As the year comes to a close, we’ve noticed beauty launches perfect for gifting. From luxe fragrances to new formulations ideal for the dry winter weather, this month’s beauty offerings brought out the best to help us feel our best. If you’re in need of a late Christmas present or are looking to start 2026 with a refreshed vanity, here is our roundup of December’s top beauty releases.
Armani Beauty | Luminous Silk Cheek Tint Shine
Festive season calls for festive cheeks! We’re talking a rosy flush that complements a dinner, gala, get-together, and everything else in between. The latest by Armani Beauty takes inspiration from their lipstick formulation, i.e. lightweight blendability paired with intense colour payoff. With a pearlescent effect, this liquid blush delivers a pinched-looking cheek that glints in the light.
Jo Malone | Amber Labdanum Cologne Intense
Channelling the sun-soaked region of Andalusia, Spain, in a bottle, this cologne is a surprising fit for the Gulf weather. Opening with bitter orange, the scent moves to the heart note of Labdanum, a plant-based resin that is fruity and powdery. Finally, the scent dries down to the base note of amber, giving off warmth and sensuality in its accord. A tad gourmand with notes of vanilla and oak, this spicy-warm scent is ideal for breezy winter nights.
Laneige | Water Bank Aqua Facial
The K-beauty brand adored by the world for their lip masks has recently launched a serum inspired by Korean facials that gives off that coveted “glass skin”. Formulated with AHA, BHA, PHA, hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid, PDRN, and hyaluronic ceramide complex, expect a gentle exfoliation followed by intense hydration, leaving the skin soft and shiny just like glass.
Huda Beauty | Easy Bake Pressed Powder
Launching January 14, Huda Beauty bottles its cult Easy Bake effect into a sleek, handbag-ready compact. The new Easy Bake Pressed Powder delivers that soft-matte, airbrushed finish in one quick sweep, powered by rice starch blurring technology in a talc-free, fragrance-free formula. It sets like a loose powder, wears like a pressed one, and stays smooth with no caking, creasing, or heaviness. Ideal for all-over setting, targeted baking, and midday touch-ups when you want your skin to look freshly filtered, not freshly powdered.
Patrick Ta Beauty | Major Moisture Smoothing Lip Balm
We can never have too many lip balms, especially if they’re tinted! The latest by Patrick Ta is cushiony soft, leaving the lip plump with just the right pop of sheen. Peptides keep the lips soft and hydrated, whereas bakuchiol, a plant-based retinol alternative, addresses any lip wrinkles that come with puckering. As a tinted lip balm, the colour payoff isn’t as intense, but it’s just enough to accentuate your features and a handy handbag hero for those no-makeup makeup days.
Launching January 14, Huda Beauty bottles its cult Easy Bake effect into a sleek, handbag-ready compact. The new Easy Bake Pressed Powder delivers that soft-matte, airbrushed finish in one quick sweep, powered by rice starch blurring technology in a talc-free, fragrance-free formula. It sets like a loose powder, wears like a pressed one, and stays smooth with no caking, creasing, or heaviness. Ideal for all-over setting, targeted baking, and midday touch-ups when you want your skin to look freshly filtered, not freshly powdered.
Phlur | Afterglow
The warm woody scent by cult-favourite brand Phlur is another fragrance ripe for Gulf winters. Opening with sweet, citrusy notes of apricot and coconut, the scent moves to the heart notes of lavender, ambrette, and vanilla, before drying down to a warm base of sandalwood, amber, and cashmere wood. Although rich in gourmand notes, this scent is soft and can easily become a skin-scent for the winter.
Sol de Janeiro | Rosa Charmosa Dewy Body Cream
Switching up their iconic yellowish-orange tubs for a muted pink, the latest cream by Sol de Janeiro is set to become another TikTok favourite. With peptides, Brazilian yacón essence, and rosewater, the cream melts into the skin, hydrating it and leaving behind an incredibly luminous glow.
The Inkey List | 360 Skin Clearing Serum
For those dealing with winter breakouts, this serum by The Inkey List comes with dioic acid, salicylic acid, and Dendriclear to clear blemishes, regulate excessive sebum production, and reduce any redness. All without drying the skin! The lightweight formulation also makes it easy for skin prep, leaving behind the ideal base before beginning a full beat.
Guerlain | Orchidée Impériale The Longevity Rich Cream
If there’s one thing Guerlain excels at, it is age-defying skincare. From their previous launch addressing fine lines and wrinkles to their latest Longevity Rich Cream, the brand has no shortage of luxurious skincare backed by heavy research. The Orchidée Impériale The Longevity Rich Cream is the result of 20 years of research on the effects of orchids on the skin. The cream itself is rich in its formulation, ideal for the winter season, while leaving the skin visibly brighter and keeping it plump. The pretty packaging is just an added bonus, making any ordinary vanity incredibly luxe.
