Gifts to help lunch go off with a bang

Sets of six; all available from selfridges.com

The world of beauty may already have Christmas gifting wrapped up in the form of sets of smellies, but a host of brands has also branched out into crackers to ensure lunch goes off with a bang.

Instead of flinging the usual cheap plastic keyrings into the nooks and crannies of your dining room, there are skincare and beauty miniatures to please the most discerning of guests.

For mixed parties, a set from Kiehl's (£35) containing mini skincare treats for men and women will engender some good-natured swapping, while each of Maison Martin Margiela's newsprint crackers (£40) contains a 7ml bottle of (Untitled), the brand's unisex fragrance.

For luxury lovers, Estée Lauder (£45) and Lancôme (£50) both have offerings that combine the skincare excellence and much-loved make-up that have made the brands global powerhouses. Lancôme's selection includes its much-loved Hypnose mascara, a Juicy Tube lipgloss and the lovely smelling and gently effective eye make-up remover, Bi-Facil, as well as a beauty tip instead of a lame joke. While lovers of all things traditional will find enclosed a paper hat to put a smile on their beautifully made-up face.