliciousness at LAFCO.

Check ShopTalk daily for new gift suggestions. See all of our stocking stuffer ideas here.

Dallas Holiday Gift Guide: An Under-$50 Stocking Stuffer for Fashionistas and the Accident-Prone

photography by Matthew Shelley, design by Charlotte Tobin

Valerie Elizabeth, Dallas personal stylist and founder of Society Stylist blog, put together this on-the-go “Survival Kit.” For $50, you get a cosmetics case packed full of drugstore goodies to help you “survive any fashion styling emergency.” You may not be an aspiring stylist or clumsy enough to need all these things, but this is a good kit for any woman to keep on hand. (I recommend keeping one in the car.) Peruse the photo yourself, but I’ll highlight the key players here: adjust-a-button, bra clip converter (to hide pesky straps), lint roller, breath freshener, deodorant removal sponge (brilliant), Tide to Go stain remover pen (life is messy), blotting tissues (to remove oil from your face), nail file, safety pins, and a travel toothbrush and toothpaste. And sure, yes, you can put this kit together yourself. But, honestly, will you? Buy it online.

Check ShopTalk daily for new gift suggestions. See all of our stocking stuffer ideas here.

Merry & Bright: The Season’s Best Holiday Candles

photography by Matthew Shelley

Check out our very favorite seasonal scents jarred by some of the best candle makers around.

(clockwise from top left)
Molton Brown Myrrh Muske & Cypress ($49/Stanley Korshak)
Thymes Wildwood Bitter Orange & Cedar ($28/Stanley Korshak.)
Byredo Candy Darling ($65/Barneys online)
Nest Holiday ($32/Neiman Marcus)
Fornasetti Bacio ($165/Urban Flower/Grange Hall)
Tocca Candy Dish Candle in Venice ($58/Barneys New York)
Diptyque Epinette mini ($32, Forty Five Ten)
Cire Trudon Nazareth ($85/Grange Hall)
Nest Sir Elton John’s Holiday minis ($54 for 6/Neiman Marcus)
LAFCO New York Holiday Tree mini ($85 for 3/LAFCO New York)
Slatkin & Co. Winter ($19.50/Bath & Body Works)
Pacifica Russian Fir ($16/Whole Foods)
Diptyque Perdigone mini ($32, Forty Five Ten)
Munnerlyn* Chamonix ($46.20 as part of holiday trio/online)
Voluspa Golden Cypress ($27/Nuvo)

*Munnerlyn is a local fragrance company.

Dallas Holiday Gift Guide: An Under-$50 Stocking Stuffer for Book Worms

photography by Matthew Shelley, design by Charlotte Tobin

This nifty apparatus serves as both a reading light and a placeholder for your book. (No more dog-earing pages.) I’ve had a couple coworkers ask, “Why not use a bookmark?” but the answer is obvious. Why would you when you have this cool lamp? Duh. This inventive Suck UK Bookrest Lamp is sold at Iota.

Check ShopTalk daily for new gift suggestions. See all of our stocking stuffer ideas here.

Dallas Holiday Gift Guide: An Under-$50 Stocking Stuffer for Budding Makeup Artists

photography by Matthew Shelley, design by Charlotte Tobin

Head to Target and find these bedazzled makeup tools from e.l.f. I’m not a pink and sparkly kind of girl, but I think if I found these gem tools wrapped up for me this holiday I couldn’t help but be thrilled. They’re just darling. These pieces are a perfect (and super cheap) complement to a gift for the teen girls in your world. Our photo shows a cheek brush, two nail files, eyeshadow brushes (with stained purple tips!), an eyelash curler, a makeup mirror, and tweezers, and everything is under $5. You can’t beat a blinged brush for $3.

Check ShopTalk daily for new gift suggestions. See all of our stocking stuffer ideas here.

Dallas Holiday Gift Guide: An Under-$50 Stocking Stuffer for Chip Eaters and Vampire Lovers

photography by Matthew Shelley, design by Charlotte Tobin

I’m pretty much a fan of everything San Francisco-based Gama-Go makes. Their gadgets are kitschy but practical, and I dig adding a little fun to mundane tasks. Take using a coaster, for example. Boring. Instead, use a record coaster! Woo hoo! Finding flipping eggs boring? Use a guitar spatula! But those are last week’s under-$50 treats. Allow me to add two more of my fav Gama-Go trinkets: Bow Tie Bag Clips for protecting your most special munchies, $8, and Vampire Suckeys key toppers, $6. If these don’t make perfect stocking stuffers, I quit. Find them at Froggies 5 and 10.

Check ShopTalk daily for new gift suggestions. See all of our stocking stuffer ideas here.

Dallas Holiday Gift Guide: An Under-$50 Stocking Stuffer for Bling Lovers

photography by Matthew Shelley, design by Charlotte Tobin

Local designer Rory Ashton creates earrings that are a sure bet for earning you compliments. It doesn’t seem to matter what I look like or what I’m wearing–it could be a tracksuit and clown makeup–people always stop me to ask me about my Rory Ashton Cluster earrings. The “Candy Cane” set above is brand new and unnamed, but you can order them custom from Rory on her website, but I suggest you peruse all the other options, too, which can be found at Krimson & Klover, Melanie Gayle, Mal Malouf, Jenna B’s, and more.

Check ShopTalk daily for new gift suggestions. See all of our stocking stuffer ideas here.

Dallas Holiday Gift Guide: An Under-$50 Stocking Stuffer for Pretty Princesses

I could not take bathing in sprinkles, funnel cake, or glittery bath gel seriously anymore. But I know lots of little girls who would practically explode with excitement over taking these festive pink tubes of glittery goo into the tub. Options from Philosophy for the pretty princesses in your life (top to bottom): Sugar Sprinkles Funnel Cake shampoo & shower gel, $16 ; Sugar Sprinkles Funnel Cake lip gloss in a sparkling pink, $10; and Holly Berry Bubbly bubble bath, $16. You would barely need to giftwrap these, they’re so precious. Find these flavors (and others) at a Sephora near you.

Check ShopTalk daily for new gift suggestions. See all of our stocking stuffer ideas here.

Dallas Holiday Gift Guide: An Under-$50 Stocking Stuffer for Gummy Bear Lovers

photography by Matthew Shelley, design by Charlotte Tobin

Jailbreak Collective invented the most adorable lighting fixtures I’ve ever seen: Gummylamps. Squeeze this 7-inch tall Gummy Bear’s tummy to activate his LED lights. For $28 you can pick up this little guy and his siblings in green, yellow, and clear–sorry, red is sold out–at Iota on Knox. (Remember all my fun finds at Iota last month?) This little dude is a highly coveted item. Let me put it this way: I leave Chanel perfumes and LAFCO candles sitting out on my desk at work, but I hide this orange guy every time I leave.

Check ShopTalk daily for new gift suggestions. See all of our stocking stuffer ideas here.

Dallas Holiday Gift Guide: An Under-$50 Stocking Stuffer for Jet Setters

photography by Matthew Shelley, design by Charlotte Tobin

There is one good thing that has come out of the tighter restrictions on baggage contents at the airport (because I’m pretty sure it’s not safety as I snuck in with my pocket knife necklace, full water bottle, and lighter last month). It’s the 3Floz.com company, a one-stop shop for TSA size-approved products in the best beauty brands. (Find Art of Shaving, Tocca, Fekkai, Oscar Blandi, and more in minis.) To make life even easier, 3Floz created a “Holiday Clutch Kit” with seasonal parties in mind. In it you’ll find: Air Repair Rescue Balm for lips and dry skin, Blow Out Serious Non-Stick Hair Spray, Help! I Have a Headache acetaminophen tablets, MBeze Deodorette natural deodorant stick, and Tatcha Blotting Pads oil sheets. Get this powerful pack for $45 at 3floz.com.

Check ShopTalk daily for new gift suggestions. See all of our stocking stuffer ideas here.

Dallas Holiday Gift Guide: An Under-$50 Stocking Stuffer for Your Girlfriends

photography by Matthew Shelley, design by Charlotte Tobin

I’m a beauty product enthusiast, but even I consider a $42 exfoliant to be a little luxury. Renee Rouleau’s Mint Buffing Beads always makes my list of favorites, and a jar of this makes a great gift for anyone who won’t splurge on expensive lotions and potions for their skincare routine. My college-aged sister comes to mind. (Hey, feeding yourself is more important than scrubbing your face.) Mint is a perfect pick-me-up in the morning and washes the hard day away at night. Grab a few jars for $41.50 a piece and fill up some stockings.

Check ShopTalk daily for new gift suggestions. See all of our stocking stuffer ideas here.

Dallas Holiday Gift Guide: An Under-$50 Stocking Stuffer for Your Music-Loving Chef

photography by Matthew Shelley, design by Charlotte Tobin

Well, not your personal chef. Unless you have one, of course, and then by all means. Otherwise, pick up these Gama-Go kitchen accessories for anyone in your life who loves to jam out while in the kitchen or working on the grill. (They’re also the perfect persuasive tools to get someone new in the kitchen.) Check out my favorite picks above.
From top to bottom:
-BBQ Rockin’ Fork for the grill, $20 (hilarious)
-The Shredder Cheese Grater, $10 (yum CHEESE)
-Flipper Guitar Spatula, $12 (flipping couldn’t get more fun)
-Record Coasters, $12 (Notice the hit song name, “Keep it Clean” from fictitious band “The Watermarks”)
Grab these delightfully fun but practical gadgets from Froggies 5 and 10 on Knox. Get ‘em all for $54 or individually for $20 and under.

Check ShopTalk daily for new gift suggestions. See all of our stocking stuffer ideas here.

Dallas Holiday Gift Guide: An Under-$50 Stocking Stuffer for Anyone Who Uses Soap

From top left: rainbow robots, shark, robot wind-up keys, gun, and lychee red tea soap (photography by Matthew Shelley, design by Charlotte Tobin)

They look like shiny toys to play with, but they’re even better: they’re SOAPS! Dallas company The Pig and The Peacock handcrafts delectable soaps into darling shapes. My personal favorites include the Rainbow Robots set, which comes with 20 robots, each with a color-coordinated wind-up key for $28; the Shark Soap with a squirt shark in his own little ocean pod for $3.50; the Gun Soap collection with a trio of little gun-shaped bath buddies for $4.50; and the slightly more serious but aromatic Lychee Red Tea bar with olive oil and aloe for $5. Everyone uses soap. (Or should.) Most people like soap. Why not get a handful of these soaps for everyone on your shopping list? There’s a shape for every personality, and they’re sure to make your giftees smile. Available on Etsy.

Check ShopTalk daily for new gift suggestions. See all of our stocking stuffer ideas here.