The holiday season is approaching, we are all excited. But I know a lot of us are also panicking over the best present we can give to the beauties around us. It doesn't matter if you are shopping for you sister or girlfriend, anyone, the items on this list are going to keep them happy as long as they enjoy looking good. They are also not going to break the bank.
Here are the top 10 beauty products of 2022 that I have personally tried and strongly recommend. If I had not already bought them myself, I would be overjoyed to receive these presents. At the end of this post, I also included gift-sets for 6 different tiers of budget and some gift-wrapping ideas.
Chapters: Makeup | Deep Cleansing | Face Mask | Serum | Gadget | Budget Gift Sets | Gift-wrapping Ideas
10 Best Beauty Gifts for Makeup Lovers—Makeup
MERYTHOD Reel Tattoo Velvet Lip Tint | NTD$259
Shop here: https://shope.ee/LDNZqPUHI
I got these because they were on sale, and now, they are easily my favorite lip makeup. They are not just my favorite liquid lipstick. They beat any lipstick, lip gloss, or tinted lip balm I've ever tried—and that's including big brands like Dior and Christian Louboutin. After falling in love with my first Reel Tattoo Velvet Lip Tint, I went back and got it in 3 more different shades. So far, 1 has already been stolen by my mom.
These come in 12 matte shades from a subtle pink, to a warm orange, to a sexy red. A thin layer of Reel Tattoo Velvet Lip Tint immediately makes the color pop. Unlike most matte liquid lipstick, Reel Tattoo Velvet Lip Tint does not dry out your lips. These are also amazingly long-lasting and barely wears off throughout the day. If you are one of my mukbang viewers, you can also see how the lipstick last the entire time even with me slurping noodles. You can also watch a video HERE of my testing this liquid lipstick without reapplying the entire day, while I eat, rinse my teeth, and brush my teeth in between.
Be it a fashionable chick with small bags that have no room for lipstick, a beauty who is plagued with lipstick stains on her mugs, masks, and clothes, or a girlfriend who keeps interrupting a day out because she needs to retouch her lipstick, getting her this Christmas gift is going to solve all lip makeup problem.
Mude Inspire Longlash Curling Mascara | NTD$449
Shop here: https://shope.ee/AK0k5rmDGy
My makeup artist friend recommended this to me when my old mascara was discontinued, I did not know that this was going to be one of the best things that ever happened to me. I have been raving about this on my Instagram stories and in real life repeatedly over the past year. I use a regular eyelash curler with my Mude Inspire Longlash Curling Mascara. Unlike regular mascara that lets your lashes flop down in a few minutes, it holds the perfectly curled shape until I remove my makeup and gives me long lush lashes. Even my dad noticed and asked if they were my natural lashes! It also remains in tact even when I bike through intense rain.
Everyone wants long, lush, and curly lashes, getting her this Christmas present is going to help the beauty lovers around you create beautiful lashes out of nothing.
10 Best Beauty Gifts for Makeup Lovers—Deep Cleansing
DUO The Cleansing Balm CLEAR (90g) | NTD$810
Shop here: https://shope.ee/2puiYSXquf (the above photo is of the 25g cleansing balm)
I have previously written a blog post about this amazing makeup remover. I was introduced to it when I was invited to work on a sponsored post with their Taiwanese distributor a few years ago. After trying a small 25g box of DUO The Cleansing Balm CLEAR, I was hooked. This Cleansing Balm is a 5 in 1 makeup remover, taking care of makeup removal, cleansing, exfoliation, massage, and skincare all at once. It is the only makeup remover that does not irritate my skin without leaving behind any makeup residue. Any time I switch to something else, I start having redness and dry patches. The texture feels amazing against my skin. Over the years, I have re-purchased these over and over again on my own dime. This is the perfect Christmas present for anyone who wants clear skin and dislikes the laborious process of removing makeup and double-cleansing.
Read my full review→ DUO The Cleansing Balm Clear Product Review
Shop here: https://shope.ee/2fbIy5KvKL
I have been using this since its initial product release in Taiwan. I remember getting the new product discount and I have loved it ever since. This 100% vegan purifying clay mask is perfect for getting rid of acne and blackheads. It absorbs access oil and gunk, you don't have to believe the claims, you can believe what you see. It feels cold and tingly against your skin as you start you at home facial. 10–15minutes after applying this clay mask, it dries out on your skin and it ready to be washed off. You can see that tiny dots that are of darker color all around the oily areas of your skin, and each dot aligns perfectly with a pore where the gunk was sucked out. This is my go-to whenever I suffer from breakouts or excessive blackheads.
This is a great Christmas present for those with oily skin types and would like to have clear skin with no hidden gunk.
10 Best Beauty Gifts for Makeup Lovers—Face Mask
UNICAT Premium Hydrogel Plump Masks | NTD$120/5pcs
Shop here: https://shope.ee/1VPNLPCHnF
I have an entire blog post reviewing this affordable MIT skincare brand. The serum of UNICAT's Premium Hydrogel Plump Masks has a gel-like texture and is even named "jelly mask" in Chinese. Aside from the serum the mask soaks up, there is enough left in the bag to not just pamper my face but my entire body. It is ultra-moisturizing yet light and did not cause any breakouts on my sensitive skin afterwards. UNICAT Premium Hydrogel Plump Mask is my number 1 candidate when I need to keep my skin hydrated.
This is the best Christmas present you can get for someone who wants plump and hydrated skin, especially great for defending against the cold air in winter and the dry air-conned room in summer.
Read my full review→ Taiwanese Skincare Brand unicat Review
all NATURAL Green365 Centella Asiatica Sheet Masks | NTD$35/pcs
Shop here: https://shope.ee/1q2BMaBWEq
Centella Asiatica is known to help repair and cleanse. I learned about this from an international student who is studying in Korea. She said that she noticed everyone there had amazing skin and the best-selling local products are not the popular ones we see here in Taiwan at all. All Natural's Green 365 Centella Asiatica Sheet Masks are always flying off the shelf and her roommates told her that it's a must-have for clear skin. It's also a long time champion on Korea's cosmetic ingredients analysis app Hawhae (화해). Of course, I had to give it a try, and I was instantly a fan.
These are 100% vegan, but unlike other vegan or environmentally friendly sheet masks I have tried, the fabric is not rough at all. Instead it is ultra-thin and clings perfectly to my face like a second layer of skin. The serum is very quickly absorbed into my skin. A few minutes after removing the mask, I can feel that my face is smooth and plump but the surface is not wet and sticky at all. When I have redness on my face from paying obsessive and excessive attention to a tiny zit that would have been otherwise undetectable to others, All Natural's Green 365 Centella Asiatica Sheet Mask can also quickly help my skin clam down and recover. The redness is usually barely detectable afterwards.
This is an excellent Christmas present for anyone who wants that coveted poreless skin Korean idols have and wants to repair and rejuvenate from any redness or inflammation.
10 Best Beauty Gifts for Makeup Lovers—Serum
The Ordinary Argireline Solution 10% | NTD$380
Shop here: https://shope.ee/2fbIyNdugy
When I first purchased The Ordinary's Argireline Solution 10%, my mom dismissed my amazement saying that she would not take a 20 something's word about reducing wrinkles. She also did not believe such an affordable skincare product could yield significant results. But after seeing the fine lines around my eyes disappear my mom decided to steal a bottle from me. Now, she is an avid user and it is a well-kept secret from her friends because she looks years younger than they do.
Argireline is a fancy name for acetyl hexapeptide. Hexapeptide, as it's name suggests, only has a short chain of 6 amino acids. So they can quickly penetrate your skin, passing right through your stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the outermost layer of your skin, in regular human terms). Hexapeptide works like topical Botox (botulinum toxin) that isn't toxic. Through mimicking the amino acid sequence of neuron synapse, it stops neurons from connecting with each other. In plain terms, it fools your nerve cells into thinking that they have already communicated with another nerve cell, therefore stopping them from connecting with each other which minimizes minor muscle movement that causes fine lines. This type of peptide that affects neurotransmitters can quickly reduce fine lines, which is why The Ordinary's Argireline Solution 10% leads to such quick and visible changes. It has an extremely light and watery consistency that is quickly absorbed. It's also the most effective and affordable option I can find.
This is the perfect Christmas present for anyone who wants to look forever young and prevent or get rid of any fine lines.
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant (118ml) | NTD$1,080
Shop here: https://shope.ee/7pJP8NL7xI
If you have read my other posts or have been on TikTok, you probably already know about this: dermatologists suggest that you use retinol 5 times a week and salicylic acid 2 times a week to prevent sebaceous filaments from building up.
I love the 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant from Paula's Choice because it does not sting like most salicylic acid serums or cleansers, it also does not dry out my skin like most BHA products. It is very light and has a toner-like consistency that feels moisturizing but not sticky. Prior to using Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, I have tried salicylic acid cleansers from other brands including The Ordinary but never saw much of a result. However, within 10 days of using this liquid exfoliant, the blind pimple on the side of my cheeks and the blackheads on my nose significantly diminished and my skin became smooth to touch with zero bumps. This is a perfect Christmas present for those that are plagued with blind pimples and headless acne.
Warning: Excessive use of BHA could cause your skin to peel. Make sure you wash your hands after applying Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant and do not use it for more than 3 times a week.
10 Best Beauty Gifts for Makeup Lovers—Gadget
LED face and neck mask | NTD$888
Shop here: https://shope.ee/1q2BMxfgjB (the above photo is of the old version with no neck mask)
LED light therapy from clinics has been proven to be effective, yet expensive. Red light helps reduce fine lines by increasing circulation and stimulating collagen production. Blue light combats breakouts by targeting and killing the bacteria that cause acne. At-home LED masks are not going to be as effective since the LED light therapy is not as intense as those you receive at beauty clinics. However, they are much more affordable and you can use them more often, and the results compound. It is recommended by dermatologists to use them about 5 times a week. Which is what I do.
I purchased mine around a year ago and at the time, they only had face masks and not neck masks! I've been holding my LED face mask up against my neck like an idiot. The price of at-home LED light therapy masks can go upwards of NTD$10,000 dollars. However, I find my NTD$600 version ample effective. In order to get a more objective understanding of its effectiveness for the purpose of this gift guide, I have been tying my face mask to my butt to target my growth marks for a month. And I am only putting this on the list because I have seen and felt improvements! More than what I have gotten from butt masks and expensive stretch mark creams.
This is the perfect Christmas present for anyone who wants that youthful glow without spending big bucks at beauty clinics.
Warning: please keep your eyes closed at all times when using LED light therapy to avoid eyesight damage.
FastWhite Tooth Whitening System | NTD$9,90
Shop here: https://shope.ee/4KjXqW50Wf
They have just upgraded their formula in late November to one that is more gentle and with extra whitening agents. Multiple friends of mine have purchased this because of my incessant nagging. And they can all testify to the effectiveness of this teeth whitening system. I have never had any gum or tooth sensitivity issue with this. It uses a thermo-forming mouth tray. After soaking it in warm water and biting down on the mouth trays, they will perfectly fit the shape of you teeth and mouth.
I got a PR package from them a couple of years ago and forgot about it for a while. But one day, I went to a teeth-whitening clinic for a cold-light activated bleaching treatment. When I came back, I did not see a significant difference. However, it effectively made my teeth very prone to staining in the following 48 hours, during which I had gulyasleves and ended up with reddish yellow teeth. I freaked out and saw that I still had a Tooth Whitening Pen from Fastwhite, so I applied it and my teeth was whiter than after the treatment within minutes. I was gobsmacked and furious at how much money I spent at the teeth-whitening clinic when I could have done it better myself at home with FastWhite's Tooth Whitening System. I immediately went back and purchased refills for my mouth tray. Ever since then, I have become one of its avid preachers. And you can see how shiny my teeth are in all of my mukbangs.
This is the perfect Christmas present for anyone who wants to have a bright shiny smile.
10 Best Beauty Gifts for Makeup Lovers—Budget Gift sets
Student's Secret Santa (Budget: NTD$300)
- 1 x MERYTHOD Reel Tattoo Velvet Lip Tint—NTD$259
Office Secret Santa (Budget: NTD$500)
- Mude Inspire Longlash Curling Mascara —NTD$449
- The Ordinary Argireline Solution 10% + UNICAT Premium Hydrogel Plump Masks 5pcs —NTD$500
Close Friend Gift Set (Budget: NTD$1,000)
- The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask —NTD$980
- FastWhite Tooth Whitening System —NTD$990
- LED face and neck mask + UNICAT Premium Hydrogel Plump Masks 5pcs —NTD$1,008
- MERYTHOD Reel Tattoo Velvet Lip Tint gift set of 4 —NTD$1,036
Best Friend Gift Set (Budget: NTD$1,500)
- MERYTHOD Reel Tattoo Velvet Lip Tint gift set of 4 + 1 x Mude Inspire Longlash Curling Mascara —NTD$1,485
- Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant (118ml) + The Ordinary Argireline Solution 10% —NTD$1,460
- 2 x MERYTHOD Reel Tattoo Velvet Lip Tint + FastWhite Tooth Whitening System —NTD$1,508
- DUO The Cleansing Balm CLEAR (90g) + 1 x MERYTHOD Reel Tattoo Velvet Lip Tint + 1 x Mude Inspire Longlash Curling Mascara —NTD$1,518
Amazing Girlfriend Gift Set (Budget: NTD$2,000)
- DUO The Cleansing Balm CLEAR (90g) + MERYTHOD Reel Tattoo Velvet Lip Tint gift set of 4 + UNICAT Premium Hydrogel Plump Masks 5pcs —NTD$1,966
Incredible Wife Gift Set (Budget: NTD$3,500)
- DUO The Cleansing Balm CLEAR (90g) + MERYTHOD Reel Tattoo Velvet Lip Tint gift set of 4 + Mude Inspire Longlash Curling Mascara + FastWhite Tooth Whitening System + 6 x all NATURAL Green365 Centella Asiatica Sheet Masks —NTD$3,495
- DUO The Cleansing Balm CLEAR (90g) + MERYTHOD Reel Tattoo Velvet Lip Tint gift set of 4 + Mude Inspire Longlash Curling Mascara + 9 x all NATURAL Green365 Centella Asiatica Sheet Masks + LED face and neck mask —NTD$3,498
10 Best Beauty Gifts for Makeup Lovers—Gift-wrapping Ideas
MERYTHOD Reel Tattoo Velvet Lip Tint gift set of 4
HERE you can find a nice box that can fit 4 Reel Tattoo Velvet Lip Tints perfectly. If you are not sure which colors to go for, I suggest 01 Pale Blush, 05 Scarlet Fever, 09 Orange Jazz, and 11 Riverble Red. This is a perfect set that covers 4 different styles and color tones. Use some shredded paper to cushion the box to make it look even more sophisticated. Finally, wrap it in wrapping paper and put a ribbon around it! I'm sure whoever it is that you are gifting it to will love this Christmas present.
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Don't forget to follow me on Instagram–Cherie Aria🧜🏻♀️ 艾雪莉
Lifestyle, workout, doggies: https://www.instagram.com/cheriearia/