While it may not be totally in the spirit of the season, we frequently come home from holiday shopping with tons of gifts for ourselves. We're not trying to be selfish . . . it's just that so many of the beauty offerings this time of year are perfect in every way. They're travel-sized, adorably packaged, and (more often than not) limited-edition, which means we absolutely need them in our stash. Don't believe us? Read on. So far, we've found a precious lip balm wearing a sweater, a book of sheet masks, a lash curler bedecked in bling, and so many more products you'll need to buy. (Whether you give them away is up to you!)
Her liquid lipsticks may be Kat Von D's bestselling product, and this eight-piece gift ($49) contains eight deluxe tubes of the cult formula. In addition to iconic shades like hot pink Backstage Bambi and Mauve Mother, you'll get two new shades: Plath (deep red) and Roxy (grape).
This precious set of lacquers ($29) (foil, shimmer, glitter, and cream finishes) is housed inside a festive snow globe. Mix and match them for bespoke, festive finger tips!
Living Proof's dry shampoo is a cult favorite due to its ability to wick serious sweat, oil, and dirt out of the hair and leave it feeling fresh. In this giftable trio ($25), You'll get a bottle of it along with mini tubes of shampoo and conditioner that cleanse and nourish hair without weighing it down, so you can really stretch out the time between wash days.
There's a reason this setting spray is in the kit of nearly every makeup artist: it locks down your look for up to 16 hours (even in intense heat and humidity). For the holidays, you can grab two full-sized bottles in one gift set ($39). We're keeping one on our vanity and one on our desks for mid-day touchups.
If you weren't already obsessed with this decadent drugstore formula, you can now snag it wrapped in an adorable sweater design ($3, available in November). The rose-scented balm will soften away any flakes while sealing in moisture to stave off chapped lips.
If you can't afford to gift your BFF baubles, this soft blue lacquer ($10) is the next best thing. Try painting white bows on your ring fingernails as a sweet accent.
These single sheet masks ($3) are so affordable, you'll want to stock up. You'll be obsessed with the delectable coconut scent, but the treatment's nourishing, skin-soothing properties are what will have you hooked.
Make that blowout last for party after party with this strand-refreshing set ($29). You'll get a dry shampoo to cleanse roots, dry conditioner to nourish ends, and a 3-in-1 styler that restores texture, volume, and fullness to tired hair.
This book of sheet masks ($37) is the perfect prescription for dull, Winter-worn skin. Pick from treatments for dryness, enlarged pores, pallid complexions, or sagging, then slap one on and relax as you watch Netflix.
We're obsessed with the Amuse Bouche lipsticks here at POPSUGAR, so we're hoping to get this (pardon the pun!) bite-sized gift set ($25) in our stocking. Inside the punchy red tin is four of those creamy lipsticks in flattering neutral shades that we'll wear all year.
Smoky eye, cat eye, or cut crease, these pretty, gold-flecked eye brushes ($22) can do it all. The portable tin case makes it easy to stuff the set in your purse before a night out.
While this snake-adorned cup ($13, available in November exclusively at Target) is meant to hold makeup brushes, it'd also be a stunning way to store eye pencils, lip liners, and other beauty tools.
This travel-sized trio ($49, available in November) contains the brand's bestselling formulas — a blowdry lotion, texturizing spray, and hairspray — to ensure that no matter where you go, your hair will always look flawless.
This stain was Benefit's first product, and in honor of the brand's 40th birthday, the team is giving the bottle the royal treatment. The limited-edition packaging on this formula ($32) pays tribute to its delicate rose scent and tint, which flatters all complexions. Fun fact: Benetint was originally developed as a nipple stain for exotic dancers.
These beloved tinted lip balms ($29) provide a sheer wash of color, nourishing hydration, and sun protection all in one swipe. The mini-sized tubes in this gift set are ideal for tucking in a tiny clutch — try wearing the Honey shade on a night you rock a smoky eye.
This quintet of impossibly luxe hand creams ($32) are elegantly perfumed with scents inspired by European femme fatales. Unlike many formulas, these absorb quickly and leave your fingers soft and nourished, not greasy.
After a weekend of rowdy holiday parties, treat your skin's hangover with this masking set from Caudalie ($39). Whether you're looking to restore radiance, infuse your complexion with moisture, or completely detox, this trio will provide you with everything your face needs to be vibrant again.
Whether she's trying false lashes for the first time or a seasoned pro, this affordable kit ($12) is a must have. Inside is two fluttery strips of falsies, glue, and a tweezer-like tool that will make application a snap.
This affordable five-piece set ($18) is the perfect pampering gift for a friend (or yourself!). It contains hand cream, body scrub, body wash, and body butter — all with the brand's signature fruity-floral scent — plus a matching pink pouf.
You'll feel confident puckering up under the mistletoe once you apply this rich, glossy balm. It boasts a blend of butters and oils (including murumuru, shea, and sweet almond) to leave lips soft, as well as Moroccan mint leaf to freshen your breath.
You and your work wives can avoid that dreaded office cold with this hand sanitizer trio ($10). The coconut, lemon, and vanilla scent is refreshing, not overpowering, and the formula is loaded with aloe to keep hands soft.
Believe the hype: celebrity stylist Jen Atkin's hair brand Ouai is outstanding. If you haven't tested the line out yet, pick up this pint-sized quartet ($25). It includes a texturizing spray, finishing creme, hair ties, and (our favorite!) wave spray, which imparts an effortless, beachy look to strands.
A red manicure is a classic option for the holidays, but we'll never say no to adding a bit of bling. Deborah Lippmann's Ice Queen duo ($17) contains a glossy cherry red lacquer and a gold-flecked topcoat to layer on for a more festive finish.
If your BFF is obsessed with her eyelashes, she needs this glamorous gift set ($20). In addition to a travel-sized tube of Tarte's lash-lengthening mascara, she'll snag a sparkling, rhinestone-encrusted curler that she'll want to use in public just to show it off.
Winter weather can be especially harsh on kinky and coily strands, so gift the curly girl in your life with this nourishing hair mask set ($38). She'll receive a deep-conditioning potion along with three oils — shine-enhancing coconut, hydrating black castor, and smoothing brassica seed — to customize her treatment.