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The best gift a friend can receive is one that solves her biggest beauty woe.
Written By Lexy Lebsack
– PHOTOGRAPHED IN THE STUDIO WITH VIOLET GREY
A true friend knows exactly how to fix what ails her closest confidantes. Stress at work calls for evening cocktails and chatter, while recovery from a lover’s quarrel requires long, analytical phone calls at all hours of the night. The truest gifts of friendship — patience, acceptance and honest advice — cannot be wrapped up with a satin ribbon and exchanged during the holidays. However, all of these heartfelt exchanges can lead to certain, more-material gifts that only a close friend would know to give. With the right insider information, one may determine the perfect remedy for a friend’s most pressing beauty conundrums.
Does she secretly yearn for longer, healthier hair? See gift No. 1 below. Is she obsessed with having flawless skin? Gift No. 3 is for her. Perhaps she wishes she could be more polished while juggling a full schedule. If so, may VIOLET GREY suggest gift No. 7? After all, wouldn’t it be a shame to have so many pertinent details about a person and not put them to good use?
Herewith, the solutions to the beauty dilemmas shared only between one’s closest friends, all approved by The Violet Code.
Herewith, the solutions to the beauty dilemmas shared only between one’s closest friends, all approved by The Violet Code.
A Gift Guide
For Friends
1
/8
The Friend: She pines for longer tresses, sacrificing trims whenever possible to gain extra length.
The Gift: Growing out one’s hair requires more than time; it calls for an arsenal of products to ensure minimal damage and ultimate nourishment. This is the key to putting off cuts and gaining healthy length that will stand the test of time.
The Gift: Growing out one’s hair requires more than time; it calls for an arsenal of products to ensure minimal damage and ultimate nourishment. This is the key to putting off cuts and gaining healthy length that will stand the test of time.
2
/8
The Friend: She knows skin care like the back of her hand and is drawn to the latest and greatest products like a heat-seeking missile.
The Gift: Rooted in nourishing oils and vitamins, the esteemed makeup artist’s multi-use balm removes makeup and impurities when it’s massaged into dry skin and rinsed, induces a lit-from-within glow when applied as a mask, and soothes chapped or dehydrated skin when used as an overnight balm.
The Gift: Rooted in nourishing oils and vitamins, the esteemed makeup artist’s multi-use balm removes makeup and impurities when it’s massaged into dry skin and rinsed, induces a lit-from-within glow when applied as a mask, and soothes chapped or dehydrated skin when used as an overnight balm.
3
/8
The Friend: You don’t see her complexion imperfections, but to her, every mirror is a magnifier.
The Gift: For those yearning for a foolproof technique to create flawless skin, look no further. This is the sponge that takes residence in almost every celebrity makeup artist's kit. Simply advise her to apply foundation with her fingers, dampen the sponge, then roll and dab over the heaviest of product to reveal a mesmerizingly even and natural-looking finish.
The Gift: For those yearning for a foolproof technique to create flawless skin, look no further. This is the sponge that takes residence in almost every celebrity makeup artist's kit. Simply advise her to apply foundation with her fingers, dampen the sponge, then roll and dab over the heaviest of product to reveal a mesmerizingly even and natural-looking finish.
4
/8
The Friend: Her air-dried summer waves incite pangs of jealousy among all she meets, but come winter she’s wrestling with a round brush and blow-dryer like the rest of us
The Gift: All the benefits of a beach spray — texture and volume – plus a touch of shine, in a formula designed to be applied to dry hair. (No warm weather required.)
The Gift: All the benefits of a beach spray — texture and volume – plus a touch of shine, in a formula designed to be applied to dry hair. (No warm weather required.)
5
/10
The Friend: She may not say it out loud, but you know she wishes she could be one of “those women” who are able to look pulled together in a moment’s notice.
The Gift: Matching one’s lips to their nails — especially in a vibrant, look-at-me red — is the kind of beauty trick that packs maximum punch with minimal work. A weekend manicure of classic, candy-apple red delivers all-week polish and, when coordinated with a quick swipe of the same lip color, creates instant charm.
The Gift: Matching one’s lips to their nails — especially in a vibrant, look-at-me red — is the kind of beauty trick that packs maximum punch with minimal work. A weekend manicure of classic, candy-apple red delivers all-week polish and, when coordinated with a quick swipe of the same lip color, creates instant charm.
6
/8
The Friend: Her bag is a tangible manifestation of Tetris, efficiently packed with the necessary ingredients for her busy life and no room for midday touch-up tools.
The Gift: Makeup brushes, as any artist will attest, should be tucked into a brush roll for safe traveling. When not possible, consider Hourglass’ clever brush. Dueling sides are suited for concealer, foundation, powder or blush and can be haphazardly tossed into a bag.
The Gift: Makeup brushes, as any artist will attest, should be tucked into a brush roll for safe traveling. When not possible, consider Hourglass’ clever brush. Dueling sides are suited for concealer, foundation, powder or blush and can be haphazardly tossed into a bag.
7
/8
The Friend: Her dry skin and tight schedule — gym to work to cocktail hour — means she must lug body lotion with her all day.
The Gift: A luxuriously rich cream in a tube that stows in one’s cosmetics bag without spilling, nourishes even the driest skin in the coldest climate, and comes in simple, beautiful packaging.
The Gift: A luxuriously rich cream in a tube that stows in one’s cosmetics bag without spilling, nourishes even the driest skin in the coldest climate, and comes in simple, beautiful packaging.
8
/8
The Friend: Everyone is critical of their own appearance in photos, but her refrain is always the same: “My face looks so shiny!”
The Gift: Small, simple and insanely clever, these blotting sheets are a game changer for those with an oily complexion. Simply press a single sheet into the skin to remove oil and cut down on shine, all without disturbing makeup.
The Gift: Small, simple and insanely clever, these blotting sheets are a game changer for those with an oily complexion. Simply press a single sheet into the skin to remove oil and cut down on shine, all without disturbing makeup.
IN POLITE
SOCIETY
“
”
In polite society, a true FRIEND knows your shoe size, celebrity CRUSH and every product in your beauty routine.Tweet This
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