The best luxury stocking fillers from ￡11
‘We’re doing stockings?’ ‘Of course we’re doing stockings. We always do stockings.’ ‘I know that – I’m just checking you know that.’ This was the exchange that took place between my husband and me on Christmas Eve morning last year – my final retort flung out as I backed out of the kitchen, a rictus grin on my face.
An hour later I’m standing in my local Trinity Hospice shop deliberating over whether an Only Fools and Horses VHS tape would be a more or less amusingly ironic offering than a tea-stained Mr Gru mug. To be fair, I’m pretty sure it’s the one where Del Boy falls through the bar, so that clinches that, and what with the safety matches I find at Texaco and an old clementine, Santa’s well on her way to filling that stocking.
Men don’t do frivolities, so stockings are a nightmare. Whereas if you’re clueless and on a kamikaze Christmas mission for a lady, all you need do is dash to Boots and it’s job done, right? But given you’ve got three more days (counting today) and 10 very precise clues on products that’ll leave us helium-voiced with excitement, you might want to start amassing some of these.
Ten of the best stocking fillers
Paul & Joe Stollen-Scented Moisturizing Hand Cream , ￡11, Beauty Bay
By the creators of the prettiest cosmetic line out there, this really takes the stollen.
Biologique Recherche Lait U, ￡40, Embassy of Beauty
From the French-born clinicians who believe in personally curating your skincare comes a soothing cleanser.
De Mamiel Intense Nurture Antioxidant Elixir, ￡88, De mamiel
One of the most potent protective and restorative antioxidants out there.
Nazan Schnapp May Rose Hydrating & Balancing Face Mist, ￡19, Jolie
Emma Watson’s go-to face mist provides soothing relief for winter redness.
Elixi Beauty Eye Palette, ￡26.50, Elixi Beauty
Ten supremely blendable pinks, berries and taupes.
Eve Lom Kiss Mix Cheeky, ￡18, Eve Lom
A natural, suits-everybody berry-tinted balm with added tingle.
Le Labo Tonka 25, ￡180 for 100ml edp, Liberty London
A warming cedar-infused scent to take you through to spring.
Lumity Facial Oil, ￡57, Amazon
Add half a dropper of this anti-ageing oil to any day or night cream for restored radiance.
Rahua Leave-In Treatment, ￡42, Cult Beauty
This omega-9-rich oil protects and strengthens hair in minutes.
L’Occitane Indulgent Almond Trio, ￡32.50, Loccitaine
Like slathering yourself in marzipan.