SPHERE Curates: Christmas Beauty Gifts That Work

While we are all for exploring new beauty ideas, the tried and true products that we return to time-after-time often come at the recommendation of a friend, so think of us as that friend.

In this listing we dare to pick Floris soap. We know! Controversial. But honestly, is there a better everyday product that is kinder to the environment, with virtually no plastic packaging, that does the job in an honest to goodness way?

Each of the products in this listing delivers on its promises, from chic Hermès lipstick to Vyrao fragrance, which doubles as a wellness tool, and Chantecaille's Instagram-filter in a pot. 

Fragrance for Empowerment 

My new favourite wellbeing and fragrance brand is Vyrao, specifically their perfume Witchy Woo, and not just for its brilliant name.

This emerging British brand which is little over a year old, offers luxury perfume, candles and incense formulated to inspire feelings using scent, and it's made with organic, sustainable ingredients that are also vegan. 

You can pick one of its scents based on the emotion you want to feel, whether it is love, courage, magnetism, intuition, transformation or sensuality. Or you can just choose a scent because you love it. 

Luckily for me, Witchy Woo works on both fronts: I love its floral and spice and incense-y blend with notes of orris, rose, nutmeg and frankincense, and the scent itself really offers me a jolt of personal power making it a perfect confidence booster for a party, interview or date-night. It also has a matching candle. 

Witchy Woo, by Vyrao, £135. 

Sustainable Balm for Perfect Skin

Would you like to know a French girl’s good-skin beauty secret? Religiously take off your make-up every single day, et voilà! Make this a daily ritual with Wild Beauty’s vegan Deep Cleansing Balm. This new discovery is a spa treatment in a pot with antioxidant-rich wild berries from the Rhug Estate in North Wales as well as Vitamin E, known to reduce the signs of ageing, and moisturising and soothing Rose Otto Essential Oil, which smells divine. This product literally melts into and gently cleanses the skin of make-up and urban pollution.

Wild Beauty Deep Cleansing Balm, £65, from Rhug Estate Available at Fortnum & Mason  

Clean Beauty for a Party-Ready Festive Glow 

Chantecaille’s luminous vegan highlighter for all skin tones gives the face a beautiful, natural glow with a silky weightless texture while blurring imperfections and filtering the face for a flawless appearance  – the perfect finishing touch for any evening event.

Crafted without the use of gluten, mineral oil, palm oil, sulphates and phthalates, this highlighter features a powder formula that creates a beautiful, warm glow, and it's my personal favourite and comes with me everywhere I go.  Apply with a brush to the high points of the face, it helps to sculpt the face and lift the bone structure while providing a lit-from-within look.

Chantecaille Lotus Radiance Highlighter, £70 at Space NK

Best LED Light Therapy Device

I have been obsessed with Light Salon devices for a while. The Light Salon democratised the advanced LED space, making light therapy more accessible by combining the latest technology with a luxurious at home spa experience. There are different devices to target various problem areas, personally too many zoom calls has made me notice my forehead and neck are in need of TLC – so this is where the new lightweight yet powerful Boost LED Collar comes in. It plumps, smooths and corrects the skin on the neck, lower face and forehead. If no one wants to buy it for me, I’m buying it for myself – this is a NEED situation!

The Light Salon, Boost LED Collar, £195 

London's Best Balayage

It took me more than 15 years to find a hairdresser in London who could do a proper balayage -  and Neville’s Seniz Alkan is without doubt the Queen of Colour in the capital - saving me on Eurostar trips to Paris - you can thank me later! 

If you really want to treat someone to a fabulous beauty package, this is a fabulous MOT. The package includes 3.5 hours of pampering: half a head of highlights, a cut & blowdry, a manicure and pedicure. The overhaul that will leave you groomed and gleaming from head to toe ready for the festive break – New Hair, New You!

Neville Hair & Beauty, The Works Gift Voucher, £450

The Spot-On Red for Your Glam Best Friend

I always find a perfectly considered lipstick makes such a glamorous, and memorable gift for a chic friend. I love to receive a spot-on tried and classic red, and if any one of Hermès three beautiful limited edition matte lipsticks were gifted to be this year, I'd be thriilled.

They are like small pieces of Art so take your pick: Rouge Feu, Rouge Grenat or Rouge Cinabre – Hermès’ orange little package will delight even your most spoilt of friends

Rouge Hermès AW22 Limited Edition matte lipstick - £62

A Deliciously Smoky, Woody Candle

Diptyque’s Pomander used to be my go to Christmas candle, however this year I will be lighting Etincelles which means sparkle in French. The comforting scent of a warm wood fire evokes cosy winter evenings, with a warm coffee and tempting chocolate treats. This festive candle is adorned with stars that glow in the dark for an added little sparkle. 

Etincelles Limited Edition Candle, £65, Diptyque

Gloss Over Late Nights

I’m hoping Father Christmas will pop this new Stylo Correct in my stocking to subtly hide away those dark circles from all the parties coming up in the diary. The texture offers a surprisingly lightweight full coverage that blends to become undetectable. Simple application from the two-in-one design uses the tip of the stick alongside a foam tip end, to blur away any edges. It’s streamline and portable, making it an ideal companion for always on hand touch-ups and comes in 11 different shades – a true lifesaver, and a personal handbag staple. 

Stylo Correct, £46, by Sisley

Shower Oil As a Vegan Wellbeing Tool?

This set of two vegan shower oils from two of Bamford’s complementary wellness collections turns a shower into a spa experience. I love their B Vibrant Shower Oil energising oil for the morning as its so invigorating for body and mind, while their B Silent Shower Oil readies me for a restful night’s sleep – a luxurious option for day and night.

Christmas Shower Oil Gift Set, £50, by Bamford

Festive Soap for Christmas Glory

Over the years, this has become a classic smart gift for my mother-in-law. The Luxury Soap Collection is always a failsafe choice for Christmas, containing shea butter to help moisturise the skin leaving it soft and smooth. Lily of the Valley is her favourite however they all smell delightful – and remember soaps remain the most sustainable option for handwashing. No plastics, no waste, minimal packaging and they last and last. This is a gift that can last the entire year.  

Luxury Soap Collection, £67, Floris