CHRISTMAS GIFTING IDEAS

The best beauty gifts are the ones that get used every single day, not the ones that sit in the drawer until next Christmas. Choose by how they do their makeup rather than by what looks prettiest under the tree: brushes for the one who travels, a cooling primer for the one who melts at Christmas lunch, and a hard-working concealer for the one who wants flawless skin in every photo.

Christmas in Australia comes with its own beauty brief. Long lunches outdoors, back-to-back catch-ups, a summer holiday straight after and a lot of photos along the way. Here is our guide to gifting makeup they will genuinely love, and reach for well into the new year.

How To Choose A Beauty Gift

Before you shop, ask yourself four questions:

• Do I know their shade? If not, choose products that do not need a shade match, like primers and brushes.
• What do they complain about? Makeup sliding off in the heat, concealer creasing, not knowing where to start. The best gift solves the problem.
• How do they live? A frequent traveller, a busy parent and a beauty enthusiast all need different things.
• How much do they already wear? A no-makeup makeup person will not thank you for a full-coverage kit.

Answer those and the shortlist writes itself.

For The One Who Is Always On The Go

The limited-edition Camera Finish Travel Brush Set brings together five essential brushes, face, powder, contour, eye and eyeshadow, in a soft silicone travel case that keeps everything clean and contained. It covers a full face and eye routine, works with powder, cream and liquid formulas, and fits a handbag, weekender or carry-on.

Gift it if they:

• Have a summer holiday or work trip coming up
• Are building their first proper brush collection
• Keep loose brushes at the bottom of their makeup bag

As a limited edition, it is available only while stock lasts.

For The One Who Melts At Christmas Lunch

Christmas lunch outdoors, Boxing Day by the water, a wedding on the grass in full sun. If their makeup falls apart every summer, Auto Pilot Cool Canvas Primer is the gift. It cools on contact, hydrates without feeling heavy and leaves a breathable, soft-focus veil that blurs pores and fine lines, so their base has a calmer surface to sit on. It is translucent, so there is no shade to get wrong, and it is silicone free, fragrance free and vegan.

Gift it if they:

• Have skin that runs warm or flushes easily
• Find their foundation goes patchy in the Australian summer
• Have drier or more mature skin, or foundation that settles into fine lines

For The One Who Has Never Used A Primer

Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Skin Primer is our number one primer and the safest place to start. It is oil free, suits all skin types including sensitive, and works with liquid, cream, stick and powder foundations, so it slots into any routine. Chamomile and Yarrow help calm reactive skin, while Vitamin E helps skin hold onto moisture. The travel size makes a perfect stocking filler. Explore the Auto Pilot primers.

For The Flawless-Skin Perfectionist

For the friend who wants every photo to look polished, build a base trio.

Camera Finish Concealer:

Creamy and non-drying with a soft-focus, natural matte finish. Camera Finish Concealer brightens dark circles and softens redness, builds without going cakey, and is infused with vitamin E for comfort.

The One Concealer:

The multitasker for dark circles, blemishes and pigmentation. The One Concealer has anti-caking properties so it will not settle into fine lines, and it is fragrance free and paraben free, which makes it a thoughtful choice for sensitive skin.

Camera Finish Loose Powder:

The finishing touch that keeps concealer from creasing or sliding through a long day of celebrations. Camera Finish Loose Powder completes the set.

For The No-Makeup Makeup Lover

Not everyone wants a full face over summer. For the friend who prefers skin that looks like skin, Natural Skin Tint gives a whisper of even tone for holidays and long weekends. Pair it with Cool Canvas Primer, which also works beautifully on its own for no-makeup days.

Gifts They Will Love: Quick Finder

Find the line that sounds most like them:

• They are always travelling - Camera Finish Travel Brush Set
• Their makeup melts in summer - Auto Pilot Cool Canvas Primer
• They have never used a primer - Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Skin Primer
• They are always covering dark circles - Camera Finish Concealer
• They have sensitive skin - The One Concealer
• Their concealer creases by lunchtime - Camera Finish Loose Powder
• They barely wear makeup - Natural Skin Tint
• You do not know their shade - any Auto Pilot primer or the Travel Brush Set

Our Christmas Gifting Tips

1. Play it safe on shade. If you are not sure of their foundation or concealer shade, choose a primer or brushes instead.

2. Pair, do not pile. Two products that work together, like a primer and a concealer, feel more considered than five unrelated ones.

3. Think about where they will be. A summer holiday calls for travel-friendly products and something that copes with the heat.

4. Shop early. Limited editions sell out, and delivery cut-offs arrive faster than you think.

Wishing you a beautiful Christmas. Shop the full makeup range.