A List of Our Favorite Makeup + Tips for Throwing An Amazing Favorite Things Party This Holiday Season

We get asked all the time for product recommendations. Since we don’t make everything you can put on your face, we thought it would be fun to share with you all of our favorites so you can shop them for the holidays. Obviously, FLEKK products top the list! But we do love splurging on other amazing products (and gifting them to our friends).

Click the button below to jump to our favorite products.

Now, What Exactly Is A 'Favorite Things Party'?

Some of these products might be fun to bring to a favorite things party. Have you been to one? Thrown one? Never heard of one? They're super popular during the holidays and a fun girls night out.

Here’s the gist. Everyone brings their favorite thing (within a certain budget). These favorite things are exchanged usually similar to a White Elephant gift exchange*. At the end of the night, everyone leaves with someone else's favorite thing.

*Never played White Elephant before? Learn how to play with Better Homes & Garden's Ultimate White Elephant Game Guide

3 Tips To Make Your Favorite Things Party A Success

1. Set the Right Budget

Make the budget something that accommodates everyone who is attending. If it's a group of college students, then a lower budget of $5-$10 might be preferable. However, if you are meeting together with working professionals, then a higher budget is probably fine, if not expected.

2. Create an Environment for Mingling

Good food and drinks make for a fun night. They also give people time to talk to each other and catch up before the gift exchange happens. Plan the menu yourself, or make it a potluck and ask your guests to contribute their favorite food or drink.

2. Create an Environment for Mingling

Good food and drinks make for a fun night. They also give people time to talk to each other and catch up before the gift exchange happens. Plan the menu yourself, or make it a potluck and ask your guests to contribute their favorite food or drink to keep the theme going.

3. Plan Enough Time for the Exchange

Do not rush through the exchange. It is important that everyone has time to explain why they love what they are giving. This also means everyone you invite should know that the party is going to last a while. It’s not a drop by. It’s more of a stay awhile kind of party.

Our Favorite Beauty Products To Gift (Or Keep!)

***All products linked are from Amazon or Nordstrom because you get free shipping on any order. There is a mixture of price points so you can shop according to your needs. DISCLAIMER: All of these fabulous resources are things I have used & truly loved myself. Some links and resources may contain affiliate links.

Brow Tools

Tweezerman Brow Scissors & Brush: Expertly designed to trim your brows. These brow shaping scissors are made in Italy using professional quality stainless steel

Healifty Stainless Steel Eyebrow Scissors: These sharp, curved blade scissors are excellent for trimming brows.

SAKURA Fude Eyebrow Comb & Brush: This popular Japanese brush/comb is very well made with thick, plush, high quality natural bristles that that are not too hard or too soft, but just perfect.

BTYMS Spoolie Tinted Brow Mascara: AGreat, inexpensive spoolie with travel cap (2 brushes). Great for separating eyelashes before and/or after mascara application and also helps to shape and define eyebrows

Brow Gels

Ardell Clear Brow Sculpting Gel: Contours and defines your brows while providing all-day hold and conditioning. Set brow color and hold brow hairs in place for a clean, polished, no-makeup makeup look.

Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Brow Gel (Small Wand): Volumizing tinted gel for natural-looking fullness and definition. Comes with a soft and effective applicator, leaving brows feeling soft while still keeping them firmly in place

L'Oreal Brow Stylist Plumper (Small Wand): For Effortlessly full brows. Fix and set brows that last all day. Fiber-infused gel formula enhances brows. Fills in hair for even texture and adds a natural-looking tint.

Anastasia Of Bevery Hills Tinted Brow Gel (Regular Wand): provides a temporary tint to eyebrows and conditions while holding brows in place. Now you can create an eye-catching look without taking drastic measures.

NYX Tinted Brow Mascara (Regular Wand): Sets, tames and tints brows for natural-looking wear. This foolproof brow building mascara formula covers your major brow concerns while keeping your arches soft and smooth

Twist Up Brow Products & Pens

L'Oreal Paris Eyebrow Pencil Definer: Ultra fine self sharpening mechanical brow pencil draws on tiny brow hairs to fill in sparse areas or gaps and spoolie brush styles and defines brow shape

L'Oréal Paris Shape & Fill Mechanical Eyebrow Pencil: A 3-in-1 Mechanical Pencil with Spoolie and angled tip. The triangular tip brow pencil precisely outlines, easily shades, and evenly fills in brows

Anastasia Bevery Hills Brow Definer (Angled Tip): Brow tool with a versatile, retractable, thick triangular tip. It offers three angles for application, outlining the brows and filling them in with one fluid motion. The other end features a spoolie, which is designed specifically to distribute and blend the formula.

Diorshow Brow Definer Brow styler with an ultra-fine retractable tip for precision shaping and naturally full, defined brows. It blends perfectly with your natural brow hairs to add definition and shape, creating a denser, more polished look.

Stila Waterproof Brow Pen: Waterproof liquid brow formula with unique marker-inspired brush tip pen. Makes application easy and effortless. Creates hair-like strokes so brows look naturally full, finished, and defined.

Eyeshadow Primer

Not everyone needs eyeshadow primer before eyeshadow for eye makeup to be effective. However, they're a great addition for some people. I find the ones below to give the best results.

Thank Me Later Eyeshadow Primer By Elizabeth Mott: Lightweight and waterproof. This sets the stage as the base for your eyelids before putting on eye makeup, for a smoother application and seamless blend. Locks in and intensifies your eye makeup & prevents eye shadow creasing and fading.

Urban Decay Primer This creamy eye makeup primer keeps your eyeshadow creasefree, your color vibrant and your cosmetic application smooth. Apply just a touch of primer before your eyeshadow. You can also mix it with your favorite eyeshadow to create a crease-free, custom shade.

Eyeshadow

Your eyes need shape.The best way to naturally enhance your eyes is to use the right tones and textures of eyeshadow. This ensures that the eye has dimension and doesn't look flat.

Matte eyeshadows are corrective, and they can fix problems with the eye. They are great for shading and shaping the eyes. Shimmer eyeshadows are designed to brighten and enhance certain areas of the eye. These shadows also attract light. Apply them on your eyelid where you want the most attention placed on your eye makeup.

Which is exactly why I designed FLEKK eyeshadows the way I did!

Each of the five, high-quality eyeshadows in the palette has a purpose, so you can best enhance your eye shape.

The FLEKK 4-piece brush set and FLEKK palettes are designed to work together. Each brush has a number that coordinates with the eyeshadows in the palette. Use #1 brush with #1 eye shadow, #2 brush with #2 eye shadow and so on. Using the correct brush with the matching eyeshadow is imperative to the success of the overall look. Simply match the eyeshadow color with the corresponding brush and follow the included guide!

Eyeliner

Eyeliner is so popular is because it defines the lash line– the focal point of your eye. Now obviously I'm a fan of powder liner (see #4 shadow in the FLEKK eyeshadow palette), but I like to switch it up sometimes. Or us a different type of liner in addition to the powder.

Investing in a quality eyeliner makes a big difference. Keep reading for the products I use and recommend.

Liquid Liner Definer:This ultra-black, matte liquid liner features FLEKK's flat brush tip that lets you create perfect, precise definition along your lash line–effortlessly. Perfect for defining your lashes and making them look even longer! Use the thin side of the brush for an ultra-fine line, or turn the brush on its side for a thicker line.

Maybelline New York Eye Studio Master Kajal Eyeliner: Creamy, intense formula. Waterproof eyeliner. All day wear. This is very simple to use and gives a nice chunky line.

Neutrogena Smokey Kohl Eyeliner: Highly pigmented and water resistant for a bold, lasting look. The smooth eyeliner is quick and easy to apply with rich color instantly appearing after just one swipe Formulated with the antioxidant Vitamin E, this brown kohl eyeliner is smudgeable for the first 30 seconds, creating the perfect smokey eye

Laura Mercier Chrome Caviar Stick: Creamy eyeshadow stick to line, highlight and create smoky looks. The formula glides seamlessly onto lids, blending and layering beautifully with rich pigment payoff.

[Cat Eye] Stila All-Day Waterproof Liquid Liner: Thin marker-like tip is easy to use and delivers a defined thin line to a dramatic bold line with precision.

[Inner Rim] Cover Girl Perfect Blend Eyeliner Pencil: Classic eye pencil with blending power. For best results use black-brown. Draw precise lines for a defined look or softly smudge with the gentle blender tip for a smoky eye look.

L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof Pencil Eyeliner, Nude: Serves up a soft and silky finish that won’t budge for the ultimate tightline effect.

Mascara & Lashes

Good mascaras have a few things in common. When you are shopping for one, it is important to look for one with the following characteristics:

No smudging or flaking. A mascara should NEVER smudge or flake. If yours runs down your eyes or rubs on your eyelids throughout the day, you need to find a different option.
The right consistency. Your mascara also needs a good consistency. It should not be too wet or too dry. If it's too wet, it will clump together. If it's too dry, the formula won't build as well.
A good wand. When a mascara has a good wand, you will be able to quickly and effectively coat your lashes. If your mascara wand is not helping you coat your lashes well, you shouldn't use it.

Here are my top picks for mascaras:

Our NEW SILKK Mascara With Collagen:We've spent MONTHS developing our new mascara formula and wand and we're so excited to launch in within the next few weeks. Our ultra-black SILKK Mascara with collagen gives gorgeous lashes that won't flake, clump or smudge.

For best results, place the mascara brush at root of lashes and wiggle to the tip to help separate and define lashes. Layer on for added drama, switching eyes between each coat. Sign up below to be the first to be notified when SILKK Mascara with Collagen officially launches!

L'Oreal Paris Double Extend Beauty Mascara: It's not for everyone, but I do really love a good 'tube' mascara. As the mascara sets, it forms tubes that act like lash-lengthening extensions. Lashes look up to 80% longer. The tubes last all day without smudging, smearing or flaking

Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler: A few quick pumps on both sets of eyelashes is all it takes to make your eyes appear larger and your lashes fuller.

Lash Comb: Designed with metal teeth to easily separate and enhance eyelashes after curling and mascara application.

Duo Striplash Lash Glue: The clear Striplash adhesive blends perfectly, drying invisibly and holds strip lashes securely in place.

Health Life Black Wispies Lashes: These false lashes are my favorite for looking gorgeous, yet natural and for being super easy to apply.

Face

Laura Mercier Foundation: A luminous liquid foundation with up to 15 hours of hydration and weightless, medium-to-full coverage, for a perfectly-glowing finish in any light.

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer: An award-winning concealer that corrects, contours, highlights, and perfects up to 16 hours—all shades are now available in mini size. For normal, dry, oily and combination skin.

Bye Bye Foundation Oil-Free Matte Full Coverage Moisturizer with SPF 50+: Full coverage moisturizer that improves the look of imperfections and protects skin with SPF 50+ mineral sunscreen. designed to help cover and improve the look of skin concerns including redness, pores, dark spots, breakouts and rosacea.

Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder: This award-winning powder locks in makeup for long-lasting wear without adding weight or texture. It absorbs oil and reduces shine all day, creating a flawless, matte finish with no flashback in photos.

Bobbi Brown Skin Weightless Powder Foundation: A creamy, cashmere-like powder that delivers a buffed, polished finish and lasting wear in a convenient compact—available in true-to-skin shades.

Lips

FLEKK Lipstikk: Lipstick, lip balm and lip stain–all in one! The most amazing thing to happen to your lips in...well. Ever. So much easier than traditional, long-lasting products, LIPSTIKK glides on with a hint of shine and keeps a beautiful flush on your lips throughout the day–PLUS, it's moisturizing. Natural color that lasts all day and never looks overdone.

Smashbox Be Legendary Line & Prime Pencil: A precise, comfortable, lip liner infused with Primer Oil Complex that lets you make up, sculpt, and define lips. Can be used two ways: as a lip liner or all over your lips as a base.

stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick: For a matte lipstick, you can't beat this one. The lightweight, creamy-matte, full coverage color wears comfortably all day.