My birthday was last week, but I decided to celebrate over the weekend since it’s decidedly difficult to round up family and friends on a Thursday. In addition to the best present of all - the company of the people I love the most - I also received a number of very lovely and thoughtful gifts that I absolutely adore (including the slightly long, belted gray cardigan and the awesome silver skull earrings that I’m wearing right now!), including a handful of interesting beauty items that I just have to share with all of you.

I am delighted to report that Philosophy’s Pumpkin Spice Muffin Lip Shine, which I’ve been salivating over for a while now, is even more delectable that I’d imagined! The scent/flavor is intensely pumpkiny, and the gloss itself is a shiny, non-sticky, slightly shimmery nude with just a hint of color. It’s absolutely perfect for fall, and I can guarantee that I’ll be obsessed with it until the tube runs dry. I’m also excited to give myself a manicure with my new OPI Nail Lacquer in Do You Lilac It?, part of the OPI Brights collection. Despite the name, it’s not a terribly bright shade - more of a muted, milky purple, not far removed from the popular smoky purples I’ve been seeing everywhere this season.

I always love receiving perfume as a gift, and now I have two new scents to add to my ever-expanding fragrance library: Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb, and Thierry Mugler’s Innocent Illusion. (You may recall that both were recommended by ScentMap.com based on my love of Thierry Mugler’s Angel, which just goes to show how completely on the money that website is - check it out now if you haven’t already!) Flowerbomb is a sweet, slightly powdery floral that reminds me of a more understated version of Lolita Lempicka. Of the two, I actually prefer Flowerbomb, perhaps because the base note is patchouli, which I love. Innocent Illusion is equally scrumptious and feminine, with notes including red currant, lime blossom, mandarin, sweet almond and white musk - an excellent daytime fragrance, light and playful. All in all, I highly recommend all of these products, whether you’re on the hunt for gift ideas for someone else or simply looking to create a little wishlist of your own for the holidays!