(Image credit: @aniyahmorinia)
I hate to admit it, but I don’t consider myself the best gift-giver. (This is a safe space, right?) Even though I’m constantly shopping for work and for myself, I often wait until the last minute to buy gifts. I find myself rushing through aisles trying to find something that works instead of curating a gift that perfectly matches someone’s personality or style. One of my resolutions for 2024 was to spend more time sourcing thoughtful gifts for my friends and family, and thankfully, this resolution didn’t fall off my radar (like my others did back in February).
I’m determined to start my holiday shopping early this year, so I sifted through thousands of products to find the 29 best beauty items. To challenge myself even further, I focused on finding products that are $29 and under. Below, you’ll find everything from moisturizing hand creams and lip balm sets to multivitamins and scalp massagers. If you want to follow my lead and be crowned the best gift-giver this holiday season, just keep scrolling.
Burt’s Bees
Merry Berry Gift Set – Lip Balm, Squeezy Tinted Balm, and Hand Cream
I’m always forgetting my lip balm and begging my co-workers for hand cream, so this is the perfect set to leave at my desk.
Milani
Cheek Kiss Cream Blush in Blushing Berry
This is highly pigmented and the perfect berry color for fall.
The best part of wash day is when this scalp massager comes out. Not only does it feel euphoric, but it gives me the best exfoliating massage from the comfort of my home.
Burt’s Bees
Kissable Color Gift Set in Warm
Give the gift of soft, bright and shimmery lips. They’ll thank you later.
Burt’s Bees
Kissable Color Gift Set in Frosty
I’d be remiss not to include this set in the frosty shade.
Instagram marketing does it again! The pink shade went straight from my feed to my bathroom counter.
Burt’s Bees
Mistletoe Kiss Holiday Gift Set
All of your lip care and color needs in one cute set. No gift wrapping necessary.
All the beauty influencers I trust swear by this brush. Give this luxe find to your friends who are building their makeup kits.
Burt’s Bees
Beeswax Bounty Classic Lip Balm Holiday Gift Set
When it comes to lip balms, the limit does not exist.
Tower 28 Beauty
SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray With Hypochlorous Acid
This is an award-winning facial spray for a reason. I like to think of this as a chill pill for stressed-out skin. No more redness, inflammation, or flare-ups.
Burt’s Bees
Hive Favorites – Beeswax Lip Balm & Travel Size Body Lotion
I’m filing this $5 moisturizing duo under “in-flight essential.” It’s perfect for the person in your life who is always catching flights.
Olly
Women’s Multivitamin
When it comes to self-care, makeup and skincare often take precedence over wellness. But with these must-have multivitamins, you can treat your friends to a gift that will support them from the inside out.
E.l.f. Cosmetics
Bronzing Drops in Copper Gold
Give the gift of a summer glow in the winter.
Burt’s Bees
Hive Favorites – Lip Balm and Body Lotion Gift Set in Vanilla
They don’t call this a hive favorite for nothing. This vanilla bean flavor screams holidays.
Burt’s Bees
Mini Tinted Lip Balm Trio
I know that three conditioning lip treatments with naturally derived ingredients for $5 sounds too good to be true, but it’s real and waiting for you.
Burt’s Bees
Honey Pot Gift Set
As always, Burt’s Bees is an overachiever in the benefits department. The beeswax lip balm is infused with golden honey and vitamin E to soothe dry lips, the moisturizing body lotion nourishes dry skin for up to 24 hours, and the hand cream infuses your skin with hydration, giving it the softest feel.
Briogeo
Style + Treat Hair Styling Sleek Stick
Meet the cherry on top of a slick-back style.
Burt’s Bees
Mask Bundle Gift Set
The gift of self-care and relaxation is unmatched. Plan a night to decompress and bring these masks with you!
Djerf Avenue Beauty
On the Go Styling Gel
The entire WWW beauty team tried this styling gel and gave it rave reviews.
All it takes is two pumps to achieve that lit-from-within-glow.
OPI
Infinite Shine Long-Wear Nail Polish
Nail polish will forever be an exciting stocking stuffer. The Big Red Apple color fits into every seasonal trend.
Elemis
Travel Size Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
FYI, this melts makeup like no other. It’s a staple in my double-cleansing routine.
Bread Beauty Supply
Bread Puff: Hair & Wrist Scrunchie
When it’s not wrapped around your updos, it’s a chic accessory on your wrist.
L’Oreal Paris
Telescopic Lift Volumizing Mascara
This drugstore mascara went viral on TikTok two years ago, and I’ve been using it ever since. It is absolutely worth the hype.
After 219 reviews and a 4.5 star rating, I’m sold.
For the friend whose goal is to have sleek and frizz-free hair.
This is a holiday hack if I’ve ever seen one. Get salon-quality nails in half the time and for less than $10.
One/Size
On ‘Til Dawn Setting Spray – Travel Size
Not all viral products deserve a 5-star rating, but this one does. It’s waterproof, rub-proof, and transfer-proof. Need I say more?
Stila Cosmetics
Stay All Day Smudge & Set Waterproof Gel Eye Liner
Emphasis on “stay all day.” The beauty lovers in your life deserve an eyeliner that won’t budge.
