MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Plexi-Gloss Collection.

There are so many great makeup sets out for the holiday season and a few have really caught my eye as great values and true must haves. One that I am really loving is this MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Plexi-Gloss Collection. This is a very complete lipgloss collection with shades ranging from very sheer to full-on bright and bold.

The MUFE Artist Plexi-Gloss Collection really has it all. This collection comes with 12 full sized Plexi-Glosses. The shades range in color from sheer to opaque, like I said, and it contains a real wardrobe of colors for the lipgloss lover.

The Plexi-Gloss Collection contains the following shades:

• Pearly Light Beige
• Brown Beige
• Sweet Pink
• Pop Pink
• Fuschia Pink
• Pearly Golden Pink
• Orange Coral
• Orange
• Red
• Pearly Plum
• Burgundy
• Lilac

Being the neutral lip girl at heart, of course, I have been using Pearly Light Beige, Sweet Pink and Pearly Golden Pink often.

If you have never used a Plexi-Gloss it is the ultimate; it is a super shiny lip gloss that lasts! Think of it as a long-lasting lipstick in a gloss form as it is very pigmented with almost a vinyl finish. It is somewhat sticky, but not overly so where it is annoying. They are rich and moisturizing. I really like how it feels on my lips and I am super picky!

The MUFE Artist Plexi-Gloss Collection sells for $150 at Sephora where it is a limited edition online exclusive. That might seem like a lot, but if you were to buy them all individually, it would run you $228 so it really is a great deal with a savings of $78. This is the ULTIMATE holiday gift for the gal who loves lipgloss.

Dolce&Gabbana The Essence of Holiday Collection.

Dolce&Gabbana has created an elegantly beautiful makeup collection for the holiday season called The Essence of Holiday Collection. It totally speaks of the season with the antique gold, passionate red and classic black shades. If you are looking for sophistication for yourself or a luxurious gift, these products are for you.

The products include a beautiful Bronzing Powder, Shimmer Powder, Mono Eyeshadow in a choice of 3 shades, Classic Cream Lipstick, Sheer Shine Gloss and Intense Nail Lacquer in a choice of three shades.

I was drawn to the Glow Light Lids, Lips and Nails products from the line up for the light ethereal glow that these products bring on.

I really like The Illuminator Shimmer Powder in Glow Light for this season, which leaves the most beautiful luminous barely there pearlescent golden glow wherever you want it. The Sheer Shine Gloss in Glow Light is a subtle glossy shimmer. You barely see the flecks of gold shimmer in this gloss, it's more like a really glossy topcoat to wear over lipstick where the shimmer adds further dimension to the gloss.  The Intense Nail Lacquer in Glow Light is a beautiful light shimmery nude gold shade. Again, it's very sheer and barely there, perfect as a top coat over a bold shade.

Buy the Dolce&Gabbana Essence of Holiday Collection online at dolcegabbana.com or at saksfifthavenue.com.

What's in My Winter Beauty Bag.

With the change of the seasons comes the change of the items in my handbag. Just as I am changing out the colors in my makeup and switching up a few things in my skincare routine, I always make a point to go into the beauty bag that I carry in my handbag and switch out products too. I keep my beauty bag stocked with just the necessities that I might need to get me through the day. These are the few vital products I am keeping in my beauty bag this winter.

A concealer for touching up is a must! I've sung the praises of COVERGIRL Ready Set Gorgeous Concealer in the past and I think I've had it in my beauty bag ever since. This concealer is perfect for touch-ups and layering over makeup. It's super lightweight and blends easily.

I rarely touch up my mascara, but because it is party season and I've been doing a lot of running around lately, I recently added a mascara to my beauty bag. Thinking of any possible eye look, I have the Makeup Academy Amp-Up Adjustable Mascara tucked into my bag. You see, not only does this mascara feature a buildable volumizing formula, it has a really innovative adjustable bush head. That means that I can create a lash look that is natural, full of volume or length or both — it's up to me and how I use the wand.

For face touch-ups, I have a L'Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Powder Glow Illuminator in Golden in my winter beauty bag. This is a blush and highlight product in one. It adds the perfect golden bronze glow to my cheeks and it seems to blend well over any makeup look I am wearing.

Of course I have lippies in my beauty bag; it wouldn't be complete without it. I could fill up an entire bag with lipstick and lipgloss but I've learned that I only need a few good basics, so I keep it pared down.  I don't wear lipgloss as often in the winter as I do in the summer, so I've kept it to just three lipstick products for winter. Right now I have COVERGIRL Lipperfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Coco Twist, COVERGIRL Outlast Longwear Lipstick in Phantom Pink (this is super moisturizing) and L'Oréal Paris Colour Rich Balm in Nourishing Nude. 

The perfect accessory to my lipstick is white teeth, of course. I mentioned how I was working on my party perfect smile a few weeks ago, and I've been touching that up on-the-go as well. That's why my beauty bag also includes the Whitening Pen from the CVS Health™ Toothbrush & Whitening Pen On-the-Go Treatment. This Whitening Pen is a really quick and easy way to whiten my smile. I apply the gel formula (it has a refreshing mint flavor) to freshly brushed teeth and let it dry for about 30 seconds. I'm careful not to eat or drink for 30 minutes after applying and just let the clinically proven advanced formula do the work.

I use the CVS Health™ Whitening Pen when I know I am going to be out and about driving, running errands, shopping or right before a hair or nail appointment. It's one of those effortless little things that I can do that has a big payoff. I have noticed whiter teeth after only a few days of using.

The last item in my winter beauty bag is a hand cream. This year I discovered Excipial Rapid Repair Hand Cream and my skin just drinks in the concentrated formula. I've been applying it every night before bed, but I also keep a tube in my beauty bag to use it on-the-go. Cold weather and a lot of hand washing means I need extra moisturization throughout the day too.

The products in my winter beauty bag can all be found at CVS/pharmacy, where you can find me shopping often. I like shopping at CVS for a few reasons. First, it's so convenient for me with two CVS stores in my town. I love that both stores (all CVS stores, in fact) have a HUGE selection of beauty products and innovative new items like the CVS Health™ Toothbrush & Whitening Pen On-the-Go Treatment. Second, CVS always has great deals and special perks. The perks are courtesy of the Beauty Club. Members of the CVS Beauty Club get things like $5 ExtraBucks® Rewards for every $50 spent on qualifying beauty products plus $3 ExtraBucks® Rewards on your birthday. Sign up if you haven't yet; you'll get a 10% off beauty shopping pass when you first sign up.

Do you carry anything different in your beauty bag in the winter months?

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with CVS/pharmacy. All opinions are 100% my own.