We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
The best Christmas beauty crackers to dress up your dinner table
Number 8, we see you
Beauty crackers are big news this Christmas, and it’s easy to see why. While we’re all for a good old cheesy joke and a paper hat, scoring a mini lipstick or bath oil will trump those tacky traditional trinkets any day.
Yes, brands from Zoeva to Jo Loves, and even skincare queens Glamglow are getting in on the action this year, offering adorably sized products wrapped in the prettiest packaging – perfect for taking your table setting to fancy new heights.
So whether you’re going boujee on the big day, or looking for a way to make that best-friend dinner even more special, scroll down to discover our verdict on the best beauty crackers to dress your table with this Christmas.
Ok, Zoeva’s beauty cracker is an absolute winner. Each one contains the Voyager Caramel Melange eye palette as well as two petite brushes to apply all those melted-chocolate shades with.
Murdock London Barber Pole Cracker Black Tea Cologne
One for the boys, Murdock London's cracker contains a generous 10ml vial of the brand's Black Tea Cologne.
Fighter winter skin with this failsafe face oil from Oskia. One of our most treasured skincare brands, this restorative formula feeds the skin with all the right nourishment, thanks to a lo list of incred ingredients, including sunflower seed oil, African algae and turmeric. The white and gold cracker's not bad, either.
Jo Loves has created some of the fanciest crackers this year. A brilliant present in its own right, this white and red creation contains the brand's Fragrance Body Spray in the universally loved Fig scent.
If Christmas dinner wouldn’t be the same without you all sat there in silly hats, this is the one for you. Birchbox’s cute crackers contain jokes and hats as well as beauty treats from the likes of Benefit and Sand & Sky. Plus, at just £20 for 4, you’re getting maximum bang for your buck.
Clearly the chicest of the bunch, By Terry's gleaming pink cracker contains two classic products: the Lash Expert Twist Brush mascara in black, and the irreplaceable Baume de Rose.
Having these holographic crackers on the table will earn you maximum points from your coolest friends. Each one contains three of Winky Lux's bestselling products – inclding that cult flower-encased lipstick.
If you prefer to keep Christmas a classy affair, reach for Bamford's beautifully chic beauty crackers. Each one contains a miniature pillow mist and bath salts – perfect for a Boxing Day pamper session.
This one is especially for anyone known to go a little overboard on the festive Prosecco. The famously hydrating Vinosource collection is hiding inside each of Caudalie’s beauty crackers, ready to rehydrate those parched morning-after complexions.
At £50 for six, these Cowshed crackers are a great-value way to make your Christmas table look incredibly fancy.
If the floral-print exterior hasn't got you sold, the boujee hand and lip treats inside will.
It's a fact that Aveda crafts some of the best-smelling haircare in the business, and the recently revived Cherry Almond collection might just be its most beautifully fragranced yet.
This vegan and cruelty-free collection comprises a shampoo, conditioner, thickening spray and the cult blow-dry accelerator, which makes those monday mornings a whole lot easier – trust me.
As the name suggests, Kat Von D's beauty cracker is a big one. Inside you'll find a full-size Go Big Or Go Home mascara, as well as a miniature Everlasting liquid lipstick to complete your Christmas make-up look.
A perfect pick for those pre-party pamper nights, Glamglow's cracker contains a baby-sized jar of the cult Youthmud mask alongside the Good In Bed night cream.
Nuxe’s beauty crackers are incredibly good value for money this year. Each one contains four travel-sized classics, including the universally loved Huile Prodigieuse oil and its new baby sister, Huile Prodigieuse Florale.
Becca
Party Popper Ultimate Lipstick Love Mini Kit
£20.25
Cultbeauty.co.uk
Because a trio of Becca lipsticks beats a mini keyring any day.
Molton Brown
Aromatic and Woody cracker
£16
Guaranteed to bring a little sophistication to festive proceedings, this year’s Molton Brown beauty crackers have a vintage, Art Deco vibe.Each one contains a classic bath and shower gel, and you can choose from three different scent collections: Floral and Fruity, Floral and Chypre, and Aromatic and Woody.
This one is a no-brainer for skincare fans. Pull Shiseido’s typically chic cracker to reveal a rejuvenating duo from the brand’s Bio-Performance line, designed to firm and rejuvenate tired skin.
The Clarins beauty cracker is sure to impress everyone from your grandma to your little sister. Each one contains two petite treats – one for face, one for lips.
If the season of celebration has left you a little bleary-eyed, This Works’s cracker will be truly welcome.Each one contains the brand’s iconic Deep Sleep pillow spray alongside a blackout mask to make nap time an altogether fanciest affair.
Bubble T Fizzy Bath Confetti Hibiscus & Acai Berry Tea Duo
A fail-safe gift for all the family, these sweet crackers are filled with scented bath confetti as well as a full-sized bath bomb. We'll take the hibiscus and acai berry, please.
Roberta Schroeder is the Senior Ecommerce Editor at Harper's Bazaar, ELLE and Esquire, overseeing shopping strategy and content across fashion, beauty, and travel. Roberta has reported on everything from market-leading skincare brands to the world’s most iconic fashion pieces, while also regularly updating a range of shopping guides, including LED masks, heritage cashmere brands and niche new dress brands to know.
Roberta has more than 15 years' experience in the luxury sector, spanning editorial consultancy, trend forecasting and journalism. Over the years, she has worked for global brands including Farfetch, Chanel, and Vogue.
When not testing beauty products, trialling trends and curating content that spotlights the very best in fashion and beauty, Roberta can usually be found trawling resale sites and vintage stores for a long-coveted designer find. Follow Roberta on Instagram at @roberta__schroeder
Gaby is the Senior Beauty Writer here at Cosmopolitan.com/UK. Her favourite hobbies include sleeping, eating cake till she can't move and uncontrollably hoarding beauty products.
How to stick to life-changing New Year’s resolutions
The best length of time for your post-dinner nap
Strictly 2025 Christmas special line-up
Where are the cast of Nativity! now?
