Best Bag Bets: Holiday Minis

If I had to choose my favorite part about the holidays, I’d say it’s the getting gussied up for all those Yuletide gatherings. I love donning my long silver gloves, my handsome velvet capelets and my sparkling special occasion costume jewelry. Attending all the holiday parties means I also get to break out my collection of vintage clutches. (Insert a glee-filled dance number here.) Little bags mean my old stand-bys won’t be able to cut it. So I’m making a list (and hope Husband is checking it twice) of some super minis that will get me through the party circuit season.

Laura Mercier Flawless Face Kit ($65) Smooth, luminous skin trumps all beauty needs. The multiple minis prime, perfect, camoflauge and set a pretty, party-ready face. Not all pieces may make the clutch-cut, but it’s nice to have the mix-and-match option.

Benefit Pocket Pal ($20) Double-wanded and from the Ford twins, makes this lip/cheek color a small-bag must-have. One side boasts the company’s calling card product, Benetint check and lip stain. The slick gloss on the other can be used over the rich stain or solo for under-the-mistletoe kissable lips.

Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Collection ($35) This only-at-Sephora set of pigment-rich pencils add a bit of sparkle to eyes. Five different shades translate into a festive new face at each fete. The super emollient formula makes application a chinch (a total bonus for someone who is a bit remedial at the art of eye makeup like me).

Tocca Brigitte Solid Fragrance ($30) Holiday parties call for deeply sexy—and spicy—scents. This spill-proof solid is a medley of ginger, saffron and sandlewood with a musky finish.

Carol Daughter’s Kizzi ($9.50) Tame flyways, infuse shine and reset finger waves with this Naturally-Sephora pomade. The formula is sweetly infused with the scent of apple, peach and pear and blissfully free of parabens, sulfites and other synthetics. --Jenna Mahoney