Remember how Christmas mornings used to be spent playing with your toys? A desperate scramble of packaging and parts while you got to grips with your new gifts? That kind of magic gets a little lost as you get older, but if there's one thing that's going to rival that level of joy, it's one of the best beauty gifts.
Few things beat the excitement of methodically working your way through a beauty gift set. Carefully applying a new lipstick [1] is the grown-up equivalent of painting by numbers, popping on a face mask is essentially playing dress up with added skincare benefits, and lighting a seriously fancy candle [2] is as satisfying as surveying your latest LEGO build.
While you might have devoured your beauty Advent calendar [3] during the Christmas countdown, there are a whole host of other beauty Christmas gifts that are perfect for any beauty lover. So, whether you want to spread some joy with ideas for Christmas gifts for Mum, secret Santa gift ideas, or maybe a little something for yourself, we've put together the ultimate edit of covetable gifts across makeup, skincare, haircare, and bodycare. Everything is under £100, with options to cater to all kinds of shoppers. Want to get the most minis for your money? We've got plenty of sets for you. Prefer to max out the budget on one gorgeous thing they'd never dream of buying for themselves? We've got you, too.
And the best part? You don't have to worry about buying the wrong size like you do with clothing gifts. This is Christmas gift ideas made easy – no gift receipts required.
Best Beauty Gifts: Byoma Brightening Duo Bauble
Post-party season, our skin needs all the help it can get to turn the brightness back up. With a Brightening Serum to restore glow and Moisturising Gel Cream to soothe and hydrate, the Byoma Brightening Duo Bauble [4] (£10) makes for a purse-friendly stocking filler or Secret Santa gift idea.
Best Beauty Gifts: JVN Complete Hydration Set
All anyone really wants for Christmas is hair so swishy it'll rival Jonathan Van Ness. The JVN Complete Hydration Set [5] (£16) is a step in the right direction, with a shampoo, conditioner, mask, and styling cream all formulated to smooth and soften dry, frizz-prone hair. Better hair by the new year guaranteed.
Best Beauty Gifts: Soapsmith Hand & Body Lotion
There's a tempting tendency to take an out-of-sight out-of-mind approach to bodycare during the winter, but if anything is going to persuade us otherwise, it's Soapsmith Hand & Body Lotion [6] (£18). Soapsmith's newly launched Walthamstow scent (named after the area of London the brand is based) is a delicious blend of bramble, strawberry, and blackberry.
Best Beauty Gifts: Re=Comb Wasted 0.7 Ocean Pik
Keen to make more eco-friendly choices this Christmas? Re=Comb is brushing away the concept of single-use plastics with combs crafted from recycled PP plastic. Due to the nature of the product, each colour run is limited, so you'll need to move fast to snap up the Re=Comb Wasted 0.7 Ocean Pik [7] (£18) in specific shades.
Best Beauty Gifts: Dizziak Body Conditioner
A spin-off of the brand's cult deep hair conditioner, the Dizziak Body Conditioner [8](£20) is the ultimate treat for dull, thirsty skin in need of some serious TLC. Powered by shea butter, aloe vera, and vitamin E, limbs are left glossy but never greasy. One of the best Christmas gifts for Mum's who deserve some pampering.
Best Beauty Gifts: Fresh Sugar Colour & Care Lip Balm Set
Know someone who's forever rummageing for a lip balm? Treat them to Fresh Sugar Colour & Care Lip Balm Set [9] (£25) and they'll be able to have one in their bag, desk, and by their bedside all at once. Sugar Advanced Therapy Treatment and Sugar Mint Rush are sheer, while the Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment has a hint of colour.
Best Beauty Gifts: THE UNSEEN Beauty SPECTRA Eye Colour
This tube might look unassuming, but what if we told you that what was inside was the future of makeup? Paving the way with "dual reality makeup", THE UNSEEN Beauty SPECTRA Eye Colour [10] (£26) looks grey in real life, transforming to a reflective silver when exposed to a flash. The best Christmas gift for the beauty lover who thinks they've tried everything.
Best Beauty Gifts: Ultra Violette Glow and Go Trio
Anyone serious about beauty knows that SPF is a non-negotiable part of your daily routine. Ultra Violette Glow and Go Trio [11] (£27) is the perfect opportunity to test-drive some of Ultra Violette's cult products, with SPF50 for face, body, and lips. The only problem? They'll be adding the full-size versions to their list next year.
Best Beauty Gifts: Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Divine Blush
Nothing perks up a drab, sunshine-deprived complexion quite like a swirl of blush. Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Divine Blush [12] (£30) is a cut above the rest and pure joy to use, with a velvety texture that's a doddle to blend and build. Available in nine different shades with a choice of demi-matte and satin finishes.
Best Beauty Gifts: Mantle The Hot Ex Warming Pre-Shower Body Exfoliator
Their ex might be best left in the past, but this cheeky scrub definitely has a place in their Christmas stocking. Mantle The Hot Ex Warming Pre-Shower Body Exfoliator [13] (£32) heats up on contact with the skin, allowing you to buff away dead skin cells without the shivers. A combination of CBD and nourishing oils delivers extra nourishment to newly smooth skin – gorgeous!
Best Beauty Gifts: Boy Smells Exploratory Set
Unless someone has a signature scent, buying perfume as a beauty Christmas gift can be a bit hit-and-miss. Boy Smells Exploratory Set [14] (£32) is a great compromise, allowing them to try seven of the brand's Genderful Fine Fragrances with none of the commitment. Plus the minis are perfect for travel, too.
Best Beauty Gifts: Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek Champions Set
Buying a beauty Christmas gift for someone low maintenance? Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek Champions Set [15] (£34) of multi-tasking sticks are perfect. Each can be used on the lips or cheeks for a fuss-free pop of colour with minimal effort. The gift bag is a really handy size, too.
Best Beauty Gifts: Beauty Kissy Kissy Makeup Gift Set
Red lips have earned themselves an unfair reputation for being tricky to master, but it's not so hard with the right tools. UOMA Beauty Kissy Kissy Makeup Gift Set [16] (£35) includes a liner, matte lipstick, and glossy high-shine lipstick for a failsafe festive look.
Best Beauty Gifts: Fable & Mane HoliRoots Healthy Hair Ritual
Forget your usual rinse-and-repeat hair routine, Fable & Mane HoliRoots Healthy Hair Ritual [17] (£37) is all about creating a hair ritual. Fable & Mane have their roots in traditional Indian haircare, putting the focus on growing stronger, healthier hair. This nourishing mask and oil will bring even the most frazzled of strands back from the brink.
Best Beauty Gifts: Glossier The Cross Country Kit
Glossier has designed the Glossier The Cross Country Kit [18] (£41) with holiday travel in mind, but we could just as easily call this the morning-after-the-Christmas-party set. It's got everything they need to refresh and reset come morning, with Glossier's cult Milky Jelly Cleanser alongside moisturiser, lip balm, and a mini toothpaste and toothbrush.
Best Beauty Gifts: Hayo’u Clear Quartz Compress Tool
A thoughtful gift, although one likely to cause Christmas morning confusion. Nope, it's not a really opulent doorbell, this is a facial tool designed to help soothe stressed skin, relax tight facial muscles, and diffuse puffiness. Luckily the Hayo'u Clear Quartz Compress Tool [19] (£42) comes with a helpful leaflet and a link to a how-to video.
Best Beauty Gifts: Silke London Heatless Curler
Silke London Heatless Curler [20] (£42) is a serious upgrade from the TikTok trend of using your dressing gown cord to create waves. These silky rollers are so comfortable to sleep in and won't fall out if they're prone to tossing and turning, and there are two silk scrunchies and a styling clip in the set too for extra value.
Best Beauty Gifts: Amika Blonde Boogie Bust Your Brass Toning + Repair Set
Blonde hair has a frustrating tendency to develop yellow, brassy tones – especially after a December of intense heat styling. Consider Amika Blonde Boogie Bust Your Brass Toning + Repair Set [21] (£46.50) the gift of rehab for hair in need of a break, working to cool and intensely hydrate blonde hair to set it back on the straight and narrow.
Best Beauty Gifts: Nars Rising Star Cheek Palette
If you're looking for a Christmas beauty gift with the wow factor, this is it. Nars Rising Star Cheek Palette [22] (£56) is made up of five carefully curated blush shades designed to suit all skin tones, alongside a lustrous gold highlighter. Each one buffs into skin beautifully for a seamless finish.
Best Beauty Gifts: Liberty Christmas Glow Kit 2022
When it comes to prints, Liberty just can't be beaten. This makeup bag isn't just a pretty face though, as it's crammed with eight glow-giving goodies spanning skincare, makeup, and supplements from brands including Paula's Choice and Bobbi Brown. Worth £295, whoever receives the Liberty Christmas Glow Kit [23] (£60) is very, very lucky.
Best Beauty Gifts: K18 Peptide Prep Detox Shampoo and Hair Mask Duo
If there's one haircare launch that's taken the industry by storm this year, it's K18. Powered by impressive science, the hero mask uses a unique sequence of amino acids to reconnect and repair broken bonds within the hair, leaving it stronger and healthier than before. Whether they've tried it already or could do with a top-up, K18 Peptide Prep Detox Shampoo and Hair Mask Duo [24] (£64) is sure to be a hit.
Best Beauty Gifts: Diptyque Sapin Scented Candle
Let's be honest, have you ever felt more grown-up and in control of your life than when lighting a Diptyque candle? An elegant gift that almost everyone would be thrilled to receive, the star-embossed, holiday version of Diptyque Sapin Scented Candle [25] (£65) (a woody-toned delight) will look cute on any coffee table.
Best Beauty Gifts: Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream and Cheirosa 62 Mist Bundle
Snowmen and candy canes not their thing? Skip straight to summer instead with Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream and Cheirosa 62 Mist Bundle [26] (£65). They can extend the much-loved scent of the ultra-nourishing cream with the coordinating scented mist, for a fragrance so vibrant they'll barely believe it's still December.
Best Beauty Gifts: Chanel Éclat Lunaire Oversized Illuminating Face Powder
Chanel's Christmas gifting for 2022 is inspired by the moon, and we'd certainly be over it if we unwrapped the awe-inspiring Chanel Éclat Lunaire Oversized Illuminating Face Powder [27] (£68) on Christmas morning. If you can bear to actually use it (we're not sure we could) the payoff is gorgeous, bringing coppery luminosity to the skin.
Best Beauty Gifts: Sunday Riley Wake Up With Me Kit
It might be the clever names that draw you towards Sunday Riley, but it's the high-performance formulas that will put you on the nice list of anyone you buy the Sunday Riley Wake Up With Me Kit [28] (£81)
for. This kit contains the full lineup of a game-changing skincare routine, with a cleanser, essence, serum, oil, treatment, and eye cream.