I Spent the Last Two Months Assembling a Cool-Girl Gift Guide—26 Nonbasic, Beauty-Centric Gifts
I’m serious about gift giving because my reputation is staked on it. I mean, what kind of beauty editor would I be if I didn’t give the best, most highly curated gifts? That’s why I start planning potential presents for friends and family months ahead of Black Friday. I want to be prepared. I also want to know that my gifts meet a strict set of criteria. 1) They have to exude thoughtfulness and individualism, which is why I refuse to gift all of my loved ones the same item. 2) They have to be special—luxurious or one-of-a-kind, which is why I tend to gift a lot of limited-edition things. 3) They have to be cool. I’m in the business of trend-spotting, and I’m not going to give friends and family basic, can-get-anywhere items. 4) Last but not least, they have to work. If they’re not effective, then they’re not being considered. But that’s a given, right?
It only took me two months (*I say sarcastically*), but I finally have a cool-girl gift guide to share with you, dear reader. I hope it helps alleviate some of the time, effort, and pressure associated with gift giving. I also hope it leads to contented friends and family members who wouldn’t fathom returning anything after the fact (gift receipts be damned!).
$50-and-Under Gifts
Pinch Provisions
Super Spa Set
When I tell you I’d be delighted to receive this Spa Set, I mean it. It includes an ice roller, silk sleep mask, silk scrunchie, gua sha, exfoliating mitt, hair clip, shower steamer, and scalp massager. It’s all the things people don’t necessarily invest in for themselves, yet they elevate an at-home spa night or everything shower. The fact that it all comes packaged in a Jane Birken–esque bag complete with a silk ribbon? An unexpected yet much-appreciated detail. Don’t bother wrapping it; it’s too chic on its own.
Dieux
Forever Eye Mask Reusable 100% Silicone Patches
Most eye patches are one-time use and get expensive (and wasteful). Dieux’s Forever Eye Masks, on the other hand, are infinitely reusable. They’re made with 100% medical-grade silicone and trap serums and creams close to the skin for enhanced absorption. Simply apply your favorite eye cream or serum, slap these on, and peel them off after 10 to 20 minutes. Your under-eyes will be smoother, plumper, and more visibly hydrated. All that’s left to do is wash the eye masks with soap and water, pat them dry with a towel, and place them back inside their carrying case. Easy peasy.
Summer Fridays
The Holiday Trio Set With Lip Butter Balm in Hot Cocoa & Toasted Marshmallow
Summer Fridays’ Lip Butter Balms have always been ripe for the picking when it comes to holiday gifting. However, this year, I’m plucking this limited-edition set from Sephora’s shelves. It features the brand’s Mini Jet Lag Mask and two limited-edition flavors of the Lip Butter Balm: Hot Cocoa and Toasted Marshmallow. Yeah, I’m sold.
Glossier
Mini Laptop Mirror
This little mirror fits perfectly into a makeup bag, purse, or carry-on, and it’s just so damn cute. I was lucky enough to receive it from a dear friend last year, and I’m not being dramatic when I say it’s one of my prized possessions. I think other beauty-obsessed, chronically online, and/or corporate people would feel the same. Leave it to Glossier to make the cutest holiday merch!
Nail Reformation
Press -On Nails in Gold Coast
Press-on nails are every beauty editor’s best-kept secret to achieving a salon-worthy manicure when short on time (or funds). Lately, I’ve been impressed with Nail Reformation’s press-on designs. Each one is chicer than the next! This set, called Gold Coast, is a personal favorite. Sturdy? Check. Reusable? Check. Trendy? Triple check.
The Original MakeUp Eraser
7-Day Cherry Crush Makeup Eraser Set With Makeup Bag
Speaking of sustainability, reusable makeup-remover pads are much eco-friendlier than single-use wipes. I like the Makeup Eraser ones. They have a soft, cushiony texture that wipes away stubborn, long-wearing makeup without pulling, tugging, or irritating the skin. And they don’t require any micellar water or oil-based cleansers to work—just water. The best part? They’re machine-washable (lasting up to 1000 washes) and come in a matching, reusable laundry bag.
Nécessaire
The Body Wash Discovery Collection
Have you ever seen a bodywash collection look so… giftable? This limited-edition set contains four of Nécessaire’s iconic and internet-famous bodywashes in Eucalyptus, Hinoki, Santal, and Olibanum. It’s sure to lend a little luxury to anyone’s shower.
Ouai
Mini St. Bart’s Body Set
If you know me, you know I love Ouai’s St. Barts scent—as does the rest of the Who What Wear beauty team. It won a beauty award for a reason, people! Notes of dragon fruit, orange blossom, tuberose, and musk smell like a luxury vacation, bottled.
This set contains the brand’s St. Barts Body Cleanser, Body Crème, and Hair & Body Mist. It’s just the thing to beat the winter blues, when your memory of warm, sunny weather is fading and you need a pick-me-up from the cold. Plus, the travel-friendly kit includes a cute carrying pouch that you can use if you decide to book that beachside getaway in the middle of January.
Emi Jay
Limited Edition Mini Angelstick + Keychain Duo
Fun fact: Hailey Bieber uses Emi Jay’s Angelstick to create her signature slicked-back bun. The lightweight, buttery wax stick glides across the hair to smooth flyaways and create a sleek texture. The brand released this limited-edition mini version + keychain to celebrate the product’s second anniversary. I think it’s basically the coolest, cutest thing I’ve ever laid eyes on, and it’s perfect for hair touch-ups on the go. You know how bag charms are trending again? This is the beauty person’s version.
$50–$100 Gifts
Moon Juice
Bliss Miss Kit
This, in my humble opinion, is one of the best holiday collabs ever created. Moon Juice (the supplement brand) partnered with Burt’s Bees (the iconic drugstore brand) on this cozy, alpine-inspired kit. It contains seven sachets of Bliss Miss—an adaptogen-powered hot cocoa the brand says is “best paired with a snowstorm, a crackling fire, and a hot date.” That’s because it features the same adaptogen blend as the brand’s Sex Dust, along with collagen and hyaluronic acid. Aside from the Bliss Miss, there’s an exclusive hot cocoa–flavored Burt’s Bees lip balm and a Moon Juice mug. It’s a wintry, wellness-fueled gift that looks like it came straight from Gstaad, Chamonix, or any other European ski destination.
Merit
The Mini Flush Blush Balm Trio
Merit is known for its chic, effortless makeup essentials, and the brand’s Flush Blush Balm is no exception. The product deposits a sheer, buildable wash of color, and TikTok is obsessed with it. This limited-edition kit features three mini versions of the Flush Blush Balm. There’s Postmodern (berry-brown), Le Bonbon (bright pink), and Redux (peachy-rose), a new, limited-edition shade that you can only get in this kit.
I was recently introduced to the premium candle and fragrance brand, San Soli, and I immediately fell in love with its aesthetic. Its design studio is in Los Angeles, California, but the candles are produced in Grasse, France—the perfume capital of the world.
While all of the products in this set are available separately, I think they pack a punch when they’re put together. This set includes a chic matchbook, a full-size candle, and a smaller, 2.6-ounce candle. Both candles come in the Carmine scent, which features notes of pink peppercorn, cardamom, pepper, patchouli, vetiver, cedar, moss, and musk. Did someone say host/hostess gift?
Slip
Peppermint Dreams Limited Edition Sleepover Set
In today’s world, I think it’s safe to say that everyone could use deeper, more restful sleep. This dreamy, peppermint-inspired kit is the perfect excuse to tuck in for an early winter bedtime. It features the brand’s pure silk Contour Sleep Mask, as well as one large silk scrunchie and one small silk scrunchie. It looks just as chic on a bedside table as it does in a carry-on. Either way, it will surely lead to higher-quality z’s.
Holiday parties are an expected and highly anticipated part of the season, and this Jones Road kit will take your loved ones through to New Year’s Eve (and beyond). Available in two colorways (Party and Rouge), it features a new and exclusive Eyeshadow Stick shade, a Gel Liner, and an exclusive Mini Miracle Balm shade. It’s chic and minimalists in a model-off-duty way.
VIOLETTE_FR
Lip Gourmandises Set
Speaking of chic and effortless, no one is better known for encapsulating that aesthetic than the French, and notably, makeup artist Violette Serrat. Her wildly popular beauty brand, Violette_FR, has long been an editor favorite—thus this elegant and whimsical lip set made my list.
It features three berry-colored lip products that range from matte to high-shine finishes. First, there’s the Bisou Balm in Bêtise, a matte lipstick-meets-balm. There’s also the Bisou Jelly in Aïssa, a sheer lip shine with a natural finish, and last, the Lip Nectar in Bêtise, a high-shine lip stain. Consider it your French-girl lip starter kit.
Phlur
Mini Perfume Sampler Set
You won’t find a beauty editor who loves Phlur more than I do. You just won’t. I love the brand’s expertly formulated scents, comparatively accessible price point, and emphasis on storytelling. Since I love gifting the things I love, this Mini Perfume Sampler Set is high on my list. It features four of the brand’s iconic scents: Father Figure, Rose Whip, Vanilla Skin, and Missing Person. (The last one is the closest I’ve ever come to having a signature scent.)
Elizabeth Arden
Hyaluronic Acid + Peptides Ceramide Capsules Hydra-Plumping Serum
Gifting skincare products can be difficult, as everyone has different skin types and concerns. However, if I had to choose one category to stick to, it would be hydrating and/or barrier-strengthening products; I find those to be the most universal.
This year, I’m loving Elizabeth Arden’s Hydra-Plumping Serum Capsules. Each one contains the perfect pre-measured amount of serum. Simply break open the capsule and apply the fresh, highly effective formula to the skin. The blend of peptides, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid helps to plump, smooth, hydrate, and firm the skin in one step. It’s the winter solution for dry, irritated, or aging skin.
$100+ Gifts
ETOILE COLLECTIVE
Vanity Case
If you want to win the metaphorical “best gift giver” award, then you’ll add this chic vanity case to your shopping cart. It’s more than a makeup bag; it’s a carrying case, makeup organizer, and elegant vanity topper all in one.
There are many colors to choose from, but I love this rich espresso one the most. It makes me think of luxurious travel cases of yesteryear. It’s just as practical, too. It features a dual-top zipper closure, a main compartment with a removable divider insert, and an elastic holder for makeup brushes, pencils, and mascara. Trust me when I say it feels special, sturdy, and expensive.
BYREDO
Les Miniatures Fragrance Set
A miniature Byredo Fragrance Set… Need I say more? Probably not, but I will. It contains five, small sizes of the brand’s most iconic scents: Bal d’Afrique, Blanche, Mojave Ghost, Gypsy Water, and Rose of No Man’s Land. It’s the perfect give for scent lovers who want to explore and expand their fragrance wardrobe without spending a full paycheck on the full-size bottles.
Victoria Beckham Beauty
Satin Kajal Liner Gift Set: VB’s Greatest Hits
Did you know that one of these eyeliners sells every 30 seconds? I’m not surprised. Beauty editors are obsessed with them (including yours truly). They have a creamy, buttery texture, incredible color payoff, and stunning shades. This posh (pun intended) gift set contains eight shades: Cocoa, Black, Sea Grey, Olive, Sequin Green, Bronze, Night Flash, and Cinnamon. There’s a shade and finish for every holiday party—and makeup look thereafter.
Chanel
Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum Intense Purse Spray
I’m sorry, but this is the chicest perfume I’ve ever seen. Centered on Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum Intense, this limited-edition accessory features pearl-like beads, a golden strand, and a double chain meant to be worn around the wrist. Simply pop one of the refills into the compartment, and you’re ready to spritz a chic scent anytime, anywhere.
La Bonne Brosse
N.02 the Essential Do-It-All Brush – Cherry Red
These chic, keepsake hairbrushes are at the top of my gift list. They’re made in France and feature different combinations of bristle type and spacing based on their purpose. This one, N.02, is all about detangling, so it features a combination of boar and nylon bristles that are gorged with keratin. Meanwhile, N.01 is all about shine, N.03 is all about scalp care, and N.04 is all about massage. No matter which one you choose, they’re sure to elevate a loved one’s hair routine, based on their sheer presence alone.
DS & Durga
I Don’t Know What Limited-Edition Perfume
DS & Durga’s I Don’t Know What is an iconic perfume. It’s one of the first “skin scents,” a category of fragrances that has a soft, subtle quality. Technically a “fragrance enhancer,” this special scent can be worn alone or alongside other perfumes. I personally know at least three people who count this as one of their forever-favorite scents. And this special-edition bottle is too pretty to pass up. It contains the same scent we know and love, but it’s packaged in a stunning red-and-silver-foiled bottle.
Brunel Beauty
Trinity Body Oils
Brunel Beauty is a new brand from supermodel Jasmine Tookes. As of now, it offers three luxe body oils crafted with traditional botanical oils and custom fine fragrances for mood-boosting benefits. This set contains all three—the Awakening Oil for a quick-drying finish, the Renewal Oil for a calming, moisturizing effect, and the Golden Hour Glow Oil for an ethereal, shimmer finish. It’s the perfect gift for anyone who loves bodycare or wants to achieve runway-ready limbs.
Shark Beauty
Cryoglow Cooling + LED Face Mask
Sure, this is expensive, but you’ll be giving someone the gift that keeps on giving—smooth, bright, glowing skin. It includes four skin treatments, extra clip-on chill pads for the under-eye area, a remote to scroll through treatments and track progress, and a storage bag. Rest assured you’ll be a holiday hero if you gift this high-tech device. For more in-depth info, read our senior beauty editor’s full review.
Saltyface
The Holiday Essential Set – Light to Medium
I love Saltyface’s products. They’re clean, fast-working, non-streaking, and don’t smell. What else could you ask for from a self-tanner? This limited-edition set contains the brand’s most beloved products, including the best-selling Tanning Water, Tanning Foam, and Face Brush, which provides a seamless application. All the essentials come organized in The Everywhere Bag, a cute pouch to store your winter-glow secrets.
