Beyoncé's Makeup Artist Shares the Beauty Gifts You Need to Buy This Year

By Lauren Levinson

Updated on 12/4/2016 at 11:00 AM

Courtesy of Sir John
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This holiday season, POPSUGAR Beauty tapped some of our favorite influencers, including popular brand owners, bloggers, pros, and celebrities, to share the gifts they would like to receive or give. Find more gifting inspiration here.

Makeup artist Sir John may have the best job in the business: he gets to touch Beyoncé's face. After assisting Pat McGrath, he eventually drew his own celebrity clientele that includes the Queen Bey (he worked as her makeup artist for two consecutive world tours) as well as Chrissy Teigen and Joan Smalls. In April 2015, he joined L'Oreal Paris as a brand ambassador, solidifying his place as one of the greats.

This season, he made time to help us with our holiday shopping.

"I mean for real...who doesn't love the holidays?" he told us via email. "This is my favorite time to shop, because I get to pick out unique, special items for each person on my list — no two people are the same."

He went on: "The great thing about beauty holiday gifts are the kits for sure. I live for a kit, because you get to try so many different items and find new products to add to your arsenal. You [may] try something you wouldn't have thought to buy before and then fall in love with it." (For the record, we totally agree and it takes a lot of willpower not to buy every limited-edition season set offered.)

But when it comes down to it, he just wants to give people something unique. "Whatever presents I give, I always try to keep it personal - whether it is a rose scented item that smells like my daily cologne so they always think of me (I love rose scents, you'll see...) or even a lipstick shade I handpicked for the specific person," he explained.

Keep reading to discover the beauty gifts he plans to give to all of the wonderful people on his list this year!

"The Lip Palette is major! I actually helped to design these and am obsessed. They are the perfect stocking stuffer for the beauty obsessed. There are three different shade ranges – Nude, Plum and Pink. They are all gorgeous and if you want to embrace a cool winter lip… the plum palette is right on trend. I would definitely gift this item to any beauty junkie."

L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche La Palette Lip ($17)

"These little devices changed the way I take care of my skin, as well as for my clients. The different devices are so gentle and make skin super soft. While I personally use the Alpha Fit, I’d give the ladies in my life a Mia FIT. It is great for the girls on-the-go from the gym to traveling the world."

Clarisonic Holiday Sets ($219)

"Brushes are always an awesome way to equip someone with a 'tool set' for beauty. I love fluffly brushes - whether it is an eye shadow brush or a face brush to blend contour and apply highlighter. I would gift these to the makeup junkie that is looking to take their makeup techniques from beginner to advanced."

Urban Decay Brushes ($75)

"Anyone that knows me knows I love a matte liquid lip. This formula gives such great color payoff and I love to use matte lips as a great contrast for glowy, luminous skin for the holidays. The cool thing about this liquid lip is you can engrave it for a holiday gift… love that customizability. I would give this lip to someone special because of the personalized engraving."

Giorgio Armani Lip Magnet ($75)

"By Terry Baume de Rose balms are a staple in my kit. I like to call these a nice little treat because they feel luxe and help prep lips. I love to work with matte liquid lipsticks and products, but that means you need to condition and hydrate the lip before applying this type of formula. This holiday kit is insane because it has a deluxe sized balm so you won’t run out as soon. Also, the packaging is so beautiful. This is definitely a gift to give to someone special…"

Impearlious Baume de Rose Deluxe( ($245)

"This is my hands down favorite wine! It is super affordable and I love to stock up on this. The wine is actually from Italy and is a universal red – so it is a great gift for anyone on your list. It is also an easy last-minute gift to bring to a holiday party or gathering for the hostess!"

Valle Reale, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo ($17)

"What is better than rose scents when it comes to fragrance? I am a rose junkie – from skin care products to fragrance… I even wear rose fragrance myself. I love giving fragrance as a gift because when they wear it, they remember you. I also like to give scents that I love… because it adds to that jogging of the memory and special moment."

Ralph Lauren Collection Fragrance in Rose ($240)

"No matter who you are… a great skin care routine in a must. I love a great kit that has all of your necessities. This Kiehl’s set is just that. Kiehl’s products in general are awesome because they are gentle and a good option for the whole family. Even if you are a makeup-obsessed beauty junkie, healthy skin and a clear canvas is major. Also… who doesn’t love a good travel set? You can just grab and go with this… I wouldn’t mind receiving this gift since I am always traveling."

Day-to-Night Healthy Skin Set ($90)

" I love a great charity tie, especially with holiday gifts. This gift box is awesome because L’Oréal Paris is donating $5,000 more to each of the 2016 Women of Worth, in addition to the $10,000 grant they each receive for their causes. This kit includes the Colour Riche Lip Palette I helped designer, as well as the eye shadow and mascara. I love that you can create different lip and eye looks with these four products and I would gift this to anyone who is charitable or likes neutral makeup shades."

L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth Gift Box ($25)

"Again with the rose…told you I am a rose-scent junkie. Candles are a great gift for anyone on your list. I love Diptyque because they look chic and cool on display, but also fill your house with beautiful scents and gives a sort of nostalgia. "

Diptyque Rose Scented Candle ($62)

"You seriously cannot go wrong with a Champagne gift… I know it is one I love to receive! The great this about Veuve is the bottles are so chic – you can pop it open to celebrate or just have on display on a bar cart or fireplace display. For the holidays and gift giving – why not 'go big' and go for the Magnum bottle. I know I would be in heaven if I received that!"

Veuve Clicquot, Brut Yellow Label (Magnum) ($50)