Minimalist makeup has dominated backstage at fashion week in the four major capitals for many seasons now - but what better excuse than the festive period to get creative with your cosmetics?
This is certainly how makeup lovers will approach the Christmas party season, dusting off their glittery shadows, volumising mascaras and vibrant lipsticks to elevate their Yuletide garb. It’s also what they’ll be hoping to find under the tree on the big day.
Any beauty lover worth their salt will know that the gifting season is the optimal time to stock up on their fan favourites. From Fenty Beauty to Charlotte Tilbury, brands will bundle together their bestsellers in a gift set worth far more than purchasing each item individually - and this goes for the big-name brands as well as the lesser-known, independent labels.
This will come as music to your ears when you’re shopping for presents. You will be able to secure duos and trios of the most sought-after skus in the collections without needing to bust your budget - and still ignite delight come December 25.
It is also this time of year when limited-edition seasonal surprises fill the shelves - and the race is truly on to add to your online basket before they’re gone. There’s everything from new cosmetic colourways to exclusive launches for your lucky recipient to sample, road test and devour.
Give the gift of glow this Christmas and treat the makeup maven in your life to the bumper packs below. After you have had a chance to browse the following, see also the best beauty gifts to find their new signature scent, fill their shower caddy with luxury every essentials or secure the skincare they have been lusting over. We have also curated guides for each person on your shopping list - from him to her, mums to dads, Secret Santas to kids’ toys.
See below
Jones Road The City Lights Kit
Bobbi Brown’s Jones Road brand has made a name for itself with its kits – bundles that provide everything you need to recreate the beauty entrepreneur's signature natural makeup looks, and they always go down a treat.
The idea behind The City Lights Kit came from the holiday season in New York City. Inside are a quartet of products that offer a subtle pop of colour. These include the Mini Miracle Balm in new hue Chic, the Mini Miracle Balm in shimmering Magic Hour, The Mascara and Cool Gloss in Rosy.
Buy now £60.00, Jones Road
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Iconic Mini Lip Kit
Known for creating glowy complexions and its instantly recognisable Pillow Talk lipstick, Charlotte Tilbury is one of the most sought-after makeup labels on the market and so will always go down well with any giftee with a penchant for beauty.
For the cosmetics connoisseur, the Pillow Talk Iconic Mini Lip Kit will ignite squeals of excitement with the lipstick, lip gloss and lip liner, all in the universally flattering shade.
Buy now £29.00, Charlotte Tilbury
Sculpted By Aimee Beloved Lips Wonders Kit
For pout perfection this Christmas season, the new and exclusive nude pink hue of Sculpted By Aimee’s LipDuo is designed to suit all skin tones. It is set alongside the moisture-rich Lip Oil to bring hydrating and a healthy sheen to the party period and beyond.
Buy now £20.00, Boots
Kylie Cosmetics Supple Kiss & Precision Pout Lip Duo Gift Set
Kylie Jenner’s lip kits gained legendary status on first launch but not content with resting on her laurels, the brand has elevated the selection, and the Supple Kiss & Precision Pout Lip Duo Gift Set is the embodiment of the evolution.
It contains the Precision Pout Lip Liner and the Supple Kiss Lip Glaze, the former of which is a precise pencil with a waxy formula, while the latter provides a sheer pop of buildable colour and shine.
Buy now £25.00, Boots
VIEVE The Icons
Stock up on two of the most lauded products in makeup artist Jamie Genevieve’s stellar offering at a fraction of the original cost. The Icons gift set stashes the VIEVE Mascara and Skin Nova inside for a limited time, giving you the chance to add the radiance-boosting primer and the long-lasting lengthening mascara to your party season makeup arsenal.
Buy now £42.00, Space NK
Refy Sculpt Duo Collection
No minis in sight, Refy has set together two of its bestselling products together in this stocking filler-worthy set. It combines its lengthening Lash Sculpt with Brow Sculpt, the cult wax and brush that gave Jess Hunt’s label its stellar reputation.
Buy now £35.00, Refy
Trinny London Feel Fearless Set
Packed with £146 worth of makeup heroes from the Trinny collection, the Feel Fearless Set is a stackable dream. Each product within has multifunctionality so you can upgrade your giftee’s makeup bag in one fell swoop.
T-Tone in Emily x Empress offers a glitzy touch for both the lips and eyes, while Lip2Cheek in Veebee is all about imparting radiance. Then there’s the Line2Define Eyeliner in Sabrina, Miracle Blur to prep and prime the skin and the T-Kit Brush Set for seamless application. The aforementioned are all stashed in holographic travel-ready bag.
Buy now, Trinny London
e.l.f. Glow Reviver Quad Goals Lip Oil Kit
A TikTok viral sensation, e.l.f.’s lip oil lives up to the hype – especially when you consider their modest price tag. A swipe of the applicator imparts a juicy nourishment that looks as good as it feels. There are four stashed within the Glow Reviver Quad Goals Lip Oil Kit, three of which are subtly tinted while the fourth is shimmer-enriched.
Buy now £32.00, Amazon
Fenty Beauty Fenty's Most Want'd
A powerhouse trio of the bestselling products from Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty will secure you the seasonal gifting crown. This bumper pack includes Full-Size Gloss Bomb Heat in the sheer rich brown shade known as Hot Chocolit, Mini Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter in the baby pink shimmery Wattabrat and Mini Hella Thicc Volumizing Mascara.
Buy now £32.00, Boots
Laura Mercier Enchanting Shimmers Caviar Stick Eye Shadow Trio
The cult Caviar Stick Eye Shadow will be on the wishlist of any makeup enthusiast for its sheer versatility - and Laura Mercier is well aware of this, bundling together a trio of striking shades. The offering includes the limited-edition gold Gilded hue, pink shimmery Strike A Rose and glitzy Burnished Bronze.
Buy now £30.00, lookfantastic
ICONIC London Name a Better Duo
The Prep Set Glow is a show-stopper in its own right. The prepping and setting formula has a swirling glitzy look that will ignite squeals of delight - while working its magic to enhance the staying power of your makeup look. It is offered alongside the Triple Threat Mascara for a dynamic duo that is as practical as it is fun.
Buy now £18.20, ICONIC London
