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Last-Minute Skincare Gift Guide

Article Summary

  • Tips for Gifting Skincare
  • Gifts for Close Friends and Family
  • Ideas for Coworkers and Acquaintances
  • Picks for Skincare Enthusiasts

If you’re a skincare enthusiast like me, the holiday season is the perfect time to share skincare with the people I love. The only thing better than discovering an amazing skincare find or seeing results finally is watching someone else get to experience that too. However, while many of us are experts when it comes to our own skin, finding the right products for others can be challenging

Don’t worry—whether you’re pressed for time or unsure where to start, this guide has you covered with skincare gift ideas for everyone on your list.

Best Tips for Gifting Skincare

The term “skincare journey” perfectly describes the process of discovering what works for your skin. It’s truly all about trial-and-error as you learn about your skin’s unique needs, the science behind ingredients, and which products work best for you. But here’s the catch: your skincare journey is unique to you- it can’t be used to put together a routine for someone. And you have a lot less information to work with which puts you at a disadvantage.

Here’s my best tips to set you up for success:

  • Gather Information When Possible. If you can, subtly ask about their skin type, concerns, or favorite brands. A little sleuthing can really help. 
  • Avoid Diagnosing. There’s nothing worse than getting an acne product from someone trying to be “helpful” - when you don’t want or ask for help with your skin. Unless they’ve confided in you, stick to more general products. 
  • Consider Their Lifestyle. A busy friend might not appreciate a 12-step routine, and someone on a budget may not want a product they can’t afford to repurchase.
  • Gift Cards Are Not Overrated. If you’re unsure, a gift card to a great skincare brand allows them to pick what they truly want - and you still get to share your favorite products with them. And if you’re ordering close to the holiday, you’ll get your Stratia Skin gift card immediately.
  • Add a Personal Touch. Include a note sharing why you love a product or offer to host a skincare night together to go over how to use it.

Gifts for Close Friends and Family

Let’s start with gifts for your closest friends and family. Because you’ll know more about the unique skin needs of those in your inner circle, it provides an opportunity to select gifts that are more tailored toward their skin.

For Dry Skin

  • Cream Cleanser: Dry skin types often don’t realize the importance in using the right cleanser. Stratia Skin’s Velvet Milk Cleanser combines mild cleansing agents, a skin friendly pH level, and soothing ingredients.
  • Barrier Repair Moisturizer: Products rich in ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol, such as Stratia Skin Lipid Gold, are a winter must-have for restoring dry, damaged skin.

For Oily Skin

  • Hydrating Toner: Introducing lightweight hydration, like Stratia Skin Aqua Factory, can be a game changer for oily skin while not leaving them shiny or feeling greasy.
  • Salicylic Acid Cleanser: A gel-based cleanser with salicylic acid is mild enough for regular use (without stripping skin either) while targeting congestion.

For Common Concerns

  • Mandelic Acid Exfoliant: A mild exfoliant like Stratia Skin Soft Touch AHA is ideal for breakouts in teens or anyone dealing with dull, flaky skin.
  • Retinol: For someone looking to address signs of aging, Stratia Skin Night Shift is an excellent introductory retinol that doubles as a moisturizer. Great gift for moms and mother-in-laws!

Pro Tip: If gifting exfoliants or retinoids, make sure they understand how to use them safely—like pairing them with sunscreen.

Ideas for Coworkers and Acquaintances

Skincare can be a great gift if you’ve been wanting to share skincare goodies with coworkers at the office - or maybe you’re just grabbing something from your stash for a White Elephant party (or maybe a distant relation that just showed up unannounced). It does get more difficult when you are selecting gifts for people whose skin you aren’t as familiar with. Here’s some gift ideas that you can’t go wrong with:

  1. Japanese and Korean Sunscreens: you can’t go wrong with cult faves like the Beauty of Joseon Rice + Probiotics Relief Sun or SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Sun Cream. And you get to go to sleep knowing you completely changed someone’s perception of sunscreen forever - turns out it doesn’t have to be this greasy or leave a cast!
  2. Skincare Basics: Everyone can benefit from a gentle cleanser or well formulated moisturizer. If you’re not sure on their skin type, go for a gentle gel cleanser and a gel cream moisturizer. Otherwise see the previous section on specific product suggestions.
  3. Crowd Pleasers”: Multi-functional products like Stratia Skin Rewind Serum (with well loved ingredients niacinamide and hyaluronic acid) work well for all skin types and are always a safe bet.

Picks for Skincare Enthusiasts

Shopping for a fellow skincare lover is probably the most daunting—they likely already have a well-curated collection on top of knowing their skin and what they like. Here are unique ideas they’ll still appreciate if you don’t want to go the giftcard route: 

Growth Factor or Peptide Products

Most enthusiasts not only already own basics like sunscreen, cleansers, and moisturizers but retinoids and Vitamin C too. A product like Stratia Skin Interface Peptide Cream introduces evidence-backed peptides and growth factors in a sophisticated delivery system—something they may not have tried yet.

Non-Skincare Skincare

Another way to ensure you don’t get them something they already have is to think “outside the bottle” and go with skincare that isn’t a product.

  • A humidifier for combating winter dryness.
  • A silicone mask cover to use with sheet masks and other facial masks.
  • A red light therapy device or other skincare tool to enhance results alongside their routine.

A Final Word

Remember: if you’re running out of time or unsure what to choose, there’s nothing wrong with a gift card. Choose a brand you love and pair it with a note sharing your favorite products or helpful skincare resources to make it more thoughtful.

Whatever you decide to give (or buy for yourself) this holiday season, we hope you’re surrounded by the people you love the most. 

Mira is a skincare educator, blogger, and the content creator behind Skin Science by Mira and The Skincare Forum on Facebook. While skincare keeps her busy, she’s also pursuing her degree in Nursing and loves to spend her free time hiking.  As a content writer for Stratia Skin, Mira shares her evidence-based approach to skincare topics and a passion for making science accessible.  

 

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