Thoughtful beauty gifts to send by post

As a beauty editor I can safely say that there are few gifts as gratefully received as a well-chosen beauty product. I may, of course, be a little biased but presenting someone with a fragrance they instantly fall in love with, a lipstick that makes them feel like the best version of themselves or a candle that imparts a sense of calm amid the chaos means they'll be able to administer a dose of self-care whenever the need arises. Plus, on a slightly less benevolent note, you garner some serious sister/daughter/friend brownie points for being so wonderfully thoughtful. Nothing will replace not being there in person, of course, but I think you’ll agree that these crowd-pleasers may just be the next best thing…

I have to confess, I’m a bona fide candle addict. Having burnt my way through hundreds of wicks over the years, I now consider myself something of an aficionado. What’s more, I’m yet to find anyone who doesn’t share my love of a scented candle.

For fellow bougie buffs you can’t go wrong with Diptyque. Known for their exceptional quality and natural fragrances, the Parisian perfumier’s candles are second to none when it comes to scenting your home (no wishy-washy ‘is that still lit’? whiffs here, which is why they’re often chosen for special events). My personal favourite is Feu De Bois, a warm, smouldering woody scent that envelops the room in a campfire glow. Traditionalists will love anything created by Cire Trudon; the oldest candle maker in the world, its exquisite creations are almost too beautiful to burn. Minimalists will adore the clean lines and avant-garde scents of oh-so-chic Frederic Malle, while cool girls will fawn over anything by Tom Dixon.

Fragrance: so personal, so evocative, so…difficult to buy for someone else. Get it right, however, and you can congratulate yourself on some olfactive matchmaking that the recipient will treasure forever. Finding ‘the one’ may be rather a tall order (although certainly not impossible) but at the very least, you’ll be adding to their fragrance wardrobe or even helping to broaden their scent horizons.

Unless you’re 100% confident of someone’s fragrance tastes, I would tend to err on the fresher, zestier side and steer clear of more polarising scents such as rose, lavender, oud or anything too sweet. Jo Malone’s Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne is universally loved, as is Atelier Cologne’s irresistibly upbeat Pomélo Paradis Cologne Absolue – like an exotic, juicy summer road trip. Discovery fragrance sets are always a good idea as they allow the giftee to explore (or re-home) as they please. Rather than opting for the usual fragrance favourites, take them a little off the beaten track with slightly more unusual, niche brands such as Maison Margiela or Floral Street.

I defy anyone to resist the allure of a beautiful palette but remember that you’re buying it for someone else. I’m a huge fan of experimentation but it’s not something that should be imposed so I would generally avoid anything with bold colour or too much shimmer. Tom Ford’s Eyeshadow Quad in Mink Mirage has all the appeal of a prestige palette but with wearable shades that means it won’t end up simply prettifying someone’s makeup bag. 

You can’t go wrong with YSL’s Touche Éclat: its Complexion Highlighter has achieved cult status, even among foundation-shirkers, for its ability to make the skin look alive. If you're not confident about which of the 12 shades to choose as a gift, I recommend the Shimmer Stick for a gentle glow.

For makeup-phobes, nail polish is always a great option (it’s most people’s entry point into colour after all) but make it chic with Nars or Dior – even the aesthetically pleasing apricot polish remover is covetable. A tinted lipstick is also a surefire hit, even for those who usually shun makeup of any kind. Hourglass is the most beautiful brand with impeccable formulas and exquisite packaging (can you tell I’m a fan?) and the Lip Treatment Oil ticks every box thanks to a mélange of active ingredients while serving up a flattering flush of colour. 

Sometimes it’s the unexpected that earns pride of place in our hearts. As a beauty editor, I get to try all sorts of weird and wonderful products and gadgets that I wouldn’t necessarily have thought to buy myself but are now mainstays in my arsenal. Case in point: my Slip silk pillowcase. It was a makeup artist who first alerted me to the beautifying merits of a silk pillowcase (they reportedly absorb less of your precious face cream leading to fewer wrinkles). I’m not sure about the anti-ageing claims but I’ve definitely noticed that I wake up with fewer creases on my face and it feels a lot more comfortable on my skin when it’s going through a sensitive phase. 

Anything explicitly ‘anti-ageing’ has the potential to be taken the wrong way which makes skincare somewhat tricky to navigate. It’s also why bath and body products are consistent winners. I don’t know a single person who feels they are getting enough sleep so This Works Sleep Plus Pillow Spray is a thoughtful gesture that should help your recipient get a restful night’s sleep. Shower gels and bath bubbles are always welcome but up the ante a touch with Aromatherapy Associates’ beautifully immersive Forest Therapy Bath & Shower Oil, which brings a whole new meaning to ‘forest bathing’.  

My final gift recommendation is on the pricey side. You may think a hair dryer is just a hair dryer but Dyson’s game-changing Supersonic Hair Dryer is worth every penny and perfect for anyone whose locks are their pride and joy.