Now that November is upon us, it's time to start thinking about what to buy
for the friends and family members on our holiday gift lists.
Christmas is a wonderful opportunity to give special things that our gift
recipients would love to have but might not treat themselves to. While larger,
more expensive Christmas gifts might need to be a bit more practical, stocking
stuffers are the perfect vehicle to treat giftees to something a bit more fun
and indulgent that won't break the bank.
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Many women and teen girls love and use makeup, skincare, and other
beauty-related products, while others who might feel guilty spending money on
something so impractical might secretly love to receive beauty gifts to
enhance their appearance.
Even women who don't wear much makeup might enjoy some nice skincare, bath, or
spa products to make them feel a bit more pampered and special.
Following are some wonderful affordable beauty gift stocking stuffer ideas handpicked
to delight the women and teen girls on your Christmas list.
The Best Makeup Stocking Stuffers
Whether your gift recipient wears just a quick swipe of lip balm or enjoys a
full face of glam makeup for special occasions, I've got makeup stocking
stuffer ideas that your favorite woman or teen will love.
Nearly all of these makeup gifts are priced at $25 or less, and most cost less
than $15, so it's easy to put together a nice selection to fill her Christmas
stocking without busting your holiday gift budget.
There are so many little-known brands on Amazon (mostly from China) that knock
off high-end palettes and other makeup but are of questionable quality and
safety. It's hard to know whom you can trust!
The brands I am recommending are excellent quality, established, and
trustworthy companies that make products that perform as well as much more
expensive brands and offer very similar products at value prices. So, you can
order these affordable beauty gifts with confidence.
Lip Balm, Gloss, or Oil
I feel positively undressed without something on my lips, especially since
mine tend to be dry and chap easily in winter. I own a large collection of lip
balms, glosses, and lip oils ranging from drugstore to high-end, and I'm very
picky about quality! Here are some of my most affordable favorites.
Burt's Bees Lip Balm Stocking Stuffers is a 4-pack of Burt's Bees
beeswax lip balms available in different flavor combinations, including the
Best of Burt's Bees combo of original with vitamin E and peppermint,
strawberry, coconut & pear, and vanilla bean. These lip balms are great to
keep by the bedside, in a purse, in a coat pocket, etc., so it's great to have
a four-pack! There's a reason these have stood the test of time. (I've used
them for decades!) Even women and teens who don't wear makeup will appreciate
a good set of lip balms, especially in the winter months.
NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Fat Oil Lip Drip
is a real bargain! It has all the moisture, shine, and gorgeous shades of
high-end glosses without the premium price tag.
This lip gloss is also vegan
and comes in a range of shades to suit any taste. I own three colors and am tempted to add a few more to my collection. If you're not sure which
color your gift recipient might like, the clear version will add a beautiful
shine to bare lips or over a favorite lipstick. Or, choose a few different shades to add to her stocking.
NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Butter Gloss is a cult favorite among beauty
influencers and makeup artists, for good reason. This gloss keeps lips soft and
smooth, adds a hint of flattering color, and isn't sticky. This set of 3 NYX
Butter Glosses in packs of three extremely wearable shades is a winner!
Another extremely affordable gloss that looks and acts like those from more
expensive brands is the Rimmel Stay Glossy Lip Gloss. The shades range from neutrals and pinks to reds that are flattering to
many different complexions. The formula is long-lasting, moisturizing, and
non-sticky while providing lots of shine. This gloss is also cruelty-free,
Leaping Bunny-approved (i.e., the company has made a genuine commitment to
ending animal testing), and looks beautiful on bare lips or over lipstick or
balm. Rimmel is a very popular brand in Europe that more and more beauty
editors are recommending in the affordable beauty category.
Makeup Palettes
Makeup palettes are extremely popular beauty gifts for the Christmas holidays.
They feel like an indulgence that your recipient might not buy for herself but
would love to receive as a gift. They're also great to take on vacations,
business trips, etc.
Fortunately, the affordable makeup palette selections are getting better and
better, with shades and formulations that rival those of expensive luxury
brands. The shades available at any given time may change, but you're sure to
find some wonderful options among my top recommendations.
NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP palettes
are a fantastic choice. The quality and selection for the price can't be beat.
The NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Ultimate eyeshadow palettes each contain 16
highly pigmented eye shadows that glide onto the lid silky smooth and blend
out effortlessly. There is always a wide range of options, from neutrals to
brights, with something to suit any taste. Some palettes are all-matte, while
most include a mix of matte, satin, shimmer, and/or metallic shades. Your gift
recipient will have fun mixing and matching the 16 shades to create a whole
wardrobe of eye looks for different moods, outfits, and occasions. Tip: Most
teen girls would love the gift of a good eyeshadow palette!
If your gift recipient is really into makeup, she would probably love the
NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Highlight & Contour Pro Palette. It
contains eight "creamy" powder highlight and contour shades that are pigmented
enough to make a difference, but not so pigmented that they are hard to blend
out (one of the keys to effective face contouring). Learning how to contour
subtly can help you slim (or shorten) your nose, accentuate (or fake)
cheekbones, minimize jowls, and other artistic "magic tricks." This set has a
wide enough range of shades to work for many different skin tones, too.
Physicians Formula is another of those affordable beauty brands loved by
magazine editors and influencers that looks and acts like formulas costing
much more.
The brand is known for its silky powder formulas, and a Physicians Formula Face Palette is a great way to give a beautiful selection of coordinating powders in
a range of finishes.
For example, the Physicians Formula All-Star
Face Palette Holiday Gift Set for 2023 includes six stunning pans of bronzers,
highlighters, face powder, and blush to flatter a wide range of complexions,
although they are probably best suited to light-to-medium skin tones.
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My ColourPop 9-pan "Of Quartz" palette, now discontinued
(but
there are always plenty of new choices!)
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ColourPop Eyeshadow Palettes are amazing quality for the price. The brand is famous for its stunning
palettes and, especially, its fabulous shimmer shades.
I have one of the 9-pan
palettes (called "Of Quartz") and absolutely love it. I love the versatile mix
of mattes and shimmers and how easily I can blend out the formula, even on my
crepey, hooded lids.
There are also larger palettes, including "mega" sizes
with 30 shades (which won't fit in a stocking)! You can choose from sets that
would appeal to women who prefer subtle makeup or colorways with bold, bright
hues that fashionistas and teen girls would enjoy.
The Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Eyeshadow Palette comes in a
smaller choice of shades, but these eyeshadows have the same luxe feel as the
brand's acclaimed face powders, blushes, highlighters, and bronzers. It's
a wonderfully blendable formula that's extremely easy to apply
and manipulate to achieve the desired look.
I also appreciate the mix of matte, satin, shimmer, and metallic shades in
these versatile palettes that would flatter all skin tones.
Like all Physicians Formula makeup products, these eye shadows are
clean, cruelty-free, hypoallergenic, safe for sensitive skin and eyes, and
dermatologist-tested.
Tips on Choosing Eyeshadow Palettes as Gifts
If you're not sure which palettes your gift recipients might prefer, here are
some guidelines to help you choose.
- Green and hazel eyes are complemented by purple shades, taupes,
and earth tones, including bronzes, golds, and burgundies.
- Blue eyes are flattered by warm, orangey browns, like amber or
copper, or gray and silver shades for a smokey eye look.
- Brown eyes can wear almost any shade, especially warm browns,
golds, purples, and blues.
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When in doubt a neutral color palette is the most versatile and
flatters most eye colors and skin tones.
Just remember, there are no hard-and-fast rules when choosing eyeshadow
colors, especially for beauty lovers!
Affordable Skincare Stocking Stuffers for Women and Teen Girls
An effective skincare routine makes a huge difference in our skin's appearance
and health. A stocking filled with a good quality makeup remover, facial
cleanser, micellar water, facial serum, and moisturizer would be a wonderful
gift for teens as well as for any woman who still washes her face with soap.
(Most soaps are too harsh for facial skin, disrupting the protective skin
barrier and causing excessive dryness, oiliness, acne, sensitivity, and other
problems!)
A set of sheet masks would be a wonderful treat to encourage someone who's
feeling stressed or overextended to squeeze in a few minutes of much-needed,
relaxing, self-care and "me time."
While you might want to tailor products to the recipient's skin type, the
following recommendations are appropriate for most.
Oil-Based Cleansing Balm/Makeup Remover
Cleansing balms are a great first step to remove sunscreen, makeup, and
skincare at the end of the day. One of my favorites,
Farmacy Green Clean makeup meltaway cleansing balm, is available on Amazon in a cute 0.4-ounce sample size that's perfect as a
beauty gift stocking stuffer.
This popular makeup-removing balm dissolves even stubborn, long-wear makeup,
waterproof mascaras, and mineral sunscreens. It's the first step in a two-step
cleanse, to be followed by a gentle facial cleanser.
This cleansing balm is effective without stripping the skin of its natural
moisture or damaging the protective skin barrier. It leaves the skin feeling
soft and smooth, not dry or tight. It's also free of parabens, sulfates, and
artificial coloring and is not tested on animals.
Farmacy Green Clean cleansing balm starts to melt into an oil as you massage
it into your skin with your fingers, and then it turns into a milky cleanser
as you add water and continue to massage. Just rinse with warm water and
continue with step two (your gentle facial cleanser). I also recommend
following with micellar water on a cotton pad to remove any cleanser residue
before applying your nighttime skincare routine.
Facial Masks
The SpaLife Holiday Treats Facial Masks 12-Pack has the
cutest, most festive packaging! It's also more wintry than specifically
Christmas-y, so it would also make a great gift for other winter holidays and
gift-giving occasions.
The set comes with a dozen face mask packets in four yummy holiday scents, so
it's easy to split up into multiple gifts to help stuff several stockings.
It includes three of each of the following:
- Eggnog-scented anti-aging facial masks
- Peppermint cocoa-scented nourishing facial masks
- Gingerbread-scented soothing facial masks
- Candy cane sundae-scented brightening facial masks
These would make great gifts for anyone who loves a bit of holiday
whimsy!
TONYMOLY is an extremely popular Korean skincare brand that's PETA-certified
and 100% cruelty-free (no animal testing).
The TONYMOLY I'm Real Sheet Mask Collection is a fun way to
introduce the women or teen girls on your Christmas gift list to sheet
masks—skincare-infused paper masks that hold the serum against your skin and
let it soak in as you lie back and relax.
This set of 5 different sheet masks focuses on deep hydration and includes one
each of the following:
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I'm Aloe, infused with aloe extract and a water-based essence to hydrate the
skin
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I'm Avocado, an "avocado-infused micro emulsion-based essence" that
nourishes the skin
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I'm Watermelon, infused with watermelon extract to hydrate, refresh, and
condition
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I'm Lavender, with lavender extract to relax, soothe, and deeply hydrate
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I'm Coconut, with vitamin E and coconut extract to "remove dirt and
revitalize skin"
To use them, start with a freshly cleansed and dried face. Lie or lean back,
open and unfold the sheet mask carefully, and place it over the face, aligning
the cutouts with your eyes, nose, and mouth. Gently smooth the mask against
the skin and let the serum soak in for 20–30 minutes. (I recommend listening
to music or an audiobook to enhance the relaxation effect.) Then remove the
paper and pat/press in any excess serum into the face and neck.
Gift-Worthy Skincare Sets
The e.l.f. SKIN Hydrated Ever After Skincare Mini Kit includes small
sizes of everything a woman or teen girl on your gift list will need to keep
her face soft, smooth, and hydrated. It includes a makeup melting cleansing
balm, facial cleanser, hydrating booster drops, face cream, and eye cream.
These products are infused with hyaluronic acid to help hydrate and plump the
skin, ceramides to help strengthen the skin's moisture barrier, and peptides
to help smooth fine lines and wrinkles.
While these products would be ideal for someone with dry skin year-round, they
are also excellent for all skin types during the cold, dry weather months.
(Did you know that even oily skin needs hydration to help regulate oil
production?)
Even if your gift recipient already has a skincare routine, she will
appreciate this complete set of TSA-approved travel sizes for packing.
All of e.l.f.'s products are 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and Leaping
Bunny-certified, and they're very good quality at surprisingly low prices. At
less than $20 (at the time of this post's publication) for the entire 5-piece
kit, the price for this stocking stuffer can't be beat!
Korean skincare is known for its innovation and high quality at reasonable
prices, and COSRX is a popular brand recommended by many dermatologists and
beauty influencers. The COSRX All About Snail Kit would make a
wonderful gift for women with more mature or sensitive skin.
The hero ingredient, snail mucin, may sound off-putting, but it's a powerhouse
skincare ingredient with multiple benefits. In the medically-reviewed
EveryDay Health article
"Snail Mucin 101: A Detailed Guide," Georgia Smith, a Sydney, Australia-based cosmetic chemist and founder
of Skin Sister, described snail mucin as "a complex mix of proteins, enzymes,
hyaluronic acid, copper peptides, antimicrobial peptides, iron, zinc, and
proteoglycans." It can help strengthen the skin barrier; retain moisture;
improve plumpness, smoothness, fine lines, and wrinkles; promote collagen
building; enhance wound healing; and improve the appearance of scarring. It is
also antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, potentially helping with acne and
redness.
The COSRX All About Snail Kit includes TSA-approved travel sizes of four of
the brand's most coveted skincare products: Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser,
Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream, and
Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream.
Pampering Body Care Stocking Stuffers
Skincare isn't just for the face, especially during the cold, dry winter
months. A gift of a body wash, body scrub, exfoliating gloves, or moisturizing
body lotion can soothe and smooth dry, crepey skin all winter long. A
moisturizing hand cream, cuticle balm, or foot cream is something every woman
or teen girl can use.
Here are some gift-worthy body care stocking stuffer ideas.
Aromatherapy Shower Steamers or Bath Bombs
I only recently learned about shower steamers, which are similar to bath bombs
but designed for use during a shower instead of a bath.
Cleverfy Aromatherapy Shower Steamers are beautifully packaged and are
available in several different assortments of different sizes and
scents.
The boxed sets of six Cleverfy Aromatherapy Shower Steamers are the
perfect size for stocking stuffers, but you might also consider splitting one
of the larger assortments into several gifts.
I really like the set of six aromatherapy shower steamers that includes one
each of the following scents:
- Menthol & eucalyptus
- Peony & pear
- Grapefruit
- Watermelon
- Cocoa & orange
- Lemongrass & coconut
Hand and Foot Care
The Burt's Bees Tips and Toes Kit is a boxed, six-piece set that's
perfect for gift-giving and costs much less than you might expect. It includes
a full-size pomegranate tinted lip balm to soften and smooth lips while adding
a hint of color, plus five mini sizes of the following products:
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A cute little tin of almond & milk hand cream that's perfect to tuck in
a purse
- A tube of honey & grapeseed hand cream
- A tin of hand salve
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A tin of lemon butter cuticle cream (a long-time favorite that's perfect for
massaging into dry cuticles on the go)
- A tube of coconut foot cream
These travel-size products would also be great for a frequent traveler.
You could also put together a set of high-quality nail care tools for a woman
or teen who either loves having pretty nails or wishes she did. Check out my
in-depth guide to
The Best Manicure Tools
to see my personally curated, tried-and-true picks. Consider adding a bottle
or two of nail polish.
Essie nail polish kits always include some great holiday gift sets at affordable prices, and
the quality is excellent.
Spa Accessories
Consider filling her stocking with one or more spa accessories to up her
beauty and skincare game. Check out my in-depth reviews of the best spa headbands for face washing, skincare, and makeup application, the best silicone face cleansing brushes, the best
reusable microfiber facial cleansing sponges, and my favorite
microfiber face washing wristbands
to keep your arms and sleeves dry.
Need an Elegant Christmas Stocking to Stuff?
Check out my recent product reviews of The Most Beautiful Christmas Stockings for Elegant Holiday Decor. You’ll find a selection of festive picks to hold these beauty gift stocking stuffers.
❆❅❄ Wishing you and your loved ones a beauty-filled holiday!
❄❅❆
Awesome, Affordable Beauty Gifts to Fill Her Christmas Stocking by Margaret Schindel
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