Holiday Gift Guide: Beauty + Skincare
Holiday Gift Guide
BEAUTY + SKINCARE
The gift of beauty products and skincare items is highly underrated, in my humble opinion. They can be gifted to anyone on your list at any budget or price point. You don’t have to worry about it fitting, and if you have skin, you need good skincare! These gifts are also a great way to pamper someone who may not necessarily spend the money or effort to find what works for them. I’m breaking down my skincare and beauty picks today with five different categories starting with clean beauty, full glam, skincare for beginners, for a good hair day, and gifts under $25!
I take a lot of pride in my gift guides, only sharing items that I personally own, love, and use or items that I would/plan on purchasing for loved ones! In case you missed the first three guides, we kicked things off with fashion-related gifts, gifts for the home, and lifestyle-based gifts.
Clean Beauty
Clean beauty can be interpreted in a few different ways. In this case, I’m starting it off quite literally with these face halos that I pair with a cleansing balm that have replaced disposable makeup wipes in my life. Once I use them, I’ll pop in the laundry with my other delicates. This set of hand sanitizer mist is convenient to keep on hand to throw in each bag, car, etc. For someone who likes to use clean makeup products, Ilia is one of my favorite brands, and this set is a great starter kit featuring one of my favorite mascaras. The KP Body Scrub is one of my skincare musts, I use it for extra exfoliation and glowing skin, and it also works wonders for removing self-tanner. I’m a big fan of Milk Makeup and their bronzer. This mini set is a great way to try their products, and they’re travel-friendly. Lastly, you can’t go wrong with a Necessaire Body set. It’s a great way to add a little luxury to their routine and smells divine.
Full Glam
Moving onto those who love experimenting with makeup and enjoying a little glam. This Tarte set is a great starter bundle that includes mascara, lipstick, and bronzer - three of my non-negotiables for when I wear makeup! This Dior lipstick kit is the ultimate premium beauty gift featuring three versatile shades. This mini eyeshadow palette has been one of my go-to’s all year long, it has the best colors, and the size is perfect for traveling. I have a few tutorials on my “makeup” highlight on Instagram. A fresh set of brushes is always a good idea, I love how this one comes with its own carrying case. You’ll never catch me without these eye patches before a big night or while traveling. They are great for giving an extra boost of hydration under the eye. This mascara trio is a great way to try out different formulas and brush heads.
Skincare for Beginners
For someone who may be overwhelmed by all options, consider these gifts appropriate for all skin types and skill levels. This marine cream and cleansing balm set are on my wish list, they’re two of my favorite products I use year-round. Each year, First Aid Beauty releases a set of its best-selling products, and I love to gift this to all members of my family because they contain full-size products and it’s good for all skin types, including sensitive ones. This mini Drunk Elephant set is a great way to try the brand out, I personally love to buy sets like this for travel to keep things compact while traveling. For glowing skin year-round, you cannot go wrong with Sol de Janeiro’s set. Whenever I wear their products, I get endless compliments that I smell delicious. Everyone should be taking care of their lips, especially in the colder weather months. This set will keep you hydrated and smooth all year long. Lastly, if you’re not using an ice roller, it’s time to start! It’s a great way to wake up the skin and helps reduce swelling, inflammation, and puffiness. I’m getting BK one this year because whenever I pull mine out, he wants to use it immediately.
For a Good Hair Day
Everyone loves a good hair day! It starts in the shower, I’ve been using this scalp brush with my favorite shampoo and conditioner, and even my hairstylist noticed that my head and scalp looked extra clean. BK uses the scalp brush, too; he loves it. To extend those hair-washing days, I still rely on Living Proof’s dry shampoo, I always like to stock up on it this time of year when they offer their bundle sets. I’ve been using this leave-in hair mask for the past eight months and have noticed a difference in the texture of my hair, cannot recommend it enough. I can’t recommend these hair brushes enough, I use them mostly on dry hair and styling. We’ve been using this hair dryer for the past few months, and it’s a winner. It’s also not too bulky, so it has traveled nicely when I needed to bring it!
$25 and under
Although a good chunk of this list is under $25, I wanted to share a few more of my picks that would be great gifts for friends, coworkers, or stocking stuffers. Sheet masks are always a good gift idea, I love to use them when I want an extra moment of pampering. I’ve used this brush on wet hair for several months, and it’s quickly become my favorite. I have a very tender head, and it does a great job on tangles without pain. I’ve recommended this makeup bag over and over, I’ve been using mine for about a year now, and it fits way more than you think it would and packs nicely for travel. More travel beauty favorites can be found in this blog post! I recently re-discovered this spot treatment, it works wonders on pesky zits that pop up overnight. For the makeup lover in your life, help keep them organized with this turntable storage. Lastly, you can’t go wrong with some lip balm, this bundle set is a perfect gift!
THANK YOU for reading!
Thank you for checking out my gift guides this season. I’ll be back next week with a new theme and more fun ideas. Feel free to leave any requests or questions about the products mentioned below. Be sure to visit the HOLIDAY tab at the top of the blog to see all previous posts, guides, style inspiration, and festive recipes! Check out the BEAUTY tab for more beauty and skincare-related content. Feel free to leave any questions or suggestions below.
xx CMK