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After five years of working as a lifestyle editor, with multiple rounds of gift guide writing, editing and updating throughout the year, I consider myself something of a gifting aficionado. Now, with the winter holidays barreling toward us (I’ve already seen Christmas decorations at the big box stores), it’s time to start thinking about what to give everyone on our list. Whether you’re shopping for a kid who needs to get off their screen, picky teenagers, a beauty guru looking for the next viral product or the mom who just wants something comfy (but cute!), I’ve rounded up 23 of the best gifts that are sure to satisfy everyone. That includes things like the Taylor Swift-approved Camp Snap video camera ($199), Coach Tabby Bag ($575), iRestore LED Mask ($399) and Cozy Earth Lakehouse Clogs ($128). Get ready to impress!
1. Camp Snap CS8 Video Camera
I got my hands on the Camp Snap CS8 video camera last year and have been totally obsessed. As a longtime photographer and analog film shooter, I love the look of Super 8 film. The price to buy and develop it, however, is a major turnoff. (We’re looking in the ballpark of $100 per reel.) Camp Snap made a name for itself creating an analog experience with digital cameras; following that success, they launched into video. (Not to mention, Taylor Swift is a fan, after being spotted toting one at a Chiefs game last year.) The camera allows you to shoot in four aspect ratios (including social media-friendly formats), with five filters to help you nail the vintage look. True to the film experience, there’s no playback screen, but that’s what makes pulling the footage onto your computer all the more delightful. An absolute must for anyone in your life showing a penchant for cinematic experimentation.
2. Coach Tabby Bag
The Coach Tabby bag has risen to something of a cult must-have; I see them all the time walking around New York. However, I don’t often see the quilted style, which is why I’m recommending it in this gift guide. I love a trendy piece that feels just a little different from run-of-the-mill; the classic pillowy texture makes it stand out while still signaling that your recipient is in-the-know. You can’t go wrong with black, but a deep fuchsia, rich brown maple and chalky white are several other color options.
3. Bark Watch
For those of you with late elementary/early middle school-aged kids who are campaigning for more independence, the Bark Watch might be the solution (and perfect holiday gift). It’s a pared-down version of the Samsung Galaxy watch, so it allows your child to keep in touch with friends but without giving them unfettered access to call anyone (or let anyone call them).
“In my opinion, the Bark is perfect for kids in those late elementary or early middle school years who aren’t quite ready for either a smartphone or an Apple watch but need a way to communicate with each other and with their parents,” writes PureWow’s editor-in-chief, Jillian Quint, in her review. (She tested it on her then 11-year-old.) “I like that it’s easy to use (you can text/call your kid straight from your phone’s contacts) and has built-in guardrails to prevent screen addiction and dodgy behavior. All in all, it’s kinda perfect for this stage in our digital life.”
4. Woom Balance Bike
I learned how to ride a bicycle with training wheels, but when I moved to France, I saw these everywhere and wished I had a do-over of the quintessential childhood experience. This design gradually acclimates the rider to the feeling of two-wheel balance, as opposed to the no-training-wheels cold turkey subjugation. Woom is designed for toddlers up to 18 months, helping them to learn cycling basics, like mounting the bike, balancing, braking and steering. It was such a hit with parents and kids alike that it earned a Happy Kid Award in 2025.
5. iRestore LED Mask
Red light therapy masks remain as popular as ever, and iRestore’s is a particular PureWow reader and editor favorite. Senior commerce editor Stephanie Maida wrote in her review:
“After two months of consistently using the iRestore Illumina mask, my skin has definitely improved. My complexion looks brighter and far more even-toned—the red blotches plaguing my cheeks at the start of the summer have all but disappeared, as have the under-eye bags that would greet me in the mornings, even after getting a full night’s sleep. The jowl area around my mouth and jawline also appears less droopy and puffy—something I’m crediting to the red/infrared light’s anti-inflammatory effects.”
The mask packs in two time the number of diodes as its competitors, delivering powerful red, infrared and blue light treatments in ten-minute treatments. If used at the recommended cadence of three to five times per week, the mask can help address concerns like wrinkles, acne, fine lines, sun damage and other blemishes.
6. Cozy Earth Lakehouse Clogs
Gen Z may have brought back the going-out heel, which I spotted innumerably on New York City streets this summer, but sometimes, as PureWow’s vice president of editorial, Candace Davison, can attest, you need a fast, easy, convenient shoe for running out to get the mail. Enter Cozy Earth’s Lakehouse clogs.
“Honestly, these clogs are as close to outdoor slippers as I’ve found, without being overtly plush. As someone with wide feet and high arches, shopping for shoes can be a pain, so I was delighted to see that these ran true to size (if not a little large) with a wide toe box,” she wrote in her review. “The cushioned suede footbed provided just the right mix of springiness and support, and it was just roomy enough that I could wear thick socks without squishing my toes.”
The unisex style runs from a women’s size 5 to a men’s size 13, and is made with 100 percent Italian felted wool and a suede footbed.
7. Gemi Beauty Hand Sanitizer Collection
I am, fortunately and unfortunately, my mother’s daughter. Part of that territory comes with being a germaphobe. But for the life of me, hand sanitizer always leaves my already dry hands feeling like they’re on the verge of splitting. Ouch and no thanks. One of the most innovative—and beautiful—hand sanitizers I’ve come across in the five years I’ve been in the beauty space has been Gemi. The founders take visual inspiration from the Dutch golden age, with sumptuous fragrance names like Eden, Elysium, Caela, Amara, Solenne and Fleur. The hand sanitizer also has skincare ingredients with a lightweight finish that actually feels moisturizing. With scent profiles like orange blossom, jasmine, peony and bergamot, it’s a total dream.
8. Heidi Merrick Cashmere Daily Sweater
Meghan Markle has been a longtime fan of California cool brand Heidi Merrick, and after adding the Daily Sweater to my own closet, I can see why. Easy sophistication is tough to top. This 100 percent cashmere sweater features raglan sleeves and a ribbed neckline, making for a classic crew cut that goes with anything. I’ve started to see chartreuse bubble up as a trending color and went for this beautiful pea green color, but, true to the brand’s M.O., neutral options abound as well.
9. Meta x Ray Ban Wayfarer Glasses
For the person on your gift list who’s a budding content creator. The Meta x Ray Ban collab allows wearers to record in 3K Ultra HD with a 12MP sensor for photographs. The 32GB storage will hold up to 1,000 photos or 100 30-second videos. With a nine-hour battery life (with the case, up to 50), speakers and a six-mic setup, these were built for those wanting to vlog every single second. Oh, and did I mention that they’re prescription compatible?
10. Typology Advent Calendar
When it comes to beauty advent calendars, there is no lack of options. But if I had to pick just one after culling through dozens, my money’s on Typology‘s 24-day advent calendar packed with the brand’s best products across skincare, hair and beauty. Some of my favorites: The lip oil (in ruby red), rosy lip balm and micellar water.
11. Murray’s Cheese Advent Calendar
Trust me, as a New Yorker, cheese lover and one-time France resident, you can do no better for the foodie in your life than sending them a 12-day advent calendar of Murray’s cheese. It’s an institution, and the cheese is delicious. This year’s box features “PDO Manchego, a wine-washed wedge, truffle cheddar, and more top selections, plus jam, honey, and cocoa-tinged crackers.” If I were you, I’d make sure I was on hand when the recipient opened this gift, just so I could have a taste.
12. lululemon Scuba Lounge Set
I used to equate sweats with the stuff my mom wore when I was a kid. AKA the rattiest T-shirt she had (from a defunct cellular company) and faded gray drawstring joggers. But my time as a fashion editor has taught me that sweats can be elevated. Prime example: lululemon’s Scuba set. It pairs the wildly popular Scuba hoodie with oversized joggers in a bevy of colors that feel fun and intentional. Pro tip, stick to the monochromatic look for the added oomph that goes beyond casual.
13. Caraway 12-Piece Cookware Set
When my friend had a baby, I went to her apartment and cooked a bunch of freezer-ready meals for her. Conveniently, her kitchen was stocked with a full set of Caraway ceramic nonstick cookware. It was one of the best cooking experieneces of my life; the food slid right out of the pan and made cleaning up after cooking four courses a breeze. Ever since, I’ve been scheming to fill my own kitchen with Caraway cookware. Take this as a sign for the cook in your life: They’ll thank you when they find this beautiful 12-piece set beneath the wrapping paper. It includes a frying pan, saucepan with lid, sauté pan with lid, Dutch oven with lid, four magnetic pan racks and a canvas lid holder.
14. SkinCeuticals Discover Set
PureWow editors and readers love SkinCeuticals, the highly popular medical skincare brand known for its C.E. Ferulic Acid serum and A.G.E. Interrupter cream. The brand offers a discover set featuring three of its best-sellers: the aforementioned serum, plus the Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 Anti-Aging Cream and P-TIOX peptide serum. The bundle, worth $490, can be had for $441.
15. Shark Chill Pill
I kid you not when I say this little workhorse of a fan was a PureWow editor and reader smash hit during an intense summer. Even I, who hates carrying around additional gadgets beyond my phone, was completely enamored after a particularly hot and sweaty day in the subway. There are three attachments (fan, fan/mister combo and a cooling plate) that literally feel like your own personal air conditioner. I was stopped more than once on the street by strangers asking me about the gadget. Davison adds, in her review, “Billed as a three-in-one device, the ChillPill is a ten-speed fan, a mister and cooling plate. But to call it that actually undersells it. The fan is intensely powerful—stronger than your typical oscillating fan (and, at its top speeds, has the noise levels to back that up), and the mister provides a cool blast of ‘dry-touch’ mist, which seemed gimmicky until I tried it. It’s an ultra-fine mist that gently cools you but doesn’t leave you feeling damp or soggy.”
16. Fujifilm Instax Square Printer
What do you give the hostess who has everything? My answer is a stack of instant photos. I’ve hit a time of life where there’s nothing I could buy a friend that she couldn’t buy herself. But a pile of instant photos from the party I’ve just attended? Always priceless, always a hit. Pack this in your bag and bring it your next holiay gathering, print off a handful of your favorite photos from the evening and leave them with the host. I guarantee they’ll be thrilled. Or, you know, you can just gift them the entire printer (but as a photographer I say, what’s the fun in that?). Get ready to be everyone’s favorite guest this season.
17. Sézane A5 Notebook
The French brand is known for its slew of cozy knitwear, but it also has a robust home and stationery category—beautifully designed, bien sûr. As some who has a daily journal practice, I’m completely enamored by this Italian-made notebook, with its multicolored cloth binding and various typographic designs.
18. T3 SinglePass Curl X Bodywaver
If there’s a giftee on your list who wants to style their hair but doesn’t have the dexterity for a round brush and blow-dryer, T3’s bodywaver is one of my favorite ways to get the big, bouncy blowout curls without needing to become a junior contortionist. The updated hot tool has tons of cool features; notably, it has an auto world voltage, so you can plug it into an adaptor abroad without worrying about a meltdown. The long swivel cord allows it to move with you, and the extra-long 6.5-inch barrel makes styling longer hair a snap.
19. True Crime Files: Heist at the Museum! by Sam Subity
Trying to wrestle a member of the chronically online generation (*cough Gen Alpha cough*) off their screens? Me too. I’m planning to gift my friends’ kids Sam Subity’s latest book, True Crime Files: Heist at the Museum!, indulging in my own love of mystery novels. No time like the present to start them on the joy of reading. The story follows Charlie O’Neill who stumbles on plans for the heist of a century, and quickly finds himself entangled in the plot to stop the thieves. Subity draws inspiration from the 1964 theft of the Star of India sapphire, known as one of the most notorious robberies in history. If that doesn’t get the kid on your list to pick up this book, then I don’t know what will.
20. VT Cosmetics Reedle Shot 100
ICYMI, microneedling is popular, and the beauty fanatics are raving about it. Should the beauty guru in your life be needle averse, though, I’ve found Korean skincare brand VT Cosmetic’s viral Reedle Shot to be an intriguing alternative. The formula uses the brand’s proprietary Cica Reedle to help exfoliate, soften and refine the skin, helping it to absorb more skincare products.
21. Clementine Silk Scarf
My current closet obsession—no matter the season—has been a silk scarf. I tie it around my hair in the summer and around my neck in the winter. It helps me pretend that, instead of being in the concrete jungle, I am Grace Kelly speeding down the French Riviera with Cary Grant in the passenger seat. My favorite scarves come from Clementine, which specializes in non-toxic dyes and GOTS-certified 18 momme silk with hand-finished edges.
22. Saint Basil Farm Tea Sampler
I’ve never been a coffee gal, preferring a hot cup of tea. In the winter, my kettle is always on, and it’s usually a Satin Basil Farm tea that’s in my mug. I love that they serve a dual purpose; the flavors are fun but they are also made by a holistic nutritionist with health benefits in mind. My favorite teas are Soothe & Spice (sore throat lifesaver), Winter’s End (digestion hero), Balanced as a Bluebird (stress relief, hallelujah) and Herbal Grey (allergy support). Whatever their ailment, there’s probably a tea for it, and will keep them cozy all season.
24. Poshmark Gift Card
Not going to lie, while I want everything on this list, this is the thing I want the most. I’ve been trying to commit to not buying anything new, and if I must, then I commit to at least searching for the item second-hand first. My “favorites” tab in Poshmark is overflowing, so if any of my friends and family want to help me clear the list this holiday season, I’m not saying no.
Why You Should Trust Us
PureWow’s editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you’re looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.
