Sorry to be a total enabler here, but this Book of Make-Up Magic from Charlotte Tilbury is just gorgeous. Expensive (hence starting the post with an apology) but gorgeous. Twelve glamorous products individually wrapped and packaged up in little boxes, it’s a great way to discover the Tilbury range if you’ve never tried it and don’t know where to start.

If you’re already a fan, it presents all of the hero products in handy discovery sizes with a full-sized lipstick and shadow hidden away for good measure. (I say “”discovery” sizes because “miniatures” sounds a bit mean in this case. The 15ml of Magic Cream, for example, is worth over twenty pounds, the eye kohl is nearly as large as a proper one. The mini lipstick is teeny, but oh so cute and beautifully presented.)

I was fully intending on working through the contents list and finding out the total value, but I’ve run out of steam! There’s a full-size Matte Revolution lipstick (£23) and Lip Magic balm (£25), a new Nocturnal Eyes shadow and kohl pencil (I can’t tell whether or not they are the same size as the ones online, but if they are then that’s another £29), the very cute mini lipstick and a whole bunch of trial-sized skin and body care. Gems such as the “Supermodel Body” (great for pepping up bare legs on a night out) and the amazing “Goddess Skin” Clay Mask (full review here) as well as a little pot of the famous “Magic Cream”.

The Book of Make-Up Magic would make a really great present for someone who wants luxurious beauty but lots of it; loads of beauty “tasters” rather than just having one expensive face cream to open. This is much more fun. And for those wanting a “treat to self” it’s a nice alternative to an advent calendar – though there are only twelve boxes, so you’ll either have to open a box every other day or leave them all until the 12th and then start opening. Either way, a brilliant surprise every time. Unless you’ve read this post, and of course you have because you’re reading right now, in which case…soz.

Charlotte Tilbury’s Book of Make-Up Magic is £150 at Charlotte Tilbury online or at Selfridges here. Here’s the more detailed contents list: