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Best Christmas beauty gift sets, from Charlotte Tilbury, Mac, The Ordinary and more

We’ve tried and tested a selection of festive sets to suit all budgets

Helen Wilson-Beevers
Monday 04 December 2023 14:09 GMT
Standout buys to shop now include cult classic products, designer scents and relaxing treats
Standout buys to shop now include cult classic products, designer scents and relaxing treats (iStock/The Independent)
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The festive season is just around the corner, with advent calendars, Christmas food and drink hampers and other treats already filling the shops to help us get ahead and count down to the big day. Should you love prepping for Santa’s arrival or simply like being organised, now’s the time to start considering which Christmas presents to buy for friends and family.

For fans of beauty, the lead-up to Christmas means limited-edition sets launching from all our favourite brands. Whether your gift recipient follows TikTok skincare trends, is known for creating incredible make-up looks or has a favourite perfume or haircare product, beauty gift sets have dropped for Christmas 2023. As always, our IndyBest team is here to help inform your shopping choices, by reviewing a wide range of beauty buys.

We’ve got a Charlotte Tilbury make-up set including some cult classic pillow talk products; skincare goodies from popular brands such as Medik8, The Ordinary and Drunk Elephant; haircare line-ups courtesy of Philip Kingsley and Sam McKnight, and fragrance picks to see you through party season and beyond.

Look no further for our comprehensive list of festive beauty gift sets to suit all budgets, so you can pop them in Christmas stockings, under the tree or even spoil yourself come 25 December.

How we tested

A selection of the best beauty gift sets for Christmas
A selection of the best beauty gift sets for Christmas (Helen Wilson-Beevers)

We spent several weeks putting a selection of Christmas beauty sets to the test. We looked at each gift’s packaging, price and contents, while trialling the individual products included, too. Keep reading for our full tried and tested verdict on the best festive skincare, perfume and make-up gift sets to buy.

The best beauty gift sets for Christmas 2023 are:

  • Best Christmas beauty gift set overall – Charlotte Tilbury pillow talk on the go set: £43, Charlottetilbury.com
  • Best budget beauty gift set – Q+A body heroes Christmas cracker: £10.80, Qandaskin.com
  • Best haircare routine – Philip Kingsley mega volume: £38, Philipkingsley.co.uk
  • Best designer perfume gift – Coach wild rose eau de parfum gift set: £54, Fenwick.co.uk
  • Best bodycare buy – Liz Earle all is radiant top-to-toe routine hamper: £79, Boots.com

Charlotte Tilbury pillow talk on the go kit

Charlotte Tilbury pillow talk on the go kit.jpg
  • Best: Beauty gift set overall
  • Number of items: 5
  • Size of products: Miniature
  • Worth: £66
  • Why we love it
    • Full of cult classic make-up treats

Whether your giftee loves Charlotte Tilbury or is keen to try the brand, this set is an ideal way of popping some travel-sized cult classic make-up goodies in their stocking. The gift set includes a miniature pillow talk mascara (£26 for 10ml, Charlottetilbury.com), liquid blush, eyeliner (£23 for full-size, Charlottetilbury.com), lip liner (£21 for 10g, Charlottetilbury.com) and lipstick (£27 for full-size, Charlottetilbury.com). These versatile beauty buys can be worn as an entire look or as standalone pick-me-ups.

Our favourite treat in the set is the lipstick – it creates a unique shade that adapts to the wearer’s lips. Meanwhile, because the pillow talk liquid blush is currently out of stock, its inclusion feels like a big treat.

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Q+A body heroes Christmas cracker

Q+A body heroes Christmas cracker.jpg
  • Best: Budget beauty gift set
  • Number of items: 3
  • Size of products: Miniature
  • Worth: Unspecified
  • Why we love it
    • Joyful festive packaging

This cute cracker has a festive design depicting cosy mittens and bobble hats, and will add a joyful touch to the Christmas dinner table. It’s packed with a trio of miniature brightly coloured Q+A body buys, including ceramide body lotion (£10, Qandaskin.com), hyaluronic acid body wash (£6.50, Qandaskin.com) and AHA exfoliator body scrub (£8, Qandaskin.com).

All the products were brand-new launches this year, and are tried and tested IndyBest favourites, for being affordable and having ingredients-led formulas. From the refreshing body wash to the creamy lotion and invigorating scrub, this is a budget Christmas beauty buy filled with bodycare treats.

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The Ordinary cleanser discovery set

The ordinary cleanser discovery set.jpg
  • Best: Cleanser gift set
  • Number of items: 3
  • Size of products: Miniature
  • Worth: Unspecified
  • Why we love it
    • Affordable way of trying three cleanser types

If you’re looking for an affordable beauty gift set, this cleanser discovery trio from The Ordinary contains a selection of popular products for the bargain price of £16. Suitable for all skin types, included within the set are 30ml tubes of the squalane cleanser, glucoside foaming cleanser and glycolipid cream cleanser. The latter two are brand-new launches for 2023, and we’ve reviewed them both. Our tester particularly rates the lightweight, soothing glycolipid cream cleanser (£11.10 for 150ml, Theordinary.com).

Meanwhile, the foaming cleanser is noticeably gentle, and the squalane cleanser has a balmy finish. With this set, giftees can mix and match cleansers for travel or simply switch up their skincare routine with fresh products.

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ESPA golden glow collection

ESPA golden glow collection.jpg
  • Best: Luxury beauty gift set
  • Number of items: 5
  • Size of products: Full-size
  • Worth: £159
  • Why we love it
    • Deluxe packaging

This sizeable skincare set is presented in a sturdy white box with metallic detailing, opening up to reveal four full-sized products and a drawer containing a cotton cleansing cloth. The included products are optimal skin pro-cleanser (£32 for 100ml, Sephora.co.uk), optimal skin pro-moisturiser (£50 for 55ml, Espaskincare.com), clean and green detox mask (£40 for 55ml, Lookfantastic.com) and optimal skin pro serum (£27.50 for 30ml, Espaskincare.com). As the name suggests, the products are designed to promote healthy-looking skin, and we’ve enjoyed trialling them all.

The multi-tasking cleanser also works as an exfoliator and mask, so it’s a versatile pick for daily use, containing ingredients such as jojoba spheres, pumpkin enzymes and moringa-seed extract. Meanwhile, the serum has a lightweight formula yet feels rich on the skin, and its essential oil scent blend of tangerine, cedar and jasmine offers a spa-like luxury. The soothing moisturiser contains sunflower-seed oil and offers a lavish layer that absorbs quickly.

Finally, for a pick-me-up, the detox mask is a 10-minute fix, which we’ve used ahead of an evening out, for added radiance.

It’s worth knowing this set is now reduced by 50 per cent, slicing its price to £45.

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Philip Kingsley mega volume

Philip Kingsley mega volume.jpg
  • Best: Haircare routine gift set
  • Number of items: 4
  • Size of products: Full-size and miniature
  • Worth: £56.50
  • Why we love it
    • Excellent for volumising and strengthening strands

If you’re looking to gift the ultimate haircare routine, look no further than this set. Philip Kingsley’s mega volume set includes full-size body building weightless shampoo (£24, Philipkingsley.co.uk) and conditioner (£24, Philipkingsley.co.uk) in 250ml and 200ml sizes, respectively, plus a 40ml tube of elasticizer deep-conditioning treatment and a 20ml maximizer strand plumping cream.

The shampoo and conditioner thoroughly cleansed and nourished our scalp and hair and, with use, we noticed our locks had more body. Meanwhile, the strand plumping cream is a handy addition ahead of blow-drying your ’do – it made our hair look smoother and thicker. Finally, elasticizer (from £20 for 75ml, Philipkingsley.co.uk) is the brand’s signature product that everyone should have in their haircare arsenal, with this pre-shampoo treatment helping repair damaged hair and improve its condition. All four products offered a voluminous boost, with the cult classic elasticizer a favourite for strengthening strands.

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Nars private party climax mascara duo

Nars private party climax mascara duo.jpg
  • Best: Stocking filler gift set
  • Number of items: 2
  • Size of products: 1 full-size, 1 miniature
  • Worth: £40.50
  • Why we love it
    • The combination of a full-size and miniature mascara

This duo is the perfect stocking filler – it features a miniature and full-sized version of Nars climax mascara (£26.50, Narscosmetics.co.uk). With this set, they’ll have a mascara to keep at home and one for travelling or top-ups on the go. We particularly like the thick brush, which clings to lashes and coats each one effectively. As a result, we’ve seen lifted lashes with volume and length, and this effect holds all day. The black mascara is highly pigmented, and it’s buildable for a bolder look.

In terms of other Christmas make-up gift sets, we also love Nars’s up all night mini powermatte lip duo (£33, Narscosmetics.co.uk) for adding a pop of pout colour courtesy of the two tiny handbag-size products.

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Drunk Elephant wild night the evening kit

Drunk elephant wild night.jpg
  • Best: Gift set for beauty sleep
  • Number of items: 4
  • Size of products: Full-size and miniature
  • Worth: £126
  • Why we love it
    • Inclusion of recyclable make-up bag

This evening routine is presented in fun neon packaging, complete with pink and purple leopard print. It also comes with a recyclable make-up bag. Within the set, there is a 50ml lala retro whipped cream moisturiser and a 60ml jelly cleanser (both are currently out of stock online). You’ll also find miniature 15ml TLC framboos glycolic night serum (£58.50 for 30ml, Lookfantastic.com) and 5ml ceramighty AF eye balm (£53 for 15ml, Cultbeauty.co.uk).

We’re big fans of Drunk Elephant’s formulas, from the rich and refreshing textures to the skincare ingredients included. The cult classic jelly cleanser has a clear, lightweight consistency that effectively washes off make-up and feels gentle on the skin. TLC framboos glycolic night serum is an AHA and BHA-infused boost, which we found to brighten our skin after use. Meanwhile, lala retro whipped cream offers a nourishing moisturiser, with peptides to help promote intense hydration as you sleep. Finally, ceramighty AF eye balm is soothing for the delicate skin around the eyes and offers a smoothing effect.

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Charlotte Tilbury velvet gift stocking

Charlotte Tilbury velvet gift stocking .jpg
  • Best: Christmas beauty keepsake
  • Number of items: 1
  • Size of products: N/A
  • Worth: N/A
  • Why we love it
    • Beautiful rose-gold embroidered writing and star pattern
    • Opulent velvet outer with sleek lining

Bundle up their beauty gifts and pop them in this stunning Charlotte Tilbury stocking, ready for 25 December. The sizeable stocking has a red velvet outer and a shiny cream satin-esque lining, and you can hang it up by the integral loop attachment. It also comes complete with embroidered silver and rose-gold stars, and signature Charlotte Tilbury branding. We were able to fit a large selection of goodies inside the stocking, including moisturisers, serum, lipstick, eyeshadow palettes and more. So, you could use it as a standalone gift or stuff the stocking with make-up and skincare presents.

What we love about this beauty gift is how much your recipient will enjoy bringing out the stocking every year, making it an extra-special keepsake.

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Mac lips by the dozen mini powder kiss lipstick kit x 12

Mac lips by the dozen mini powder kiss lipstick kit .jpg
  • Best: Lipstick assortment
  • Number of items: 12
  • Size of products: Miniature
  • Worth: £180
  • Why we love it
    • Wide range of lipstick shades
    • Handbag-friendly lipstick options for party season
    • Inclusion of make-up case

A perfect present for a lipstick-lover, this set comes complete with 12 mini products presented in a festive white and silver pouch. Each little moisture-matte lipstick has a chic ombre-style case, so you can spot the shades easily before opening them up. Meanwhile, each bullet has a pointed tip, which we found offered precise application. As its name suggests, the lipstick provides a moisturising, yet matte finish, and we found it stays put, too. The shades included cover berry, brown, pink, and red picks, which are ideal for party season.

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Hair By Sam McKnight cool girl volume edit

Hair By Sam McKnight cool girl volume edit.jpg
  • Best: Gift set for travel-sized hair products
  • Number of items: 3
  • Size of products: Miniature
  • Worth: £48
  • Why we love it
    • The perfume-style scent

We’re big fans of this Hair By Sam McKnight set, which features a trio of travel-sized goodies. As well as the 100ml cool girl volumising shampoo (£28 for 250ml, Sammcknight.com) and 75ml matching nourish conditioner (£28 for 200ml, Sammcknight.com), there’s a mini 50ml cool girl barely there texture mist (£27 for 250ml, Sammcknight.com) included, too.

A massive part of the appeal of these products is that the entire collection is infused with a perfume-style botanical scent, and it makes the hair washing and styling experience feel like an indulgent treat. We’ve enjoyed how long the fragrance lingers on our strands, too.

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Coach wild rose eau de parfum gift set

Coach wild rose eau de parfum gift set.jpg
  • Best: Designer perfume gift set
  • Number of items: 2
  • Size of products: 1 full-size, 1 miniature
  • Worth: Unspecified
  • Why we love it
    • Addition of miniature scent bottle

For designer fragrance fans, this Coach wild rose eau de parfum gift set comprises a 50ml bottle of the scent (£54, Johnlewis.com) alongside a handy 7.5ml one for on-the-go spritzing. The first thing we noticed about this duo is just how striking the main perfume bottle is, with features including a horse and coach emblem etched on the glass, gold detailing and an attached Coach metal ‘C’ logo and tag.

The scent itself has refreshing floral notes of rose and jasmine, as well as vibrant redcurrant, uplifting bergamot and woody moss. Once the perfume settled on the skin, we picked up a tangy rose mix underpinned by invigorating earthy tones. This blend lingered for hours on end, too. It costs £43.20, so you get both bottles for the same price as the 50ml bottle.

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Medik8 skin perfecting collection

Medik8 skin perfecting collection .jpg
  • Best: Beauty gift set for active ingredients
  • Number of items: 3
  • Size of products: 2 full-size, 1 miniature
  • Worth: £92
  • Why we love it
    • Ingredients-led formulas

Medik8 is the brand to browse if you’re shopping with skincare aficionados in mind, as its formulas focus on active ingredients and specific results. This set features a trio of popular picks, presented in a Christmas gift box. The full-sized and miniature treats consist of the liquid peptides serum (£49, Medik8.com), surface radiance cleanse (£22, Medik8.com), and press and clear BHA tonic (£34, Medik8.com). The ingredients-led products are designed to help clear blemishes, and we’ve seen our skin become more radiant after using the formulas.

Whether your giftee is in need of a skincare pick-me-up or looking for long-term skincare results, we think this discovery gift set will be well received on 25 December.

  1.  £65 from Medik8.com
Prices may vary
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Tatcha dewy skin essentials

Tatcha dewy skin essentials .jpg
  • Best: Deluxe skincare gift set
  • Number of items: 3
  • Size of products: 1 full-size, 2 miniature
  • Worth: £110
  • Why we love it
    • Reusable patterned cloth
    • Hydrating on the skin

Deluxe Japanese-inspired skincare brand Tatcha is known for its super hydrating moisturiser, and this set includes a full-size tub (£67, Tatcha.co.uk) along with two other miniature products: a 50ml rice wash (£41 for 120ml, Tatcha.co.uk) and the dewy serum in a 10g bottle (£86 for 30g, Tatcha.co.uk). Plus, there’s a reusable green and purple furoshiki cloth, which is a special touch, as it’s traditionally used as gift wrap in Japan.

Using the skincare trio makes for a decadent beauty routine, and we really rate the lightweight yet indulgent textures found across each product.

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Ulé de toute beauty natural skincare set

ule .jpg
  • Best: Vegan beauty gift set
  • Number of items: 3
  • Size of products: Miniature
  • Worth : £93.38
  • Why we love it
    • Vegan
    • Good introduction to the brand

Botanical skincare brand Ulé is one of the beauty industry’s best kept secrets. The line’s minimalist green-hued packaging reflects the natural formulas inside – and the de toute gift set is a lovely introduction to the line for skincare lovers. Containing the balancing floral mist, fortifying CBD moisturiser and quenching serum, the trio works to strengthen, soothe and hydrate skin.

After a couple of weeks of using the products, we found our complexion felt plumper, smoother and blemish-free, thanks to the mist, which protects skin from external elements, while the firming moisturiser and the serum give a healthy hydration boost. Our only gripe is we would have liked to have one more product thrown in, considering the price.

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Ghost cracker collection

Ghost cracker collection.jpg
  • Best: Gift set for sharing out with friends
  • Number of items: 6
  • Size of products: Miniature
  • Worth: Unspecified
  • Why we love it
    • Present versatility

Featuring a trio of crackers filled with perfume and hair accessories, this gift set would work well if you’re looking for Christmas presents for friends. Within each colourful festive cracker is a 5ml or 10ml fragrance and a satin-effect hair scrunchie. The crackers feature celestial detailing to match the coordinating scents, with Ghost’s eau de toilette (£20 for 50ml, Boots.com), orb of night eau de parfum (£44 for 50ml, Boots.com) and deep night eau de toilette (£22 for 50ml, Boots.com) included.

The scents combine musky and floral notes, and each bottle has a unique design. We think the crackers would make great table gifts, treats on the tree or stocking fillers.

  1.  £29 from Boots.com
Prices may vary
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Fresh hydration skincare set

Fresh gift set.jpg
  • Best: Soothing skincare gift set
  • Number of items: 3
  • Size of products: 2 full-size, 1 miniature
  • Worth: £108
  • Why we love it
    • Soothing
    • Gentle products

Gift them a Fresh skincare line-up with a full-size soy cleanser (£15 for 50ml, Fresh.com) and tea elixir (£68 for 30ml, Fresh.com), plus a miniature rose deep hydration cream. The face wash includes aloe vera for a soothing cleanse, and we love how gentle it feels on our skin. Meanwhile, the tea elixir serum contains skin balancing niacinamide and has an almost milky texture upon application, before smoothing into skin and leaving a softening layer. Finally, the sweetly scented rose moisturiser (£16 for 15ml, Fresh.com) supports the skin barrier, with hydration-promoting hyaluronic acid and calming rose water.

  1.  £87 from Fresh.com
Prices may vary
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Slip Mayfair holiday ornament

Slip Mayfair holiday ornament.jpg
  • Best: Hair accessory
  • Number of items: 4
  • Size of products: N/A
  • Worth: £29
  • Why we love it
    • They won’t pull or snag your hair

Slip is renowned for its deluxe silk pillowcases, and these hair ties are equally kind to strands, as they won’t pull or snag your tresses. The pack of four is presented in Christmas-tree-decoration-style packaging and can even be dangled from a branch when Santa arrives. The skinny scrunchies suit short and long hair. Within this pack, you’ll find a paisley-print tie, alongside light blue, dark blue and black offerings. They look cute wrapped around the wrist in between wear, too.

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Green People men’s skincare heroes

Green People men’s skincare heroes .jpg
  • Best: Beauty gift set for men
  • Number of items: 3
  • Size of products: Full-size
  • Worth: £52
  • Why we love it
    • Saving on full-size products

If you’re buying with a bloke in mind, this set of three full-sized Green People goodies will cover a brand new grooming regime. Included is an exfoliating face scrub (£17, Greenpeople.co.uk), wash and shave gel (£17, Greenpeople.co.uk) and cooling moisturiser (£18, Greenpeople.co.uk). The certified organic formulas are presented in slimline tubes for transporting to the gym, using for nights away or simply stashing in a bathroom cabinet. They’re all suitable for sensitive skin, too. A great way of buying an entire three-step line-up for less.

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Liz Earle all is radiant top-to-toe routine hamper

Liz Earle all is radiant top-to-toe routine hamper.jpg
  • Best: Body care gift set
  • Number of items: 6
  • Size of products: Full-size, plus one miniature candle
  • Worth: £110
  • Why we love it
    • Luxurious reusable basket

For an all-round skincare, home fragrance and body care gift, this Liz Earle Hamper has every element covered. It’s all presented in a reusable luxurious basket, complete with a handle and canvas lining. Plus, every item is full-sized, with the exception of a miniature warm cedarwood and frankincense candle (£24.50 for 200g, Lizearle.com). The other goodies to unwrap are a limited-edition festive cleanse and polish warm cedarwood and frankincense hot cloth cleanser; energise and glow body wash (£18, Boots.com); energise and glow body lotion (£25, Boots.com); warm cedarwood and frankincense hand cream​, and two cotton cloths.

From the dreamy botanical scents to the smoothing formulas, this gift is a sure-fire way to spoil someone special this Christmas.

  1.  £79 from Boots.com
Prices may vary
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Jimmy Choo I want Choo eau de parfum set

Jimmy Choo I want Choo eau de parfum set.jpg
  • Best: Perfume and body lotion gift set
  • Number of items: 2
  • Size of products: Full-size
  • Worth: Unspecified
  • Why we love it
    • Glittery festive appeal

This sparkly red fragrance gift set is particularly festive, and it includes a full-size 60ml bottle of Jimmy Choo I want Choo eau de parfum (£62.42, Sephora.co.uk) and a matching 100ml body lotion. The scent features fruity and floral notes of mandarin juice, peach, sambac jasmine and red spider lily, while it also includes creamy vanilla tones and smooth benzoin.

Between the opulent perfume, golden branding and the red presentation box, this scent gift set is particularly suited to party season.

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The verdict: Beauty gift sets for Christmas

For a cult classic make-up treat, our best buy overall is Charlotte Tilbury’s pillow talk on the go kit. Meanwhile, The Ordinary’s cleanser discovery set makes for a brilliant budget buy, complete with three practical skincare picks. Fragrance fans will love Coach’s wild rose eau de parfum gift set because of its deluxe detailing and fresh scent. Finally, if it’s haircare you’re looking for, Philip Kingsley’s mega volume collection contains a classic product line-up to promote thicker and healthier strands.

Getting set for the festive season? Here are the best party dresses to wear over Christmas and beyond

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