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Beauty Gift Guide 2021 Part 3 | Luxury Beauty Gifts

We complete the 2021 edition of the annual Glow Journal Beauty Gift Guide with Luxury Beauty Gifts- my personal favourite collection.

For those who may be new to the Guides or have missed Parts 1 and 2, I began curating these guides in 2017 based on my own need for them. I wanted to see a beauty gift guide that had been broken down by price (I had grown frustrated with scrolling through a gift guide, finding the right gift, then discovering that it didn’t sit within the price range I was hoping to purchase from), contained only original imagery rather than stock imagery (I lacked trust in gift guides that relied on stock imagery- how could I know if the writer had so much as held the product in their own hands if the photos were pulled from the web?) and actually told me something about the product beyond its name and price (I wanted to know why the writer had chosen to include each gift and who it might be suitable for). You will also find no sponsored product placement in these guides. I personally looked over the Holiday collections of each of my favourite brands, decided which products I would like to include, then reached out to each brand’s publicist one by one. There is not one single gift within these guides that I would not be thrilled to receive and proud to give to a loved one.

As noted previously, it’s important to reiterate that nobody needs anything. There is so much waste in the world and, given my role within the beauty industry, I am conscious of my contribution to that. Whatever you choose to gift, please do so with consideration. The purpose of these guides is not to encourage impulse shopping- it is to allow for careful, considered gift giving. I’ve provided details on each gift here and why I’ve deemed it worthy of inclusion in the guide to help you make a choice that will be used and loved.

Please enjoy Part 3 of the annual Glow Journal Beauty Gift Guide, and read Parts 1 and 2 here.

 

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsI’m beginning Part 3 with home fragrance, as it’s probably my favourite beauty category to gift from. Although home fragrance is significantly less risky a category to gift from than personal fragrance, it still comes with its challenges- namely that it has the potential to look a little “last minute.” For this reason, I like reverting back to the gifting philosophy I’ve echoed throughout all three parts of this year’s Gift Guides- one small gift with the entirety of your budget means you’ll end up with a significantly higher quality gift, and something the recipient is less likely to purchase for themself on a whim. For this reason, if it is within your means, I strongly recommend the Diptyque range. Their candles are crafted in such a considered way, and these are the kind of candles that people treasure. One of my favourite options from Diptyque’s 2021 gifting offering is this set of five miniature versions of the fragrance house’s best-selling candles- Baies, Roses, Figuier, Mimosa and Feu de Bois.

 

Diptyque Mini Candle Set 5 x 35g, $120

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsI said the same about a similar gifting option from Glasshouse in Part 2, and I’m saying it again- this is a perfect gift. Diptyque create a new carousel for their Holiday collection each year and the pendants themselves are so beautifully created that when the candle is lit, they project a flickering light show onto the wall. I’d describe the Baies fragrance as whatever the candle equivalent of an “easy to wear” perfume is. It smells of blackcurrant leaves and rose, so it’s fresh and floral without being at all overpowering. Baies boasts a cult following for a reason. The carousel itself can be used to top any of your existing 190g Diptyque candles, and given that it’s not overtly Christmas themed (the carousel pendants borrow their design from the iconic Basile motifs), it can be used year round.

Diptyque Baies Carousel Candle, $166

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsPersonal fragrance, as mentioned, is a significantly more difficult category to gift from, but I do have some tips. The simplest of those tips is to pay attention to (or just ask) the gift’s recipient what their favourite fragrance is, then find a holiday iteration, or even a limited edition twist, on that scent (most luxury fragrance houses do this during the holidays). My very favourite example of this is Chanel’s N°5 Eau De Parfum 2021 Limited Edition Bottle. For this limited edition version, Chanel have restyled the fragrance’s label, embossing it with Gabrielle Chanel’s lucky number in gold to celebrate the 100th year of N°5. The perfume also comes housed within a “biodegradable paper pulp case,” sealed with a wax stamp, and it’s so beautiful I don’t want to throw it away. This is the perfect gift for anyone who already wears Chanel N°5, who gravitates towards powdery, woody, fresh scents, or anyone who deeply loves the history of fashion and beauty.

Chanel N°5 Eau De Parfum 2021 Limited Edition Bottle, $261

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsTwo of my other tips for gifting personal fragrance are to purchase a holiday set comprised of a brand’s best-sellers (for a product to be a best-seller, it must be wearable enough for many, many people to want to buy it), or to purchase a sample kit or discovery set so that your gift’s recipient can trial a number of sets without the commitment of a full-sized perfume. Jo Malone make beautiful holiday sets that really do feel festive (Jo Malone are in my top handful of brands who do Christmas particularly well). Two of my favourite gifts from Jo Malone’s 2021 Holiday offering are the Myrrh & Tonka Duo Gift Set, which contains a body creme and intense cologne, and the Cologne Intense Collection, which includes 9mL bottles of the brand’s Cypress & Grapevine, Myrrh & Tonka, Oud & Bergamot, Velvet Rose & Oud and Vetiver & Golden Vanilla colognes.

Jo Malone Myrrh & Tonka Duo Gift Set, $243
Jo Malone Cologne Intense Collection, $205

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsAll of this said, you don’t have to buy a limited edition gift when shopping beauty over Christmas! One of the most thoughtful things you can do is purchase someone a restock of their existing favourite fragrance. Another thing you can do, which takes a little more effort but is absolutely worth it (trust me), is to do a little research into what your loved one’s favourite perfumes are. Jump online and have a look at which notes exist in those scents- chances are, if you’re looking at a few of their favourite perfumes, there will be an overlap. I think like to use websites like Fragrantica to find similar fragrances, and gift from there! I’ve included a few of my favourite scents to gift (all classic, wearable and very beautiful)- Dior J’Adore Infinissime (a white floral), Michael Kors Gorgeous! (a woody floral) and Tom Ford Oud Wood (a true wood).

Dior J’Adore Eau de Parfum Infinissime, $266
Michael Kors Gorgeous! Eau De Parfum, $160
Tom Ford Oud Wood Eau De Parfum, $360

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsYSL Beauty feels festive at any time of year (which I imagine is an unconscious association I’m making based almost entirely on the gold packaging), but their Holiday collections are consistently beautiful. It was hard to choose a favourite from this year’s festive offering, so I’ve sprinkled a few across each section of the Guides. The Encre De Peau Cushion Highlighter takes the formula of YSL’s existing cushion foundation (which is a truly remarkable formula) and transforms it into sheer, luminous gold highlighter. I also physically cannot imagine anyone who wouldn’t be thrilled to receive this year’s Couture Colour Clutch Collector (YSL Beauty create a limited edition eyeshadow palette each year). The 2021 shades span across satin finish creamy neutrals to rich, glistening plum tones.

YSL Beauty Encre De Peau Cushion Highlighter, $110
YSL Beauty Couture Clutch Christmas Limited Edition, $160

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsA friend visited my office recently, while I was in the thick of curating this year’s Gift Guides, and asked “Which gift is the most impressive this year?” I immediately reached for the Dior Rouge Dior Minaudiere. I have genuinely never seen anything like it. The Minaudiere is a gold clutch on a gold chain, with the removable gold lipstick case, housing five Dior lipsticks. The lipsticks themselves are Rouge Dior, one of the house’s iconic formulas, in shades Pink Rose, Red Pansy, Winter Poppy and Sparkling Peony. This is a gift for a genuine beauty devotee. Is it excessive? Yes. But I consider this to be a piece of beauty history. Dior have affectionately named this gift “The Atelier of Dreams,” and it is precisely that. I have included a link below that will allow you to find a Dior boutique near you with this piece in stock.

Dior Rouge Dior Minaudiere, $250

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsLipsticks. They really do make such a classic beauty gift. I’ve talked about my gifting philosophy and how beautifully a high-end, luxury branded lip colour fits in with that ethos, however a lovely way to take your beauty gifting up a notch is with a lip set, or kit rather- a collection of products, centring around your loved one’s favourite lip colour, that allow them to create a near-complete look around the one theme. Charlotte Tilbury has done this very, very well. For those in your life who love a nude lip, I recommend the Pillow Talk On The Go set which includes a Pillow Talk lipstick and lip liner, as well as Pillow Talk hued mascara and a cream eyeshadow pencil. For those who love a deep, bold lip colour, opt for the Walk Of No Shame On The Go set, which comes with a matte red lipstick, lip liner, copper eyeliner and jet black mascara.

 

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk On The Go, $80
Charlotte Tilbury Walk Of No Shame On The Go, $95

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsPeople are always impressed by a beautiful eye palette. There’s a level of instant gratification there that I really enjoy when giving gifts. There is a trick here, however. If you’re gifting a loved on an eyeshadow palette, it needs to be high quality (no chalky chemist bumper palettes here) and the majority of the colours housed within said palette need to be colours that your loved one will actually use (or, at the very, very least, be a colour that they’ll love looking at and maybe use once or twice on special occasions). Bonus points if that palette is in limited edition, festive packaging. I have a few favourite palettes from across this year’s holiday beauty collections, and at the top of my list are the Anastasia Beverly Hills Primrose Palette and Charlotte Tilbury’s newest Instant Eye Palette (the pigment of Charlotte’s 12 pan palettes isn’t as intense as the quads, but I like being able to build up pigment in soft layers).

Anastasia Beverly Hills Primrose Palette, $93
Charlotte Tilbury Instant Eye Palette- Smokey Eyes Are Forever, $120

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsThere is not one beauty lover on this planet (I cannot speak for the others) who doesn’t have Hourglass’ Ambient Lighting Edit on their Christmas wish list. Is there a palette that gets better press than this one does each year? No, there is not. Hourglass’ Holiday offerings are consistently stellar, and the Ambient Lighting Edits are always the highlight (no pun intended) for me. The palette always contains a selection of the brand’s best selling Ambient Lighting Powders across finishing powder, bronzer, blush and highlighter, and this year’s edit lives within a marble embellished, metallic case. A note from the brand reads “The powders are hand-made using an advanced miscelare technique, meaning no two are exactly alike,” and that has blown me right away. Another perfect gift. I’m keeping this one, and for that I make no apologies.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit- Universe, $114

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsEverything I have already said about palettes applies once again here. I have always found Bobbi Brown products to be consistently high performing and I count them amongst my very favourite colour cosmetics brands. This year’s Holiday collection is beautiful, and the star for me is the Golden Illusion Eye Shadow Palette- 12 shades across easy-to-wear warm neutrals and pops of plum in every possible finish. Every shadow is incredibly richly pigmented and the colours are all really versatile.

Bobbi Brown Golden Illusion Eye Shadow Palette, $99

I have always loved Bobbi Brown makeup brushes, so much so that a collection of Bobbi Brown brushes were the first I ever bought for myself many, many years ago. For those serious about makeup application, the brand’s Artist Approved Brush Set is the perfect gift- five of Bobbi’s best-selling, makeup-artist-approved makeup brushes, housed in a limited edition, festive gold case.

Bobbi Brown Artist Approved Brush Set, $155

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsIf you’re shopping for someone, anyone, who wears makeup (as opposed to those who prefer to begin and end their beauty routine with skincare), I can confidently say that a beautiful collection of makeup brushes will be a hugely appreciated gift. The only time I would recommend against a brush collection is if you’re shopping for an established makeup artist, as chances are they will already know what their favourite tools are and will replace them as needed. Anyone else is fair game. Mecca Max’s The Big Blend set is one of my favourite gifts from this category. All 10 of the complexion and eye brushes are fab, but the pink brush holder-tube situation that comes with the set is seriously impressive.

Mecca Max The Big Blend Eye & Complexion Brush Set, $85

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsI’ve repeatedly said that Mecca Max do some of the best value beauty gift sets out there, and I am holding firm on that stance. The line’s Off Duty Stick Vault is no exception. Mecca Max’s Off Duty Sticks are amazing, I sincerely rate them up there with the contour sticks and cream blushes produced by a lot of high end brands, and their Glass and Blur stick formulas are remarkable- think dew rather than sparkle, and blur without the cake of powder, respectively. This set contains six off duty sticks (one contour, two blush, one highlighter, one glass and one blur) and is valued at $108 AUD.

Mecca Max The Off Duty Stick Vault, $84

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsSkin. Skincare. It’s a difficult category to gift from but, as with personal fragrance, I have a couple of tips. One such tip is to purchase a gift set consisting of best sellers from a brand, as these must suit a variety of skin types in order for them to sell so well. Another, more self explanatory, tip is to purchase travel sizes, as this allows your loved one to try the product out without you having to commit to a full sized purchase. This in mind, La Mer’s The Nourishing Moisture Collection is one of my very favourite gifting options this year, containing The Lip Balm (universally appreciated) and a 15mL jar of the iconic Crème de la Mer. One of my other tips is to pay attention to which products your loved one enjoys using, then purchase a gift set from that very brand. If your budget allows for it, the La Mer The Deep Soothing Collection is one of the most beautiful beauty gifts money can buy. I have personally used Crème de la Mer for many, many years, and I am yet to find a formula that comes anywhere close to its consistency. Both of these sets come in limited edition pouches, not pictured.

La Mer The Nourishing Moisture Collection, $180
La Mer The Deep Soothing Collection, $755

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsAnother of my beauty gifting philosophies is to purchase a gift that the recipient is unlikely to purchase for themselves. This ties in to that “smallest gift for your entire budget” idea, as I find people are less likely to buy themselves a luxury beauty item and instead prioritise the essentials. That ethos applies here. If it is within your means, and you know that the person you are shopping for will genuinely use and love it, the entire La Prairie skincare collection makes for a really special, meaningful gift. The Supreme Balm Cleanser is a wonderful example of a product that brings a spa experience into the home, while the Skin Caviar Nighttime Oil is the epitome of luxury- rich in a unique blend of caviar-derived retinol and caviar lipids, this oil works to smooth fine lines, strengthen the skin’s natural skin barrier and lift and firm the skin. These are the sorts of gifts best reserved for those who really deserve to be pampered (which, frankly, after the 18 months we’ve had, is all of us).

La Prairie Supreme Cleansing Balm, $240
La Prairie Skin Caviar Nighttime Oil, $780

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsI know that GOOP is a contentious brand, as so many consumers find founder Gwyneth Paltrow polarising (I like her!) but I am approaching this objectively- GOOP make some beautiful skincare products. I’ve included the GOOPGENES limited edition All-In-One Nourishing Skincare Kit in this year’s Gift Guide as it’s a great kit, but mainly because it contains a 10mL bottle of the brand’s All-In-One Super Nutrient Face Oil which is one of my favourite facial oils ever (I think a lot of them just do the same thing as each other, which is hydrate. This one is special). The set also contains an All-in-One Nourishing Eye Cream and All-in-One Nourishing Face Cream.

GOOP GOOPGENES All-In-One Nourishing Skincare Kit, $174

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsThese are both stunning skincare sets, suitable for almost every skin type which makes them a safe but thoughtful gift (I say almost as, unfortunately, there’s little to no way of knowing who has reactive skin, and what those reactions may be too. Gift wisely!). Zoe Foster-Blake’s Go-To Skincare has garnered what can only be described as a cult following, so if anyone in your life is an existing user of the brand, I would recommend gifting them the Every Face gift set which includes the Properly Clean cleanser, Face Hero facial oil (another favourite!) and Very Useful Face Cream alongside a neoprene cosmetics case (not pictured).

Go-To Skincare Every Face Set, $117

While we’re on facial oils that I love, Mecca Cosmetica’s signature line produce some stunning ones. If you’re shopping for someone who loves skincare, has skin on the normal-to-dry side, and has a basic understanding of which active ingredients do what, I highly recommend the Mecca Cosmetica The Radiance Ritual which includes full sized bottles of the Skin Brightening Vitamin C Serum, Hyaluronic Acid Hydration Serum and Everyday Face Oil which can be layered together or used separately depending on the skin’s needs.

Mecca Cosmetica The Radiance Ritual, $120

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsFresh has appeared in all three parts of this year’s Gift Guides, I believe, and there is very much a reason for this. The last 18 months have been rife with at-home facials, which has meant I have trialled many a face mask, and the offering from Fresh has swiftly become a favourite of mine. The Fresh Sooth & Smooth Mask Gift Set is perfect for anyone in your life who loves (or just deserves!) to indulge in an at-home facial, containing three of the brand’s best selling mask formulas- the Lotus Youth Preserve Rescue Mask, Rose Face Mask and Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask. If you are shopping for someone who you know wants a little lift and tighten from their skincare, I recommend the brand’s Cleanse, Smooth & Tighten Skincare Set- a Soy Face Cleanser, Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence and Black Tea Firming Corset Cream.

Fresh Soothe & Smooth Mask Gift Set, $93
Fresh Cleanse, Smooth & Tighten Skincare Set, $113

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsI have not stopped recommending Biossance and Youth To The People to my friends and family members with sensitive skin and rosacea this year, and I have no plans to stop- they all love them. If you are gifting for someone with skin prone to a little redness, opt for the Biossance Unstoppable Glow Skincare Set, containing the brand’s best-selling Squalane + Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum (the perfect chemical exfoliant for sensitive skin), Squalane + Omega Repair Cream and Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil. If any of your friends are shift workers, healthcare workers or teachers (ie. They deserve some serious beauty sleep), I’d go for the Youth To The People The Dreamer Set, which contains three products that work to deliver a glow to the skin while you rest. 

Biossance Unstoppable Glow Skincare Set, $90
Youth To The People The Dreamer Set, $80

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsHere’s one for the skincare fanatics. Dr Dennis Gross revolutionised so many areas of the skincare world, and his namesake brand’s Holiday gift sets are incredible value. The Hydration Celebration Set will serve as the perfect introduction to the brand for a loved one who may not have tried it before, or a thoughtful restock for someone who is already a loyal Dr Dennis Gross fan. This set contains a box of the brand’s legitimately cult Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel (as the youth say- if you know, you know), as well as full sizes of the Hyaluronic Marine Meltaway Cleanser and Marine Oil Free Moisture Cushion. When used together, this trio is a dream for giving the skin a glow.

Dr Dennis Gross Hydration Celebration, $184

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsElizabeth Arden make beautiful products and very safe gift sets. What do I mean by safe? Elizabeth Arden is a heritage brand and a household name, so you don’t run the risk of your gift recipient unwrapping their present and not knowing what they’re looking at. Elizabeth Arden is an instantly recognisable name and, therefore, a safe brand to gift from if your loved one isn’t quite as beauty obsessed as you and I. Two of my favourite luxury gifts from the brand’s Holiday 2021 offering are the Retinol Ceramide Capsules Nightly Performance Set, ideal for anyone wishing to soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and smooth the skin overall while improving its tone, and the All I Want For Christmas Beauty Box, which houses all of the brand’s best selling products, valued at $374.

Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Capsules Nightly Performance Set, $150
Elizabeth Arden All I Want For Christmas Beauty Box, $200

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsIs it a Glow Journal Gift Guide, Part 1, 2 or 3, without an SPF recommendation? Absolutely not. Ultra Violette’s Holiday gift sets are always amazing, but they’ve outdone themselves this year. I’ve included them in previous parts of this year’s Guides, but one of my favourite gifts this year across any category (huge call) is the Ultra Violette All I Want Is Everything Set, which includes the entire SPF Wardrobe (a concept we touched on in Part 1) bar the brand’s newest tinted release. We’re talking Queen Screen, Supreme Screen, Clean Screen, Lean Screen, Extreme Screen and a limited edition shade of Sheen Screen Lip Balm. I also love the Skinscreen 101 set which includes a face and body sunscreen to ensure all bases are covered. Both sets come in very chic UV beauty bags.

 

Ultra Violette All I Want Is Everything Set, $175
Ultra Violette Skinscreen 101, $80

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsStill skincare, but starting from within. I am a long-standing and well-documented lover of The Beauty Chef, and I sincerely see a markable difference in my skin when I’m taking the range consistently as well as seeing equally big, negative changes when I stop taking the products regularly. The Beauty Chef products work on the gut microbiome primarily, with the gut having an effect on the appearance of the skin (I acknowledge that this differs very much from person to person, but I have always found that link to be very noticeable in my own skin). My two favourite The Beauty Chef products are the GLOW powder and COLLAGEN Elixir, both of which come in this limited edition Holiday kit.

The Beauty Chef Supercharged Skin Holiday Kit, $89

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsI have used and loved Bangn Body’s original Firming Lotion since May of 2019 (I remember it vividly) and have loved, literally, every single product the brand has launched since. The brand is sustainable, Australian made and female founded, and I love every single thing they do and create. For this reason, I have included just about every piece of their Holiday 2021 collection in this year’s Gift Guide. The Sleigh Your Skin set is probably my favourite as it contains a dry body brush (the body brush the brand released for last year’s Holiday collection is the best I’ve ever used and I am thrilled to be updating it) alongside a Firming Lotion and Smooth Skin Scrub. For the true Bangn Body devotee in your life (I know a lot of them), I recommend the Glow All The Way set, which includes EVERY. SINGLE. PRODUCT. Both sets come in a limited edition Terry Towelling cosmetics bag, not pictured.

Bangn Body Sleigh Your Skin Set, $81
Bangn Body Glow All The Way Set, $268

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsMore Bangn Body sets! They really are just so good (this year’s Terry Towelling bags are the best ever- I’ve already pinched them for a weekend away and yes, I do need all four) and they work out to be great value so they’re worth snapping up even if you’re just shopping for yourself. The Dewy Delight Set includes an Original Firming Lotion, Illuminating Firming Lotion and a Tube Key (and is also available in a fragrance free version, should you be that way inclined), while the Merry & Bright Set comes with a full facial skincare routine- a Hydrating Facial Cleanser, Original Firming Lotion, Firming & Brightening Beauty Treatment and Konjac Sponge.

Bangn Body Dewy Delight Set, $91
Bangn Body Merry & Bright Set, $138

 

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsLuxury hair care is an underrated category to gift from, but it aligns so perfectly with my beauty gifting ethos. I find that my loved ones are very unlikely to purchase high end hair care or hair styling products for themselves, but when they are gifting luxury hair care they appreciate it beyond words. Oribe has been one of my favourite haircare brands for many, many years. I marched into every Space NK in London on a 2015 holiday until I found it, I was that desperate to try it, and have been hooked ever since. I have trialled multiple products from the brand in the ensuing years, and the Gold Lust Collection is my favourite. This limited edition set contains a Gold Lust Repair & Restore Shampoo, Gold Lust Repair & Restore Conditioner and Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil.

Oribe Gold Lust Collection Set, $145

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsOn hair styling, a high quality hair tool is a really thoughtful beauty gift for any loved ones who might be due for a little upgrade. If you’re shopping for someone who often travels, be that within the state, interstate or overseas (lucky!), I recommend the GHD Flight Travel Hairdryer Set, which contains a powerful travel-sized hairdryer in a sturdy carry case and will save your loved one from having to dry and style their hair with a meek and mild hotel hairdryer. The GHD Rise Volumising Hot Brush is one of my favourite launches from the past year and has become one of my most reached for hair styling tools, so the Rise Volumising Hot Brush Gift Set will be hugely appreciated by anyone who loves a hair styling multitasker.

GHD Flight Travel Hairdryer Gift Set, $99
GHD Rise Volumising Hot Brush Gift Set, $280

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsA multi brand gift set, like the Net-A-Porter Party Prep Beauty Kit, is the perfect gift for the real beauty obsessors in your life. Chances are they’ll know all the brands, but perhaps haven’t had an opportunity to trial all of the products. This set in particular is one of my favourites for the holidays as it has been really carefully curated to see us through the festive season. This kit includes a Senteurs d’Orient Hammam Soap, Lixirskin Electrogel Cleanser, Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick, Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist, Sarah Chapman Overnight Lip Concentrate, R+Co Super Style Crème, Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Gold Eye Masks, Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette Colour-Coded Eye Shadows in Walk Of No Shame and BIOEFFECT Imprinting Hydrogel Mask.


Net-A-Porter Party Prep Beauty Kit, $149.83

 

Christmas Beauty Gift Guide Glow Journal by Gemma WattsI have pulled back on the inclusion of beauty advent calendars this year as I’ve grown more aware of how wasteful the excess packaging involved with producing both the calendar itself and the miniature sized products can be, so I have only included two advent collections that I can confidently say will be used and loved with as little waste as possible by whoever receives them. The first is the Glasshouse Fragrances advent calendar, which contains 24 fragranced gifts spanning across perfumes, candles, shower gels, body lotions and hand creams. The perfect gift for the scent addict in your life.

Glasshouse Fragrances 24 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar, $250

I mentioned in Part 2 that I’d not previously been big on nail polishes as pre-covid I was having SNS applied in salon, but my oh my have times changed. I’ve included the Ciaté Mini Mani Month Advent Calendar in this year’s Gift Guide because it doesn’t quite feel like an advent calendar- it’s really just a collection of gorgeous nail varnishes in a variety of colours. The polishes themselves are deemed “mini,” but I think they’re the perfect size as who has ever finished a nail polish before it dries out anyway? A great gift for anyone who loves to experiment with colour.

Ciaté London Mini Mani Month Advent Calendar, $92

Sincere and special thanks to the teams at Mecca Brands, Chanel Australia, Estée Lauder Companies, Echo Communications, Dior, L’Oréal Australia, TMCPR, Sarah Humphries Agency, La Prairie, Go-To Skincare, Max Media Lab, MCMPR, NAC Media Group, AMPR, Ultra Violette and Bangn Body.