Last minute beauty gifts: you’ve left it late, but help is at hand

The panic has set in. You’ve left it very late altogether and now you face the absolute horror of going into the shops two days before Christmas to find presents for the people you love.

Do you love them enough to face what’s coming? Probably not, and I’ll be right there with you in the queue as tired children scream and benign looking old ladies shout profanities at one another while, elbows out, they press forward like a line of panzers to get to the front of the queue.

This will be tough, but is best approached like removing a band aid. Be quick and efficient. Make a list, plan your route, feign a hacking cough so that people respect your personal space out of a sense of disgust. And for the love of God get yourself a hot chocolate afterwards. Don’t put it off any longer. Go forth now with bravery in your heart, and take this short guide with you as a talisman against the inevitable brutality.

Chanel No 5 L’Eau Gift Set

Fragrance is always a safe bet. Repurchase their favourite fragrance, or be daring and try something new. Chanel No 5 L’Eau Gift Set (€170) contains a 100ml bottle of the fragrance and a 20ml travel spray. The scent is a lighter, more citrus alternative to its famous forebear, but maintains its sense of mystery and drama.

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Real Techniques

If you’re buying for a make-up lover of any age, a set of brushes in the form of the Real Techniques Flawless Base Set (€15.00 from McCauleys, McCabes, Hickeys, CH Tralee, Irish Pharmacies and Shaws Department Stores nationwide) will be deeply appreciated. The brushes are affordable, excellent and the hair within them is synthetic, which makes for a nice cruelty-free option and practical gift.

Marram Co Safety Razor

For the discerning man in your life, who either doesn’t sport a beard or whom you are trying to encourage not to sport one, it must be a Marram Co Safety Razor (€175 from Brown Thomas Marvel Room). Yes, it is very expensive for a razor, but it is an intelligently designed and beautiful object intended to last for years. A good razor is a tool a man uses every day and takes with him on his travels. It is an elegant, thoughtful gift he cannot but love.

Book this

Some people are impossibly fussy and the thought of buying them something might have you in a bit of a flap. If you know they are interested in beauty, but are not confident of precisely what to buy, go with a book. This is a beautiful volume (€45) featuring imagery of McKnight's most iconic work, including Princess Diana's short, slicked back style and Tilda Swinton as David Bowie.

A beautiful career 

For those interested in either entering the beauty industry as makeup artists, or just curious about how it works, top Irish make-up artist Ciara Allen has written the definitive guide to becoming a make-up artist in How To Succeed in the Beauty Business (€14.99), covering everything from how to build a kit, to figuring out your tax return.