Below I gathered the best gifts to shop at Sephora this holiday season, including products from previous coverage, along with personal faves of our NBC Select staff.
Olaplex’s No.4 Shampoo and No.5 Conditioner are my favorite wash day duo, and this gift set includes full sizes of both, plus mini versions of the No.05 Scalp Treatment and No.5 Leave-In Conditioner. This set is great for treating dryness and damage, according to the brand. Each product works for all hair textures and types, including straight, wavy, curly and coily, according to Olaplex.
I tried this red light therapy mask from Dr. Dennis Gross for three weeks last winter, and I was pleasantly surprised by how well it helped even out my skin’s texture and reduced the size of any breakouts. The mask has separate red and blue light settings (red for addressing fine lines and blue for fighting acne), along with a dual setting that lets your giftee use both treatments at once. Each treatment runs for three minutes, and the mask includes an adjustable strap for a customized fit.
This viral shower oil is an ideal gift for any loved ones who are heavily into body care, or who may just want to level up their shower routine. The oil turns into a milky lather in the shower, and includes nutrient-rich sweet almond oil to soften the skin, according to the brand. “This oil is my favorite part of my shower routine — I’ve given it to countless friends and family members as gifts, “ says NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio, who uses it as a post-body wash lather and as a shaving gel.
Although summer is behind us, sunscreen is still a daily necessity (yes, even in the winter). Godio loves this formula from Kiehl’s — in fact, she says it’s one of the best she’s ever tried. Since she has sensitive, rosacea-prone skin, she struggles to find a sunscreen that works for her because most chemical formulas tend to irritate her skin, while mineral options tend to leave a white cast. However, Godio likes that this sunscreen has an invisible formula that helps brighten and soften her skin.
Glossier’s You line has been a staple in my fragrance lineup for years now — the original perfume has a sweet, warm scent with notes of pink pepper and iris that’s great for daily wear. The set includes a full-sized Glossier You bottle, along with a travel-size rollerball for on-the-go reapplications. The perfumes also come inside of a red Glossier bucket that doubles as storage for makeup and skin care.
When myself and two other NBC Select editors tested the Topicals Faded Serum, we all noticed fading dark marks and scars over a two-month period. With this gift set, not only will your giftee get the brand’s famed serum, but they’ll also receive the Faded Brightening & Cleansing Body Bar and the Faded Under Eye Brightening Masks. Each product has niacinamide and kojic acid to combat dullness and dark marks, resulting in full-body brightness.
Winter is the perfect time to get skin prepped and ready for the spring and summer ahead, and that includes treating any dark marks and dullness that may have popped up during the busy holidays. This Tata Harper mask has white willow bark and pomegranate enzymes to exfoliate dead skin and brighten under-eye dark circles, according to the brand. It also has pink clay, which absorbs excess oil for those with oily skin.
For the beauty lover in your life, one of the best gifts you can get is a higher-end product that they won’t necessarily buy for themselves. This hair oil from Kérastase is one of those products — it has wild camellia flower, which is high in antioxidants, so it can address a range of hair concerns, including dryness, frizziness and breakage, according to the brand. It also functions as a heat protectant, which is perfect for those who are consistent users of hot tools.
This K18 gift set includes mini versions of the brand’s Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask and its AstroLift Reparative Volume Spray. “I’ve seen a difference in how healthy and soft my hair feels after a few weeks of trying it,” says Godio, who received a sample of the set from the brand to test out . “I also have very fine hair that tends to fall flat, so I love using the brand’s volume spray to add a little more life to my hair.”
Glow Recipe is one of our favorite K-beauty brands, and this gift set comes complete with the brand’s top products and bestsellers. It includes ten full-size products, including the Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops, the Guava Vitamin C Bright-Eye Gel Cream and the Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier Cleanser and more. Plus, the set comes in bright packaging that’ll look great in your giftee’s bathroom cabinet.
NBC Select social media associate editor Caitlin Cusack says this blow dryer brush cut her styling time from 40 minutes down to 20, and it gives her hair “a perfect blowout look.” It includes four attachments, so your loved one can use it as a hair dryer or styler depending on which piece they attach.
This Armani foundation is one of our favorites for acne-prone skin, and Godio says it has one of the best consistencies she’s ever tried. “It feels almost like a lightweight serum,” she says. It has a smooth, natural finish and buildable coverage that blends out easily, according to our editors who have tested out the foundation. “It genuinely becomes part of my skin,” says NBC Select editorial operations associate Jem Alabi.
This Pat McGrath concealer is lightweight yet still full coverage — it has a natural finish that diffuses the pigment, creating a blurring effect that resembles a filter, according to the brand. The concealer has a flexible wand applicator and is available in 33 shades. Godio, who has very dry skin and under eyes, says she can comfortably use this concealer on dry spots around her undereyes and nose.
Alabi originally bought this glossy lip balm during the spring Sephora sale and says it was worth every penny. It has lactic acid and hibiscus enzymes to exfoliate away dead skin and dryness, according to the brand. The angled metal applicator also provides a cooling sensation, according to Alabi. “It’s also buildable and has no fragrance, which I love,” she says.
This gift set includes five of Sol de Janeiro’s most popular perfume mists: Cheirosa 62, Cheirosa 68, Cheirosa 59, Cheirosa 76 and Cheirosa 40. “The scents are subtle, but a few spritzes can last for hours,” says Cusack. “Cheirosa 62 is my absolute favorite, but I’ve tried all of the scents and have loved every single one.”
We’re big Rhode fans at NBC Select, and if your giftee struggles with dry skin, this may be the hydrating boost their skin care routine needs to reach the next level. This essence has a lightweight, milky texture and includes three ceramides, as well as vitamins and minerals like copper, magnesium and vitamin E to help strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier and protect against environmental stressors, according to the brand. It’s also great for treating redness and dullness, making it a winter skin care essential.
This gift set has a mini Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask and the brand’s two limited-edition lip butter balm flavors: hot cocoa and toasted marshmallow. “I love the Jet Lag Mask and use it as my daily moisturizer. It’s so hydrating and has never broken me out,” says NBC Select editorial intern Kalohe Danbara. “The lip butter balms are also one of my favorites because they smell amazing and leave a glossy finish without feeling sticky.”
A natural-toned eyeshadow is a makeup kit staple, and this palette from Dior includes a range of blendable shades. Each palette has an eye primer to help hold and lock in the shadow, along with eight shades in a range of matte and shimmer finishes, according to the brand. The palette is also available in Smoky Essentials and Warm Essentials versions, so you can choose the color range your giftee will like best.
Your giftee can pair these eye masks with any eye cream or serum. “I love gifting my friends eye masks in general, but especially these from Dieux,” says Godio. “They keep serums and creams in place to add extra hydration, plus they’re washable and reusable, which helps minimize waste (and is easier on the wallet).”
Mascara and a bit of inner corner eyeshadow is my daily makeup look, and this mascara from Ilia is my favorite to use. It lengthens my lashes without leaving them dry and clumpy, and includes biotin to help strengthen them. I also love the way the brown shade accentuates my lashes without looking too dark, and also subtly complements my brown eyes (the mascara is also available in a traditional black shade).
A nourishing hair mask can be an indulgent yet useful gift this holiday season, and this one from Gisou helps address common hair concerns like dryness, dullness and breakage. “This hair mask is my current obsession. I use it about once a week, and it leaves my hair so shiny and soft. Plus, it smells incredible,” says Godio. Suitable for all hair types and textures, the mask has Mirsalehi honey and bee garden oil to add shine, along with ceramides and hyaluronic acid to add moisture and hydration without weighing hair down, according to the brand.
I am an associate SEO reporter for NBC Select who’s been covering skin care, hair care and body care for over two years. I frequently report on beauty deals during big sale events like Amazon Prime Day, and have written gift guides for winter holidays, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and more. I’ve also been a skin care and beauty obsessive since college, and have been shopping at Sephora for even longer. As a certified great gifter, I combed through the Sephora site to find the best beauty lover’s gifts available this holiday season.
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