An Expert Guide To Genuinely Good Beauty Gifting
From a crowd-pleasing perfume to the moisturiser everyone should try, here are 10 perfect presents for all those tricky-to-buy-for recipients
When it comes to gifting, an indulgent beauty present is always a fail-safe move: there are few people that won’t enjoy an invitation to take a long, luxurious bath or carve out 30 minutes of me-time to marinate in a face mask. In fact, we’d go as far as saying there’s a beauty gift out there for everyone (yes, even your teenage brother).
The obvious wins lie in the bath and body realm: a fancy jar of fragrant salts will always score you points, while a flickering scented candle will swiftly set the scene for a relaxing evening.
But while luxury body care is a gifting no-brainer, skincare can be trickier: while the most clued-up of 'skintellectuals' may well be thrilled at receiving the latest skin-brightening booster or science-y serum, your mother-in-law may not be quite so thrilled at receiving a package of products that promise to solve the aesthetic perils of time. Best to stick to perfume, perhaps?
Of course, the beauty industry is heaving with brands all vying for your attention (and your budget) these days, so why not let the experts do all the legwork for you? Take it from the ELLE UK beauty team: here is the perfect beauty gift for absolutely anyone you may be thinking of treating, from your boss to your best friend.
Augustinus Bader The Renewal Icons Set (Worth £295)
It’s highly likely you’ve heard the buzz surrounding Augustinus Bader’s industry-shaking formulas already. If you haven’t, what you really need to know is that this remarkably effective cream contains a patented cocktail of nutrients, titled TFC8, originally created to help heal wounds. Turns out, it works brilliantly at brightening, smoothing and strengthening a winter-weary complexion too.
Jo Malone London Rose Blush Limited Edition Candle
A candle makes the perfect gift for pretty much anyone and of course, Jo Malone London is the most fail-safe brand to turn to. But for something even more special, consider the brand’s limited-edition rose collection, which sees old favourites reimagined in joyful painterly packaging.
Ilapothecary Magnesium and Amethyst Deep Relax Bath Soak
Brit brand Ilapothecary is loved for its thoughtful aromatherapy products designed to ground and realign both the mind and body. Not just a beautifully packaged product, this weighty glass jar of bath salts is a serious cut above, boosted by amethyst and magnesium to calm overwrought muscles, plus petitgrain and cedarwood essential oils to decelerate an anxious mind.
When gifting your in-laws, we’d highly recommend staying away from anything with the words ‘anti ageing’ stamped across the packaging. Really, the safest solutions lie in the fragrance realm: specifically, home fragrance. Absolutely no-one will be upset at receiving a chic, minimalist reed diffuser from Irish beauty brand Voya. With calming lavender and sweet, floral geranium, this organic essential-oil blend is our clear winner.
Aesop Reverence Aromatique Hand Wash
You’ve likely spied Aesop's phenomenally coveted hand wash in the buzziest restaurants and bars across the country (rumour has it, the brand strictly vets anyone hoping to place this amber bottle on the side of their sinks). As chic as a liquid soap can be, this uplifting vetiver and citrus-scented formula is a joy to use, and will make any new house feel more like a home.
Neom Perfect Night's Sleep Pillow Mist
Anyone struggling to drift off at night will enjoy the soporific properties of Neom’s long-loved Perfect Night’s Sleep pillow spray. The traditional lavender note is elevated with herbal basil and a sweet twist of jasmine to create a soothing aroma that’ll signal the end of the day and the start of a restful night’s sleep.
Urban Decay Heat All Night Kit
No beauty brand does major make-up quite like Urban Decay. One of the brand’s game-changing Naked eyeshadow palettes reportedly sells every 6 seconds worldwide, and for good reason: these weighty collections combine intense pigment payoff with the most velvety, blendable texture. This set contains the gold-tone Naked Heat palette with a bottle of the equally adored All Nighter setting spray to ensure their look stays flawless from dusk to dawn.
Finding a fragrance to give a teenager can be tricky, but Marc Jacobs is a brand we’ve long relied upon. Perfect is a modern floral accord with a unique almond-milk note at its heart, meaning it’s creamy and sweet but never cloying or overtly assertive. In short, it makes the perfect rite-of-passage perfume.
An easy win, YSL’s major new fragrance launch goes big on the bergamot, meaning it feels fresher and more youthful than a lot of options in the men’s realm. A citrusy scent with a white-floral heart, it makes an ideal starter scent for anyone new to the world of cologne.
Crème de la Mer Moisturizing Cream (30ml)
La Mer’s truly iconic moisturiser likely requires little introduction. The original luxury indulgence, this fermented algae-based cream boasts an ultra-loyal fan base thanks to its deeply restorative, mega-hydrating properties.
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