by Annie Vischer
With each Christmas comes a fresh infusion of beauty buys, all ready to be carefully wrapped up and popped under the tree for one lucky lady. Come Christmas morning, warm cozy bedrooms will be treated to excitable spritzes of new perfumes, slicks of sparkling AW13 shades of lipstick, the glow of a freshly opened scented candle and freshly polished nails being fanned here there and everywhere to dry a brand new manicure ready to open more presents.
We’ve been doing out beauty research to keep you a little ahead of the game this Christmas. Take a look at our favourites so far:
Urban Decay Naked3 Palette, £37.00, House of Fraser – Urban Decay have done it again with their latest Naked palette that features 12 brand new colours, which are rich and velvety in texture, slightly pearlised and within their ultra-wearable neutral palette. The palette also includes a Good Karma Shadow and Blending Brush and an Eyeshadow Primer Potion Sampler. With colours ranging from pale rosy pinks to deep, darkened browns, looks can be built up from a barely there shimmer to a sultry smokey eye. It’s a must-have this Christmas, and will meet every eye-shadow need you may have throughout the party season.
Gucci Guilty Stud Limited Edition Pour Femme, £53.00, Harrods.com – Gucci have launched a limited edition of their classic fragrance to celebrate their close ties with rock and roll over the years. The Oriental scent is warm and floral with opening notes of pink pepper and note of patchouli. The limited edition is adorned with over 400 studs, and is available over the Christmas period exclusively at Harrods, before being launched in April.
Limited Edition Dogs Trust Models Own Nail Varnish, £5.50, DogsTrust.org.uk – Snap up an on-trend nail colour and do your bit for man’s best friend at the same time with this new Models Own nail varnish. The golden colour and paw-printed bottle have been designed to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their famous slogan, ‘A Dog is for Life…not just for Christmas(R)’. All the profits from every bottle sold will be donated to Dogs Trust to help save more dogs. The Dogs Trust cares for over 16,000 stray and abandoned dogs each year, and this Christmas the staff will be looking after the 1,500 dogs that are based in their 18 rehoming centres across the country. Help them and their furry friends by adding a touch of Dogs Trust sparkle to your paws.
Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb Crystal Edition, £75.00, Harrods.com – Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb has somewhat of a cult following, so it won’t surprise you to learn that this new Limited Crystal Edition which sees the usually glass bottled perfume housed in a snowy white crystal flask is already in very high demand. If you are already a fan of the fragrance it will be a terribly difficult one to give away…maybe buy a couple just in envy strikes.
Benefit Cosmetics Show Me The Love! Best of Benefit Set, £39.50, BenefitCosmetics.co.uk – Benefit have gone for a Pop Art flair this season with their Christmas gift sets. This one, Show Me The Love! is BATD’s favourite, combining bestselling classics from years past and present, including the iconic Benetint, They’re Real Mascara and Pore Professional. If there’s a near sure fire way to get it right this present giving season, this is it.
Givenchy Ondulations Precieux Le Rouge Limited Edition, £24.00, HouseofFraser.co.uk – Encased in a snakes skin-esque gold case, these limited edition Givenchy lipsticks in Violine Precieux and Rose Precieux give a deep coloured blushed pink that is dusky enough to give a softer take on the classic deep red favoured at Christmas time. Opt for these berry kissed hues for a subtle and pretty look this season.
Ciate Tree Trinkets (Box of Six), £39.00, Selfridges.com – Have you ever played the ‘find the gift on the Christmas tree game?’ these little beauty filled baubles are perfect for it. A mini Ciate shade lies encased in the bubble-esque bauble of each one. Hang them on your tree to add a decidedly feminine edge to your decorations. We can’t promise that you won’t try and pop one open to freshen up your manicure before the 25th, but no one would know right?
Eve Lom Kiss Mix Star, £16.00, SpakeNK.com – Eve Lom’s Kiss Mix is one of my ultimate beauty must-haves. The balm is nourishing and protective and the cooling minty-menthol-esque notes soothe and revive dehydrated and weather-beaten winter lips. The matte gold star makes this Christmas edition of the beauty icon even more desirable. Yes, I will be purchasing one even though I have an almost new little pot at home. Absolutely.
Jo Malone Blue Spruce Deluxe Candle, £115.00, JoMalone.co.uk – Nothing says Christmas quite like cosying up under a softer than soft blanket, whilst breathing in the elegantly warm notes of the latest Jo Malone candle. This season it comes in the mint humbug striped form of the Blue Spruce Deluxe Candle, a limited edition for Christmas that blends the woody notes of Atlas cedar with vetiver, cinnamon, patchouli and golden amber. Feel warm and soothed just reading that? Wait until you light it.