An Editor's Guide to the Luxury Beauty Gifts People *Actually* Want for the Holidays
Send this list to everyone you know.
I don’t exactly know where the rest of this month went, but suddenly I’m staring down November and the start of the holiday season. Scratch that—in my world, rumblings of holiday shopping have been percolating for weeks. It’s just that I’ve now swapped my long tailored shorts for slouchy trousers and paper-thin white t-shirts for cashmere sweaters for good. No more randomly hot days, no surprise sweat fests on the train to work, just a full-on sprint towards the end of 2025. Well, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, so why not start pondering on all of the deliciously luxurious beauty gifts I want to receive—and treat my loved ones to—for the holidays this year?
At 36 years old, skin maintenance is definitely top of mind, but I’m also finding plenty of joy in my makeup, nails, and hair routines. For cosmetics, I’m drawn towards creamy, comfortable, long-lasting formulas with plenty of hydrating ingredients. For my nails, I’m a recent convert to the at-home gel manicure (and my beauty budget is definitely grateful), so I’m taking every opportunity to try out the best fall nail color trends. And for my long, blonde, wavy hair, I’m loving anything that promises length retention and brass-fighting benefits when the weather turns cold and blustery.
Curious what a beauty director with over a decade of experience in the industry is hoping to snag for the holidays? Keep reading for my top 10 beauty gifts to give and receive this season.
High-Tech Tools
I’m not going to lie and say I don’t enjoy having plenty of beauty technology in my routine. Sometimes you just need to marinate under an LED mask to fight inflammation while you lounge on your couch. We all deserve a little TLC this time of year, after all.
For the ultimate at-home spa day, nothing beats this LED mask. It’s comfortable to wear (I can even answer emails with it strapped to my face), and the cooling undereye feature is the best for fighting puffiness.
This brand isn’t just a TikTok sensation—it delivers real results via microcurrent, LED, and electromagnetic stimulation. It’s all of the best parts of Korean beauty innovation in one handy device.
Hair Helpers
My hair is my calling card but it’s not as low-maintenance as it looks. I love keeping tools and products in stock to make the styling process as seamless as possible since I’m a lazy girl at the end of the day.
I don’t always dry my hair (I’m very loyal to an air-dry moment) but if I’m in a rush or it’s freezing outside, I always turn to this high-powered Dyson with a diffuser attachment. The newer lightweight design helps me dry and style like a pro.
I’m getting very into hair oiling and scalp massage before I get in the shower for wash day—or as a relaxing treat before bed. The Ayurvedic practice can help to stimulate the scalp’s follicles to boost hair growth and retention and it just feels *so* nice after a busy day.
Nailed It
In my line of work, I don’t feel ready to take on the day unless my nails are done. Even if I’m not wearing polish, I need my cuticles tidy and my nails neatly buffed and filed. Plus, an at-home gel manicure is swiftly becoming my favorite Sunday night ritual.
My favorite clean nail care brand has one of the best beauty advent calendars for the holiday season. Have I already snagged it and started opening all the date boxes? Guilty and not at all sorry.
When I’m tired of gels or too rushed to ensure my nails are painted, this dry gloss nail care kit is a must. The glass file leaves my nails so ridiculously shiny, you’d think I was wearing a luxury top coat.
Makeup Musts
Although I don’t wear a full face beat everyday, I always reach for my staple products when I leave the apartment. That means glossy lips, flushed cheeks, and full brows each and every day. The holidays are the perfect time to stock up on my most luxurious staples.
I’ve been obsessed with this cream blush stick for literal years. It looks like second skin and comes in the most stunning range of colors. It’s worth the splurge, trust me.
To get that ultra-fine, hair-like stroke, I always turn to this long-wear brow pencil. It keeps my eyebrows looking full, fluffy, and totally natural.
Body Bliss
I treat bodycare like the ultimate spa moment in my total-body skincare routine. Any product that prioritizes the sensorial experience and delivers softer, smoother skin is a win in my book.
One of my all-time favorite body care brands just debuted this new scent, and it makes my bathroom feel like a luxury retreat in the Pacific Northwest. I’m obsessed.
Every night before bed I slather my body in this delicious body oil for both the moisture and to scent my bedtime routine. Who doesn’t want to drift off smelling like pure luxury?
Why Trust Marie Claire
For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion, and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.
Don't gatekeep our newsletters from your friends. Subscribe to Face Forward here.
