It’s that time of year again, and no matter what you are celebrating, you’re likely looking for the perfect gift for your mom, mother in law, sister, or fashionista best friend (or whomever else is on your list).

One of the toughest things to pick for another person is probably makeup.  I always go to fun bath sets, lotions, perfumes (although scents are so personal and difficult to pick too!), or accessories.  The hardest part in this economic climate is keeping gifts – both for yourself and others – at a reasonable price.

This year I am loving the idea of giving beauty gifts that will let the giftee have some creative freedom such as brushes, manicure sets, and cosmetic storage.  I found some great products – all under $50 – at Sephora for the beauty-loving “Recessionistas” out there!

First up is The Smokey Eye Brush Set from Sephora, a six-piece set of tools for creating the perfect smokey-eye effect – this year’s sexiest holiday look. This set includes five Sephora Professionelle brushes (wide smudge, all-over shadow, small domed smudge, detail, and dual-sided brow brush and comb), Volume Mascara in black, and an instructional how-to booklet, in a chic gunmetal faux-leather case. If purchased separately, these items would be about $89, but Sephora has packaged it as a great gift set for just $42.

What I love most about this is that it even comes with instructions on how to create sexy, smokey eyes!

Let’s not forget so many of us travel this season to visit family, friends, or even just to go “home.”  For your traveling beauty, why not get a gift set of travel brushes?  These are great not just for your jet-setting buds, but also for ladies who like to go party a bit or have cocktails after work.  Who wants to carry a full set of brushes?  The Face & Eye Travel Tool Kit, also from Sephora, comes with a powder/blush brush, eyeshadow blending brush, eyeshadow smudge brush, eyeshadow crease brush, and an angled brow/liner brush.

The set comes in a soft microfiber brush portfolio. It’s the perfect size to carry in your carry-on, laptop bag, purse, or makeup bag. An $88 value, this set retails for just $32 at Sephora stores and online.

For the holidays, they also have great limited edition train cases to carry ALL of your (I mean, the GIFTEE’S) products, or just an attractive place to store makeup without cluttering up your bathroom vanity or storage cabinets.  I just LOVE the look of this silver Snake Print Train Case.  For just $17.50, you can buy one for everyone on your list (it comes in other colors, too).

For those who may have more makeup to store, I’d recommend a larger case.  You can find large cases priced anywhere from about $42 to around $100 for REALLY large cases.  Some of them even come pre-filled with makeup!  Definitely a splurge, but a great gift for any cosmetics guru in your life (including yourself, haha).

Another great option is a makeup bag.  The Doodle Bag Collection by Harajuku Lovers is so fun and playful! These makeup bags are a Sephora-exclusive perfect for anyone with a colorful attitude, or those who are a fan of Harajuku Lovers, L.A.M.B, or simply your favorite Gwen Stefani fan! This collection includes:

Brush Case – $20
Clutch – $28
Organizer – $38
Travel Bag – $48

My favorite part of these bags is the colors.  I love these bright primary colors on a crisp white background.  It’s a little sunny spot on a cold Winter morning.

I also love the idea of giving a great distinctive compact. It’s perfect to carry to parties in your evening clutch or as an accessory for those great makeup bags. The limited edition Sephora Brand Moroccan Sunrise Compact Mirror is an An intricately adorned, Moroccan-inspired, dual-mirror compact. It comes with a regular mirror on one side and a mirror with 2x magnification on the other.

This gorgeous design will look great when you need to do party touch-ups or just a pretty addition to your purse. Ever pull out a powder compact and make a HUGE mess? Yuck! Why not have a beautiful compact mirror instead?
This fun, beautiful compact mirror comes in white/gold, fuchsia/gold, and green/blue color schemes. Pick your favorite or get one of each!  For $9, it’s a whole lot of glamor at a great price.