15 Under £40 Beauty Gifts That Will Impress Every Woman You Know

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Discover our round-up of small yet inspired gifts from the beauty treasure trove that is Space NK - all priced at £40 and under. 

It’s the age-old debate that’s been rumbling on for as long as we’ve been allowed to put on mascara: is expensive skincare actually any better than its budget alternatives? Plenty of us are happy to spend out in some areas – super-charged serums and night creams for example – and strip back in others such as cleansers and SPF. It’s safe to say the jury remains out, but even those who love nothing more than to fill their Christmas list with eye-watering requests would have a hard time denying the allure of a pocket-friendly product that doesn’t cost half your rent. And it’s those products we intend to dangle in front of you today.

Whether you’re looking for skincare that you’d like for yourself or you’re planning on buying a make-up treat for the beauty lover in your life, we’ve collated our edit of the best affordable beauty gifts out there. Of course, the term affordable can mean different things to different people – something we’re particularly conscious of in the current climate where every penny counts. Not to mention the fact that there may only be one more payday for some of us before Christmas (welp). That’s why we’ve capped our curation at a modest - but still treat-worthy £40 - with some gifts starting from as little as £12.

Whatever you’re looking for in the beauty department (and however much you’ve got to spend), there’s always one destination that we hot-foot it to when we’re looking to indulge – and that’s Space NK. Think of it as the Santa’s workshop for beauty lovers: the best-rated products from the best-loved brands, including exclusive names from across the pond you can’t get anywhere else. Maximise your budget with small yet spectacular stocking fillers from the likes of Laura Mercier and Patchology, or invest a little more in securing a cult buy from Charlotte Tilbury and more.

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A Festive Favourite

This cult-status tonic exfoliates, brightens, tightens and hydrates for a smooth, even and energised complexion that's all glow without the irritation. With its gorgeously festive limited edition packaging, it's the perfect present for any skincare enthusiast of any age.

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Kiss, Kiss

What's better than one iconic Pillow Talk product? Try four. This gorgeous set boasts a mini version of the universally-loved Matte Revolution lipstick and matching mini liner alongside a travel-sized Collagen Lip Bath for added nourishment. There's also a full size Hyaluronic Happikiss - a dream on days when you need a little extra gloss and hydration.

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The Gift of Great Hair

Scroll through any haircare article and you're almost guaranteed to find a product from Olaplex ranking highly. With this limited edition Style & Strengthen Hair Kit Control frizz, you can add shine, improve style memory, shield hair from heat and damage with three of its most signature products.

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Good Hair Days

Whacking your hair up in an elastic band is actually doing your hair no good - so give someone the gift of great hair with a decadent silk scrunchies that significantly reduces breakage. All of the accessories in this set are made from Slipsilk™, a silk specially developed with the highest grade of long fibre mulberry silk to a thickness of 22 momme, delivering a combination of durability, thickness, softness and shine.

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A Bit Of Everything

If a beauty advent calendar is well out of price range, we have some excellent news: Space NK has curated a selection of the year's best-sellers, all with rave customer reviews, in one handy edit. Such a steal for £40 too, as it's worth £75. Our standout product? Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant - it's a dream for anyone with large pores and oilier skin.

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The Viral Blush

When Selena Gomez launched her beauty line Rare Beauty in the US, her Soft Pinch blush went viral. Naturally, when the brand came to the UK - exclusively available at Space NK - it sold out within a day. Treat someone to it now before it goes out of stock again!

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Cult Classic

Laura Mercier's #1 setting powder, in a festive mini ornament - what's not to love? Perfect for delivering a touch of sheer coverage with a soft matte finish (all while setting makeup flawlessly for 16 hours), this is a handbag must-have.

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Elastic Fantastic

Ooh we do love a good body set. This one features the brand's best-selling daily body creams. Infused with caffeine-rich guarana extract, the signature Brazilian Bum Bum Cream works to visibly smooth and tighten the skin, while Bom Dia Bright™ Cream is enriched with fruit AHAs to gently exfoliate the skin and help prevent ingrown hairs. For a bit of decadence, the Coco Cabana™ Cream provides up to 72 hours of moisturisation.

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A Candle Classic

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a Diptyque candle - and this new version is guaranteed to sell out fast. This fresh festive scent mingles notes of a pine tree with freshly cut mimosa for a sweet, honeyed accent.

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For Glow-Getters

We're huge fans of Tan Luxe - out of all the brands on the market, it's the one you can depend on to give you a gentle glow without any orange streaks or, worse, breakouts. This edit features two of its signature drops for face and body, plus a gradual tanning moisturiser for a glow that develops within the hour.

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Curl Heaven

This hair oil set for curly and afro hair types includes a full-sized 100% cold pressed macadamia oil, rich in emollients and antioxidants to help leave both the skin and hair soft, moisturised and radiant. Completing the set is a travel-sized Hair Oil Everyday Gloss, with vitamin C-rich kakadu plum to help support natural collagen and elastin levels in the hair, while starflower oil helps to prevent breakage.

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Already Dreaming Of Summer

Got a jet setter on your buy-list? Get them travel-ready with the Ultra Violette Glow & Go Trio, a set with three bougie sunscreen products to protect the skin from damaging UV rays in convenient travel size.

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Shine On

Queer Eye's Jonathan Van Ness made waves when he launched his JVN haircare line - selling out almost instantly thanks to his hemisqualane packed products that saw genuine results from customers. This haircare set is a curation of some of the best-selling products, all working in harmony to provide shine and soft hold for a variety of styles. This set includes Complete Air Dry Cream and Nourishing Shine Drops.

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Hide Your Sins

We first saw this trending product on TikTok - and now we're totally obsessed. This green-to-beige formula removes redness from the skin, leaving it even, natural, and dewy-looking. All while providing sun protection.

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Patch Perfect

Dream stocking filler alert! Keep eyes bright through the holiday season with the Patchology Patching All the Way Eye Gel Trial Kit, a set of five gels that will help keep the eyes looking alert and wide awake.

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Discover more gift ideas at Space NK