Shopping for someone who's beauty obsessed? Yes, a gift card to Sephora, Ulta, or any other megastore will wow, but we challenge you to opt for something they're dying to get their hands on, instead. Plus, it's so much more fun to open, right?
Luckily, you don't have to cull through the seemingly endless gift section or brave the mall in person for the best gifts around. Instead, simply rely on recommendations from people who know the business, inside and out. If you're shopping for a beauty-obsessed person, who better to turn to than a beauty-obsessed blogger?
That's right. We asked top beauty bloggers to spill just what they were gifting their besties this year. From lust-inducing eyeshadow sets to the most versatile skin-care staples one could receive, these are the gifts that belong on any wish list. Or simply pass this list along to your besties — because you'll probably want all the lippies, eyeshadows, and travel sets for yourself, too.
Here's to giving, and receiving, the raddest beauty buys around...
Lynette Cenée
Ipsy creator and vlogger at Nails With Lynette
"As the beauty expert among my friends, they look forward to goodie bags filled with some of the brands I've discovered that year," Cenée says.
One brand that could work for anyone? Luxie brushes, with their gorgeous metallic accents. And you know, every beauty junkie needs wants new brushes.
Luxie Rose Gold Essentials Eye II Brush Set, available at Luxie.
Cenée also listed this cream and powder duo as a gift she'll be giving. The versatile formula allows for every eye look under the sun, from a soft wash of creamy colour to a full-on smoky eye.
The Estée Edit Metallishadow Creme + Powder, available at Sephora.
Part concealer, part full-coverage foundation, this powerful, petite fave will also be in Cenée's goody bags, she says.
Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick, available at Sephora.
Karen Yeung
Ipsy creator and vlogger at I Am Karen O
"I plan on giving my friends the Sephora Dry Clean Instant Dry Brush Cleaner Spray," Yeung says. "It’s absolutely amazing and super-convenient. I wish I would get this as a gift, too — clean brushes make applying makeup so much better!"
Sephora Collection Dry Clean Instant Dry Brush Cleaner Spray, available at Sephora.
Katey McFarlan
Blogger at Chronicles of Frivolity
After falling for the brand in preparation for her wedding, McFarlan has decided to gift all her girlfriends the Tula Discover Kit. "First off, I have to gift them this, because they all steal mine," she says. This way, "they can find which products they have to have and they can leave my stash alone!"
Tula Discovery Kit, available at Tula.
Gabriel Zamora
Ipsy creator and vlogger at The Gabriel Zamora
"I plan on giving my friends the Tarte holiday gift sets," Zamora says. "They're brilliant for any makeup lover, because you get a lot of products for a great price."
One that we're eyeing? This limited-edition set of four colours — it even comes with a fluffy brush.
Tarte Limited-Edition Sculpted Cheeks Deluxe Amazonian Clay Blush Set & Brush, available at Tarte.
Of course, we wouldn't mind this versatile eye kit, too...
Tarte Tartelette Treasures Eye Set, available at Ulta Beauty.
Jaleesa Moses
Ipsy creator and vlogger at Jaleesa Moses
"I love to give lipstick sets and eyeshadow palettes, because they usually work for everyone, [but] I really wish to receive the entire DevaCurl line," Moses told us. "They make some of the best products for curly haired gals like me."
DevaCurl The Kit for All Curl Kind, available at Sephora.
Olia Majd
Blogger at Love, Olia
"I love giving and receiving makeup! I feel it's one of those gifts that girls can never get enough of," Majd says. Lipsticks are her go-to for gifting, she says, but fun makeup palettes are a close second. "I always love the Urban Decay Naked Palettes. I think they are gorgeous and everyone always loves them."
Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow Palette, available at Macy's.
Brooke Tredway
Blogger at Somewhere, Lately
For stocking stuffers, "I’m planning to gift my girlfriends liquid lipsticks — love BareMinerals," Tredway says.
BareMinerals Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lipcolour, available at BareMinerals.
For a little more pampering, Tredway also recommends gifting an at-home spa experience with "some of my favourite bubble baths from Philosophy." We call dibs on Cinnamon Buns!
Philosophy Cinnamon Buns Shampoo, Shower Gel, & Bubble Bath, available at Sephora.
"First Aid Beauty whipped body butter [is a perfect gift] for the cooler months!" Tredway adds.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration Vanilla Citron, available at Sephora.
Meggan Morehead
Blogger at Somewhere, Lately
Makeup might be hard to shop for — colour is a personal preference, after all — but a few beauty buys that are universal? Masks and epsom salts. "They're are great gifts to give," Morehead says. "An easy way to bring the spa to your home!"
Karuna Exfoliating Face Mask, available at Sephora.
One tub of these lavender salts will last a good year — and make pampering much easier.
Ahava Lavender Bath Salt, available at AHAVA.com.
Shannon Harris
Vlogger at Shaaanxo
"[I love] the [holiday] collections a bunch of brands have come out with," Harris says. "My favorite sets at the moment are by Benefit and Too Faced."
Benefit Do The Hoola Beyond Bronze Kit, available at Sephora.
The best part of these? "They're amazing value and have super-cute packaging. I think I'll have to get some for me, too," Harris says. We can't argue with an adorable highlight and blush set.
Too Faced Let It Glow Highlight And Blush Kit, available at Too Faced.
Christen Dominique
Ipsy creator and blogger at Christen Dominique
"Some amazing beauty gifts I would give my friends would be the Too faced holiday collection," Dominique says. "They're so beautifully packaged that the packaging is a gift within itself." This adorable café-themed set is the perfect example.
Too Faced Grande Hotel Café, available at Too Faced.
Holiday gift sets are also notoriously packed with hero products: "They showcase their best-selling products that I cannot live without," Dominique says.
Too Faced Melted Kisses & Sweet Cheeks, available at Too Faced.
Olivia Lopez
Blogger behind Lust for Life
"I'm flying to Coqui Coqui in Mexico this week and plan to bring back their namesake perfume as gifts," Lopez says. We can only hope this chic room scent makes the list.
Coqui Coqui Room Scent in Tabaco, available at The Line.
One trick we love? Buying sets and splitting them up between friends, based on their signature scents and personalities.
Coqui Coqui Coco Amenities Set, available at Net-A-Porter.
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