If there’s a red-lipstick person on your holiday list, I’d start with Legend of Rouge. Clé de Peau Beauté still makes the satin red we featured in 2023. Its new Courage to Wish collection takes a softer approach to holiday colour with a beige-pink lipstick touched with gold. Here’s what caught my eye for 2026, plus three favourites from the original guide.
Two lipsticks for two very different people
For the friend who can get dressed for dinner with one swipe of red, 103 Legend of Rouge ($90) has the colour and satin sheen to carry the whole look. For someone who gravitates to pink, Rosy Raindew ($90) has a fine gold shimmer. Illustrator Yukiko Noritake gave the holiday packaging a scene of a woman climbing marble stairs beneath a shooting star.
The Starry Eyes quad ($155) pairs an eye primer with three shadows in golden tones. On November 4, Clé de Peau’s Canadian site showed both holiday colours as out of stock, while Sophie Canada listed both. In Vancouver, I’d call the Clé de Peau counter at Holt Renfrew in Pacific Centre before making the trip. The store number is 604-681-3121. Find a local counter.
A rose-scented bar for the bathroom counter
At $158 for 100 g, Synactif Soap is a splurge. It’s a solid facial bar with a rose scent that lathers up between wet palms. I’d give this to someone who already loves fragranced skincare. If they already have the dish, the 100 g refill is $140.
A stocking stuffer for the frequent traveller
The Softening Cleansing Foam Mini is the little tube I’d tuck into a travel kit. A dab of the cream works into a lather with water, and the brand recommends it for normal to dry skin. The Canadian mini collection lists 40 mL for $28. Check the size before ordering, as the product link can open on the 125 mL tube, which is $110.
A refillable day cream for winter mornings
Our 2023 pick was Protective Fortifying Cream. For this year’s guide, I’d point someone who likes a richer morning moisturizer to Advanced Protective Day Cream ($245 for 50 mL). It comes in a refillable jar. If you’re buying for someone who asks for their usual cream by name, check the jar on their shelf first.
Originally published in December 2023. Updated November 4, 2026. All prices are in Canadian dollars.
