Jessica Harrington Beauty Editor Shopping Picks
I'm a Beauty Editor, and These Are My Top Holiday Gift Ideas
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As someone who keeps a running wish list on Pinterest and a Notes app full of curated gift ideas for my loved ones, I take my holiday shopping very seriously. I love shopping, but I also pride myself on being smart about it. I don't just buy a gift to check a name off my list; I put a lot of thought into what the recipient might enjoy or use.
I'm a beauty editor with over nine years of experience in my field, so I know a thing or two about hair, makeup, and skin care. I can help you craft a skin-care routine no matter what your skin type is, find the best of the best mascaras in a sea of options, and give you the scoop on the latest beauty tech that's worth spending your hard-earned money on — and that's just the beginning.
Because of all this, my curated holiday gift guide features some of my favorite products across the beauty and wellness space, as well as a few items that are at the top of my personal wish list. While nothing on this list is something you necessarily need, you'll certainly find great options if you're looking for a major treat. From luxurious body-care gift sets to innovative hair tools and cozy candles, there's something for every beauty lover on this list.
So, without further ado, if you're looking for gift ideas for someone who has everything, I've got you covered ahead.
Jessica Harrington's Holiday Gift Guide
- The most luxurious shower oil: L'Occitane Cleansing and Softening Refillable Shower Oil With Almond Oil at $29
- A skin-care Advent calendar everyone will love: Neutrogena 7 Days of Skin-Care Set Beauty Essentials Kit at $30
- A mini blush set that can be split up or gifted together as stocking stuffers: Saie Mini Dew Blush Trio Gift Set
at $30 - A claw clip that's durable and so so cute: Emi Jay Luna Clip at $38
- The candle that gets me the most compliments: Flamingo Estate Heirloom Tomato Leaf Candle at $64
- A game-changing palette: Mp.H Underpainting Face Highlight & Contour Palette at $64
- An indulgent skin-care set to brighten and smooth: Shiseido Benefiance Gift Set at $67
- A hand-care duo that's great for hosts and in-laws: Homecourt Mandarin Basile Hand Duo at $79
- A hydrating and restorative body-care set: Oak Essentials The Body Routine Set at $195
- The relaxing facial system that elevates my at-home routine: Shark FacialPro At Home Hydro-Powered Facial System at $400
- A hair tool that replaces all your other stylers: Shark Build Your Own Shark Glam Ceramic & Powerful Air Styling & Drying System at $450
L'Occitane Cleansing and Softening Refillable Shower Oil With Almond Oil ($29)
If you have someone on your list who is hard to shop for, allow me to turn you on to the L'Occitane Cleansing and Softening Refillable Shower Oil With Almond Oil. You simply can't go wrong with this crowd-pleaser. Not only does it smell amazing, but the luxurious oil leaves your skin feeling silky-soft. This shower oil is a tried-and-true editor favorite as detailed in our L'Occitane Cleansing and Softening Shower Oil review.
Editor Quote: "The brand claims one bottle of this product sells every 10 seconds worldwide. It's packed with sweet almond oil and grapeseed oil, and after using it for less than a week, I can truly tell why it's so popular. Unlike traditional body washes, this shower oil foams to clean off the day, producing a sweet (and not super overpowering) fragrance that leaves my skin the smoothest it's ever been from a shower wash. Before I even step out of the shower I notice that my skin looks and feels more hydrated." — Natasha Marsh, Popsugar contributor
Neutrogena 7 Days of Skin-Care Set Beauty Essentials Kit ($30)
Advent calendars always impress, and this Neutrogena 7 Days of Skincare Set Beauty Essentials Kit is no exception. It's valued at $59 but it only costs $30, making it a great gift for everyone from your BFF to your sibling. Inside you'll find the Makeup Remover Wipes (perfect for removing makeup on the go), Hydro Boost Hydrating 100% Hydrogel Face Mask, Hydro Boost Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel, Norwegian Formula Hand Cream, Sensitive Skin Hydrocolloid Acne Patches (great invisible pimple patches for banishing breakouts), Hydro Boost Overnight Lip Mask (an ultra-hydrating lip mask that I love to use as a gloss, too), and the Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Water Gel Moisturizer (an amazing, lightweight gel-textured moisturizer that feels like a burst of hydration when you put it on).
Saie Mini Dew Blush Trio Gift Set ($30)
Saie's Dew Blush is a beauty-editor favorite. This adorable mini gift set contains three best-selling shades — Baby, Sweetie, and Spicy — in pocket-sized tubes. The formula itself is long-lasting and so pigmented. A tiny drop applied directly to your face using the plush doe-foot applicator is enough to get sun-kissed, rosy cheeks. I've been using the same tube for ages because it lasts so long, making this affordable set a steal. You can give the set to one person or split up the minis into stocking stuffers for three people.
Emi Jay Luna Clip ($38)
There isn't a day that goes by that I don't throw my hair up in a claw clip — the same goes for my sister and all of my friends. These Emi Jay clips make for the best presents. Priced at $38, they're not super expensive but definitely pricy enough to make for an unforgettable gift. It's even Secret Santa and White Elephant approved because, unlike makeup and skin care, where you need to know people's skin type, shades, and preferences, anyone with long-ish hair can use a cute claw clip.
Flamingo Estate Heirloom Tomato Leaf Candle ($64)
I always have a candle burning in my house, so needless to say, I've tested a lot of the options out there. The Flamingo Estate Heirloom Tomato Leaf Candle, by far, gets me the most compliments. It has this fresh, green, earthy smell that perfectly captures a summer garden. The glass vessel it comes in has a nice weight to it and feels so luxe.
Mp.H Underpainting Face Highlight & Contour Palette ($64)
Mary Phillips is a celebrity makeup artist for stars like Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner, Dua Lipa, and more. She's known for popularizing the tried-and-true method of underpainting, and she launched her own face palette to make it easy. If you have someone makeup-obsessed on your list, this is sure to impress them. The five-pan palette features different shades to highlight and contour, creating a lifted, sculpted base for your makeup.Three of our editors put it to the test — check out our Mp.H Underpainting Face Highlight and Contour Palette review.
Editor Quote: "I used the color corrector under my eyes, highlighter on my forehead, nose, and chin, and cool-toned contour to sculpt my cheekbones, forehead, and jawline. The dual-ended brush works amazingly for blending in any location, and the pigments melt into skin for a subtle yet impactful effect. I applied a skin tint over it in tapping motions to prevent the placement of my contour and highlight from shifting, and was left with a naturally lifted look. After 12 hours of wear, my makeup still looked great and I experienced only minor creasing under my eyes." — Jessica Harrington, beauty section lead
Shiseido Benefiance Gift Set ($67)
This skin-care set is your ticket to smooth, bright skin this holiday season. Valued at $139, the gift set contains Shiseido's Clarifying Cleansing Foam to rinse away dirt, makeup, and impurities, the Eudermine Activating Essence, which has a blend of hyaluronic acid and vitamin C to hydrate and brighten, the Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Cream to plump, treat, and provide antioxidant protection, and Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream to target the delicate skin around your eyes.
Homecourt Mandarin Basile Hand Duo ($79)
Homecourt, Courteney Cox's brand, has an amazing assortment of home fragrance products (like candles and room sprays), cleaning products that smell more like perfume, and body-care items. This hand-care duo contains the brand's hand wash and hand lotion in the incredible Mandarin Basile scent. It's vibrant and herby, with strong notes of fresh basil balanced by sweet citrus. If someone is hosting you for the holidays or you need a gift to give your in-laws, this is a no-brainer.
Oak Essentials The Body Routine Set ($195)
Oak Essentials, the sister brand of Jenni Kayne, has amazing skin and body-care formulas that bring the minimalist, clean vibe of the fashion brand to your medicine cabinet. The Body Routine Set contains five full-sized best-selling products: the Awaken Body Wash, Perfecting Body Wash, Dew Body Oil, Luminous Body Lotion, and Moisture Rich Body Balm. The body oil and lotion are the key to soft, supple, hydrated skin all winter long, and the body balm is great for spot treating ultra dry patches like elbows, feet, and cuticles. All of the products have a luxurious but light scent that anyone will love.
Shark™ FacialPro™ Glow at Home Hydro-Powered Facial System ($400)
I'm big on DIY beauty and always looking for a way to elevate my at-home routines. Enter the Shark™ FacialPro™ Glow at Home Hydro-Powered Facial System. The handheld DePuffi attachment offers contrast therapy with heat to boost your glow and cooling to de-puff and sculpt. You can use the included skin-care topicals to boost your routine. The BHA and AHA exfoliating gel is great for clearing congestion and smoothing texture, while the Hydro Infuse BHA Hydrator boosts hydration and leaves skin looking supple. Plus, it's so relaxing.
Shark Glam™ Ceramic & Powerful Air Styling & Drying System ($450)
If you're tired of reaching for five-plus tools when you want to do your hair, the Shark Glam™ Ceramic & Powerful Air Styling & Drying System is a must have. After you pick your attachments, you'll have a completely customized setup to blow-dry, diffuse, curl, straighten — whatever you need. And it's so well priced.
Jessica Harrington (she/her) is the section lead of Popsugar Beauty, where she oversees coverage around makeup, skin care, hair, tattoos, and more. With more than nine years of industry experience, she has interviewed countless celebrities, reported on hundreds of beauty trends, and swatched more lipsticks than she can count. Prior to PS, Jessica worked for publications such as Makeup.com, Skincare.com, and The Zoe Report.
