Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Lifestyle
Hayley Spencer and Claudia Cockerell

14 Beauty gifts our editors are obsessed with — from cult serums to lip kits

Shopping for a make-up maven, a Sephora teen, or that family member that just looks perfectly-put-together all the time, but don’t know where to start? We’ve whittled down the best of the best in beauty gifts, used on repeat by our editors — plus the new launches we’re excited about from cult beauty brands.

Hershesons The Great Hairdryer - with sleek and shine kit

(Hershesons)

As well as adding a chic pop of colour to your dressing table, London salon Hershesons’ hair tools punch well above their weight for the price. This super compact hairdryer will wow the beauty lover in your life for its speed, precision and feather-lightness. Get them the sleek and shine kit, which comes with the the brand’s brilliant Zhoosh Foam, large Pro Blow Dry Brush, Pocket Brush and section clips included, so they can create the dream bouncy blowdry at home.

£362, hershesons.com

Votary Brightening hyaluronic serum

(Votary)

Votary’s serum is a blend of super ingredients including glycolic acid, which speeds up the skin’s renewal process and hyaluronic acid for that plump and dewy look, along with with skin-loving plant extracts. It’s not at all sticky like some hyaluronic serums and smells divine thanks to the addition of neroli flower.

£94, votary.co.uk

& Other Stories Brush kit

(& Other Stories)

& Other Stories have the monopoly on great high street beauty products with their re-launched line of products, and this brand-new brush kit is as precise as it is easy on the eye.

£57, stories.com

Penhaligon’s Juniper Sling

(Penhaglion's)

Penhaligon’s packaging has a decidedly festive feel, and with its notes of juniper, angelica and black pepper it’s both warm and spicy.

£85 for 30ml, selfridges.com

BINAURALE Happy Hardcore perfume

(Binaurale)

Or for those who love a sensual scent — and louder packaging, for that matter — this BINAURALE perfume is a real treat. It’s an intoxicating blend of rose oxyde, saffron, and nutmeg — while notes spanning black pepper and guava jelly, patchouli and oakmoss ground it with warm undertones.

£140 for 150ml, goodhoodstore.com

Slip Silk contour sleep mask

(Slip)

Give the gift of beauty sleep with the Rolls-Royce of eyemasks from Slip. The Meribella style is contoured so it doesn’t disrupt lifted or faux lashes — a detail that your beauty loving recipient will delight in.

£55, slipsilkpillowcase.co.uk

LANEIGE On-the-glow balm trio

(LANEIGE)

Looking for something sweet for your giftee? Sephora teens and grown-up beauty girlies alike will fawn over a set of LANEIGE lip balms — the cult Korean brand really deliver on hydrating, glossy formulas in cute colours and scents.

£34, lookfantastic.com

Nescens Silver aura scented candle

(Silver Aura)

It might be minimalist on the outside, but it hides a very Christmassy scent. There’s spicy top notes, with a woody accord of patchouli, cedar and vetiver and a hint of musk. The perfect scent for your giftee to fill their home with over the festive season.

£81, nescens.com

Davines Momo set

Davines have struck the perfect balance of creating products with clean ingredients that still make your hair look amazing. All of their shampoos and conditioners are sulfate and paraben free, as well as being sustainably made. The Momo range gives that sheeny, shiny fresh from the salon look - and it smells great.

£72, uk.davines.com

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Iconic Lip and Cheek Secrets gift set

(Charlotte Tilbury)

Every beauty lover needs a little bit of Charlotte Tilbury in her life if you ask us! The London make-up maven’s gift sets are a Christmas delight, and we’d love to this see one — combining the cult nude-pink lip liner, matching lipstick, Beauty Light wand and plumping lip gloss — wrapped up under our tree.

£46, charlottetilbury.com

Larry King Flyaway kit in rose

(Larry King)

From one of London’s favourite hairdressers, Larry King’s flyaway kit is a secret weapon for party girls. Even in nightmarish weather you can create smooth, sleek locks; the Social Life balm is lightweight but has serious hold, while the dual-ended bamboo brush is the niftiest tool for smoothing fluff, flyaways, and can even be used to tame brows. It’s the perfect stocking stuffer and currently comes in three cute limited edition colours.

£22, larrykinghair.com

Mortar and Milk PHA Barrier Repair Serum

(Mortar and Milk)

Everyone in the know relies on Mortar & Milk’s Pam Marshall to sort their skin out either in her Hoxton Square clinic or via one of her consultations. Whichever you opt for, Pam has this knack of making skin healthier and more resilient – and this serum bottles her knowledge. It’s for all skin types, and the aim is to hydrate, very gently exfoliate, and generally make it more bouncy and resilient. Give this to anyone who wants better skin.

£85, mortarandmilklondon.com

Joonybryd Power Couple Treatment Duo

(Joonybryd)

Conjured up by the dermatologist Dr Alexis Granite, Joonbryd is the perfect brand for anyone who takes bodycare seriously and wants a luxe experience of it via textures that slip on smoothly and scents that calm. This body serum and hand cream in particular are brilliant.

£130, joonbryd.com

Clive Christian 1872 Feminine Original Collection Eau de Parfum

(Clive Christian)

Even holding this bottle feels like such a treat, with everything from the green glass to the heavy lid reminiscent of jewels, but what’s inside is just as good. The kaleidoscope of bergamot, rose, pineapple and sandalwood are at once rousing but warming once settled on skin.

£310, selfridges.com

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.