Around early December, I always experience a tingle of panic at the thought of getting all the Christmas gifts sorted. Trying to find the perfect present without breaking the bank can be stressful. So, I thought I could play the part of Mother Christmas this year and put together this list of best beauty buys for all the family to help you on your merry way.
Stocking fillers
A starting spot for some excellent presents is Boots. Their three-in-one mix and match section offers fabulous festive freebies, from bath bombs to body care. Pick and mix your favourite three for two gifts. It’s as easy as 1, 2, FREE! I also particularly love their Soap and Glory range and they have a 13-piece home spa gift set reduced from €90 to €42.50.
Make someone feel special with a personalised gift using The Perfume Shop’s engraving service. Add a personal message to their favourite fragrance or cologne with a simple initial or make the scent sentimental with a bespoke message. Engraving starts at €7. You can also buy your favourite fragrance in their new, handy miniature sets, to keep in your bag so you can spritz on the go!
Penneys is a great source of stocking fillers, like this "Relax set" €9
Penneys has some excellent-value makeup and beauty sets on offer this Christmas. They are ideal as stocking fillers or as extra emergency gifts to have wrapped and in the drawer in case you forgot about someone and they give you a little something. Examples include a mini facial set with a face scrub, cleanser and eye cream and a reusable cotton face flannel for €7; self-care nail polish with a hand cream and three pretty polishes and a file for €6; and a men’s wellness grooming kit with nail and toe clippers, nasal hair scissors and a reusable nail file, all in a handy little wooden box for €6. Penneys also does a Christmas gift card, which is a good option if you can’t quite decide on what beauty treat to choose.
Spa
A gift voucher from your local beautician is always a great pressie to receive. You could get the men a full body massage with hot stones, which is ideal for tired, tight shoulders and aching back and leg joints, while a deep cleansing facial for the women is perfect to unwind and beautify the skin so it’s hydrated and rejuvenated. Or really push the boat out and book a pamper day at the spa, which is a luxury gift that will give the recipient something to really look forward to.
Local beauty salons do amazing gift boxes of skincare products at this time of the year. A favourite brand of mine is Guinot. I particularly like their incredible eye creams and after a week of use I couldn’t believe how the fine lines around my eyes had smoothed and lessened. Guinot works wonders on rosacea and problematic skin and is a unisex product I can highly recommend.
Splurge
I’m a huge fan of Charlotte Tilbury’s makeup and as a freelance makeup artist, I can honestly say her products are deluxe, long-lasting and gorgeous. Charlotte has a cool pop-up shop just for Christmas in the Kildare Village Shopping Outlet, and her makeup counters are now in major retailers around Ireland or you can purchase online. A heads-up that you can only pay by card in her pop-up shops.
Charlotte has created The Pillow Talk Look, which is a super gift set that will suit all ages and skin tones. It’s one of her best sellers. This includes a cute cotton makeup bag with gold zip and CT Logo with a full fat lash mascara, cheek to chic blusher, Pillow Talk luxury eye palette, matte revolution Pillow Talk lipstick and perfect matching lip pencil and The Classic in classic brown easy blend eyeliner, €200.
Charlotte’s multi-award-winning Magic Cream is also amazing. I use it under my makeup like a primer. All my clients comment on how lovely it smells and how beautiful their skin looks afterwards. It’s not for everyday use as a moisturiser, but under your makeup it works like a dream. At €90, a little goes a long way, as with all of CT products. And if you’re mad about wearing a bright, beautiful red lipstick, then Charlotte’s newest 1970s-inspired Matte Revolution 1975 Red Lipstick is showstopping glamour at its beauty best, €32.
Spoil
To finish off, I have arranged an extra special Christmas treat for my lovely readers at the award-winning Powder Room Hair and Makeup Studios in Kingswood, Dublin near Citywest. You can go and have your hair washed and blow-dried and your makeup done including lashes and a glass of chilled prosecco all for the very special price of €60. Ask for Ciara, the salon owner, and give my name when booking up your appointment. You will be glammed up and looking Christmas party ready in just 90 minutes. This amazing deal will only run until 1 January 2023.
A big thank you for your continued support and wishing you the very best ahead of the Christmas season.
Read more
Dolly Buckley: get your glow back
Dolly Buckley's top five tips to put your best face forward for 2022
Around early December, I always experience a tingle of panic at the thought of getting all the Christmas gifts sorted. Trying to find the perfect present without breaking the bank can be stressful. So, I thought I could play the part of Mother Christmas this year and put together this list of best beauty buys for all the family to help you on your merry way.
Stocking fillers
A starting spot for some excellent presents is Boots. Their three-in-one mix and match section offers fabulous festive freebies, from bath bombs to body care. Pick and mix your favourite three for two gifts. It’s as easy as 1, 2, FREE! I also particularly love their Soap and Glory range and they have a 13-piece home spa gift set reduced from €90 to €42.50.
Make someone feel special with a personalised gift using The Perfume Shop’s engraving service. Add a personal message to their favourite fragrance or cologne with a simple initial or make the scent sentimental with a bespoke message. Engraving starts at €7. You can also buy your favourite fragrance in their new, handy miniature sets, to keep in your bag so you can spritz on the go!
Penneys is a great source of stocking fillers, like this "Relax set" €9
Penneys has some excellent-value makeup and beauty sets on offer this Christmas. They are ideal as stocking fillers or as extra emergency gifts to have wrapped and in the drawer in case you forgot about someone and they give you a little something. Examples include a mini facial set with a face scrub, cleanser and eye cream and a reusable cotton face flannel for €7; self-care nail polish with a hand cream and three pretty polishes and a file for €6; and a men’s wellness grooming kit with nail and toe clippers, nasal hair scissors and a reusable nail file, all in a handy little wooden box for €6. Penneys also does a Christmas gift card, which is a good option if you can’t quite decide on what beauty treat to choose.
Spa
A gift voucher from your local beautician is always a great pressie to receive. You could get the men a full body massage with hot stones, which is ideal for tired, tight shoulders and aching back and leg joints, while a deep cleansing facial for the women is perfect to unwind and beautify the skin so it’s hydrated and rejuvenated. Or really push the boat out and book a pamper day at the spa, which is a luxury gift that will give the recipient something to really look forward to.
Local beauty salons do amazing gift boxes of skincare products at this time of the year. A favourite brand of mine is Guinot. I particularly like their incredible eye creams and after a week of use I couldn’t believe how the fine lines around my eyes had smoothed and lessened. Guinot works wonders on rosacea and problematic skin and is a unisex product I can highly recommend.
Splurge
I’m a huge fan of Charlotte Tilbury’s makeup and as a freelance makeup artist, I can honestly say her products are deluxe, long-lasting and gorgeous. Charlotte has a cool pop-up shop just for Christmas in the Kildare Village Shopping Outlet, and her makeup counters are now in major retailers around Ireland or you can purchase online. A heads-up that you can only pay by card in her pop-up shops.
Charlotte has created The Pillow Talk Look, which is a super gift set that will suit all ages and skin tones. It’s one of her best sellers. This includes a cute cotton makeup bag with gold zip and CT Logo with a full fat lash mascara, cheek to chic blusher, Pillow Talk luxury eye palette, matte revolution Pillow Talk lipstick and perfect matching lip pencil and The Classic in classic brown easy blend eyeliner, €200.
Charlotte’s multi-award-winning Magic Cream is also amazing. I use it under my makeup like a primer. All my clients comment on how lovely it smells and how beautiful their skin looks afterwards. It’s not for everyday use as a moisturiser, but under your makeup it works like a dream. At €90, a little goes a long way, as with all of CT products. And if you’re mad about wearing a bright, beautiful red lipstick, then Charlotte’s newest 1970s-inspired Matte Revolution 1975 Red Lipstick is showstopping glamour at its beauty best, €32.
Spoil
To finish off, I have arranged an extra special Christmas treat for my lovely readers at the award-winning Powder Room Hair and Makeup Studios in Kingswood, Dublin near Citywest. You can go and have your hair washed and blow-dried and your makeup done including lashes and a glass of chilled prosecco all for the very special price of €60. Ask for Ciara, the salon owner, and give my name when booking up your appointment. You will be glammed up and looking Christmas party ready in just 90 minutes. This amazing deal will only run until 1 January 2023.
A big thank you for your continued support and wishing you the very best ahead of the Christmas season.
Read more
Dolly Buckley: get your glow back
Dolly Buckley's top five tips to put your best face forward for 2022
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