Christmas would not be Christmas without a bevy of beauty joys — certainly not a Betts Christmas.
Five children were raised by my parents, including three daughters. This made the holidays a joyous occasion.
At eight, I received my first proper perfume — a demure flacon of Houbigant’s Quelques Fleurs — and a hairbrush with my name on it, financed by my Victorian great-grandmother so I could get in my hundred strokes a day.
Later, in the wake of edgily manicured Uma Thurman’s star turn in Pulp Fiction, my academic father queued for Chanel’s Rouge Noir, while my mother picked out No. 5 bath oil.
There is no better twin gift.
UK-based beauty columnist Hannah Betts, shares advice for purchasing a memorable beauty gift this Christmas (file image)
For where the unthinking beauty present can be a ghastly platitude — a vat of rash-inducing bubble bath, say, or some biscuit-scented candle — so the truly beautiful one will be remembered for ever.
Which gifts should you purchase for your woman of choice? Or what can you do to make her happy?
Let’s put beauty where it belongs: as your ‘main thing’ (‘main thing’ being a Betts family term for your big-ticket item.)
If money and emotional blackmailing were no objects, I would know which Christmas gift I’d choose. Behold, Aromatherapy Associates Moments To Treasure (£225, aromatherapyassociates.com), a ‘chest of self-care’, as the essential oil gurus call it.
Aromatherapy is not for everyone. Those who don’t are wrong.
There’s nothing quite like it for soothing your face, body and brain. And this is the top of the tree: a cornucopia of 20 award-winning potions and tools worth more than £360. You will be astonished at the beauty of this collection.
Or maybe you’re a high-tech grooming fiend, longing for a piece of state-of-the-art kit: say, a Shani Darden Facial Sculpting Wand (£345, cultbeauty.com) with sound-wave technology to firm muscles and boost circulation?
Or the multi-award-winning The Light Salon Boost LED Face Mask (£395, thelight-salon.com), clinically proven to increase the production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid? In just four weeks, it reduces the depth of wrinkles by 36%. It doesn’t come cheap, but neither does Botox.
Hair-wise, it’s got to be a Dyson. The Supersonic dryer is both super-speedy and super-protective (£299.99, dyson.co.uk). I’m also intrigued by the sound of the volume-doubling GHD Rise Hot Brush (£169, ghdhair.com). Simply hold the brush in any area you wish to add oomph, like your roots.
If you’re buying for a skin obsessive, might I recommend subscription service beautypie.com’s Pie Plus gift membership (£59 for a year, allowing them an unlimited monthly spend)?
Or, hit them with a pot of the ever-luxe Creme de la Mer (£70 for 15ml, cremede lamer.co.uk), or cult brand Augustinus Bader’s serum (£260, augustinusbader.com), eye cream (£150) or hand treatment (£40).
Hannah (pictured) said Guerlain’s heavenly Meteorites illuminating powder balls come in gold this Christmas in terms of make-up
I’d adore a great big bottle of Therapie’s multi-purpose skin soother, Cherish Skin Repair Serum (£68 for 200ml, cultbeauty.co.uk). Votary’s fresh-faced The Glow Kit is a winner, too (reduced from £143 to £95, votary.co.uk).
In terms of make-up, Guerlain’s heavenly Meteorites illuminating powder balls come in gold this Christmas (£49, guerlain.com). Ditto Hermes’s bewitchingly glinting, limited-edition Poudre d’Orfevre Face And Eye Illuminating Powder (£75, hermes.com). And I am yet to encounter any woman who fails to succumb to Hermes’s lipsticks (£58).
Palette lovers should seek out Pat McGrath’s riches. I crave the relatively low-key Pat’s Backstage Kit (£165, patmcgrath.com), but pros should head straight to her six-palette Celestial Odyssey Everything Kit (reduced from £230 to £150).
Huda has so many eyeshadow collection options, my little mind is fried. Try Mercury Retrograde (£58, hudabeauty.com) with its 18 cosmic shades, or the quieter, but no less beguiling, Rose Quartz Eyeshadow Palette (£58).
If eyeliner floats your boat, you’ll need VB’s Kajal Wardrobe (reduced from £142 to £128, victoriabeckhambeauty.com): seven creamy, highly pigmented pencils that dry down to a waterproof formula, encased in a very Posh black and gold pouch. Christmas wishes!
RACE TO IT
Boots sold out of Curel Deep Moisture Spray, the world’s first micro-ceramide spray, when it launched this month. You can see the reason. The skin’s natural production of ceramid is decreasing as we get older. This cream can be applied over makeup for immediate hydration, and a brighter complexion.
boots.com
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MY ICON OF THOUGHT
GEORGE CLOOONEY
George Clooney (pictured) revealed he has been cutting his Caesar hairstyle himself with a clippers-plus-vacuum device called the Flowbee
Gorgeous George has hit the Big 6-0, stating, ‘Turning 60 is a bummer, but it’s that or dead.’ Last year, Clooney made headlines when he revealed that he has been cutting his Caesar hairstyle himself with a clippers-plus-vacuum device called the Flowbee (£151, flowbee.com), causing the product’s website to crash. The silver fox also champions the soap from Procter & Gamble’s heritage brand Ivory.
COSMETIC CRAVING
I’ve been biting my lips in the cold — never a good look. However, Dior’s ultra-flattering, limited-edition Lip Glow Colour Reviver Balm in Plum and Bronze are just what the doctor ordered,
You make my middle-aged, chapped mouth look supermodel. Lip Glow contains 97% of natural ingredients. It can be used for lip balms, primers, or as sheer lipstick.
It makes your lips appear plumper, more fuller, and overall more beautiful. My pout takes off 20 years.
dior.com
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HAIR FASHION ACCESSORIES FOR PARTY HAIR
Contains a scarlet velvet bow and faux pearl hair slide (worth £43). Although I’m 50 years old, I still want it.
libertylondon.com
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A vintage-style clip in gold with shooting stars.
oliverbonas.com
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This jet satin scrunchie is offset by faux pearls — ideal for jazzing up an outfit of an evening.
stories.com
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For a modern take on actress Hedy Lamarr’s silver star headpiece.
netaporter.com
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Stockpile these in fabulous jewel hues — there are 25 to pick from.
claires.com
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