Despite the infatuation I had with Urban Decay’s Naked Palette in high school (The YouTube-beauty-guru hype got to me), I do not enjoy the experience of applying eye shadow. Despite buying multiple brushes, I still never have the right brushes when it’s time to do my makeup. I always end up with product all over the floor, and I often blend too little or go overboard and end up with just one color of shadow across my lid. I’m a pro at perfecting a dewy base for the skin, and my winged-eyeliner game is strong, but eye shadow is just my makeup weakness. (We all have one.) While I can forego eye shadow in my everyday beauty routine, I still want a little something on my eyes for special occasions. I’ve already been an avid user of Kulfi’s kajal eyeliner, so when the South Asian brand released cream eye shadow, I knew it was something I had to try.
If you consider yourself an eye shadow connoisseur, I’m happy for you. If you’re a bit of a makeup klutz like me, you’re going to be thoroughly happy about this product.
Holiday gifts are tricky. Unless someone explicitly tells you what they want, it’s always kind of a guessing game on if they’ll like a specific gift or not. There’s nothing worse than when a gift doesn’t quite hit the mark or when you accidentally gift your friend or family member with something they already have three of. In the realm of beauty, it’s even trickier—most makeup, skincare, and hair products are out of bounds if you don’t know someone’s exact shades, skin type, or hair texture.
Nevertheless, if you figure out the perfect gifting formula, beauty gifts are some of the absolute best things to give. In my eyes, the ideal beauty gift equation is this: an innovative or unique product + something the person you’re shopping for might not get themselves + practical with a hint of whimsy. Keep reading for gifts I think fit that description, plus who they’re best for, ordered from least expensive to most. Save for two exceptions that barely count, I’m not really into minis or gift sets—these products are full-size and sure to be hits.
Makeup sets are truly the gift that keeps on giving. Whether you’re looking for the right brushes, the best blushes, or simply a way to streamline your makeup routine, they really never let you down. Normally, I would say they make the perfect holiday or birthday gift, but honestly, why stop there? You should make it a point to buy a few for yourself too. I like to think of it as making a wise investment in your future. After all, many of the best makeup gift sets are limited edition, meaning you have to act quickly.
Unless you’re someone who spends most of their day shopping online (guilty), let me save you a comb through the internet and provide you with the best options out there from all your favorite brands. Pro tip: You’re not going to want to waste any time. These sets are so good they’re bound to sell out. If you’re game, keep scrolling below for all the best makeup gift sets to add to your collection and maybe a friend’s if you’re feeling generous.
Thinking about office parties or family gatherings, what would you suggest to look like the best version of yourself? Maybe upping the ante a little bit but not going fully overboard?
This is something that I definitely do, where I save the big, glittery, bold, lips for big parties, events, things like that. In the office and family, I kind of keep it low-key, but just a little bit better than what I would maybe normally look at the office. Especially since I feel like I’m pretty minimal.
I usually do a skin tint, maybe some mascara and a lip gloss.
I think just wearing a little bit of color on your lips. I feel like this is the best time of year to do something that—maybe a really pretty berry or a wine color. Even a red that you find that’s like flattering for your skin tone and hair.
Maybe it’s even just adding a gloss or just doing a liner if you normally just do mascara.
I think people get really intimidated with eyeliner, but I think liquid liner is actually pretty easy.
Even if it’s just doing a little flick on your sides can immediately add some definition and make your features just pop a little bit more.
Welcome to Internet Famous, a monthly series in which we ask our Instagram followers to vote on a viral beauty product that’s taken social media by storm. Then the beauty team will take the winning pick for a spin and share their reviews—pictures included.
If I ever leave the house without at least three lip products in my purse, my entire day is thrown off. It sounds excessive, but three is the bare minimum while the threat of chapped lips is running rampant this season. I need the liner, the tint, and the gloss ready to go at all times, and I’ve carefully chosen each based on my makeup look of the day. But if you did a scan of the bottom of my purse right now, you’d shockingly only find one lip product there, and that’s the E.l.f. Cosmetics Glow Reviver Lip Oil ($8).
Okay, I lied. There are definitely three products in my purse right now because I picked up two more shades of this lip oil at Ulta this weekend. When I see a viral product with a single-digit price point, I have no choice but to cave and purchase multiple shades. (Don’t blame me—blame girl math.) My co-workers never judge and are always down to join in on the fun, so they tried and reviewed this $8 gem for you below. I hate to spoil the ending, but we’ve all come to the conclusion that this ultra-glossy lip oil is hydrating, non-sticky, and pretty damn flattering on every skin tone. While the tint applies sheer, it adds a nice natural flush of color with a glistening finish. Some of the key ingredients are squalane, apricot oil, and jojoba oil, which add nourishment and remove the need for any base products before use. And don’t get me started on the plush doe-foot applicator that feels extra luxe and pillowy soft on the lips. I could go on and on about why I’m vowing to keep this in my daily rotation, but I’ll let my fellow editors do the talking.
“Ever since I first tried this lip oil, I find myself reaching for it again and again. For me, that’s a true testament to how wearable a product is, which is especially important when it comes to lip products. What I love most about the formula is that it’s not sticky in the least. No matter how many times you reapply, it wears so beautifully without feeling like you need to wipe it off and start fresh. I’ve definitely been partial to more luxurious lip oils in the past, but this drugstore option is seriously on par with the best of the best.” — Emma Hughes, social media editor
“When a new lip product hits the market at an affordable price, you better believe I’m the first in line to test it out. I can be a tough critic, but in order for me to fall in love with a lip product, I need it to meet my high standards. It must glide on comfortably, mix well with other lip products, and make my lips soft and glossy. This lip oil truly goes above and beyond. Unlike a lot of lip oils out there, this feels hydrating without being slippery or sticky. I tested the shade Coral Fixation, but I think the deeper shades are even better suited for my darker skin tone. I paired this with my everyday brown lip liner and achieved the perfect nude lip that I can’t get enough of right now.” — Aniyah Morinia, editor
“I’m notoriously picky about lip products, but this lip oil is everything. The doe-foot applicator distributes the product evenly and provides major shine without the stickiness. I’ve reached for it no fewer than 10 times a day since receiving it and don’t see myself changing that anytime soon. The shade Rose Quartz is subtle and doesn’t have much color payoff, but I’m here for the shine regardless.” — Caitie Schlisserman, group executive director, branded content and beauty
“I thought I’d already found a dupe for my all-time favorite lip oil (the Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil), but after trying this, I realized it didn’t even come close. This E.l.f. Cosmetics product is a fraction of the Dior price, yet the consistency is very similar. It’s cushiony without being heavy, and it’s glossy without being sticky. It also enhances my natural lip color so I don’t need to layer a lipstick or tint underneath. By the way, ‘enhances’ is the keyword. It doesn’t deposit much pigment, but I actually prefer it that way because it looks more natural. My favorite attribute has to be the chunky doe-foot applicator. It feels so luxe and deposits the lip oil easily and evenly. This one gets a big yes from me.” — Kaitlyn McLintock, associate beauty editor
“To be completely honest, I didn’t know what to expect from this product. I haven’t had the chance to experience many lip products from E.l.f. Cosmetics, but I do know my way around a lip oil. (My number one is Dior Addict’s Lip Glow Oil.) I absolutely loved the E.l.f. Glow Reviver Lip Oil in Rose Envy. It delivered a gorgeous wash of color, went on extremely smoothly, and didn’t leave my lips feeling sticky or dry. The doe-foot applicator was my favorite part—it felt luxurious and applied the product evenly. I’ll be adding this to my everyday makeup routine.” — Maya Thomas, assistant beauty editor
“I’m a bit of a Goldilocks when it comes to lip oils. The formula has to be just right—it can’t be too greasy or too sticky, and obviously, the packaging has to be on point. To be honest, I thought I’d be forever devoted to my favorite $40 lip oil, but yeah, this $8 one changed my mind. For starters, the packaging is nearly identical to the more luxurious lip oils I’ve tried—from the sleek tube to the plush doe-foot applicator. The Rose Envy color is so pretty and has the perfect glossy finish. This is one of those products that you’ll want in every color so you’re never without it.” — Emma Walsh, associate beauty editor
Let’s be honest: There has historically not been much Indigenous representation in the beauty space (or any space, for that matter). Many brands are inspired by Indigenous rituals but don’t credit the tribes these rituals originated in.
Luckily, many Native American–owned beauty brands are emerging to give people a chance to try products that are rooted in rich cultural traditions. Indigenous tribes often practice holistic lifestyles, and the same goes for beauty products. Many of these brands also put sustainability at the forefront, creating products that are refillable, biodegradable, or locally sourced.
One special thing about Native American–owned brands is that many of them put a huge emphasis on their communities. Whether that looks like donating a portion of their proceeds to Indigenous communities like Prados Beauty or getting their community involved in sourcing ingredients like Niawen, these brands help shine a light on Native American culture and its people.
November is National Native American Heritage Month, and we think it’s important to spotlight Native-owned beauty brands. You may not have heard of many of these brands before, but we encourage you to give them a try—they’re all unique and efficacious in their own right.
“We sought out to create a lip gloss that hydrated as well as pigmented. As part of our Light Lock collection launch, this lip gloss became the shining star. We really wanted to have a delicious after-scent but in clean formulations—nothing is added for just vanity,” she said. “The peppermint and lavender make for a light plumping effect and mood boost, eliminating any icky after-feel.” The peppermint, in particular, stood out to me, as a single swipe of the product led to a cooling and soothing effect unlike any other lip gloss I’ve gotten my hands on.
Knowing its formula is clean and completely free of harmful ingredients while it protects the surface of my lips from environmental aggressors made me that much more drawn to it. The Light Lock Lip Gloss applies similarly to what we may expect from the lip oils that have gone viral over the past couple of years, but it packs a major pigment punch and doesn’t lack in the shine department. “Most glosses focus on shine without considering wear time. We’ve all dealt with the disappearing lip,” Chavez continued. “For us, everything has to be stage-proof. We started with a nourishing formula of skin smoothers, coconut oil, and lip enrichers—so it treats your lips first and delivers non-stick shine as a brilliant second win.”
Instead of a traditional liquid or gel formula, Spears reportedly uses the plastic-free shampoo bars from Ethique. While we’re not sure exactly which one she uses, there are multiple scents and formulas to choose from—like this minty one that uses peppermint oil, Ghanaian cocoa butter, and organic creamed coconut butter to refresh, moisturize, and cleanse hair without weighing it down.
These shampoo bars are cruelty-free, plant-based, and made with sustainable and ethically sourced ingredients (oh, and there’s no palm oil either). What’s more is that each one is packaged in plastic-free, home-compostable cardboard. So yeah, they’re probably some of the most eco-friendly shampoos on the market.
The best part is that using them is easy and they last up to 80 washes. Simply wet your hair and the bar, massage the bar into your roots, and lather. That’s it. From there, just follow up with a conditioner. (I have some recommendations for you, but more on that in a minute.)
If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I am a Glossier girl through and through. Ever since the brand launched in 2014, I’ve been a loyal customer. I used to collect the pink bubblewrap bags, plaster my college water bottle with Glossier stickers, and religiously refill my favorite products. Now that I’m a beauty editor, I’ve mixed other brands into my routine, but I always find myself coming back to Glossier. To me, the brand is perfect for someone who loves makeup but also values products that work to enhance your natural beauty.
Every year, I look forward to Glossier going on sale for Cyber Monday. It’s the best time to shop the already affordable products at steep discounts. This year, Glossier is offering 25% off sitewide, 30% off orders over $100, and a free Glossier candle with purchases over $125 (and trust me, their candles will make your home smell absolutely amazing). Keep reading for all of the products I would prioritize stocking up on this year.
If you’re someone who loves a glowy makeup finish, then take a look at The Party Pots Kit. It comes with three limited edition pots of bright eye and cheek shimmers. In fact, we love the shades so much, we’re definitely hoping Glossier keeps them around all year long.
Glossier The Winter Skin Set
Glossier is so much more than just skincare products, though – just take a glimpse at The Full Face Set, which contains four makeup essentials. This includes the Stretch Fluid Foundation, the Ultralip lipstick, the Cloud Paint gel-cream blush and Lash Slick, the brand’s best-selling lifting and lengthening mascara.
Glossier The Full Face Set
2. Glossier skincare
Often dubbed the ‘Apple’ of the beauty industry, Glossier carries some of the best and most hard-working skincare products around. So if you’re looking to stock up on some nourishing lip balms, hand creams, moisturisers and serums like the Glossier Futuredew ahead of the holiday season, there’s no better place to look than here.
Glossier Limited Edition Balm Dotcom
The Glossier Balm Dotcom and the Priming Moisturiser are mainstays within our beauty cabinets, especially now that the cold is picking up and we’re in desperate need of something to keep our skin from cracking in the winter breeze. And don’t forget about the Super Bounce serum, which contains a blend of hyaluronic acid and pro-vitamin B5 for smoother skin and long-lasting hydration.
Glossier Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen SPF30
3. Glossier makeup and fragrances
Once you’re all done with getting your skincare routine in order, it’s time for the next step. Glossier makeup will always have our hearts, with pretty much every product in their collection an absolute essential for a ‘no-makeup’ makeup look (plus, each item is an absolute dream to apply).
Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint
Icons like the Glossier Cloud Paint and the Boy Brow remain bestsellers for good reason, and although we can hardly call perfume makeup, we’ve also tossed in the Glossier You fragrance for good measure. The latter features top notes of peppercorns and white florals, as well as a base of musk. It’s utterly unique in the way that it’s designed to enhance your personal scent, meaning it’ll smell differently on everyone.
For the Glossier super-fan in your life, a gift from the Glossi-Wear store will go down an absolute treat. For example, they stock a range of insanely-soft hoodies, sweatshirts, beauty bags and pouches, as well as a perfectly-proportioned duffle bag and a stylish pair of socks. But just like the limited edition Black Friday gift sets, bear in mind that this merchandise is also not eligible for an additional discount. But we stan nonetheless.
What are Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
Black Friday and Cyber Monday book-end a weekend-long sales event which sees tonnes of our favourite brands – from YSL to Charlotte Tilbury – reduce their stock in price to help you get your Christmas shopping done for less. That said, many retailers now run their Black Friday promotions from the start of November (we’re looking at you, Boots Black Friday deals event) to give shoppers longer to make more considered (less impulsive) purchases.
Black Friday 2023 kicked off on Friday November 24th, but the sales are carrying on over Cyber Weekend into Cyber Monday, November 27th. Retailers such as Sephora, LookFantastic and Boots already have a flurry of sales in full motion, some of which are expected to last throughout Cyber Week.
For more from Glamour UK Commerce Editor Sophie Cockett, follow her on Instagram@sophiecockettx. And for more shoppable beauty content from Glamour UK Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on Twitter@deniseprimbetand Instagram@deniseprimbet.
I’ll always have a huge appreciation for organic skincare and other nontoxic beauty items. Although I know the term “nontoxic” can be a bit broad and, in some ways, misleading when used as a marketing term, I always appreciate retailers like Credo who set the standard for ingredient consciousness in the beauty space. Every product sold on the brand’s website is vetted to the highest standards of safety so you can rest easy knowing the skincare, haircare, and makeup you snag there won’t harm your health in any way.
On a more personal note, I’ve also found that organic products without any extra nonsense tend to gel well with my extremely sensitive, acne-prone skin. The only downside is that these beauty products are often way more expensive than what you can find at your average drugstore since the ingredients are so high quality. Luckily for us, though, Credo happens to be having its biggest sale of the year. Starting today, you can receive 20% off both in-store and online at Credo through November 27. As a note, Osea and Henry Rose products will only be on sale in-store and not online.
For all my favorite on-sale products, keep scrolling. I have lots to share!
As a beauty editor, Black Friday is my Super Bowl. I spend days combing through all of the Black Friday deals in my inbox to determine the very best ones. This year, to no one’s surprise, Nordstrom has some of the best Black Friday deals in the game.
The discounts started dropping at Nordstrom starting on the 16th, but they officially dropped at 12 a.m. today. I rounded up the best black Friday deals at Nordstrom right now (some products are up to 60% off), so keep reading for the absolute best markdowns available.
When it comes to shopping the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, I’m all about scoring as many makeup deals as my budget can handle. I love getting my hands on products with skin-loving ingredients that can provide a flawless finish with little-to-no effort when I’m on-the-go as a Beauty editor. This year, some of the most anticipated discounts on makeup products are being offered by major brands like Glossier and Rare beauty to Charlotte Tilbury and Benefit Cosmetics. It can’t get better than this!
Take this as a sign that there’s nothing wrong with planning ahead for the new additions to your makeup bag post-Thanksgiving meal, and you might as well start adding a couple favorites to your online baskets just in case. Below, 20 of the best makeup products offered for less during Black Friday and Cyber Monday savings according to me.
It seems Hailey Bieber has an uncanny knack of revealing a viral beauty trend just in time for the festive season. Last year, it was candy cane glazed nails, a look that leant on the sheer ‘glazed donut’ nail for the base – with a stripe of candy red for the French tip. But for 2023, the model and entrepreneur has delivered a new wintery riff on her strawberry girl aesthetic – and it’s already tipped to be every cool girl’s go-to look for winter.
Hailey’s “Sugar Plum Fairy” makeup trend is exactly how it sounds: swathes of light-reflecting shimmer take centre stage on the eyes, lips and high points of the face, alongside pretty pink cheeks. It’s like the après ski version of strawberry girl that combines an icicle-like sheen with the type of flush you only get when you sit by the fire after a day on the slopes.
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When GLAMOUR interviewed Hailey Bieber a few months ago about her first foray into makeup with Rhode, she reminisced about being a ballet dancer when she was younger. “I remember when I was a little kid at my first ballet recital, my mom gave me rosy cheeks and a little lip gloss so I think a lot about performance makeup when I think about makeup,” she told us.
Now in a TikTok video, Hailey has disclosed that “when I was 16 I was the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker…this is my 2023 version of that makeup. My go to vibe for the holiday season!”.
Against a musical backdrop of Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Hailey can be seen schooling her 11.4 million followers on how to get the look (although she doesn’t name specific products).
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Cyber Week is here, and let’s be honest: it can also be one of the most stressful times of the year. Although it would be more cost-efficient to use the massive amount of sales as a way to buy holiday gifts for others, I often end up buying way too much for myself (oops). Ulta isn’t really helping the situation, either. It just dropped its Cyber Week beauty deals, and let me tell you, they’re totally out of control. The retailer is offering up to 50% off select beauty items through November 25.
Whether you’re in need of a few gifts for others or just want to stock up on your favorite makeup, skincare, and haircare, keep reading below. I’m sharing all the best Black Friday beauty deals that Ulta has to offer.
YSL has different lipstick options, from matte versions to satin-finish ones, and even an amazing lip stain. They’re all pretty great, but my go-to is the Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick Balm. I love that it’s super hydrating and leaves just the right amount of shine. Whenever I wear it, I get a ton of compliments, and I feel a little fancier because I’m wearing a designer product on my lips. Hey, if I can’t afford a closet full of YSL clothes and accessories just yet, at least I have the iconic brand’s makeup on my vanity.
Take a look at some of the best YSL lipstick options for every skin tone below.
For more shoppable beauty and wellness content from Glamour UK Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on Twitter@deniseprimbetand Instagram@deniseprimbet.
If you’ve been eyeing the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer ahead of Christmas, now’s the time to strike. Boots has reduced the bestselling hair tool from £329.99 down to £279.99, saving you £50 (or 15%) off the full price. And don’t forget about the Dyson Corrale hair straightener, which is available for a whopping £100 off and comes with flexing copper plates for enhanced styling support.
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer Iron/Fuchsia
Dyson Corrale Straightener Copper/Nickel
Not in the mood for Dyson? No problem – the Shark FlexStyle 4-in-1 air styler and hair dryer is a great alternative, and one I’ve been using for over a year now. Each device comes with four different attachments, which allow you to curl, straighten, volumise and smooth your hair with no problems at all. Rounding out our list of haircare tools is the Philips Lumea IPL 8000 Series, which is undoubtedly one of the best at-home laser hair removal devices we’ve ever tried. Normally, it has a fairly hefty price tag, but can be yours this Black Friday for 37%, down to a price of £279.99.
Shark FlexStyle 4-in-1 Air Styler & Hair Dryer
Philips Lumea IPL 8000 Series
Boots Black Friday perfumes deals
The Black Friday sale is a great opportunity to get your next signature scent at a heavily discounted price, so don’t miss your chance. And even though it can definitely be hard to find what you’re looking for online, you can never go wrong with classic fragrances such as Marc Jacobs Daisy or DIOR Miss Dior. The best part? On top of their amazing discounts, they’ll also make quite the addition to your vanity table in terms of aesthetics.
Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Toilette
DIOR Miss Dior Eau de Parfum
Then there’s the Prada Paradoxe eau de parfum, which you’ve undoubtedly seen around on your TikTok FYP more than a few times. It’s one of my personal favourites, as is the KAYALI Vanilla | 28 – the latter is particularly great if you’re in the mood for layering your perfumes together to create your own unique scent.
Now, onto makeup gift sets. The good news is that Boots is easily one of the best destinations for them, meaning you can do all your Christmas shopping and then some without ever leaving their website. From what we’ve seen, the NARS Orgasm Luxe Set is definitely worth picking up, as is the Benefit Nice List Lashes Gift Set – both sets feature 3-4 of the best products each brand has to offer, saving you a fortune in the process. Plus, they make for great stocking filler too.
Benefit Nice List Lashes Gift Set
Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched On-the-Glow Set Limited Edition Star Gift
Boots Black Friday skincare deals
Putting together a complete skincare routine can be a daunting task. Thankfully, that becomes a lot more straightforward during Black Friday season, since you can piece together pretty much everything you need for much cheaper than you’d expect. For example, the L’Oreal Revitalift Clinical SPF50+ Invisible Fluid is now half-price and can be yours for just £9.99. And don’t even get me started about the La Roche-Posay Pure Vitamin C10 Serum, which is suitable for sensitive skin and is currently 20% off its original price.
Bobbi Brown Deluxe Size Vitamin Enriched Face Base
And now that December is almost at our door, we’d definitely recommend using these holiday discounts to cop yourself the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel moisturiser to keep the drying effects of cold winter winds from damaging and cracking your delicate skin. Another good option on the market is the Bobbi Brown Deluxe Size Vitamin Enriched Face Base, which hydrates, primes and prepares your skin for smoother makeup application.
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
Boots Black Friday Star Gift deals
Last, but by no means least are the Boots Star Gifts, which consist of a collection of carefully curated products from brands like MAC, Benefit and Clinique, which are heavily discounted just in time for Christmas. And while there are some individual products that are on sale as part of the promotion, we like to focus our attention on limited edition gift sets that are exclusive to Boots, since they tend to yield the biggest savings.
I tend to keep my everyday makeup pretty simple. But when I see festive twinkling lights, gorgeous party dresses, and tons of holiday invites coming in, it inspires me to add a bit more oomph when I’m getting ready. On top of that, my other beauty-loving friends have been asking me for festive makeup ideas. So to spark my creativity, I treated myself to some new makeup from QVC. The retailer’s beauty section is next-level—I discovered some niche finds, cult classics, and new favorites. When all these goodies arrived, it honestly felt like the holidays came early. Keep reading to see the surprisingly easy holiday beauty looks I created with these products, along with some of my personal makeup tips. Note: All prices taken at the time of publication.
“It was horrendous, and it was fast. The whole thing was over before I’d actually drawn a breath,” says makeup artist Lisa Eldridge, recounting a moment of stomach-dropping triumph: winning Audrey Hepburn’s lipstick case at Christie’s in 2017. (Auction records show a healthy five-figure tag, hence the 1950s relic “lives in a very big safe,” she adds.) The Cartier tube, made of 18-karat gold with a cabochon sapphire, hails from a time of everyday pageantry, before plastic upended cosmetics packaging. Now, amid a push for more fanfare and ideally less waste, lipstick is again an object of infatuation. What’s inside still counts—Eldridge gleefully discovered the actor’s shade of salmon pink, which may yet spark ideas for her own line—but glamour demands a package deal.
A ceramic-clad lipstick in grisaille toile de Jouy—Dior Beauty’s feat with French porcelain maison Bernardaud, called Rouge Premier—is a fitting place to start. “It’s as close as you can link it to a haute couture dress,” says Peter Philips, creative and image director of Dior Makeup. Offered in a dozen interchangeable shades, the new formula features red hibiscus extract (skin reviving) and 24-karat gold (why not). “It catches people’s attention,” he says of the design, “but in a very discreet, very elegant way.” That is, if one manages not to drop it.
Lipstick, of course, can communicate as much in hand as on the mouth. This season for Hermès, Pierre Hardy has given his striped bullet a dip-dye effect, a moody gesture in three variations. By contrast, Chanel’s 31 Le Rouge is airy and architectural. The refillable glass case, belted in gold and built to accompany a roster of 12 shades, has an improbable Cinderella appeal: fragile yet ready for the ball. “The Japanese master glassmaker worked an absolute miracle,” says Sylvie Legastelois, Chanel’s director of packaging creation and graphic identity. “This lipstick is like a jewel.” Meanwhile, Guerlain’s holiday entry is unmistakably a bauble: a gem-studded bee perched on a Rouge G case by Turkish jewelry brand Begüm Khan. Bee-stung lips indeed.
There’s a history of lipsticks playing outside the cylinder: Elsa Schiaparelli’s trompe l’oeil melting candle (c. 1940), Louis Nichilo’s Leaning Tower of Pisa (c. 1960), Salvador Dalí’s fluted tube with a 3D mouth (c. 1990—an inspiration for Pat McGrath Labs). But Isamaya Ffrench’s LIPS puts the innuendo front and center: Its shiny phallic case looks as if Louise Bourgeois and Jeff Koons partnered on the design. (A suite of refill shades arrives later this month, joining the existing three.) Ffrench, who collects “weird and beautiful objects,” is pleased to add to the canon. “Surprisingly, such a simple concept can be so hard to execute,” she says. “No pun intended.”
For most people, November signifies the long-awaited beginning of the holiday season, but for those of us whose careers are based in fashion and beauty, this month happens to be one of our busiest. When we’re not tackling our overflowing email inboxes or deep in a writing hole, we’re taking note of the standout products that have defined our year. This time around, I’ve scoured the far corners of social media and took hints from Gen Z to pinpoint the beauty products that no doubt will by flying off the shelves as soon as this year’s biggest holiday sales begin.
It’s almost time for Nordstrom’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday savings event, and I’m beyond excited to get my hands on some high-performing (and, dare I say, aesthetic) products by innovative skincare brands like Sunday Riley and The Ordinary and ultra-luxe makeup brands such as Westman Atelier and Hourglass. I’ve fully convinced myself that I want the 20 products below, and I’m more than willing to try to beat my fellow Gen Z members to the punch. May the shopping odds be ever in your favor!
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