18 Beauty Stocking Stuffers Guaranteed to Please Your Pickiest Family Members
Editor-tested and approved.
There’s an adage that you may have heard before — something along the lines of: “Size matters.” If you subscribe to that narrative, you likely have the most fun opening gifts in boxes that are at least half your size and perfectly wrapped to keep the mystery going for as long as possible. A little delayed gratification, if you will. Still, I'm here to tell you that good things also come in smaller packages, particularly in the beauty space, and you should never underestimate how fun it can be to open well-curated and thoughtful beauty stocking stuffers.
While typical stocking contents include candy or cards, if you’re shopping for a beauty aficionado, it can feel a little more difficult trying to suit what is likely a very specific taste. Still, there are plenty of products that are small enough to fit comfortably in a stocking but also make a major impact. From highlighters to nail polish, skincare products, and more, the holiday gifting options are endless.
If that phrase leaves you with a dizzying bout of analysis paralysis, don’t fret—we’re here to streamline your options. Whether you’re gifting a luxury lover or TikTok obsessive, there is a beauty stocking stuff here for every cosmetics lover (and even a few options to gift yourself, should you be so inclined).
Best Beauty Stocking Stuffers
This multi-use stick leaves behind a dewy glow wherever you swipe it. Use it on the tops of the cheeks or by the brow bone as highlighter, tap it onto the lip for subtle gloss, or mix it with your powder blush to transform it into a soft rouge for the cheeks. The shade Transparent flatters all skin tones, so you can’t go wrong with whomever you gift.
Speaking of blush, this set from Trinny London comes with three different formulas all housed in the brand’s signature glass pots. In this version, expect cream colors for your eyes, lips, and cheeks, in the shades chariot (a khaki), veebee (a warm coral), and honor (a sheer plum).
For anyone who wants glowy skin, these Dr. Dennis Gross peel pads work wonders, and this vault is consistently one of the best holiday beauty deals each year. Each peel comes with an exfoliating side and a neutralizing side, offering an intense resurfacing of the skin that smooths acne bumps and reduces dark marks over time.
Have a glitter-lover on your hands? These glaze sticks from SheGlam are affordable yet pigmented. On top of that, they’re also multi-use and can be applied as highlighter, eyeshadow, or lipstick.
On the other hand, if you’re dealing with a fragrance connoisseur or someone who is just getting into niche perfumes, the Harmonist is an underrated brand that they may not have heard about yet. This discovery set includes all 13 of the brand’s scents including best-sellers Yin Transformation, Moon Glory, and Sun Force. It’ll be harder for them not to find a new favorite than vice versa.
Gourmands are having a serious resurgence right now and what better way for someone to smell edible that to douse themselves in a marshmallow-scented perfume? This one from Kayali took 81 iterations before it was finalized and notes of Strawberry, Pink Marshmallow, and Whipped Vanilla, will make a great addition to any collection.
Gifting-giving season is also when everyone’s skin is as dry as ever. This is where La Prairie’s Caviar Mist comes in handy. The spray is made up of the brand’s Caviar Hydroessence, water, glycerin, and more, to keep skin hydrated and glowy during the dull weather.
Sheet masks make a perfect stocking stuffer because they barely take up any space at all. However, the ones from 111 Skin are beloved by beauty editors and celebrities alike, thanks to the hydrating and plumping results that can be seen immediately after use. If you’re looking for a luxurious skin-care moment, you can’t go wrong with these for your giftee.
While fragrance is subjective, it also makes a fantastic gift. That’s why we love a set that comes with options for the recipient to try out in order to find their new favorite scent. This one from Commodity features one of the brand’s most popular fragrances, Milk, along with two others Gold and Juice, in the expressive line, which has a moderately strong projection to avoid any fragrance headaches that may arise.
It’s undeniable that lip balm has become somewhat of a fashion accessory. From phone cases specifically designed to hold the product to rings being added to the product design for easy attachment to your keys — the lip balm game has undoubtedly changed. That being said, one of the most underrated balms on the market right now has to be Marin’s lip treatment. The holiday set comes with four scents to easily match your lip balm to your mood.
Augustinus Bader is well-known for its Rich Cream face moisturizer, but the brand’s body care line is next level, particularly the body oil. A combination of grape and sunflower oils, glycerin, and more moisturizing ingredients, this oil makes your skin feel noticeably softer. The best part? It’s a dry oil, meaning it absorbs into the skin quickly with no leftover greasy residue.
If you want to gift an oil that moisturizes, sparkles, and shines, this one from Victoria Beckham will blow anyone out of the water. Lightly scented with the brand’s Portofino ‘97 fragrance, this oil leaves behind a subtle, bronzy shimmer on the skin, that will leave you looking like you dipped your entire body in a milk bath fit for Cleopatra herself.
If there’s one thing that nail-lovers often lament about, it’s the time it takes to get their manicure at the salon. Help your loved one cut out the middle man by gifting them this set of polishes that come in practically every neutral shade possible. (Feel free to break up the and gift these polishes to multiple people — including yourself).
Your fragrance routine starts in the shower, so the body-care items that you use are just as important as any perfume. This mini duo from 54 Thrones features two of the brand’s best sellers: the Barrier Repair Cloud Cream and the African Beauty Butter. Both items feature the brand’s signature scent, a mouth-watering combination of Ugandan vanilla and Ethiopian honey.
If the name Claudia Sulewski rings a bell, then you’ve likely been on beauty YouTube long before it became popular. Sulewski came out with this body-care brand in 2023 to rave reviews, and the latest scent from the line, Vanilla Verve, feels like an elevated answer to the gourmand fragrance trend. Whether you decide to share this one or keep it for yourself, expect buttery-soft skin with every single application.
There are few things that are as chic as a signature hand cream, but when said product is also Dior? You’re basically proclaiming that you’re a part of the 1 percent. This is one of those gifts that a loved one likely wouldn’t buy for themselves but will also deeply appreciate once they get their hands on it.
The Tatcha Dewy Skin cream is hands down my favorite moisturizer from the brand and it works wonderfully on any skin type. It also is the perfect base before makeup so it’s safe to say that any beauty lover would be overjoyed to find this cream in their stockings.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
Ariel Baker is the beauty writer at Marie Claire. Previously the associate beauty editor at PS and briefly freelance, she has bylines in InStyle, Forbes Vetted, Women's Health, and more.
Since she started out in the non-profit sector, Ariel enjoys looking at beauty from a sociocultural lens, looking to avenues like politics, music, and the arts, to inform her views on the space. That being said, as a true beauty-product obsessive, testing the latest items to hit the market, keeping up with trends, and meeting industry icons, will always be her favorite part of working in the beauty space.
When she's not working, Ariel can be found hanging out with her fiancé and loving on their two cat daughters: Cow and Chicken.
-
Buckingham Palace Responds After Royal Family Maid Is Arrested at "Out of Control" Christmas Party
"I've never seen one person get that crazy during a night out," a source claimed.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Taylor Swift Trades a Red Carpet Gown for a Black Sweater and $10,995 Necklace
As one does.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
Taylor Swift Sweetly Dishes on Travis Kelce With a Young Swiftie at Children's Hospital
"I like Travis now," the fan shared.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
23 Luxury Beauty and Wellness Gifts for Your Pickiest Self-Care Obsessed Friends
Guaranteed to please even your pickiest friends and family.
By Hannah Baxter Published
-
10 Winter Hair Color Trends Fashionable Women Love This Season
The season's top hair color trends are painfully chic.
By Jamie Wilson Published
-
10 Winter Haircut Trends Stylish Women Are Wearing in 2024
It's time to get a little scissor happy.
By Jamie Wilson Published
-
Why Dyson's New Airstrait Ad Ignited a TikTok Controversy
"They said y'all can buy the product but it is not meant for you."
By Hanna Lustig Published
-
What Is Sugar Waxing? Everything to Know, According to Experts
It's also less painful than some alternatives.
By Iman Balagam Published
-
13 Best Drugstore Concealers That Feel Surprisingly Luxurious
Great things *do* come with small price tags.
By Iman Balagam Published
-
Surprise, Revolve's 2024 Advent Calendar Is Already Here
The iconic gift that keeps giving is back.
By Julia Marzovilla Published
-
Starface Founder Julie Schott Shares Her Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
The entrepreneur spoke to editor-in-chief Nikki Ogunnaike for the 'Marie Claire' podcast "Nice Talk."
By Sadie Bell Last updated