An Expert Opinion: Sarah Brown’s Best Beauty Bets of the Holiday Season Inline
1/10“I love these miniature nail polishes from Le Métier de Beauté—luxe jewel-tone metallics in a great size,” says Sarah Brown. “These are my favorite shades (Plum Puddin’, Lamé Entertain You, Tarnished Silver, All That Glitters, Spruce It Up, and Midnight Heron), taken from two holiday gift sets put together by Neiman Marcus’ fashion director, Ken Downing.”
Le Métier de Beauté polish sets in Merry Metallics and All That Glitters, $32 each
neimanmarcus.com
2/10“Bond No. 9’s little green scented rosettes are the best thing to happen to my lingerie drawer (yes, I have already gifted myself),” says Brown, “and they remind me of the incredible vintage-inspired jewels on Prada’s spring runway.”
Bond No. 9 Madison Square Park Potpourri-Scented Flowers, $130
bondno9.com
3/10“This is for sure: Hermès will bring a smile to anyone’s face,” says Brown. “Their luxurious take on body cream—scented with Eau des Merveilles—will look so chic next to the tub or on a vanity.”
Hermès Eau des Merveilles Lait des Merveilles Marvelous Body Lotion, $120
For information: hermes.com
4/10Says Brown: “The square jet-black glass bottle—tough chic with a feminine touch, thanks to the old-fashioned atomizer—is enough for me, but what’s inside does not disappoint, either: gold-flecked scented powder that adds just the right amount of sparkle to cheeks, shoulders, wherever….”
Givenchy L’Or Céleste Starry Loose Powder, $68
sephora.com
5/10“These boxes, with nineteenth-century illustrations by the artist Giorgio Mattioli, from Florentine soap maker Alighiero Campostrini are so pretty, you’ll keep them for years,” Brown says. “And the soaps inside, handmade with bronze molds used for generations, are great tossed in a lingerie drawer as a solid sachet.”
La Florentina Dalle Dame, $24, and Millefiori Di Firenze, $44, soap sets
bigelowchemists.com
6/10“For the collectsor: Reed Krakoff’s signature scent—a blend of black pepper, neroli, hyacinth, peony, and vetiver—comes in bottles handblown in Murano in the sommerso technique, and numbered in editions of 100,” Brown says.
Reed Krakoff Eau de Parfum, $695
For information: reedkrakoff.com
7/10“Good—really good—brushes are an underrated investment that will seriously change the way you do your makeup,” Brown says. “More than one top makeup artist has whispered to me lately: ‘Get Tom Ford’s new brushes!’ So I’m hoping for these for myself!”
Tom Ford brushes, $55–$110 each
Saks Fifth Avenue, NYC, 212.753.4000
8/10“For those who long to literally bathe in their favorite fragrance: a classic from Chanel, which turns glamorously milky when it hits the water,” says Brown.
Chanel No 5 Intense Bath Oil, $85
chanel.com
9/10Says Brown: “For the packaging fiend: Nars’ bento box of intense lip shades, each poured into a small ceramic bowl, and meant to be applied with a beautiful, calligraphy-inspired Japanese lip brush.”
Nars Kudoki Kabuki Mini Lip Set, $125
narscosmetics.com
10/10“For this year’s limited-edition ArtBox9, RéVive founder (and contemporary art collectsor) Gregory Bays Brown enlisted the incredible Ross Bleckner, whose Meditation (Entering) adorns the skin-care-filled lacquer box,” Brown says.
RéVive Artbox 9, $550
reviveskincare.com
