Mythical, beautiful and quality cosmetics: Christmas gifts for beauty addicts

Whether they are from Santa Claus, the Three Wise Men or whether it is a gift from an invisible friend, when it is given to a person who 'has everything', getting it right is complicated. Luckily for those addicted to cosmetics, there are three key points with which to achieve success: go to the basics, bet on innovations or go for the most elaborate packaging and that can even have a second life.

1. Infallible mythical

Just as there are restaurants to go to and fashion brands for which just having a mini-sized bag is enough to walk around insatiably, making it sneak into 'casual' photos , when it comes to giving a gift to a fan of beauty, there are infallible proper names, from Agustinus Bader to Charlotte Tilbury or Moncho Moreno, which every cosmetic expert values ​​as if they were a member of the Greek Olympus. Give away the bestseller product, the one most referenced by celebrities, the most awarded or the one that is necessary in any good dressing table.

EGF Essences by Bioeffects, €84 at Mumona. Its hard-to-remember name actually hides the acronym for the growth factor present in the entire line. In this case, the essence, a step prior to the serum, works as an aqueous formula that prepares the skin and improves the properties of the EGF serum. Its lightness and the state in which it leaves the skin, moist but not greasy, are due in part to the Icelandic glacier water in its formula.

The Discovery Duo by Augustinus Bader, now €135 at Laconicum. Until a few years ago, saying the name of this doctor was like dreaming of attending one of the exclusive Victoria's Secret fashion shows. The favorite brand of celebrities such as Victoria Beckham, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley or Emily Ratajkowski is already sold in our country and giving away any of its products is synonymous with guaranteed success. On this occasion, The Discovery Duo pack, as its name suggests, is perfect for getting started with the brand with two of its star products, basic for skin care: day cream and night cream. The Cream (day cream), suitable for combination to oily skin, soothes and hydrates with a refreshing sensation, with the brand's famous cocktail of natural amino acids, peptides, vitamins and synthesized molecules, TFC8. The Rich Cream (night cream) adds to the vitamins, oils rich in omega-6 fatty acids and antioxidants.

Magic Cream Charlotte Tilbury, starting at €89.99 at Sephora. It is perhaps the best-known product of the British makeup artist and the one responsible for launching her own brand. In the past, Charlotte made her own concoction that she applied to the skin of singers like Jennifer Lopez and, faced with constant requests from the stars to give them her formula, Tilbury went into the laboratory and created her Magic Cream and as if by magic it adapts to any skin. Its rich texture may appear greasy at first glance, but on contact with the face it transforms into a nourishing, non-greasy lotion. Its success is such that it usually runs out in a short time. It is impossible to fail when giving it away.

La Mer's The Moisturizing Cream, starting at €84.99 at Sephora, is one of those products known throughout the world and valued as the holy grail by cosmetics fans. It is a very rich, highly nutritious and illuminating cream, based on algae and nourishing oils, so it is enough to take a little of the product, working it in your hands to warm it up and facilitate its application.

Sun Drops Spf50 by Barbara Sturm, €125 at Mumona. Another of those proper names in the cosmetics sector and with an extensive list of recommendations by celebrities. The aesthetic doctor began her studies in orthopedics and injuries, working with each patient's own blood. After years of research, he transferred his experience to the exclusive MC1 cream, made in a unique and personal way with the plasma of each client. Supported by science, she created her cosmetic brand and today there are dozens of her products for sale (without blood involved). Its serums, its creams or its illuminating drops are undoubtedly some of its best-known products, but if you have to give a cosmetic that will act now and its benefits will be seen in the future, it is your sunscreen drops.

Complete Eye Set by Zoeva, €72.99 at Sephora. There is no fan of beauty who does not have a good set of brushes, but even when they do, it never hurts to renew them or expand the range to have each precise brush for each area of ​​the face. To simplify the task of choosing brush by brush, Zoeva's sets focus on each area of ​​the face. For example, the Eye Set contains 12 brushes to create all kinds of makeup, as well as a cosmetic bag to store them.

Ultra-hydrating hair ritual set by Miriam Quevedo, €120 on her website. Internationally famous Spanish, if you have tried a Miriam Quevedo shampoo you will know that it is a brand to trust when your hair needs a more powerful treatment and if you have not tried it, you will be dying to do so. One of its best-known and most awarded ranges, Glacial White Caviar, is the star of this pack in which a limited edition Christmas Chest includes Hydra-Pure Shampoo, Hydra-Pure Rescue Masque and Hydra-Pure Precious Elixir. In addition, the pack, which has a value of €165 but costs €120, includes the Glacial White Caviar Global Rejuvenation Set (value €50) as a gift.

Clandestine Ultra Repair Treatment by Moncho Moreno, €89.90. The same treatment that the famous hairdresser performs in his salons can be transferred to the tranquility of the home. It is enough to follow the steps as a simple Quimicefa and repeat the process every time you notice sad and weak hair. Ampoules after treatment, a shampoo capable of cleaning the hair of toxic residues and a nourishing conditioner that strengthens the keratin bonds of the hair, reducing frizz and brittle hair, similar to the effects of hair lamination.

2. Discoveries

Actually, it would be more correct to say 'beauty innovations that will thank you for discovering them', and we can find all of them in different Korean cosmetic brands that are not reduced to the 10 steps of 'korean beauty ' or the magical ingredients of Jeju Island. Scientific studies, multifunction formulas and many masks like we've never seen before.

Kocostar Collagen Cream (T1 Collagen), €29.95 on its website, is one of those gifts for which you will always be remembered because it is practically magical. It is recommended to use it a couple of times a week, as is done with other cosmetics that we consider 'intensive'. Its collagen-rich formula is applied to the skin like a cream that 'solidifies' in the style of the classic 'peel off' but with a completely different texture and finish and without a trace of pulling. The mask should be left to act for between 30 and 60 minutes, after which it will come off with light pressure, leaving the skin very juicy, as if we had applied a nutritious serum to absorb with pressure. Its name, T1 Collagen, is due to the main structural protein in the skin, responsible for maintaining its tension. In addition, it is antioxidant, antimicrobial, with a calming effect and a lifting effect.

Huxley's Good Night Sleep Mask, €29.95 on the Koos website (kossmetics.es), might seem like a traditional night mask, with a creamy and denser texture; however, Huxley is not one of the best-selling brands. Get high hydration thanks to the prickly pear combined with vitamin B, linoleic acid and hyaluronic acid, ideal for night treatment. Also with ceramides to strengthen the skin and centella asiatica to soothe it and wake up with a completely repaired face.

Pure Skin Scence Mask by Esfolio, €10 at Planet Skin. One of the lessons we first learned from Korean beauty culture was the importance of applying tissue-type masks, soaked in copious amounts of serum, to achieve more powerful results. The pack of 10 Esfolio masks is something like the perfect Christmas complement. Imagine applying a mask every day of the holidays to have a little bit of peace on the one hand and luminosity on the other every day of the holidays. Of course, each of the 10 masks has a different property and star ingredient.

Anti-cellulite Power Active Cream by Ovaco, €59 in Silvia Moreno stores and silvia-moreno.com, and developed by the Bio Cell Fusion Institute of Sciences, is an anti-cellulite cream that works with a heat effect to activate circulation and improve skin firmness. It can also be applied to relieve muscle pain or heaviness in the legs, and can be combined with another cream to reduce the heat effect if it is not pleasant. Body care also makes great Christmas gifts as long as it works. After having tried internationally famous anti-cellulite, it's time to try the Asian method and test its results.

3. Addictive packaging

Great Care Essentials by HAAN, €37.35 on their website. As addictive as its aromas are, its soft, rounded packaging and in different pastel colors depending on the key notes of its fragrances. We were introduced to the brand thanks to its pocket-sized hand sanitizers, but the family soon expanded. This year, ahead of Christmas, the perfect hygiene pack arrives: a natural hydroxyapatite toothpaste, hand cream, sanitizer, refill and pendant to always carry the hand sanitizer with you.

Lush Christmas Bathtime Favorites, 64 online and in stores. Walking into a Lush store is an experience that would never go unnoticed for a fan of beauty. Colors, formulas for every need, fun shapes and natural ingredients always wrapped in recyclable or reusable packaging. Since choosing from their wide list of products can be complicated and personal, the trick is to always give bath bombs, but first make sure that the person you are giving has a bathtub. Among the brand's variety of pumps, you can choose from packs of 2 pumps to this Christmas Bathtime Favorites with 10 Christmas-themed pumps.

Pixi's Box Of Glowing Skin Gift Set, €54.00 on their website, could easily be included in the list of mythical products because whoever has tried the Glow Tonic becomes addicted to the product. However, this Christmas, Pixi brings together the mythical illuminating toner along with the Peel&Polish and the Glow Mud Cleanser to create a skin renewing and illuminating routine.

The Strong Mind by Maria Nila (€54) is just one example of a personalized gift. With up to 8 different packs, it is enough to know the needs of each hair to choose the perfect pack that will always be made up of the shampoo and mask from the same line and the Cream Heat Spray thermal protector. For example, The Strong Mind is ideal for damaged hair, since, thanks to its algae extract, it strengthens the hair and enhances its softness, without losing its shine.

Sephora Bear

For years, Sephora has carried out an annual charity initiative through a small luminous animal, perfect for becoming an ideal night light. If last year it was the penguin's turn, this year it was the Polar Bear Night Light Holiday Vibes, €10 at Sephora. The full profits from its sale go to the NGO Toutes à l'École, in charge of education, food, medical care and support for the 1,300 students at the Happy Chandara school in Cambodia.