The holiday season is (almost) upon us, so it’s time to start thinking about gifting! Some of my favorite gifts to give and receive are beauty products, especially ones that I wouldn’t want to splurge on otherwise. Here are my suggestions for six gifts that would make any beauty-lover happy this holiday season (or anytime of year!)
This mask set is the perfect gift for all the skincare junkies out there. It features the Mega Greens Galaxy Pack, a detoxing mask made with clay and leafy greens to draw impurities out of the skin, and the Moisturizing Moon Mask, which plumps and hydrates the skin, perfect for the upcoming Montreal winter. As of now, Glossier only ships to the US, the UK, and Canada except Quebec (c’est terrible), so ask your friends in Ontario or across the border to snag this for you.
If your hobbies include cuticle care and E! Network (any other Pitch Perfect fans out there?), these cuticle oil pens will be perfect for you. NAF! is a nail salon based in Glasgow, Scotland, so the international shipping is a little pricey, but look out for the free or reduced-price shipping promos that they sometimes have! Their cuticle oils come in a bunch of different scents, such as peppermint, cherry pie, and peach bellini, and smell so good you will never want to stop applying them to your nails. They are a great stocking-stuffer for anyone looking to keep their cuticles in tip-top shape.
3. Jo Malone Fragrances C$90-C$175
Jo Malone makes some of the most wonderful-smelling perfumes available, but the steep price tag is enough to ward off any college student on a budget. The holidays are a perfect excuse to ask for a bottle that you wouldn’t necessarily want to pay for yourself. My favourite scents are Peony & Blush Suede, and Wild Bluebell, but there are many others to choose from that will suit varying fragrance preferences.
4. Anything from Fenty Beauty C$12.50-C$69
Rihanna unveiled her makeup collection this past fall and it has been met with rave reviews. All of the products look stunning and were created to be used on every skin tone. The two products on my wishlist are the Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter and the Gloss Bomb, although you really can’t go wrong with anything in the range.
5. Eyeshadow Palette
I’m leaving this one broad because there are just so many to choose from. My personal favourite eyeshadow palette has to be the original Naked Palette by Urban Decay since I love shimmery, warm colours; but almost every makeup brand at Sephora offers some rendition of one. An eyeshadow palette is a great gift option because you can try out a bunch of different colours and formulas without spending a ton, and whoever you give it to will definitely appreciate it.
6. Sephora Favorites Sets C$33-C$82
Sephora Favorites curates sets of mini products for all your beauty wants and needs. They have kits for hair styling, highlighting and bronzing, or creating the perfect nude lip. Their perfume sets also come with a voucher for a rollerball or full-sized fragrance (depending on the price of the set), and many of the kits come with at least one full-sized product. This gift is great for someone who is interested in one type of beauty product but would want to try a variety of brands, or you could use the minis as stocking stuffers for a bunch of friends or family members.
Cover image by Prairie Broughton
Body images obtained from:
https://www.glossier.com/products/mask-duo
https://www.nailsandface.com/collections/cuticle-oils/products/pack-of-three-oils
https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/jo-malone-london-peony-blush-suede-cologne-1-oz/3584134
https://www.fentybeauty.com/killawatt/freestyle-highlighter/FB30002.html
https://www.urbandecay.ca/en/naked-palette-eyeshadow-by-urban-decay/245.html#start=6&cgid=14
https://www.temptalia.com/sephora-holiday-2017-early-access-sephora-favorites-sets/