Product Watch: Ideas for big gifts and stocking-fillers

The name at the top of your Christmas shopping is the proverbial woman with everything. What can you get her in time for Christmas?

Alphabet Bags You Look Lovely Today Washbag, €30

I used to despair of being gifted so many cosmetics bags, great stacks of cosmetics bags I could not possibly fill. An older friend told me you wind up using them all eventually and while I suspected those to be the words of a hoarder at the time, she really is right.

In a world filled with exploding aerosols and errant loose powders, there is always need for a pretty new wash bag. Alphabet Bags offers a range of pouches with cute slogans such as “You Sir, are exceptionally handsome”, “You look lovely today” and other nice things to read first thing in the morning.

Nails Inc Victoria Beckham, €20 per polish, €32 per set

The fabulous Mrs B has teamed up with Nails Inc on a collection of limited-edition nail colours. The designer has created two polishes with matte black and white packaging for the London brand, which frequently manicures her catwalk models.

“Judo” is a vibrant tomato-red and “Bamboo White” is bone-coloured. Each bottle bears Posh’s signature, contributing to their appeal for fans whose budget doesn’t stretch to her clothes.

This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray, €29

Speed to the Land of Nod with this essential-oil spray. A fabric-safe blend of lavender, vetiver and chamomile promotes deep, unbroken sleep and helps you wake feeling more refreshed. Gift someone the ultimate beauty boost: a great night’s rest!

By Kilian “Love, Don’t be Shy” Perfume, €195/50ml at Brown Thomas

Kilian Hennessy’s L’Oeuvre Noire collection has 10 gorgeous options. “Love, don’t be shy” is my favourite, a feminine blend of orange blossom, powdered sugar, neroli, honeysuckle, and several other sweet notes.

Created by Calice Becker, this delicious scent is sure to garner a lot of compliments. By Kilian places a strong emphasis on sustainability and only uses refillable, reusable packaging. The formulas used by its elite parfumers can be perused on the brand’s website.

Bobbi Brown Everything Eyes €14.99

Many of us apply eye makeup in a hurry, with a sweep of wash, lid and contour colour before fevered blending. Don’t feel bad, even Kate Moss admits to simply pulling her lid taut and dragging kohl across it on occasion. Still, there are ways to make the most of your eye shape without spending extra time in front of a mirror. Bobbi Brown has dedicated an entire book to her signature natural-look eye makeup.

“Everything Eyes” covers basic eye care, essential makeup techniques, step-by-steps for day and night-time looks, and tips for wearing makeup with glasses. This petite, bag-friendly hardcover has something to suit every woman.

T3 Featherweight Luxe 2i Dryer, €235

This professional blowdryer from Italian haircare specialists T3 is a game-changer for thick or heat-damaged hair. It not only cuts drying time in half (medium-textured hair took just seven minutes in company tests), but limits vulnerable wet hair’s exposure to air and heat so much that it is left shinier and healthier than if naturally dried.

The tool is as light as the name suggests and comes with two speeds, three heat settings, a cool button and a 9ft cord. This model also comes with a tourmaline-barrel styling brush for smooth and volume-boosting blowdries.

Derma E Hydrating Mask with Hyaluronic Acid, €19.58, via Amazon

Alcohol, late-night celebrations and high- sodium foods can leave skin looking parched this time of year. Most hydrating masks I rate are expensive, especially for products you may use infrequently. Derma E is a reasonably-priced Californian natural skincare brand and while “natural” is not always better for your skin, this mask will definitely do normal-to-dry types good.

The formula is a mix of soothing and repairing ingredients, as well as lots of plant-based antioxidants. There isn’t really enough hyaluronic acid to merit its mention in the product name but there is some and the mask will leave skin looking plumped and refreshed. Make the most of the ingredients by using the mask as a night cream.

bareMinerals Prime Time BB Primer Cream, €26.88

A primer with benefits is something every woman should have in her makeup arsenal. bareMinerals Prime Time is an excellent, tinted base that provides anti-aging skincare. This primer has a silky texture that blends easily drying to a radiant finish. It provides sheer coverage and does not highlight pores or wrinkles.

The light tint will not discolour your foundation. One major positive is the number of antioxidants and anti-irritants in the formula, as well as the broad-screen sun protection. Dry skin will need an extra layer of moisturiser underneath but Prime Time suits all skin-types, even atopic.