Five luxury Christmas beauty gifts worth the money, from Dyson to Drunk Elephant

Since you’re unlikely to be travelling or doing anything fancy this holiday season, why not treat yourself to something you might not have bought otherwise?
These five beauty recommendations will have your face and hair thanking you

Beauty

Heidi Yeung

Published: 2:45pm, 21 Dec 2020

Why you can trust SCMP

What a year 2020 has been! Whether you’ve had a tough time or have been fortunate enough to sail through the last 12 months relatively unscathed, we can all agree that a little self-love is in order before the year is out.

This holiday season (since we aren’t travelling anywhere just yet), treat yourself to something you might never have bought otherwise. Go on – you deserve it.

Pat McGrath Mthrshp Mega: Celestial Divinity Palette

This eyeshadow palette by make-up artist Pat McGrath contains 18 shades. Use any as a one-and-done eyeshadow look for a bold yet unfussy vibe, or play around with a few to create a statement look.

This palette is the only thing you’ll need for the upcoming festive gatherings on Zoom and beyond. A normal 10-shade Pat McGrath palette is HK$995 (US$125) a pop, so this palette (with 18 shades and priced at HK$620 / US$78) is a steal. Available at Pat Mcgrath.

Dr Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro

With all the mask-wearing we’ve been doing, most of us have had to deal with a little acne – or maskne – this year. Even with Covid-19 vaccines on the horizon, masks are likely to be a daily essential for a while yet.

This is the perfect time to invest in an ultra-hi-tech skincare gadget to help combat your skin ailments. Use the red light feature to combat signs of ageing and, more importantly, use the blue light feature to destroy bacteria and reduce inflammation, which will help clear acne and prevent future breakouts. HK$3,850 (US$435) at Selfridges.

Drunk Elephant Trunk 4.0

Everyone raves about the brand, but instead of uhm-ing and ahh-ing trying to figure out which Drunk Elephant product you might want to try, get the Trunk 4.0 – which features 10 of its star products, all full-size. This way, you can take your time testing each product (don’t use everything at once – introduce them one at a time so you can track if any of them cause a reaction or irritation) and really get a feel for what works for your skin.

The price tag – HK$3,515 (US$450) – is a hefty one but, besides the super cute suitcase, the total cost of everything bought separately would normally retail for HK$5,015 (we did the maths so you don’t have to – you’re welcome). Available at Sephora.

Get the Dyson Corrale straightener if you want sleek locks.

Dyson Airwrap or Corrale Straightener

If you already have the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer, you might feel like you can’t justify another pricey haircare tool – but this is your one excuse to bend that rule.

Depending on the style you normally go for, get the Dyson Airwrap complete (HK$4,280 / US$549) for curls and waves or the Dyson Corrale straightener (HK$3,980 / US$499) for sleek locks.

If you’re only looking to experiment, go with a more affordable tool, but we think you should invest in something better for your daily, go-to look. Both feature Dyson’s signature, unique technology to ensure effortless style with minimal damage.

According to reviews by beauty gurus, there’s a bit of learning curve when it comes to using them – but once you get the hang of it, nothing else comes close. Available at Dyson.

111Skin Master Masking Edit

Dr Yannis Alexandrides has built a loyal following with his London spa and skincare line, 111Skin. The brand’s masks in particular are popular among celebrities and those in the know.

We’re big fans of the Sub-Zero De-Puffing Eye Mask, which works wonders on tired eyes and helps improve dark circles, and the Sub-Zero De-Puffing Energy Face Mask, a hydrogel mask filled with ingredients such as peptides, enzymes, caffeine and tetrapeptide. It will make your skin tingle a bit but you’ll see and feel results after just one application.

Both products are included in the Master Masking Edit (HK$900 / US$120), which comes with eight restorative masks. Available at Joyce Beauty and Net-a-Porter.

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