Next up in our series of -what-to-buy-when-you’re-running-out-of-time gift guides, the beauty buys we’d be pretty darn pleased to unwrap come Christmas morning. From savvy skincare to makeup must-haves, here’s our pick of the bunch.
A deliciously boujis hand wash/hand cream duo is always a winner, but the pair from Gloved is at the top of our wish list this year. With hyaluronic acid, pro vitamin B five, and Virginian cedarwood oil, this powerful duo deeply moisturises hydrates and smooth the skin to make a visible difference in its appearance and texture after just a week of use. A winner for winter hands. £50 from www.gloved.co.uk.
Surely the ultimate beauty buy for someone you really love has to be the Dyson Airwrap. The country's most-awarded multi-styler, it perfects hair with no extreme heat thanks to its unique 'Coanda' air flow system. It's been designed with the signature Dyson engineering meaning you'd be hard-pressed to find anything better, no matter the hair type. There's a knack to it for sure, but once you've nailed it this little number takes the stress out of styling, creating perfect waves, curls, bouncy blow dries or sleek locks in just minutes. We've been using ours for a couple of months and it's safe to say we are obsessed. £479.99 for the full kit, available from www.dyson.com and from the Dyson store on Oxford Street.
A little bottle that packs a big punch, This Is Silk’s Power Up Silk Barrier Booster (£24) has been designed with a high percentage of silk to be added to your existing skincare. Just one or two drops mixed in with moisturiser, oil, serum or retinol gives serious plumping and smoothing thanks to it being nature’s super ingredient. Trust us, you’ll be thanked for it later! www.thisissilk.com.
Now we know a toothbrush may not seem like normal Christmas gift, but this is no normal toothbrush. The Ordo Sonic+ Toothbrush (£49.99) has been designed and approved by dentists to offer a deeper, bespoke cleaning experience. With 40,000 sonic pulses per minute and four bespoke brushing modes, it ensures effective plaque removal and promotes healthier, whiter teeth. Throw in the Hydro Sonic Water Flosser (£44.99) and harness the power of hydro-kinetic technology to blast away plaque and food debris from between teeth and along the gum line. With up to 2000 water pulsations per minute, three pressure settings, an 'on demand' mode and 360 degree nozzle rotation, it ensures effective plaque removal and promotes healthier, whiter teeth. Gift the gift of a gorgeous smile from www.ordolife.com.
Monpure’s trio of silk scrunchies (£23.50) are perfect for keeping hair looking stylish without damage. Made from 100% mulberry silk, in a gorgeous emerald green, blush pink and gold, these will get you major brownie points. What’s more, the brand is newly-stocked in Marylebone’s favourite pharmacy, John Bell & Croyden, the perfect excuse for a visit to one of our favourite stores in London. www.monpure.com
LED light therapy has long been used in salon facials to stimulate collagen production and encourage anti-aging, but in the last couple of years there has been a huge increase in the number of at-home devices bringing this effective treatment into your own home. CurrentBody is THE home of beauty tech and its LED Eye Perfector (£189 at www.currentbody.com) is a clinically proven anti-ageing LED eye treatment to treat fine lines and wrinkles, with four powerful LED wavelengths to target collagen and elastin production for a fresher, more youthful eye area. Used for just three minutes a day, within weeks users will notice an improvement in crow’s frees, 11s and brow furrows.
We came across British beauty brand Sculpted By Aimee earlier this year and OH are we glad we did. Founded by Aimee Connolly when she was fresh out of university, the whole range is gorgeous but it’s the Eyeshadow Quad Palette (£21) we’re smitten with, with colour payoff to rival big name brands. She’s recently opened her first shop just off Carnaby Street, definitely worth a visit. www.sculptedbyaimee.com
