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Nov 01, 2024

Holiday Gift Guide: Beauty Gifts for Everyone On Your List | Vogue

What better time than the holidays to indulge your loved ones with gifts that promote a bit of pampering? Given the personal nature of skin and hair care and today’s saturated market for both,

What better time than the holidays to indulge your loved ones with gifts that promote a bit of pampering? Given the personal nature of skin and hair care and today’s saturated market for both, however, the quest of finding the perfect products to gift can easily overwhelm even the most discerning beauty consumer.

Enter: board-certified dermatologist Dr. Amin. In an age wherein countless beauty products promise miraculous results, turning to the pros is crucial. An expert in the many nuances of skin health, we enlisted Dr. Amin to help cut through all the noise and help find products that are both effective and universally appealing. From a deeply hydrating moisturizer to luxurious silk accessories, her curated list of beauty gifts—all of which she personally vetted—are sure to not only pamper, but also promote skin and hair maintenance for anyone (or everyone!) on your holiday gift list.

Clinique Moisture Surge™ 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator

Give the gift of hydration with Clinique's Moisture Surge™ 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator. Beloved by consumers and beauty editors alike, this lightweight yet powerful face moisturizer penetrates deep into skin to deliver a hefty dose of long-lasting moisture—up to 100 hours, to be precise. Chock full of beneficial ingredients, it works via a multi-pronged approach to simultaneously replenish moisture, help skin retain it, and protect against the effects of the many environmental dehydrators we face day-to-day. The latter of which, according to Dr. Amin, is especially crucial this time of year.

“During the dry winter months, the cold weather can draw out the moisture from our skin,” explains Dr. Amin. “You want to replenish that lost moisture by using a really hydrating moisturizer, such as this one.”

Its hero ingredient is an exclusive powerhouse blend of aloe bioferment, an ultra concentrated, nutrient-rich fermented form of aloe vera, and skin-plumping hyaluronic acid. “When hyaluronic acid is mixed with other ingredients, like emollients, it helps effectively hydrate skin” explains Dr. Amin.

This formula, courtesy of antioxidant vitamins C and E, has all bases covered. Equally important is what it does not contain—fragrance or oil— rendering it fit to gift to anyone, regardless of their age or skin type.

Slip Silk Pillowcase

Sleeping on silk is more than just an indulgence; it’s a proven investment in hair and skin health. Whereas cotton pillowcases allow for a lot of friction, pulling and tugging against both skin and strands and zapping moisture from both in the process, pure silk is both softer and less absorbent. The result: A smoother, more moisturized complexion. But buyer, be weary: While many such pillowcases purport to be pure silk, many are actually synthetic satin (a far cry from the real thing). Made from 100 percent long fiber mulberry silk, Dr. Amin loves this option from Slip—as will anyone you give it to this holiday season

Clinique Moisture Surge™ Lip Hydro-Plump Treatment

“The lips are particularly susceptible to drying out because they're one of the thinnest areas of skin on the face, so they lose moisture more quickly,” explains Dr. Amin.

Her remedy of choice? Clinique’s Moisture Surge™ Lip Hydro-Plump Treatment, an ultra-nourishing lip balm that’s as hydrating as it is multi-purpose—making it a perfectly apropos gift for anyone on your list. In addition to skin-boosting lipids and ceramides, the hero ingredient in this lip treatment is shea butter, which helps “create a protective moisture barrier on lips” explains Dr. Amin.

Clinique’s Merry Moisture Skincare Set

Ideal for anyone who may want to test the Moisture Surge waters before committing to the full-sized products, this gift-ready set includes two of Clinique’s skin care best-sellers: the aforementioned Moisture Surge™ 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator, and All About Eyes. Another favorite of Dr. Amin, this lightweight yet potent eye cream helps brighten skin, diminish the look of dark circles and reduce puffiness.

Lest you think eye cream is a niche necessity, think again. Since the eye area (much like the lips) is so delicate in nature, it warrants extra T.L.C. in our collective routines. “The skin under the eyes is very thin, which allows for the blood vessels to become more apparent,” explains Dr. Amin. “This eye cream is really universal; it can be used daily and gifted to anyone, regardless of their age.”

Hair Oil

Who doesn’t want stronger, shinier strands? Since the mid-lengths and ends of hair dry out the quickest—even more so during the cold months of the year—it warrants an added layer of protection. A trustworthy, multi-purpose hair oil can deliver just that, helping smooth frizz and boost shine—and although it may sound sticky, the right one won’t weigh things down.

“Hair oil is occlusive, which means it seals in moisture and doesn’t let it leave,” explains Dr. Amin. “This type of product is really great for applying onto the ends of hair and can be used on all hair types.”

Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer

Ideal for anyone who regularly styles their tresses, Bumble and Bumble’s Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer quite literally does it all in regard to protecting against dryness and heat damage. This multi-tasking leave-in treatment helps shield strands against potential damage from heat styling and dryness from UV rays—the latter of which, though often overlooked, is important to overall maintaining smooth, healthy hair health. “Unfortunately, the potential damage to overall hair health from the sun and UV rays are often overlooked. It's not talked about enough, but our hair can incur UV damage as well,” says Dr. Amin. “Sun exposure onto the hair can actually dry it out, so it's important to protect it.”

Ceremonia Scalp Massager

A gift that’s both unique and thoughtful, scalp massagers are also uniquely universal: there’s virtually no one who wouldn’t benefit from boosting blood flow to the scalp and hair follicles, which is precisely the beauty of these easy-to-use tools. In doing so, scalp massagers—which can be used on wet or dry hair—promote hair growth and stronger, healthier strands. For those interested, try Dr. Amin’s favorite, from Ceremonia.

Slip Silk Scrunchies

Traditional hair ties can seriously contribute to damage via the tugging and twisting of strands. Not so with those comprised of silk, which are not only more chic, but also much gentler on hair. Made from high-quality mulberry silk, these award-winning scrunchies by Slip are an elegant twist on a classic hair accessory—and also dermatologist-approved for maintaining healthy tresses. What’s more, they’re small enough to slide into a stocking.

This holiday season, whether you’re treating a friend, family member, or even yourself, these carefully curated, expert-selected beauty gifts are sure to spread joy well into the new year. Happy shopping to you and yours!