27 All-Time Favorite Skincare and Makeup Products to Shop for the Holidays
These timeless skincare and makeup essentials are must-haves and beauty editor-approved.
This holiday season, consider gifting skincare and makeup products that are tried-and-true favorites. Whether you're shopping for a beauty lover or treating yourself, these all-time favorites make for gifts that are both thoughtful and offer a chance to discover something new.
In skincare, you can’t go wrong with a deeply hydrating moisturizer. A rich, nourishing formula that helps replenish and firm the skin is a classic choice. Another excellent skincare gift is a high-quality product designed to brighten and rejuvenate, helping to restore a youthful glow. Whether it’s a luxurious cream or a lightweight serum, skincare that addresses hydration and skin texture is always a winner.
In makeup, while something like foundation is a good idea in principle, it can be hard to the perfect shade for someone else. (It's hard enough on yourself!) A foolproof gift idea, instead, is gifting trending and buildable products like blush or cult-favorite lip glosses—best if it's something in a soft, neutral shade that complements various skin tones.
Whether you’re opting for a splurge-worthy item or a more budget-friendly option, these skincare and makeup gifts are guaranteed to bring joy to beauty lovers and newbies alike. Thoughtful, reliable, and effective, they’re perfect for friends, family, or even as a treat for yourself this holiday season. Keep scrolling to shop our all-time favorite items across makeup and skincare.
Sunday Riley's Vitamin C Brightening Serum is formulated with 15% advanced Vitamin C to brighten skin and reduce the appearance of dark spots. Infused with hydrating squalane and soothing phytosterols, it nourishes the skin while enhancing its texture for a smooth, luminous complexion.
Sunday Riley Vitamin C Brightening Serum, $122, Sunday Riley
La Mer's Moisturizing Cream boasts a luxurious formula that transforms dry skin into a soft, supple canvas. Infused with the brand's iconic Miracle Broth, this rich cream soothes, rejuvenates, and restores radiance for a visibly healthier complexion.
La Mer Crème de la Mer Moisturizer, $200, Sephora
Revitalize tired eyes with the Vinoperfect Dark Circle Brightening Eye Cream by Caudalie, enriched with niacinamide to visibly brighten and reduce dark circles. This lightweight yet nourishing formula smooths and hydrates the delicate under-eye area, leaving it refreshed and radiant.
Caudalie Brightening Eye Cream, $55, Sephora
Elevate your skincare routine with the Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser, a natural exfoliating treatment designed to reveal a smoother, glowing complexion. Infused with pomegranate enzymes and BHA from white willow bark, this multitasking formula gently buffs away impurities while refining pores for refreshed, radiant skin.
Tata Harper Exfoliating Cleanser, $88, Sephora
Nourish your skin overnight with the Aesop Sublime Replenishing Night Masque, a rich formula designed to deliver intense hydration while you sleep. Infused with vitamins B, C, E, and F, this luxurious masque restores moisture and revitalizes the skin, leaving it soft, plump, and radiant by morning.
Aesop Replenishing Masque, $144, Aesop
Protect your skin effortlessly with Supergoop's Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40, a weightless, invisible formula that shields against UV rays while doubling as a primer. Infused with antioxidants, this sunscreen leaves a velvety finish, making it perfect for wearing alone or under makeup.
Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen, $22, Sephora
Experience luxurious hydration with Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream with TFC8, a transformative face moisturizer that deeply nourishes and restores the skin. Powered by the brand’s signature complex, this luxurious formula supports skin renewal, improves elasticity, and leaves the complexion visibly smoother and revitalized.
Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream with TFC8, $300, Sephora
Achieve a clearer, more balanced complexion with this refreshing formula designed to minimize excess oil and refine pores. Infused with soothing botanicals and salicylic acid, this multitasking toner removes impurities while promoting a smoother, shine-free finish.
Olehenriksen Oil Control Toner, $35, Sephora
Protect your skin with the R+R Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sun Serum, a lightweight, hydrating formula that offers advanced sun protection without a greasy feel. Infused with nourishing ingredients, this serum provides broad-spectrum defense while boosting skin hydration for a smooth, radiant glow.
Undefined Beauty Sun Serum, $28, Ulta
Achieve radiant, healthy skin with the Gentle Brightening Gel Cleanser with Mandelic Acid, a soothing formula that gently removes impurities and promotes even skin tone. This brightening gel provides mild exfoliation to refine texture while hydrating and calming the skin.
Hyper Skin Brightening Gel Cleanser, $28, Sephora
Target dark spots with the Milk Marvel Dark Spot Serum, a powerful yet gentle formula designed to brighten and even out skin tone. Infused with key ingredients that combat discoloration, this serum promotes a clearer, more radiant complexion with consistent use.
Eadem Dark Spot Serum, $68, Sephora
Keep your lips soft and hydrated with the Topicals Slick Salve Glossy Lip Balm, a soothing formula designed to provide instant moisture and a glossy finish. Perfect for everyday wear, this nourishing lip balm enhances hydration while offering a comfortable, non-sticky feel.
Topicals Glossy Lip Balm, $16, Sephora
Detoxify and refresh your skin with the Masked Out French Green Clay Mask, a purifying treatment designed to draw out impurities and absorb excess oil. This mask helps refine pores, improve skin clarity, and leave your complexion feeling balanced and revitalized.
Provence Beauty French Green Clay Mask, $19, Ulta
Enhance your skincare routine with the SolaWave Red Light Therapy Eye Mask LightBoost Set, a cutting-edge solution designed to target under-eye concerns. Using red light therapy technology, this mask reduces puffiness, diminishes dark circles, and promotes skin rejuvenation for a brighter, more refreshed appearance.
Solawave Eye Recovery Pro Kit, $243, Solawave
Achieve a natural, radiant glow with the Merit Beauty Flush Balm, a creamy, buildable formula that effortlessly blends onto the skin. Infused with nourishing ingredients, this multi-purpose blush provides a soft, dewy finish that enhances your complexion for a fresh, healthy look.
Merit Flush Blam Cheek Color, $30, Merit
Achieve a flawless, natural-looking complexion with the Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Medium Coverage Foundation. This innovative formula offers buildable medium coverage while delivering hydration and a smooth, radiant finish for all-day wear.
Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Medium Foundation, $49, Haus Labs
Define and sculpt your features effortlessly with the Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick, a creamy, blend-able formula designed for easy application and a natural finish. This versatile contour stick seamlessly adds definition and warmth to the face, creating a refined, radiant look.
Westman Atelier Face Trace Cream Contour, $48, Sephora
Create endless sultry eye looks with the Mothership X Eyeshadow Palette in Moonlit Seduction. Featuring a stunning mix of rich matte and shimmering metallic shades, this versatile palette offers a perfect balance of deep tones and radiant hues for effortless day-to-night glam.
Pat McGrath Labs Mothership X Eyeshadow Palette, $128, Sephora
Achieve bold, dramatic lashes with the Yves Saint Laurent Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara. This powerful, ultra-pigmented formula delivers intense volume and definition with just one coat, while its innovative brush effortlessly lifts and separates each lash for a show-stopping finish.
Yves Saint Laurent Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara, $32, Sephora
Perfect your signature look with the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk On the Go collection, a curated set of must-have beauty essentials. Featuring versatile, easy-to-use products in the iconic Pillow Talk shades, this portable kit offers a flawless, natural glow for effortless beauty anytime, anywhere.
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk On the Go Kit, $59, Charlotte Tilbury
Transform your lashes and brows with the Multi-Peptide Lash & Brow Serum, a nourishing formula designed to strengthen, hydrate, and promote growth. Enriched with peptides, this revitalizing serum enhances the appearance of fuller, thicker, and healthier lashes and brows with consistent use.
The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Lash and Brown Serum, $15, Sephora
Illuminate your skin with the Diamond Bomb All-Over Diamond Veil, a shimmering, multidimensional highlighter that creates a radiant, lit-from-within glow. This formula is great for adding a sparkling touch to your cheekbones, collarbones, and any area you want to highlight and shine.
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Diamond Bomb All-Over Diamond Veil, $42, Sephora
Define and enhance your lips with the Soft Shape Lip Liner from Ami Colē, a creamy, long-lasting formula designed for precise, effortless application. This versatile lip liner glides on smoothly to shape, define, and perfect your natural lip contour. It's a must have for any brown lip liner-lovers.
Ami Colē Soft Shape Lip Liner, $18, Ami Colē
Brighten your complexion with Kosas' beauty editor-favorite Revealer Concealer, a lightweight, medium-coverage formula that effortlessly hides dark circles, blemishes, and redness. Infused with nourishing ingredients, this hydrating concealer provides a natural, radiant finish while supporting skin health throughout the day.
Kosas Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer, $30, Sephora
Elevate your lips with Chanel's Rouge Coco Ultra-Hydrating Lip Colour, a luxurious blend of vibrant pigment and intense hydration. Enriched with nourishing ingredients, this silky, comfortable lipstick glides on effortlessly to deliver all-day moisture and a radiant, flawless finish.
Chanel Ultra Hydrating Lip Colour, $48, Chanel
