55 Best Beauty Gift Ideas of 2023, According to Cut Editors
Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photos: Retailers
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Nothing says “treat yourself” (or someone else) quite like a beauty gift. It can be as small as a set of face masks from their favorite brand or as luxurious as a microcurrent sculpting device. Either way, the recipient is going to be thoroughly appreciative.
Whether you’re shopping for someone who is fluent in face acids or a person who simply likes to smell good sometimes, read on for the 55 best beauty gift ideas that’ll score prime real estate on their bathroom shelf.
➼ Beauty Gifts Under $50
➼ Best Beauty Gifts Under $100
➼ Best Beauty Gifts Under $250
➼ Best Beauty Gifts Under $500
About half of the people on my list are receiving one of these solid moisturizers: a body lotion that doubles as a massage bar. It comes in a reusable bamboo canister that they’ll inevitably use when they get hooked and buy the refills. —Daise Bedolla, former senior social-media editor
This moisturizing bar soap created by Mexican founder Sandra Velasquez contains two different kinds of plant butters and five plant oils. The hero ingredient is nopal, a cactus that is known for hydrating hair and skin. This bar, gently scented with sage and eucalyptus, exfoliates with activated charcoal to leave your skin smoother than when you stepped in the shower. —D.B
The Body Essentials set by Nécessaire, which helps cleanse, hydrate, and replenish the skin, deserves a spot on everyone’s packing list. —Kendall Becker, Cut Shop contributor
Any beauty routine will feel a hundred times fancier when applied with Chanel cotton pads. —Erica Smith, former beauty writer.
Everyone loves a good face mask. This set contains minis of five best-selling masks from Peter Thomas Roth, including a yummy Pumpkin Enzyme Mask and an exclusive Blue Marine Algae Intense Hydrating Mask. —Brooke LaMantia, Cut Shop contributor
Buy this exfoliator for your friend who loves the Tatcha Rice Polish but wants to try something new. It comes with a cute little copper spoon that measures the perfect amount you need each time —D.B.
This candle was designed specifically for skin-care routines and taking pride in that time. Blended with notes of berries and Champagne, it immediately transports you to a spa. Glu also has candles blended for self-care moments like journaling, stretching, and doing your hair. —Asia Milia Ware, fashion and beauty writer
This sleek box looks nice on a nightstand, fits easily in a bag, and makes meds and supplements look a lot more appealing. —E.S.
Selfie-ready eye masks are the perfect stocking stuffer. These come in a very on-trend plant shape and feel as good as they look thanks to refreshing cactus extract and cucumber. —E.S.
A more modern take on a claw clip that creates some nice negative space on fourth- and fifth-day hair.
A stocking stuffer for your friend who loves planning road trips and misses that “new-car smell.” —K.H.
Every skin connoisseur knows that Osea has mastered the art of the ultrahydrated, glowy look. This discovery set of best sellers is the perfect way for the person you’re shopping for to get acquainted with the brand if they haven’t already. —K.B.
Malin+Goetz is known for its easy skin care and unique scents. This oil balm blends both: It’s a rich balm that melts into your skin the second it touches it, and the light scent is therapeutic. —A.M.W.
For the person in your life who prefers looking like a glazed, dewy doughnut over having matte skin, this lightweight oil-serum hybrid will be their skin’s new best friend. —A.M.W.
Even if your beauty-obsessed friend is not making a trip to Europe this summer, Nest’s Santorini Olive & Citron candle will make them feel like they’re in the Mediterranean. —K.B.
For your friend who has a set hair routine but loves a good dry shampoo, try this hair fragrance that smells like floral and jasmine. Don’t take it from us though, it’s everyone’s favorite. —B.L.
To achieve the braided hair without any of the braiding, this is the hair tool you need. —B.L.
For the nail maven, this dip kit is a simple and seamless way to do their own dip-powder nails at home. They may never see a salon again. —A.M.W.
These leakproof and magnetic capsules make traveling so much easier — just add in your serums, creams, pills, jewelry, and makeup. No more clunky bottles or stockpiling samples. —D.B.
A diffuser scented like the crisp Mediterranean Sea is basically like gifting an in-home vacation escape. —A.M.W.
Luscious locks are a beauty trend that will never go out of style. Achieve the look with this vitamin-infused mask that helps restore softness, shine, and body to the hair. —K.B.
Who hasn’t heard the buzz about GrandeLASH? Spoiler alert: It actually works. —K.B.
A luxurious nighttime routine is an essential part of getting good sleep (for us, anyway). Gift Slip’s silk contour sleep mask to set the tone for an indulgent rest. —K.B.
People on TikTok can’t stop talking about Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk foundation — it gives the perfect glow without ever looking greasy. —K.B.
Everybody has that one friend who’s obsessed with fancy soaps. This year, get them the chicest one out there, woody smell and rope included, courtesy of Loewe. —B.L.
This cream hasn’t left my purse since it launched. Its packaging is chic and compact, and it keeps my hands moisturized throughout the day. —A.M.W.
If you’ve never been able to get a facial from Beverly Hills aesthetician Shani Darden, consider this mask your at-home experience with her. It’s a must-have for sensitive skin. It’s formulated with oatmeal for calmness and squalane to replenish the complexion. —A.M.W.
Another TikTok favorite, the Solawave red-light therapy wand is a device that’s receiving praise from the beauty community for its ability to smooth fine lines and reduce puffiness. —K.B.
This viral skin-tightening mask is a great gift for those who want to see what the hype is all about. It claims to help firm, tone, smooth, lift, and remove impurities for visibly younger-looking skin. —K.B.
By the Fireplace is one of Maison Margiela’s most beloved scents. This set doesn’t only include the candle but also a nontraditional candle holder that allows you to create your own fireplace at home. —A.M.W.
This is the dream beauty duo for inside and out: a powdered-supplement blend with ingredients like ashwagandha and sea buckthorn to improve the skin’s health and reduce stress levels and a body glaze to slather all over your body for the ultimate glow. —A.M.W.
Coca Michelle has a dream-client roster from Beyoncé to Megan Thee Stallion. Her nail jewels feature jewelry for your nails that your nail-obsessed friend will have a field day with. —A.M.W.
Lather this thick cream onto your skin and neck on your most dehydrated day. Our deputy style editor, Joanna Nikas, swears by this as her go-to moisturizer.
This kit of “superstar” products offers up an array of serum solutions, so it’s a great go-to gift if you don’t know the recipient’s skin concerns. —K.B.
Formulated by Dr. Chaneve Jeanniton, one of only 500 oculofacial plastic surgeons in the world, this serum includes a blend of over 300 growth factors derived from human stem cells. Translation: It promotes cell turnover to stimulate collagen production, decrease fine lines, and improve the skin’s texture. Naked Beauty podcast host Brooke DeVard Ozaydinli calls it “magic in a bottle,” while Knockout Beauty founder Cayli Cavaco Reck says it makes you look like “you had baby filler.” It is expensive, but I genuinely love it. —D.B.
For the fragrance-obsessed person in your life, Aerin’s Cedar Violet is a crisp yet floral scent that is a great signature. —A.M.W.
Rihanna said, “This exudes everything I feel, everything I am, and everything I want to be,” so of course, we bought it. And we’re gifting it, too. —B.L.
111Skin’s face masks may sit at a higher price point, but I can confirm it’s all for good reason. It features a unique combination of ingredients, such as 24K gold and rose damascus extract, that help plump the skin and boost radiance. The Rose Gold Brightening treatment is one that the recipient will undoubtedly fall in love with. —K.B.
La Mer is always a great gift. This duo is two of my products that I’ll always splurge on: the treatment lotion for plump skin and the cultish classic cream that is deeply nourishing and long-lasting. —A.M.W.
Give the gift of options with this Dior sampler set that comes with three summer scents. The French Riviera–inspired packaging will look so chic on their bathroom countertop. —K.B.
Augustinus Bader’s serum is enriched with a powerful blend of amino acids and high-grade vitamins that help reduce signs of aging, which makes the best-selling formulation worth every bit of hype. —K.B.
Skinceuticals offers up a potent array of active ingredients that are sure to impress any beauty skeptic. This discovery set includes a hydrating hyaluronic-acid serum, an anti-aging cream, and a vitamin C serum that provides environmental protection and helps brighten the skin. —K.B.
If the person you’re shopping for would rather stick to tried-and-true hot tools rather than air-powered wraps, T3’s Switch Kit is the perfect gift. There’s no learning curve (like there is with high-tech tools), but they can still achieve a wide variety of hairstyles thanks to the interchangeable barrels. —K.B.
This LED device targets wrinkles and blemishes for a multifaceted approach to technology-driven skin care. —K.B.
Dr. Barbara Sturm has an impeccable reputation within the beauty community, and her anti-aging night cream makes a case for being one of the best on the market. It targets dryness, fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of elasticity in the skin, plus it’s nourishing and lightweight. —K.B.
For those who want to try out a Dyson hair tool but prefer a straighter look than the Airwrap can offer, the newly launched Airstrait is the answer. —K.B.
Facegym’s microneedling tool takes at-home skin-care devices to the next level — and your beauty-obsessed friend will definitely want to give it a try. —K.B.
Created by New York–based brow expert Joey Healy, this isn’t your normal microcurrent device, and it’s a great starter tool for someone who wants to get into microcurrent technology but doesn’t know where to start. The smaller prongs on this tool target specific and more sensitive areas like the brow and eye area. A lifted brow can change the entire appearance of your face.
Widian’s Gold II Sahara — which has notes of saffron, orange, and elemi — is a coveted product for beauty-industry folks who are in the know. If you want to gift a rare fragrance that’ll surely become their signature scent, add it to your cart. —K.B.
Beauty tools aren’t only skin tools. For the person who wants to channel their inner Gwyneth Paltrow, Therabody’s new Theragun Sense doesn’t just massage your body’s hard-to-get knots and ease soreness, but it also includes guided breath work and a heart-rate sensor for the wellness-obsessed person in your life. —A.M.W.
Can’t choose which luxury gift is worth it? This box features all of Violet Grey’s best-selling skin-care and makeup products. You have all the options — from eye patches to Aman’s hyaluronic-acid body serum — to give you the smoothest skin. —A.M.W.
This anti-aging cream is made for blemish-prone mature skin that needs rehydration. It’s not only nourishing, but the container will complete any shelfie. —A.M.W.
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