We love buying beauty products but they can get a tad pricey if we shop a lot. This is when #girlmath comes into play. The term #girlmath refers to how women justify our purchases, especially if they're impulsive or extravagant. It was coined during a segment on a New Zealand radio show, where listeners were asked to call in to rationalise their big purchases using 'girl math'. Also, Canadian TikTok content creator Samantha James posted a video setting out some #girlmath scenarios, such as, anything under $5 is pretty much free.
It might be a lighthearted reference just for fun but #girlmath is huge on TikTok, with over 488 million views. This whopping number shows how relatable women find this term, no matter where we live.
An example of #girlmath is how you spend $20 more just to get the free delivery, which would have cost you $10. Or if you're splurging on a designer bag, you can justify the expense by dividing it into how much it's costing you a day if you use it every day for, say, three years.
Buying holiday beauty gift sets is another way to illustrate how #girlmath works. They tend to cost less than if you were to buy the products individually – and that's a win in our books!
We've done the (girl)math for you so all you have to do is pick from these six Christmas gift sets.
Rose Prick is inspired by designer Tom Fords's private rose garden. The fragrance has key notes including Bulgarian rose, turmeric extract and Sichuan pepper so it's not overwhelmingly floral, making it ideal even for women who don't usually like flowery scents. The gorgeous pink bottle is so pretty, you'll want to take it everywhere with you. This set consists of a 50ml eau de parfum bottle and 10ML travel spray.
Total cost of individual products: $755
The gift-set price: $610
You save: $145 (19%)
Sulwhasoo showcases the best of traditional Korean beauty secrets mixed with modern skincare technology. Get a taste of their bestselling products with the Sulwhasoo Cult Classics Set. The cult-favourite Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum is the first step in your post-cleansing routine that nourishes, hydrates and firms your skin. The Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream is powered by Ginsenomics™, the brand's proprietary anti-ageing ingredient that contains a rare type of ginseng, which replenishes and strengthens your skin. This set packages these two products in a holiday box pouch.
Total cost of individual products: $355
The gift-set price: $265
You save: $90 (25%)
When you find a product that's so good, you'll certainly going to want more. And that's a win-win according to Sunday Riley, so the brand has packaged two of their Good Genes All-in-One Lactic Acid Treatment into this festive set. Good Genes provides your skin with the exfoliation it needs to reveal smoother, more radiant skin, helped by ingredients such as aloe and purified lemongrass. You'll get this in two sizes – 30ml and 15ml.
Total cost of individual products: $139 (for 30ml)
The gift-set price: $139
This make-up collection will set you up for a night out. It's an all-in-one make-up compact clutch with 10 eyeshadows, three cheek highlighters and three lipstick pours. The best part? They're all limited-edition colours. The gorgeous red clutch will make your friends envious too.
Total cost of individual products: $554
The gift-set price: $108
You save: $446 (81%)
It's not just Christmas lights and shiny clothes for the festive season, you can also give the gift of a beaming complexion. The Glowing Hydration Collection contains three products that are guaranteed to give you a Christmas flush – in a good way. The treatment lotion softens and preps your skin, the eye concentrate increases circulation and reduces dark circles, and the moisturising soft cream locks in your glow. The products are housed in a cute purple pouch.
Total cost of individual products: $515
The gift-set price: $420
You save: $95 (18%)
Give your pores some TLC this festive season with a little help from Benefit. The brand's bestselling pore primer is the star here, not just because it's in a cute tube but because it has the power to turn your skin soft and smooth by minimising pores and fine lines. The set also comes with a mini foaming cleanser & toning foam, and a clay mask sample.
Total cost of individual products: $118
The gift-set price: $62
You save: $56 (47%)
Fight the signs of aging with this limited edition, power-packed trio of products – 2% BHA liquid exfoliant, C15 super booster and 10% niacinamide booster. The three formulas work together for a multifaceted approach that sheds layers of dull skin to reveal your natural glow. For example, niacinamide (vitamin B) tightens enlarged pores while vitamin C brightens your skin. They're packaged in a holiday vanity mirror pouch, which is super helpful for storage or when travelling.
Total cost of individual products: $203
The gift-set price: $162.40
You save: $40.60 (20%)
Your lips will get that extra oomph with the four gorgeous pink shades in this set. Petal adds a delicate pink hue, Bloom gives a pink chrysanthemum tiny, Peony is a mauve tint and, as its name suggest, Sugar Rosé is a rosy glow you'll love. It's not just beautiful colours though, these balms also provide your lips with all-day moisture.
Total cost of individual products: $75.72
The gift-set price: $53
You save: $22.72 (30%)
Part of the Lancôme x Louvre Holiday Collection, this set consists of all of the brand's most-loved beauty icons. It's a one-stop set, with skincare, make-up and fragrance product that will suit anyone's beauty routine. In addition to products like eye cream, lipsticks and EDP, the set also includes a limited-edition Christmas Palette, with dazzling colours for your eyes and face. Note that this set is only available for purchase with a minimum spend of $150.
Total cost of individual products: $825
The gift-set price: $158
You save: $667 (80.8%)
Choose between two gift sets, each featuring a pair of cleansing products. The Integrity Cleansing Duo is a restorative set, with #4 The PreCleanse Balm and award-winning #4 The Cleanser working together to nourish and replenish your skin. The Clarity Cleansing Duo features #4 The PreCleanse Balm and #5 The Cleanser, which refine your skin's texture, resulting in skin clarity.
Total cost of individual products: $270
The gift-set price: $243 a pair
You save: $27 (10%)
Available online as well as in-stores at Raffles City & TANGS at Tangs Plaza.
Oribe partners with artists every holiday season to create limited-edition gift sets. This year, multidisciplinary artist and designer Louis Barthélemy was inspired by brand co-founder Oribe Canales’ glamour and spirit and took inspiration from ancient Egyptian art to craft three unique vertical works that take their inspiration from papyrus scrolls. Enjoy the Gold Lust Collection in this gorgeous and colourful packaging, featuring a Repair & Restore Shampoo, Conditioner and Nourishing Hair Oil, which rejuvenate hair and add lustre.
Total cost of individual products: $229
The gift-set price: $172
You save: $57 (24%)
Available on Oribe.com and at Oribe Salon Partners islandwide. Visit Oribe.com to locate an Oribe salon near you.