Even Editors Love Makeup Gift Sets—13 I'd Buy for Others But Keep for Myself
Makeup sets are truly the gift that keeps on giving. Whether you're looking for the right brushes, the best blushes, or simply a way to streamline your makeup routine, they really never let you down. Normally, I would say they make the perfect holiday or birthday gift, but honestly, why stop there? You should make it a point to buy a few for yourself too. I like to think of it as making a wise investment in your future. After all, many of the best makeup gift sets are limited edition, meaning you have to act quickly.
Unless you're someone who spends most of their day shopping online (guilty), let me save you a comb through the internet and provide you with the best options out there from all your favorite brands. Pro tip: You're not going to want to waste any time. These sets are so good they're bound to sell out. If you're game, keep scrolling below for all the best makeup gift sets to add to your collection and maybe a friend's if you're feeling generous.
Best Overall: Charlotte Tilbury Sofia's Confidence-Boosting Makeup Kit
Includes: Hollywood Flawless Filter, Luxury Palette in Pillow Talk, Eyes to Mesmerize in Rose Gold, Full Fat Lashes Mascara in Glossy Black, Lip Cheat Lip Liner in Supersize Me, Hot Lips 2 Lipstick in Angel Alessandra
Finally, here's a kit brimming with all of Sofia Tilbury's favorites. First, you have your Charlotte Tilbury classics like Hollywood Flawless Filter, but then you also have a few slept-on gems, like the Lip Cheat Lip Liner and Eyes to Mesmerize eye shadow. It's truly my perfect makeup gift set. If you're thinking of casually dropping the link to this one in your family's group chat ahead of the holiday season, just know you're not alone.
Best Affordable: Ulta Beauty Collection Beauty Box: Social Butterfly Edition
Includes: seventy-two eye shadows (matte and shimmer finishes), three cream eye shadow sticks, three highlighters, two lip oils, two lip glosses, two eye shadow brushes, one brow gel, one powder brush
Talk about value for money. This Ulta Beauty set is great for beginners or anyone who wants to have a variety of quality makeup without spending a fortune. You get so much to play with here for just $18!
Armani Beauty Holiday Eye Set
Includes: Eye Tint in Rose Ashes and Gold Ashes, Eyes to Kill Classico Mascara, Lip Power in Sultan
What I love about this set from Armani is that you can create both natural, everyday looks with it and bolder night-out looks. It comes equipped with two shimmer- and pigment-rich eye tints along with Armani's volumizing mascara and hydrating lip color.
Customer Review: "It's absolutely beautiful. It's beyond words. I have received so many [compliments.]"
Bobbi Brown Confetti Crush Lip Trio
Includes: two deluxe-sized Crushed Oil-Infused Glosses, Crushed Lip Colour
This limited-edition trio from Bobbi Brown gives you holiday-ready lips in seconds. Although this set would make a nice white elephant gift, I'd want to have this handy for the entire month. Both the Crushed Lip Colour and shimmery gloss would really come in handy for an extra-glamorous party look.
Customer Review: "Great color and moist coverage."
Dior Addict Beauty Ritual Set
Includes: Lip Glow Oil, Dior Addict Lip Maximizer, Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet, Capture Totale Le Sérum.
This one's for the TikTok girlies. Dior's Beauty Ritual Set is for anyone who loves Dior's Lip Glow Oil. The lip oil is just the appetizer in this lush set, though. The Lip Maximizer and mini sizes of Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet and Capture Totale Le Sérum are also included.
Customer Review: "Always keep this in my bag, but purchased this again to give as a gift."
Tarte Lash Wish List Best-Sellers Set
Includes: Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara; Tartelette Tubing Mascara; Maneater Mascara; Double Take Liquid Eyeliner
I won't lie to you. I'm the type to sample different mascaras across the board—from tubing to clean and waterproof formulas. This mascara gift set from Tarte offers the perfect way to try a variety. It includes Lights, Camera, Lashes, a mascara that adds extreme volume; the Tartelette Tubing Mascara; the Maneater Mascara; and, as a bonus, the Double Take Liquid Eyeliner.
Customer Review: "These mascaras are incredible, and a great value. I'm glad I was able to try all three different kinds and find which was perfect for me. I have very fine lashes, and the tubing mascara and the Maneater give me so much [longer], fuller-looking lashes! And the Double Take Eyeliner has been a fave for years. Getting all four of these products for the special price is an incredible value. High-quality makeup for drugstore prices—you can't beat that!"
Gucci Glow & Care Lipstick Festive Gift Set
Includes: Glow & Care Lipstick in Call It a Day, Sally Soft Honey, and Peggy Taupe
If you're not really a fan of matte lipsticks, this Gucci set is for you! These lipsticks offer a luminous, glossy finish with enough hydration to rival your favorite lip balm.
Customer Review: "Texture is beautiful and packaging is just amazing—Gucci products are my new favorites."
Laura Mercier Cosmic Stars Caviar Stick Eye Color Trio
Includes: Cosmic Stars Caviar Stick in Amethyst, Au Naturel, and Strapless
Laura Mercier's limited-edition trio of best-selling eye shadows is so versatile—you can truly create so many looks with this set. The shades are also so vibrant and look amazing on all skin tones.
Customer Review: "I love the smooth and creamy consistency, which makes applying them so easy! You can use the shimmer shades as a topper for a little pop on the lid. I'm very pleased with the quality of these eye shadow sticks."
Lancôme Beauty Box
Includes: Génifique Serum, Génifique Eye Cream, Absolue Soft Cream, Tonique Confort Toner, Eye & Face Palette, L'Absolu Rouge Lipstick in Exotic Orchid, Lash Idôle Mascara, Cils Booster XL Lash Primer, Bi-Facil Eye Makeup Remover, La Vie Est Belle Eau de Parfum
Before you see the price tag on this one and have a heart attack, worry not! Ulta is running an incredible deal at the moment. You can get this entire set of favorites from the brand for just $79 with any other Lancôme purchase.
Customer Review: "I was on the search for a new foundation. One of the girls did a color match for me with Lancôme in comparison to Nars. It actually color-matched my skin 100% better. She then said if I purchased the Lancôme foundation I would qualify for a gift package. Yes, you have to purchase the package, but it's worth the cost. Little did I know I would be getting some AMAZING products for such a great price! Absolutely love, love, love these products—such as steal!"
Tom Ford Lip Color Mini Deluxe Set
Includes: five mini Lip Color and Lip Color Matte shades
This bold lip set from Tom Ford features everything you'll need for a luscious matte lip. Each shade is pigment packed and leaves a matte finish, and the sizes are mini so they'll truly fit in any purse or your pocket!
Customer Review: "Like all Tom Ford lipsticks, this one is gorgeous, and the texture is so nice. Keeps your lips looking supple."
Pat McGrath Labs Divine Blush: Colour Balm Collection Everything Kit
Includes: Divine Blush Legendary Glow Colour Balm in Peach Lotus, Paradise Peony, Divine Rose, Fleurotique, Sunkissed Seduction, and Forbidden Fleur; Luxe Eye Shadow Quad in Passion Fleur; Skin Fetish Xtreme Highlighter + Balm Duo in Cyber Lotus
Mostly, I tend to lust after Pat McGrath's eye shadow palettes, but the brand's blush products come in as a close second. In addition to a variety of creamy, highly pigmented shades, this makeup gift set includes a highlighter and eye shadow quad. If you're in the mood to splurge, you won't regret snagging this one—you'll have everything you need for a full face of Pat McGrath.
Clarins Makeup Favorites
Includes: Lip Comfort Oil, Wonder Perfect Mascara 4D, SOS Primer, Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Primer
Including a few classic Clarins products, this set is perfect for anyone who's a dedicated fan. The limited-edition set includes a few primers to smooth and perfect, creating a satiny base for makeup. As a bonus, the Lip Comfort Oil provides a sheer wash of color on the lips, and the Wonder Perfect Mascara adds length and volume to sparse lashes.
Valentino Holiday Limited Edition Set
Includes: Rosso Valentino Lipstick (Exclusive Party Edition), Eye2Cheek Party Edition
This holiday duo from Valentino is high on my wish list. It includes two Party Edition shades of Valentino favorites, and it happens to be 10% off at the moment.
Shawna Hudson is a beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and travel writer with over 10 years of experience. She graduated from California State University, Fullerton, with a degree in journalism and has written for other publications such as Bustle, The Zoe Report, Byrdie, Elite Daily, and more. She is currently a beauty writer at Who What Wear and hopes to continue feeding her (completely out-of-control) beauty obsession as long as she can. Stay up to date on her latest finds on Instagram @shawnasimonee.
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