The less luxe beauty offerings have come a long way in recent years. Brands both locally and overseas have really upped their game and we are all simply spoilt for choice at this time of the year. Today I have a mixture of beauty bits 'n bobs for you, including some ideas for Secret Santa and Stocking Stuffers. They're all under $50, with the exception of the brush set. Enjoy! Kiwi readers, stay tuned to the very end because I have a giveaway just for you...

Korres The Greatest Mini Showergel Collection-This is coming up as sold out online but hopefully it may still be around in some of Mecca Maxima's stores. The Greatest Mini Showergel set contains six shower gels: Santorini Vine, Basil Lemon, Bergamot Pear, Guava, Japanese Rose and Fig. Sets like these make perfect Secret Santa gifts but they're also handy to divide up among friends and family's gifts as well.

Max Factor Masterpiece Nude Palettes*-These palettes give me festive, luxe, Great Gatsby-esque vibes and I love that about them. As well as that, you have two neutral palettes of shimmery, stunning goodness. My pick is the golden nudes palette but they're both beautiful.

Soap and Glory Get Into The Smooth Trio-Another set that seems to be sold out online as well but again I am hoping it is still around in store. This trio of body butters would again make a perfect Stocking Stuffer or Secret Santa gift for someone who may be a bit harder to shop for. You get three mini tubs of their Sugar Crush, Smoothie Star and The Righteous Butter body butters. Soap and Glory do some other fantastic gift sets actually so they're well worth checking out.

Neom All I Want For Christmas Is A Moment Of Calm Set-Unfortunately this is sold out now on Cult Beauty which is where I got it from but it may still be around in store (UK) or elsewhere online. I've bought this for my Mum as she loves products like this so I'm sure this bath oil and hand balm will be well received. At least I hope so (!).

Simply Essential Pro Series Eye Brush Set*-These brushes are some of my favourites that I've used this year and they look a lot more luxe than they are. Bonus. This gift set comes with a rose gold brush roll which is perfect for both storage and travel. An eye set like this would be ideal for a budding makeup enthusiast or someone whose brushes are looking a little worse for wear.

Tender Love & Carry Makeup Bag*-Tender Love & Carry do gorgeous makeup bags in an array of sizes and designs. I have one in my handbag permanently which I use for housing makeup and lipstick, which inevitably never gets reapplied but anyway. It's still useful, I like having things on me just in case. Anyway, I love this one and think it'd be perfect filled with some of her favourite beauty bits and pieces, or maybe a book. Just because.

Wet Brush Key Chain Mini-My Wet Brush is my favourite hair brush and I don't say that lightly. It's one of the few brushes that doesn't make me cry when my hair is tangled or stab itself into my scalp. Again this mini is another ideal stocking stuffer. I'm going to be keeping mine in the car because I'm terrible at taking brushes out with me and given the imminent heat in Auckland, it'll be a staple in Summer.

Too Faced Love Flush Blush-Single makeup items of any kind really can be a good way to go but I feel like blush is a safer choice than something like an eyeshadow palette, eyeliner etc. These ones from Too Faced are fantastic. There's bound to be a colour she'll love. As an added bonus they come in Polly Pocket-esque packaging which as a child of the nineties pleases me immensely.

The Body Shop Christmas: Cracker, Exfoliating Sugar Scrub* and Body Butter*-The Body Shop never fail to deliver at Christmas time and their spicy, fruity, home-baking-y Christmas ranges this year tick all the boxes. They have an extensive array of products, starting from $10 and up in the Christmas range so there is something for everyone. My picks are the Christmas Crackers which contain a mini shower gel and body lotion, the sugar scrubs and of course the body butters. The latter you can actually have personalised this year.

-What beauty things would you love for Christmas?

*PR Sample

**Thanks to The Body Shop New Zealand, Max Factor New Zealand and The Beauty Collective who kindly provided the prizes for this post. I received no compensation for this post and chose to give away products I genuinely love and think you'll all like too. 

Giveaway:

-NZ Readers only. Be in to win one of the following prize packs: 1 (The Body Shop Vanilla Chai Body Butter and a Max Factor Masterpiece Nudes Palette), 2 (The Body Shop Spiced Apple Body Butter and a Max Factor Masterpiece Nudes Palette), 3 (Max Factor Masterpiece Nudes Palette and Simply Essential Pro Series Eye Brush Set), 4 (The Body Shop Frosted Berries Body Butter and a Max Factor Masterpiece Nudes Palette). Let me know which prize pack you'd like to win in the comments below. Good luck! Entries close next Saturday and I'll send the prizes out sometime after Christmas (whenever the post offices reopen).