My early festive gifts to beat the Christmas rush

PARTY SEASON MAKEUP Westman Atelier Clean Glow Trio I set

€80, Brown Thomas

Makeup artists Gucci Westman has a host of famous clients, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon and Anne Hathaway. Her Westman Atelier makeup line is clean, high-end and much loved by celebrities and artists equally. For Christmas, Gucci has created mini sets housed in red for that festive feel. This Clean Glow Trio comes in two shade variations for different skin tones. In each is a blush, bronze and highlight shade. Easy for creating beautiful face colour in a flash, they are great for travelling.

PARTY SEASON MAKEUP Laura Mercier Cosmic Stars Caviar Stick Eye Colour Trio

€39, Brown Thomas & Arnotts

Laura Mercier has a big Christmas collection of value sets across its makeup, skincare and fragrance buys. The are some scene-stealers — the fragrance and body oil sets are flying in-store and they are brilliant value. Caviar Sticks sell well all year for their flattering shades, longwear hold and transfer-proof qualities. Here, you get three best-selling shades: Amethyst, Strapless and Au Naturel. An easy wash of shadow for any eye colour, this gift is the perfect stocking filler for a Mercier makeup fan.

PARTY SEASON MAKEUP Giorgio Armani Eye Tint

€34, Brown Thomas

Giorgio Armani’s Eye Tints have been adored for years by beauty fans. Longwear and liquid eyeshadow that doesn’t budge until you remove it, there are six matte shades and ten luminous versions. Two new nude shades — Sand and Peony — have been added , and both will work beautifully with all eye colours. The doefoot applicator makes it easy to swipe across the lids and pat into place. Find the shade you love and wear it all year round.

HEALTHY HAIR SETS Wella Deluxe Styling Gift Set

€18 (worth €28), salons nationwide

Wella has a couple of great value sets for Christmas. Along with this Styling set is another for deep nourishment of the hair. In this set are three best-sellers: the Wella Deluxe Style Rescue PreStyling Serum, which prevents breakage and frizz; the style and Restore Mousse for shape and volume; and the matching hairspray. Good hair comes with good styling products and Wella always delivers. For the party season, these three buys are what you need to create the perfect style with lots of volume.

HEALTHY HAIR SETS Ori Lab Plump Edit

€93.30, salons and beauty e-tailers

Ori Lab is an Australian haircare line made by Nak, which is very popular in its native market. The high-end brand uses sustainably sourced ingredients, is environmentally friendly, vegan and free from parabens and sulfates and is cruelty-free. This set to boost volume includes a shampoo and conditioner (both 300ml) and a Moisture Foam (150ml). The trio work to boost volume and enhance the natural body of the hair, while the foam refreshes, nourishes and invigorates the hair strands. Perfect for finer hair types.

HEALTHY HAIR SETS Olaplex Smooth Your Style Hair Kit

€40, salons and beauty e-tailers

Olaplex has a great tree ornament or stocking filler for Christmas with a 50ml bottle of the cult No.3 Hair Perfector (€17) inside. It also has another gift for stronger hair with three full-size buys inside (€55) and then there’s this set. Smooth Your Style contains the No.3 Perfector (30ml), No.6 Bond Smoother (100ml), the No.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum (20ml), and a 7.5ml of No.7 Bond Oil. This oil is the best on the market to help prevent frizz and promote glossy shine on the hair.

HOME FRAGRANCE GIFTS The White Company: The Seasonal Collection Mini Diffusers

€59, in stores or on

thewhitecompany.com

While browsing through The White Company’s Grafton Street store I came across this diffuser set in among its large Christmas gifts offering. Reed diffusers are a great gift that last well into the New Year, throwing off a gentle aroma around the home. The seasonal collection has four varieties: Winter, Nordic Woods, Fir Tree and Myrrh. They are cosy and seasonal and they would make the perfect housewarming gift, or you could use them in your own home for those long and dark winter nights. Check out the collection in-store or online.

HOME FRAGRANCE GIFTS Molton Brown Mesmerising Oudh Accord & Gold Luxury Candle

€100/600g, in stores and online

This Mesmerising candle from home fragrance expert Molton Brown also comes in a singlewick 190g version, which is suitable for smaller spaces, for €55. This 600g candle has three wicks and is perfect for creating an ambience in a bigger room like your living room or kitchen. Oudh is a precious resin, noted for its spicy and seductive qualities. The blend also includes cinnamon leaf, nutmeg, elemi, myrrh and honey, amongst other notes. A delicious scent that is perfect for long evenings by the fire.

HOME FRAGRANCE GIFTS Maison Margiela Winter Stroll Candle

€64/165g, Arnotts and online

For the winter season, this limited-edition candle joins the Replica scent collection from Maison Margiela. All of the brand’s scents for personal use or home are inspired by memories, and this is “Colorado, 2005”. The memory is ‘a peaceful walk through a forest at dusk specifically’ has notes of a frosty day. Pine needles, evergreen trees and eucalyptus capture the aroma of a winter stroll at Christmas. Also launched is an elegant new wick trimmer, €35.