Beauty Report: Makeup must-haves for the festive season

A llow me to apologise for bringing even a whisper of Christmas into your Saturday. I know that it’s too soon. None of us are ready for the chaos to begin yet – the mere suggestion of festive music or a sprig of anything green indoors sets jaws gnashing and tongues going like hedge clippers.

For make-up fans, the festive season must come a little early. Christmas collections are always the highlight of the year, and brands reserve the most sublime limited edition items for them. True make-up obsessives often find that they are unconscious collectors, amassing particularly special or beautifully packaged items as well as their less elaborate, slightly duller everyday go-tos.

Please do not for a moment think that I’m suggesting you start Christmas shopping in the next couple of weeks. Christmas make-up collections are – in my opinion – about self-gifting; heading into a department store and buying yourself something of spectacular beauty that just brings a little joy into your life. This year, brands have absolutely surpassed themselves.

YSL Kiss & Love Collection (from November 5th) is the sort of limited edition collection that will set any beauty fan's heart aflutter. Though the entire collection, and its packaging festooned with red lips , is divine, the embossed Rouge Pur Couture lipstick (€33) is a must-have for any collector. Available in four shades, it's very nearly too beautiful to use. Nearly. There's also a Multi-Use Palette (€85) that would make a very generous gift if you could bring yourself to part with it.

Collection Chanel Rouge Noir Absolument (from November 6th) is an edgy reinterpretation of Christmas make-up. Rouge Noir is one of the brand's most beloved nail shades, and now they have created a whole collection in its image. The result is a collection of light and dark, full of rich, plummy burgundies and pinkish highlights. Rouge Allure lipstick in Rouge Noir (€32.50) is a shockingly daring blackish plum, complimented by Illusion D'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow (€30.50) in the same shade. It's long lasting, glittery and screams Christmas with a sophisticated edge.

Lancôme Christmas Colour Collection (from November) is a classically-inspired Christmas collection done supremely well. When you think “festive make-up”, red and gold are the first shades that come to mind. Lancôme has managed to rise above the predictable by getting it just right.

The limited edition L'Absolu Eye and Lip Palette (€55) contains seven eye shades and two lip shades, and will cover any occasion that may crop up all winter. The eye and lip shades in the palette work out at just over €6 each, making this one of the better value palettes you'll encounter this season. The brand's best-selling Hypnose Star Mascara (€27.50) is available in a limited edition sparkly gold tube and is an entirely cosmetic alteration to the original, but is inexplicably pleasing to use.

It's just as good as the original, but dipped in gold sparkle. And why not? lkennedy@irishtimes.com