Hands up: Christmas gift sets make us giddy.

It’s the special packaging, the gorgeous presentation… the feeling of cracking open a fresh eyeshadow palette on Christmas morning… ahhhhhh.

When you’re shopping for Santa presents or treating yourself, they’re also a brilliant way to nab a decent discount on cult products or dip a finger into a new brand for less.

Spoiling someone special or indulging in a little festive self-gifting? We’ve unpacked the best boxes of 2020.

Here are ten gift sets to pop on your list, pronto:

1. Codex Full Cleanse Set 

The Codex ‘Bia’ collection is a beauty story that began in Cork when Silicon Valley entrepreneur Barbara Paldus discovered Tracy Ryan’s homegrown skincare brand, Bia Beauty, at Cork Airport.

Now a global success, even the Kardashians are getting in on the action. The Codex Full Cleanse Set is a brilliant way to try out the range – it includes their brilliant gentle Exfoliating Wash, a hydrating Skin Superfood treatment cream for face, hands and body and a Limited Edition Holiday Soap made with French green and pink clays combined with nettle and wheatgrass help refresh and balance skin.

It’s suitable for all skin types so it’s an ideal pick for gifting.

Buy it: €39.95 at codexbeauty.com and instore at Meadows and Byrne and Kilkenny Shop

2. Winter’s Night Apothecary Box – MADE IN CORK

Handmade in Réidin Beatty’s 200-year-old studio, overlooking the Feagle river in Clonakilty, Warrior Botanicals nourishing herbal medicine and self-care offerings that have been specially curated to support you through the winter season.

Enriched with autumn berries, sweet violet, restful lavender and oats with hydrating waters and restorative plant oils, the magical Winter’s Night Apothecary Set includes: Medea Body Oil, The hand-blended May You Walk in Beauty Tea, Juniper Water, Winter Spice Deodorant and Violet Flower Essence.

Buy it: €85 from WarriorBotanicals.com

3. Spotlight Oral Care Christmas Gift set

Everyone wants sparkly white teeth, and if you’re looking for a safe way to make your pearly whites even whiter, Irish brand Spotlight is a brilliant bet.

Their gorgeous gift set is stuffed with their whitening toothpaste (one of the best-tasting we’ve tried), teeth whitening strips, a whitening mouthwash, the Spotlight Teeth White Pen that dissolves stains and Spotlight Oral Care Floss.

You also get a Jade Roller and gua sha facial massager, a luxury pillowcase and sleep mask, a wireless phone charger and a bamboo toothbrush, making this box an absolute bargain for under the tree.

Buy it: It’s worth €135 but you can nab it for €59 online and in-store at Boots

4. Kiehl’s Hydration Essentials

There’s a reason New York brand Kiehl’s has been around since 1851 – their cult products, from the Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner and Blue Astringent Lotion (loved by Andy Warhol) to their Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1, and Ultra Facial Moisturiser — continue to be bestsellers today.

A lovely way to dip a finger into the world of Kiehl’s, their ‘Hydration Essentials’ holiday gift set includes the ultimate strength hand salve, cleanser and lightweight facial cream in a Limited Edition Holiday design by Maïté Franchi.

The packaging is made with 100% recyclable, FSC certified materials using zero plastics too.

Buy it: €50 at Brown Thomas

5. ‘Our Best and Brightest’ Dermalogica 

The ultimate skin pick-me-up, this beautiful box is packed with Dermalogica bestsellers – just the thing to start the New Year feeling bright and hydrated.

The kit contains Dermalogica’s Daily Microfoliant (13g), Skin Smoothing Cream (50ml), and Biolumin-C Serum (10ml) – a powerful trio of cult favourites for blasting away dead skin cells and plumping new ones.

The special holiday gift box also includes paper to sculpt your own art piece with instructions from Julie Wilkinson of Makerie Studio.

Buy it: €79 at Dermalogica.ie

6. Bobbi Brown Golden Slipper Eye Shadow Palette

Always finishing the nude and neutral shades in your palette first? This beautiful set of Bobbi Brown shadows is the answer.

A wearable selection of eight soft-to-shimmering eye shadows in luminous golds, rich coppers, and warm neutrals, each of these shades is silky and layerable so you can blend out and build up depending on the occasion.

The watercolour art on the collectable case is by Cecilia Carlstedt⁠—inspired by the energy of dance and the holidays in New York City⁠.

Buy it: €40.50 at Brownthomas.com

7. Clarins Super Restorative Holiday Set

A super indulgent gifting pick for mums, nans and aunties, this set includes Clarins’ Super Restorative Day Cream, Super Restorative Night Cream and Super Restorative Treatment Essence, all packed in a cute 2020 Holiday Pouch.

This expert formula replenishes skin inside and out, preventing age spots and reducing wrinkles.

Buy it: €81.90 at brownthomas.com and in-store at Brown Thomas

8. Skingredients Preprobiotic Cleanser + Good Fats Gift Set

Jennifer Rock’s finely-tuned range of Skingredients products has been deemed ‘life-changing’ by her legion of fans.

If you’re treating a teen this Christmas, grab this soothing and hydrating duo to nurture balance and soothe dry, dehydrated, annoyed or itchy skin.

PreProbiotic Cleanse is the hydrating daily cleanser and makeup remover, formulated with a pre and probiotic complex to nourish skin – and it pairs perfectly with Skin Good Fats, a luxurious, ceramide-rich night cream and moisturiser.

Buy it: €60 from skingredients.com

9. Image Skincare Vital C Travel Kit 

The perfect introduction to their bestselling Vital C range, this mini Image Skincare travel kit includes all the essentials you need to soothe sensitive, dehydrated and irritated skin at home.

The cleansers, serum, Repair Creme and Masque work together to calm and renew tired, dull-looking skin and the SPF is a favourite among beauty buffs.

We can’t think of a better one-week beauty blitz to kick-off 2021.

Buy it: €17 from imageskincare.ie

10. Note Cosmetics Gel Look Nail Enamel Set

This could be the year you finally dump that gnarly collection of dried-up polishes and treat yourself or someone special to a brand new finger-tip wardrobe for 2021.

Note’s seven-shade collection mimics the plumping effects of a gel manicure for a flawless, high-shine finish at home. The shade selection will cover all occasions too – from nude tones for the office to vampy navy and deep red for weekends.

Buy it: €28.50 from mccabespharmacy.com