Allure Philippines’ 2025 Holiday Gift Guide: Luxury Beauty Worth Giving
Where craftsmanship, performance, and indulgence meet to create beauty that feels intentional, elevated, and unforgettable.
There’s a certain magic to luxury beauty—the weight of a beautifully-made compact, the softness of a finely-milled powder, the way a scent can shift your entire mood. During the holidays, these details matter even more. They turn gifting into a gesture, and daily routines into rituals.
In this guide, Allure Philippines spotlights the luxuries worth giving (and receiving): thoughtful, timeless, and crafted to elevate the every day.
Guerlain Angélique Noire, Météorites, and the Géraldine Gonzalez Rouge G Lipstick Set
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Few houses do holiday magic the way Guerlain does. Their craftsmanship has always felt a little bit like alchemy, and this year’s “Tale of Wonders” collection is a reminder of why beauty lovers fall in love with the Maison again and again. At the top of my list is Angélique Noire, a perfume that balances the green brightness of angelica with the velvety comfort of vanilla. It’s a fragrance of contrasts—fresh yet warm, luminous yet sensual—like a quiet spell that unfolds on the skin.
Pair that with the iconic Météorites pearls, which remain one of the most flattering finishing powders ever created. The soft-focus glow, the correcting tones, the way it makes skin look lit from within—it’s a timeless beauty classic for a reason. And for something truly special, Guerlain’s Rouge G lipstick set designed by Géraldine Gonzalez is a collectible in itself. The case—adorned with sparkling stars and crafted like a tiny piece of art—transforms their customizable lipstick into a keepsake. Taken together, these three pieces show exactly what Guerlain does best: turning beauty into an experience, and gifting into something unforgettable. — Rissa Mananquil Trillo
Givenchy Rose Perfecto Shine Serum Lipstick
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I’ve been a user of the Givenchy Prisme Libre 4-color powders long before they went viral, so when a brand with that kind of track record launches a lipstick-serum hybrid, it immediately goes on my radar. Rose Perfecto Shine Serum Lipstick blends color and care in a way that makes sense for how women actually use lipstick: all day, every day, and constantly reapplied. The formula is packed with skin-care ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, squalane, and pink pepper oil, giving lips glossy color with 24-hour hydration and an eight-hour plumping effect. The finish is juicy and luminous, the kind that instantly wakes up your face. And with 12 shades designed to flatter every skin tone, it’s the type of effortless luxury that slips perfectly into any beauty lover’s holiday kit—a little treat that feels both indulgent and practical. — Rissa Mananquil Trillo
Rouge Hermès Brillant Silky Lipstick in Rose Épicé
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This lipstick was designed to be a multi-sensorial experience, with striking color, elevated texture, and a signature fragrance. Inspired by silk, a material centric to the House of Hermès, the texture is both “light and enveloping,” describes Gregoris Pyrpylis, creative director of Hermès Beauty. “It’s the kind of lipstick you can apply without a mirror, from morning to night.” An Allure Philippines favorite: the morena-friendly Rose Épicé, a terracotta pink. — Larissa Joson
Dior’s Rouge Dior Sequin Liquid Duo
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From Dior’s Spectacular Holiday/Noël 2025 Makeup Collection, the real showstopper—and the perfect gift for that special someone (or yourself)—is the limited-edition Rouge Dior Sequin Liquid Duo that’s been all over social media. One swipe is already gorgeous, but the best part is that you can also play along with Dior’s holiday theme, because you can enact a magic trick. Just press your lips together and suddenly, golden sparkles appear on your lips like some kind of sorcery. The formula takes the crowd-favorite Rouge Dior Sequin effect even further with a gloss that boosts shine without smudging the glitter. And aside from 999’s iconic red, there are shades for everyone, with its other nine colors ranging from dramatic browns to flamboyant brick reds and soft rosy nudes. — Bianca Gozon
Sisley Phyto-Rouge Velvet
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Founded in 1976, Sisley Paris has built its legacy on plant-powered innovation, and its global awards speak for themselves. I’ve long been a fan of their skin care—especially the iconic Ecological Compound, which seems to work on skin on its best days and even harder on its worst. So their lipstick line is also a must—it’s time our hardworking lips received the same care we give our face.
Phyto-Rouge Velvet delivers intense matte color with a texture as soft as velvet, but what sets it apart is the skin care-grade formula. Its thin, blurring film smooths fine lines, conceals imperfections, and leaves lips feeling comfortably supple and plump, never dry. The protective cocoon it creates helps reduce water loss and locks in moisture, making it a lipstick you can confidently wear from morning to night. With its long-lasting eight-hour wear, buildable coverage, and ultra-luxurious gold case, this is the kind of everyday indulgence that makes a beautiful holiday gift. — Rissa Mananquil Trillo
La Mer Lifting Firming Mask
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I’ll admit it: I wasn’t swept away by the iconic Crème de la Mer moisturizer as many loyalists are—but this La Mer Lifting Firming Mask is a completely different story. I started using it during my most stressed, overworked, and frankly haggard days, and the results were instant. By morning, my skin felt so smooth and retexturized I had to stop myself from touching it. It’s the kind of glow that feels like you squeezed in a facial overnight, even when all you really did was collapse into bed.
With La Mer’s Miracle Broth and their new 4D Ageless technology, it lifts, firms, and drenches the skin in deep hydration so everything looks fresher, tighter, and well-rested. It is a dangerous thing to fall for—especially with the five-digit price tag—but for someone who loves skin care that truly performs, this is the closest thing to gifting a year’s worth of professional facials (or daily facials for the next six months) in a jar. — Rissa Mananquil Trillo
Boss Bottled Beyond Eau de Parfum
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Ginger in a fragrance? Unexpected, but it works. The newest fragrance from Boss has an interesting balance of ginger and leather, making it fresh, spicy, and deep, all at once. There’s a sense of duality in this fragrance, which might inspire you to gift it to a man in your life who shows the same character: sharp at work, yet warm at home; easy-going most of the time, but serious when need be. The scent also fits someone who always likes to stay one step ahead: In 2026, we can expect ginger to be an up-and-coming ingredient in fragrances. — Larissa Joson
Tom Ford Oud Voyager
My love affair with oud started in 2018, when I bought my first bottle of Oud Satin Mood Extrait de Parfum by Maison Francis Kurkdjian—and I’ve been drawn to its depth and mystery ever since. So whenever a new oud fragrance launches, especially from a house like Tom Ford, it instantly lands on my must-smell list. I haven’t tried Oud Voyager yet, but I’ve heard again and again that it will surprise you with how wearable it is. Yes, it has that signature warm, ambery oud base—but it’s softened and brightened by florals and spices that make it feel smoother, lighter, and more modern, not dense or overpowering.
Even people who usually find oud “too much” say this one changed their mind. The touches of geranium, cardamom, and pink pepper give the oud a freshness and lift that make it incredibly easy to wear. If you’ve been curious about oud but intimidated to dive in, this is the kind of scent that eases you into the category beautifully. A meaningful gift for anyone ready to explore something richer, moodier, and unexpectedly elegant. — Rissa Mananquil Trillo
Jo Malone Sandalwood & Spiced Apricot
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Gourmand fragrances are having a moment. So expect Jo Malone’s latest holiday fragrance to still be on the nose (yes, we just had to) even until 2026. The base of this fragrance is the classic vanilla, but it’s spiced up further with a top and heart note of apricot and sandalwood. It’s warm and spicy, and makes for a great gift for someone who brings positive energy to your life, and loves keeping a festive spirit year-round. — Larissa Joson
Le Labo Eau de Parfum Discovery Set
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Fragrances are all about experimentation, and discovery sets are a great way for you to find one signature scent or to have fun with layering and customization. This limited-edition set from Le Labo is only available during the holiday season, and it contains six best-selling scents: Another 13, Eucalyptus 20, Rose 31, Santal 33, The Matcha 26, and The Noir 29. Gift it for yourself, a scent-crazed loved one, or have your friends choose their own travel-sized bottle. — Larissa Joson
Chloé Le Parfum
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With our constant exposure to different kinds of foliage and flowers, it’s no surprise that when it comes to fragrances, floral notes are an easy favorite for Filipinos. And each bottle of Chloé always carries its signature rose note. In its newest iteration—the Chloé Le Parfum—the rose is charged by an unexpected ingredient: orange blossom. The drydown is unique: not powdery, unlike most floral perfumes, but fresh. For the holidays, we’d consider gifting this to someone with modern values, expressed with a timeless grace. — Larissa Joson
La Beauté Louis Vuitton—LV Rouge Matte Lipstick in 854 Rouge Louis
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When Louis Vuitton announced its first-ever makeup launch—with price tags that immediately made headlines—the beauty world had one question: Is it really worth it? I got my first LV lipstick last September, but I’m not the type to post or hype a product right away—especially not at this price point. I wanted to live with it, wear it through full days, and see if it truly earned the conversation.
Rouge Louis did. Any beauty girl knows this truth: Once you find your perfect red, the search ends. Rouge Louis is that kind of red. It brightens the complexion without making skin look gray, sharpens the smile without bringing out yellows, and has that rare balance of making you look instantly put-together—even on bare skin.
For a matte, it’s impressive: long-lasting, beautifully even, and still comfortable on the lips. It holds through a meal with only the slightest touch-up needed, and the color doesn’t bleed or settle into lines.
Yes, it’s the most expensive lipstick I own. But after months of wearing it quietly and consistently, I know this already: The moment I finish this tube, I’ll buy it again—and even explore more shades while I’m at it. For the beauty girl who already has everything, Rouge Louis is one of the rare gifts that still feels surprising: indulgent, iconic, and genuinely special. It’s for anyone who loves beauty as an experience, not just a product. — Rissa Mananquil Trillo
