Not long ago, holiday shopping involved overcrowded stores, schlepping bags in and out Ubers and jammed subway cars, and — depending on how late in the game you made your way through your list — settling for picked-over options that (let’s be real) no one really wants anyway. Being home for months on end has been quite a bummer, but there’s something about swiping your way through your gift list from the comfort of your couch that can’t be beat. What’s even better: getting it all done from a one-stop-shop like Amazon.
You may already have some great gadgets, appliances, and essentials on your Amazon wish list, but there are plenty of beauty gems worth adding to your cart as well. We know that sorting through such a massive retailer and deciphering what’s legit and potentially sketchy in the seemingly bottomless abyss of options can be overwhelming, but that’s where we come in.
We’ve rounded up a selection of picks that fit every self-care, hairstyling, and makeup-experimenting mood. So go forth and gift shop with ease.
Skin Care
Whether you’re looking for some budget finds or a little bit of luxury, brands such as BeautyBio, Instanatural, and Ahava, span the gifting gamut. The friend who is a master of at-home facials would love some of the masking options like Formula 10.0.6‘s deep-cleaning and calming collection, pods from Nügg that include two Allure Best of Beauty winners, or a batch from Freeman, which makes passing the minutes while you mask selfie-friendly with its Neon Face Mask Collection.
With many of us fighting off maskne, I Dew Care’s Kitten My Balance On Balancing & Calming Trio is a great gift to help clear and soothe irritation, thanks to heartleaf extract, antioxidant- and fatty-acid-rich hemp seed oil, and kaolin to absorb excess oil. If you know of someone looking for more intense skin-smoothing and wrinkle-reducing, consider adding InstaNatural’s retinol and vitamin C serums to their stocking. There’s also The Better Skin Co.’s Erik C Serum that’ll help fade dark spots. Either way, giving the gift of good skin is always a win.
Makeup
Makeup may be less of a priority these days while we’re wearing masks, but there are still plenty of great reasons to help someone replenish their eye shadow and highlighter stash. Kaja Beauty, Clio, and Nomad Cosmetics are just right for pulling off some gorgeous eye makeup looks, whether it’s to wear outdoors with a face mask or to help make those video calls less mundane. Before you head out or log on, top off your cheeks with The Lip Bar’s Fresh Glow Two-Layer Compact bronzer and blush duo.
Hair Care
Hair products can be tricky to gift — unless, of course, it’s something fun like Aussie Lustr Shine Enhancing Hair Perfume. With a fresh Australian desert peach scent, the shine spray will make hair look as delicious as it smells. Or try a more practical pick like this year’s Best of Beauty-winning Pantene Pro-V Intense Rescue Shots. Each tube pumps nourishing vitamin B5 into damaged hair to bring it back to life in a minute flat.
