The Best Beauty Gifts of Holiday 2017: Makeup, Skincare and Perfume Gifts For Her
Your mom, your wife, your mother in law, your best friend, your Insta-obsessed niece: There's a gift here for every important women in your life (including yourself)
It may seem a bit early to start thinking about Christmas presents, but when it comes to buying beauty gifts for the most important women in your life, there’s no such thing as being overly prepared. Seriously. These are the same women who squeeze six avocados before deciding which one to buy for your/their morning toast–do you really think it’s a good idea to wait until the last minute? And yet, the majority of Americans still do. A whopping 46% regularly procrastinate until the week before Christmas or later, according to Retailmenot. And we all know: that never ends well. Fortunately, we’ve made it easy for you to find the perfect gift by doing your homework for you. We sniffed, smeared and sampled our way through countless holiday previews to bring you this, the very best beauty gifts of the season. So take a quick scroll, click a couple of links and pat yourself on the back for a job well done.
Under $500
Diptyque Advent Calendar, $390, spacenk.com
The gift that just keeps giving: This limited-quantity calendar lets Diptyque fans discover a new product everyday for the 25 days leading up to Christmas. Included in the collection: mini versions of the Vinaigre de Toilette, skin and body care collections, and candles. Each calendar also comes with one full size candle.
Dyson Blow dryer, $399, sephora.com
The Rolls Royce of vacuum cleaners making a blowdryer? File that under “brand extensions that actually make sense.” Their uber-powerful, Moma-design worthy blowdryer is an investment to be sure but arguably worth it for anyone with seriously thick hair who prides themselves on self administering salon-worthy blowouts at home. What exactly makes it so special? Dyson’s Digital V9 Motor which spins at 10,000 RPM, making blowdrying a breeze. An internal temperature checks airflow every two seconds so the dryer (and your hair) never gets too hot. They’ve also reconfigured the design, placing the motor in the handle so the weight is better distributed, causing less arm fatigue. A few other noteworthy features: 4 heat settings, 3 airflow settings, a cold shot, an ionizer, a removable filter at the bottom of the dryer that notifies you when it needs to be cleaned, a nine-foot power cord, a two-year warranty and magnetic attachments including a smoothing nozzle, styling concentrator, and a diffuser.
Nuface Trinity Facial Toning Device with Eye and Lip Attachment, $420, amazon.com
Sound too good to be true? It isn’t: This genius device really works (albeit temporarily). Hands down my favorite face toning/lifting gadget, this microcurrent device will dazzle any serious beauty junkie on your list who is over the age of 40. The device uses electrical currents to instantly tighten skin.
Under $200
Cle de Peau Limited Edition Essential Radiance Set, $130, cledepeaubeaute.com
Beautifully packaged in Cle de Peau’s festive Nuit de Chine holiday pattern, this luxurious anti-aging collection includes their softening cleansing foam, hydro-softening lotion, protective fortifying emulsion Broad Spectrum SPF 22, intensive fortifying emulsion, and cotton.
Diptyque Figuier Carousel, $115, spacenk.com
The legendary scent (a heady blend of fig leaves, milky sap and woody bark) with a meditative topper that spins.
Tata Harper Winter Wonders set, $125, spacenk.com
A clean, green antidote to dry winter skin, this paraben-free, super hydrating skincare collection includes mini (travel-friendly) versions of some of Tata Harper’s most popular anti-aging products, including the Reparative Moisturizer, Nourishing Oil Cleanser, Rejuvenating Serum, Hydrating Floral Essence and Rejuvenating Hand Cream.
Pat McGrath Mothership II Eye Palette, $129, sephora.com
With rich pigments and other worldly textures, McGrath’s shadows have quickly become cult favorites. This 10-piece palette includes some of her most popular shades, making it the ideal gift for any budding makeup artist/selfie queen.
La Mer Introductory Collection, $155, sephora.com
Ok, so your wife/mother is not going to be able to pull a J. Lo and slather her feet with these miniature versions of La Mer’s cult faves, but she will get a taste of their sublime difference. Apologies in advance if it sparks an expensive new addiction.
Jo Malone London Cologne Collection, $120, bluemercury.com
A covetable starter collection (or travel scent wardrobe) for anyone who loves clean, fresh scents, this five-piece set includes miniature (.3 oz) versions of popular Jo Malone London’s fragrances such as Lime Basil & Mandarin.
Under $100
Fresh Skincare Solutions kit, $96, bluemercury.com
This four-piece, festively packaged set includes mini versions of cult classics including the Soy Cleanser, Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask, Black Tea Firming Corset Cream and their Sugar Lip Treatment Advanced Therapy.
Aromatherapy Associates Ultimate Well Being Bath Oil Set, $99, spacenk.com
Know someone who needs some serious self care? This decadent 10-piece collection of relaxing bath oils is sensory cat nip for anyone who loves a good soak. Trust me: you will not find more mesmerizing scents natural scents anywhere.
Under $50
Nars Limited Edition Man Ray Love Triangle Blush/Lipstick Set, $24, sephora.com
This well-priced stocking stuffer offers fun size (.05 and .o8) versions of Nars’s most iconic lipstick and blush shades—in cheeky packaging that pays homage to legendary artist Man Ray. The sets come in three shade groupings: Orgasm lipstick and blush (a shimmery peach that looks great on fair skin); a Deep Throat lipstick (a soft pink) and Barbara lipstick (tan rose) set; and a Hot Sand blush (peach) and Rita (scarlet) lipstick set.
Montlai Jade Roller, $34, mountlai.com
Got a beauty blogger on your list? This gorgeously packaged new offering from skincare blogger Stephanie Zheng (@collectionofvials) is chic enough for even the most fastidious stager of beauty shelfies. Jade rollers, which have been used in Asia for centuries, have been blowing up our Instagram feeds for several years now—and for good reason. Though decidedly low tech compared to other tightening treatments like micro needling, they are divinely satisfying to use. Simply roll the device over your face and you can feel the excess fluid being manually massaged out of your bloated mug. For best results, keep it in the fridge as cold helps constrict blood vessels, enhancing the depuffing effect.
