These are the products WH's beauty editor has bought for her friends
As a beauty editor, I spend my days testing the best skincare and makeup products on the market. So, when it’s time to play Santa, my friends and family can count on gifts that are more than just pretty packaging (though there’s plenty of that, too).
From a multi-award-winning serum that delivers a radiant complexion to the lipstick that doubles as an everyday accessory, these are the products that have earned a permanent spot in my beauty arsenal — and will soon become staples for your loved ones, too.
So, grab a cup of something warm and cozy up with my ultimate guide to holiday beauty gifts. From decadent body care to cult-favorite palettes, this list is packed with editor-approved treasures that’ll make you the fave friend.
The Clean and Glow Duo
I adore this brand. The cleanser strikes the perfect balance – gentle yet incredibly effective – leaving your skin soft, refreshed, and, most importantly, deeply hydrated. Plus, a tiny 5p-sized amount is all you need, making it a little luxury that lasts. And the serum? There's a reason it took home the title of Best Serum at the 2024 Women’s Health Skincare Awards. It really is healthy skin, bottled.
Eau des Sens Eau de Toilette 100ml
Whether it's a taxi driver, colleague or mum at the school gates, everyone always asks about this perfume. A unique take on orange blossom, patchouli and juniper berries, I'm yet to find a nose that doesn't like it.
Lip Maximizer, Lip Glow, and Serum mini Set with Pouch
This balm is the ultimate gift for the lipstick enthusiast in your life. With just one swipe, it revitalises fading mattes and smooths feathering lip liners, restoring colour while delivering a burst of hydration. And let’s not forget the luxurious Dior-embossed packaging that elevates an everyday essential.
Skin Nova
There's primers and then there's Vieve Skin Nova. It holds the power to even out the patchy skintone, amplify your glow, and erase all the signs of fast-lane living. On most days, I skip foundation altogether – it's that effective.
Seymour Bath Salts
By far my favourite discovery of 2024, this small-batch, female owned brand has formulated some of the best bodycare products to date. As well as body wash and creams, the Seymour Bath Salts elevate a self-care ritual into a spa like experience. Packed with Pink Himalayan Salt, Hawaiian Black Lava Sea Salt, and Grey Celtic Sea Salt from the Brittany coast, these salts deliver over 90 essential minerals your body needs – all effortlessly absorbed through the skin.
ROUGE ALLURE VELVET NUIT BLANCHE SET LIMITED EDITION - SET OF 4 LUMINOUS MATTE LIP COLOURS
A swipe of lipstick at Christmas is like a festive bow for your face: classic, bold, and undeniably celebratory. Plus, let's be honest, just holding a Chanel lipstick in your hand – with that satisfying click – creates a certain kind of magic before you even start to apply. As for the colour payoff? Ultra-fine, highly concentrated pigments pack a punch. Be it your mother-in-law, sister, or best friend, this set is guaranteed to bring a smile.
The Wellness Edit
Pairing mineral-rich bath salts with a comforting body milk treatment that polishes and smoothes, plus a skin reviving face mask that, after just one use, gets slow and dull skin cells of the starting blocks; after two, you're practically the picture of perfect health.
Crystal Retinal®
The question I’m asked most often? 'Which retinol should I buy?' Without hesitation, my go-to answer is Medik8. Their smart, tiered system, ranging from level 1 to 20, is perfect for beginners and seasoned users alike. The formulations are next level, too – no redness, no peeling, just smooth, glowing skin that guarantees a lifetime of compliments.
LOEWE Tomato Leaves scented wax candleholder 330g
If you're going to request a scented candle for Christmas, it should absolutely be this one. Unapologetically luxurious, the subtle scent of aromatic tomato isn't overpowering, so you can light in bathroom, bedroom or dinner table or not at all, because Look At It.
Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic cream
Yes the Laniege lip mask is a cult classic, but this unsung hero is where it's at if the aim of your game of soft, dewy and bouncy skin. It doesn't feel heavy or cloying and floods skin with moisture for up to 100 hours.
Pat McGrath Mothership X: Moonlit Seduction
This is the ultimate eyeshadow palette from make-up mastermind Pat McGrath and it delivers everything: buttery, blendable formulas, shimmers that are a cut above and a range of shades that work for every occasion. From everyday neutrals to bold, statement hues, it’s a must-have for any makeup lover.
Biore UV Aqua Water Essence Sunscreen SPF50 50ml
Great skin doesn’t have to break the bank, and this top-tier SPF is proof. Doubling as a moisturiser and glowy primer, its lightweight, water-like texture drenches dry skin with hydration. Even better, it’s non-comedogenic, making it a dream for combination skin. And the best part? Its protection game is truly unmatched.
Sunday Riley Win Win
Glycolic acid is a key ingredient for those who are thirty and above as it helps to speed cell turnover, which help with skin luminosity. While there are hundreds of formulas out there, I still come back to this one each time. It's super gentle, so you're not left with any tingling sensation, or redness. Come morning your skin looks bright, rested and dewy.
The City Lights Kit
Not only does this travel sizes make it a desirable, but the two new shades of miracle balm help to blur, hydrate and illuminate whatever is needed.
You Might Also Like
