"It's giving grandma—but, like, in the best way," a fellow beauty editor muses at a recent event. We're both swatching Les Filles en Rouje's Face Palette, a gorgeous, six-pan tortoiseshell compact featuring ethereal, multitasking highlighters and blushes. I nod, instantly understanding what she means. Creamy, highly pigmented formulas aside, the compact itself just exudes elegance, like something you might have spotted on your grandmother's vanity (and perhaps used a few sneaky times, just to feel like the chic lady she is).
Since the event, I've been casually compiling other beauty products I adore for their heirloom energy, beautifully packaged staples that not only put in the work but also look incredible on display. This list below has them all (and, no, they aren't all investment pieces). Trust, each of these 16 pretty picks gives grandma—rich Upper East Side grandma who regularly lunches in pillbox hats and opera gloves and never leaves her sun-drenched apartment without fastening an antique-style brooch to the lapel of her coat. You feel me?
I of course have to start with the palette that kicked off the conversation. The versatile compact contains three pearly highlighter shades and three cream blushes you can mix and match as you please. Finger painting is recommended here so the warmth from your skin can help the product melt into a dewy, flushed finish. A bonus: Use the shades on your lips and lids as well for a minimal, monochromatic beat—very French, don't you think?
Okay, I understand that $95 Swarovski-encrusted tweezers are not a very practical purchase. But, wow, they sure are stunning. I imagine a very rich grandma would have the special sapphire tool sitting on her vanity—both for easy access and as an objet d'art.
This spicy, uplifting perfume does more than rack in compliments; it actually transforms into a sleek incense holder once the juice is finished. Simply place your incense stick into the concrete cap and display it wherever you please. Talk about functional fragrance.
Juicy, fresh, and so dang pretty—I was enamored by Kérylos at first whiff. L'Objet is known for its luxurious, hand-crafted designs, so of course the brand's fine-fragrance bottles are something to behold.
All Diptyque perfumes double as heirlooms, IMO, but the Les Essences de Diptyque collection is especially stunning. I'm partial to Lilyphéa, a dreamy blend inspired by Claude Monet's Water Lilies series. I can't help but swoon with every spritz.
I'd be remiss not to include my Parfums de Marly favorite, an elegant blend of Turkish rose, lily of the valley, peony, lychee, rhubarb, bergamot, and nutmeg. It's a fruity-floral with some subtle spice, and it's gorgeous. The bottle, with its tasseled, baroque-inspired design, only adds to its shelf appeal.
Meet the chicest lipstick you'll ever own. Choose your case (I'm eyeing this stunning coral ceramic number, FWIW), select your creamy shade, and you'll have a unique lip color slash art piece to stash in your bag.
I can't think of a more "rich grandma"–coded beauty product. The stunning powder pearls! The reusable, artistic case! The dense, fluffy brush! Whenever I use it, I feel nothing short of royal.
This dewy, featherlight skin tint comes housed in a sleek frosted bottle with gold hardware. It's arguably the most aesthetically pleasing complexion product I've tried.
There are plenty of luxurious candles worth displaying in your home, but oh my god, just look at the blooms on this beauty. Somehow, it makes the nectarine-, pink- peppercorn, and cashmere-infused fragrance smell even sweeter.
There's nothing like rummaging through your grandma's skincare cabinet and ooh'ing and aah'ing over her pretty potions. (No? Just me?) I imagine the chicest ladies stock theirs with this French face cream; the silky, velvety formula practically begs to be worn before bed.
Kindred Black creates the most stunning potions, be it a perfume elixir, face scrub, or pot of rouge. I suggest snagging one of the brand's multipurpose products, such as this cold-pressed argan oil you can lather on your limbs, hair, face, and nails. You'll want to reuse the hand-blown glass bottle long after the oil runs out.
In terms of aesthetically pleasing nail polishes, it doesn't get prettier than Pleasing. I love the subtle shimmer of Pearly Tops, which feels very Palm Beach grandma.
Speaking of nails, it's important to keep those cuticles nice and healthy with a high-quality oil. ("Feed" them three times a day—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—a pro manicurist once told me.) It doesn't get much chicer than this French Girl roll-on.
I'd argue everyone needs to experience the skin-softening magic of Tatcha at least once, but as far as aesthetic bottles go, this Essence is one of the best you can buy. Sleek, minimal, and brimming with Japanese superfoods, it definitely deserves a spot on your skincare shelf.
I'd buy this blush for the clutch-inspired packaging alone. The plush compact and embossed logo paired with the stunning soft-matte finish is simply a no-brainer.
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