A little gifting from Jo Malone

It’s traditionally Christmas in July when it comes to entertaining the beauty press as monthly magazines work so far ahead. This picture proves it as I’m wearing sandals! I remember Jo Malone’s very nontraditional Santa dressed in blue was absolutely sweltering – poor guy, but he put on his best ho ho’s and festive summer fun was had by all!

When it comes to gifting from Jo Malone, it’s hard not to self gift too as everything is just so fragrantly wantable. Presents go from big to small. For somebody extra special there’s their Pine & Eucalyptus Luxury Candle at ahem, £260. I’ve been gifted one of these myself in the past, and I have to say it was the Christmas conversation with family and friends. For one it looked and smelled amazing, and secondly it raised the question, 'would you pay that for a candle?' The consensus seemed to be yes, if they could afford it. There’s also middling prices of £62 for the Travel Candle Collection all lovingly boxed with bold black and cream stripes, and sky high prices of £560 for the Trousseau which is very fancy pants. But on the flip side, there’s the gorgeous Christmas Ornament of a mini English Pear & Freesia Body Crème and Pomegranate Noir cologne at £20. It comes in a fanned out mini box the minute you take the lid off, and which you can hang from the tree. So, whatever your purse can reach to there’s something you can give – or receive for yourself and it always looks super exciting. Happy shopping!

Elemis box clever for Christmas

HO.HO.HO! LOOK WHAT SANTA HAS BROUGHT!

As a general beauty rule, I’ve never been a great lover of coffrets or beauty sets. They always seemed a little bit tasteless in their presenting – everything moulded into plastic, and had a whiff of, dare I say it, can’t-be-botheredness. After all, it’s easy to pick up a box that’s been put together by somebody else, plus the product size was usually so small as to be of no great use.  But that was a few years ago, and coffrets have, in X Factor language, raised their game! No longer are they crammed with mini samples or products that haven’t really sold well during the past year. Today, they’re serious gift givers.

SUPREME GLOW FOR A YEAR ROUND RADIANT COMPLEXION

EXOTIC BODYCARE FOR SHOULDER-TO-TOE GORGEOUSNESS

The Elemis Royal Collection of beauty box sets has no plastic or naffness in sight. They are literally box clever in terms of classy and indulgent looking packaging, carefully selected products and above all the price tag really works in your favour.  For instance, my two favourites include Duchess of Spa Exotic Bodycare with four full size products. Bought separately, it rings in at £88, bought as a box set, £49.50. Or there’s the Supreme Glow Skincare Essentials with three full size products and a 100ml bath elixir which should rightly be £80. To you madam? £46.50.  So whether you’re on the beauty hunt for mum, sister, aunt, friend or mum-in-law there’s no need to give them the receipt, as this is one present that will be for keeps!

Elemis is available from www.timetospa.co.uk and selected John Lewis, Debenhams and Harvey Nichols.

Anna Sui's Fairy Dance

Although Anna Sui’s Fairy Dance  launched in August, I think it’s a great fragrance to earmark as a gift for the Christmas build-up. Yes, it may only be September, but as mince pies are already in my supermarket, my guess is that festivity lists are being made!

Anna Sui has a strong hold in the fragrance market, this American fashion designer who has been named as one of the top 5 fashion icons of the decade, first launched her fragrance and cosmetic line in 1999. Since then she’s been building a solid reputation for her collectable off-beat packaging and design. 

In keeping with her adorable kookiness, Fairy Dance whisks your senses off into a fantasy garden with sparkling and sweet notes of tangerine, mango and pink pepper. At its heart is the rose, one of Anna’s favourite blooms which is balanced by peony and bamboo. The whole experience is one of scented joy from the all-shades-of-pink pretty packaging to the fairy perching on the bottle’s stopper. A real dressing table desirable, it just begs you to find your inner Tinkerbell.

Fairy Dance Eau de Toilette start from £26 for 30ml available exclusively from Debenhams.