Last-minute Christmas gift guide: Beauty sets for every budget

SINGAPORE – With a week left until Christmas, some will inevitably be scrambling for presents. Enter the festive hack of gift sets: thoughtfully curated bundles of good value, with slick packaging that conceals the truth that says “hey, I didn’t forget about you”.

For the last-minute shoppers among us, The Straits Times rounds up a fail-proof Christmas guide of beauty gift sets.

Under $50

Laneige Midnight Minis Set, $34

The crowd-pleasing South Korean beauty brand has dropped a variety of bundles for the price-conscious. They work for both your bestie and the Dirty Santa gift-swopping game you could not care less about.

For the friend with perpetually chapped lips, gift a five-piece set of lip care essentials in travel sizes. He or she can rotate among the three Lip Sleeping Masks (in Vanilla, Gummy Bear and Mango) and two Lip Glowy Balms (in Gummy Bear and Mango).

Info: Available at Sephora stores, and Laneige Shopee and Lazada stores

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Cheek and Lip Trio, $42.70

Pop star Selena Gomez’s beauty brand is one of the few at Sephora that almost every woman will be happy to receive.

This kit includes the brand’s bestsellers – a full-sized Soft Pinch Matte Bouncy Blush, and minis of the Soft Pinch Liquid Blush and Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil – in the fan-favourite shade Worth. How subliminal.

Info: Available at Sephora stores and

sephora.sg

Another Land Travel Well Set, $48

Consider Taiwan-born, Singapore-designed wellness lifestyle brand Another Land for its range of Face, Body and Home products. Developed in collaboration with scientists at skincare manufacturer Jolab in Taiwan, the products are made with naturally sourced ingredients that are vegan and cruelty-free.

There are two trademark formulations: ZeroDilute, which replaces water with organic aloe extract to enhance moisturising benefits; and DermaFortify, said to simulate the skin’s lipid film to strengthen the skin barrier.

Have a friend who always seems to be on the road? This set has curated all the essentials: a Healing Verdure Hand Cream (50ml), Fresh Valley Toilet Mist (10ml) for bathroom emergencies, and Peaceful Reverie Lip Balm (10ml) to soothe and replenish chapped lips.

Info: Available at

anotherland.global

Under $100

Fenty’s Finest 3-Piece Face, Eye + Lip Kit, $56

This trio of Fenty Beauty’s bestsellers covers all bases for the make-up lover – face, eyes and lips.

Gift party-ready cheekbones with a Mini Diamond Bomb highlighter in How Many Carats, fluffed-up lashes with the Mini Hella Thicc Volumizing Mascara in Cuz I’m Black, and a juicy pout to finish with a full-sized Gloss Bomb Stix in dusty pink shade Is it Fu$y.

Info: Available at Sephora stores and

sephora.sg

Aesop Shower Room Serenades, $91

Reliable ol’ Aesop has launched its largest collection of gift kits to date, with permutations of its key products for all rooms and types of recipients.

Perhaps the Australian brand has wised up to the fact that most consumers favour its homecare products. Its eight gift kits are themed around specific rooms, with its first advent calendar named The Aesop Abode ($740).

Ideal for the home-proud, or just someone who relishes their self-care routines, Shower Room Serenades contains an Aromatique Hand Balm and Nourishing Body Cleanser in a nourishing, cream-based formula. These come in the brand’s latest scent Eleos – a good chance for the ardent Aesop fan to try the warm, woody, herbaceous aroma.

Info: Available at Aesop stores and

aesop.com.sg

Iris Van Herpen X Nars Ethereal Aura Blush Palette, $90

In one of the season’s more dazzling collaborations, cosmetics brand Nars has teamed up with Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen. Think ethereal shades with a gossamer sheen in iridescent lavender packaging, much like the otherworldly designer herself.

The two blush palettes are the stars of the show, with a mix of matt and shimmer shades designed for multi-dimensional sculpting. If you cannot find them in stores, you can still pick up the collaboration’s Explicit Lipstick ($38.50) in Blame 829 to own a piece of this limited-edition collection.

Info: Available at Nars counters and Lazada

Sol de Janeiro Spritz The Season Cheirosa Perfume Mist Set, $64

A perfumed body mist is an easy way to gift fragrance without committing to a full eau de parfum, especially when you do not know the recipient’s preferences.

Sol de Janeiro’s holiday kit includes five travel-friendly (30ml) favourites: sunny Cheirosa 62, sultry Cheirosa 40, enchanting Cheirosa 68, velvety Cheirosa 76 and uplifting Cheirosa 59.

Split them up to give one each to a member of your girl squad, or pamper an extra special friend with the whole set.

Info: Available at Sephora stores

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Icons On The Go Set, $85

Boyfriends looking to earn brownie points ahead of Valentine’s Day can spring for this kit, neatly packaged in a keepsake quilted heart tin that says “I love you”, even before she opens it.

Inside are four travel- and full-sized make-up products in the brand’s nude-pink Pillow Talk shade. Flatter eyes with the Eyes To Mesmerise cream eyeshadow and Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes! Mascara, and lips with the Pillow Talk Lip Cheat lip liner and Pillow Talk Matte Revolution lipstick.

Info: Available at Sephora stores and

sephora.sg

Under $150

Drunk Elephant Opening Night Evening Kit, $106.40

Drunk Elephant has been a hit with teenagers lately, but gift with caution. For the young adult wanting to upgrade his or her skincare and give light exfoliating acids a try, consider one of the brand’s comprehensive holiday sets.

Designed for evening routines, this set focuses on smoothing and plumping skin. It includes a 60ml Mello Marula Cream Cleanser, 15ml T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum (that contains alpha hydroxy acids), 5ml Ceramighty AF Eye Balm, and 50ml Bora Barrier Repair Cream in a limited-edition jar.

If your giftee is too young or inexperienced to be dabbling with acids, the American brand also has a daytime kit that focuses more on hydration and brightening.

The keepsake tin and colourful pouch in both sets are half your gift-wrapping done.

Info: Available at Sephora stores and

sephora.sg

Hourglass Fox Ambient Lighting Edit Face Palette, $150

For make-up collectors, it is not the start of the festive season until Hourglass Cosmetics drops its limited-edition holiday face palettes.

For 2025, the cruelty-free brand’s Ambient Lighting Edit Unlocked palettes spotlight four animals: the deer, swan, fox and horse, hand-painted by renowned Ukrainian tattoo artist Sasha Unisex.

Her bold, geometric watercolours grace the lids of the four colourways, which each contain a combination of blush, bronzer, highlighter and illuminating finishing powder.

The deepest Fox palette comes with five new shades that include warm coral, terracotta and rich berry tones for a bronze, lit-from-within glow.

Info: Available at Sephora stores and

sephora.sg

Elemis Balm and Bright Cleansing Trio, $135

For those who prioritise thoroughly clean skin, choose this set of cleansing balms from British brand Elemis.

The award-winning Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm is easily its best product. It combines luxurious texture with skincare benefits said to melt away waterproof make-up, strengthen the skin’s barrier and deliver hydration.

There are three aromas you can divvy up among the girls – original, rose and a new Black Cherry.

Info: Available at

sg.elemis.com

Above $150

Byredo Le Duo Iconique Set, $325

The Swedish luxury fragrance house ushers in the holidays with a celebration of Scandinavian winter, all wrapped in bold, graphic patterns that echo the childlike joy of festive gift wrapping.

From its selection of gift sets, the Le Duo Iconique Set contains two of the brand’s most viral products, for the ultimate It girl or guy.

Sure to turn heads is clean-girl favourite Bal d’Afrique Eau de Parfum (50ml) and the Bibliotheque candle, a floral-woody musk evocative of a fireplace in a library.

Info: Available at Byredo Holiday Collection Pop-Up at Level 3 Atrium B, Ion Orchard until Jan 13; Byredo’s store, B1-34 Takashimaya Shopping Centre; and

byredo.com/sg_en

Le Labo Limited-Edition Eau de Parfum Discovery Set (6x5ml), $185

As the rare fragrance brand that appeals to both genders, New York-founded Le Labo is one that even perfume snobs will be happy to receive.

Take the guesswork out of the gifting with a discovery set that includes viral hits Another 13, Santal 33, The Noir 29, The Matcha 26, Rose 31 and Eucalyptus 20.

Info: Available at Le Labo Marina Bay Sands, 01-36, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands

Decorte Marcel Wanders Collection – Floral Mirage, $330

Since 2011, award-winning product and interior designer Marcel Wanders has designed a limited-edition face powder for Japanese luxury skincare brand Decorte every year. The Dutchman, who has been Decorte’s art director in Japan since 2010, has produced furniture and designs for luxury brands Baccarat and Louis Vuitton.

The 2025 offering is no less awe-inspiring. As part of the Floral Mirage collection, the Face Powder comes with a sculpted ornament on top, while the powder itself is delicately etched with a butterfly enveloped in flowers.

Part make-up, part home decor, it is sure to inspire envy sitting on the beauty lover’s vanity.

Info: Available at Decorte counters