Beauty Gifts That Are Surprisingly Affordable (and Work)

If they’re looking to build out their skincare routine, this Mario Badescu product is a great place to start. Apply morning, night, or anytime they could use some extra glow. Their skin will feel hydrated and look supple after consistent use. PS: Add in this lip balm for the ultimate skincare gift. ($30, Mario Badescu)

Bobbi Brown’s newest makeup line is our current obsession, thanks to its quality and effortlessly natural vibe. This “miracle balm” comes in a handful of flattering tones that can be layered over your giftee’s go-to foundation, or worn alone. ($38, Jones Road Beauty)

Yes, this one is majorly worth the hype. The texture of Sol de Janeiro’s Brazilian Bum Bum Cream is thick and pillowy, but it absorbs into the skin pretty quickly. It’s made of coconut and açai oils to soften and hydrate, plus it has cupuaçu butter for elasticity. The best way we can describe the scent? Like the perfect day at the beach. So if they live in a place that’s bound to get ultra-cold and snowy, give them some sunshine in a tub. ($22+, Sephora)

OK, hear us out. If your beauty-obsessed friend has everything and you have no idea what to get them, they need these. The 10 brushes in this set can be used for absolutely everything from applying foundation and concealer to contouring, adding highlighter, and so much more. The dense dome shape will provide a smooth airbrushed effect, so they won’t have to worry about any harsh lines when applying their go-to products. ($14.98, Amazon)

Stocking stuffer alert. This affordable shadow applies easily as a cream, but dries down to a powder. Pick from over 40 waterproof shades to add into their rotation. ($16, Amazon)

Marry a razor that doesn't irritate your skin with a creamy body wash and a nourishing body lotion, and what do you get? The perfect giftable kit from Athena Club. If someone in your life is still using drugstore razors, it's time for a much-needed upgrade. This kit is only available during the holiday season, so don't wait. ($37, Athena Club)

This cult-favorite brand is well-loved for a reason. And this starter kit is the perfect way to introduce someone who isn’t already hooked. It comes with a serum primer, a hydrating gel serum and a brightening vitamin C serum. ($26, Ulta)

Tell your BFF to leave this in the freezer and take it out when they feel a migraine coming on, or want to depuff their skin or amp up their favorite mask. (It’s also great for cooling down after a workout.) This is the ultimate “I’ve seen it all over Instagram and I have yet to buy it” gift. Ice, ice baby. ($9.99, Amazon)

Hooray for not having to reach for their hot tools as much. This soft, satin curling set from Kitsch can reduce frizz and breakage. For easy curls, they’ll simply place the soft tube on top of their head, wrap their hair around it, and secure with the included scrunchies. After sleeping overnight, they’ll have effortless curls — without the heat. PS: Check out our full review. And get 25% off your order with code SKIMM25. ($16, Kitsch)

Three words: worth the hype. If it’s good enough for Selena Gomez, it’s more than good enough for us. This blush is highly pigmented, so just dab a few dots on your cheeks and blend out with a brush, your fingers, or a Beautyblender. It comes in more than 10 shades, both matte and radiant, so you’re sure to find the right pigment for you. ($23, Sephora)

Meet our newest obsession. This rip-resistant towel from Goshi is made from a quick-dry fabric that has a combination of lathering and exfoliating threads. Just pair with a mini body wash for the ultimate gift. Hello, smooth skin. ($17.49, Amazon)

Gifting a facial in a bottle is a yes from us. This bestselling product from Paula’s Choice has salicylic acid and green tea to clear pores and brighten. Swipe it on with some cotton pads after cleansing and follow up with moisturizer. ($13+, Amazon)

Made from water-based inks and recycled fabrics, these satin bonnets are a huge hair hack. One of our editors wears one while sleeping, and she wakes up with significantly smoother hair and reduced frizz. The strawberry print is adorable, but we can't help but love the orange. Psst...our editor also recs washing the bonnet by hand since the fabric is delicate. ($25, Ecoslay)

The best part of the holidays? Giving them a product that they wouldn’t think to buy for themselves. A body lotion that also exfoliates probably isn’t on their list, but they’re going to love this one from Glow Recipe. Skimm’rs adore the face mask from this line, and this cream is everything. It has AHAs to gently exfoliate and help with uneven texture, hyaluronic acid for hydration, and watermelon seed butter for the creamiest texture. They need this (and you do, too). ($26, Sephora)

Another TikTok-adored product that actually works. This highlighter from Saie can be worn on its own, or on the cheekbones over other layers of makeup. Your giftee can also mix it with SPF, moisturizer, or their favorite foundation. TLDR, it can do it all. It even has vitamin C to brighten the skin. ($28, Saie)

One of our editors swears by this entire line. This fine-mist spray from Futurewise will add that extra boost of hydration to any skincare routine. Mist on to prep the skin, or use it as a topper throughout the day. And the fact that you can find it at Target? Major win. ($29.99, Target)

Lather this up, ASAP. When it hits the water, this almond oil transforms into a milky foam that’ll gently cleanse your body, leaving it velvety-soft. One HQ’r said that it feels like you’re rubbing pure softness on your skin, which sounds like exactly what the doctor ordered. We’ll take 10 for gifting season, please. ($29+, Ulta)

It’s soft, won’t irritate sensitive skin, and can help end their reliance on single-use makeup remover wipes. The trick is in the fabric — all they have to do is add water. Once their face is clean, they can toss it in the laundry. More magical than Santa. ($20, Sephora)

There’s nothing better than a rich hair mask. This collagen coating protein treatment will be the perfect way for them to add shine and moisture. To use, they’ll apply to the ends of their hair and leave on for five minutes. Glossy blowout, here they come. ($9.78+, Amazon)

Just pop one in and chill. These jasmine- and rose-scented bath bombs are as relaxing as they are moisturizing. They have jojoba seed oil to hydrate and support your skin barrier, safflower seed oil to help with skin texture, and hemp seed oil for boosting calm. Bath time isn’t just for kids. ($15, Amazon)

Their lips will feel hydrated and pillowy in the morning after applying this. Skimm HQ'rs love — and we mean love — this famous Laneige overnight lip mask. Apply a generous layer to the lips before bed and let the vitamin C and antioxidants work their magic. This one comes in five different scents and includes an applicator to help keep fingers clean. Plus, it can be worn during the day for a glossy, healthy look. Your giftee’s obsession will be real, promise. ($20.16+, Amazon)

This Mielle scalp oil has earned a cult following on BeautyTok. It’s made with all the ingredients their scalp and hair will love, including biotin and 30 plant oils, like zingy rosemary and peppermint to soothe itchy scalps. Customers swear by this for hydrating dry scalps, helping damaged hair, and so much more. ($9.97, Walmart)

As we already mentioned, nothing screams the holidays like a mini set of lip products. This NYX Butter Gloss feels feather-light, is buildable for sheer-to-medium coverage, and hydrates to make lips soft and smooth. Their old gloss could never. ($14.38, Amazon)