From fragrances and eyeshadow palettes to serums and lipsticks, we round up our fave beauty gifts for those who mean most to you (or just yourself)
DOMINIC CADOGAN – ASSISTANT EDITOR, DAZED BEAUTY
Pat McGrath Labs – Subversive eyeshadow palette
What do you love about this product?
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it 1000 times; when I’m wearing make-up, I like to make the biggest impact with the least amount of effort. That’s why this incredibly iridescent eyeshadow palette by Auntie Pat is so good. Choose from five sparkling shades that will have your lids shining more brightly than your neighbour’s Christmas light installation, packaged in Pat McGrath Labs’ signature glitter-filled pouch (how fun!).
Why is it the perfect Christmas gift?
Everybody could benefit from a bit of sparkle in their lives right now, after the year we’ve been through.
Which Christmas character would you gift this to and why?
Linnie McCallister, Kevin’s (Macaulay Culkin) bitchy older sister from Home Alone (the original). She would 100 per cent be feeling herself while swanning around Paris with this smeared all over her eyelids.
Buy here (£30).
ANNA CAFOLLA – EDITOR, DAZED DIGITAL
Sunday Riley – Autocorrect Brightening and Depuffing Eye Contour cream
What do you love about this product?
The consistency is so lightweight, smooth, and silky, it feels very luxurious and hydrating to apply. I have long struggled to find an eye cream that actually looks to have any visible, long term effect, and that doesn’t give me milia (the little pearly under skin bumps you can get from certain product build up). Sunday Riley turns it out though – there’s quite an instant depuffing (thanks to the caffeine), and over time, my under eye circles have lightened up and the fine lines are smoothing! It doesn’t react weirdly with any other products, either, and feels hydrating without overworking my oily skin.
Why is it the perfect Christmas gift?
There’s a very subtle shimmer that illuminates the under eye, so it’s perfect for combatting the months we’ve spent squinting at Zoom calls and the (hopefully) forthcoming Christmas dos (online or IRL!).
Which Christmas character would you gift this to and why?
Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas – her stitches could do with some filling in and the shea butter should nourish that pallid blue tone into something a bit bright!
Buy here (£60).
MARIOS MYSTIDIS – SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR, DAZED BEAUTY
Korres – Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir
What do you love about this product?
Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir’s main ingredient is krocus, which is grown in Kozani, northern Greece, and is given the name to the land where it grows, the Krocus village. The unique flower – with potent powers hidden in its red stigmas – blossoms once a year for only two weeks. With 140 krocus yielding only a single gram of krocus stigmas, the price often surpasses gold!
I’ve used countless serums and anti-ageing elixirs, however this has been the only one that I’ve noticed immediate results when it comes to fine lines, blemishes, and dull skin. With only a few drops in the morning and night before any other treatment, you’ll be shocked at how snatched you look.
Why is it the perfect Christmas gift?
Not to repeat myself, but its krocus ingredient makes it stand out compared to any product in the market as well as the best part is that it’s for all skin concerns, types and ages as well as it’s suitable for vegetarians. What more do you need?
Which Christmas character would you gift this to and why?
I would gift this to Tim Allen AKA Scott Calvin in The Santa Clause when he turns into Santa, because we might not be able to do anything about the beard, but we can definitely help with those fine lines.
Buy here (£69).
EMMA DAVIDSON – FASHION FEATURES EDITOR, DAZED DIGITAL
Hermès – Rouge Hermès Matte Lipstick in Rouge Orange
What do you love about this product?
I mean, is it not the chicest thing you’ve ever seen with your own eyes? That iconic orange-hued box, the slick colour-blocking of its refillable case, the way you just know the formula is going to make it feel like you’re caressing your lips with the finest satin… Quite the upgrade on the barely-any-left Barry M and MAC lipsticks languishing at the bottom of my make-up bag TBH.
Why is it the perfect Christmas gift?
Because who TF could honestly justify spending almost £60 on a lippie at any other time? ‘Tis the season to get a bit bougie.
Which Christmas character would you gift this to and why?
Dawn Davenport from John Waters’ cult classique Female Trouble. Hopefully finding a chic little Hermès gift stuffed in her stocking by Santa would make up for the distinct lack of cha cha heels on Christmas morning.
Buy here (£58).
DOMINIC CADOGAN – ASSISTANT EDITOR, DAZED BEAUTY
Marc Jacobs – Perfect Eau de Parfum
What do you love about this product?
Inspired by Marc Jacobs’ life mantra “I am perfect”, PERFECT Marc Jacobs is a light fragrance that packs a floral punch thanks to its daffodil and rhubarb notes. The cute bottle also features little trinkets including a banana, silver balloon, glass slipper, and a domino. Whether you’re spending Christmas with family, friends, or alone, this fresh fragrance will bring floral fancy to any occasion.
Why is it the perfect Christmas gift?
It’s perfect, duh!
Which Christmas character would you gift this to and why?
Cindy Lou Who from How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Her sweet demeanour and OTT hairstyle needs the perfect fragrance to complement them, so what better than one that is Perfect by name and nature?
Buy here (£69).
ISABELLA BURLEY – EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, DAZED
NuFACE – Mini Facial Toning Device
What do you love about this product?
I have a love/hate relationship with my NuFace. My best friend got me onto it, and I now don’t feel complete unless I use it every day. It makes me feel like I’m in the future, because it makes a strange beep sound and you have to put this clear gel all over your face. I’ve now mastered the art of multitasking with my NuFace – I can cook eggs, take calls, write emails with one hand, and use my NuFace with the other.
Why is it the perfect Christmas gift?
Because we are all getting old!
Which Christmas character would you gift this to and why?
It’s very the facelift character from Terry Gilliam’s 1985 film, Brazil.
Buy here (£167).
EMILIE BRUYERE – EDITORIAL PROJECT MANAGER, DAZED
CliniSoothe+ – Skin Purifier
What do you love about this product?
I have really sensitive skin which unfortunately ended up falling victim to maskne. My skin doesn’t normally breakout, so I was at a complete loss on how to handle it. A friend of mine recommended this product saying that she uses it multiple times a day to protect her skin from breakouts. She told me that in just three days this product completely healed her spots and brought down her inflammation massively, she even had before and after pics she had taken to prove it. I have been using it consistently in the morning and night after cleansing and then I reapply throughout the day post-mask wearing activities (if I go to the shop/venture out of my flat). It’s the only change I’ve made in my routine and my skin has never been so even, glowy and smooth – also no more maskne for me!
Why is it the perfect Christmas gift?
It’s the perfect Christmas gift because honestly it’s definitely a very important missing step in most people’s skincare routines. I feel like I’ve found the missing piece of my skincare puzzle and I haven’t been able to stop raving about it since.
Which Christmas character would you gift this to and why?
Santa! Of course his skin needs the most protection of all can you imagine what those cold harsh winds would do to his complexion!
Buy here (£19.95).
DOMINIC CADOGAN – ASSISTANT EDITOR, DAZED BEAUTY
Calvin Klein – Eternity for Men
What do you love about this product?
This fragrance takes you on a journey with its combination of sage and apple notes, through a nutmeg base, and finishing with suede and vetiver. Reinterpreting masculinity, the classic fragrance has stood the test of time after launching in 1989, just a year after its female counterpart.
Why is it the perfect Christmas gift?
Smell evokes such strong memories, so fragrance is the perfect gift as it can solidify powerful emotions for a lifetime; whether you’re gifting to your father, boyfriend, crush, whoever!
Which Christmas character would you gift this to and why?
Howard Langston (Arnold Schwarzenegger) in Jingle All The Way. With all the running around he does trying to get his hands on a Turbo-Man doll, he will need to be smelling fresh and the notes perfectly complement the strength and sensitivity of his character. Not to mention, he would actually remember to get his wife Liz a gift, in the form of the female equivalent.
Buy here (£23.95).
CHARLOTTE FORSYTH – PROMOTIONS MANAGER, DAZED
Drunk Elephant – C-Firma Day serum
What do you love about this product?
The instant boost of glow and firmness it gives you! This is the one of the last steps in my morning routine before the all important SPF and it has the ability to hide everything! It can make four hours of sleep look like nine and give you a glow like no other.
Why is it the perfect Christmas gift?
It does so much! This powerful antioxidant removes dead skin cells, evens complexion, increases firmness, restores radiance and hydrates skin, which in my opinion, equals to multiple presents wrapped up in one!
Which Christmas character would you gift this to and why?
The Grinch so he can come out of his cave glowing.
Buy here (£67).
CALLUM ABBOTT – JUNIOR DIGITAL MEDIA DESIGNER, DAZED
TheraPearl – Eye-ssential Hot/Cold eye mask
What do you love about this product?
I’m prone to really red cheeks and tired eyes and I’ve found that this is a very affordable and easy way to feel fresh. In the summer, I put it in the freezer in the morning so that I can cool down after a sunburnt day in the park, and in the winter I put it in the microwave to help reduce puffiness and blocked sinuses in the evening before bed. It’s also particularly perfect for COVID times: you can use it to cool down your forehead if you have a fever, or as a portable hand warmer when you're out for a winter walk.
Why is it the perfect Christmas gift?
I was gifted one of these on my 21st birthday and still use it to this day. It's so calming and everyone can benefit from that, especially this year. There is no one who wouldn't enjoy using this product, whether it's for cosmetic reasons or just to relax. And it's incredibly affordable, so if you’re scraping the barrel then this is a good people pleaser. It also has a futuristic aesthetic, so you can close your eyes and pretend that you're being cryogenically frozen until the vaccine is rolled out and 2020 is just a distant memory.
Which Christmas character would you gift this to and why?
I would gift this to whoever wrote my favourite Christmas carol “In The Bleak Midwinter” – just put this mask in the microwave and the winter won't feel so bleak anymore.
Buy here (£7.99).
BUNNY KINNEY – FOUNDER, DAZED BEAUTY
Gucci – The Alchemist’s Garden, A Song for the Rose Eau de Parfum
What do you love about this product?
I love anything floral – particularly rose scents. And what's nice about this range from Gucci, aside from the apothecary-style bottles which look nice on display, is that it's meant to be layered with other scents so you can make it feel really custom to your own tastes.
Why is it the perfect Christmas gift?
I genuinely love giving and receiving fragrances as gifts. Although scent is highly subjective, I like it because it is so personal. There are some brands you can't go wrong with pretty much any choice: Diptyque, Chanel, Frederick Malle, Byredo, Tom Ford. But I really love all of Gucci's latest fragrances, especially this range.
Which Christmas character would you gift this to and why?
I bet Melody Parris, from my favourite obscure 90s US made-for-tv movie The Christmas List, would love this gift. She works at a perfume counter and has an excellent nose. Other than her, I feel like the Grinch could do with a thoughtful pressie to remind him someone out there cares? He seems like a Gucci man.
Buy here (£240).
VANESSA HSIEH – SENIOR INSTAGRAM EDITOR, DAZED
Giorgio Armani – Luminous Silk foundation
What do you love about this product?
It’s a light foundation with buildable coverage that feels like your own skin but better.
Why is it the perfect Christmas gift?
It comes in 40 different shades and suits various skin types. Also, who wouldn’t want the gift of smooth, easy-application photo-ready skin without feeling cakey?
Which Christmas character (film, TV, song, etc) would you gift this to and why?
Regina George, for her annual “Jingle Bell Rock” performance. A Plastics-perfect beat that can weather bright stage lights and backing music malfunctions.
Buy here (£43).