10 Gifts from Ulta Beauty for Your Friends Who Work Hard and Play Harder
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We all have one: the friend who just won’t stop. They’re the first to show up at the office in the morning but also, miraculously, the last to leave the party (despite wearing heels that defy the logic of physics). Their schedule may be more packed than their purse, but that certainly doesn’t stop them from looking put together at all times, and you wonder how they manage to do it all.
The answer to that question is simple: beauty products that are quick, effective, and versatile — bonus points if they’re compact enough to pack inside a clutch and apply in the cab on the way to the next function. (It’s possible our friend has a wicked caffeine dependency, too, but we’ll never judge.)
Now that the holidays are here, you’ll be lucky to catch this friend between their end-of-year deadlines and being the life of every party they’ve been invited to. But when you do, you’ll be ready with a gift that’s perfect for their glam-and-go lifestyle.
The gift of beauty can be given to anyone and everyone, and Ulta Beauty makes it easy. Here we’ve selected 10 products from Ulta Beauty that make the perfect gift for your work-hard-party-harder friend, including a full routine’s worth of makeup to get them ready in a flash.
E.L.F. Cosmetics Halo Glow Liquid Filter
We’re willing to bet this particular giftee would never sacrifice a glowing, gorgeous makeup base for a busy schedule — E.L.F.’s Halo Glow Liquid Filter lets them have both. This dewy, light-coverage formula goes on in an instant thanks to its convenient doe-foot applicator, and blending only requires a few quick pats of a sponge or swipes of a finger. The result is a lit-from-within look that cuts out the need for highlighter, giving your beloved busy bee a little extra me time while getting ready.
DIBS Beauty Desert Island Duo Blush + Bronzer Stick
Multitasking is always the name of the game for busy people, and it’s also the name of the game for DIBS Beauty’s Desert Island Duo Blush + Bronzer Stick, which you can get exclusively at Ulta Beauty. This dual-ended, twist-up stick features a blush on one side and a bronzer on the other, both of which are creamy, buildable, and easy to blend — even if the only tool you have at your disposal is your hands. It comes in nine shade pairings, leaving you spoiled for options based on your giftee’s skin tone.
Natasha Denona I Need a Nude Eye Shadow Palette
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Nastasha Denona’s I Need a Nude palette is big enough to provide every neutral eye shadow shade one could ever need (15 to be exact) but compact enough to fit in a purse or a travel case. And this brand’s eye shadow expertise lends itself to some of the creamiest mattes you can find and metallics that, when swiped on with a finger, give a wet-looking glimmer that’ll catch every single string light on the street.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Volumizing Tinted Brow Gel
Eyebrow makeup can be an elaborate multistep process if you want it to be, but people who are strapped for time will rejoice for Anastasia’s Volumizing Tinted Brow Gel, a formula that combines the grooming and filling-in steps into one quick and effortless process.
We’re not sure there’s a person on Earth who wouldn’t squeal with delight to find Clinique’s Almost Lipstick in their stocking. This sheer balm formula reached a new height of internet fame last year that shows no signs of retreating thanks to the iconic shade Black Honey, a deep berry that gives anyone who wears it the perfect your-lips-but-better look. If your friend is the type who prefers comfort and subtlety over flash, this is the one.
Every go-getter needs a reliable mascara in their kit—one that lengthens and volumizes without clumping, smudging, or flaking off throughout the day. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better gift in the mascara arena than Benefit’s They’re Real Mascara — it does all of the above. Helps that it’s got nearly 15 years of history (and happy customers) to its name.
Mac M·A·Cximal Sleek Satin Lipstick
For a lipstick with a little more — okay, a lot more — impact, look to another one of the beauty industry’s most iconic and established brands, MAC. Its lipsticks have been crowd-pleasing consumers, beauty editors, and makeup artists for so long that we probably don’t even need to tell you about the M·A·Cximal Sleek Satin Lipstick’s high-impact pigment, creamy texture, and extensive shade range. Whether you’re looking to gift a versatile nude, a classic red, or even something out of the ordinary like a bold orchid purple or a vibrant pumpkin orange, you’ll find it here.
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Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray
A thing to note about the work-hard-play-hard types is that they’re probably doing a full beat as soon as they wake up for the day — and more often than not they need it to hold up through the night, too. Gift them a bottle of Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray to help them achieve just that. A few spritzes of this mattifying formula melds every layer of liquid, cream, and powder together for an impenetrable finish akin to a camera filter — the glitzy packaging and light floral scent only help to make this finishing touch feel like a rare luxury.
Kiss imPRESS Bare but Better Medium Press On Manicure Nails
Who has time to go to the salon or give themselves a full manicure these days? Not the person this gift guide is dedicated to, that’s for sure. Workaholics and party animals alike will appreciate a set of press-ons that go on easy and can last for days on end, like Kiss’s imPRESS line. These hyper-trendy jelly nude nails go with anything and can be applied anywhere because they only require two quick and easy application steps: peel off the sticky tab backing and place ’em right on.
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer
Ask any beauty editor what lip gloss they’re wearing, and nine times out of 10 they’ll tell you it’s Rihanna’s Gloss Bomb, and that’s because it’s got a reputation for comfort. It feels and acts more like a hydrating balm than a sticky, tacky gloss. Not to mention this stuff lasts and lasts and lasts — a fitting gift for anyone who’s never seen without a cup of coffee or a glass of bubbly in their hand.
When in doubt, an Ulta Beauty gift card can never go wrong. With any amount of money you choose, Ulta makes it swift and easy to give the gift of beauty to anyone and everyone. Whether your recipient uses it to splurge on luxuries they might not have otherwise or to stock up on their beauty essentials, it’ll be (your) money well spent.
……Lifestyle Beauty Fashion International
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