NYLON’s Holiday Beauty Gift Guide 2020: The Mega Blockbuster Hits

With these mega beauty sets, we’re doing quite a blockbuster roundup of many, many skincare and makeup favourites. The stuff of dream beauty hauls, these are the most impressive gifts you’ll find this holiday season, based on the sheer magnitude of products offered — and you know what, buying in bulk means you might save quite a hefty sum too. Despite being value-for-money — which doesn’t necessarily mean “budget” here — expect these to be beautifully packaged for the season too.

SKINCARE

DRUNK ELEPHANT TRUNK 4.0
$620, available exclusively on sephora.sg

Very, very impressive. For all hardcore DE fans, if you ever do feel that you need a trunk full of Drunk Elephant items, this one’s hard to beat. The TRUNK 4.0 features a stunning range of 10 popular skincare items from the cult brand, including the F-Balm Electrolyte Waterfacial, C-Firma Day Serum, Protini Polypeptide Cream, and the B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum. All these are packed into a functional Monos cabin-sized suitcase, designed in collaboration with the brand, hence those clean neon accents.

LUSH FAIRY CHRISTMAS
$169, available at Lush stores, sg.lush.com, ZALORA Beauty, and Shopee Mall

Lush is everyone’s go-to brand for the most luscious and cheery bath bombs, so we have to tell you that their popular holiday scent, the Snow Fairy, is back in a set that embraces that sweet, girly pink. There are bath bombs galore, ones that release dazzling colours and essential oils into your bathwater, as well as bubble bars, a shampoo bar, body spray, dusting powder, body gel and body conditioner. The UK brand’s commitment to sustainability also means the reusable box is made from 100% recycled box, printed ribbon from recycled plastic bottles, while your gift will also be packed with biodegradable eco pops.

FOREO WINTER SET: LUNA MINI 3 & MICRO FOAM CLEANSER
$235, available at Sephora

Take it from us, we think upgrading your skincare routine with a FOREO product is quite necessary, as the T-Sonic™ facial cleansing tool is able to cleanse our skin thoroughly and effectively — less breakouts in the maskne era too. This set, valued at $304, is therefore a steal, where you get both the LUNA mini 3 device and a complimentary Micro Foam Cleanser in one set, perfect for the skincare junkie in your life.

LANCÔME SKIN CLARITY ESSENTIAL SET
$410, available at Lancôme counters including TANGS, Metro, Isetan, BHG

Lancôme is a game-changer when it comes to microbiome science, and any fan of their highly-raved Advanced Génifique Serum would covet this set. Containing full-sized bottles of both the Génifique and the Clarifique Dual Essence for brighter skin, there’s a bunch of generous mini bottles to get them excited, while we’ve also heard lots of good things about that Advanced Génifique Hydrogel Melting Mask. All of it is worth the splurge.

SEPHORA-EXCLUSIVE SKINCARE HOLY GRAIL KIT
$47, available at Sephora

Now this, this one’s really value-for-money. We seldom see multi-branded box kits, but here, Sephora has put together these Estée Lauder favourites for a kit that’s going at 50% off! This includes Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Serum that helps fight signs of ageing; the Estée Lauder Micro Essence for that glow; Clinique’s Moisture Surge moisturiser for hydration that lasts 72 hours; Origins’ Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask for balanced skin; and Bobbi Brown’s Vitamin Enriched Face Base for a stunning primer. It’s so worth it, you ought to get it for yourself right now.

LA MER ‘MY FIRST LA MER’ SKINCARE SET
$315, available at Sephora

Yeah, so. We normally wouldn’t classify La Mer under “value-for-money” any day, but this three-piece starter kit, complete with a pouch, kinda qualifies since the original price was $436 — you’re saving more than a hundred bucks here! The set includes the Treatment Lotion, The Eye Concentrate, and The Moisturizing Soft Cream, which all contain the brand’s signature Miracle Broth™.

BRIOGEO MERRY MULTI-MASKING KIT
$55, available at Sephora

On to the masks, with an oft-neglected part of the body — our hair. Briogeo’s award-winning formulas would be very welcome to anyone with dry, brittle, or coloured hair, and includes a full-sized Don‘t Despair, Repair!™ Honey Moisture Deep Conditioning Mask in a cute bear-shaped bottle. There are also two travel-sized cult masks here: the classic Don‘t Despair, Repair!™ Deep Conditioning Mask, and the new Be Gentle, Be Kind™ Avocado + Kiwi Mega Moisture Superfood Mask.

YOURS DAY & NIGHT SKINCARE SET
$99, available at lovefromyours.com

This homegrown clean beauty brand offers personalised skincare that’s made in Switzerland, while only using ethically-sourced, high quality ingredients. This set includes a Day Serum, Night Serum, Day Cream, and Night Cream, for a complete starter skincare regime that will be customised for you. Once you’ve ordered the set, you’ll be asked to complete an online skin assessment so that they’re able to map the right active ingredients to match your skin needs.

THE BODY SHOP LATHER & SMOOTH SNOW GLOBE GIFT DOME
$35, available at The Body Shop stores, and online on Shopee, Lazada, GrabMart and foodpanda

How is a gift this lavish-looking just $35? We don’t know either but you know what, if you’re on a budget but still looking to impress, this whimsical snow globe design will do all the work for you — which is probably why shoppers often flock to The Body Shop for gifts every festive season. This kit contains fruity items such as the Strawberry Shower Gel and Banana Truly Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner, while you might be glad to know that the brand will donate $0.10 from every transaction made from 1 November to 31 December, to support local charity Daughters Of Tomorrow.

MAKEUP

M.A.C COSMETICS SHOWSTOPPER POWDER KISS LIPSTICK KIT
$99, available at M.A.C stores and counters, Lazada, and Sephora

Bring on the party vibes with M·A·C Cosmetics’ Frosted Firework holiday collection — approved by Lisa from BLACKPINK. The M.A.C Cosmetics ambassador has been seen wearing the Powder Kiss Lipstick in Mull It Over, which you’ll find in this holiday gift set that features 5 bestselling shades of that beautiful matte formula, in a box designed with shimmery fireworks.

PAT MCGRATH LABS MTHRSHP MEGA : CELESTIAL DIVINITY EYESHADOW PALETTE
$120, available at Sephora

With a name like that, expect whoever you’re gifting this to to be lit for the gods. This one’s an 18-shade eyeshadow palette that’s described to be famous makeup artist Pat McGrath’s “most colossal palette yet”, as it stars her reliably high-impact formulas, of which six of these are entirely new shades. Some of these are also rare colours re-issued from the LABS vault, in a wonderfully packaged palette anyone would want to dip into.

ESTÉE LAUDER BLOCKBUSTER SET
$109, available at Estée Lauder stores

It’s literally called a ‘blockbuster set’, so how could we not include it here? Estée Lauder’s festive exclusive — part of the Gift Wonderland Holiday Collection — brings together a whole lot of makeup and skincare into one mighty combo. This is their biggest range of over 30 beauty essentials housed in a deluxe train case, and includes everything from Pure Color Envy EyeShadow Palettes, a Pure Color Envy Cheek Palette, lipsticks and mascara, to skincare such as the Advanced Night Repair and Micro Essence Treatment Lotion.

KVD VEGAN BEAUTY LEGENDARY ICONS BESTSELLER SET
$49, available at Sephora

For the one who still swears by KVD’s Tattoo Liner in Trooper Black, here’s a no-brainer. Gift bundles are a great way to snag the best value out of cult favourites, and this set has plenty, including the Go Big Or Go Home Voluminizing Mascara and a mini Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in ultra-flattering Lolita.

JILL STUART DAZZLING WONDERLAND COLLECTION
$109, available at Sephora

This beauty’s pretty enough to be featured in our Limited Editions roundup, but with 4 full-sized products, a pretty pink pouch and blush, and then some, we can’t deny that it’s every bit the blockbuster set it deserves to be. The elegant princess vibes of Jill Stuart Beauty comes through in these dazzling makeup items, such as the Eternal Couture Eyes Shimmer and Eternal Couture Eyes Velvet eyeshadows for a luxurious shimmer, 5 pastel shades of cheek colours for a rosy glow, and face powders for that translucent skin look. Finish it off with the jewel-capped liquid rouge.

TOO FACED ENCHANTED BEAUTY IN FOXY NEUTRALS
$58, available at Sephora

Choose your spirit animal — or, in this case, your friend’s — and depending if they prefer the warm tones of the fox, or the wintry cool hues of the polar bear, you’ll get a glamorous blockbuster palette that suits your fancy. This includes 12 seductive multi-finish eyeshadows, as well as a highlighter & blush duo and travel-sized mascara, done in the beautiful visuals that too faced is famous for.

URBAN DECAY COSMETICS STONED VIBES VAULT MAKEUP SET
$320, available at Sephora

Urban Decay’s Stoned Vibes series, inspired by on-trend gemstones, was out earlier this year, but if you know someone who’s into tarot cards, aura readings, and crystals, send them good vibes with a whole vault of makeup items fom the collection. The Stoned Vibes Eyeshadow Palette, of course, deserves mention for 12 new vegan shades of marbly shimmers and mattes, infused with genuine tourmaline too. Elsewhere, you’re also getting 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils, the Stoned Vibes Highlighter shaped like a 3D crystalline, and Lip Glosses that give sheer colour and prismatic glitter, encased in gemstone packaging.

TARTE BLUSH AUTHORITY™ AMAZONIAN CLAY CHEEK WARDROBE
$56, available at Sephora

We love trios — both for their value-for-money quality, and how you’re able to split them up with your girl friends. Get this for yourself, then generously give the other two stacked compacts to your friends as a bonus gift they’ll definitely appreciate. tarte’s cheek shades include blushes, highlighter and a bronzer in their Amazonian clay formula for buttery-soft payoff, in three compacts of either Purple, Rose Gold, or Gold.

NUDESTIX NUDE BLOOMS BY PONY PARK MAKEUP SET
$99, available at Sephora

Trust Pony to come up with such a versatile yet gorgeous set of wearable colours, so it’s a good thing that NUDESTIX, known for their natural-looking and easy-to-apply shades, have collaborated with the South Korean influencer for this custom kit. You’re getting makeup for the face, eyes and lips, via the brand’s functional multi-use products that give the user a subtle, soft neutral look that’s fit for daily wear.

SEPHORA COLLECTION WILD WISHES BLOCKBUSTER MAKEUP PALETTE
$68, available at Sephora

Every year, we feature Sephora Collection’s mega makeup palette, simply because no one comes close to beating its extreme array of items — this gives 86 (!) shades in matte, shimmer, and glitter, across 60 eyeshadows, 3 eyeliners, 3 eyebrow powders, 3 blushers, 3 highlighters, 3 sun powders, and 11 lip glosses. This year’s exclusive offer even includes a complexion brush, dual-ended eye brush, and a black eye pencil! For the person who’s very experimental with their makeup, or a makeup artist-in-the-making, this would be an absolute dream gift.

BEAUTYBLENDER MASTERS OF THE BEAUTIVERSE BLEND & PROTECT SET
$60, available at Sephora

No one has yet toppled the iconic Beautyblender®. in the “beautiverse”, so if you’ve got someone who’s looking to create a flawless base look every time, cart this out. The limited edition 4-piece set gives you two Beautyblender®. makeup sponges to create the look of an airbrushed filter, while there’s also a Sponge & Brush Cleanser to keep the set clean, and a silicone Blender Defender™ protective case in case any one needs to bring their little egg-shaped sponge around.

BECCA COSMETICS ‘BECCA X BARBIE FERREIRA’ PRISMATIC LIGHT ESSENTIALS KIT
$55, available at Sephora

We’re ending this roundup with yet another cult item — mini versions of BECCA’s Shimmering Skin Perfector™ Pressed Highlighters, in shades of Champagne Pop, Vanilla Quartz, and Rose Quartz. Why is this product so well-loved? Probably because those ultra-fine pearl pigments are blended with liquid for a truly buttery and creamy texture you can feel on your face, while still giving a dimensional payoff that reflects the light from all angles. In prismatic packaging, we don’t even need to justify why someone might need three highlighters.