Beauty Gift Ideas From Experts
The Expert Gift Guide: 26 Holiday Gifts From Hollywood Pros
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It's our job to know what's hot in the beauty world, and a lot of that is the result of interviewing experts in our field: makeup and nail artists, hairstylists, and dermatologists. If a product is good enough to use on their A-list clientele, then we're probably going to be hooked as well. So it seemed only natural to ask our favorite experts what they're gifting this holiday season and what they'd want for themselves. It's great gift-spiration for anyone in your life, whether they're beauty fiends or not!
For the Wannabe Supermodel
Charlotte Tilbury, celebrity makeup artist
Instagram: @ctilburymakeup
Clients: Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Amal Clooney
Gift: "Gorgeous things come in small packages, like my new Mini Lipstick Charms ($39) that feature all the fabulous lip-softening benefits of my regular K.I.S.S.I.N.G lipsticks in a handy clutch-friendly size. This threesome features three of my favorite universal shades: Penelope Pink, Bitch Perfect, and iconic So Marilyn red, which are blended with special waxes and clever light-diffusing pigments for full-bodied, ultrabrilliant lips!"
For the Hard-to-Impress Friend
Mario Dedivanovic, celebrity makeup artist
Instagram: @makeupbymario
Clients: Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, Christina Aguilera, Gabrielle Union
Gift to give: "Tom Ford Limited Edition Lip and Nail set ($656). It comes with eight of the top-selling lip and nail shades."
Gift to receive: "Tom Ford Fragrance Private Blend collection ($223-$525). I'm obsessed with these fragrances!"
For the Long-Haired Gals
Fiona Stiles, celebrity makeup artist
Instagram: @fionastiles
Clients: Jennifer Garner, Elizabeth Banks, Gabrielle Union
Gift: "I'm giving the superglamorous 22K-plated YS Park U Pin ($42) to all of my long-haired girlfriends. It's totally utilitarian, but the gold makes it überchic and way cooler than a rubber band."
For Your Mother or Mother-in-Law
Dr. Harold Lancer, MD FAAD
Instagram: @drlancerrx
Clients: Victoria Beckham, Kim Kardashian, Cat Deeley
Gift to give: "My Body Method line reveals glowing skin to match the skin of the face and looks beautiful in your bathroom, housed in its gorgeous silver packaging. And my Volume Enhancing Lip Serum ($40) is the perfect holiday party prep, antiaging, and beautifying product."
Gift to receive: "A Vitamix blender (price varies) is an excellent and easy way to make skin-friendly green juices and soups. I like to start my day with a protein-rich smoothie; it feeds the skin and provides easily digestible fuel for the body."
For Your Going, Going, Blond Friends
Kayleen McAdams, celebrity makeup artist
Instagram @kayleenmcadams
Clients: Sofia Vergara, Rachel McAdams, Lily Collins
Gift: "As a die-hard blondie, I'm on a constant search for the perfect products to care for my fine, dry hair. Working with hairdressers on a daily basis helps my search, and artist Gregory Russell finally turned me onto the perfect line that is saving my hair. I'm now addicted to the Kevin Murphy Angel Wash ($31), Angel Rinse ($28), and Angel Masque ($50) — it's an early present for me!"
For the Hair-Obsessed
Mark Townsend, celebrity hairstylist
Instagram: @marktownsend1
Clients: Dakota Johnson, Kerry Washington, Ashley Olsen, Mary-Kate Olsen, Elizabeth Olsen
Gift to receive: "All I want for Christmas is my old hairline back, so I will be treating myself to a year's supply of Viviscal tablets ($50) and lotion!"
Gift to give: "Harry Josh Pro Tools flat-iron ($250) is the perfect gift. It's so versatile with adjustable heat settings, and you can use it to get hair superstraight or to create uneven bends like I do on Mary-Kate Olsen.
"The Tatcha Ritual Discovery Kit ($52) was the greatest gift I ever received. It saved my skin with all the flying I do, so I'm going to pay it forward and give this set as Christmas gifts this year."
For the Men in Your Life
Diana Schmidtke, Men's Rogaine brand celebrity grooming expert
Instagram: @danaschmidtke1
Clients: Jon Hamm, George Clooney, Orlando Bloom, Matt Damon
Gift: "You can't go wrong with Byredo candles ($120 for three)! Classic, cool, while also making a subconscious statement to any visitor that you have a certain caliber of awareness and taste.
"The Ursa Major Traveler's Skincare Set ($29, originally $36) is great for holiday travel — love the old-school duck camp case it comes in!”
For the Hair Rebel
Scott Cunha, celebrity hairstylist
Instagram: @thescottycunha
Clients: Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Lucy Hale, Ashley Tisdale
Gift to give: "Scünci Hair Chalk (price varies) is perfect for anyone who wants to change up their look without the commitment of actually coloring your hair. It's totally unisex, and hair chalk is great for teens who want to experiment but can't do anything superpermanent."
Gift to receive: "On my wish list this holiday season would definitely be my cologne, Frederic Malle L'Eau d'Hiver ($115). It comes in this chic travel-size three-pack, which I can take with me everywhere as I'm always traveling for work!"
For the Nasty Gals in Your Life
Jen Atkin, celebrity hairstylist
Instagram: @jenatkinhair
Clients: Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani, Kim Kardashian
Gift: "This holiday season, I would love to shop the new Nasty Gal collection from MAC Cosmetics. I love a good red lipstick and am looking forward to seeing what Sophia's #girlboss collection releases."
Note: The MAC Cosmetics x Nasty Gal collection will be available Dec. 4.
Stocking Stuffers For Every Budget
Denis de Souza, celebrity hair colorist
Instagram: @denisdesouza
Clients: Lucy Hale, Kate Mara, Mindy Kaling
Gift to give: "I absolutely love the Joico Gold Dust Shimmer Finishing Spray ($8). It's the perfect stocking stuffer! The hair spray has a light hold and smells luscious. It works for all hair types, colors, and styles and is the ultimate hair accessory — adding a sexy, alluring glow to any look."
Gift to receive: "One gift I'm hoping to get under the tree this year is a bottle of Le Labo Santal 33 ($240). It's the most aromatic fragrance that evokes such an intense feeling for me. It's a unisex scent and smells like leather and musk with spices. It is delicious."
For the Mysterious Chick
Katie Jane Hughes, global color ambassador for Butter London
Instagram: @katiejanehughes
Clients: Rachel Zoe, Nicole Miller, Milly, Creatures of the Wind, ICB x Prabal Gurung, Tadashi Shoji
Gift: "I love the Butter London Midnight Gander Wink Eye Pencil Set ($32)! It includes five fun shades that anyone can wear — separately or together, day or night! It encourages you to play with your beauty look, which I fully encourage."
For the Nail Art Junkie
Tom Bachik, celebrity "man"-icurist
Instagram: @tombachik
Clients: Zooey Deschanel, Heidi Klum, Jennifer Lopez
Gift: "Everyone needs an amazing cuticle oil to rehydrate cuticles and nails. What people don't realize is that using cuticle oil nightly not only keeps cuticles at their best but will also keep polish and nails resilient to help prevent chipping and cracking.
"My gift would actually be L'Oréal Paris's Age Perfect Glow Renewal Facial Oil ($25). It deeply nourishes and replenishes dull, dry skin for a youthful glow. With eight essential oils, its nongreasy and luxuriously lightweight formula absorbs quickly for all-day hydration. It works great as a cuticle oil!"
For the Skin Care Addict
Georgie Eisdell, celebrity makeup artist
Instagram: @georgieeisdell
Clients: Dianna Agron, Rose Byrne, Carey Mulligan
Gift: "You can never go wrong with Kiehl's Creme de Corps Collection ($65). It's the most delicious body moisturizer — so hydrating for those cold Winter months ahead. And for those who are enjoying holidays abroad, it's the perfect after-sun moisturizer. It soaks right in but still leaves a gorgeous, youthful glow to the body."
For the Athletes
Brandon Liberati, celebrity hair and makeup artist
Instagram: @brandonliberati
Clients: Giada De Laurentiis. His work has been seen in Vogue and InStyle.
Gifts: "Davines OI Absolute Beautifying Lotion ($41) is great for adding shine and luster to hair.
"Give a gift to your man that will end up being a gift for you. Nip+Man Ab Fix ($20) works to firm the abs; Pec Fix ($17) helps pump up the pecs. Perfect for a fitness fanatic or for bodies in need of a boost, these body-specific lotions will help your man focus on his body parts that you want to enjoy focusing on."
