Gifts of Gorgeousness

Beauty Gifts of Gorgeousness By Kate Duggan

Beauty gifts that Santa will wish he thought of, from stocking fillers to luxury treats

Eco lovers will appreciate Biovene Solid Shampoo and Conditioner Bars (£4 each). They’re also a great gift for anyone planning on going travelling next year, as they take up very little space in a suitcase but last for weeks. The bars are free from parabens, sulphates and other harsh chemicals and use natural goodies like macadamia oil and shea butter to gently cleanse and nourish hair. See www.justmylook.com. Alternatively, the Eco Warrior Mini Cube by the Little Soap Company (www. littlesoapcompany.co.uk) is as pretty as it is eco. For £8, you get a Sensitive Facial Bar, Exfoliating Bar, Shampoo Bar and Shaving Bar. They’re all plantbased, free from synthetics and packed with natural ingredients such as essential oils, pink clay, oatmeal and coconut oil. What make-up lover isn’t a fan of Urban Decay’s Naked Eyeshadow Palettes (£43)? The Ultraviolet one is likely to cause squeals of delight on Christmas Day from any fan of a bold smoky eye. The twelve shades are a mix of mattes, metallic and shimmers. The focus is purple, from lilac to deepest aubergine (but with names like ‘Euphoric’ and ‘Cyber Punk’…), and there are complementary nudes and golds to create the perfect dramatic eye. As you’d expect from Urban Decay (www.urgandecay.co.uk), the shadows go on easily and stay put for hours. Pair the palette with the Lash Freak Mascara (£21) for extra brownie points. Most of us rarely treat ourselves to a new make-up bag, but they’re always nice to get. (Because, let’s face it, how many of us ever get around to cleaning out the powder, lipstick stains and other gunk that accumulates in them?) The Tierra Palm Multicoloured Makeup Bag (£16.50) from Oliver Bonas is likely to be well-received. If you’re feeling especially generous, team it with the coordinating Wash Bag (£24). Do you make your own Christmas crackers? Forget a plastic fish or silver napkin ring, pop in a Leighton Denny Back to Nature Nail Polish in Peony or Forest (£12) instead. They’re vegan, 75% natural and designed to have a lower impact on the environment than most nail varnishes. See www.LD-Boutique.com. Give someone the gift of a good night’s sleep with the Tonic Velvet Eye Mask (£15 from www.amara.com) and T his Works’ Choose Sleep Kit (£10 from www.thisworks.com). The mask is velvet on one side and satin on the other, so it feels lush against skin. The Choose Sleep Kit contains miniatures of two of This Works’ bestselling products – the Deep Sleep Pillow Spray and Stress Check Roll-On. Know someone who loves luxuriating in the bath tub? A Biovene Hair Wrap Treatment (£3 from www.justmylook.com) would make a great stocking filler. It’s easy to use: just pop it over your hair, use the sticky tab to keep it in place, and then rinse off after twenty minutes. It smells divine and leaves hair feeling softer and healthier.