The Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide For The Beauty-Obsessed In Your Life
Choosing the perfect gift for the beauty lover in your life is no mean feat. Would they prefer makeup or some pampering treats? And how do you navigate the minefield that is skincare?
Fret not, because we’ve put together the ultimate list of beauty goodies from the very best brands (including Charlotte Tilbury, ghd, Huda Beauty and many more) across a wide range of budgets.
Refinery29’s selection is purely editorial and independently chosen – we only feature items we love! As part of our business model we do work with affiliates; if you directly purchase something from a link on this article, we may earn a small amount of commission. Transparency is important to us at Refinery29, if you have any questions please reach out to us.
This winter, give the gift of super soft lips with Dr Esho’s 3 piece lip collection, which boasts his Drench, Sculpt and Coat lip care products. Together, they take dry, lacklustre lips and make them plump in moments.
Esho 3 Piece Volume Lip Treatment Collection, $, available at QVC UK
In collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum, this perfume is perfect for artsy friends and loved ones. Notes of bergamot, vegan honey and bellini accord make it stand out from the rest, while the bottle will jazz up any dressing table.
Floral Street Sunflower Pop eau de Parfum, $, available at Floral Street
Worth over £562, Drunk Elephant’s handy trunk boasts expert-adored favourites such as the T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial, C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream and T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum.
Drunk Elephant Trunk 5.0, $, available at Cult Beauty
Makeup obsessives won’t be able to contain their excitement when unwrapping Huda Beauty’s new Rose Quartz eyeshadow palette, a dream team of pretty pinks, universal nudes and glimmering golds.
Huda Beauty Rose Quartz Eyeshadow Palette, $, available at FeelUnique
Dr PAW PAW makes a great cuticle treatment, highlighter and moisturiser, as well as a nourishing lip balm.
Dr Paw Paw Classic Balms Christmas Tree, $, available at LookFantastic
Pick up this set for the person whose nails are always perfectly manicured. You can trim with the clippers, shape with the file and polish up talons with the expert buffer.
Tweezerman Merry Berry Manicure Kit, $, available at Beauty Bay
No one knows more about treating breakouts than Dr Sandra Lee aka Dr Pimple Popper. This smart set contains all you need for clearer, smoother skin.
SLMD Skincare Blemish-Prone Skin System, $, available at SLMD Skincare
From pink grapefruit to coconut, there are six divine-smelling bath bombs in this collection, plus a bath lily for gentle exfoliation.
The Body Shop Fizz & Festivity Bath Bomb Gift, $, available at The Body Shop
It’s easy to achieve so many golden, smoky eye looks with this beautiful Parisian-inspired eyeshadow palette from By Terry.
By Terry VIP Expert Palette No.4 Bonjour Paris, $, available at Space NK
Pink clay, charcoal, dandelion and poppy seed make up Homework’s rustic soap collection, which will look chic on the side of the sink.
Homework The Full Soap Collection, $, available at Homework Store
This is a great set for those looking to reduce plastic in their shower routine. The forever bottle is refillable and the can is easily recyclable.
KANKAN London Starter Set º1, $, available at KANKAN London
How adorable are these miniature Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks? Inside, you’ll find four of Charlotte’s cult shades, including Pillow Talk Original and Red Carpet Red.
Charlotte Tilbury Iconic Mini Lip Wardrobe, $, available at Charlotte Tilbury
For the person who always has a fancy hand cream in their bag, it has to be this cute tree decoration by Caudalie.
Caudalie Moisturizing Hand Cream Trio, $, available at LookFantastic
If they’re into K-beauty, they’ll love this skincare set by Glow Recipe. The Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner is an R29 favourite.
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Magic, $, available at Cult Beauty
ghd’s Christmas collection is incredibly chic. This year, the expert-adored Platinum+ Styler (which straightens hair in next to no time, all without frazzling strands) is housed in a luxe green case.
GHD Platinum+ Hair Straightener Warm Pewter, $, available at GHD
Beauty lovers will know all about Eve Lom’s iconic cleanser. It melts away makeup, SPF and daily grime, and makes skin soft to the touch. This year, the mini version comes as a festive ornament with a muslin cloth to boot.
Eve Lom Iconic Cleanse Ornament, $, available at Space NK
If they really deserve a treat, look to La Mer. This set features the cult Creme de la Mer Cream and Lip Balm (the latter of which beauty editors everywhere swear by).
La Mer The Nourishing Moisture Collection, $, available at La Mer
Not only does Glossier’s Body Hero collection smell amazing, it’s also totally Instagram-worthy at the side of the bath. This kit comes complete with Dry-Touch Oil Mist, Exfoliating Bar, Daily Perfecting Cream and Daily Oil Wash for silky soft limbs.
Glossier The Complete Body Hero Collection, $, available at Glossier
Depending on your skin tone, you can pick between four Lip & Cheek T-Tones. Your chosen shade will come nestled in The Sloane Bag, a makeup case which Trinny doubles up as a clutch.
Trinny London On The Go, $, available at Trinny London
All skincare obsessives will know about the benefits of hyaluronic acid: it hydrates and plumps lacklustre skin, temporarily minimising the appearance of fine lines. Q+A Skincare’s Christmas cracker serves up a hyaluronic acid-packed cleanser and facial serum.
This body kit is a steal for £22 and includes the Kindness & Pears shower gel, body butter, body yoghurt and hand cream, all in a reusable jute bag.
The Body Shop Kindness & Pears Essentials Gift, $, available at The Body Shop
This IPL device uses intense pulsed light to minimise unwanted facial and body hair over time — and in the comfort of your own home, too.
Beauty editor’s note: it really does work!
Philips Lumea IPL 9000 Series IPL Hair Removal Device, $, available at Philips
SILKE London’s hair wrap protects lengths while you sleep, preventing split ends, frizz and flyaways come morning.
Silke London Silk Hair Wrap, $, available at Net-A-Porter
This set has relaxation written all over it, with shower oils, wellness mist and de-stressing essential oils. Everything smells like a dream.
Aromatherapy Associates Our Favourite Moments, $, available at LookFantastic
A good stocking filler, Bambaw’s soft, reusable makeup pads are an environmentally friendly alternative to cotton rounds and can be thrown in with laundry.
Bambaw Reusable Make Up Remover Pads Pack Of 16, $, available at Boots
Makeup artists and beauty editors can’t get enough of Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream for making dull skin glow instantly. It now comes in a new, festive tub – just in time for Christmas.
Kiehl’s Limited Edition Design Ultra Facial Cream, $, available at Kiehl’s
Byredo’s new fragrance is warm, spicy and all-encompassing. It’s not for the fainthearted but it’s perfect for those who love to stand out (plus, it’ll garner all the compliments).
Byredo Mumbai Noise Eau de Parfum, $, available at Selfridges
Dove’s bath and body set includes all you’ll ever need for a chilled out bathtime. The bath soak is particularly luxurious and the sleep mask is a super cute addition. It’s on sale for just £10 at Superdrug.
Dove Feel Pampered Ultimate Collection Gift Set, $, available at Superdrug
For the person who has three different types of lip balm in their bag at all times, it has to be this Burt’s Bees trio.
Burts Bees Bounty Assorted Mix Lip Balm Christmas Gift Set, $, available at FeelUnique
Voce Viva is the newest addition to Valentino’s fragrance dynasty. It’s sweet and cosy but powerful — a great choice for those who don’t want to blend in.
Valentino Voce Viva Eau De Parfum, $, available at Boots
We could talk about the transformative powers of the Olaplex hair range until the end of time. This box is a treasure trove of products, from shampoo to styling oil.
Olaplex Healthy Hair Essentials, $, available at Space NK
Jo Malone’s new, festive offering occupies a cosy space between sprightly and snug thanks to zingy yellow mandarin, rich honey and coumarin, which dries down to a clean, powdery scent like freshly washed laundry.
Jo Malone Starlit Mandarin & Honey Cologne, $, available at Jo Malone
Come winter, everyone’s lips suffer the brunt of the cold, but not with this fizzy scrub and nourishing balm duo.
Fresh Beauty Day To Night Lip Treatment Kit, $, available at Cult Beauty
With jasmine and peppery red flowers, Philosophy’s bath and shower gel is warm and enveloping. The rich, creamy lather is luxe like no other.
Philosophy Cozy By The Fire Shower Gel, $, available at LookFantastic
Nails INC.’s polish quad is all anyone needs for a festive manicure, with both glossy and glittery hues. The precise brush makes light work of dressing nails fast.
Nails Inc. Spice as Nice, Red and Glitter Polish Quad, $, available at Boots
Gua sha facial massage is incredibly popular for reducing puffiness and encouraging relaxation. You can use this rose quartz tool alongside serum or moisturiser, so that it glides over skin.
Beauty Bay The Rose Quartz Gua Sha, $, available at Beauty Bay
Philips’ sonic electric toothbrush promises whiter teeth in just one week and provides the deepest clean.
Philips Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6100 Toothbrush, $, available at Philips
Diptyque’s Orphéon takes its cue from a late-night bar right next to the fragrance boutique on Boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris. At first spritz it’s refreshing, like a gin and tonic, but as it settles on the skin it becomes warm and spicy. It’s like no other perfume out there right now.
Diptyque Orphéon Eau De Parfum 75ml, $, available at SpaceNK
New York’s skincare enthusiasts love Biossance. This kit does exactly what it says on the tin and makes dull skin gleam with deeply moisturising ingredients like squalane and glycerin.
Biossance Unstoppable Glow Set, $, available at Cult Beauty
Little Mix’s Jade Thirlwall recently joined forces with Beauty Bay to dream up this 42-shade eyeshadow palette. Neon hues sit alongside more muted nudes and golds so you can fashion any eye look that takes your fancy.
Beauty Bay Jade Thirlwall x BEAUTY BAY 42 Colour Palette, $, available at Beauty Bay
Claw clip hairstyles are everywhere thanks to TikTok. This cool checkerboard clip suits all hair types and textures.
ASOS DESIGN Hair Clip Claw in Checkerboard Resin, $, available at ASOS
TikTokers are obsessed with this lip plumping gloss. Too Faced’s new set boasts all three versions.
Too Faced Lip Injection Plump Challenge Lip Plumper Set, $, available at LookFantastic
Makeup artist Hannah Martin teamed up with Ciaté London to create this set with an eyeshadow palette, universal highlighter, mascara and a buildable blush. It’s worth £134 (but currently on sale for £40).
Ciaté The Curated Collection, $, available at Ciate London
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