When it comes to gift-giving, it’s a language … enter joie de vivre.
Joie de vivre— the joy of living, as the French call it—extends beyond yourself to your precious ones. If you or the It Girl in your life secretly love everything, this guide is here to redirect with a laser-focus. It will save you from worrying whether the look on your family member’s face secretly says, “Eeek, this might be getting regifted tonight.”
All this to say, at Beauty News NYC, we test hundreds of beauty products so that our readers are in the know about the best selections every year. During this Christmas season, cozy up in your Madonna Inn Robe, eat a bowl of L’Apartment 4F Croissant Cereal—or Pamela’s Pickles from Flamingo Estate if you prefer a savory treat—and lock in to get the last-minute low-down.
You likely know of Charlotte Tilbury due to the innate joie de vivre she possesses on the regular, calling every client, “Darling.” As someone fairly new to her world, I am now a superfan. This gift set features 14 Pillow Talk products, ranging from their beloved matte Lip Cheat to my personal favorite, Cheek to Chic, that’ll do a number on your glam. Take it from me, this set is a makeup maven’s dream.
For Plumpness-Palooza – The Scented Peptide Lip Tint Set. Rhode. Price: $72.
Let’s call a spade a spade: Rhode is on every It Girl’s wishlist this year. The Scented Peptide Lip Tint is the Mount Rushmore of luscious lip loyalty. This set features the highly adored Peptide Lips with flavors Ribbon, Toast, Raspberry Jelly, and Espresso. Not only do these Lip Tints last a lifetime, they actually work and will make you feel as fab as Mrs. Bieber herself. And how cute is the Espresso box it’s packaged in?
For Beauty Eye-Cons – No-Puff Caffeine Eye Patches. Dolce & Gabbana. Price: $40
Want to feel awakened, depuffed, and ready to tackle holiday season mayhem? That’s where Dolce & Gabbana’s No-Puff Caffeine Eye Patches have you covered. With a monogrammed base and formula set to revitalize the under eye, it has a 96% percent refresh rate. Give your selfie-obsessed Secret Santa recipient these patches for posting-up with puckered lips during a GRWM sesh.
For Lip-Loving Ladies – Honey Glaze Collagen Therapy Lip Mask. Gisou. Price: $26.
Not to flex, but I was lucky enough to test Gisou’s Honey Glaze Collagen Therapy Lip Mask before its release. Lemme tell you: it’s worth every penny. Infused with Mirsalehi Honey and collagen designed to increase hydration, this is the only mask you should be using. Plus, its promise of 10+ hour hydration and moisture is no hyperbole – I wake up every morning with lips more luscious than the night before. Take my word for it on this rec, your lip barrier will thank you.
For Handheld Happiness – Prada Hand Cream. Prada Beauty. Price: $60.
There’s hand cream, and then there’s Prada Beauty’s Hand Cream. Originally, this release piqued my interest from its sleek packaging and influencer-buzz upon initial launch. Now I understand that iris extract, biotin, and 2% niacinamide lock in moisture for nails, skin and cuticles. Also, this bundle of joy fits perfectly in pocket squares.
For Eyebrows That Reinvent the Term ‘Fleek’- Boy Brow. Glossier. Price: $22.
Make no mistake, Glossier’s Boy Brow is the product I’d pick to take with me to a deserted island, because it’s just that good. The grooming pomade is lightweight, airy, and has lasted me all but a lifetime. Frame your face by fine-tuning brow flexibility with a single stroke of cruelty-free greatness. And there’s no crusty residue to fret over. P.S., I personally recommend it in Clear, but to each their own!
For No-Breakge Bliss – Strengthening Anti-Thinning Shampoo Bar. Ethique. Price: $14.
Shampoo bars tend to be hit or miss for me. The idea of haircare minimalism with a healthy, full mane is something I strive for, but never thought I could achieve with just a single bar of soap… that is, until I tried Ethique’s Anti-Thinning Shampoo Bar. Ingredients like amino acids, rosemary extract biotin, and peppermint oil have put my brittle strands at bay, thanks to their 205% increase in immediate hair volume after the first wash. And, of course, I can’t help but mention how cute its crescent moon shape is—another great stocking stuffer for yourself or a loved one.
For a Vanilla Vice –Libre Vanilla Couture. Yves Saint Laurent Beauty. Price: $145.
Yves Saint Laurent’s Libre Vanilla Couture is the warm, lux fragrance of the season. Equal parts sensual as it is bold, its base of Black Bourbon Vanilla Caviar from Madagascar outdoes its synthetic market competitors. YSL’s commitment to olfactory opulence is so emboldening that even stars like Dua Lipa can’t get enough of it.
For Floral Fragrance Fans – Kurky Eau de Parfum. Maison Francis Kurkdijan Paris. Price: $265.
Most are familiar with Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris‘ iconic fragrances from fawning over their signature Baccarat Rouge 540 scent. While both enticing and extremely sexy, Kurky, based on founder Francis Kurkdjian’s childhood nickname, is a tutti frutti ode to awakening the childlike wonder within each of us by way of vanilla and a berry medley. I layer this everyday with my two other clean, floral swear-by scents—Essential Faith’s Bliss Oil and my OG obsession, Arizona by Proenza Schouler. Follow in my footsteps and you’ll never receive more compliments.
For the Friend Who Believes the More, the Merrier – Best Sellers Trio. PHLUR. Price: $317.
Something about PHLUR is that their fragrances are highly addictive. Gift the Best Sellers Trio to the person obsessed with musky patchouli, green fig, and vanilla fragrances by introducing them to their signature scents: Missing Person, Father Figure and Vanilla Skin. Don’t forget to layer them with other PHLUR favorites such as Cherry Stem and Rose Whip for a waft that will undoubtedly make heads turn.
For the Vanity Vixen – The Vanity Case. SAIE. Price: $48
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The Vanity Case by Saie is the next leather luxury of your dreams. Rid former cosmetic bag chaos of trouble by replacing it with this real deal vanity carrier. Its handle is the (literal) perfect pick-me-up as you head to your boyfriend’s down the block or while glamming on a superyacht. Best of all, this organizer is durable and is enclosed with several different compartments to hold additional Saie goodies.
For the Dermatology Obsessed Doll – METHODIQ Treatment Subscription. Price: Ranges from $29-$89.
The METHODIQ Treatment Subscription is a perfect gift for any time of year. As someone obsessed with my dermatologist, beauty editors and beauty technology as a whole, this is the perfect gift. Let METHODIQ scan your face to receive personalized products fit to your skin type and receive clinically proven, medical-grade treatments in return. Between concerns of acne, hyperpigmentation, redness and eczema, this technology meets every user’s needs.
For a Newly Discovered Novelty – Enriched Firming Mask. Epionce. Price: $42.
When my roommate with glass skin suggests a product, I listen. Upon first being introduced to the Epionce Lite Lytic Tx, I knew I had to check out the rest of the brand’s line, only to personally become obsessed with the award-winning Epionce Enriched Firming Mask. Exfoliate your skin with a gentle formula and rid it of dead skin cells alongside debris with ingredients that include meadowfoam extract, shea butter, willowbark, and avocado oil. Leave on for the suggested 10 minutes, two to three times a week and you’ll notice a glowy overall texture, as will the recipient of your choice who will feel blessed to receive it.
For Daring Hair – Energizing Thickening Tonic. davines. Price: $50.
Having exclusively used this as part of my post-shower hair routine for most of 2025, I will never go back to anything else. davines’ Energizing Thickening Tonic beats almost every hair oil. Built to retain full-bodied hair that’ll increase texture and strength and invigorate it by 10%, its easy, mess-free application mixed with fragrant notes of a warm yet woodsy unknown is one I can promise is good. (If I got my boyfriend hooked on it, just imagine how obsessed your favorite It Girl will be).
For Dental Hygiene Luxury – The Better Brush. TRASK. Price: $30.
How chic can a handheld toothbrush really be?, was my initial thought prior to this foray into luxury dental hygiene. If you’re prone to accusations of curb-stomping your toothbrush by brushing too-hard, TRASK’s Better Brush will inspire you to treat your teeth with grace, through over 25+ different designs to emulate personal excellence.
For Total Tranquility – Golden Renewal Duo. VOESH New York. Price: $14.
If VOESH New York’s Golden Duo is not already on your list of stocking stuffers, then it’s time to fix that. The luxury gold hand and foot mask gift set’s promised hydration and softness will leave you feeling like a new person. The set houses gold collagen gloves and socks meant to be worn for ~15 minutes. Completely rejuvenate your skin’s nourishment with spa-like results from this rich in niacinamide, vegan formula.
Gwyneth Paltrow could come out with a line of luxury hip waders for fishermen and it would be chic—wait, idea loading… Back to my point, “The Martini” Emotional Detox Bath Soak is yet another goop beauty best seller, and for good reason. Formulated using Himalayan pink salt, epsom salts, chia seed oils, passionflower, valerian root, myrrh, Australian sandalwood, and frankincense, this product delivers a classy yet soothing evening experience. Take the edge off by dumping a cup of it in water and letting it soak for 20 minutes before getting in. *Side note, this is the PERFECT product to use headed into the New Year.
For the Light of Your Life – Dash. Lumie. Price: $225.
It goes without saying that many of us struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder this time of year. All things considered, you don’t need to suffer in silence. Lumie’s Dash Mirror mimics daylight to improve your frame of mind and boost energy through high-quality, broad-spectrum LEDs with a dimmable light and sturdy base. It’s the low-lift edition to your morning routine ritual. I sit in front of mine for up to five minutes daily and notice a pep in my step correlated with my mood after. I cannot recommend this, or Lumie’s other best sellers, enough!
For Waving Bye-Bye to Blackheads – KIWI Blackhead Remover Device. FOREO. Price: $109.
If you find yourself impulsively picking every blemish alone in your bathroom every Sunday, the time to stop is now, thanks to the FOREO KIWI. Remove clogged pores, blackheads, and other impurities through the KIWI’s vacuum suction and next-level blue LED technology. This device also aids in tightening skin with six additional, customizable settings. And, what’s better than beauty technology?
For It Girls Ready to Rumble – The Sex Elixir. Saint Jane. Price: $30.
In the spirit of keeping this guide somewhat PG, I’ll keep it classy. The Saint Jane Sex Elixir by Tinx is the real deal. It’s hydrating as hell, pH balanced and inspires a feminine sense of fervor. To quote Tinx herself, “Too much is never enough,” but as a reader trying said elixir might say… bring on the joie de vivre, please. Side note: let’s not forget that no one is more of an It Girl than Tinx herself.
Don’t speak in tongues this season about the gifts you want. Instead choose ones that symbolize the glee that is joie de vivre.
