It’s the beginning of the Lunar New Year and, according to the Chinese zodiac, it’s the Year of the Tiger, an animal that symbolises strength and power. To mark the occasion, luxury beauty brands have gone all out, with the feline prowling across limited edition cult classics and new launches. From dazzling red-and-gold packaging and specially commissioned illustrations beautifying boxes and bottles, to new formulations and reimagined favourites, here’s our edit of the best beauty collections to mark the start of the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Tiger.
Best Beauty Collections for Lunar New Year 2022
Charlotte Tilbury
Known as much for her packaging magic as she is for her make-up, Charlotte Tilbury doesn’t disappoint with her collection to mark the Lunar New Year. Her best-selling, hydration-boosting Magic Cream moisturiser and her equally iconic Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder are both encased in striking red-and-gold tiger stripes, alongside three new Matte Revolution lipstick shades – Walk Of A Star, K-Romance and Only Muse.
Dior
To mark 2022’s Lunar New Year, Dior has focused on Rouge Dior, presenting three shades of the House’s iconic long-wearing lipstick – including 999 velvet, the ultimate red of the House of Dior – and two coloured lip balms in an exquisite gift set. The fabric case is decorated with a Toile de Jouy pattern inspired by 18th-century textile archives, designed to bring joy and happiness for the year ahead.
Dr Sebagh
It should come as little surprise that Dr Sebagh has come up with an innovative way to celebrate the Year of the Tiger. The French skincare giant – revered for its pioneering anti-ageing skincare cosmetics – has created limited edition tiger sleeves designed to cover all boxed 50ml products. In addition, anyone who spends £180 on box-free products will receive them in a beautifully illustrated tiger gift box, plus a free gift worth up to £475.
Estée Lauder
Estee Lauder’s multiple-award-winning Advanced Night Repair has been given a striking new look. The fast-absorbing serum comes in an exclusive “lucky red” bottle with an arresting, gold Year of the Tiger design. With powerhouse moisturising ingredients including squalane, bisabolol and sodium hyaluronate, it leaves skin plump, firm and feeling smoother. The perfect start to a new year.
Chantecaille
The botanical skincare and cosmetics brand has turned its attention to the Bio Lifting Mask for the Year of the Tiger. The anti-ageing best-seller has been reformulated (it’s now called Bio Lifting Mask+) and is infused with evermore powerful botanicals, peptides, lofting agents and moisture barrier enhancers. The best bit? It launches exclusively in a red jar, with a gold tiger embossed on the packaging, to celebrate not just the Lunar New Year but also Chantecaille’s continued support of SUJÁN’s tiger and leopard conservation work in India. In addition, there’s a limited-edition Year of the Tiger Ruby Lip Veil lipstick.
Bobbi Brown
Bobbi Brown’s ‘Lucky in Red’ collection looks to the make-up brand’s classic shade Claret as inspiration. Encased in deep red and gold packaging, the limited-edition capsule includes the Soothing Cleansing Oil, to melt away makeup and pollution; Extra Lip Tint, a sheer, colour-enhancing lip balm; the Luxe Shine Intense Lipstick; and the innovative Highlighting Powder for a translucent, lit-from-within glow.
Clarins
The Double Serum from Clarins is a firm beauty editor favourite – The Glossary’s Beauty Director Alessandra Steinherr even featured the new Double Eye Serum it as one of her must-have winter products. The Complete Age Control Concentrate formula contains no less than 21 active plant extracts, leaving skin radiant and fine lines reduced. To celebrate the tiger – regarded as the King of the Forest for its strength, power and loyalty – the serum now comes in a special collector’s edition, further cementing its cult status.
Shiseido
A majestic tiger adorns the packaging of Shiseido’s limited edition Lunar New Year collection, for which they collaborated with Central St Martins graduate Angel Chen. The capsule consists of the Japanese heritage brand’s anti-aging hero products, including the nutrient packed Ultimune Power Infusing Serum, the Vital Perfection Uplifting and Firming Cream, and the Legendary Enmei Ultimate Luminance Serum.
Laura Mercier
When it comes to make-up for a flawless finish, Laura Mercier has it covered. To commemorate the new year and bring good fortune, the cosmetics brand has reimagined a clutch of its best-selling products, encasing them in metallic red-and-gold packaging. Both the Flawless Lumière Radiance-Perfecting Cushion and the Set For Perfection Translucent Loose Setting Powder & Puff Set have been given a bold reimagining, so too the Blush Colour Infusion sheer powder blush in the perennially popular Ginger shade, which has been embossed with a tiger.
MAC
MAC’s Lunar Luck make-up collection brings together six favourites but with a colour-popping twist. No classic red here. Think fuschia pink feline stripes, violet flourishes and floral illustrations adorning each of the four new Powder Kiss Lipsticks and the four new Liquid Lip Colours; as well as a beautifully curated eyeshadow palette in nine dazzling shades; a liquid-powder highlighter in limited-edition golden beige; and two brushes – a blending brush and duo fibre blush brush.
Clé de Peau Beauté
Designed in collaboration with French illustrator duo Marie Pommepuy and Sébastien Cosset, together known as Kerascoët, this seasonal collection is adorned with hues of deep red and gold floral motifs, designed to celebrate the arrival of the Spring Festival and with it, regrowth and revival. Beneath the vibrant packaging you’ll find the beauty brand’s bestsellers including The Serum, the Correcting Cream Veil and Enhancing Eye Contour Cream Supreme.
