The tree is up, the lights are on and a host of resplendent beauty offerings has made its way to our shelves. Should you find yourself in need of a last-minute gift option—whether for a loved one or, simply, to treat yourself—this is Vogue Singapore’s guide to the most lavish beauty gifts of this festive season…
A real sense of limited luxury and heightened storytelling distinguish the most notable offerings. Hermès, masters of the fine balance between playful whimsy and brilliant craftsmanship, deliver on this brief with their lush L’Orange en Fêtes. Then there’s the opulent sillage of Maison Francis Kurkdijan’s Oud Satin Mood Sparkling Body Oil, designed to drape you in a floral gourmand blanket on shimmering nights out.
Celebrated contemporary artists lend their touches to the gleaming designs of Diptyque’s Friandise Candle and Dior’s Diorshow 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette. Brit Lucy Sparrow is behind the felt-crafted label of the former, while Italian Pietro Ruffo created the intricate royal motifs that adorn Dior’s palettes.
Lastly, the options abound for connoisseurs of beauty advent calendars. With the choices to wade through proving more of a (delightful) challenge each year, our personal selection is Penhaligon’s Baker’s Box of Delights Advent Calendar. In the case of this divine array of sweet treats, there’s no danger of our eyes eclipsing what we can enjoy.
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Come bearing fruit
Leave it to Hermès to strike with the perfect blend of whimsy and immaculate craftsmanship, every time. No less can be seen from their surprise L’Orange en Fêtes, $158. The festive fruit is reimagined as a lush paper sphere, playing on the house’s signature orange hue and complete with a bolduc ribbon to be hung from the tree by. Beyond being an incomparably chic adornment, its elegant folds also encase a Rouge Hermès lip care balm. The rich, refillable treatment soothes lips courtesy of its concentrated wax blend, making for an ideal gift of care.
Hermès L’Orange en Fêtes, $116, available at selected Hermès boutiques.
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Eye candy
Diptyque’s Friandise Candle, from $72, quite literally lives up to its name of ‘sweet treat’. Gingerbread, cinnamon, candied orange peel and vanilla swirl into one delectable gourmand aroma, elevated by the slight spice of its notes. The blend immediately evokes an atmosphere of cosiness, reminiscent of fireside winter nights. Just as comforting is the candle’s exterior, with artist Lucy Sparrow behind thoughtful touches from the felt-crafted label to the gold lettering and gleaming lid. This is a treat you’ll want to keep wafting for long after yuletide. And once the delicious wax has been used, repurpose the crimson jar for other cherished tidbits.
Diptyque Friandise Candle, from $72, available at Escentials.
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Costumed in colour
Christian Dior adored attending grand costume balls in France’s finest châteaus, surrendering himself willingly to their extravagance and audacity. It’s these enchanting settings that Peter Philips, creative and image director of Christian Dior make-up, heeds as inspiration to bring forth a sumptuous holiday collection. In particular, the Diorshow 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette in 643 Golden Masquerade, $123, is pure splendour. Unclasp the golden case to reveal a curated array of shades within: shimmering gold, peach and pink alongside contrasting matte burgundy, each engraved with royal motifs designed by contemporary artist Pietro Ruffo. The long-wearing cream textures abound with opportunities to transform.
Diorshow 6 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette in 643 Golden Masquerade, $123, available at Dior.
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Whet your appetite
There are advent calendars, and then there are advent calendars. Penhaligon’s Baker’s Box of Delights Advent Calendar, $789, easily falls into the latter category. Housing no less than twenty-four fragrant goods, it’s the mouth-watering gift that keeps on giving. Make your way through the impressive selection of miniature perfumes showcasing the delicious world of Penhaligon’s, from airy Elisabethan Rose to lustrous Empressa and beyond. Alongside these scents sit other delicacies to be discovered, including the Halfeti Body Wash, Maduro Leaf Candle and more. This is for those who like to have their cake and eat it too, with a bakery’s worth of delights at your disposal.
Penhaligon’s Baker’s Box of Delights Advent Calendar, $789, available at Penhaligon’s boutiques.
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Skin made sumptuous
Maison Francis Kurkdijan’s deep, opulent fragrances are known to blanket the skin with sillages like no other. Oud is one of the maison’s most beloved new perfumes, and its woody, amber scent has been harnessed for a limited Oud Satin Mood Sparkling Body Oil, $140. Despite its richness, this shimmering oil perfumes the skin ever so delicately with an unexpectedly light texture. Softening and imparting a sheen of lasting radiance, its glistening formula is the magnetic final touch for a night out. Let its medley of violet accord, Laotian oud wood, Bulgarian and Turkish rose, and rich vanilla amber accord be your layered ode to good times these holidays.
Maison Francis Kurkdijan Oud Satin Mood Sparkling Body Oil, $140, available at Escentials.
