These are so good you may want to buy double and keep one for yourself
Related: Shop the beauty editors’ 2021 holiday gift guide
Gift giving isn’t easy, especially since you’re doing it at the last minute (again). To help make it easier, we’ve compiled a shortlist of gifts that are sure to please. Beauty-related gifts are always appreciated, especially if they’ve been road-tested by experts and beauty fans. From fragrance to hand creams, local creations and classic bestsellers, here are some of the gifts you may want to add to your list.
LOCAL PRIDE
Habitude is the brainchild of self-described skincare passionistas, ex-editors and PR practitioners. Currently, they have 3 products: the Hardworking Miracle Water (P849), a makeup remover and toner that contains galactomyces, rice extract and aloe vera; the Seriously Revitalizing Serum (P949), a skin-plumping and serum that contains niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and plant mucin to nourish and hydrate skin; and lastly, the Go-Getter Moisture & Sun Stick, which has SPF 30 and contains 20% of the baby skin- and reef-friendly mineral zinc oxide, along with tomato extract and aloe vera. Habitude launched just a few weeks ago but buzz has spread fast in the beauty community, who adore the presko-scented (sensitive noses need not worry—it dissipates fast), clean and vegan beauty line.
What a year for Issy & Co.! The local brand has scored many aces with their recent releases—from the Active Skin Tint, Active Concealer, and skincare range. Just in time for the holidays, the brand has released 6 new shades of their beloved Hydragloss (P299), a non-sticky, hydrating and long-wearing gloss range. From shimmery beiges to bright pink and juicy reds, these glosses would make great stocking stuffers for those who are deep into that Y2K look. Trust us—they’re so hot, they’re fetch.
SCENT-SATIONAL
Who else gets a excited when they spy the brand’s signature cream and black boxes under the tree? We do, which is why Jo Malone London is on this list! The brand’s annual holiday collection and limited scent releases are always highly anticipated among beauty lovers, but even the classic scents such as English Pear & Freesia, Wood Sage & Sea Salt, Lime Basil & Mandarin and new favorites Poppy & Barley and Fig & Lotus Flower (okay, we have a lot of favorites—what can we say?), are all very, very welcome. Best of all the brand now has an Official Store in Lazada, which makes gifting and shopping a whole lot easier. The only thing that can make it better is if they bring back Fig & Cassis!
Many people went gaga for Jon Snow, but we never quite recovered from Robb Stark’s untimely demise in Game of Thrones. This isn’t to say that actor Richard Madden, who played Stark and is the brooding new face of CK Defy, is the only reason we’re adding this scent to our list. Listen—or sniff rather—CK Defy smells like a good boyfriend. It’s a woodsy scent that is refreshing and yet unafraid to make a bold statement. Refreshing bergamot and French lavender absolute open the fragrance, followed by earthy vetiver and then warm amber. We’re not saying you should give this to your boyfriend… but you should.
They say scents have the power to invoke memories, but even just the mere sight of the Lush logo has the power to remind us of hours-long baths and room service. It’s been a while since many of us have stepped into a hotel and dunked a Bath Bomb into a marble tub while uncorking a bottle of bubbly, so we’re happy to gift these to our nearest and dearest as a sign that better times are up ahead. This year, the brand’s signature holiday scent Snow Fairy, a candy floss-scented pink explosion of a treat, is a must. It’s available as a bath bomb, bath gel, body conditioner and body spray.
SKIN-NY LOVE
Clé de Peau Beauté has finally landed in the Philippines. The ultra luxury beauty brand is perhaps best known for their concealer, but their skincare range also has a cult following, especially the brand’s La Crème (P34,000), a rich cream that penetrates and treats all layers of the skin and battles dullness, UV damage, loss of firmness and suppleness. Powered by the brand’s Skin Empowering Illuminator complex, a blend of platinum golden silk, theanine, perilla, Japanese pearl and angelica acutiloba, La Créme strengthens and repairs the skin. Also in the ingredient list are retinol, shea butter and hyaluronic acid, all established skincare heroes. Make no doubt about it Clé de Peau Beauté is an investment, a gift for the ultimate beauty aficionado in your life.
Available in the Clé de Peau Beauté pop-up in Greenbelt 5
At-home treatments are the rage among those serious about their skincare. A current editor favorite is the Scion Skin Plasma Renew (P10,950), which uses Cold Plasma Technology to improve skin and battle signs of premature aging. The cold plasma generated by the device offers antibacterial benefits, which not only eliminates acne-causing bacteria (a week of use effectively killed off stress zits and maskne) but also preps the skin to absorb skincare products better. Another great stocking stuffer from the line is the Eye Refine (P3850), a sleek device that combats puffiness, dark circles and fine lines along the delicate eye area. After your eye cream, gently sweep the beveled tip under the eyes; 12,000 micro-pulses improves blood circulation and LED light therapy helps invigorate the eye area and improves skin absorption of much needed treatments.
GLAM SQUAD
We love that NARS has maintained its all-out glam offensive all throughout the quarantine. And honestly—we can all use a little Orgasm these days right? This holiday season, the beauty brand is bringing all their bestsellers to the fore in chic sets, palettes and limited edition packaging. We love the Full Access Cheek Set (P3000) Climax Eyeshadow Palette (P3200) as well as their range of Powermatte Lip Pigment (P1500) and Air Matte (P1500) shades.
The number 1 makeup brand on Lazada has a Hypnotizing Holiday treat for its fans. MAC Cosmetics is proving that beauty is back with a vengeance with their latest collection. There is a lot to choose from, but if you want to impress in your office exchange gift, we think the 4 Pcs Brush Set (P3000), Step Bright Up Extra Dimension Skinfinish Palette (P2600) and The Ultimate Trick Mini Lipstick x 12 Vault (P5500) are worth the splurge.
