My top 10 of the best Xmas make-up gift sets in shops right now

I love this! Shopping without actually spending any money 🙂 Yet.

Last week I covered my top 10 of skincare gift sets out in shops right now. This week, I’m looking at make-up gift sets, and have found it impossible not to include NARS more than a couple of times! The organic and green beauty mavens haven’t been forgotten either, with a few suggestions included to satisfy them.

1. Urban Decay vice3 eyeshadow palette, £42

A palette containing 20 shades (neutrals, jewels and smokey) that have never been seen before from Urban Decay, all with velvet finishes to satisfy the fussiest beauty junkie. An eye shadow / crease brush is included, with the whole mirrored kit encased in a statement beauty pouch. Their eyeshadows are highly pigmented and very wearable.

2. Anastasia Beverly Hills brow kit, £50

The queen of brows, this kit contains everything needed to create the perfect brow to help frame eyes and finish a look. Tweezers, stencils, angled brush and brow brush, full size brow powder duo (there are 5 shades to choose from ranging from blonde to brunette, and red heads have not been excluded) and a full size clear brow gel, all presented in a beautiful black pouch.

3. Inika luminous love set, £35, ORGANIC & VEGAN

Inika are a vegan and organic brand, with a great make-up line. This set is worth £60 and includes full sizes of their Truly organic lip balm, cheek & lip creme in rosehip, mineral eye shadow, and a cruelty free, vegan eye shadow brush. This should satisfy the green beauties amongst us.

4. Kjaer Weis essential duo no 3, £55, VEGAN

It would seem I am all about the eyes, with this being my 4th gift set containing something for them. This smokey eye and lip tint kit is perfect for NYE. Kjae Weis are vegan and cruelty free products. The shadow is a darkest dark and the lip tint a real pop of colour. As the name of the kit suggests, there are 2 more options (no 1 with a lighter/champagne coloured shadow and a sheer raspberry lip tint, and no 2 with a taupe eye shadow and plum lip tint). I adore the packaging – very sleek and chic.

5. NARS virtual domination cheek palette, £45

And there it is…NARS. I couldn’t resist. This palette is exclusive to Space NK, and contains some of their best sellers. I love the names that NARS gives to his products. It’s worth £117 and contains their best selling bronzer Laguna, 3 blushes (Deep throat, Sex fantasy and Final cut – the latter 2 being limited editions), and a highlighting blush Miss Liberty. Now that winter is here, and colour is going to be drained from skin, this is a great palette to have to add a healthy flush or glow. It is on my wish list 🙂

6. Lipstick queen discovery kit, £40

One of my favourite lipstick brands (I have 2 of them), Lipstick Queen has curated this trio of full size lipsticks as an introduction to her range. Saint nude, Medieval and Butterfly ball are all sheer colours, enriched with shea butter and vitamin E, and completely wearable every day. They look bolder in the tube than on the lips, and end up being really moisturising. Individual lipsticks retail from £18+.

7. Yves Saint Laurent multi usage collector palette, £69

A beautiful looking palette from the classic YSL that has something for eyes, lips and cheek. The leopard print is really unusual seen in a palette. I just wish Selfridges and YSL actually named the shades so you know what you’re getting without having to guess. Suffice it to say, the shades look bold and fitting for night time glamour, and likely to suit most skin tones.

8. butter London steampunk ball nail lacquer set, £35

For the nail polish lovers, butter London is a high quality nail varnish that all the cool cats are wearing. Non-toxic and high fashion, this set has 6 opaque, shimmer and glitter shades that are not gaudy and actually look quite chic when applied.

9. Laura Mercier artist’s palette for eyes and cheeks, £45 

A classic palette with muted and nude shades, for a more natural look. I love Laura Mercier’s products and her eye shadows are long wearing and easy shades. This palette is exclusive to Space NK (anyone guessed that Space NK is one of my all time favourite stores??) and contains 8 eye shadows (vanilla nuts, stone taupe, pewter, deep night, topaz, morning dew, cashmere, crystal beige) and a rosegold shimmer highlighter that looks to suit all skin tones.

10. The Vault limited edition collection from NARS, £330

Boom. There it is again. NARS. François Nars has hand picked 10 lipsticks from his Audacious range and 10 nail polishes, exclusively for Selfridges, all presented in a beautiful lacquered box that even has a carry handle (?!). This would have been my no 1, but I got worried that the price tag would have scared off everyone. I love NARS and would love love love to have this! Anyone offering to buy it for me? 🙂

This is just my top 10, and I’m sure there are lots more on offer in Boots and department stores, but if you don’t want to deal with the Xmas hordes and like to buy unconventional brands, then these should help inspire you. Happy shopping!

Let me know if there are any kits that you are coveting right now. I’m always happy to hear more ideas.