This is a comprehensive list of safer skincare holiday gifts! With gift items starting from $18, there’s something for everyone on your list. I included suggestions from two of my favorite safer skincare companies: Beautycounter and Primally Pure!
Is it too soon to start thinking about our holiday gift plans? Me thinks not! My desire to knock-gifts-out early probably has something to do with the fact that I’m due to have a baby in mid-January. Just last week, I had to stop myself from sending an urgent text to my sister-in-law asking, “what do the girls want for Christmas this year??” I took a deep breath, realized that it was still October and that I could get my nieces’ wish lists the next time we chat on the phone. I LOVE planning and organizing truly thoughtful gifts. My love of gift-giving is ironic actually, because it’s smack-last on my “5 love languages” list.
Note: if you haven’t ever taken the 5 Love Languages test, I highly recommend it! It’s a free test online and can tell you a lot about how you give and receive love. My love languages (I just retook it this morning to get a refresh) are: 1. Words of Affirmation; 2. Acts of Service; 3. Quality Time; 4. Physical Touch; and 5. Receiving Gifts.
Maybe planning for a really thoughtful gift is the manifest of an act of service? Maybe.
I’m also always on the hunt for a theme each year to make my gift giving a little easier. My gift categories usually fall into the following: gifts for REALLY close loved ones (husband), gifts for immediate family (our parents, siblings, and nieces), gifts for really close friends/colleagues/bosses/employees, and budget friendly gifts for everyone else (usually homemade). I will share my homemade gift idea with you on the blog soon, but today I want to zero in on the middle section of gifts.
Let’s make life really easy this year and choose a concise gift theme (especially for the women in our lives) that means something important. Let’s give a gift that is high quality, thoughtful, and represents something big. Let’s give the gift of safer skincare.
If you’re likely on my gift list (ahem: friends, family, nieces too young to be reading blogs, colleagues, etc.), please avert your eyes. MAJOR spoiler alert coming up.
Today, I’m sharing gift ideas from two of my favorite safer skincare companies: Beautycounter and Primally Pure! Beautycounter is great for high-performing, but still safe skincare gifts while Primally Pure is great for our friends and family who prefer more natural products. Both lines are lovely and I rely on BOTH for my daily routines!
BEAUTYCOUNTER
This year, I’m leaning HEAVILY on the incredible Holiday Gift Sets by Beautycounter. I currently own one of each and was truly blown away by the quality. Whether you’re looking for a lip gloss stocking stuffer for daughters/nieces, fabulous eye color palette for Mom, baby care set (with the cutest stuffed raccoon) for the family with a new baby, a contouring trio for your best friend, bold + nourishing lip sticks for your sister, or some holiday soaps + hand lotions for your colleagues at work, you’re covered with the list below. These gifts not only perform, but they’re safer alternatives to anything you can find on a shelf in a store. Not only are you giving your loved ones and friends fabulous skincare collections, but you’re giving something that’s even more important: the gift of health. It’s win/win and makes my little love-of-gifting heart swoon.
Bonus: all of these gift sets are priced at a really great, discounted rate. If you’ve been looking for a more affordable way to get your toe in the safer skincare door, this is a GREAT opportunity!
Note: if you’re on the hunt for smaller gifts, I’m including some thoughts below on how you can get the most bang-for-your-buck by dividing some of the following sets up! This is exactly what I’ll be doing for my smaller gift categories …a single peppermint lip gloss + a jar of collagen hot chocolate (recipe coming to the blog soon), for example.
Also Note: if you see something you love below, DON’T WAIT. A few of their gifts are already out of stock. Use the limited supplies as an excuse to get out ahead on your holiday shopping!
Now, let’s review some of my favorite options…
#1. Ultimate Nudes Eyeshadow Palette
I have been using Beautycounter eye shadows for almost 2 years now and have to say, they NAILED IT with the formula in these palettes. The colors are wonderfully creamy (not dusty) and stay on really well. This mega palette has 18 colors that are organized into 3 finishes: satin, metallic, and matte. It comes with a double-end brush (I love the brush) and a removable mirror (makes applying on the go much easier). What impresses me most about Beautycounter eyeshadow is that they triple-test (via a third-party) for heavy metal contaminants. Their allowable limits are below even the most strict health protective standards in the world.
- Who is this gift for: YOU, Wife, Girlfriend, Mom, Mother-in-Law, Sister, Gift Exchange with a $100 Price Limit.
- Cost: $88 (Value: $116)
#2. Color Intense Lip Set
GOOD GRIEF, I love these!!! Beautycounter took their original lip sheer formula (creamy soft) and upped the pigment. With just one swipe, you get intense, beautiful color. This set (like the two above) comes in an awesome tin that can be reused, too. You get 5 fabulous colors in this set. If you’re just looking to add some bold lip colors to YOUR look this Fall/Winter, grab one of these before they’re gone! They come in a special peppermint finish that is so, so lovely.
- Who is this gift for: YOU, Wife, Girlfriend, Mom, Mother-in-Law, Sister, Gift Exchange with a $100 Price Limit.
- Cost: $88 (Value: $150)
#3. Multi-Masker Set
Oh what a treat! This gift set includes one of each of the three masks by Beautycounter. There’s the brightening mask (my personal favorite), the plumping (firms and tones), and the balancing (charcoal that’s great for aggravated skin). This set comes in a lovely reusable tin AND a handy brush for applying the masks! This is a great gift for the beauty buff in your life who loves to dabble in skincare treatments. Or, if you’ve been wanting to try the masks for yourself, this is a great way to do it while saving some pennies!
- Who is this gift for: YOU, Wife, Girlfriend, Mom, Mother-in-Law, Sister, Gift Exchange with a $70 Price Limit.
- Cost: $68 (Value: $105)
#4. Winter Jewels Palette
This palette is slightly smaller than the one above, but I find myself using it a lot. It includes 11 new shades: 8 eyeshadows, 1 eye liner (love this for a smokey finish), 2 highlighters, and a removable mirror. Just like the pressed powders mentioned above, these are triple-tested for heavy metals.
- Who is this gift for: YOU, Wife, Girlfriend, Mom, Mother-in-Law, Sister, Gift Exchange with a $60 Price Limit.
- Cost: $58
#5. Best of Brushes Set
This is a GREAT gift for anyone, especially if you’re worried about making the wrong cosmetic color choices. New brushes are always such a treat and I love these high-quality pieces. This is probably the BEST value I’ve ever seen for the brushes, so if you want to grab a new set, this is a great time to do it! They even come in an exclusive tin that makes organizing so much easier!
- Who is this gift for: YOU, Wife, Girlfriend, Mom, Mother-in-Law, Sister, Gift Exchange with a $60 Price Limit.
- Cost: $58 (Value: $124)
#6. Better Baby Care Set
This precious set is perfect for the health-conscious expecting or new parents this Holiday season. It comes with a Gentle All-Over Baby Wash, Baby Soothing Oil, Baby Daily Protective Balm, and even a organic cotton “Remy the Raccoon” from Finn + Emma.
- Who is this gift for: friends, family, or colleagues with a baby!
- Cost: $58
#7. Illuminating Trio
Whether you have a makeup lover on your list or you are looking to finally figure out how to contour for yourself, this trio is for you! It comes with a cream blush, bronzer, and highlighter. Pro tip: the blush an also be used as a lip color!
- Who is this gift for: YOU, Wife, Girlfriend, Mom, Mother-in-Law, Sister, Gift Exchange with a $60 Price Limit.
- Cost: $55 (Value: $111)
#8. “Perfect Pout” Lip Glosses (Nudes & Pinks)
The sets of three glosses come in two color options: Nudes & Pinks. These make a great stand-alone, under $50 gift OR (like I mentioned above), you can grab a few sets and divide them up! They make great stocking stuffers or bonus gifts to attach to something handmade. I plan on pairing them with a collagen hot chocolate mix (recipe coming to the blog soon) for colleagues and a few friends. These, like the lipsticks, have a wonderful limited-time peppermint flavor.
- Who is this gift for: stocking stuffer, colleagues, friends, YOU, Wife, Girlfriend, Mom, Mother-in-Law, Sister, Gift Exchange with a $50 Price Limit.
- Cost: $48 (Value: $87)
#9. Clean Slate Charcoal Duo
Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for an acne-prone dude or teenager in your life, this clarifying duo is an awesome gift at a great price. The charcoal bar helps prepare the skin for the clarifying mask.
- Who is this gift for: Husband, teenager, male friend, Gift Exchange with a $50 Price Limit.
- Cost: $48
#10. Eye Trios (Nude & Smokey)
These sets come in two color options: Nude and Smokey. Each comes with a silk cream eyeshadow, a volumizing mascara, and their NEW liquid eyeliner! I have been using and loving this eye liner, you guys. FINALLY, a safer alternative!
- Who is this gift for: stocking stuffer, friends, YOU, Wife, Girlfriend, Mom, Mother-in-Law, Sister, Gift Exchange with a $40 Price Limit.
- Cost: $38 (Value: $71)
#11. Poppy Lip Duo
This is a great little fun gift that comes with a lip sheer and gloss in matching colors. This “Texas Poppy” color came out as an exclusive at a Beautycounter event this past year for attendees and it was SO POPULAR that they decided to include it in this Holiday Set.
- Who is this gift for: YOU, Wife, Girlfriend, Mom, Mother-in-Law, Sister, Gift Exchange with a $40 Price Limit.
- Cost: $38 (Value: $59)
#12. Holiday Soap Trio
I love this gift set, especially because it’s so easily divided up! I have a few of these on hand to gift out as hostess gifts this Holiday season. I plan to plop them in a little celophane, tie with a ribbon, and bring to my friends’ homes with a cheerful bottle of wine.
- Who is this gift for: colleagues, employees, neighbors, party hosts!
- Cost: $30 (Value: $45)
#13. Glow and Go Mini Oils
This is one of my favorite sets for two reasons: it’s at an incredibly low price AND allows you/your loved ones to sample the famous lipid layer replenishing oils from Beautycounter with a minimal investment. This is a great gift for the beauty and health conscious.
- Who is this gift for: stocking stuffers, Mom, sisters, YOU, Mother-in-Law, or hostess gifts.
- Cost: $28 (Value: $51)
PRIMALLY PURE
I’d also love to share a few holiday gift ideas from one of my other favorite safer skincare companies, Primally Pure! Primally Pure is a smaller, hand-crafted outfit that specializes in skincare products in their more natural form. I use the lip balm, deodorant, complexion mists, and body butter daily!
#1. The Spa Set
I purchased these sets one year for my team members as a holiday gift! I LOVE them! They come with a 1-2 use of both the sea soak and the flower bath salts in addition to a dry brush, body oil (you choose the scent), and a lovely organic bag. This is a great gift to give someone who you know enjoys the occasional salt bath!
- Who is this gift for: YOU, Wife, Mom, Mother-in-Law, sisters, friends, Gift Exchange with a $50 Price Limit.
- Cost: $48
#2. The Baby Set
Add one more baby set to the mix! This one is for the truly naturally-minded mamma. It comes with a baby balm, baby oil, baby powder, a baby bar, and a bag.
- Who is this gift for: friends, family, or colleagues with a baby!
- Cost: $48
#3. The Starter Kit
I love this kit because it has a little of everything. You can customize with a travel-sized body butter and deodorant of your choosing. It also comes with a complexion mist, two lip balms, and a bag!
- Who is this gift for: anyone who you know would love to add a few more natural products into their routine, Gift Exchange with a $50 Price Limit.
- Cost: $46
#4. Lip Balm Set
My love affair with these lip balms is no secret. I have them stashed in every purse and (probably also) every jacket pocket. This little set includes one of each flavor! It’s great to buy for simple stocking stuffers or as a complete gift.
- Who is this gift for: stocking stuffers, Gift Exchange with a $20 Price Limit.
- Cost: $18
