At the tail end of a year filled with so much uncertainty, one thing seems indisputable: there has been no year where ‘treating yourself’ could be better deserved than 2020. So in this spirit of rewarding ourselves for getting through everything the last 12 months has thrown our way, I’ve compiled a little guide to the gifts you should strongly consider shouting yourself to. Or, of course, spoiling your family and friends with. I’d suggest a little of column A, a little of column B.
Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk Lip Cheat Pencil is one of the beauty products I’m most asked about by family and friends – the lip perfecting pink shade has become almost synonymous with Charlotte’s instantly recognisable supermodel glamour (it was also used by Charlotte on Poppy Delevingne and Amal Clooney on their wedding days). The iconic hue has expanded into its own range, and this Lip Kit (featuring the pencil and lipstick, plus a sheer and glittery lip gloss duo) makes for a comprehensive everyday lip wardrobe. It’s a clever pack to try first if you’re interested in investing in the full sized versions.
Pillow Talk Lip Secrets Kit
YSL Holiday 2020 Touche Éclat
Every year I love seeing the beautiful limited edition packaging Yves Saint Laurent beauty dreams up to dress their most famous offerings, and this year’s Touche Éclat is no exception: the luminising pen is decked in black, trimmed with a chic glittery leopard pattern. If you or a loved one can’t live without a daily dose of Touche Éclat, this special Christmas version is hard to beat.
I highly rate Bobbi Brown’s brushes in my everyday life, so having a miniature but totally functional set of travel brushes would make doing makeup when travelling all the easier. It provides all the tools to do a full face of makeup with just these beauties – plus, they’re sturdy and won’t shed even after dozens of washes.
Bobbi Brown Essential Brush Kit
Dr. Dennis Gross Moisture Miracles
Skincare obsessives might already be au fait with Dr. Dennis Gross’s line of skin health-boosting offerings (his Alpha Beta Peel Pads are cult favourites for good reason), but whether you’re new to the brand or just need to stock up on some old faithfuls, this pack would be a welcome addition under any Christmas tree. Geared towards alleviating dehydration (something almost all of us suffer from), it comprises a mini routine that will have your skin feeling and looking better by New Year’s.
If there’s a time of year where a little novelty is not only acceptable but totally encouraged, it would be Christmas. These undereye patches are both fun, and very effective at hydrating – in the most festive way possible.
Patchology Merry & Bright Eye Gel Set
A great little set if you’ve been interested in sampling the cult skincare line that made squalane a household name, but didn’t know where to start. It offers a full-size of one of their MVPs, Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil, flanked by a serum and moisturiser that all work harmoniously together for a mini nighttime ritual.
Biossance Uplifted & Bright
First Aid Beauty All That FAB
Limited edition Christmas packs can be a wonderful opportunity to stock up on some favourites while pocketing major savings; here is a case in point. I can confidently say I would buy each of the individual items available in this bumper pack from First Aid Beauty (in fact, some of them are repeat past purchases of mine), but together in this set you’re enjoying 62% (!) savings compared to if bought separately. These products constitute an excellent and comprehensive skincare routine that would work for the vast majority of skin types; I strongly recommend.
I can think of no one on my gift list that would be unhappy to spy a little bit of Clarins magic under their Christmas tree, and this beautiful set would delight anyone (including if it is a well-deserved gift to self). Containing some of the brands most beloved offerings (I particularly rate their hand cream, and eye makeup remover that shifts even the most stubborn waterproof mascara effortlessly), it would suit all ages and skin types. And how joyously festive is the makeup bag the products come in?
Clarins Weekend Essentials
I am a magpie for a limited-edition Christmas product, and take great pleasure in switching out my usual products for more festive versions every year. If you’re similarly minded, this trio of mini body butters would be the ideal gift to self to inject a little festive cheer into your body care routine. Despite their festive packaging, they’re not obviously Christmassy scented, meaning you could happily continue using well into January – otherwise, The Body Shop’s Nourishing Body Butter Trio would make for the perfect perennial taste tester of the brand’s iconic offerings.
The Body Shop Christmassy Body Butter Trio
Aromatherapy Associates Forest Therapy Bath & Shower Oil
Render bathing even more luxurious with this heavenly, hand-blended oil. It offers a heady verdant scent that instantly transports you to the soothing surrounds of a forest – even if you’re in an inner city flat – thanks to its notes of cypress and pink pepper (which indeed make for a somewhat Christmassy fragrance that is nonetheless appropriate all year round). The weighty, cut glass bottle certainly helps elevate bath time out of the ordinary.
Since first trying this kit a few months ago, I have been uncharacteristically loyal to this duo of products – a rare feat, given my job requires me to trial and test different products every week. Comprised of the Perky Sculpting Body Hydrator (a rich but quickly absorbed body butter) and the Booty Drops Firming Oil, I mix both together for a deliciously coffee-scented and ultra-softening ritual that I actually look forward to post-shower.
Frank Body Butt First, Coffee Kit
GHD Platinum + Professional Smart Styler
Need to upgrade your straightener? There’s no better time than with this limited edition styler from GHD, clad in pearlescent white and housed in an inky blue case as part of their festive Wish Upon A Star collection. The styler boasts state-of-the-art tech that provides a high gloss finish, with more in-build protection to help swerve damage and frizz than previous iterations.
Story by Tess de Vivie de Régie. Holding shot by Tim Walker for British Vogue.
