by Beauty gifts were once safe stocking fillers (see: Sanctuary Spa gift sets – helping forgetful sons appease their moms since the dawn of time). But with the era of the armchair beauty maven upon us, a bunch of Cath Kidston hand creams just aren’t going to cut it anymore. Post-pandemic, we’re wearing less makeup than ever before, but spending more on high-end brands to ensure results, according to consumer analytics group Kantar. Thankfully, we’ve lined up everything the hard-to-please might need this Christmas.
For the fussy, maybe a little more thought is needed. Thankfully, we’ve got you covered. Here’s everything hard-to-please beauty addicts need this Christmas.
ISAMAYA Wildstar Pressed Pigment Palette
Internationally revered makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench has dressed the likes of Kendall Jenner and Bjork in editorials for years, and in 2022 she finally launched her own line of products. Her first collection was inspired by the kink scene, but don’t worry, her second collection is cowboy themed, so a little more appropriate for a gift. Eyeshadow products are highly pigmented (and highly sought after), so get this one for a lover of eye looks.
£85, Isamaya. com
Gisou honey face oil
You may have seen Gisou’s shimmery branding on Instagram and thought it was all packaging, no product, like everyone who jumped on the Glossier hype in 2016, but this face oil is more than just a pretty face—it’s Allure’s award-winning face oil for 2022 and apparently leaves you with that perfect dewy finish.
£46, gisou. com
NARS Light Reflective Foundation
Speaking of dewy looks: Since minimal has become the new thing, it makes sense that NARS “Reflective” Lightweight Foundation is one of the most talked about foundation makeup products this year. Not only does it cover and correct your skin tone, but its ingredients also improve the quality of your skin while you wear it. Subscribe!
£39, narscosmetics.co.uk
Soie Malaquais perfume by Dries Van Noten
The Belgian designer’s move into the world of beauty and fragrance this year has already garnered the approval of Vogue’s beauty editors and has been hailed as “the chicest beauty brand in existence” by beauty writers. Each of the perfume bottles looks so good you just want to push them away (don’t) but people are especially raving about Soie Malaquais, a chestnut and silk scent with hints of sensual vanilla.
£215, driesvannoten.com
Dizziak deep conditioner
This minimalist hair care brand has attracted so much attention in recent years for its paraben, sulfate, silicone and mineral oil free products that it has been honored with awards and even received endorsements from Miss Dua Lipa, who she loves so much. the brand also invested in it earlier this year. Talk about putting your money where your mouth is. Dizziak is most famous for his Deep Conditioner, so if you know someone who loves straight, sexy hair but hates sulfates, this is one to bear.
£22, dizziak.com
Hyper Skincare AHA Mask
Hyper Skin is growing fast thanks to its sleek aesthetic, but it’s also winning beauty awards left and right (Allure, Cosmopolitan, Byrdie, The Beauty Shortlist). This product alone has three awards and is considered the best AHA mask of 2022. Also, Hyper is a growing black-owned company, so it’s really worth supporting.
£47, revolve.com
London Bleach Corrected Copper Dye
The hair color of the year is undoubtedly and unequivocally copper. Just look at Kendall Jenner, Sydney Sweeney, Emma Chamberlain, Hailey Bieber, Barbie Ferreira, the list goes on. Bleach’s Proper Copper will give you an easy and attainable copper touch, and it’s conditioner-based, so it won’t ruin your hair, either.
£6.50, beautybay.com
Fenty Beauty Heat Hot Chocolate Lip Gloss
The awards are great, but word of mouth is everything, and TikTok’s Fenty Lined Lips has been spreading the word about this product since its release. A video from a creator testing it alone has 10 million views, making it one of the most viewed beauty videos on the app.
£20, boots. com
Google Pixel Smartwatches
At this point you might be thinking: one of these is not like the others. But the Google Pixel Watch is actually designed with wellness in mind: It has a built-in FitBit so you can check your health and keep up with your busy schedule without having to wear two bulky smart watches. In addition, there are six months of FitBit premium for free and three months of YouTube premium as a small gift.
£339, store.google.com
Diorshow On Stage Liner
With Euphoria arguably one of the biggest beauty influences of the last couple of years, this Vogue-approved liner is the key to recreating some of the series’ boldest looks. Get this for a friend who loves her liquid eyeliner but hasn’t branched out to different colors yet—they’ll all be feeling Alexa Demie in no time.
£29, dior. com
Gucci Rouge à Lèvres Voile lipstick
Gucci’s best-selling lipstick is one of the most popular shades of the year, essentially becoming Charlotte Tilbury’s 2022 version of Pillowtalk. For a family member who knows their brands but wears very little makeup, this lipstick is all they’ll need to feel flawless this holiday season: It’s relatively lightweight, not too matte, and can even be used on cheeks if needed. A true all-rounder.
£36, www.selfridges.com
