If there’s one time of year when beauty brands pull out all the stops, it’s definitely the holiday season. There’s a constant influx of buzzy beauty launches, limited-edition sets and next-level tools, but sussing out the ones that are really worth gifting can prove to be a challenge.
To make your search for the best beauty gifts a little bit easier, we searched far and wide and test-drove the most gift-worthy items in every beauty category. Whether your recipient is a fragrance head, a skincare fanatic or simply someone that loves having great-looking hair, we’ve got an option guaranteed to make them feel special.
Read on to discover some of the top-tier beauty gifts for 2022, including the loveliest year-round scents, dreamy body lotions, exclusive luxury bundles and beyond.
Dyson Corrale Hair Straightener Gift Set in Vinca Blue/Rosé, $650 CAD
There’s no denying that Dyson’s Airwrap was *the* go-to styling tool for 2021, but this year its equally covetable cousin, the Corrale, is having its moment. Dyson’s first-ever flat iron produces shiny, sleek strands with significantly less damage thanks to two key innovations. First, flexible plates move with your hair to eliminate tugging; second, Intelligent Heat Control monitors hair temperature up to 100x per second according to its thickness, texture and length for more consistent styling. Another bonus: it’s cordless and holds a charge for up to 30 minutes, so you can straighten, curl and create waves more comfortably and in fewer passes. This limited edition set is available in an elegant deep blue/rosy pink colourway and includes a presentation case and matching travel wrap.
Crown Affair The Set, $220 USD
Speaking of great hair, another excellent gift idea is this charming kit (aptly named “The Set”) by clean haircare brand Crown Affair. Housed in an aesthetically pleasing keepsake box, this customizable 5-piece set includes the brand’s signature wide-tooth comb, bristle brush, cold-pressed hair oil, protective hair towel and silk scrunchie—basically everything you need to get your hair game on point during the most treacherous, end-splitting time of year: winter. Plus, they even threw in an adorable hourglass timer to remind you to get those precious self-care minutes in. Delightful.
Creed Wind Flowers, $445 USD
For the fragrance connoisseurs in your life, Creed’s latest juice is the crème de la crème of airy floral scents. Top notes of jasmine, Tunsian orange blossom and Calabrian lemon create a sparkling and fresh opening, while sandalwood, tuberose and musk add an inviting element of warmth. There’s also peach and praline accords for a touch of honey-like sweetness, while Iris brings a hint of powder to the mix. Modern and timeless all at once, consider this one the cashmere sweater of perfumes.
SSENSE Exclusive Holiday Beauty Bag, $250 CAD
Wondering what to get the beauty lover that has it all? More of their favourites, of course. This Ssense-exclusive holiday bundle is everything a beauty devotee could ever want (and then some), all tucked into a chic tote designed by Collina Strada. Dive into this 26-piece set and discover mini and full sizes of the most sought-after luxury beauty items in hair, skincare, fragrance, body and cosmetics. We’re talking brands like Dr. Barbara Sturm, La Mer, Necessaire, Aesop, Diptyque, Oribe, Byredo and 19/99 Beauty—all for $250. This is one of those gifts where you truly can’t go wrong. FYI, this gift bag is on limited run, so snag it while you still can.
goop GOOPGENES Nourishing Repair Body Butter, $82 CAD
Dry, itchy winter skin is a thing of the past with this sumptuous skin-quenching body cream from goop. When we say this lotion is divine, we mean it’s d-i-v-i-n-e. Made up of a trio of amino-acid rich plant butters—bacuri, cupuaçu and shea—along with brightening and smoothing caviar lime and mulberry leaf, this ultra-hydrating concoction melts on contact to soothe and hydrate skin. The result is a head-to-toe sheen that rivals the performance of your most precious facial moisturizer. But beyond its exceptional hydrating capabilities, the lovely tangerine-sandalwood scent is seriously addictive.
Paume Overnight Hydration Gloves, $14 CAD
We all love a skin-slugging moment, it’s true, but hard-working hands deserve similar treatment. Slather your mitts in your go-to hydrating hand cream before swaddling them in these organic cotton overnight gloves to wake up to exceptionally soft and supple hands. Coming to you from the minds behind the best-smelling hand sanitizer known to man, Paume’s made-in-Canada gloves come in sustainable packaging, too, making it a great gift for the eco-conscious beauty lover in your life. Throw in the brand’s probiotic-infused hand balm for a thoughtful gift or stocking stuffer anyone would appreciate.
Dieux Skin Forever Eye Mask, $25 USD
For a stylish—and significantly less wasteful—masking experience, get the skincare aficionado in your life a set of reusable eye masks from cool-girl approved brand Dieux Skin. This flexible eye patch set keeps serums, gels and creams perfectly in place so under eyes can drink up every last bit of product, giving your face a plump and fresh look for longer. Ideal for skin prep or to catch makeup fall-out during your GRWM moments, these patches actually last up to a full year without fading or losing effectiveness. We love to see it.
Ember Wellness Rejuvenating Light Therapy Face Mask, $425 CAD
Love a good facial? Skip the spa sesh and get all the results of a professional light treatment without ever stepping foot outside (which, let’s be honest, really comes in clutch this time of year). Enter the flexible Light Therapy Mask by Ember Wellness, which features a whopping 264 LED lights and offers 3 modes: collagen-stimulating skin rejuvenation (a combo of red and infrared light), bacteria-minimizing and oxygen-regenerating acne control (red and blue light) and a mood-boosting SAD light, which combines red, green and blue light to fight off the winter blues and sleep disorders. It’s relaxing, non-invasive, is clinically proven to benefit the skin and has zero down time. Give one, get one.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian 724 Eau de Parfum, $355
MFK fans, make room for the latest addition to master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian’s catalogue: 724. Inspired by bustling city life, this unisex scent is distinctly fresh and lingering, with notes of Italian bergamot, sandalwood and white blooms coming together to create a clean and crisp, almost aquatic fragrance that’s hard not to love. If your giftee is a fan of laundry-like scents, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more suitable option.
La Bouche Rouge Holiday Collection Lipstick Set
Few things are more festive than a proper red lip. For the one that loves to don a dramatic look year-round, gift them this two-piece lipstick set from Parisian cosmetics brand La Bouche Rouge, which features two universally flattering shades: Pop Art, a cold matte blue-red, and Nude Red, a brown-leaning satin shade. The real pièce de résistance, however, is the refillable fine leather lipstick case, which is available in a gorgeous teal hue.
Noble Panacea The Brilliant Discovery Ritual Set, $250
Frequent flyers will appreciate this high-performance skincare set from Noble Panacea, which stars individually-wrapped portions of the brand’s signature The Brilliant Collection—keeping its high concentration of active ingredients fresh until the moment they hit your skin. Developed by Nobel laureate Sir Fraser Stoddart, this travel-friendly set includes a week’s worth of product meant to fortify, energize and protect the skin from environmental stressors for a seriously indulgent on-the-go skincare ritual.