Best holiday gift sets for the makeup obsessed
Allow me to explain why beauty lovers go crazy for holiday gift sets: because they're packed with bite-sized versions of products we already love and often an little surprise. It may be a limited-edition shade, a new glossy formulation or something extra sparkly for New Year's Eve — whatever it is, holiday sets never disappoint. Here are the most anticipated 2016 holiday gift sets for makeup lovers:
For the YouTube beauty tutorial fan:
Tarte Pretty Paintbox Collector's Makeup Case
This case is brimming with 24 eyeshadows and 4 blushes-slash-highlighters, which are all beautiful, but the matte burgundy named 'stained glass' is my favourite. It also contains 4 shades for cheeks — one matte, one golden bronzer, a highlighter and a perfect medium-rose matte blush called 'moment'. The surprise? Tarte's 'So Fine' precision liquid liner, Tarteist mascara and glossy lip paint. This kit has everything and Pucci-ish package it comes in is pretty fantastic too.
$77 at Sephora (currently only available for those signed up for Sephora's VIB loyalty plan).
For the skincare fanatic:
Dr. Jart + Masking All The Way
Beauty lovers are going mad for sheet masks and Dr. Jart+ makes some of the best. This package features seven masks: 2 Water Replenishment cotton sheet masks for hydration, 1 hydrogel mask for improving skin elasticity, another hydrogel mask for brightening the complexion, 2 black charcoal sheet masks for minimizing pores, and a 2-step pore cleansing mask. Something extra — a tightening patch to reduce pore size on the nose — is this kit's 'partridge in a pear tree'.
$37 at Sephora.
For the French fragrance lover:
Atelier Cologne Founder's Favourites
This holiday gift set features six natural fragrances hand picked by the founders of the Parisian perfumery, Sylvie Ganter and Christophe Carvasel. Each 100% natural perfume takes you on a journey, 'Orange Sanguine' to the south of Italy and Vanille Insensée to, well, heaven. The gift of fragrance is always a pleasure to receive but this kit by Atelier Cologne will elicit a next-level type of delight.
$75 at Sephora.
For the low maintenance guy or gal:
Beautycounter Naughty To Nice
Most people would be thrilled to find this (char)coal in their stocking. This small but powerful 2-piece package — a bar of charcoal cleansing soap and a purifying charcoal mask — is a stripped-down and safe skin-refining system that women and men will love. Beautycounter is a partner with Environmental Defense, Canada's premier environmental health advocacy organization, so their products are formulated to be safer for our bodies and environment than most.
$62 at Beautycounter.
For the limited edition lipstick collector:
NARS Glass Metropolis Mini Audacious Lipstick Coffret
Calling all Instagram style influencers with a penchant for classic films — this insanely gorgeous NARS holiday gift set is for you. Inspired by Fritz Lang's Metropolis and created in collaboration with fashion photographer Sarah Moon, famous for her deeply moody yet beautiful photographs and films, this collection is intensely dramatic with 8 lip shades designed to draw attention. Really, this holiday gift set by NARS is a gift of art.
$150 at Nars, Hudson's Bay and Holt Renfrew.
For the creative young lady or gent:
Benefit Girl 'o Clock Rock
Got a youthful girl on your list? Holiday gift sets from Benefit are a delight to receive because their packaging is so fun and the products are great. This holiday advent calendar is packed with the cool Californian brand's hero products like Benetint, High Beam, Hoola bronzer and They're Real mascara. For young ladies and gents who love to open presents, watch makeup tutorials on YouTube and listen to music, this holiday gift set is a no-brainer.
$56 at Birchbox and Shopper's Drug Mart.