The Pros Have Spoken: These Are the Best Holiday Beauty Gifts of 2023

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Photo Illustration: Michelle Alfonso
shop.nordstrom.com
Photo Illustration: Michelle Alfonso
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Wanna know the only thing more cringeworthy than your Uncle Joe telling the same dirty joke over latkes during the holiday season? Watching someone feign delight after unwrapping a gift they hate . . . especially if it's from you. (Pro tip: the person in your family who geeks out over skin care and makeup probably doesn't want an air fryer.)

To help keep the awkward level down to a manageable two — and because it's hard to offend anyone on the other end of a fancy Diptyque candle or Tatcha skin-care set — we've asked POPSUGAR editors to share the foolproof beauty gifts they'll be giving (and also most likely keeping) this year. No, really: some products are so good, they were recommended twice. Regardless of your budget or giftee, we've got you covered. Keep scrolling for some of the best skin-care, fragrance, hair, and body-care gifts.

As for how to deal with inappropriate relatives? Well, you're on your own there.

Best Fragrance Gift Set
sephora.com

Best Fragrance Gift Set

Maison Margiela Replica Mini Coffret Set ($75)

"Buying someone a fragrance is like playing a game of The Price Is Right: it's one big gamble, and there's a 50 percent chance your guess is wrong. This mini gift set from Maison Margiela gives you a little bit of a safety net. It comes with five scents across every fragrance family — By the Fireplace is warm and woody; Bubble Bath is clean and fresh; Lazy Sunday Morning is bright and floral; Beach Walk is crisp and milky; and Jazz Club is spicy and bold — so guessing someone's favorite becomes a little more fun." — Kelsey Castañon, senior content director

Best Body-Care Gift Set
sephora.com

Best Body-Care Gift Set

Sol de Janeiro Rio Body Cream Trio Set ($38)

"The Sol de Janeiro Rio Body Cream Trio Set is such a treat. It features three of the brand's best-selling body butters: the iconic Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, the Bom Dia Bright Cream with Vitamin C, and the Beija Flor Elasti-Cream. They'll leave your skin feeling silky soft and make you smell delicious." — Jessica Harrington, senior beauty editor

Best Lip Balm Gift Set
target.com

Best Lip Balm Gift Set

Eos Holiday Lip Balm Sphere Trio ($10)

"Show me someone who doesn't love the tiny orbs from Eos and I'll show you a liar. These cute lip balm spheres have become somewhat iconic for anyone who's ever experienced the chapped hell that comes every winter (slowly raises hand), and now they are available in three delectably festive scents for the holiday season. Divvy them up into three separate stocking stuffers, or gift it on its own to a very lucky person." — Kelsey Castañon, senior content director

Best Blush Gift Set
sephora.com

Best Blush Gift Set

NARS Invite Only Mini Afterglow Liquid Blush Set ($45)

"Perfect as three mini presents or one perfect gift set, the NARS Invite Only Mini Afterglow Liquid Blush Set is for blush lovers who prefer something on the more natural side. I've been enjoying this formula for a while and have been dying for new shades, and this kit delivered with the release of the exclusive-to-the-kit shade Orgasm Rush — a delicious rosy bronze." — Ariel Baker, assistant beauty editor

Best Hair-Tool Gift
sephora.com

Best Hair-Tool Gift

Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete ($599)

"To know me is to know how much I love my Dyson Airwrap. I use it every single time I wash my hair, because there truly is no other tool that works as well. They recently released a new version with a bigger round brush attachment, and I've been using it nonstop. Overall, it's the perfect tool for a bouncy blowout, loose waves, or even a straight-hair look. I don't say this lightly: my hair could not survive without it." — Renee Rodriguez, writer and social producer

Best Gift With Purchase
drunkelephant.com

Best Gift With Purchase

Drunk Elephant Trunk 7.0 ($465)

"Every holiday season, I look forward to Drunk Elephant's limited-edition trunk gift like a giddy 13-year-old girl, and this year's might be the most squeal-inducing yet. Not only is it brimming with 10 full-size skin-care goodies — shout out to my all-time favorites, the Protini Cream, C-Firma Fresh Serum, and D-Bronzi drops — but it also comes housed in a cool-as-hell green Baboon to the Moon backpack (which I already own two of in varying sizes already, so you know it's good)." — Kelsey Castañon, senior content director

Best Lip-Oil Gift Set
sephora.com

Best Lip-Oil Gift Set

Ami Colé Hydrating Lip Treatment Oil Set ($42)

"Ami Colé can do no wrong with these lip oils. Seriously. The formula is plumping — but not in a typical pain-inducing menthol-y way. They are so shiny — thanks to the addition of three oils in the formula — that they make your lips look bigger because of the way the light shines on them. The set is a must have and includes a new color: Romance, a gorgeous plummy burgundy shade that is a match made in heaven for the holidays." — Ariel Baker, assistant beauty editor

Best Dual-Purpose Git Set
burtsbees.com

Best Dual-Purpose Git Set

Burt's Bees Comfy Tips & Toes Set ($38)

"I know, I know: socks aren't exactly the sexiest holiday gift. But pair a cute wool set with head-to-toe hydrators from Burt's Bees — including its coconut foot cream, classic hand salve, lemon cuticle cream, beeswax lip balm, and more — and you've got the coziest, most practical present out there." — Kelsey Castañon, senior content director

Best Beauty Stocking Stuffer
ulta.com

Best Beauty Stocking Stuffer

Marc Jacobs Daisy Drops Love ($30)

"Hello, perfect stocking stuffer, are you there? These pint-size fragrance house drops its classic fragrance in capsule form, making them the perfect gift for travelers, busy bees, and beauty lovers alike. Just twist, squeeze, and apply." — Kelsey Castañon, senior content director

Best Brightening Gift Set
sephora.com

Best Brightening Gift Set

Sunday Riley Morning Buzz Vitamin C Trio Kit ($98)

"Here's the thing: everyone should be using vitamin C in their skin-care routine. If you (or someone you're shopping for) don't know where to start when building out the proper lineup, the Sunday Riley Morning Buzz Vitamin C Trio Kit makes it so easy. Inside are minis of the Afterglow Brightening Vitamin C Gel Cream, the C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum, and the C.E.O. Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Face Oil, which will all help brighten, protect, and plump your skin." — Jessica Harrington, senior beauty editor

Best Candle Gift Set
nordstrom.com

Best Candle Gift Set

Boy Smells Holiday Votive Trio Candle Set ($68)

"If the best things come in threes — and I'd argue that they do, considering the Sanderson Sisters and BLTs exist — then it should be no surprise that this gift set is a must have for the holiday season. Each candle smells as delicious as the next, so whether your giftee likes an aroma of incense burning at an indoor rock concert (that'd be Incensorial) or something sexy and sultry (like Broken Rosary), you can't go wrong with this one." — Kelsey Castañon, senior content director

Best Glowy Makeup Set
sephora.com

Best Glowy Makeup Set

Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Mini Blush & Glow 4-Piece Set ($34)

"I have an inexplicable amount of Rare Beauty blushes, and I have to say, as much as I adore them, I likely won't ever finish them. That's why I encourage people to always buy the minis if they can. This kit will make the perfect entry in the world of the brand's blushes and highlighters in some of their most popular and universal shades. These products are so pigmented, you probably won't be able to finish them either, but it's a serious bang for your buck if you ask me." — Ariel Baker, assistant beauty editor

Best Diffuser Gift
nordstrom.com

Best Diffuser Gift

Jo Malone London Fresh Fig & Cassis Reed Diffuser ($215)

"Yes, this reed diffuser is on the pricier side, but if there is even one person in your life you love and want to impress, it is worth every penny. The ivory, cement-like vessel looks like it belongs in Kim Kardashian's Tadao Ando–designed home, and yet somehow the scent — a refreshing blend of ripe fig and herby greens — is even more immaculate." — Kelsey Castañon, senior content director

Best Candle Gift
nordstrom.com

Best Candle Gift

Diptyque Sapin Scented Candle ($50)

"In my personal opinion, you can't go wrong with giving a candle for the holidays. Every year, Diptyque releases the most magical holiday collection, and this year is no different. My favorite is the Diptyque Sapin, which smells like a real-life Christmas tree and just screams the holidays. Better yet, the glass vessel that it comes in is decorated in black, gold, and white stars, making it a piece of decor in its own right." — Jessica Harrington, senior beauty editor

Best Face-Mask Gift Set
sephora.com

Best Face-Mask Gift Set

Sephora Collection Holy Sheet Mask Set ($50)

"Something like two or three years into my job as a beauty editor, I inadvertently decided to take on the job of holiday elf every Christmas. Each year, I'd lug home a suitcase packed to the brim with carefully selected beauty minis to fill my entire family's stockings. (I know, I know: best gift-giver award, right?) Then, as it goes, my mom got pickier, my five siblings got partners, and my stocking stuffer count all but quadrupled. Recently, I decided to pare it back — I could blame at least three gray hairs a year on this venture — and now, I wait for Sephora's perfect all-in-one gift set that I can divvy up into dozens of mini gifts. Enter the Sephora Collection Holy Sheet Holiday Set, a sheet-mask masterpiece with 18 curated options for the face, eyes, hands, and feet that I know they'll appreciate . . . without all the stress." — Kelsey Castañon, senior content director

Best Eyeshadow-Stick Gift Set
sephora.com

Best Eyeshadow-Stick Gift Set

Bobbi Brown Mini Party Prep Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick Duo ($25)

"The Bobbi Brown Mini Party Prep Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick Duo is exactly the type of stocking stuffer I want to receive. You get two mini-size cream eyeshadow sticks in shades Golden Pink and Dusty Mauve. They're perfect for travel or keeping in your purse for that post-work, pre-happy-hour touch-up. Cream sticks make applying a fun eye-makeup look so easy — you can't mess it up." — Jessica Harrington, senior beauty editor

Best Candle Stocking Stuffer
byredo.com

Best Candle Stocking Stuffer

Byredo Wick Trimmer ($25)

"If you know someone with a serious candle obsession (hi, Mom), then get them something that falls in line with their core values but isn't the same boring gift everyone else will also be giving them — like this wick trimmer from Byredo. It's thoughtful and inventive." — Kelsey Castañon, senior content director

Best Luxury Skin-Care Gift
lyma.life

Best Luxury Skin-Care Gift

Lyma Laser Device ($2,695)

"This isn't something I've personally tried, but it's been on my wish list for months. A contributor recently reviewed it and showed off her amazing results — skin that was less inflamed and red — and that only upped my need for it. It's the first hand-held medical-grade device that you can use at home for in-office results. This product has a steep price tag, but considering the cost of an actual in-office treatment, in my opinion, it's worth it. Now I just have to convince Santa Claus. . . . " — Renee Rodriguez, writer and social producer

Best Powder Blush Set
sephora.com

Best Powder Blush Set

Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Best-Selling Blurring Buddies Sett ($30)

"Danessa Myricks Beauty absolutely floored me with its yummy skin blushes earlier this year, so it should be no surprise that I had to get the limited-edition gift set for the holidays — and it lives up to all my long-held expectations. It comes with a new pink shade of the formula called It Girl ($30) and their classic blurring formula in the shade Universal, which can act as a primer under makeup or powder over a full face." — Ariel Baker, assistant beauty editor

Best Fragrance Gift
sephora.com

Best Fragrance Gift

Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia ($168)

"Buying someone a designer handbag may not be in the cards this year (or for the majority of years, if you're me), but gifting something fancy-shmancy doesn't have to cost a fortune. Take the Gucci Flora, for example: one spritz, and it will instantly transport them to drinking mimosas in a Parisian garden. As such, never has giving a Gucci gift felt more practical." — KC

Bet Lip-Glaze Gift Set
sephora.com

Bet Lip-Glaze Gift Set

InnBeauty Project Glaze For Days 4-Piece Lip Oil Set ($48)

"InnBeauty Project makes some of my favorite lip oils, and with this set, you get to try four different shades. Inside is Candy Apple, a bright red; Merlot, a deep wine; Vanilla Mint, a shimmery clear; and Cinnamon Bun, a spiced pink. Each smells and tastes exactly as you'd expect. The formula is so juicy (but never sticky) and provides your lips with long-lasting hydration. I find myself reapplying hourly just because I can't get enough." — Jessica Harrington, senior beauty editor

Best Body Treatment Gift Set
maelyscosmetics.com

Best Body Treatment Gift Set

Maelys Mini Icons Limited Edition Holiday Kit ($72)

"Any dermatologist will tell you: proper skin care doesn't end at the face. In fact, if you have a skin-care aficionado on your holiday list, you'd be doing them a disservice if you didn't treat them from the neck down. That's where this body-care set comes in: it's got a travel-sized lotion that targets every imaginable area, including your arms, bum, belly, and even your breasts." — Kelsey Castañon, senior content director

Best LED Face-Mask Gift
therabody.com

Best LED Face-Mask Gift

TheraFace Mask LED Light Therapy Skincare Device ($599)

"I've been using the TheraFace mask for a couple of months now, and in my opinion it's the most luxurious face mask on the market — which makes it the perfect gift. Not only does it have red, red and infrared, and blue lights to help reduce fine lines and acne, but it also has massaging vibration features that I've never seen on any other LED mask, and I've tested a lot. This one is pricey, but in my opinion, it's worth every penny. I love wearing it before bed to help me relax, and I always get a good night's sleep after using it." — Renee Rodriguez, writer and social producer

Best Christmas Cracker
nordstrom.com

Best Christmas Cracker

Jo Malone London Christmas Trio Gift Set ($48)

"Maybe it's the little kid in me, but nothing says the holidays quite like a Christmas cracker. This Jo Malone Christmas Cracker Set ($48) is the grown-up version you can feel good about gifting and is packed with luxe gifts in three yummy scents: a Peony and Blush Suede perfume, a Blackberry & Bay body cream, and a Wood Sage & Sea Salt body wash." — Kelsey Castañon, senior content director

Best Eyeshadow Gift
sephora.com

Best Eyeshadow Gift

Urban Decay Space Cowboy Moondust Eyeshadow Palette ($39)

"I finally got to try the Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy eyeshadow via this limited-edition palette, and I have to say, I get the hype. The formula is shimmery but not overtly so, so they can be worn daily by just tapping on a small bit using your fingers or provide an intense, almost metallic shine when using them with a wet brush. Either way, it's perfect for any makeup lover. I feel like I'm finally in on the secret, and if you've been hesitant to jump on the bandwagon, this little palette is a great way to try the classic shade plus a few others." — Ariel Baker, assistant editor, beauty

Best Overall Skin-Care Gift
sephora.com

Best Overall Skin-Care Gift

Tatcha Plumping Dewy Skin Essentials ($87)

"I like to live by the motto 'whatever Meghan Markle does for her skin to look so royally good, I want to do that.' That's why I'd stock up on the Markle-approved brand Tatcha's Dewy Skin Essentials Set — which includes its cult moisturizer, serum, and cleanser — while you can for this price. (I'm not even going to pretend that you should gift it. It's too good.)" — Kelsey Castañon, senior content director

Best Luxury Advent Calendar
nordstrom.com

Best Luxury Advent Calendar

Dior Le Mini 30 Montaigne Discovery Set ($160)

"If the dictionary came with pictures that best describe each word, this Dior discovery set would be under 'chic.' It comes with not only the cutest pint-size essentials like lipstick fragrance — which, if I do say so myself, would come in handy for any holiday parties this month — but also in an advent-calendar format that makes peeking behind each fold a little surprise." — KC