Shopping for the beauty lover on your list can be tricky if you want to go the cosmetics route. This is because, and I speak from experience, as long as there’s money in our wallet, we subscribe to Ariana Grande’s motto: “I want it, I got it.”
The same goes for if we need it, by the way. Beauty lovers are known to replenish their favorites before their bottles and tubes are even empty. There are the treat-yourself shoppers, too. They’ll dip into their savings to splurge on the latest palette or skincare product themselves. Then there are the collectors, who have so much skincare, makeup, and so many styling tools you’ve lost count, not to mention you’ve lost track of what they own versus what they don’t.
Luckily for you, I may not know the person you’re shopping for personally, but I do know beauty gifts, and can confidently say which ones are the best.
If you have a beauty lover on your list who can’t get enough eyeshadow palettes, face serums, expensive shampoo, and styling tools, you’ve come to the right place. As a former beauty editor, I have and continue to test products across the aforementioned categories, and then some. To help you find the perfect gifts for beauty lovers, I’ve rounded up 20 personal recs to serve as inspiration if you’re drawing a blank on what to treat them to this year.
Let me know in the comments below which of these items you loved most, and if there are any additional beauty gifts the Beyond My Byline community should know about for holiday 2023! And, if you don’t see an item on this list that would match your recipient’s personality or tastes, shoot me an email. I’ll offer some personalized recs based on your specifications.
**Please note, prices are subject to change as sales start!**
A Friendly Disclaimer: Beyond My Byline is reader-supported! When you buy through Amazon links in this post, I may earn an affiliate commission.
rhode Ultimate Glazed Essentials
$82, rhodeskin.com
I’ve tried many a celebrity-founded beauty brand, and rhode by Hailey Bieber makes my top three. This skincare set from the label would make a great gift for someone just starting to dabble in skincare, or someone looking to make a more affordable switch. The serum is my favorite product out of the entire collection, but the glazing milk has grown on me over the past few months.
Wander Beauty Lip Retreat Vault
$49, amazon.com
I’ve loved Wander Beauty since I first got my hands on their eye masks and mascara. This year, the brand launched its lip oils, and it was love at first application. They’re essentially tinted glosses with skin-loving benefits. I love the colors and how they make my lips feel.
Glamnetic Press On Nails
$14.99, amazon.com
FRIENDS. Glamnetic Press On Nails is THE gift for manicure enthusiasts. Unlike the majority of press-ons on the market that fall off in a matter of hours (if they stick at all), Glamnetic’s tips latch on and stay on for at least a week (but usually more). Get them hooked so they’ll stick with them and skip those pricey trips to the salon.
Most Ardently Bundle
$51, lightslacquer.com
I’ve tested so many nail polish formulas, that I’ve lost count. What I do know is, that I have my favorites, and Lights Lacquer tops the list. The brand was founded by Youtuber KathleenLights, and her formula is highly pigmented, dries quickly, and is impressively chip-resistant. I love this bundle as a holiday gift because the colors can be worn throughout the winter season (and, really, year-round).
RICRIS Premium Makeup Brush Cleaner + Dryer
$29.99, amazon.com
This makeup brush cleaner has over 18,000 reviews on Amazon. I already bought it as a gift (and low-key want it for myself). Not only does the electronic device clean makeup brushes, but it dries them, too (and in seconds!), which is arguably the most frustrating part of the manual process.
COCO MINT Coconut Oil Body Scrub
Who doesn’t love a festive body scrub? This coconut oil-based option from Herbivore is the perfect beauty gift for the holiday season because it smells like a candy cane. I’m hard of smelling, but I’m instantly met with a whiff of this deliciously scented scrub as soon as I open its container.
MAC Lip By The Dozen Mini Powder Kiss Lipstick X 12
$89, ulta.com
MAC has won back my heart this year (does anyone else feel like it fell off the grid for a minute?). And while I have a list of products to wax poetic about from the brand, if I had to choose just one beauty gift from MAC this year, it would be this collection of 12 mini lipsticks. One, because it comes with a carrying case, and two, because MAC lipsticks are everything. Trust me. The color, the staying power, the feel on your lips. They are truly *chef’s kiss.*
Olaplex Strong Days Ahead Hair Kit
$55, amazon.com
Remember when Olaplex was just for blondes?
Wait, did I make that up?
Maybe it just felt like it was for blondes because that’s who was marketing it on social media.
Well, anyway, true or not, the brand caters to all hair colors and is offering some pretty awesome hair care kits as beauty gifts this year! This trifecta will keep their hair strong and healthy, so if you have a loved one who’s looking to strengthen their strands, you can’t beat this bundle.
TONYMOLY 24k Snail Everywhere Repair Gel
$19.89, amazon.com
My sister-in-law (hi, Maria!) and I had a whole conversation about the magic of snail in Asian skincare and then TonyMoly dropped a collection of snail secretion-filled products as if they’d eavesdropped on our chat! This tub gives your giftee a ton of bang for your buck. It’s loaded with snail (obviously), 24K gold, and Cica extract, so it’s gentle on sensitive skin types. Plus, it can be used on the face and body to “nourish, restore, and treat dry, dull, or irritated skin.”
Drybar The Double Shot Oval Blow-Dryer
$124, amazon.com
I’ve been using Drybar’s Double Shot Blow Dryer Brush for two years now, and I will recommend it to everyone and anyone until it’s discontinued. This is the styling tool I reach for when I don’t feel like straightening or curling my hair. It accentuates my layers, smoothes, and shines.
Maxi La Nuit - Gel Manicure Kit
$68, leminimacaron.com
I tested a lot of at-home gel manicure kits for Insider a while back, and I always return to Le Mini Macaron. The La Nuit is their latest home system, and it comes with the Le Maxi LED Lamp in shimmering white pearl, plus four mini gel polishes, including two exclusive shades, Clair de Lune and Enchanting Rouge. I am, clearly, a fan of DIY mani-pedis, and if your recipient favors gel tips, they’ll love this easy-to-use lamp.
LANEIGE Water Sleeping Mask
$32, amazon.com
If you’ve been a subscriber for a while, you know I take my nighttime skincare routine very seriously. I’ve been testing sleep masks recently, and this one from Laneige is a winner. It’s comparable to the Tatcha Water Cream, but it’s not just a moisturizer, it’s a moisturizing overnight mask that quenches your complexion’s thirst in the same way the brand’s lip mask hydrates your pout while you sleep.
Born This Way The Natural Nudes Eye Shadow Palette
$52, toofaced.com
I find myself simplifying my everyday makeup lately, with a neutral palette on rotation. A great option for anyone in the market for some new neutral shadows is The Natural Nudes palette from Too Faced. The brand’s powders are highly pigmented, easy to apply and build due to their creamy formula, and oh-so blendable.
Velvet Lip Kit
$35, kyliecosmetics.com
I’ve been a fan of Kylie Cosmetics since I first got my hands on a lip kit. That one was matte, and the formula was unlike anything I’d ever seen before. I recommend that OG lippie, too, but this holiday season, I’m pro velvet lip kit for a demi finish.
Innisfree Glow & Protect Set
$32, us.innisfree.com
Friends don’t let friends sleep on Innisfree. The brand’s daily sunscreen is the best I’ve tried. It lays gorgeously under makeup and makes your skin feel fresh. Sometimes I’ll skip makeup altogether and just apply a layer paired with a coat of mascara. But this kit also comes with its Dewy Glow Jelly Cream, a Cherry Blossom-infused moisturizer that amplifies the skin’s natural glow. Double win!
fine'ry. Mini EDP Perfume Gift Set
$27.99, target.com
Target came out with its brand of fragrances earlier this year and they’re amazing. So amazing that they are almost impossible to find in stores. Online, however, you can buy the scents individually, as a sample set, or as a gift set (see above). To learn more about this aromatic phenomenon, you can read my piece breaking down the scents and what they’re supposedly dupes for here.
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
$23, sephora.com
If they hopped on the liquid blush train this year, add one of Rare Beauty’s Soft Pinch formulas to their collection. This pigment is powerful. A little goes a very long way, so if they apply sparingly, they’ll get a ton of wear from this .25 oz product.
Mermade Hair Hair Styling Wax Stick
$25, nordstrom.com
The slicked-back bun and ponytail are getting even slicker, thanks to wax styling sticks, like this one from Mermade. The look is hard to achieve, so do them a solid and gift them this smoothing stick.
CANITORON Makeup Organizer
$58.99, amazon.com
I got this gorgeous makeup organizer for my niece's birthday this year and she loved it. I love it too. Like I said, it’s gorgeous and would look fantastic on a vanity or stored in the bathroom. It’s also spacious, with plenty of room for tubes, palettes, bottles, etc., and you can choose to include a matching brush holder in your purchase.
Conair Ceramic 1 1/2-inch and 1 3/4-inch Hot Rollers
$36.99, amazon.com
Conair’s ceramic hot rollers are my new obsession. I have a lot of hair and somehow there are enough rollers to transform my entire head of hair from straight to curled in minutes. It’s a great gift for styling newbies (like me) because it’s simple to use and the results look professional.
Innisfree like the perfume from Ireland?
I don't wash my makeup brushes nearly enough BC of the drying time...*Buy Now*! Thanks for these great suggestions, Julia!!