What do you get for a beauty professional who seems to have all the right miracle beauty products this holiday season? Check out some of these products below that will kickstart your favorite beauty professional’s new year in just the right way…

Hair Stylist
If smooth, straight hair is what you’re after, then Living proof’s frizz straight making no frizz styling cream is just what you need. Attempting to beat the evil known as humidity, to keep split ends down to a minimum, and help cut down on drying time, this no frizz styling cream is seriously a no-brainer. For the professional and amateur hair stylist alike, you’ll love to have this in your repertoire of secret weapons.

Buy the 4 oz. bottle of frizz straight making no frizz styling cream at Sephora for $24.

Esthetician
Even those with flawless skin can get a blemish on their face from time to time. Don’t let it get you down. That’s what CoverFX’s Camouflage Concealer is for. This concealer really camouflages anything from a pimple to redness to signs of a sleepless night. It’s high-definition ready and helps to even out skin tone. It even comes in six different shades. What more could an esthetician ask for?

Buy the 0.5 oz. bottle of Camouflage Concealer at Sephora for $25.

Nail Technician
We’re always looking for the longest-lasting manicure that will help keep nails at their strongest. Perfect Formula’s Nail Guard System does just that with some gel and crystals. The gel coat, also known as a “Suit of Armor” helps to thicken and strengthen the weakest of nails as a base coat. The crystal nail file helps to shape and seal nails to keep them looking fabulous even longer.

Buy the kit on http://www.perfectformulas.com for $33.50.

Makeup Artist
Most girls long for longer, fuller lashes and that’s usually what mascara is supposed to do for us. CARGO goes one step farther by helping grow your lashes with LashActivator. By using products like Marine Algae extracts, citrus-derived Flavonoids, and Peptide-biotin, LashActivator helps promote better looking lashes with a slow lash loss rate. Perfect for everyday use, you can expect to see a difference within 30 days.

Buy LashActivator at Sephora for $35.

-Amanda Fornecker

I watched MTV’s “Jersey Shore” last night and can I just say I was definitely entertained. But it doesn’t take a beauty school professional to know that these looks are part of a culture very different from other parts of the country. In fact, many people who have been born and raised in that very area (aka me) don’t necessarily fit that stereotypical bill. The following are some beauty adjustments a beauty professional might love to make on these young partygoers.

The Poof
If volume is what you want, then you may be able to achieve this look with just the right cleansing and styling regimen. No need to tease and spray like the days of the ’80s. By visiting your hair stylist, you’ll get tips and tricks that will look more natural, instead of passe and exaggerated.

The Tan
This is an esthetician’s nightmare. By tanning, you’re killing the top layer of your skin. But the worst part is that it normally looks pretty fake when you put yourself in a box all year long or decide to get an orange spray-on tan. Tanning all summer or on your vacay is one thing but creating a fake appearance is not always the best for your image.

The Gelled Spike
Do boys really sit there for 25 minutes, gelling and blowing out their hair? Unfortunately, I’ve met some who do. Don’t let the gel go to your head. Take a trip to the barber shop to stay groomed. Use the gel, but you don’t need to create a weapon with your hair that wouldn’t allow you to pass through airport security.

The Fake Nails
I’m sure a nail technician would agree – sometimes less is more. In fact, the more natural and light-colored manicure is what’s in this season. Tips and wraps are still totally fine, but there are some out of control claws out there that seem extremely unnatural if you ask me.

Now, not everyone in the vicinity of the Jersey Shore is like those portrayed on MTV’s new show. And they’re not bad people, either. But I bet some beauty professionals would love to do a Jersey Shore makeover. Who would you make over?

-Amanda Fornecker

I love hearing stories of individuals who become successful despite a misfortune. And I love skin care tips and tricks. That’s why I think Clark’s Botanicals story is such a great one that can teach us so much.

Francesco Clark worked at Harper’s Bazaar at the time of his accident. In 2002, he suffered an injury to his spinal cord that left him paralyzed and even took away his ability to sweat. Because of this his skin did not have the ability to fight breakouts and he needed something more than what traditional dermatologists were offering him. He looked to his physician father, who went on to help him develop a botanically-based skin care line that officially went on the market in 2005.

Today, Clark’s Botanicals is a successful skin care company that has been recognized by Allure Magazine and has found all of its success via word of mouth. Using natural products, like Jasmine Absolute, this skin care line is good for your skin. It’s supposed to work for all skin types, too. The line is meant to reflect Clark’s personality and journey, as he says on his website: “Everything about this line has a purpose and reason for being, from the ingredients to the packaging to the contribution to medical research. It’s an expression of who I am in its purest form.”

And to make a good thing even better, part of the profits from the line go to benefit research at The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, which is working to help those who have been paralyzed due to a spinal cord injury.

-Amanda Fornecker

Routines. They are very much a part of our everyday lives. From brushing your teeth to cooking a meal to even going to bed at night, there are certain things that you just do every day. A few weeks ago, I proposed a little riddle to all my estheticians out there. Today, I sit here and write to you about my very own solution. I had been having serious issues with my face again – the worst it had been in about four years. But I’m no longer a teen so I was extremely frustrated. Here, I learned a little something about routines and why you should (or shouldn’t) stick to them.

A long time ago, when I first encountered my first real pimple, I started using a well-known product called Proactiv. It worked great for a while. And then one day it stopped working. I can’t even tell you why this is. I tried many things and finally found that products with high contents of benzoyl peroxide worked best for me. I switched that routine up after years of having it work because I wanted to try new products. And for some reason I refused to acknowledge this change as my problem.

It has now been a few weeks and my face (although not perfect) has gotten so much better. My lesson here has been to continue on a routine that has proven successful over time. It is also great to have the occasional esthetician or dermatologist weigh in on your face from time to time. They have professional experience and training that can help you along the right path.

I know it’s not much but I think it’s very important to stick with what works for you. Everyone is different so what works for me may not work for you. But once you find the right solution, you’ll feel so much better!

-Amanda Fornecker