I get it. You sat down, got comfortable, grabbed a yummy snack, and opened this article to be the good, gift-giving friend/child/sibling/partner/co-worker you know you’re supposed to be this time of year. Unfortunately for you, there’s absolutely no way you’re making it through this story and solely shopping for others and others alone. (Yes, you deserve to treat yourself, too!)
I’m not sure who came up with the concept of gift sets and artfully curated selections of minis, but they did a brilliantly helpful thing for my shopping process. While jolly and all, this time of year can also be incredibly stressful. Not only do the best holiday beauty gift sets let you dabble and try lots of different things before committing to the more expensive full-size version, but they’re also a choice way to share your fave products and brands (in bulk) with the people you love most while strategically saving some money. There might be hundreds of holiday beauty gift sets out on the market right now, but as a product-obsessed editor who’s tried and seen practically everything, I’m sharing my top 23 picks just below. Keep scrolling—they’re going fast.
The Best Skincare Sets
What’s better than getting travel-friendly sizes of Versed best sellers, such as the Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm, Weekend Glow Daily Brightening Toner, Just Breathe Clarifying Serum Mini, Press Restart Gentle Retinol Serum (this one is full-size!), and Dew Point Moisturizing Gel-Cream? Nothing, absolutely nothing.
Call me and anyone else who has tried Shani Darden’s skincare magic dramatic, but you simply haven’t lived until you’ve tried the L.A.-based facialist’s eponymous skincare line and cult-loved Retinol Reform serum. I’ve never met an editor or celebrity who doesn’t hoard the stuff. Your skin will never be the same, and you’ll also fall hard for Darden’s silky cleansing serum and weightless oil-free moisturizer.
Redness and winter-irritated skin don’t stand a chance against these TikTok-famous favorites from Dr. Jart+. You’ll get the Cicapair Tiger Grass Calming Mist, the Cicapair Tiger Grass Serum, the Cicapair Tiger Grass Cream, and, last but not least, the Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment.
Drunk Elephant has an ample spread of enticing holiday gift sets this season, but I have my sights set on this set of four best sellers that work simultaneously to target and correct fine lines, wrinkles, dryness, dullness, and uneven texture… even loss of firmness and elasticity.
This set is a splurge, but there is simply no better time to invest in SkinCeuticals’ iconic C E Ferulic (arguably the best vitamin C serum of all time) plus two more youth-enhancing MVPs from the brand.
The Best Makeup Sets
I can’t get over how fabulous this set of clean-makeup staples is. Three full-size and three mini products for $36? Pretty sure this is illegal, Sephora!
Whether you (or your loved one) are already a CT stan or have yet to dip your toe into the brand, this epic holiday gift set featuring all things Pillow Talk is pretty much the GOAT.
I’ve been so impressed by every single makeup product I’ve tried from Rare Beauty, and this little foursome happens to have all of my top picks.
Anyone who loves natural-looking makeup and glowing, healthy skin needs Westman Atelier in their life. Your makeup routine will never be the same after you get your hands on the brand’s best-selling highlighter, blush, and contour stick. Better yet, they’re made with clean, ultra-natural ingredients.
The Best Haircare Sets
The limit for how much Olaplex I need/want/use does not exist, and I highly recommend anyone else who has hair to pick up the same tagline. Obviously, I’m stocking up on this set for myself and giving it to all of my friends and family, too.
I recently had my hair styled by celebrity hairstylist Gregory Russell, who used an amazing lineup of Pureology’s products on my parched, bleach-blonde strands. Let me just say this: Once he was done with me, my hair was soft as silk and had the most incredible shine. Suffice to say, I’m officially back on board the Pureology hair-regimen train and am dreaming about this epic set.
Associate beauty editor Shawna Hudson swears up and down that Bread’s targeted, magical products work on thicker weaves, curls, coils, and medium to thick hair textures. Here, you get a little bit of everything—the Hair Wash Gentle Milky Hair Cleanser, the Hair Mask Creamy Deep Conditioner, the Hair Oil Everyday Gloss, and the brand’s signature puffy scrunchie.
I have an undying love for all things Oribe, and I always have at least a couple of products from the brand in my shower. They’re usually from its iconic Gold Lust collection. This holiday set is a true treat for stressed-out strands.
The Best Fragrance Sets
French fragrance house Diptyque makes some of the most-loved perfumes among the fashion-and-beauty set, and this discovery set is the best thing you can buy for anyone who loves to smell conversation-starting good.
Maison Margiela’s Replica line has gained a cult following for a reason. Not only is every fragrance practically perfect and teeming with nostalgia and warm fuzzies, but each bottle is also relatively affordable. To find your fave or to help a friend or family member, snap up this amazing set. Thirty-five dollars?! Next-freaking-level.
Every perfume from Byredo is impeccable and so deliciously unique. I guarantee anyone lucky enough to receive this set will love each and every fragrance.
Candles count as fragrance, right? Regardless, I’m unhealthily obsessed with Boy Smells’ new Fantôme edit, and I can’t stop telling everyone I know that they need each of these three majestic candles in their self-care repertoire.
The Best Bath & Bodycare Sets
Mutha’s buttery skin concoctions are definitely an investment moment, but dry winter skin will go nuts for each of these rich body medleys: the famed Body Oil, Body Butter, and an up-and-coming icon, the Body Contour Serum. This set is taken to new skin-firming heights thanks to the circulation-boosting dry brush.
I’ve heard so many cool beauty people and celebs wax poetic about Costa Brazil’s lush body elixirs, and after taking these skin-illuminating oils for a test run myself, I can attest to the hype.
Nécessaire is one of my favorite beauty brands of all time, and I’m pretty sure I’ve gotten every member of my close friend and family circle addicted to the stuff, too. This four-piece kit features the exfoliator, body serum, body lotion, and bodywash, and it’s kind of a no-brainer in my book.
I’m a Taurus through and through, so I definitely bend toward the luxurious side when it comes to bodycare. 54 Thrones makes the most delicious formulas, and the brand’s signature multipurpose body butter is impossible to beat when it comes to long-lasting hydration. The brand uses not one but two types of African shea butter (Ghanaian and Ugandan) to top up thirsty skin, while other strategic additions like potent botanicals and rejuvenating plant oils promote a glowing, velvety-smooth finish. It’s impossible to choose from the array of scents, so I’ve decided I need them all this winter.
The Best Nail Sets
I recently wrote an entire article about why you should be obsessed with Deborah Lippmann’s ultra-famous polish line, and this glorious holiday-centric set serves as further evidence.
Not only is Olive and June’s just-released winter collection drool-inducingly perfect, but it also comes with every at-home mani staple a nail lover could ever need or want.
Up next, 30 New Beauty Items Our Editors Were Really (Really) Into Last Month