Best Beauty Gifts, According to Our Staff

Crown Affair’s line of haircare essentials has been my gifting go-to for the past five years, and this holiday season is no exception. This particular bundle comes with a few of my favorites, including a generously sized hair towel that leaves my freshly washed mane feeling oh-so-soft, a fantastic leave-in conditioner, texturizing hair mousse, and two midsized claw clips. 

A great scalp scrub shampoo has the power to transform dull and weighed-down hair with gentle exfoliation and moisturization. CR managing editor Ginger Cowles’ go-to product, and mainstay for many years, is this version from Briogeo. “Whenever I notice product buildup or even when I have 5 extra minutes to do a scalp scrub, I reach for this product,” she says. “It’s so effective and feels great from the micro exfoliant beads to the tingling sensation from the charcoal.”

Detangling brushes save not only time but also effort when tackling knots or an unruly mane. For deals editor Samantha Gordon, the FHI Heat Unbrush is the one to beat. It earned the distinction of being the best for curly hair in our evaluations of the best detangling brushes, and our testers liked its lightweight feel. “I switched to it because my old brush had those beads at the end of the bristles, and they were snagging in my hair and ripping out my extensions,” Gordon says. “The Unbrush has smooth bristles, so it glides through my hair so smoothly and detangles without catching my extensions.”

In leading our recent evaluations of the best hair mousses for curly hair, senior writer Jodhaira Rodriguez became a convert of this version from Pattern Beauty. “It gives me bouncy, moisturized, frizz-free curls every time I style my hair with it.” Our testers all liked this mousse, even those with varied hair lengths and textures, and found it to have a pleasant herbal scent.

If you’ve yet to get on the gel eye patch train, now is the time. These 24K Gold gel eye patches from Peter Thomas Roth are equal parts luxurious and effective. Just take Cowles’ word for it. “I absolutely adore this product,” she says. “I just started using them last year when I noticed a lot more fine lines in my undereye area. A friend recommended them, and I initially balked at the $75 price, which I felt was a lot for eye patches, but she assured me they work. And they do.” 

These eye patches come in especially handy for Cowles after a night of less-than-ideal sleep or when she has a special evening planned. She recommends keeping them on for about an hour or until they dry out.

I’ve been a longtime fan of Urban Decay’s setting spray and was pleased to hear that Rodriguez had recently become one as well. “I switched to this setting spray last month and am kicking myself for not believing the hype earlier about it,” she says. “My makeup was always transferring to the shirt of whoever I greeted with a hug, and I was so embarrassed. No more since I switched over to this setting spray.”

In my experience, it also does a stellar job of keeping my makeup in place for longer periods of time. You won’t find me at a wedding or big event without it.

Gordon’s setting spray of choice is this one by Patrick Starrr. An integral part of her makeup routine, especially for a long day or night, she prefers this version because it’s light and dries instantly. “I hate using setting sprays where you have to fan your face to get them to dry, especially because I feel like they always get in my eyes and leave me tearing and my mascara running,” Gordon says. “This stuff is the exact opposite.”

Makeup that can do double (even triple) duty is always a win in our books, and this multiuse pigment stick is one prime example. The dual-toned product can be used on the eyes, cheeks, and lips for a truly versatile application. “This product is genius,” Cowles says. “It helps users create nearly effortless eye shadow looks with a single product. One end of the stick has a metallic color and the other a foil color—each providing a different look and texture. I took Duo #2 Orion Nebula & Twilight Cream on a recent girls’ trip, and it helped me get ready so much faster.”

If you’ve been looking for a sign to switch from foundation to skin tint, consider this a sign. Take it from me, you might find yourself hard-pressed to go back. Rodriguez recently made the swap after searching for an option that could withstand hours of wear without making her feel (and look) greasy. Cue this skin tint from Fenty Beauty. “[It] doesn’t feel heavy on my skin and hasn’t caused any major breakouts on my acne-prone skin,” she says. 

I prefer to keep my skin care routine to a minimum, which usually translates to a serum and occasionally a moisturizer if it happens to be a particularly dry day. I love this serum from Caudalie so much that I always ensure I have a backup when my current bottle appears to be running low. Made with organic grape water and hyaluronic acid, this fast-absorbing serum leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated throughout the day and night. 

Our evaluators unanimously agreed that this Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm went on smoothly, and many loved its hydrating and moisturizing nature. Its mild vanilla scent was another standout feature of this TikTok-famous balm, which is available in several flavors.

Having acne-prone skin, Rodriguez once struggled to find products that didn’t cause breakouts. This Ultra Repair Cream from First Aid Beauty proved to be the answer. “I think I’m going on year six of repurchasing this, and don’t think I’ll ever go back,” she says. “Lightweight but super-moisturizing, and when I buy the 8-ounce tube, I don’t have to stock up again for many, many months.”

Something as simple as a splurge-worthy body wash can be a little luxury that goes a long way. Bathing Culture’s line of green-minded and deliciously scented bath products are a prime example. I’ve been a longtime user and can attest to its allure. It also happens to be a hit with shopping editor Mary Beth Quirk. “I absolutely love the smell of the Cathedral Grove scent; it’s refreshing without being too overpowering. I also like its silky texture, and the fact that a little goes a long way: I only have to use a small amount on my washcloth, so it’ll take me a while to work my way through the bottle.”

An effective body moisturizer can sometimes be tough to find, but we’ve got word that this one is a game-changer. Made with hydrating oat milk, cocoa, and shea, Lush’s fragrant body butter is not one to miss. “After washing, wet the bar and rub it all over your skin and quickly rinse,” Cowles says. “Takes less than a minute to do everything, and it’s super-moisturizing, which I need because my skin tends to be drier, especially in the winter.” 

Pro tip: Buy a separate, rustproof metal container to house the body butter in.

When running to the salon for a quick manicure isn’t an option, the next best thing might just be quick-dry nail polish. For CR writer Jessica Waller, it’s this version from Olive & June, which has become a go-to. “The formula glides on effortlessly and dries in a mere fraction of the time as other non-speedy polishes, which means I can get back to typing, cooking, and gardening without missing a beat.” As an avid user of this very polish, I can agree. 

“The mani also lasts a long time—I’ve preserved it unchipped for the better part of a week, as long as I don’t go digging in my kids’ Lego bins,” Waller adds. “Don’t tell, but I’ll be gifting my favorite shade, Rink, a pale icy blue-gray, to all my friends this season.”

“I was gifted this diffuser by a friend and can honestly say it has been one of the best gifts I’ve received in a long time,” Rodriguez says. If that isn’t a glowing review, we don’t know what is. 

The Aera diffuser’s claim to fame is its use of patented technology designed to deliver a hypoallergenic scent experience and fill rooms up to 1,000 square feet. Users can set the device on a schedule and adjust its levels. “As a former, frequent candle burner, I love that this diffuser gives me control over the intensity of a scent that candles never allowed me,” Rodriguez says. “There are so many scents available, too.”

A luxurious robe can go a long way, and this washable silk version is not one to miss. Available in a range of sizes and colors, it’s the perfect addition to a night of self-care.