53 Best Beauty Gifts of 2022 – WWD
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Beauty gifts are what everyone wants to unwrap this December (and all year long, for that matter). Beauty fanatics will be excited to soup up their stash of beauty goods, and those who don’t usually spend on items like skin care, hair care, and makeup will appreciate the chance to test something new. Whether you’re shopping for gifts for mom, a present for your girlfriend, or a surprise for your friend, you can find splurge-worthy and budget-friendly options across categories like perfume, hair care, skin care, and makeup.
To choose the best beauty gifts for your loved ones, think about their personal style. The ones who like to keep it classic will love timeless essentials like a celebrity-approved red lipstick or a perfume gift set. Your friend who’s always up to date on the latest trends will swoon over cult-favorite fragrances and hair tools like the best Dyson Airwrap dupes. And if you think beauty gifts are only for the girls, think again. You can shop wellness gifts and spa gift sets that guys will love, as well as items like luxury candles, a deep tissue massager, or a great cologne. These personal gifts will boost their style and let them treat themselves at home and on the go.
There’s no shortage of beauty gifts to choose from, which makes it tricky to find the best options to add to cart. We’ve done the research for you: These beauty gifts are high value and top quality.
Starface Big Lil Starter Kit
Justin Bieber wears Starface Pimple Patches out and about — and you should, too. This three-piece starter kit gives you an introduction to the brand with a detoxifying cleanser, balancing face wash, and a set of hydrocolloid patches that help shrink breakouts while you wear them.
Courtesy of Starface
Dibs Beauty Makeup on Weekdays Set
With petite packaging and major color payoff, Dibs Beauty’s products will be your new on-the-go favorites. The Makeup on Weekdays Set contains the brand’s radiant bronzer stick, a dual-ended blush and bronzer stick, and a sheer pink lip gloss. You can use the goods to define your features to subtle effect all week long.
Courtesy of Dibs Beauty
Dior Mini Rouge Dior Lipstick Set
Anyone on your list will treasure this four-piece set of Dior Rouge Dior Lipstick. They’ll open up a gorgeous box to find mini matte lipstick in shades to wear all year, from beige pink to rose and classic red. The formulas deliver loads of color payoff, so the small bullets of pigment will last you for months.
Editor’s testing and review notes: “Dior’s matte lipstick formula is one of my favorites to wear for its smooth feel and high-impact color,” ‘says Sullivan. “This kit contains my favorite red for wintertime, Dior 999.”
courtesy of sephora
Everist Shower Essentials Bundle
Waterless beauty products are having a moment, and Everist is one of the most innovative brands in the space. By removing water from the shampoo, conditioner, and body wash formulas, the tubes are much more efficient to travel with (and create less of a carbon footprint when they’re shipped to you). A small amount of product is all you need with this bundle of products. Activate the formulas with a splash of water, then rinse and repeat.
Courtesy of Everist
Morphe X Ariel Signature Look 12-Piece Face & Eye Brush Set
With clients like Kylie Jenner, Shay Mitchell, and Kim Kardashian, makeup artist Ariel Tejeda knows a thing or two about glam. Tejeda put his personal touch on the Morphe x Ariel Signature Look 12-Piece Face & Eye Brush Set; each brush diffuses pigments for an airbrushed look, no matter if you’re using cream or powder cosmetics.
Editor’s testing and review notes: “This makeup brush set is a great starter kit for any makeup lover,” says Sullivan. “Some brushes have natural bristles and others have synthetic, but each one feels super smooth on my skin. You’ll also get a range of bristle densities to pack on powder eyeliner or blur out blush.”
courtesy of ulta
Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer & Setting Spray MVPs Set
Milk Makeup’s Hydro Grip Primer and Setting Spray are TikTok viral for their ability to lock makeup in place while lending you a dewy complexion (versus many other primers that make you matte). The formulas won’t dry your skin out during hours of wear time, thanks to ingredients like hydrating hyaluronic acid and balancing niacinamide.
Editor’s testing and review: “This primer and setting spray are my secret weapon on days when I need my makeup to last me from breakfast to dinner,” say Sullivan. “The setting spray is a personal favorite for its superfine mist and cooling feel.”
courtesy of sephora
Hermès Mini Fragrance Discovery Set
Anything that comes in Hermès’ signature orange box will elicit “ooh’s” and “ahh’s” from whoever receives it. The luxury design house’s Mini Fragrance Discovery Set contains four fragrances, including the bestselling spicy floral Twilly d’Hermès Eau de Parfum.
Editor’s testing and review notes: “This quartet of Hermès fragrances has options to suit any fragrance preferences: I love that I can choose from a floral, woodsy, vegetal, and citrus eau, depending on my mood,” says Sullivan. “I give it bonus points because it’s darling on my vanity.”
courtesy of sephora
Brooklinen Super-Plush Robe
Made of 100% Turkish cotton, the Brooklinen Super-Plush Robe is a top notch choice for the ones who love to lounge. The dense material helps dry off skin post-shower, and the soft fabric feels like a cloud when you wear it.
Editor’s testing and review notes: “You can never go wrong with Brooklinen gifts,” says Adam Mansuroglu, Director of Commerce. “This soft and cozy robe has become as essential to my morning and evening beauty routines as my go-to facial cleanser — it just adds that little something extra to the self-care experience.”
courtesy of brooklinen
SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum
The best face serums target skin concerns like dullness, fine lines, and sagging. The SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum does all the above, courtesy of key ingredients like French flax seed, growth factors, peptides, and marine extract. The dual-chamber packaging keeps the ingredients extra fresh for each application.
Editor’s testing and review notes: “I recently started incorporating this serum into my skin care routine and it’s already become one of my must-have products,” says Mansuroglu. “My skin looks and feels plump, hydrated, and firm, even during the dry months of winter.”
Courtesy of SkinMedica
Kiehl’s Since 1851 Hydrating Winter Wonders
Winter has a way of wreaking havoc on our skin — with artificial heat indoors and cold, dry air outside, our skin gets dry and irritated. The Kiehl’s Hydrating Winter Wonders contains six formulas to treat and prevent those symptoms. Crack into the brand’s bestselling gentle cleanser and hydrating face cream, plus a retinol serum, hydrating eye treatment, milky toner, and pore-purging face mask.
courtesy of sephora
Sundays Polish Box of 3
Sundays nail polish formulas are 10-free, vegan and cruelty-free — and they’re also incredibly long lasting. This five-piece set contains everything she’ll need for at-home manicures this winter. She’ll get a gorgeous earthy red, a muted plum, and seafoam green, plus a top and base coat to seal the polish in place.
Editor’s testing and reviews notes: “Sundays is one of my favorite brands for at-home manicures,” says Sullivan. “The polish dries down quickly and lasts me seven full days of opening boxes and clacking away on a keyboard without chipping or peeling.”
Courtesy of Sundays
Hyper Skin Hyper Even Daily Duo Kit for Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation can crop up due to sun exposure, acne, aging, and plain old genetics. The Hyper Skin daily duo kit is your all-in-one solution; it helps treat and prevent dark spots with ingredients like vitamin C to brighten and glycolic acid to resurface your skin.
Editor’s testing and review notes: “I knew I had to try this powerful duo when my industry friends couldn’t stop raving about it — and boy, were they right,” says Mansuroglu. “For those who can use a boost of brightening with sensitive skin, I highly recommend you try out these reasonably-priced beauty gems.”
courtesy of sephora
Bio-Oil Body Lotion
Bio-Oil is a Kardashian-approved oil that treats everything from stretch marks to dryness. The brand’s recently launched Bio-Oil Body Lotion employs the same firming, brightening ingredients as the oil but in a fluid lotion formula. A few drops of the liquid is plenty to moisturize your legs; the lotion seeps into skin quickly for non-greasy hydration.
Courtesy of Bio-Oil
Beautyblender Besties Bio Pure Blend & Cleanse Starter Set
Give her flawless makeup looks all year with the Beautyblender Besties Bio Pure Blend & Cleanse Starter Set. The set includes a plant-based version of the makeup sponge, a cleansing bar, and silicone mat. Just swirl the damp sponge on the cleansing bar, massage it on the mat, and rinse to keep the sponge feeling brand new.
Editor’s testing and review notes: “The plant-based Beautyblender sponge feels the exact same as the classic one when I apply makeup,” says Sullivan. “I love this unscented version of the cleansing solid to keep my Beautyblender fresh after using it to apply foundation and concealer.”
Courtesy of Beautyblender
UBeauty The Resurfacing Set
Proper exfoliation leads to more radiant, even-toned skin. But overdoing can have the opposite effect. The UBeauty Resurfacing Set will make it easy for you to slough away dead cells without irritating your skin — the kit includes two sizes of the brand’s Resurfacing Compound that dissolves dead skin with gentle, effective ingredients like glycolic acid and witch hazel.
Editor’s testing and review notes: “I always grab UBeauty’s Resurfacing Compound when my skin is feeling dull,” says Sullivan. “The formula has a way of brightening and clearing my skin — it makes my makeup go on like butter.”
Courtesy of UBeauty
Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench 24/7 Essentials 3-Piece Kit
No matter how oily your skin type is, odds are that it’s feeling a tad drier than usual during winter months. The Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench 24/7 Essentials Kit packs everything you need to quench skin without making it feel greasy: The daytime moisturizer, hyaluronic serum, and eye gel will bring back your natural glow.
Editor’s testing and review notes: “Winter’s dry winds are no match for this powerful trio,” says Mansuroglu. “The formulas are perfect for people with dry skin to maintain smooth, hydrated skin. But my absolute favorite item in the set is the serum — I won’t go a day without it!”
Courtesy of Peter Thomas Roth
Canopy Humidifier Plus
Humidifiers can make a meaningful difference in our skin health, and Canopy’s Humidifier Plus is a top choice. The device rehydrates the air in a space as large as 1,000 square feet — this helps keep your skin and hair humming along without feeling dry. This model is easy to clean; many of the parts are dishwasher safe.
Courtesy of Canopy
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Sparkling Body Oil
You’ve probably noticed Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Baccarat Rouge 540 at one point or another — the potent sweet amber fragrance is a popular choice right now. Make it your signature scent with this fast-absorbing Sparkling Body Oil, which swirls the scent with argan oil, sweet almond oil, and gold dust.
Editor’s testing and review notes: “I’m a huge fan of the popular scent, but Baccarat Rouge 540 can be overpowering for some,” says Mansuroglu. “This scented oil has just the right amount of fragrance while softening your skin with a hint of shimmer — what’s not to like?”
courtesy of saks fifth avenue
Ginori 1735 Rajathra Palace Candle
If you’re going to judge a candle by its vessel, the Ginori 1735 Rajathra Palace Candle is a sure winner. The fragrance contains notes of rose, clove, cardamom, and cinnamon, and the porcelain container is a major selling point. You can repurpose it to hold your makeup brushes or as a desk accessory when you’ve burned through the last of the delicious scent.
Editor’s testing and review notes: “The description of this luxury candle might sound like an overwhelming combination of powerful spices, but rose creates a beautiful and delicate balance,” says Mansuroglu. “Encased in a gorgeously decorated porcelain cylinder, it’s the type of candle you’ll truly cherish.”
courtesy of ginori 1735
Arey The Shower Bundle
Our hair isn’t exempt from aging — besides gray strands, you may notice your hair feels more brittle or coarse. Arey is all about solving for those concerns, and The Shower Bundle gives you everything you need to restore the strength and texture of your hair. You can open up a nourishing shampoo, conditioner, and styling mist to treat your strands, and coax your style in place with the included wide-tooth comb.
Courtesy of Arey Grey
Ourside Discovery Kit
This trio of unisex fragrances has an option to suit anyone’s preferences. Choose from eaus that range from earthy and sweet to floral and musk; once you find your favorite you can redeem a full-size of the fragrance with the inclosed code. The cruelty-free formulas are made without ingredients like parabens, sulfates, and synthetic dyes, so you can feel good about spritzing it on.
Courtesy of Ourside
Macrene Actives The Experience Set
Backed by renowned dermatologist Dr. Macrene Alexiades, Macrene Actives is a skin care line that’s all about delivering visible improvements in your skin without potentially harmful ingredients. With the brand’s Experience Set, you’ll get to test three bestselling formulas: A nourishing cleanser, brightening and firming face cream, and smoothing neck and décolletage cream.
Editor’s testing and review notes: “You friends will thank you for introducing them to the wonderful world of Macrene Actives skin care” says Mansuroglu. “Once you fall in love with these game-changing skin care essentials, make sure to try the brand’s High-Perfomance eye cream.”
Courtesy of Macrene Actives
Koope Duo 4 Hydration ++
Your skin needs all the moisture it can get this time of year, and Koope’s Duo 4 Hydration ++ set delivers it in an uncomplicated way. The two-step system is a breeze to use. Wash off the day with the non-stripping milk cleanser, then follow up with the heavyweight moisturizer that packs ingredients like peptides and antioxidants to firm and brighten.
Courtesy of Koope
