L360’s editor is a ‘skincare obsessed’ aesthetician — here’s her verdict on the very best gift sets to buy for yourself or others this year.
I’ve been writing about beauty for almost eight years and began training as an aesthetician in 2020. Every Christmas, without fail, someone asks me which skincare sets are the best to buy as gifts, so, this year, I’ve scoured the likes of Sephora, Boots, Cult Beauty, Beauty Bay and Look Fantastic to find the very best sets that are worth your money.
The Ordinary The Daily Set, £18.60
A great starter kit for someone looking to get into skincare, The Daily Set includes a cleanser, a hydrating serum and a moisturiser. A gentle, hydrating and nourishing set, these products work on all skin types, so you can’t go wrong. Get it from Sephora, Boots, Beauty Bay or SpaceNK.
Tatcha Mini Favourites Set, £71
If you know someone who loves skincare, but doesn’t splash out on luxury products, this is the gift for them. Japanese brand Tatcha is high end (read: expensive), but the products are very good. This set of minis will give the recipient chance to indulge in luxury and effective skincare — and see if there’s any products worth investing in at full size in the future. Get it from Sephora.
Alpha-H H8 3 Step, £65.95
Perfect for anyone with dry skin, this set features a rich creamy cleanser (which happens to be my favourite of all time), a hydrating serum and an SPF moisturiser — so that’s your morning skincare routine sorted. Get it from Lookfantastic.
No7 Future Renew Collection 5 Piece Gift Set, £79.95
If you know someone who’s obsessed with anti-ageing, this is the skincare set to give them. No7’s Future Renew range launched in 2023, after 15 years of research led to the development of a new peptide formula proven to reverse signs of ageing. The Future Renew Damage Protection Defense Shield SPF 50, included in this set, is lightweight, fast-absorbing and doesn’t leave a white cast, making perfect for all skin types and tones. Get it from Boots.
Charlotte Tilbury Skin Revival On The Go, £65
Perfect for someone who loves makeup as much as they love skincare, Charlotte Tilbury skincare products are designed to prep the skin for makeup, but can be used without for natural, glowing skin. Get the set from Sephora.
Alumier Alumiglow Boosting Gift Set, £145
This luxury skincare set features a gentle manual scrub, a hydrating serum and a brightening eye cream. Combined, these products will increase luminosity and hydration in the skin. Get it from Alumier.
Bubble Skincare Tinye Mighties Mini Essentials Set, £30
This brand is fairly new to the UK and likely to get more popular next year, so give the gift of being ahead of the game with this one. It’s got all the best-sellers including a cleanser, two serums, eye cream, moisturiser and sleep mask. Get it from Beauty Bay.
Ole Henriksen Pre-Party Glow, £45
Gift someone the brightest skin ever with this vitamin C-focused set from Ole Henriksen. It’s got everything you need for the morning (bar sunscreen) with a vit C serum, brightening eye cream and moisturiser. Get it from Cult Beauty or Lookfantastic.
Allies of Skin Daily Firming Trio, £63
Anyone already obsessed with skincare will be happy to have this. Allies of Skin is a high-end brand with an expensive price point because it invests in scientific research and formulating innovative products. This set is great for anyone in their late twenties onwards who’s concerned about ageing and dark spots. Get it from SpaceNK.
Ultra Violette Vi’s Closet of Cuties Set, £57
Anyone into skincare will also be keen on sunscreen — the most essential skincare item of all. And while I haven’t tried every Ultra Violette sunscreen, I’ve tried a fair few and never found one I didn’t like. This set includes all varieties including hand and body sunscreen and a lip SPF. Get it from Cult Beauty.
Drunk Elephant The Littles 7.0 Set, £70
This brand may have got some bad press this year as tweens ransacked Sephora, but I’m a big fan of Drunk Elephant (for grown-ups!). You’ve got everything you need here: a cleanser, vitamin C serum (one of my faves), hydrating serum, moisturiser and exfoliator. Get it from Sephora, SpaceNK or Cult Beauty.
Glow Recipe Fruit Babies Bestsellers Kit, £33
With bright colours and trendy branding, this skincare set is great for late teens or anyone in their twenties. Glow Recipe products are extremely hydrating, with the Watermenlon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner a gentle option for oily and breakout-prone skin. Get it from Sephora or Cult Beauty.
