With the Christmas season in full swing, we are inundated with the latest party looks, new editions, launches and dreamy items to buy for Christmas. I thought this year, it’d be a better idea to share updated classics and more importantly, showcase the cruelty-free aspect of these brands so when buying as gifts this season you can feel good about it as well as impress your loved ones.
Charlotte Tilbury
I was invited to discover vegan makeup and skincare products by Charlotte Tilbury for a polished look with no animal by-products. Many of Charlotte’s magic makeup and research-powered skincare secrets are vegan, and as a brand, Charlotte Tilbury Beauty is Leaping Bunny Approved by Cruelty-Free International, I’ll touch on the key products that I fell in love with. We started with the UV flawless Poreless Primer.
This research-powered SPF primer is infused with Hyaluronic Acid, pollution defence and SPF 50 (You’ve probably guessed by now that I love a good SPF) The weightless, satin-smooth texture glides on and instantly absorbed into my skin with an invisible finish. This is the perfect base for any look day or night, followed by the Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder, did you know; that one of these is sold every minute?
Its complexion-enhancing properties are down to the micro powder that creates a poreless finish and helps minimise shine and brighten the look of your complexion. This shade in 2 Medium is ideal if you have a medium skin tone (basically if your skin tone is like mine and it cannot decide what it is.) It’s also the perfect product if you’d rather layer than have a thick coating of foundation. Following this, we explored so many beautiful shades and products, but that in itself would be another thousand words! They also have some gift ideas and sets so check those out.
A dreamy palette from Urban Decay
From the bestselling Naked Franchise, three new Vegan formulas, and long-lasting, multi-dimensional mini eyeshadow palettes based on three of their most iconic eyeshadows have launched. I received a Naked Mini Sin and it’s inspired by the iconic champagne-toned shade “Sin,” & has been revamped with new richly pigmented textures and finishes.
What makes it the perfect neutral palette to start with is its Vegan formula and as always, cruelty-free, rather than going all out on sparkle; why not upgrade with beauty that can be used all year round? I found the shadows creamy and blendable with a crease-resistant formula and the packaging makes for a lovely gift (or an addition to your dressing table).
Emolyne
Touching on the everlasting classics when it comes to luxury beauty, one can never ignore a red lip. I was sent the beautifully packaged Emolyne lip gloss in Casablanca. This is a nourishing, high-shine lip gloss infused with vitamin E for a silky and hydrating finish. Highly pigmented to create a long-lasting, full-coverage glossy effect, it is semi-sheer so unlike a Huda red or a classic Chanel, it has a lighter feel to it so is perfect for layering. The perfect sexy sheer lip for this Christmas!
Ted Baker
I was kindly sent a beautifully packaged set of four perfumes from Ted Baker; immediately I fell in love with Amelia. “Whisking you straight to out-of-office holiday mode, this warm, rich and exotic floral scent has a decadent texture that melts into your skin like a coconut-laced suntan lotion sprinkled with a crunch of mineral sea salt and island petals.
For added deliciousness, British perfumer Angela Stavrevska has stirred through some sweet wood sap and spiced vanilla, with a twist of tart rhubarb and juicy plum. Consider this your sprayable vacation and the perfume equivalent to a cool, creamy cocktail waiting for you at the end of a swim-up bar”. This is another one of those luxury products that, in my opinion, is more than a seasonal scent.
Responsibly sourced ingredients including 23.9% natural extracts make up this perfume, the press release described this as a sprayable vacation, I also think it works well using citrus, orris, pepper and liquorice, creating a festive scent also; especially with the spiced vanilla. I wore it more as an evening scent and it sits well layered with cocoa butter or coconut based body products, and it’s also Vegan, cruelty free and 92.9% biodegradable!
Rapid Lash
In 2008 RapidLash released their RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum to the mass market. The serum is designed to enhance the growth of your natural lashes. It can help them to become stronger, longer and thicker. They are daily application serums which claim to give you thicker lashes and fuller brows. Despite not being cheap, you know they will work. So I was rather happy when the RapidGlam Lash Enhancing Mascserum turned up.
A blend of the iconic RapidLash® Eyelash Enhancing Serum and a new smooth, fibre infused 2-in-1 primer and mascara. The creamy, clump-free, blackest of black formula coats your lashes in strand-loving ingredients that condition and enhance lashes for a curlier, stronger, fuller look in as little as 6 weeks.
Simultaneously, the unique brush of this mascara ensures your lashes are defined, separates and intensely black, whilst the added fibre adds volume, taking your lashes from natural to glam in no time. Perfect as a gift for a friend and one for yourself so you can both look super glam on your Christmas night out!
Aimee Connolly
A handbag essential, the Full Face Edit includes everything you need for a radiant finish on the go. The versatile, all-in-one palette features beautifully buildable textures for your face, eyes and lips. Like the products I highlighted previously, this is a perfect all-year-round all-rounder but also is a great gift for a girlfriend, sister or young family member starting their makeup journey. Also, it is worth noting Aimee Connolly has a ReSculpted – Recycle your empties service, which is their environmental initiative to recycle product packaging safely with TerraCycle to create a better world for future generations.
Deck of Scarlet
There were two stand out products here, the solid lip oil and the metal leaf shadow pot. Deck of Scarlet Three Way Solid Lip Oil is a multitasking 3-in-1 wonder that combines the nourishing hydration of oil, the payoff of a lipstick, and the all-out shine of a gloss into one nutrient-rich formula.
The deeply hydrating and nourishing formula features hyaluronic acid and a blend of nourishing oils that leave lips feeling nurtured, smooth, and supple. The transformative texture starts as a solid and melts into a luxurious oil upon contact. I loved how you can layer it for even more colour, perfect for use from the office to the office Christmas party!
The Metal Leaf Shadow Pot however was my favourite of the two products. Once an effect exclusive to runway makeup artists, this metallic shadow imparts a couture foiled leaf finish to eyelids in just one swipe. It has a hybrid formula with a unique cream-putty texture. The colour didn’t fade, flake, or budge as I thought I’d wear it throughout the evening, you can smooth it over your lids before your mascara and it creates the most beautiful gold leaf effect. Perfect for attending that Christmas Eve party or New Years Eve party!
To conclude, glamour is not just for Christmas; I love the thought of wearing these products throughout the year in different ways but they will also make for some great gift ideas for your loved ones this Christmas and are the gift that keeps on giving as we head into a new year feeling beautiful and glamorous.
