December always feels like a happy month. Is it the easy-breezy weather? Is it the holiday soirées, fabulous party outfits and shimmer eyeshadow palettes? Or is it just a reminder of another year ending and to make the most of it? The festive season, however, never disappoints and is always buzzing with a slew of new beauty product launches. ‘Tis the season to max out your credit card – from the latest skincare to must-try makeup essentials, here’s a lowdown of all the beauty products we’d like to save, spend and splurge our money on this month. Dewy skin is just the start! 

Mugler Alien Goddess 

It’s beginning to smell a lot like Christmas! Mugler’s Alien fragrance is a bonafide classic. Alien Goddess, the brand’s newest iteration of its iconic and well-loved fragrance, is for those who prefer a feminine spritz that teethers on the edge of sweetness. Like snuggling up in your favourite blanket and sipping on a caramel mocha latte, it’s warm without being cliché – this is the scent to try if you like your fragrances deeply floral but wrapped up in sweet, warm bourbon vanilla. With notes of coconut water, bergamot, jasmine and heliotrope, it’s delightfully airy, but is still grounded enough for all year round with a cashmeran base. A great option for fans of vanilla, it’s also perfect for layering up other perfumes to make them slightly warmer, sweeter and creamier. The captivating refillable bottle takes the form of the original Alien scent, but swathed in a gold colour. Nab one for yourself or the Alien fan in your life. 

R1,450 for 30ml, R1,990 for 60ml, R2,390 for 90ml or R2,150 for a 100ml eco refill 

Chanel Fluide Enlumineur Iridescent Illuminating Fluid Or Ivoire 

Chanel Beauty’s N°5 Holiday 2021 Collection has arrived – and it pays homage to the 100-year-old fragrance that revolutionised the world of perfumes. In addition to a collector’s bottle that incorporates recycled glass, an eau de toilette designed with an exclusive bottle adorned with a silver number five and a supersized 2,021ml perfume, the collection comprises lipsticks, eyeshadows and highlighters. While the entire collection is a dream and, of course, the N°5 scent remains a chic Christmas gift – we’re particularly enamoured with the limited-edition liquid illuminator. Available in an exclusive shade dubbed Or Ivoire, the lightweight emulsion melts into skin, leaving nothing behind but a ‘golden hour’ skin finish thanks to light-reflecting pigments. It works well mixed into foundation, pressed onto the high points of the skin, swept across shins and collarbones or added into moisturiser on bare skin days. 

R900 from Chanel fragrance and beauty boutiques as well as select Woolworths and Edgars stores

Mercedes-Benz Woman Eau de Toilette For Women Natural Spray 

Extraordinary fragrances tell a story through their notes and the craftmanship that goes into them. Mercedes-Benz isn’t a luxury car brand; it’s a lifestyle. Mercedes-Benz Parfums have released multiple fragrances, but one of the latest, an eau de toilette for women, is the most lavish. Everything from the pink bottle featuring the iconic Mercedes-Benz star logo in silver to the indulgent use of white flowers, Brazilian gardenia, lily of the valley and jasmine sambac says luxury. But as fanciful as it is, it isn’t brash. The dreamy floral mixes mandarin, blackcurrant, pear leaves, Australian sandalwood, iris and musk to create a voyage for the senses. This unexpected combination makes for a compelling experience, while the addition of lighter notes helps it maintain a subtle sexiness. Of course, you don’t have to be a Merc driver to appreciation this creation – its bright, effervescent beauty should be evident to all. 

R1,245 for 60ml from Dis-Chem 

Inoar +AMOR -SODIO Shampoo and Treatment Mask 

You’ve probably noticed the words ‘sulphate free’ splashed across some shampoo bottles and questioned why they need to be left out of some formulas. Sulphates are harsh cleaning agents that help shampoos lather up with the side effect of stripping the hair shaft of all that’s good – think dye, oils and natural protectants. If you style your hair with hot tools or experiment with different hair colours, switching up your shampoo could help change your life (and your hair) forever. That’s where Inoar’s gorgeously scented, vitamin-infused ‘more love, less salt’ Shampoo and Treatment Mask come in. Sulphate-free can sometimes mean anti-lather, but this shampoo – enriched with tribulus terrestris and banana flower oil – creates a satisfying foam that cleans down to the roots. Use the hair mask once a week to repair summer sun damage and conceal the appearance of split ends for a healthier finish. 

R480 and R610 respectively from www.inoar.co.za and select salons 

Lamelle Essential Cleansing Oil 

Washing your face with an oil cleanser that will conquer your most stubborn makeup is one of the most – if not the most – significant steps in a conscious skincare regimen. Lamelle’s first-ever cleansing oil, made with skin-loving ingredients, actually makes for the perfect first step in any routine. Unlike its sudsy foaming cleanser and traditional bar soap counterparts, there’s no risk of over-cleansing and leaving skin borderline parched. Avocado, sweet almond and soybean oils as well as squalane power this rich oil, which nourishes the complexion as it purifies it. As it draws out impurities it turns to a silky milk, striking that delicate balance of lifting off every last bit of dirt and makeup (that waterproof mascara doesn’t stand a chance) while preserving any natural oils. Bonus points that it doesn’t leave any residue after you’ve toweled off and keeps your pillows clean. All you need to do is cleanse, rinse and glow. 

R430 from select salons