Cosmo crew recommends: what to gift, eat, read, and stream this holiday season

From a viral K-beauty foundation that actually delivers to a political satire worth binge-watching, the Cosmo crew has a few new obsessions. This month, we're talking Schiaparelli-inspired souvenirs, face gems, decadent French pastries, books that make you think, and fashion finds with plenty of personality. Consider this your edit of the things worth your time, money, and watchlist space.

Schiaparelli Museum Shop @ V&A

If you are in London this month or the next, there will be enough people who will tell you to attend ‘Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art’. And, if you end up visiting V&A South Kensington for the same, I highly recommend catching the museum shop curation that pays homage to the couturier and the surrealistic leanings of her work. Everyone has feelings about exhibition souvenirs—but I for one, love them! Spare a few £ and pick up totes, magnets (the Salvador Dali-inspired ones are especially striking), or mountable prints of Schiaparelli’s eveningwear, now creative director Daniel Roseberry’s interpretation of archival work immortalised on a poster, alongside books, bookmarks, and journals. Explore the shop on V&A’s website.

Tirtir Cushion Foundation

May sound like I am a little late to the party—but finding the right foundation for results (not hype) takes patience! K-Beauty brand Titir’s viral cushion foundation has been dominating our social media feeds for a while now, and I am happy to report that it’s not smoke and mirrors. I tried the Mask Fit Red cushion variant, and it offers a smooth, crease-less full coverage—and, if you are able to find your shade online (there are over 40 of them), the foundation will last you a long time. Just remember to pick up a small amount of the product! The brand also offers the AI Filter gold version, the silver-packaged Aura Cushion for a luminous finish and the All Cover Cushion Foundation peach variant, which promises natural-looking coverage.

I Am My Own Laxmi by Aarti Gupta

My latest read, I Am My Own Laxmi by Aarti Gupta, is a celebration of women redefining what prosperity, success, and abundance mean. The book explores the many ways we create wealth—not just financially, but through ambition, independence, creativity, and resilience. Let’s just say, goddess Lakshmi is a metaphor for the modern woman: one who is self-reliant and doesn’t wait for life to happen to her. She creates the world she wants to live in—on her own terms. This one’s for all of us.

Maison Crolle

Dessert first? Always. Think delicate choux pastry piped with luscious Chantilly creams. Maison Crolle, founded by mother-daughter duo Namita and Jaanvi Chopra in New Delhi, brings a touch of Parisian indulgence to every bite. They recently catered 2,000 profiteroles to the French Embassy in India for Bastille Day! I almost can’t pick between the Belgian Dark Chocolate, Royal Pistachio, and Hazelnut Rocher flavours. It’s worth every penny—and every damn calorie.

A Good Person by Kirsten King

When I read the epigraph by Clarice Lispector, “Who has not asked himself at some time or other: am I a monster or is this what it means to be a person?”, I knew this book was not going to disappoint. The plot follows Lillian, a narcissist, who is broken up with by her situationship, Henry. She gets drunk and puts a hex on him (as one does), but instead of him crawling back to beg for another chance, Henry turns up dead, and Lillian becomes the prime suspect.

Veep on JioHotstar

An absolutely underrated satire about being in politics. Across seven seasons, it follows Selina Meyer (played by Seinfeld’s Julia Louis-Dreyfus), as she navigates life first as the Vice President of the United States of America, then as the President, and then as someone who is not the President, and then the President again. All I’m going to say is: if I could erase my memory and watch it all over again, I would.

Supply6 Protein Wafer

I’m fully aware I sound like a preachy wellness influencer right now, but I am fiercely strict about hitting my daily protein target, and I’d strongly recommend everyone start prioritising theirs too. For those chaotic mornings where I’m sprinting straight from my 6am workout to the office, this wafer is the only reason I’m surviving. It keeps me ridiculously full, gets the job done, and the taste is genuinely goated. And because my matcha obsession shows no signs of slowing down, the matcha flavour has me especially sold.

Face gems by Question Beauty

Face gems are officially back, and my Y2K-obsessed heart is absolutely over the moon. And since my bank account isn’t ready to fund a full glam squad to make me look like Zara Larsson at every concert show, Question Beauty is my answer. They have everything from delicate water droplets and whimsical butterflies to cute little fruit motifs, and they ship worldwide, with my order arriving so seamlessly I had zero international-shipping trauma.

Reva Punk Heel Ballet in Perfect Black-Silver by Tory Burch

I grew up on punk rock, so a little rebellion has always found its way into my wardrobe. The Reva Punk ballet heels by Tory Burch feel like the perfect dose of it—easy for everyday wear, but with just enough attitude to turn heads at an important meeting.

Aston Martin Green Tonneau Dial Mechanical Automatic Men’s Watch

Aston Martin has always been one of my favourite car brands—sleek, sexy, and effortlessly cool. Their watches channel that same DNA. This one feels like the perfect mix of precision, engineering, and understated edge.

This article originally appeared in Cosmopolitan India's September-October 2026 print issue.

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