Wearable Art: Beauty Treats That Are Almost Too Pretty To Use

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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We’re not ashamed to admit that when it comes to beauty products, we are self-professed packaging whores. If it looks gorgeous on the outside, like a magpie to a shiny trinket — we are all over it. The holidays are a veritable cornucopia for those of us who get our kicks from pretty packages, as many brands wait until now to unleash their best wrappings.

It’s not a beauty pageant — actually, it kind of is. Weare judging these products solely on how damn amazing they look. Here, you’ll find the all-out most stunning finds lining the shelves this holiday season. From artist-designed labels to a bronzer so divine it deserves its own frame, click through to ogle the holidays’ most good-looking beauty goodies.

The follow-up to last year’s wildly successful Animalier, this year’s iteration of the animal-print bronzer is presented with a whole line of complementary eye and lip hues, all packaged in sexy, cheetah-embossed cases.

Dolce & Gabbana Animalier Collection, $34-$67, available at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Housed in a see-through case festooned with velvet polka dots and a bold, black ribbon, this travel set features plane-friendly minis of all our Linda Rodin-created favorites: Olio Lusso Perfume, Crema, and Olia Lusso Face, Body, and Hair Oil.

Rodin Holiday Travel Kit, $80, available in December at Rodin.

Talking about artistic eyeshadow palettes, this one actually features the face of one of the greats. From NARS’ new Andy Warhol collection (if you hadn’t already guessed), this compact isn’t just fun to look at, it also contains a black, weathered white, and Factory silver that most certainly could have adorned Edie Sedgwick’s eyes. 

Nars Self Portrait 2 Eyeshadow Palette, $55. Available at narscosmetics.com

For the past three years, Kiehl’s has been blowing our minds with its artist-designed holiday labels. This year, the brand has teamed up with Kenny Scharf for these colorful, graphic prints. One-hundred percent of the net profit from the sale of these holiday items will go to RxArt — a nonprofit national organization, committed to fostering artistic expression and awareness by engaging young patients through contemporary art in pediatric hospitals. Also, did we mention they look cool?

Kiehl’s Kenny Scharf Limited Edition Creme de Corps Holiday Collection, $29.50-$75, available at Kiehl’s.

The latest collection by perfumer Kilian Hennessy is inspired by the concept of original sin, and features three fragrances — Good Girl Gone Bad, In The City of Sin, and Forbidden Games — that evoke the sense of forbidden pleasure and secret desires. Housed in white lacquered clutches entwined with golden serpents, the luxe bottles are a statement in their own right.

By Kilian In The Garden Of Good And Evil, $245 each, available at LuckyScent.

Who knew luggage could be this cute? Clé de Peau Beauté’s mini suitcase of cosmetics is filled with makeup essentials, handpicked by makeup director Lucia Pieroni and inspired by her worldy travels. 

Clé de Peau Beauté Palette Voyage, $180, available at Neiman Marcus.

We have a feeling that this chic candle — scented with notes of Lily of the Valley, white rose, ivy, iris, tuberose, and sandalwood — the kind we’ll place on our mantle and never, ever burn. Either that, or burn it down to the wick and then try to figure out how to get rid of the excess wax so we can re-use it — it’s just way too pretty to toss. 

Flora di Fornasetti Candle, $165, available at Aedes de Venustas.

Here’s another masterpiece from NARS’ Andy Warhol collection: a blue and warm brown, guaranteed to brighten your eyes in the dark season. Add a copper, glossy lip and a bit of bronzer to your skin to awaken a dull winter complexion — a perfect fall solution for any aspiring Factory girl. 

Nars Self Portrait 3 Eyeshadow Palette, $55. Available at narscosmetics.com

You guys, there’s a unicorn on the packaging. A unicorn! 

Paul & Joe Limited Edition Makeup Collection 2012, $60, available at Beauty Habit.

A literal kaleidoscope of color, this super-palette features 12 cheek colors, 18 eyeshadows, and comes with a volumiziing mascara. Part of us wants to dive in and start smearing it all over our face, and part of us just wants to stare dreamily into it. 

Stila Snow Angel Color Palette & Stay All Day Waterproof Volumizing Mascara, $39, available at Sephora.

Click HERE to read more from Refinery29.