Cue theme from Jaws.

It's coming.

Christmas is really coming.

Normally we'd still slightly be in denial, right now, but these crackers are so gorgeous we're prepared to acknowledge that yes, the festive season is approaching.

And these are what we want to pull (as it were), at the Christmas dinner table.  Grab one end of Lancôme’s special Christmas crackers - and scramble on the floor (for 'twas ever thus) for a luxury sample of Visionnaire, Génifique, Hypnôse mascara, Absolu Rouge Lipstick, Juicy Tubes or Bi-Facil.  They come with a festive hat, and a beauty tip, which makes a nice change from a dreadful cracker joke.  (As for the chaps?  Oh, buy some cheap red crackers and mix-and-match;  they're men and they'll never notice the difference...)

We may just theme our table around these, meanwhile.  (Not difficult, with a red cracker, but they should look beautifully festive.)

So:  Santa, bring it on.

UK readers find Lancôme Christmas Crackers exclusively at Selfridges