Must-have beauty essentials to carry you through the year ahead

As we step into a new year, it’s the perfect time to reassess what’s actually worth keeping in your beauty rotation. From everyday staples to quiet upgrades, these are the essentials that promise to work harder, last longer, and earn their place on your shelf.

SCULPTED HUES 

Since blonzing—the fusion of contour and colour—is the new standard, precise tools are essential. The portable Pixi On-The-Glow Bronze is a creamy, balmy stick that glides across the skin, providing subtle definition and a soft, diffused flush for your cheeks.
Price: ₹2,050 

THE ARCH EFFECT 

Get the coveted feathered brow look with the L’Oréal Paris Brow Lamination Mascara. It lifts and sets each brow hair for a clean, structured appearance that stays perfectly defined and comfortable all day, avoiding stiffness.
Price: ₹999 

THE RESET DOSE 

Retinol’s new era prioritises steady renewal over dramatic transformation. The Celimax Vita-A Retinol Shot Tightening Booster embraces the philosophy of slow, deliberate renewal. Its night-focused formula encourages gentle turnover, revealing a smoother, clearer complexion by morning.
Price: ₹2,199 for 15ml

COLLAGEN BATH FOR LIPS 

With lip care moving toward treatment-led fullness, Charlotte Tilbury’s Collagen Lip Bath in Pillow Talk achieves this with a peptide-rich formula that hydrates your pout, softens lines, and enhances natural contour with a cushioned, whisper-light sheen.
Price: ₹3,450 

BOND-BUILDING TWIN 

Repair-forward haircare evolves with rare precision, and inde wild champi bond repairing duo demonstrates how strengthening can coexist with supple softness. Each cleanse rebuilds internal structure, smooths frayed cuticles, and returns overstressed hair to a calmer, more resilient state.
Price: ₹2,200 for 300ml

TERACOTTA WARMTH 

The look of late-day golden hour has been captured in a collection of warm, luminous eyeshadows. NARS Afterglow Tempting Eyeshadow Palette features molten metallics and sunlit neutrals that blend seamlessly and transition beautifully into smouldering evening intensity.
Price: ₹5,600 

THE STRAND HEALER 

With the rise of treatments focused on cellular repair, deep intervention is now the standard. The K18 Molecular Repair Mask revitalises strands from root to tip, effectively restoring elasticity and strength beyond surface-level care.
Price: ₹5,625 

BODY IS THE TEA 

Bodycare steps into luminous territory with oils that nourish while leaving behind a metallic sheen. Moroccanoil Shimmering Body Oil coats the skin in a warm, golden sheen with a weightless formula that reads polished rather than sparkled.
Price: ₹7,020 for 50ml

SOFT-SKIN ALCHEMY 

Suede jackets may have ruled the runways, but their olfactory counterpart is having a moment. The Tom Ford White Suede Eau de Parfum captures that mood with a warm, floral blend that settles close to the body. It wraps the senses with the luxury of a well-worn suede coat—intimate and cocooning.
Price: ₹27,000 for 50ml 

LIGHT VEIL 

Liquid illumination becomes more refined with the MAC Lightstruck Liquid Highlighter, a sheer veil that melts into the complexion without leaving a trace of texture. It delivers a diffused, moisturised, and architectural finish on the high points of the face.
Price: ₹3,600

All images: The brands

This article first appeared in the December 2025 print issue of Harper's Bazaar India.

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