The Cut’s 2012 Beauty Gift Guide
Photo: Stuart Tyson
You can’t exactly go out and buy someone a tub of Carmex or a Duane Reade mascara and expect her to be pleased this holiday season. But the right beauty gift — one that’s decadent, luxurious, and splurge-y to the point that you might not drop cash on it for yourself — has the opposite effect: It makes you feel special, and beautiful, like you’re now in possession of a cosmetic that will instantly improve your life (and complexion, too). Whether it’s Tom Ford’s chest of lustrous nail polishes, a hand balm that will make your colleagues jealous, the creamiest red lipstick out there, or even an entirely new mascara wardrobe, these are the items that will be publicly flaunted and privately loved. This year, the Cut has gathered twenty of them, photographed for your own gift-giving purposes in the slideshow below.
The Ultimate Boxed Set: Tom Ford 16 Color Nail Set The sturdy box — in Tom Ford's signature chocolate brown — houses sixteen of hi...
The Ultimate Boxed Set: Tom Ford 16 Color Nail Set The sturdy box — in Tom Ford's signature chocolate brown — houses sixteen of his more iconic polish colors, from Bitter Bitch to Plum Noir. Bring this kit to a Secret Santa party and, by the end of the night, everyone can get in on the well-manicured glory.
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Tom Ford 16-Color Nail Set, $480 Photo: Stuart Tyson
The Pucker Perfectors What feels more indulgent and frivilous than fancy lip balm? These are an easy upgrade for the friend whose beauty rou...
The Pucker Perfectors What feels more indulgent and frivilous than fancy lip balm? These are an easy upgrade for the friend whose beauty routine only includes a swipe of Chapstick before she's late to work.
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La Mer "The Lip Balm," $50; Sisley Confort Extreme Levres Nutritive Lip Balm, $72; Dior Creme Abricot Fortifying Creme, $24 Photo: Stuart Tyson
The Hair Accessory: Jennifer Behr Aspen Barrette Inspired by a vintage fifties brooch, this gleaming cluster of Swarovski crystals is the perfect...
The Hair Accessory: Jennifer Behr Aspen Barrette Inspired by a vintage fifties brooch, this gleaming cluster of Swarovski crystals is the perfect addition to dress up your good friend's top knot, chignon, or that messy updo she calls her "signature look."
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Jennifer Behr Aspen Barette, $198 Photo: Stuart Tyson
The Gilded Compact: Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Premium Pressed Powder Thanks to the softest brush ever included in the compact, the Japanese-formulated...
The Gilded Compact: Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Premium Pressed Powder Thanks to the softest brush ever included in the compact, the Japanese-formulated powder will evenly distribute oil-absorbing, skin illuminatinating, and hydrating particles across your face. It basically does everything a girl with a busy party schedule might want, except for fill her glass of Champagne.
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Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Premium Pressed Powder, $73
Photo: Stuart Tyson
The Crazy-Good Creme: Diptyque Luxurious Hand Balm That desk neighbor who's constantly bumming off hand cream will find themselves luxuriating in...
The Crazy-Good Creme: Diptyque Luxurious Hand Balm That desk neighbor who's constantly bumming off hand cream will find themselves luxuriating in this substantial jar of apricot-infused cream, which smells as good as Diptyque's famous candles, but won't be too cloying in an office environment.
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Diptyque Luxurious Hand Balm, $38 Photo: Stuart Tyson
The Decadent Makeup Brush: Kevyn Aucoin Beauty Face Brushes For the woman who thinks her tools should be as perfect as her complexion, here's a c...
The Decadent Makeup Brush: Kevyn Aucoin Beauty Face Brushes For the woman who thinks her tools should be as perfect as her complexion, here's a collection of brushes based on her particular needs. Or just buy them all and she'll be even more delighted.
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Kevyn Aucoin Beauty Blush/Powder Brush, $65; Kevyn Aucoin Beauty Super Soft Buff Powder Brush, $46; Kevyn Aucoin BeautyMedium Size Rounded Eye Shadow Brush, $32; Kevyn Aucoin Beauty Small Eyeshadow Flat Tip Brush, $25; Kevyn Aucoin Beauty Concealer Brush, $24 Photo: Stuart Tyson
The Epic Candle: Penhaligon's Home Fragrance Collection It's more than just a candle, actually. The whimsical, reusable box and carton of matches...
The Epic Candle: Penhaligon's Home Fragrance Collection It's more than just a candle, actually. The whimsical, reusable box and carton of matches will win over anyone who refuses to believe wax is a good enough gift. Though the candle inside is plenty nice, too.
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Penhaligon's Home Fragrance Collection, $65 Photo: Stuart Tyson
The Mascara Wardrobe Most people are devoted to one type of mascara, but the truly lash-obsessed will delight in trying out a new one for each d...
The Mascara Wardrobe Most people are devoted to one type of mascara, but the truly lash-obsessed will delight in trying out a new one for each day of the week: Spoil her with a forest of options — each with a different specialty — then let her choose based on her mood.
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Left to right: Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara, $30; Dior DiorShow Mascara, $25; Lancome Definicils Mascara, $26; Givenchy PhenomEyes Mascara, $30; Sunday Riley Influencer, $30; Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara, $10; Hourglass Film Noir Lash Lacquer Mascara, $28
Photo: Stuart Tyson
The Minimalist Nail Kit Everybody has a friend who thinks she is a manicurist. Give her the most graphically beautiful pieces for a carefully cur...
The Minimalist Nail Kit Everybody has a friend who thinks she is a manicurist. Give her the most graphically beautiful pieces for a carefully curated manicure kit using products from only the top nail brands.
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Eve Lom Cuticle Cream, $24; RGB Cosmetics Remover, $28; Jin Soon Nail Collection Top Gloss top coat, $18; Julep Crystal Nail File, $6 Photo: Stuart Tyson
The Dramatic Lip Color: YSL Rouge Volupte and Volupte Sheer Candy lipsticks Even a vampy connoisseur who wears red lips daily can't hel...
The Dramatic Lip Color: YSL Rouge Volupte and Volupte Sheer Candy lipsticks Even a vampy connoisseur who wears red lips daily can't help but get giddy over YSL's impossibly chic bullets. The two different finishes offer variations for a creamy, opaque look one day and glossy balm the next.
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YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick in Red Muse, $34; YSL Volupte Sheer Candy in Luscious Cherry, $30 Photo: Stuart Tyson
The Bathroom Saver: Caudalie Divine Oil The over-booked lady who looks forward to luxuriating in a bath and knows how to pamper herself will appr...
The Bathroom Saver: Caudalie Divine Oil The over-booked lady who looks forward to luxuriating in a bath and knows how to pamper herself will appreciate this blend of antioxidant rich oils for the face, skin, and hair. Distractingly beautiful bottle, too.
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Caudalie Divine Oil, $48 Photo: Stuart Tyson
The Fragranced Objet: Scented Gloves For the girl who seems to have everything, these granny-chic gloves will stay scented for many holidays to c...
The Fragranced Objet: Scented Gloves For the girl who seems to have everything, these granny-chic gloves will stay scented for many holidays to come, even as people close to the giftee have no idea, exactly, where the lovely blackberry scent is coming from.
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L'Artisan Parfumeur Mure et Musc Scented Gloves, $480 Photo: Stuart Tyson
The Purse Keepsake: Yves Durif Comb Made from Italian resin, this ivory-hued, nearly indestructible comb is better than a brush for the lady who'...
The Purse Keepsake: Yves Durif Comb Made from Italian resin, this ivory-hued, nearly indestructible comb is better than a brush for the lady who's high maintenance, but only on the sly.
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Yves Durif "Yves Comb," $26.50 Photo: Stuart Tyson
The Luxurious Hair Mask: Serge Normant Meta Morphosis Hair Repair Treatment For the girl who is undoubtedly obsessed with her locks, whether shor...
The Luxurious Hair Mask: Serge Normant Meta Morphosis Hair Repair Treatment For the girl who is undoubtedly obsessed with her locks, whether short to long, there's Serge Normant's ultrahydrating and hair strengthening treatment mask. Don't be upset if she cancels dinner to wash her hair: It's only because she loves this gift.
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Serge Normant Meta Morphosis Hair Repair Treatment, $60 Photo: Stuart Tyson
The Tiny Perfume: Chanel No. 5 Even if the recipient's nostrils aren't enamored by the rose, jasmine, and musk scent, she won't be able to deny t...
The Tiny Perfume: Chanel No. 5 Even if the recipient's nostrils aren't enamored by the rose, jasmine, and musk scent, she won't be able to deny the charm of this iconic bottle in mini proportions.
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Chanel N°5 Parfum, $120 for .25 oz. Photo: Stuart Tyson
The Reflective Surface: Maison Martin Margiela Flip Top Mirror Ring For the girl who's devoted to looking perfect, discreetly. And maybe likes we...
The Reflective Surface: Maison Martin Margiela Flip Top Mirror Ring For the girl who's devoted to looking perfect, discreetly. And maybe likes wearing some designer bling, too.
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Maison Martin Margiela Flip Top Mirror Ring, $378 Photo: Stuart Tyson
The Professional Blow Dryer: Solano SuperSolano Professional Hairdryer It's time you saved your friend from the flimsy, hair-burning model she's ...
The Professional Blow Dryer: Solano SuperSolano Professional Hairdryer It's time you saved your friend from the flimsy, hair-burning model she's held on to since college.
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Solano SuperSolano Professional Hairdryer, $149 Photo: Stuart Tyson
The Face Refinishers: Tatcha Deep Hydration Lifting Mask Set Skin-care snobs and the youth-obsessed alike will love individually packaged, c...
The Face Refinishers: Tatcha Deep Hydration Lifting Mask Set Skin-care snobs and the youth-obsessed alike will love individually packaged, coconut-skin-derived masks, which are saturated with the company's signature serum to instantly give complexions an enviably luminous look.
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Tatcha Deep Hydration Lifting Mask Set, $95 Photo: Stuart Tyson
The Backstage Secret: Sedu Rovultion Styling Iron If it's good enough to be wielded by editorial and backstage hair masters, like the famed Guido...
The Backstage Secret: Sedu Rovultion Styling Iron If it's good enough to be wielded by editorial and backstage hair masters, like the famed Guido, then it's special enough to be squealed over by your soon-to-be frizz-free, straight-haired sister in need.
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Sedu Rovultion Styling Iron, $159.99 Photo: Stuart Tyson
The Dainty Travel Kit: Rodin The roaming holiday traveler will find a moment for beauty in Rodin's tiny package for face, hair, and body. A ...
The Dainty Travel Kit: Rodin The roaming holiday traveler will find a moment for beauty in Rodin's tiny package for face, hair, and body. A mini-vial of perfume and sachet of hand cream are also tucked neatly inside a cheeky vinyl envelope clutch, perfect whether she's headed on business trips or a much-needed vacation.
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Rodin Holiday Travel Kit, $85 Photo: Stuart Tyson
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