Fashion notes: Beauty buys can make the best gifts

Christmas is around the corner – and if you’re still on the hunt for presents, I have a stress-free solution. It doesn’t involve scouring malls for sizes; it only entails a quick dip into Sephora or The Body Shop.

The Chocolate shop. 226 AED.
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Christmas is around the corner – and if you're still on the hunt for presents, I have a stress-free solution. It doesn't involve scouring malls for sizes; it only entails a quick dip into Sephora or The Body Shop.

Contrary to popular thought, beauty isn’t a niche market privy only to the fashionable bloggers and ­Instagrammers who obsess over making themselves into mini-Kardashians. Women of all walks of life use skincare and cosmetics ­products.

If you’re buying a gift for a no-frills, minimalist woman, there are still plenty of options within the beauty realm. You can get her an accumulation of simple things: a new clay sheet mask from Starskin, hand cream from Clarins or a Konjac sponge make-up remover and brush set from Laura Mercier, for instance.

If she’s a more seasoned make-up enthusiast, avoid traditional eye palettes and blush sets, because she probably already has a favourite. Instead, look for new, unique products – such as spray on nail varnishes from Nails Inc or everlasting liquid lip shades from Kat Von D.

If your target is a younger girl who you would rather not bombard with make-up products that are beyond her years, opt for lipgloss sets or kawaii-themed beauty buys. ­Korean beauty brand ­Tonymoly is a great option – from lip balms to hand creams, these banana-, rabbit- and panda­-shaped packages are sure to be hits.

Honestly, it’s hard to go wrong with beauty, as long as you keep the items relatively generic – plus, they make great stocking fillers: think ­Hershesons hair bands or bobby pins, Bath & Body Works hand sanitisers or travel-sized bottles of Batiste dry shampoo. You can even buy hair and beauty products for guys – I know that my husband would love some new beard oil.

hlodi@thenational.ae