It was a piece of advice that I've never forgotten. I was a teenager, working in France for the summer. She was the sophisticated owner of the restaurant where I was working and was fond of dispensing wisdom. "It's not what you spend, it's how you spend it," she told me. "Presentation is everything. Have style." Then she leaned back in her chair, exhaled deeply and we were both engulfed in a cloud of Gitanes fumes.
When you’re giving a present, even if it is something low-cost, be discerning. Don’t buy something that looks big, such as an enormous casket of make-up from a questionable brand, or a set of cheap soaps or talc. Actually, never give talc.
It is probably best to steer clear of giving your boss a Grumpy Cow set (cowshedonline.com, £17) unless you are very sure that the office Secret Santa will remain confidential. Men should never give their wife or girlfriend knickers in the wrong size, and no one should give a woman anti-ageing products unless she has requested them.
So what is safe to buy and give?
Go for quality over quantity. Instead of the box of soaps, decide on one richly scented Max Benjamin candle (€19), or one Mac lipstick over a set of cheap and possibly allergy-inducing lip glosses.
Luckily, not all budget eyeshadow palettes are all talc and no trousers. They make great stocking fillers, once you choose wisely. You can't go far wrong with a Sleek i-Divine Palette (€9.99, Boots), and the Gosh 22 Eye Shadow Compact has almost two dozen colours with great pigmentation (€15.20, MacCabes Pharmacyies).
Nail lovers will appreciate good quality nail duos from Essie or Mavala, and the cute Ciate Dolls House containing five pastel shades will go down well in a tween's or teen's stocking (€22, McCabes Pharmacy).
Bath and body stocking fillers are a Christmas staple: look out for Sanctuary Spa Must Haves with three mini Sanctuary bestsellers (€11.29), or a deliciously scented Crabtree & Evelyn Tarocco Orange Hand and Body Gift Set (€19.80, Debenhams).
Another good choice is an Aveda set with three travel-sized hand creams (A gift of a little relief Christmas Gift Set ,€22). The Body Shop contains a treasure trove of quirky gifts. I like The Jolly Lippy Lollipop with five juicy lip balms (€15), and rich moisturising goodness can be found inside a Shea Butter Beauty Bag (€29.95).
Take a tip from the luxury brands: wrap your gift in black tissue paper and tie with a ribbon before spraying with perfume. Pop it into a gift box or bag and it will elevate the smallest trinket into something special.
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AISLING’S PICKS OF THE WEEK
Aromatherapy Associates The Star
(€13): A calming blend of essential oils inside a hanging star makes for a lovely little gift.
Benefit Sweet Tinations Gift Set
(€29.50): There is no getting around the fact that half of the appeal of Benefit is the packaging, and its Christmas sets make great presents. Teenagers and twentysomethings will love this set of four best-selling tints and glosses.
Steam Cream
(€15): The cult moisturiser and make-up primer is available in a set of limited edition tins for Christmas. So nice you’ll want the whole set.
Clinique Gloss and Go Kisses
(€28): A moment on the lips . . . actually, it is better not to finish that sentence at this time of year. This calorie-free stocking filler with four mini fruit lip glosses could almost be one of your five a day.
AISLING LOVES . . .
Brooke & Shoals Fragrance Diffuser (€27.95): I love reed diffusers because they fragrance a room for months, look stylish and make great gifts. Everyone should instantly replace their Glade plug-ins with one of these.
