Christmas Beauty Gifts 2025: The Prettiest Sets to Give & Get

If your holiday glam leans warm, Embers Mini delivers nine travel-friendly mattes and metallics in a $32 palette that slips into any bag. In our testing, the shades are genuinely full-pigment, so a light hand goes far when building daytime looks or bold party eyes. Expect some kickup and light fallout, and a few metallics read less reflective than classic ABH palettes, according to reviewer comparisons. The small pans do empty quickly for heavy users, but we found the curated warmth makes quick, cohesive looks effortless on the go.

Too Faced’s Life’s A Fairytale Mini is a charming six-shade palette mixing mattes, metallics, and shimmers in a purse-friendly $29 format. In our testing, it’s great for quick, festive looks on the go, though some shimmers can drop glitter and a few tones apply inconsistently. Note the formula contains fragrance, which may bother sensitive eyes or skin, and holiday limited editions can sell out or vanish soon after. Our experience shows the compact size makes a sweet add-on gift, so snag it early if these shades are on your list.

If you love polished neutrals, Natasha Denona’s Glam Palette earns its name with highly blendable shades and magnetic, removable pans for custom arrangement and easy travel. During our review, the metallics delivered standout payoff—especially applied with fingers—while mattes melted together for effortless, seamless gradients. We did notice creasing without a primer and occasional fallout or drier, powdery pans, so a good eye base and tap-off help. At $69 it’s a premium pick, but our experience shows the versatility and sophisticated tones justify the splurge for daily glam or holiday parties.

For the friend who lives for drama, Pat McGrath’s Mothership X delivers saturated color with minimal layering and gift-ready packaging at $128. In our testing, the metallics and duochromes catch light beautifully—those multidimensional shifts look especially striking under holiday party lighting and flash photography. We did see some fallout from glittery shades and occasional creasing with certain pressed glitters, so primer and tapping off are essential. The price is undeniably steep, but if you’re gifting a true palette lover, our experience shows the textures and effects feel genuinely special.

Jet-setters and skincare tinkerers will love Drunk Elephant’s The Littles—during our review, the travel-friendly bottles made building a full routine on the go incredibly simple. You get a smart sampling of the brand’s core staples, letting you test widely before committing to full sizes. Our experience shows the actives can be intense; sensitive or reactive skin should patch test and introduce products slowly. The minis run out quickly and the $76 price is steep, but the convenience for holiday travel is excellent.

Tatcha’s Dewy Cleanse + Hydrate Duo brings a soft, luminous finish that, in our testing, flatters thirsty winter skin and feels gentle while cleansing. The mini sizes are perfect for carry-ons or a stocking stuffer, and the cleanser doesn’t strip. That said, the hydrating step can feel a touch rich or greasy under makeup, and some users report breakouts or sensitivity with frequent use. If you’re fragrance-sensitive, note the light scent and consider using this duo primarily at night.

For someone battling winter dryness, the Kérastase Nutritive Holiday Set bundles shampoo, conditioner, and a heat protectant into a polished, giftable trio. In our testing, the concentrated formulas left hair softer and more hydrated, while the protectant streamlined blow-drying and minimized roughness from hot tools. At $105, it’s an investment, and the signature scent runs strong—some users even report irritation—so fragrance-sensitive recipients may prefer a lighter option. Our experience shows the results justify the splurge for dry, sensitized strands, especially if you want a turnkey routine ready for holiday travel.

For a giftable hair reset, Olaplex’s Healthy Hair Essentials bundles No.3, No.4, No.5, and No.6 into a $36 repair-to-styling routine. During our review, the set noticeably boosted shine, softness, and manageability, making it ideal for stockings or a low-commitment trial before buying full sizes. Be aware the travel sizes won’t last long with regular use, and the price-per-ounce is higher than non-luxury drugstore options. Our experience shows sensitive scalps should patch-test first, as a small number of users report irritation despite many seeing standout smoothing and frizz control.

YSL Libre Eau de Parfum shines as a holiday gift set: in our testing, its bold, modern floral with a pronounced lavender streak lasted from morning coffee to late-night lights. The elegant presentation and included travel-size bottle make it easy to spritz at home and stash in a clutch. If you’re scent-sensitive, we found a single spray can feel potent, so sample or apply lightly. It’s a splurge at $115, but fragrance lovers who crave longevity will feel the value.

For the indecisive fragrance lover, Sephora’s Holiday Perfume Sampler turns discovery into a gift: try several minis, then redeem the certificate for one travel or full-size spray. In our testing, it’s a fun way to wear scents before committing, and the festive packaging looks instantly gift-ready. That said, $98 feels high for samples, selections can skew mainstream or repeats, and we’ve seen reports of missing or delayed vouchers. Our advice: confirm voucher details, inspect the box on arrival, and gift to someone who values choice over a single preselected bottle.

For a budget-friendly stocking stuffer, Burt’s Bees Hive Favorites in Vanilla Bean delivers comforting moisture and a cozy, dessert-like scent at just $4.99. During our review, the compact sizes proved purse- and pocket-ready, and the formula soothed chapped lips quickly in dry, wintry air. However, minis are small for daily loyalists, and some longtime fans say the vanilla scent or taste feels different than previous batches. Our experience shows anyone sensitive to bee ingredients should skip it, since the formula contains beeswax that can trigger reactions.

When lips are parched from winter air, Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask in Berry brings overnight relief at a giftable $19.99 for 0.7 ounces. In our testing, the thick yet non-sticky cushion locked in moisture so we woke up softer, smoother, and far less flaky. That said, the fragranced formula can bother sensitive lips, and some users feel it sits like a film rather than fully absorbing. Our experience shows a thin layer is plenty; use nightly as a moisture seal or dab daytime as a glossy, protective topcoat.

For skincare minimalists or frequent travelers, First Aid Beauty’s Fab Faves To Go Kit corrals a cleanser, exfoliating pads, and rich repair cream into a $40 fragrance-free trio. During our review, it proved an easy way to test the brand and build a gentle routine that many sensitive skin types tolerate, especially when fragrance is a concern. Do note the travel sizes run out quickly, and the AHA Radiance Pads may irritate very sensitive or over-exfoliated skin—our experience shows patch-testing is smart post-reformulation.

Cold-weather dryness doesn’t stand a chance with La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Creme Offer Creme Wash—during our review, it soothed reactive skin and layered comfortably under makeup. The lightweight feel is a plus, though some users report the Dermallergo texture can skew heavier or slightly waxy compared with earlier Toleriane formulas. Our experience shows it’s best to keep it away from eyelids, as stinging or burning has been reported around the eyes. For a budget-friendly winter staple at $24.73, patch test first and apply sparingly near delicate areas.

Counting down to Christmas is extra fun with Ulta Beauty’s 24 Days of Beauty—our experience shows the mix of skincare, haircare, and makeup delivers strong value for the $59 price. You’ll find a few full-size surprises alongside travel and deluxe samples, ideal for anyone who loves trying new brands. The assortment isn’t perfectly balanced and there can be repeat product types, so expectations matter. It’s limited-edition and sells fast, so grab it early if this is your giftee’s style of discovery.