Best Beauty Gifts for Travelers

By Jacqueline Gifford and Katie James
November 25, 2014
Courtesy of Jimmy Choo
Whether you choose to spend this holiday season at home or on a far-flung tropical beach sipping mai tais, the best beauty products can travel anywhere. That’s why T+L’s beauty editors have pulled together our favorites of the season—ideal gifts for the cosmetics expert, the skincare novice, the low-maintenance guy, and more.

From Givenchy’s crocodile-encased Le Rouge lipstick to Chanel’s camellia-embossed highlighting powder and Burberry’s Winter Glow face collection, this season’s cosmetics are bold, bright, and more long-lasting than ever—perfect antidotes to dreary, cold winter weather.

Our favorite holiday sets are great for one-stop gifting; the best part: all the products included come in travel-friendly sizes. We’ve curated a range of options, including an all-in-one regenerating facial kit by La Mer, Tom Ford’s collection of mix-and-match fragrances, and a Jo Malone box set of fan-favorite scents, creams, and more.

We’ve also highlighted some of the top skincare products of the year, from tech innovations to covetable classics. Swedish brand Foreo’s user-friendly sonic brush is especially great for men; SK-II’s Facial Treatment Essence, a tried-and-true anti-aging formula, gets an artful update; and La Prairie’s eye and face compact offers hydrating touch-ups on the go.

After road-testing hundreds of products, we’ve come up with a list of diverse gifts (at a variety of price points)—all travel-approved.
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Burberry Winter Glow Collection

Courtesy of Burberry

Let’s face it: cold winter months can cause skin to appear dull and lackluster. Enter Burberry’s Winter Glow Collection, full of wearable products in an eye-catching gold casing. From the luminous foundation (a pearlescent, lightweight formula that we love) to the bronzy-neutral eye quad and the gold-tone hydrating lip gloss, these are sure to get you holiday-ready.

Pictured: Burberry Beauty Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid ($48), Complete Eye Palette Gold No. 2 Limited Edition ($60), Gold Glow Fragranced Luminising Powder ($68), Gold No. 447 Limited Edition Nail Polish ($22), Gold No. 25 Limited Edition Lip Glow ($29)

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Tom Ford Private Blend Collection Set

Dani Vernon

We love this collection of six unisex, travel-size fragrances ($335), which can be worn individually or layered for a multitextural scent. The set includes some of Ford’s best sellers, including Neroli Portofino, with its notes of bergamot, lemon, and orange blossom water, and the smoky, more exotic Oud Wood.

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Lancôme Grandiôse Mascara

Courtesy of Lancôme

One of the most popular fall cosmetics launches, Grandiôse ($32) is a game-changing mascara for both its bent, swan-neck wand applicator (why didn’t anyone think of that before?) and its glossy, quick-drying formula (no smudging or flaking). The clincher? It’s the only mascara to also feature rose-cell extract, which keeps lashes extra soft.

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Acqua di Parma Murano Candle Collection

Neimanmarcus.com

Acqua di Parma’s new candle collection is done in collaboration with one of the legendary glass factories on the island of Murano. Each scent—Linden, Mahogany, and Tonka Spice—is inspired by Venice, and comes in a one-of-a-kind, hand-blown Murano glass casing ($167 each).

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SK-II Facial Treatment Essence Collection

SK-II

The brand’s signature facial essence is now available in four colorful limited-edition bottles ($205 each), crafted in collaboration with up-and-coming Taiwanese digital artist Huang Po-Chih. The formula itself is rich in Pitera (a unique strain of yeast extract, exclusive to SK-II); use it to moisturize and reduce the appearance of dark spots and fine lines.

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Givenchy Le Rouge Deluxe Limited Edition

Dani Vernon

If you love a red lip, especially around the holidays, this is a game-changer. Exclusive to Barneys New York, this lipstick—Givenchy’s iconic Carmin Escarpin No. 306 ($300)—comes in a sleek crocodile-leather case that’s as sophisticated as the shade inside.

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Foreo LUNA for Men

Dani Vernon

We’ve become fast fans of this new Swedish brand, which is turning the sonic skincare market upside down. The LUNA ($199) fits perfectly in the hand and features medical-grade silicone, making it 60 percent more hygienic than your average sonic brush (many of which have synthetic or nylon brush heads that need to be replaced every few months). This version is designed specifically for men, with broad rounded touch points that dislodge dirt and oil through the LUNA’s 8,000 pulsations per minute. Easy to use and completely waterproof, this is the perfect gift for both the male skincare novice and the pro.

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Deborah Lippmann I’ve Gotta Be Me 6-Piece Nail Lacquer Set

Deborah Lippmann

Celebrity manicurist Deborah Lippmann has a cult following (her salon at Tucson, AZ’s Miraval Resort & Spa is a must-visit); we always pack a mini kit with her cuticle treatment and a top- and base-coat duo before heading to the local salon. We’ll be sporting the bold hues in this six-piece limited-edition set ($49) throughout the holiday season.

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La Mer Rejuvenating Collection Kit

La Mer

Beauty insiders love La Mer for its luxurious creams, which contain Miracle Broth—a proprietary formula made of nutrient-rich fermented sea kelp. This genius kit ($495) includes a lifting and firming mask, concentrate, eye-balm intense, moisturizing soft cream, a headband, and a sleek silver case. It’s a skincare splurge, for sure, but has the longevity of 30-plus facials when you do the math.

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Jo Malone House of Jo Malone London

Jo Malone London

Jo Malone is our pinch hitter for last-minute gifts, largely because of the easy-to-wear scents and beautiful packaging. This year, the Jo Malone House gift set ($200) is on our list not only because of the adorable design, which is modeled after a classic Georgian townhouse, but also because it incorporates a range of fan favorites—like Orange Blossom Body Crème and Blackberry & Bay Cologne.

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Bulgari Man in Black Eau de Parfum

Bulgari Man in Black, available at Bloomingdales.com

Classified as “neo-Oriental,” meaning part of a fragrance family known for warmth and sensuality (think musk, vanilla, spices, exotic resins, and woods), Man in Black ($92) opens with spicy tobacco and rum, and has a heart of tuberose and leather accord and a base of tonka bean and guaiac wood.

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Kiehl’s Greatest Hits Collection

Kiehl’s Since 1851

Kiehl’s has long been a hit with frequent fliers, who rave about the mint-scented hand salve and hydrating Crème de Corps. For the holidays, the brand is wrapping up those two classics, along with the amino acid shampoo, ultra facial cream, liquid body cleanser, and Midnight Recovery Concentrate, in a festive, limited-edition Norman Rockwell–printed box ($60). Plus, 100 percent of net profits (up to $100,000) will support Feeding America.

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La Prairie Anti-Aging Eye and Lip Perfection à Porter

La Prairie

The ultimate guard against harsh winter weather, this chic compact ($150) has two nourishing balms—one to protect against dry lips, another to illuminate and smooth fine lines around the eyes.

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Chanel Camélia de Plumes Highlighting Powder and Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss Colour & Shine Lipgloss in One Click

Dani Vernon

Taking inspiration from Gabrielle Chanel’s original fine-jewelry collection, this holiday season’s Collection Plumes Précieuses de Chanel is filled with equally glitzy (and covetable) items. The standouts? Camélia de Plumes ($72), a shimmery silver highlighting powder with a feather and camellia blossom motif, and the Rouge Allure Gloss Colour & Shine Lipgloss ($34), featuring a one-click case and a stunning red hue.

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Molton Brown Oudh Accord & Gold Body Gift Set

Molton Brown

Oudh—the popular Middle Eastern essence that comes from the resin of the agarwood tree—is finally making its way stateside. Major beauty brands are capitalizing on the trend, including Molton Brown, whose first collection featuring the woody aroma debuts this holiday season. The Oudh Accord gift set ($67) includes a body wash and lotion, making it a user-friendly introduction to an otherwise exotic scent.

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Clinique for Men Gift Set

Courtesy of Clinique

A clutch gift ($47.50) for the business traveler who’s constantly on the go, this streamlined Dopp kit includes an aloe shave gel, post-shave soother, anti-age moisturizer, and face scrub.

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La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid

La Roche-Posay

We all know that UV protection is the golden secret to anti-aging. Who better to call on than La Roche-Posay, a brand of choice for more than 25,000 dermatologists worldwide—and super affordable as well. Its hero sunscreen, Anthelios60 ($29.99), offers broad-spectrum-protection SPF, plus an antioxidant complex called Cell-Ox to guard against environmental aggressors (it contains plant extracts from tropical regions that offer a natural defense).

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NARS Laser Cut Palette

NARS Cosmetics

If you’re looking to simplify her beauty routine, this double-layer compact by NARS ($59) features a trio of neutral eye shadows on top, blush and bronzing powders on the bottom, and a rose-tinted mini lip-gloss to keep you looking fresh from day to night, no makeup bag needed.

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Sephora Gold Star Eye Brush Set

Sephora

Keep all your makeup brushes ($22) together in one convenient—and chic—place.

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Hermès Le Parfum de la Maison

Hermès

A perfect option for the home as well as for travelers who want to take a piece of home with them on the road, this Limoges porcelain candle from the brand’s new Le Parfum de la Maison collection (from $100) is classic Hermès: sleek, sophisticated, and timeless. Also available: a scented origami horse and a chiseled pebble.

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Alexa for Eyeko Limited Edition Eye Duo

Eyeko

We road-tested Alexa Chung’s latest collaboration with London-based cosmetics brand Eyeko this past summer and got hooked on the easy-to-apply liquid eyeliner and water-resistant mascara—both of which are featured in this limited-edition holiday set ($45).

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Tom Ford Conditioning Beard Oil Collection

Dani Vernon

An ideal gift for the well-groomed guy who wants to mix up his fragrance routine. The non-greasy conditioning oil ($50) comes in three of Ford’s signature scents (Neroli Portofino, Tobacco Vanille, Oud Wood) and contains an exclusive blend of essential oils and vitamin E that makes even the roughest facial hair soft to the touch. Comb ($35), sold separately.

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Elizabeth Arden Flawless Future Powered by Ceramide Caplet Serum

Elizabeth Arden

The perfect stocking stuffer for a woman in her 20s or 30s who’s looking to get serious about her skincare routine. One pump of this cool liquid serum ($60) and the mini-beads will actually burst, releasing an active ingredient–filled formula that acts as a lightweight protective barrier on the skin. The result? Improved tone and texture, reduced appearance of fine lines and pores, and immediate brightness.

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Moroccanoil Fragrance Originale Gift Set

Moroccanoil

We’re obsessed with this hair-care brand’s line of hydrating shampoos—but Moroccanoil also makes incredible moisturizers for the body. This kit ($72) still includes the classic styling hair treatment, as well as a Body Soufflé and hand cream.

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Giorgio Armani 2014 Holiday Palette and Clutch

Giorgio Armani Beauty

Within Armani’s Orient Excess Palette ($100) you’ll find a translucent porcelain face powder with a delicate constellation pattern on top; down below, three shimmery bronze-and-silver-toned eye shadows—all wrapped up in a velvet pouch that doubles as an evening bag.

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Jimmy Choo Man

Courtesy of Jimmy Choo

This distinctive scent ($82)—which opens with calming lavender, is layered with notes of honeydew and geranium, and has a base of patchouli and amber-based wood—is the debut men’s fragrance for Jimmy Choo umbrella.

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