Pretty Little Things

Whether you’re treating yourself or someone else, hitting the beauty counter this holiday season doesn’t have to be boring or basic. Here are our picks of 2020’s most coveted releases, cult favourites and revamped classics

Our picks of 2020’s most coveted beauty releases, cult favourites and revamped classics

READY, SET…

1 LA PRAIRIE

The five-piece Platinum Rare Haute Rejuvenation Ritual is designed to smooth, lift, firm and brighten skin. Each product is infused with platinum for collagen production, and La Prairie’s exclusive Cellular Complex.

2 DRUNK ELEPHANT

Cult beauty label Drunk Elephant teamed up with luggage brand Monos to fill a carry-on trunk with 10 bestsellers including the TLC Sukari Babyfacial and B-hydra Intensive Hydration Serum.

3 CROWN AFFAIR

The Set by New York haircare brand Crown Affair includes a comb—hand-carved in Switzerland, obviously—and a brush handmade in Italy. It also includes a hair oil, towel, scrunchie and threeminute version of an hourglass, as a reminder to take your sweet time while staring at your hair.

4 TATCHA

Based on the beauty rituals of Japanese geisha, Tatcha’s skincare is designed to deliver baby‑smooth skin. The Classic Ritual Set includes four of the brand’s bestselling essentials, including The Rice Polish and The Essence.

5 DR BARBARA STURM

From the German skin expert who took the skincare world by Sturm—excuse us, storm— Dr Barbara Sturm’s Serum Discovery Set includes a four-step regime to protect, repair and reduce fine lines.

SHE’S A CLASSIC

6 SISLEY PARIS

Like a light, luxurious cashmere blanket for the skin, Sisley Paris’ Velvet Nourishing Body Cream with Saffron Flowers is packed with soothing ingredients such as Japanese lilyturf extract, macadamia oil and babassu oil.

7 CHANEL

The latest from Chanel Beauty is Sublimage L’extrait de Nuit, a concentrate designed to put your skin in “night mode” to repair and regenerate while you sleep.

8 AUGUSTINUS BADER

The highly anticipated Face Oil by Augustinus Bader launched in October and has already made its mark as a skincare must-have for those in the know, thanks to its science-backed formula for instantly glowing, healthy skin.

9 MIMI LUZON

If you aren’t slathering your face in gold, are you even doing skincare right? The 24K Pure Gold Treatment by Mimi Luzon is a corrective antiwrinkle mask with gold leaf to soothe and even skin tone.

HIGH-BROW HIPPIE

10 NATURE OF THINGS

Believing wellness is found in the synchronicity of body, mind and nature, the cooling Superlative Body Balm by Natureofthings combines broad-spectrum CBD and anti-inflammatory ingredients such as arnica and ginger.

11 PUREARTH

Hong Kong brand Purearth’s Mitti Raw Honey Masque is its star product. It’s made from raw organic honey mixed with Ayurvedic botanical actives and clays.

12 OTO

Give the gift of a good night’s sleep with the Pillow Mist by OTO. It contains 30 per cent CBD and 11 Ayurvedic botanicals including lavender, chamomile and vetiver.

13 AESOP

Aesop’s recently launched trio of candles are named after ancient astronomers— Aganice, Callippus and Ptolemy, respectively—a nod to candlelight’s ability to evoke a sense of calm and wonder, much like a starry night sky.

14 ESSE

Few things will please your Earth-loving friend like skincare that’s sensitive to both the skin and the planet—such as the Resurrect Serum by South African brand Esse, which is carbonneutral, vegan and cruelty-free.

FORGET HIM NOT

15 BOY DE CHANEL

The Fortifying Gel Moisturiser keeps skin hydrated—but never oily—with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, and protects skin for long-lasting comfort. Plus, how sleek is this bottle?

16 BULLFROG

Made by barbers for barbers, Milan-based company Bullfrog’s Agnostico All-in-one Balm can be used to tame even the bushiest of beards, or to soothe skin after shaving.

17 TOM FORD

Formulated for Ford himself, the Serum Concentrate contains a potent caffeine complex to give tired skin a boost, while also brightening skin and tightening pores.

SCENT AND RECEIVED

18 BYREDO

The latest and final instalment of Byredo’s Night Veils series—blended to celebrate the mystery and potential of those hours between dusk and dawn— Tobacco Mandarin is an intoxicating blend of citrus and spice.

19 CHLOÉ

Chloé’s signature fragrance gets a glow-up with Chloé Rose Tangerine, which adds a layer of sweet floral notes to the iconic original.

20 GUCCI

Hortus Sanitatis, blended by master perfumer Alberto Morillas, is the latest addition to Gucci’s The Alchemist’s Garden collection. It’s a blend of papyrus and cedarwood with a whisper of ginger.

21 LE LABO

Dreamy cardamom, iris and violet lift spicy, musky notes in Le Labo’s bestselling scent, Santal 33. To make this extra gift-y, customise the bottle with a name or message.

22 ANINE BING

According to Bing, Pure Noir “embodies the sensual side of the modern woman”. It brings together black baccara rose and spicy saffron with dark notes of guaiac wood and mahogany.