A shopping editor who’s known for giving good gifts recommends these 40 must-have skincare, beauty, and self-care products as holiday presents. Shop Olaplex, Merit, Bandolier, and more.

From salt and pepper shakers to LED skincare wands.

If giving good gifts is an art, then I am Pablo Picasso. And that’s not me tooting my own horn; I’ve heard this from dozens of my gift receivers over the years. The real testament to my gift, I think, is that people who receive something from me subsequently come to me for advice on what to give. So, I present you with 40 of the best gifts I can think of, ranging from $24 salt and pepper shakers to $129 LED skincare wands.

My gift-giving principle is that presents should fall into one or more of the following categories: Things they want but can’t justify buying for themselves, practical things that will improve their life, trendy items, things they have but always need more of, and luxe or kitschy versions of everyday products.

Shop My Top 6 Gifts:

The most wished for: Solawave 4-in-1 Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand, $129 (Originally $169; solawave.co The most unexpected beauty gift: Santa Maria Novella Melograno Scented Terracotta Room Diffuser, $75; fwrd.com Merit Beauty Five Minute Morning Set, $176 (Originally $206); meritbeauty.com Mosser Glass Bathing Beauty Dish, $40; food52.com Notte Baby Adoro Earrings, $59; nottejewelry.com For the most serious makeup lover: Isamaya Industrial Collection Set, $200; modaoperandi.com

Solawave 4-in-1 Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand

Buy on Solawave.co $169 $127

I’ll start with the most-wished for product of all my gift recommendations: the Solawave 4-in-1 Skincare Wand. This wand harnesses the science-backed power of red light therapy and microcurrents to stimulate collagen production, thereby reducing wrinkles, toning facial muscles to tighten and firm skin, minimizing puffiness, and prepping your skin to better absorb skincare products. The wand has 700+ five-star reviews and a celebrity fan base that includes Jennifer Coolidge, Nicole Kidman, and Sydney Sweeney. 

Santa Maria Novella Melograno Scented Terracotta Room Diffuser

Buy Now $75

I could write a thesis about Santa Maria Novella fragrances, but I’ll keep it relatively short: The brand was founded 800 years ago by a group of monks in Florence, and the brand still operates out of the very same monastery and church today. Despite being around since the plague, this is an in-the-know brand that specializes in perfumes and colognes, but the terracotta pomegranate room diffuser is my personal favorite product.

It looks like decor but the terracotta is actually soaked in fragrance which slowly disperses over time. I have seen such glee and surprise on people’s faces when they receive this and even get follow-ups from people asking “where did you get this?” years later. When the fragrance is completely gone from the pomegranate, you can still keep it around as a sculpture. It keeps selling out everywhere so hop on this preorder opportunity while you can.

Shop Gifts Under $50 

For the person who spends too much time in the bathtub: Fur Bath Drops, $38; ulta.com For the Swiftie who’s suddenly into football: Baublebar Kansas City Chiefs NFL Jersey Ornament, $46 (Originally $58); baublebar.com  Affordable but personalized jewelry: Tangerine Jewelry Pave Sideway Initial Necklace, $42; tangerinejewelryshop.com The hand sanitizer upgrade: Toiletpaper Beauty Trust Kit Hand Kit, $42; shopbop.com For the friend who travels like it’s their job: Calpak Medium Compression Packing Cubes, $48; calpaktravel.com For the person always on TikTok: Drunk Elephant a Day in the Sun Set, $29; ulta.com Credo Skin Care Spotlight Gift Set, $55; credobeauty.com Chanel Baume Essentiel Multi-Use Glow Stick, $47; chanel.com Pretty Sh*tty Cakes UO Exclusive Cake Salt & Pepper Shaker Set, $24; urbanoutfitters.com Aesop Sarashina Aromatique Incense, $43; aesop.com  Glossier Balm Dotcom Trio, $36 (Originally $42); glossier.com
Golden Botticelli Tarot Card Deck, $27; amazon.com Lana Faux Fur Throw Blanket, $49; urbanoutfitters.com The Sill Norfolk Island Pine Tree, $38 (Originally $48); thesill.com Starface Big Lil Starter Kit, $33 (Originally $39); starface.world

Fur Bath Drops

Buy Now $38

I’m that person who spends the entirety of winter in their tub, and as such, I have tested more bubbles, salts, and bath products than most people know exist. My favorite is Fur’s Bath Drops that look like the bath beads of my childhood, except they’re better both for you and the environment. The casing is made of environmentally friendly seaweed that’s good for the skin thanks to a combination of oils that soften, nourish, and hydrate your skin. The smell is divine, but I also love that it undoes the drying effects of my frequent baths. It’s an affordable yet indulgent gift. 

Chanel Baume Essentiel Multi-Use Glow Stick

Buy Now $47

There are TikTok trending products that appear out of nowhere and disappear just as fast. That is unsurprisingly not the case with Chanel’s Baume Essentiel Multi-Use Glow Stick. The heritage brand makes products outside of the hype cycle and they therefore have a timelessness and longevity that is difficult to replicate. 

People will be as thrilled now as they would have been a few months ago to receive Chanel’s all-purpose highlighter stick. It’s natural and seamless with skin and it adds a healthy dewyness to wherever you apply it. You won’t get large flakes of glitter or overwhelming shimmer; it’s more like a ring light in a stick. 

Shop Gifts Over $50

For the person who doesn’t have time for professional treatments: Glo Skin Beauty Radiant Spa Day Kit, $41 with code CM23 (Originally $55); gloskinbeauty.com For the person who takes hydration (and decor) seriously: Maison Balzac J’ai Soif Carafe Set, $89; frwd.com The fail-safe: Olaplex Strong Days Ahead Hair Kit, $55; sephora.com For the person who could use an extra hand: Bandolier Emma Crossbody Phone Case and Wallet, $98; bandolierstyle.com ​​L’Occitane Classic Beauty Advent Calendar, $80; amazon.com Care FP Large Oaxaca Candle, $58; freepeople.com DedCool Laundry Day Set, $80 (Originally $100); dedcool.com Tory Burch Kira Chevron Card Case, $98; toryburch.com Great Jones Beyond Measure Duo, $60 (Originally $70); greatjonesgoods.com Kindred Black Savannah Viper Lip Oil, $98; kindredblack.com For the person with an 11-step skincare routine: Etoile Collective Mini Skincare Holder, $65; revolve.com Sunday Edition Ash Candle, $68; sundayeditionstudio.com Winston Porter Terracotta Sunrise Stained Glass Window Panel, $61 (Originally $73); wayfair.com For the person impatiently awaiting The Laundress’ return: The Laundress The Classic Gift Set, $64; thelaundress.com Cuyana Travel Case Set, $168; cuyana.com Estelle Colored Glass Stemware Set of 6, $185; shopbop.com MoMA The George Sowden Portable Lamp, $129; westelm.com
Hill House Home The Hotel Robe, $148; hillhousehome.com Lake Pajamas Pima Long-Short Weekend Set in Blue Snowflake, $98; lakepajamas.com The Dermstore Holiday Beauty Box, $130 (Originally $798); dermstore.com The crowd pleaser: Wthn Acupressure Mat Set, $78; wthn.com

Glo Skin Beauty Radiant Spa Day Kit

Buy on Gloskinbeauty.com $55 $41

I was introduced to Glo Skin Beauty’s DIY facial kits during the early stages of COVID-19. With spas and salons closed, I was left to my own (skincare) devices, which was going very poorly until I got one of these kits that were created to replicate the efficacy of professional treatments at home. The brand has extensive 10-plus piece kits, but I’m a fan of the three-piece Glo Skin Beauty Radiant Spa Day Kit. It includes an application spatula, Hydra-Bright Pro 5 Liquid Exfoliant, and Hydra-Bright AHA Glow Mask and costs 33 percent less than if you were to buy the individual items. 

I like chemical peels, but I am usually too lazy (er – busy) to make room for another extracurricular appointment, so I rely on this, and when I don’t use it at least once a week, my skin becomes noticeably dull, bumpy, and congested. In 10 minutes, it makes my skin brighter, refreshed, and more even in tone and texture. I’ll be giving this to many of the people who tell me they wish they could get a facial or peel but can’t afford it or don’t have the time. 

Bandolier Emma Crossbody Phone Case and Wallet

Buy on Bandolierstyle.com $98

There are two types of people in the world: People who have a Bandolier case and people who could benefit from a phone case that has a crossbody strap and small wallet. InStyle editors and celebrities like Martha Stewart, Blake Lively, and Eva Longoria are in the former camp. And anyone in the latter group will be beyond thankful to receive a Bandolier Phone Case. My older sister, for example, is constantly running around with her two-year-old daughter and asking, “Where did I put my phone?” She’s definitely getting one of these and so is the friend who puts her phone in her bra strap for safekeeping. 

Isamaya Industrial Collection Set

Buy on Modaoperandi.com $200

Pretty Sh*tty Cakes Salt & Pepper Shaker Set

Buy on Urban Outfitters $24

Wthn Acupressure Mat Set

Buy on Wthn.com $78

Kindred Black Savannah Viper Lip Oil

Buy on Kindredblack.com $98

Merit Five Minute Morning Set

Buy Now $206 $176

Golden Botticelli Tarot Card Deck

Buy on Amazon $27

Glossier Balm Dotcom Trio

Buy on Glossier.com $42 $35

Great Jones Beyond Measure Duo

Buy on Greatjonesgoods.com $80 $70

Notte Baby Adoro Earrings

Buy on Nottejewelry.com $59

Mosser Glass Bathing Beauty Dish

Buy on Food52 $40