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As editors, we aren’t immune to holiday shopping. Au contraire! With access to when and what will be on sale, we know exactly what to gift our loved ones (and what to add to our own wish lists). From creative white-elephant gifts and luxurious beauty gifts to what to gift your employee and everything in between, these are the goodies Cut editors have their eye on this year.
Read on if you’re in desperate need of some gift-giving inspiration.
Senteurs d’Orient Fleurs d’Oasis The Oil
This Senteurs d’Orient body oil has been on my gift list for years (and still is!) because it soothes my skin and I smell like a bouquet of flowers whenever I lather it on. It includes 14 plant-based oils like safflower seed, macadamia, jojoba, and olive oil, and it smells like bergamot, jasmine, and orange blossom. —Joanna Nikas, deputy style editor
Esker Calendula Hand Cleanser
Yes, hand soap is a great gift. And this one from Esker is clean, cruelty-free, and smells great. Plus, it comes in a glass bottle with a refillable option so you don’t have to worry about waste. I’ve been using this one for months now and my hands feel soft. —J.N.
Ffern Golden Ticket
I’ve been wearing Ffern’s beautiful fragrances for about two years and consistently get compliments. Siblings Owen Mears and Emily Cameron were inspired by an organic herb farm in Somerset, England, to create the brand. The scents are all organic, vegan, sustainably created, and all seasonal (there are four seasonal scents per year). That is why they only make a certain amount of bottles of each scent, then they are not available. That is also why the waitlist is very long. But this holiday season you can gift the scents by purchasing a “Golden Ticket” that includes two seasonal scents. The latest scent has notes of golden quince, as well as jasmine, pear, and caraway seed. —J.N.
Maison Detto Verdades
Maison D’Etto’s new Verdades perfume is a great gift for anyone who loves to smell wealthy. For its first fragrance in three years, the fragrance house called upon legendary perfumer Julien Rasquinet to create a scent with notes of Tunisian orange blossom, Indian jasmine, and Turkish Rose Absolute — basically a dream smell for anyone who loves to vacation in Greece in the summer (or at least be transported as if they did). —J.N.
Gohar World Cutlery Pouches
This set of cutlery pouches from Gohar World are a perfect gift: something someone wouldn’t necessarily buy for themselves but would surely enjoy if given to them. Handmade in Cairo, the silvery pouch will surely delight any holiday dinner guest. —J.N.
This year I’ll be gifting coffee-table books that are actually interesting. No disrespect to that one Tom Ford coffee-table book everyone has (I’m sure it’s great), but there are other books out there, folks! I believe that these glorified picture books should contain either insane levels of whimsy or meaty blocks of text strewn throughout said decorative literature. I’m either gifting these books or hoarding them for myself this season. —Danya Issawi, fashion news writer
Chanel Bleu De Chanel (1.7 oz)
Beyond his deodorant and whatever spruce-scented balm he puts in his hair, my boyfriend is averse to strong smells. He is so incessantly picky and finds something wrong in the scent profile of nearly every cologne, aftershave, or even lotion (“ick, smells like dirty socks” or “reminds me of my grandma’s house, in a bad way”). So consider me surprised when our friend dabs a bit of Bleu de Chanel on at a party and he’s immediately taken. Like, he’s losing his mind at how much he loves the smell. He’s never smelled anything so wonderful in his life, which feels deeply insulting considering how deliciously aromatic my apple crumble is … but I digress. I’ve pocketed that moment away since about April and will be surprising him with his very own bottle at Christmas this year. —D.I.
UGG Slippers
I’m of the mind-set that UGGs are a universal gift now. No one is going to be mad about being gifted the joy of cozy! You can get them house slippers, hybrid slippers, the good ol’ UGG boot. Everyone needs an UGG during the winter months! —D.I.
Lightweight Hooded Puffer Jacket
Be prepared, whatever the weather, with this lightweight puffer jacket, made with a water-resistant finish, a detachable hood, and thermal insulation for optimal protection.
Buly 1803 Baume des Muses Black
I love gifting my friends something personal and usable, which is why this French lip balm is perfect. It’s not cheap for a lip balm, but that’s what makes it a great gift since it’s something I know they wouldn’t buy for themselves. It’s nice, it’s cute, and it’ll look good in every purse. —Brooke LaMantia, editorial assistant
$35 at Officine Universelle Buly
Jenny Bird Gia Anklet
My aunt lives in Florida and swears by this anklet, saying it never tarnishes and elevates her ankle stack to a whole new level. I know she’ll appreciate another one. —B.L.
New Balance 704
If you have a sneakerhead, athlete, or gym rat in your life, giving them a pair of running shoes or athletic footwear that is versatile enough for running errands and running to a workout class, the New Balance 740s are an affordable, functional, and cute gift. They’re similar to the 530 style that it feels like everyone has but just subtly different enough. If they already have a pair, no shame in getting them some fresh ones to replenish their closet — especially if the shoes come in a new color they don’t already have. —Brooke Marine, deputy culture editor
Seed to Skin The Massage Candle
I had a life-changing massage over the summer at Six Senses Rome. My skin was left feeling velvety smooth, smelling divine, and I was glowing. It was because of Seed to Skin’s balm and oils. I wanted to bottle it all up and bring it back to the U.S. with me, but I didn’t. That’s why this holiday season I want all of my friends to experience what I did. I can’t fly them to Rome, but I’m gifting them this massage candle. It’s two gifts in one: A warm, vanilla-scented candle for their home, but once burned, it doubles as a massage oil. —Asia Milia Ware, fashion and beauty writer
Beats Studio Pro
I have a teenage niece who always wants to steal all of my things. One of those is my Beats Studio Pro headphones. It’s the “cool” thing to wear, so I’m gifting her these and any other teenagers in my family. To them they’re cool, to me they’re amazing noise-cancellation headphones for my workouts. I love all of the neutral colors that are available. —A.M.W.
Malbon Expedition Buckets Hoodie
My boyfriend is not a golfer at all, but he loves golf attire. Malbon has golf meets streetwear stylish apparel that he loves, so I’ll be stocking him up on some of its outerwear. Its sweaters and windbreakers are a great gift for the man in your life, whether he plays golf or not. —A.M.W.
Monday Swimwear Cape May Skirt
I’m the friend who’s always reminding my friends they need to go on a vacation because they work too hard. Because of that, I like to gift them pieces to wear on that trip they need to book ASAP. Monday Swimwear is one of my favorite brands from the quality of its swimsuits to the designs of its resortwear. This crochet skirt is always in my suitcase when I go on vacation and I live in it. I want them to do the same. —A.M.W.
Crass Studio “NINE.TOO” Sunglasses
A pair of sunnies is always a great gift too. New York–based brand Crass had the coolest-shaped glasses with mirrored frames. They’re the perfect gift for friends who always compliment my nontraditional sunglasses. —A.M.W.
Sol de Janeiro Rio Body Retreat
My sister raves about how much she loves Sol de Janiero’s Brazilian Bum Bum Cream. This year, I’m gifting her a whole set that includes a fresh tub of her favorite body cream along with a shower gel and fragrance mist. — Catherine Thompson, features editor
Marshall Monitor III Headphones
After tons of testing, I found the perfect headphones that my music-snob little brother would love. These have noise-cancelling settings and can enhance the sounds of live music, which he listens to all the time. They come with a cord that connects to his record player or guitar amp. Plus, they just look really cool. —Chinea Rodriguez, shopping writer
‘The Bloater,’ by Rosemary Tonks
This book came highly recommended by my friend Laura, a culture writer over in London with exquisite taste. “One I’ll be pushing on everyone,” she wrote to me. I can see why: It’s a wickedly funny little novel about a woman who can’t stand the guy she’s dating, an opera singer whom she calls The Bloater, but she can’t exactly stand to be without him either. She shrinks away from love like it’s a disgusting co-worker who might sneeze in her face. I’ve never met a person who’s read The Bloater and didn’t like it, but it’ll be a real hit for the stylish, too-smart-for-her-own-good friend in your life. —Cat Zhang, culture writer
J.Crew Bordeaux Bag
Surprise your fashion-forward friend this season with this dainty, east-west cylinder bag from J.Crew that they can wear and style for any occasion. As someone who owns the bag in the patent tortoise print, I can say it goes with everything. The bag also comes in the color of the season: oxblood. And despite its seemingly small shape, the bag can actually fit a lot so you don’t have to worry about squeezing your phone and your favorite lip gloss in. —Morgan Evans, Cut Shop market editor
Bombas Saturday Slipper
The second I tried these, I didn’t want to take them off. And the longer I wore them, I forgot I had them on. These are truly some of the most comfortable slippers I’ve owned and would make an ideal gift for the work-from-home or homebody person in your life. Beyond the warm fluffy sherpa exterior of the slipper, the memory foam inside makes the slip feel like you’re walking on clouds. —M.E.
SkinMedica Minis Collection
My mom called me recently to ask about Skinmedica; she said her esthetician recommended the brand, but she’s hesitant to buy anything from it because the products are so expensive. Maybe she was dropping Christmas-gift hints, maybe not — either way, I’m definitely going to give her this set because I’ve been using the brand for years and know for a fact that it’s worth the money. The products in this kit help protect, hydrate, and rejuvenate the skin, plus they’re minis so she can dip her toes into the brand, then purchase the full-size versions if she likes them. —Hanna Flanagan, shopping editor
Hatch Restore 2 Sunrise Alarm Clock
My sister is the most wellness-y wellness person I know. Her self-care routine and collection of products is pretty robust, but one thing she doesn’t own yet is the Hatch alarm clock. I know she’ll love the sleep benefits and the fact that she doesn’t have to use her phone in the morning (big anti-screentime girly). —H.F.
Agent Nateur Calm (beauty) Spermidine & Taurine Daily Supplement
I’m also going to throw a few Agent Nateur spermidine and taurine supplement packs into her stocking. They contain vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants to support longevity and healthy aging, brain health, and hair and nail growth. —H.F.
Todd Snyder Hestra John Glove in Black
My dad randomly discovered the brand Todd Snyder and hasn’t stopped talking about it ever since. I don’t think he knows it’s been around since 2011. Anyway, the clothes are nice so I’m happy to support this newfound obsession. I’ll be giving him these plush, lined gloves that are treated in luxurious lamb nappa and feature a ribbed wool cuff for extra warmth. —H.F.
Intelligent Change Best Year Journal
Daily journals are hit or miss, some are too vague while others are extremely corny and ineffective. But this one is a structured guide that helps you create clear goals for the year ahead and map out a plan of action for accomplishing them. In my experience, the strategic prompts help make day-to-day to-do lists and long-term aspirations feel more manageable and achievable. This journal is the perfect gift for the person in your life who’s all about self-improvement. —H.F.
Byredo Discovery Set
You can’t go wrong with a fragrance discovery set — especially one from Byredo. It’s my go-to gift for people who are hard to shop for because it’s luxurious and comes with six different scents that appeal to a wide range of preferences. —H.F.
Dyson TP4B Purifying Fan
Ever since my AC unit broke, I moved my Dyson purifying fan from the living room to my bedroom. So of course I need to replace it and gift myself another Dyson fan. It looks incredibly chic alongside my furniture and keeps the room fresh and cool when the heaters are turned on. —Bianca Nieves, senior shopping editor
Nuface MINI+ Starter Kit
My mom has been dropping hints that she wants to replace her old Nuface, which mysteriously stopped working. She absolutely loved hers and can’t wait to implement this back into her skin-care routine. — B.N.
Quiet Town Sun Shower - Phlox
I replaced my shower curtain with this Quiet Town one recently and one of my best friends loved it so much she compliments it every time she visits, so I’m definitely sneaking this under her tree this holiday season. —B.N.
Jenny Bird Multi-Wear Charm Necklace Kit
Another one of my best friends is completely obsessed with charm jewelry, so it’s a no-brainer that I will be gifting her this Jenny Bird multi-wear charm necklace kit. —B.N.
Teva Women’s Original Universal Slim
My mom wears the same pair of Teva sandals I gifted her back in 2018. Yes, they are durable and still look great, but it’s time she adds a new pair to her wardrobe. These are the perfect amount of practical and fashionable with their dainty straps and neutral color. —B.N.
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
My brother has also been dropping hints that he needs a new pair of earbuds. (Who does my family think I am??) Regardless, he already owns a Google Pixel phone so these will connect seamlessly and are perfect for when he hits the gym or is playing his online video games. —B.N.
Birkenstock Mogami HL Synthetics
I know my dad will love these. Will he pair them with socks? Most likely. It is kind of a look, though. —B.N.
