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Home / Gift Guide
Gift Guide

What to Get the Beauty Guru in Your Life This Holiday Season

By Dobrina Zhekova on November 12, 2020

Makeup, jewelry, and accessories—oh my!

© Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty Images

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Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.

When it comes to all things beauty, we take our selections very seriously—and with an eye always toward luxury, we tend to appreciate products that are inspired by the world around us—and the places we’ve traveled.

The nice thing about giving a beauty-related gift is that it's truly meant for the recipient and the recipient alone. What better way to celebrate and pamper someone you love than something crafted for the exclusive purpose of being pretty?

Related: Where to Find the Best French Fragrances and Skincare Products

Here, you’ll find an editor-curated list of scents, colors, and clothes that are a perfect fit for the beauty guru in your life. Some of these items are our own favorites; others are things we ourselves are longing for. Whether the person in question will delight at unwrapping the perfect new eyeshadow palette (Dior, of course), receiving a gift-wrapped toning tool that will make wrinkles disappear at the snap of a finger; or sleeping on a Mulberry silk pillowcase (a necessity for beauty rest), we’ve got you covered.

From the newest products by YSL Beauty and La Mer to a smart toothbrush, our favorite gifts for the discerning beauty guru in your life, below.

 
Courtesy Gloss Moderne

Gloss Moderne Clean Luxury Haircare Collection

California-based beauty brand Gloss Moderne has proved that “luxury” and “clean”  are two words that go in the same sentence. Their best-selling haircare collection is formulated with moisturizing shea butter, smoothing keratin, and amino acids that promote healthy hair growth. Together they deliver shiny and commercial-worthy hair that will have you absolutely obsessed.

To buy: $138, glossmoderne.com

Courtesy Bed Bath & Beyond

Dyson Airwrap Complete Styler for Multiple Hair Types

Bid adieu to bad hair days. This Dyson hair styling set has everything you need for a perfectly coiffed mane every single day regardless of your hair type. Dry, curl, smooth, and straighten your hair and never worry about heat damage again thanks to Dyson’s heat-control technology that measures air temperature over 40 times every second and adjusts it accordingly. The set includes four curling barrels, three smoothing brushes, a dryer, and a convenient case for storage.

To buy: $550, bedbathandbeyond.com 

Courtesy YSL Beauty

Yves Saint Laurent Beauty The Overnight Renewal Set

Whoever said smoother and healthier-looking skin doesn’t happen overnight, has clearly not used YSL Beauty’s renewal set. It includes the brand’s Reboot Serum, part of its Pure Shots line that debuted earlier this year. The serum in question is formulated with glycolic acid, moisturizing oils, and moonlight cactus flower to remove dead skin cells, reduce signs of fatigue, and reveal a more energized complexion in under eight hours.

To buy: $254, yslbeautyus.com

Courtesy Saks Fifth Avenue

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Scented Candle

Adored by beauty editors, the Baccarat Rouge 540 scent is an absolutely intoxicating combination of jasmine, saffron, cedarwood, and ambergris. This elegant candle releases the intense fragrance making any room smell divine and look more stylish thanks to the beautiful white Baccarat vessel.

To buy: $110, saksfifthavenue.com

Courtesy Saks Fifth Avenue

Tom Ford Iconic Look Eye & Lip Set

Tom Ford’s makeup gift set features the designer’s ultra-pigmented Burnished Amber eyeshadow palette and two mini lipsticks—a sexy Scarlet Rouge for the ultimate red lip, and Casablanca, both formulated with hydrating soja seed extract, Brazilian murumuru butter, and chamomile flower oil.

To buy: $88, saksfifthavenue.com

Courtesy Saks Fifth Avenue

Eric Buterbaugh Los Angeles 3-Piece Hand Cream Set

After months of constantly slathering on hand-sanitizer, who wouldn’t enjoy finding this gorgeously-packaged trio of moisturizing hand creams under the Christmas tree?!

And since they are created by perfumer/florist extraordinaire Eric Buterbaught, expect to be completely enchanted with the scents, too—formulated with luxurious jasmine, rose, and oud saffron flower, their long-lasting fragrance is absolutely enthralling.

To buy: $100, saksfifthavenue.com

Courtesy Saks Fifth Avenue

Valmont Limited Edition Energy Prime Renewing Pack

Valmont is celebrating the holidays with a brand new 75ml version of its cult-favorite face mask that also comes in a festive packaging. The mask itself needs no introduction—known for its instantly smoothing and energizing results, it illuminates the complexion and does it fast. This product is a complete life-saver before an important event (or a Zoom call). 

To buy: $295, saksfifthavenue.com

Courtesy Saje

Saje 12 Days of Wellness Kit

This holiday season, enhance a loved one’s wellness routine with Saje’s aromatherapy kit that features 12 of the brand’s most popular oil blends. Refreshing peppermint and citrus uplift the mood while lavender, roman chamomile, and marjoram relax both the mind and body before bedtime.

To buy: $110, saje.com

Courtesy Saks Fifth Avenue

Foreo Luna 3 Men Cleansing Brush for Skin & Beard

For the beauty-obsessed gentleman in your life, this skin and beard cleansing tool is a complete game-changer. It is made with silicone touchpoints that cleanse, remove ingrown hairs and dead skin cells in less than a minute. The brush is waterproof so it can be used in the shower for smooth and better-looking skin throughout the day.

To buy: $169, saksfifthavenue.com

Courtesy Artis

Artis Swarovski Makeup Brush

A couple of years ago, Artis shattered the world record for the most expensive makeup brush when it released a $25,000 diamond-encrusted brush. This holiday season, the brand is back at it with a trio of glamorous brushes covered in Swarovski crystals.

The brush is perfect for blending liquid foundation as well as applying powder or face moisturizer and will make your beauty counter so much chicer.

To buy: $250, byartis.com

Courtesy Neiman Marcus

Bioeffect Total Rejuvenation Gift Set

When Bioeffect launched its revolutionary serum a few years ago, it became so popular in Iceland (which is where the brand is based), that 30 percent of women there started using it. The secret behind its impressive anti-aging results is barley—or rather a barley-extracted human replica of EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor) that boosts the production of collagen and elastin.

Bio Effect’s 30-day set features not one but three different growth factors natural to human skin that help minimize wrinkles and reduce the size of pores while delivering a healthier and more radiant complexion.

To buy: $290, neimanmarcus.com

Courtesy Lauren Napier

Lauren Napier Beauty Face Wipes

Lauren Napier’s face wipes are the gift that keeps on giving! Formulated with noni, a small evergreen tree the fruits of which are rich in vitamin c, they not only erase all traces of makeup and impurities but also tackle issues such as adult acne and uneven skin tone leaving the skin radiant and hydrated. Each wipe is individually wrapped and absolutely perfect for stocking stuffers.

To buy: $46, laurennapier.com

Courtesy Net-A-Porter

Floraiku Cricket Song Eau de Parfum

“Nature captured in a bottle,” is how Floraiku’s founders John and Clara Molloy describe their Japanese-inspired brand. Each scent is formulated with more than 50 percent natural ingredients and has a haiku dedicated to it. The Cricket Song (Walking in the darkness/A cricket song/How torrid the heat is!”) fragrance combines sensual notes of bergamot, magnolia, and vetiver oil and comes packaged in a beautiful Bento-like box.

To buy: $350, net-a-porter.com

Courtesy Net-A-Porter

Dr. Barbara Sturm Advent Calendar

This beautiful advent calendar will please both longtime admirers of Dr. Barbara Sturm’s molecular approach to beauty and new fans who haven’t had a chance to experience her award-winning, celebrity-favorite products. It features 24 of her best-selling and most popular skincare offerings such as the enzyme cleanser, the clarifying face cream, the super anti-aging serum, and the anti-pollution drops. 

To buy: $495, net-a-porter.com

Courtesy Dermstore

Guinot Hydrazone Fluid Cream

For the skincare guru who already has every serum and moisturizer on the shelf, professional skincare brand Guinot offers something new—a cross between a serum and a moisturizer. This hybrid product uses ingredients like mattifying powders and Zinc Gluconate to reduce the appearance of shine and create a velvety, matte finish. Without leaving a greasy residue, this lightweight cream keeps skin deeply hydrated from morning to night.

To buy: $75, dermstore.com

Courtesy Philip B

Philip B CBD Scalp and Body Oil

Great hair comes from a greater scalp, says Philip B’s founder. That’s why earlier this year the brand introduced this multipurpose oil that does wonders to the scalp, hair, and pretty much every part of your body. Simply apply it in drops on the scalp and work it in. It absorbs quickly, dismantles the dead skin cells, and helps clear the scalp. The secret lies in its formula—a blend of moisturizing oils, Terpenes (which helps regulate sleep and mood problems), and CBD and CBG that are used to treat inflammation and other skin conditions.

To buy: $95, philipb.com

Courtesy Nordstrom

La Prairie Platinum Rare Cell Night Elixir Rejuvenating Serum

Just one drop of this concentrated serum applied at night delivers instant results—the skin becomes velvety soft. Over time, the serum visibly improves the skin’s texture and firmness making it look more youthful and healthy.

To buy: $1,275, Nordstrom.com

Courtesy Neiman Marcus

Omorovicza Blue Diamond Fitness Set

This set by Hungarian luxury skincare brand Omorovicza—a favorite of high-end spas around the world—restores vitality and firmness in dull and stressed skin thanks to a trio of star ingredients—diamond peptides, arabinogalactans, and a compound of essential amino-acids and copper. The products work together to improve the skin’s elasticity and visibly blur fine lines and wrinkles delivering a more youthful skin tone and texture.

To buy: $595, neimanmarcus.com

Courtesy Neiman Marcus

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris Candle

The fresh scent of straw, lavender, rosemary, and thyme will transport your loved one to the small, sun-drenched villages of the French countryside conjuring memories of magical walks among lavender fields, carefree holidays, and exciting discoveries.

To buy: $85, neimanmarcus.com

Courtesy Yves Saint Laurent

YSL Beauty Y Men’s Eau de Parfum

YSL Beauty’s new fragrance is inspired by a brand’s classic—a white t-shirt and a black jacket—but don’t expect an “ordinary” fragrance. With fresh and seductive notes of bergamot, ginger, and sage, and an apple accord, this fragrance—the face of which is Lenny Kravitz—is poised to become a classic itself.

To buy: $125, yslbeautyus.com

Courtesy Dior

Dior 5 Couleurs Couture

Dior has reinvented its best-selling 5 Couleurs eyeshadow palette so it matches iconic pieces of Dior’s wardrobe (Denim, Nude Dress, New Look, and Black Bow are just some of the instantly recognizable names). Each palette features five creamy-textured eyeshadows that deliver intense color without creasing at the eyelids after a couple of hours.

To buy: $62, dior.com

Courtesy Net-A-Porter

NUFACE Trinity All-In-One Facial Toning Set

Nuface’s facial toning device will turn the next at-home spa night into a truly professional experience with the same wow-worthy results. It uses microcurrent technology to gently stimulate the muscles and boost circulation targeting fine lines and wrinkles in just five minutes a day. The kit comes with two more attachments—one for the lip and eye area and one that targets fine lines and wrinkles.

To buy: $579, net-a-porter.com

Courtesy Chanel

Chanel La Boîte Lacquée

The one issue most beauty-obsessed people have is the sheer number of products they all have. But this sleek Chanel storage box will solve that problem and do so in an incredibly classy way. It’s crafted from black lacquered wood and sports the company’s logo at the top—an elegant addition to any bathroom countertop.

To buy: $410, chanel.com

Courtesy Costa Brazil

Costa Brazil Kaya Jungle Firming Body Oil

Thanks to a cocktail of high-performing natural ingredients sustainably sourced from the Amazon—among which Brazil nut, Murumuru, and Tucuma seed oil—this body oil softens and tones the skin while making it firmer and healthier.

To buy: $98, livecostabrazil.com

Courtesy Net-A-Porter

Balmain Paris Hair Couture Mulberry Silk Pillowcase

No more bad hair days! This standard-size pillowcase is made from luxury Mulberry silk that reduces frizz and regulates the production of oil in the scalp. Because silk is less porous than cotton, it doesn’t absorb moisture so it keeps hydration where it’s supposed to be—in the hair.

To buy: $178, net-a-porter.com

Courtesy BestBuy

Oral-B - iO Series 9 Connected Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush

Dental care is an essential part of anyone’s beauty routine. And Oral-B’s new smart toothbrush really helps you maintain optimal oral health. It has seven modes to choose from—from Gum Care to Super Sensitive and Whitening—and the built-in Bluetooth technology and 3-D mapping allow you to monitor your brushing habits over time so you can make adjustments if necessary.

To buy: $300, bestbuy.com

Courtesy Tata Harper

Tata Harper Multi Masking Set

Help a friend prepare for every skincare emergency. Your skin’s needs change over time and so should the beauty products you use on it. This Tata Harper set consists of four face treatments that target different issues—dehydration, dullness, impurities, and breakouts. All of them are formulated without artificial fragrances and colors, fillers, toxins, or synthetic chemicals.

To buy: $245, tataharper.com

Courtesy Amazon

Luxe Makeup Brush Cleaner and Dryer

Your loved one probably has a ton of makeup brushes and keeping them clean is no easy feat. This makeup brush cleaner though is a game-changer, because it not only washes the brushes, but it dries them, too—and it’s all done in under a minute. The kit also comes with a bottle of Luxe’s makeup cleaning solution.

To buy: $27, amazon.com

Courtesy Ogee

OGEE Seeds of Youth Serum and Liquid Gold Cleanser

The names of this serum-cleanser duo say it all. OGEE is a luxury organic skincare brand that touts a "beyond clean beauty" approach to products, really placing them on a new level of organic skincare systems. The Seeds of Youth serum hydrates, boosts radiance, and firms, thanks to a powerful combo edelweiss plant stem cells and hyaluronic acid. Pair with the luscious Liquid Gold cleanser for optimal results.

To buy: $98, ogee.com (serum); $48, ogee.com (cleansing oil)

Courtesy Malie

Malie Organics Koke’e Body Polish

First things first—this body polish smells absolutely divine! With notes of fresh greens and dewy florals, it truly smells like Hawaii’s lush rainforests.

And thanks to a blend of moisturizing organic oils and exfoliating sugars, it will leave your skin cashmere-soft and glowing. 

To buy: $29, malie.com 

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