A laundry list of beauty bits to gift this Christmas
You know what they say, beauty is on the inside… of some very nice packaging. Here’s our pick of the year’s must-have beauty products to shop this festive season.
Beauty
Words: Nellie Eden
Believe it or not, the Christmas festivities are about to kick off in a matter of days. For some, it’s a period best survived from behind a face mask or covered in a thick, gelatinous coating of luxurious moisturiser. For others, it’s all about the big festive glow up – a time to experiment with curlers, blue eyeshadow and a fresh set of seasonally apt nails. Whatever your party season style, we’ve got you covered.
So whether you’re shopping for yourself, a loved one, a bestie or a colleague, toasting your way into the new year or committing to a hardcore fitness regime, we’ve done the groundwork for you. From technicolour eye-shadow palettes to super luxe serums, face tools and high octane fragrances, look no further than this big fat beauty gift guide. Shine on.
Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle Uncut Gem
50ML: RRP £188
100ML: RRP £270
Straight in with a big hitter: Frédéric Malle’s newest fragrance Uncut Gem. The scent is a collaboration with friend and perfumier Maurice Roucel. It’s a spicy one, with top notes of ginger, bergamot, mandarin, angelica root and nutmeg – all of which give this fragrance enigmatic sex appeal. The bottle is so divine you’ll want to treasure it long after the juice is dry. Sold.
Le Labo Candle Discovery Set
RRP £67
One for the firestarters, this set features three of Le Labo’s most desirable scents: Encens 9 (amber and spicy clove); Figue 15 (blackcurrants) and Santal 26 (smokey leather). An ideal gift for the person who has it all.
Eighth Day Regenerative Serum
30ML: RRP £270
Eighth Day’s Regenerative Serum is quite literally a wonder product. Formulated with Peptide-Rich Plasma® by renowned dermatologic surgeon Dr Antony Nakhla, the lightweight, all-in-one serum promises to improve fine lines and wrinkles, while repairing skin tone and texture for healthier, more youthful-looking skin. Who can argue with that?
Tom Ford Rose Prick Set
RRP: £212
Prick from a rose? We’ll take it. This super glam Tom Ford gift set includes a travel size version of its Rose Prick scent – infused with Turkish and Bulgarian roses – and a full size bottle to show off sink-side.
Chanel Rouge Allure L’extrait
RRP: £46
Chanel’s newest make-up collection takes inspiration from the moon. The capsule features illuminating eyeshadows and shimmering nail polish, but it’s the new Rouge Allure L’extrait high-pigment lacquered lipsticks that get our vote. The Rose Invisible share is a classic brownish rosewood hue, and will work across most skin types.
Byredo Symphonique Candle
RRP: £60
Spicy, wintery and cosy, Byredo have re-released their black-bottled candle, Symphonique, as a mainstay just in time for the festive period. One sniff of its beeswax, ginger and clove scent will have you planning a night in front of the telly.
Loewe Earth
RRP: £84
Loewe’s Botanical Rainbow is the latest fragrance to join a collection that traverses the Spanish fashion house’s aura and spirit through colour and scent. The magenta-bottled addition is both earthy and airy, combining an amber scent with truffle notes. Fancy!
Twentynine Palms Moonlight Mesa Handwash
RRP: £37
Twentynine Palms is actor Jared Leto’s new wellness and lifestyle brand, and it would have been rude not to include it. Inspired by the “beauty and resilience of the Mojave desert”, the first collection includes products native to drought-prone areas like deserts where hardy and powerful natural ingredients tend to flourish. Kit your bathroom out with his sexy handwash, Moonlight Mesa.
Bleach Super Natural Range
RRP: £15
Bleach, London’s favourite hair salon, has released newly formulated hair kits targeted at correcting and restoring people’s natural hair colours and improving overall condition. So whether you’re looking to drop a few shades darker or correct a home-dye disaster (no judgement here), look no further.
Glossier Eye Stars Kit
RRP: £29
Thanks to season two of Euphoria, glitter, shine and crystalised eyewear topped the beauty charts again in 2022. Glossier has adapted and upgraded the look into a sophisticated, more wearable formula. This little Eye Stars kit has arrived just in time for the party season, containing Glossier’s Lidstar Cream Eyeshadow in “aurora” and bestselling mascara in one nifty kit.
Zitsticka Head-to-Toe Clearing kit
RRP: £21
All that Chrimbo feasting tends to take its toll on our skin. Fight the pimples with Zitsticka’s Head To Toe Clearing kit; the bountiful bumper pack contains their wisest zit-solving products so you’ll be given the all-clear in no time. Phew.
Isamaya Skinlacq
RRP: £60
When our favourite make-up artist Isamaya Ffrench launched her own line this year, we reached for our piggy banks. Our top product? Skinlacq, a skincare-make-up hybrid solution that’s infused with hyaluronic serum to give the skin an otherworldly sheen.
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Crystal Dimensions Eyeliner
RRP: £24
The quality of Charlotte Tilbury’s make-up products are undeniable, and its why the brand has amassed a devoted, cult-like following over the years. The beauty mogul strikes again with this metallic, shimmering rose gold eyeliner that catches the light from every angle.
Omorovicza Even Tone
RRP: £110
Hungarian skincare brand Omorovicza has just dropped its latest hero product: a daily serum designed to combat uneven skin tones. Applied morning or evening, Even Tone rectifies areas of uneven pigmentation, such as age spots and sun damage whilst boosting overall tone.
Mount Sapo All Over Oil
RRP: £42
There’s nothing not to love about Mount Sapo’s 100% natural, 100% organic, vegan, cruelty and gluten free body oil that can be used all over – face, body, hair, the lot. It’s free from parabens and is handmade in small batches in the UK using a mix of hydrating jojoba oil, sea buckthorn, lavender and ylang ylang, amongst other ingredients, which makes for an addictive medicinal scent.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 450
RRP: 200ml £90
If you know, you know. Cult fragrance label Maison Francis Kurkdjian has reimagined its signature scent into a body oil. This one is for the person who has it all. The limited edition scented dry body oil leaves a delicate glittery veil on the skin thanks to its indulgent mix of apricot, macadamia and argan oils, all of which are infused with 24-carat gold. Yes, gold.
Pat McGrath Labs: Mthrshp Mega: Celestial Nirvana
RRP: £76
The latest jumbo make-up palette from maquillage master Pat McGrath is here. Unsurprisingly, it’s serving high octane glamour and full force colour. The 18 hues span baby blues, rich golds, jewel greens and hot pinks. Natch.
T.H.O.M Scalp Serum
RRP: £46
Founded by world-renowned hair stylist, Cyndia Harvey, T.H.O.M is inspired by her Jamaican heritage and borne from a desire to add a luxury Black hair line to the market, one that targets hair and scalp health and is powered by both science and nature. The scalp serum has already gone viral, so get yours while you can.
NARS Powermatte Lipstick
RRP: £25
Household beauty brand NARS has added a new contender to its never ending list of cult cosmetics. For 2023, matte is back. This lipstick guarantees 10 hours of lip service, and our favourite shade is Thunder Kiss. Mwah.
Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm
RRP: £47
Emma Hardie’s smash hit cleanser has gone viral, but trust us, it’s worth the hype. The balm has the most addictive smell, melts on the skin and breaks down dirt, make-up and grime. All in a days work!
