Christmas 2023: best beauty and fashion gifts for women
Fun and foolproof present ideas from cute kitten bags to disco candles
When you make a purchase using links on our site, The Week may earn a commission. All reviews are written independently by our editorial team.
Pleasing Nail Polish
Pleasing is an apposite name for the beauty and apparel brand founded by Harry Styles, which celebrates colour and fun in a way that's neither too teeny-boppy nor too grown up. The nail varnishes look like upside down exclamation marks and come in classic hues as well as a few wild and wacky ones, including "one-legged flamingo" bubblegum pink and "lion's underpants" cyber yellow. Long lasting and vegan, the polishes are unisex and made with sustainable, plant-based solvents. Like Harry, they are zesty, playful and on the good side of mischievous. From £20; pleasing.com and selfridges.com
Bamford Christmas Cracker Gift Set
This cracker doesn't snap when it is pulled, but it does end with a bang. Inside, there are hand and body wash travel miniatures in all five of Bamford's best-loved fragrances – geranium, rose, jasmine, citrus and sage – each one full of fresh and nourishing organic botanicals. All you need for a long and peaceful silent night of pampering. £30; daylesford.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Acqua di Parma Portafortuna Room Diffuser
Acqua di Parma's limited-edition diffusers promise to fill the air with positivity. For the red edition, the clue is in the name: Portafortuna means "lucky charm" in Italian, which, in olfactory terms, translates as warm and spicy aromas that are calming and transportive, combining rich woody notes with hints of cinnamon and patchouli. The bottle is a work of art in its own right. Handmade in Sicily, it is dressed in bright red and decorated with talismanic symbols from around the world, including an Italian lucky horn. It comes in the maison's iconic Art Deco bottle with natural black rattan reeds. Also available in citrusy yellow and woody green, with matching candles. £94; johnlewis.com
Cambridge Satchel Hello Kitty 'cat capsule'
Cambridge Satchel has teamed up with Sanrio for an exclusive Hello Kitty collection to celebrate two milestones. The British bag label was founded 15 years ago, while 2024 will mark Hello Kitty's 50th anniversary. Among the highlights of this "cat capsule", is this signature silhouette, available in a large, medium or mini size with classic flap front. Crafted from bright green leather, the satchel features a 1970s heritage-inspired print which shows the cute whiskered character surrounded by tiny apples. From £150; cambridgesatchel.com
Code8 Rosso Vivo Limited Edition Lipstick
London-based beauty brand Code8 is a must for make-up fans who love their products to be science driven. Formulas are made using cutting-edge "knead technology" which ensures a faultless distribution of pigment within natural binding oils, ensuring that textures are beautifully smooth and colours have serious staying power. Perfect for this party season is the limited edition Rosso Vivo lipstick, a vibrant berry colour designed to suit all skin tones. £40; codeeight.com
SevenYays Advent Calendar
Advent calendars have really taken off, with festive countdown boxes dedicated to everything from artisanal gins to speciality coffees. Now you can make your own and not just for Christmas. SevenYays is an ingenious idea that allows you to fill a seven day box full of goodies, counting jewellery, kitchen gadgets, make-up, spa treats, luxury confectionery and much more. Each box is stylishly designed with a bright graphic pattern with seven surprise "windows" that push open with a satisfying "pop". It's way more fun than a stocking and especially great for teenagers. From £21; sevenyays.com
Discothèque candles
Didn't get an invite to the Christmas party? Thanks to new candle brand Discothèque, you can make merry at home and be transported back to your favourite nightclub. Inspired by iconic music venues such as Manchester's Haçienda, Manhattan's Mudd Club and Tokyo's Le Baron de Paris, each scented candle is designed to invigorate the senses and conjure up a sense of abandon, all in the spirit of 1970s and 1980s hedonism, though without the hangover. Chez Castel, for example, is named after the legendary Parisian nightspot once frequented by stars such as Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve, Jack Nicholson and Mick Jagger. It deliciously channels decadence with the aromas of smokey incense, sparky amber and a splash of champagne sharpness. £54; discothequefragrances.com
Chanel Duo Lumière Exclusive Creation
This illuminating compact from Chanel is a limited edition and made to suit all skin types. Split into two warming shades, the texturised powder endows the skin with a subtle shimmer like fairy dust, catching the light across cheekbones and temples. It comes with a tiny brush in a separate velveteen pouch for added allure. Online and at Chanel counters, you can have the compact wrapped in special festive paper, tied with sparkly gold ribbon and finessed with a little "CC" charm, which doubles up as a pretty pendant to wear around the neck. £54; chanel.com
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The Week contest: Marriage pounds
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - March 27, 2025
Cartoons Thursday's cartoons - group chats, language lessons, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Playhouse Creatures: 'dream-like' play is 'lively, funny and sharp-witted'
Anna Chancellor offers a 'glinting performance' alongside a 'strong' supporting cast
By The Week UK Published
-
10 upcoming albums to stream in the hazy spring
The Week Recommends Ring in the end of the cold weather with some new music
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Museum exhibitions across the globe are in artful bloom this spring. These are 5 to experience.
The Week Recommends See treasures from ancient Japan, Versailles and the Forbidden City
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
25 things Andrew Tate has said about women
IN DEPTH The accused rapist and sex trafficking influencer has a long and well-documented history of commercializing his misogyny for an audience of susceptible young men
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
10 concert tours to see this spring
The Week Recommends As winter comes to an end, check out a variety of live performances
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
PrettyLittleThing's rebrand: from bodycon to boardroom
Talking Point The brand is aiming to trade its fast fashion approach for 'soft luxury' – but not everyone is impressed
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Movies to watch in March, including 'Mickey 17' and 'The Woman in the Yard'
The Week Recommends The much-anticipated 'Parasite' follow-up, a new Jaume Collet-Serra horror and a bizarro parenthood trial
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Will Amazon destroy James Bond?
Talking Point Broccoli family yields control of franchise to tech giant, sparking fears of corporate 'Americanisation' of beloved British icon
By The Week UK Published
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published