Sleigh all day: The best beauty and grooming Christmas gifts
Let them step into the New Year looking and feeling their best with these indulgent beauty gifts
All products are chosen independently by our editors. Luxury London may earn commission on items purchased.
Hitting that sweet spot between practicality and luxury, it’s hard to go wrong with a good beauty or grooming Christmas gift. Be warned, however, today’s savvy skincare fan or make-up aficionado knows their stuff – so a hastily purchased high street gift set isn’t going to cut it. From the latest must-have brands to seriously premium upgrades on everyday essentials, here’s our guide to the best fragrance, beauty and grooming gifts for Christmas 2024.
The best skincare gifts
Skin Rocks The Bookends Set
Unless you consider yourself clued up on the latest Vitamin C innovations or the benefits of hyaluronic acid vs retinol, when it comes to skincare it’s best to turn to the experts. In this case, that comes in the form of Caroline Hirons and her highly-regarded brand Skin Rocks. The range includes everything you need to form a well-rounded skincare routine but, to get started, we suggest investing in The Bookends set (or gifting one to a fellow skincare fan). Containing a cream cleanser, moisturiser and flannel it is, as the name suggest, the essential morning and evening skincare routine.
Harvey Nichols Beauty Sleep hamper
First the beauty industry came for your advent calendars and now it’s invading the hamper world too. And, while Cadbury’s may be quaking in its boots, we couldn’t be happier about it. Brimming with luxurious skincare products from the likes of This Works, Slip, and Kiehl’s, Harvey Nichols has even popped an Evermore Lodnon Moon scented candle in its Beauty Sleep hamper for good measure. Ideal for those with a tendancy to go a little too hard during the party season.
111Skin Master Masking Planner
Founded by Yannis Alexandrides, a Harley Street cosmetic surgeon with more than two decades of experience, 111Skin packs effective antioxidant ingredients into cruelty-free formulas that promise brilliant results for more mature skin. Among its best-selling products is its range of fast-acting sheet masks and this essential set contains options to target a host of skin concerns, from puffiness and dehydration to dark circles and fine lines.
Chanel Hydrating Duo
If you’re going to gift skincare, make sure it looks as chic as the latest additions to Chanel’s highly regarded skincare range. Rendered in pristine white and gold-flecked ivory for the holiday season, the Hydration Duo pairs brand’s nourishing La Creme Main hand cream and Rouge Coco Baume lip balm into a stylish limited edition pouch they’ll want to take everywhere.
Almora Botanica Face Yoga Fitness Skin Perfect set
Designed to harness the power of plants and natural ingredients for skin health, Almora Botanica’s Face Yoga Fitness range is all about sculpting the face just as you would the body. A luxurious addition that promises to take your everyday skincare routine to the next level, the Skin Perfect set contains the brand’s hugely popular Radiance Day Face Oil and the Serum for Fine Lines, both of which are powered by the brand’s patented natural oil Sapta Complex, as well as a pair of gemstone mushroom gua sha stones for enhancing circulation and reducing puffiness and inflammation.
The best make-up gifts
Dior Rouge Dior minaudière
Know someone who would never be seen without a perfect crimson pout? Make their year with this show-stopping lipstick set from Dior. The collection is housed in an elegant black minaudière case (which doubles up as chic clutch bag), alongside a detachable lipstick holder, both featuring the French fashion house’s famed CD monogram. Inside they’ll find a Rouge Dior lipstick bullet and refills in four of the house’s most popular shades.
Ilia The Party Set
Looking for a beauty stocking filler that packs a punch without breaking the bank? This elegant gift set from Ilia includes travel-size versions of the house’s best-selling Liquid Powder Chromatic eye tint and Multi-Stick for eyes and cheeks, alongside a full-size Limitless Lash mascara. AKA everything they need for a show-stopping party look on the go.
Mulberry cosmetics pouch
Of course, now they’re all kitted out, they’ll need something equally stylish to store their new make-up collection in. Rendered in an elegant and utterly timeless forest green hue, Mulberry’s timeless cosmetics pouch is crafted in fine full grain leather and finished with the brand’s signature mulberry tree lining.
The best haircare gifts
Jivan Room voucher
Know someone who prefers to leave their haircare to the professionals? You could do much worse than gift them a voucher for Mayfair’s Jivan Room then. This intimate salon tucked away on Green Street specialises in bespoke cuts, colour and nourishing treatments designed to give you the best hair of your life. Its vouchers are offered as a package of services, such as the Hair Sanctuary Experience which includes a steam-infused deep nourishing treatment, cut and finish, or as monetary amounts to let them choose from the salon’s expansive offering. Whether they’re after a complete hair redesign, a refresh of their signature balayage or a smoothing keratin mask, give them the gift of great hair with Jivan Room.
Oribe Hair Alchemy Holiday Collection
Famed for its cruelty-free, colour-protecting hair care, New York-based brand Oribe also does a stellar range of products catering to every type of mane. If you’re new to the collection, sample its key offerings with the Hair Alchemy gift set, featuring three beautifully scented strengthening essentials: the Hair Alchemy Resilience Shampoo, Hair Alchemy Resilience Conditioner and Hair Alchemy Fortifying Treatment Serum. Think of it as a good hair day in a box.
ghd Platinum+ gift set
If you know a glamorous party girl who’s already planning Christmas aprty looks, ghd’s stylish set makes for a great luxury gift. Containing a Platinum+ professional smart straightener, alongside a professional paddle brush, everything is stored neatly in a smart heartproof travel bag for seamless packing.
Larry King The Social Edit
London-based hairdresser to the stars Larry King, whose clients include Gigi Hadid, Chris Hemsworth and Jared Leto, is a man who takes the business of washing hair seriously. Not merely a necessary formality before your cut and colour, King’s The Social Edit set treats hair care regimes the same way as skincare, with specific formulas for volume, moisture, styling and cleansing, served alongside his Liquid Hairbrush conditioner to keep locks silky smooth.
The best men’s grooming gifts
Czech & Speake manicure set
It is our humble opinion that no well-groomed man should be without a Czech & Speake manicure set. Yes, it’s pricey – but just look at it. It oozes old-world glamour, boasts award-winning German design and speaks to a man so refined and sophisticated that even his nails get the VIP treatment. Gift it once and reap the aesthetic benefits of a lifetime of manicures.
Truefitt & Hill shaving set
If his morning shave is something he usually rushes through with a months-old disposable razor in hand, open his eyes to the pleasures of a truly luxurious shaving experience this Christmas. London barber Truefitt & Hill has been smoothing stubble and taming unkempt beards in St James’s since 1805 and now you can buy its most loved products to recreate the experience at home. Go traditional with the Edwardian shaving set, which includes a Double Edge razor, silvertip brush and resin stand.
Malin + Goetz Healthy Skincare set
We firmly maintain that no man ‘doesn’t do’ grooming, he simply hasn’t been introduced to the right products yet – which is where Malin + Goetz comes in. Its range of hair and skin treatments are approachable while delivering visible results (and looking great on your bathroom shelf). Ease him in with the Healthy Skincare set, featuring four trial-size versions of Malin + Goetz’s most popular skincare products: the grapefruit face cleanser, vitamin E moisturiser, detox face mask, and lip moisturiser. We guarantee he’ll be investing in the rest of the range in no time.
The best fragrance gifts
Miller Harris Black Datura
If all else fails turn to fine fragrance. And, while they may have been turning to the same household name brands for years, trust us, they’ll thank you for an introduction to Miller Harris’ Black Datura. The London-based perfumer has layered up notes of tuberose, ylang ylang, baie rose and white lily to create an intoxicating, rich and sensual scent that will be their instant new favourite.
Thameen Treasure Collection gift set
Sure, you could buy one or two, or even three, bottles of perfume for a beloved fragrance fan but why stop there when Thameen offers 12 of its most popular scents in one elegant gift set? The British fragrance house’s Treasure Collection takes the wearer on a journey through the Thameen olfactory offering, with scents running the gamut from the clean, bright notes of Riviere through the gentle florals and fruits of The Cora and the romance and heady opulence of Peacock Throne.
Diptyque holiday candle set
The perfect accompaniment to a relaxing bath post-festivities, Diptyque has teamed up with artist Lucy Sparrow to give its traditionally scented candles a seasonal makeover. Featuring three limited edition Christmas fragrances – Sapin (pine tree), Friandise (sweet treat) and Etoile (start) – the trio is packed in a jolly box decked out in felt gingerbread men, candy canes and gift bags. Who said wrapping paper was a necessity?
