Whether you're looking for the perfect gift for someone special, or you're interested in adding new products to your own collection, gift sets are the perfect way to discover new beauty additions.
From skincare sets to makeup kits, BD has road-tested the below products to help eliminate some of the tricky guesswork.
EDITOR'S PICK: Kosmea Discover Collection - Aja
What it is: A skincare pack that contains a comprehensive selection of the range to cleanse, hydrate, and revitalise skin.
My experience: Though we may not be travelling any time soon, this discovery set of Kosmea products (all under 100mL), is the perfect introduction to the brand. It includes seven products from the range so you can get a good feel for what works for you. Now we're WFH, I've particularly been loving the Illuminating Essence, Reveal Your Glow Mask and Hydrating Rosewater Mist to get my skin in tip-top condition while we’re all #stayinghome. I'll be adding the full size products to my shopping cart ASAP.
Mellow Cosmetics Scarlett Lip Trio Set - Sam
What it is: A lip paint set that includes three top-selling shades: Rome, Paris and London.
My experience: Mellow Cosmetics is such an underrated brand! The quality of their lip products is unmatched and this stunning set of three top-selling shades is no different. The pack comes with an ultra feminine light pink (Rome), a deep and moody fuschia pink (London) and a blue undertone lady boss red (Paris). The formula is creamy, smooth and ultra pigmented for full coverage. It’s a matte finish but without the drying effect seen by many products in this category. The product is definitely made for long-wear and I had absolutely no issue with product transfer. To top it all off the products are vegan and cruelty-free!
DMK Brite Eyes - Caitlin
What it is: A pack containing the following products: Direct Delivery Vitamin C (30mL), Beta Gel (30mL) as well as an Eye Tone (15mL) and DMK Toiletry Bag.
My experience: I loved this set, it comes in a great travel bag that can fit in a lot more products which is perfect for when I go on holidays.The ingredients amongst the three products are known to have regenerative and antioxidant properties on the skin, such as vitamins B5, C, and beta glucan. After washing my skin I applied one pump of the Beta Gel, followed by one pump of Direct Delivery Vitamin C serum and rubbed the products into my eye area. Finally I finished off with applying one pump of the Eye Tone lotion under my eyes. These products absorbed into my skin so easily and did not cause any pilling when I applied my concealer. I did this routine morning and night over the past few weeks and noticed a difference in my under eyes. I typically have dark circles and puffy eyes and this product does combat those issues! My eyes are brighter and refreshed, making it look like I get a lot more sleep than I usually do.
Jurlique Limited Edition Moisture Plus Rare Rose Set - Tamara
What it is: A limited-edition skincare set to help condition, soothe and hydrate all skin types.
My experience: This set is fantastic. Offering a cost saving of $20 for buying the products together as a pack, it is also great value. The set comes in a pink floral box and the box contains a 50mL bottle of the Rare Rose Lotion as well as a 30mL bottle of the Rare Rose Serum which come in their normal packaging. The bottles are a matte dusty pink and the products smell rich and amazing. The serum feels light on the skin and is full of moisture, and when followed by the lotion morning and night this duo packs a punch of hydration for the skin.
Saya Skincare The Complete 1, 2, 3 Step Collection - Deborah
What it is: An all-inclusive pack that is formulated to target specific skin types, with each pack containing a cleanser, exfoliant and moisturiser.
My experience: I used the Normal/Combination pack which contains the Foaming Cleanser, Detox Face Exfoliant, and Balance Moisture. I don’t really have a regular skincare routine, but this set makes it super easy with only three steps! I started with the Foaming Cleanser in the shower, and this smells like it’s straight out of a luxurious day spa. The scent is light and floral with a slight herbal tinge. The packaging is a convenient pump bottle which dispenses the cleanser in liquid form, and once I lathered it in my hands the foam texture was light and fluffy, and effectively removed the oil and dirt from my skin without completely stripping my skin of moisture. Next, I used the Detox Face Exfoliant on my freshly cleansed skin, and the first thing I noticed was the refreshing minty citrus scent of this product. It has a creamy texture and gentle exfoliation grit, which left my skin feeling immediately smoother as soon as I rinsed it off. After rinsing the minty feeling lingered on my skin, which was very pleasant and soothing. Post shower, I used the Balance Moisture which was perfect for hydrating my combination skin. It has a creamy texture that absorbs well into the skin and the scent was slightly earthy with a hint of sweetness – the perfect finish to a super easy skincare routine.
Glow Lab Mini Pack - Adrian
What it is: A travel set of Glow Lab products, making it the perfect way to try Glow Lab's essentials.
My experience: The creme cleanser is everything I want from a soap. It removes the greasy feeling from my face without making my skin feel dry. My skin felt soft and hydrated after using it, and the cleanser had a subtle calming fragrance. I can definitely see this product becoming a staple in my shower routine. I used the serum on my cleansed skin, and it instantly brightened my skin. The texture of the serum was smooth and it absorbed quickly into the skin, leaving a perfect canvas for the night cream. The night cream is an amazing product, and gave my skin that 12 hour sleep look. This cream had a light texture, and wasn’t too heavy layered on top of the serum. I have been using the facial moisturiser in the morning, and it instantly re-hydrates my skin to maintain that freshly cleansed and moisturised look and feel I went to bed with. I don’t usually have a skincare routine, but this set makes it easy to incorporate into my lifestyle and I love that the products are all natural and gentle enough to use daily.
Biossance Top Shelfies - Sarah
What it is: A set that includes five travel-ready, clean beauty essentials to help achieve brighter, happier and healthy-looking skin.
My experience: This is the ultimate in travel packs! These five products are the best in skin brightening, tightening, and rejuvenation. The Eye Gel has a neutral scent, and the pump bottle makes for good product control. The gel texture of the product is light and non-greasy, and absorbs well around the eye area. I’ve been using it for a week and it has really reduced my dark eye circles. The Phyto-Retinol Serum also comes in an easy pump bottle, which I appreciate for product amount control, because rather than using this on my whole face, I have used it to target the fine line problem area of my forehead each night. This product is the holy grail in tightening fine lines, and I saw a difference by the second day of use. Next up, I used the Vit C Rose Oil, and with this product a little goes a long way! I have combination skin and I am always a little wary of face oils, but this hydrated and brightened my skin giving it that glowy look without venturing into greasy territory. On top of the oil, I use the Omega Repair Cream at night before bed, and while it has a rich texture it doesn’t remain sticky or greasy on the skin. I found this product super hydrating and I woke up looking very fresh and rejuvenated. In the morning, I use the Probiotic Gel Moisturiser, because it’s light enough to layer under sunscreen and creates a great canvas for light makeup. It keeps my skin well hydrated throughout the day and maintains that fresh glowy look from my skincare the night before.
Weleda Skin Food Ultimate Experience - Eleni
What it is: A complete skincare collection to nourish skin on the face and body.
My experience: Weleda Skin Food has been an essential of mine, particularly as it gets colder and my skin continues to get drier. I was excited by this range as it offers a lip balm, the Skin Food Light and the Body Butter. Weleda products align with my morals and I love what the brand stands for. With the current COVID-19 situation and the constant washing and sanitation of my hands they really could use some serious loving, and this range has provided that and more! I’ve been using Skin Food Light and have found my hands to be more nourished and softer. It is quickly absorbed into my hands and not at all greasy, which makes it perfect for daily use and allows me to get on with things straight after use. I was particularly interested in the lip balm, and it did not disappoint. It’s deliciously thick and provides nourishment and moisture to your lips. Perfect for travel or in your hand bag, it is in a perfect little signature green Weleda squeezie tube, and can be applied straight to your lips. The Weleda Skin Food Body Butter comes in a tub and is buttery and thick, yet super absorbant. I love to lather this all over after the shower and have found it to provide a perfect and moisturised base for a fake tan. All the Weleda products in this set contain precious organic ingredients that work harmoniously with nature and your skin.
Syrene Skincare Nourishing Essentials - Nicole
What it is: An essential set with products that aim to tone, moisturise, nourish and treat the skin with four aqua essentials that beautifully melt into the skin.
My experience: All four Syrene products in this set, the Aqua Hydrating Masque, the Aqua Intense Cream, the Aqualight Moisture Gel Lotion and the Aquagel Refreshing Toner, aim to hydrate and further protect and enhance the skin with natural and pure extracts. With natural ingredients that embody the gentle purity of the New Zealand Pacific Ocean they not only provide long lasting antioxidants for the skin, but also provide nourishment and repair to skin. Thankfully this came at a time when I had ample time to indulge in all of the products. I absolutely love the detail and consistency of Syrene’s aqua blue packaging with the visual motif of waves and shells. The products are not only absolutely stunning and well packaged, but also perform well on the skin. The Aqua Hydrating Masque is an aqua gel that can be worn overnight to provide extra hydration penetration. I have used other overnight masks and found that I woke up sticky, and when rinsed off didn’t see any visual effects to my skin. This mask however was magic and provided my face with a glow as well as deep and noticeable hydration. The combination of this, along with the three other products helped me to get closer to my plump, glowy skin goals! I can’t recommend this set enough and will be relying on it heavily as we go into the dry winter months.
Rodan + Fields RECHARGE Regimen - Issy
What it is: A three-step skincare set that boosts and revitalises dehydrated looking skin.
My experience: This regime consists of the 3-in-1 super cleanser, ultra boost moisturising treatment and protect + blur broad spectrum SPF 15 with sunscreen. You get the best of all worlds with this super pack! The cleanser not only removes oil and makeup, but it has tiny beads that exfoliate and remove impurities. The cleanser has been my favourite from the regime as it’s very gentle on all skin types. The moisturising treatment is not your usual creamy consistency, it’s lightweight and absorbs nicely, leaving your skin soft and plump.The blur spectrum SPF 15 is true to its word, blurring and smoothing my skin leaving a nice matte finish. Since incorporating this set into my morning and evening regime, the quality and texture of my skin has improved significantly, and it’s reflective of the ingredients as the products are blended with antioxidants, electrolytes and peptides, proven powerful to recharge and improve the skin's balance.
Natio Aromatherapy Travel Essentials Set - Rhianna
What it is: A skincare travel set that contains four natural, popular products that gently cleanse, tone and moisturise the skin.
My experience: The Natio Aromatherapy Travel Essentials skincare set has all of your cleansing, toning, and moisturising needs covered! This skincare set includes a Gentle Foaming Cleanser, a Gentle Toner, Daily Defence Face Moisturiser SPF 50+ and Moisturising Face Lotion. This little travel set is perfect for travelling, or great for leaving in your gym bag or hand bag. The products come in a small clear toiletry bag, which makes transporting these products in your bag super easy (and you don’t have to worry about the products spilling in your bag!). My skin can sometimes be on the sensitive side, but these products are extremely gentle on the skin. The gentle moisturiser leaves my face feeling clean and soft, without feeling stripped or red. The Daily Defence Face Moisturiser feels hydrating and sits well under my makeup. I love knowing that my moisturiser has SPF 50+ in it, so I know my face and neck is protected from the sun all day long. It’s also great having the option of two moisturises, as I like wearing the Moisturising Face Lotion (without SPF) at night time after cleansing. I love that this Natio Aromatherapy Travel Essentials Set has me covered for my next holiday, or weekend away, as it has everything I need for my daily skincare routine!
