NYLON’s Holiday Beauty Gift Guide 2022: Bling Empire

Champagne, caviar, and the finer things in life. For the friend who’s obsessed with the elite — Hollywood celebs and royals alike — the ones who know the difference between old money and new money, or maybe they’re too in their own world to care, this is our list of beauty items suited for those who love the high life — or at least those who aspire towards these vain pursuits. No shame here, it’s full-out glitz and glam, or nothing!

L – R — Gucci Beauty Cushion De Beauté, $110 | Givenchy Beauty Prisme Libre Loose Powder, $105 | Fenty Beauty Icon Refill Lipstick Case, $20 | Bobbi Brown Luxe Eye & Cheek Palette, USD59.

You’ll find glitz and a whole lot of retro Hollywood glam on Gucci Beauty’s limited edition cushion foundation, designed with an exclusive geometric print of glittery pink and green. Then, it’s off to the ski slopes for inspiration, seen on Givenchy Beauty’s beloved Prisme Libre Loose Powder. Known for its ultra-fine and airy texture, the Winter Dream Capsule edition has a puffy silver lid that makes for a luxurious limited edition we’ve love to own. 

Over at Fenty Beauty, a brand endorsed by Bling Empire’s Kane Lim himself, you’ll wanna have your friend be just as fab with a berry metallic version of the Fenty Icon lipstick, a refillable format that’s touted for its high pigmentation and high staying power. For an all-rounder take on holiday bling though, turn to either of these Bobbi Brown Luxe Eye & Cheek Palettes, where radiant rose golds, glowing copper and molten metallics feature across eyeshadows and highlighter shades.

 

L – R — M.A.C Eye Love Surprises Eye Shadow Palette, $59 | diptyque Carousel Set with Two Small Candles, $209 | Burberry Beauty Ultimate Glow Cushion Foundation, $100 | tarte Gilded Glamour Amazonian Clay Palette, $86

In a cute round palette with bubble pop motifs that’s then topped off with a bow, M.A.C’s 6-pan holiday-exclusive eyeshadow palette gathers shades of sparkling wine, regal rosé and more that’ll delight any party-goer. Those who appreciate aesthetics will be up for diptyque’s beautiful carousel set; light up any of their heavenly-scented candles and watch the golden charms slowly revolve around the flame, casting beautiful gold glimmers across the room.

Burberry’s holiday Glow Cushion Foundation, on the other hand, suits the ice queens in our midst, the cool ones with matching silver jewellery who’d love to sport this festive silver and gold take on the TB monogram. Here with double the fun though is tarte’s duo of Amazonian Clay eye palettes, in a set with two XL palettes for a grand total of 36 matte and shimmer shades, in everything from warm bronze to dusty rose and merlot, to glam up any occasion.

L – R — Shiseido Vital Perfection Intensive WrinkleSpot Treatment Limited Edition, $170.

From Shiseido’s holiday shop comes the Intensive WrinkleSpot Treatment from their beloved anti-ageing Vital Perfection series, where this breakthrough cream formula is able to help with wrinkles, dark spots, and lack of firmness, thanks to retinol as well as the Japanese brand’s proprietary 4MSK skin-brightening and ReNeura Technology science. The holiday edition is, of course, dressed up to the nines in a brilliant gold and traditional origami flowers.

L – R — Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Dreams Come True Limited Edition Kit, $375 | Estée Lauder Christmas Blockbuster Set, $119

We can’t have a list of glamorous items without mentioning Charlotte Tilbury, where the makeup artist’s beauty products are often used on Hollywood’s elite on celebrity red carpets and the likes. Peek, then, this holy grail suite of dream products featuring her most famous nude-pink Pillow Talk shade, of eyeshadow palettes, blushes, lipsticks, lip liners and more. If you’ve only got budget for one item though, we’d recommend the Matte Revolution lipstick, or perhaps an On-The-Go kit of that iconic shade.

Next up, a highly, highly value-for-money set if your giftee’s a beauty junkie. Estée Lauder’s beauty vault contains their bestselling skincare and makeup favourites worth a whopping $563, though now in a set that’s retailing for less than $120. Items including both full- and deluxe-sized versions of the Advanced Night Repair Face Serum and Micro Essence Treatment Lotion, along with a full-sized Pure Color Envy Sculpting Eyeshadow Palette, Double Wear Zero Smudge Lengthening Mascara, Pure Color Envy Lipsticks and more housed in a glamorous train case.

L – R — Dear Dahlia Paradise Shine Eye Sequins Eyeshadow, $46 | Huda Beauty Empowered Face Gloss Highlighting Dew, $63 | NARS Starstruck Audacious Lipstick, $46 | KILIAN Paris Angel’s Share Icon Set, $460.

For the person who loves their glitter and sequins, Dear Dahlia’s liquid eyeshadow amps up the drama on one’s eyelids, with its lightweight texture that just glides on, giving multi-dimensional sparkle that’ll last all night. Huda Beauty’s gilded holiday collection includes this interesting-looking Face Dew,  a multi-use highlighting gloss that has sheer shimmer within its formula; tap on to the high points of your cheekbones for a flattering effect.

As for NARS, they’ve nailed the starry look both on the outer gold casing that’s studded with stars, and a lipstick bullet engraved with the same celestial design. And now, for the person who likes to believe they’re the main character in a James Bond film, set the mood with any of KILIAN Paris’ fragrances, especially since their glass flacons are inspired by cognac bottles. Each exclusive set features a 50ml refillable perfume and a 7.5ml black lacquered Talisman Travel Spray, in packaging that ties back to their French heritage.

L – R — Tom Ford Soleil Look Set, $260 | Fenty Skin Butta Drop Shimmering Whipped Oil Body Cream, $66 | CHANEL Beauty Coco Mademoiselle Pearly Body Gel, $172 | Pat McGrath Bridgerton Blushing Delights Blushes And Highlighter Palette, $91.

Peak healthy shimmer, the kind that looks like you’ve just come back from an expensive beach holiday, is possible thanks to this tom Ford Soleil set will do. It allows one to create a luminous look for the eyes, lip, and face, since each product is imbued with shimmery pigments, especially that coveted Shimmering Body Oil.

For more shimmery body products, we’re turning to both Fenty Skin’s Butta Drop body cream, in a festive cinnamon-inspired scent with soft gold pearl pigments, as well as CHANEL’s Coco Mademoiselle Pearly Body Gel of an iridescent pearl sheen for those who deserve a splurge.

If you know someone obsessed with anything regal, Pat McGrath’s face palette from their Bridgerton collaboration ought to suffice your royal highness, with its curation of chic baked blushes and a heart-shaped highlighter that brings effortless lustre to the cheeks.

 


ALL ITEMS AVAILABLE AT THEIR RESPECTIVE BOUTIQUES, COUNTERS, AND ONLINE AT THE LINKS PROVIDED.