After you’ve spent weeks deciding on those big gifts for friends and families, filling a stocking can seem like a daunting chore. But once you consider the wide array of pocket-sized skincare and beauty gifts – from lipsticks and eye shadows to beauty tools and serums – those stockings will fill up more quickly than you expected! In this article, learn how to find gifts for the makeup maven, the minimalist, the highly stressed and those loved ones who just can’t make up their minds.

1. The beauty splurge. Most women feel guilty going beyond the basics when it comes to skincare and beauty – which is why the holidays are the perfect time to treat her to that one special product she’s been eyeing. Good things sometimes come in small packages, so look to stocking stuffers like skin rejuvenating serums, anti-aging wonders or that lipstick that makes her feel like a million dollars.

• Too Faced Lip of Luxury - Celebrity Meltdown. The name says it all: This lipstick is meant to make a statement. Achieve a smooth, satiny finish with this moisture-rich formula, which has accents of diamond and a pink champagne flavor.

• Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Gold Ultra Restorative Capsules. Each jar contains 60 single-dose capsules designed to transform aging skin. Ceramides and lipids work together to improve collagen production, smooth wrinkles and leave skin more vibrant.

2. Glitz and glamour. What better time to experiment with a new makeup palette than the holidays? If your mom, sister or best friend hasn’t had time to hit the makeup counter to browse the array of new arrivals, toss a couple fun cosmetic items into her stocking and let her discover a new lip or eye color to wear to that upcoming holiday party.

• bareMinerals Surprise Collection of Pure Delights. Have it all with this luxurious collection of blushes, eye colors, glosses and brushes, which are made with Hematite – a healing stone that has been used in amulets and talismans for centuries. These rich pigments are made from 100 percent pure bareMinerals ingredients and guaranteed to be kind to the skin.

• Jane Iredale Roses and Lollipops. For healthy and shiny lips, try Jane Iredale’s lip duo, which includes a moisturizing lipstick and gloss. These flattering lip shades come in a portable keychain locket for handy on-the-go application.

3. A perfect ten. For nails that shine and sparkle, limited-edition holiday nail polishes are just right as stocking stuffers. This season, let her experiment with jewel tones, metallics and ruby reds – ideal for a festive party. Don’t forget to add a base and topcoat for a flawless at-home manicure.

• butter LONDON Glitter Trio. See those nails sparkle in shimmering shades of deep red, pale pink and classic gold. All polishes from Butter London are free from formaldehyde, toluene and phthalates.

• butter LONDON Quick Change Artist. This kit makes changing nail polish colors a breeze. It contains the powerful Powder Room Acetone-Free Lacquer Remover and a bonus polish shade – Yummy Mummy, the “magic lacquer” that flatters every skin tone.

4. Top tools. Travel-sized tools are both fun and practical, and don’t take up a lot of room in a stocking. Whether she’s on the edge of every new trend or is a beauty minimalist, help her take advantage of travel-friendly beauty items.

• Hair: An ordinary brush takes up too much space in that travel bag, so give her the Frederic Fekkai Travel Brush, which stimulates scalp oils and reduces static and frizz.

• Skin: Clogged pores or acne? Get your loved one started on the path to great skin with a something he or she can use on a daily basis with the Zeno Hot Spot Blue, a device that can reduce the look of acne blemishes in as little as an hour.

5. Sweet smells. A new fragrance is a great way to give a long-lasting gift that will brighten their mood throughout the New Year.

• Harajuku Lovers Gift Set Music. Fun and flirty, each Harajuku Lovers scent is designed with a specific personality in mind. Harajuku Music is charismatic and stylish, and sports a sailor outfit and black lace up boots, and has notes of sparkling pear and honeysuckle.
• Philosophy State of Grace Fragrance Wardrobe. Let her find a fragrance for her every mood. This fun set contains tiny bottles of amazing grace, pure grace, eternal grace and inner grace spray fragrance.

6. Help for the hair. For the girl on the go, travel-sized haircare items like hairspray or shine serum can rescue her from the dreaded bad hair day.

• Hairspray. Oscar Blandi Lacca Hairspray for Volume and Hold Travel Size keeps those loose strands in place throughout the day.

• Shine spray. Phyto Phytolisse Finishing Shine Serum is the anecdote for midday frizz problems.

• Dry shampoo. Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo keeps the greasies away on those late mornings when there was no time for showering.

7. All-over beauty. Stress takes its toll on the skin during the holiday season, so look for products that pamper from head to toe.

• H2O Plus Bath Basics Shower Gel Favorites. Prepare to stimulate the senses with H20’s collection of six coastal scents. Each 1-ounce shower and bath gel is formulated with moisturizing watercress and Iceland moss, exfoliating fruit enzymes and protective vitamin E.

• AHAVA Mineral Bath Salt Wand. These ultra-portable gifts can transform an ordinary bath into a spa-inspired evening. Choose from Sugared Fig, Glazed Goji Berry or Candied Date.

8. Those little extras. How many times have you come home from the makeup counter only to realize that you forgot that one tiny item you’d been meaning to purchase? Beauty staples – from eyelash curlers to lip balm – are sized just right for a Christmas stocking.

• bareMinerals Jet Set Mini Brush Collection. Leave those bulky brushes at home and pack these four mini brushes into your travel bag for makeup perfection on the go. And like all bareMinerals brushes, these are made from high-quality bristles for flawless application.

• Panasonic Heated Eyelash Curler. Put her ordinary lash curler to shame with this nifty device, which lifts and curls lashes for a beautiful finish.

• Amazing Cosmetics Perfectly Amazing Kit. Don’t settle for ordinary when you can achieve an amazing complexion. Each kit contains all you’ll need for flawless skin: concealer, foundation, setting powder and concealer brush. You’ll also find an instructional DVD with simple how-to steps.

9. Putting it all together. A handy cosmetics bag not only makes those odds and ends come together as a beauty set, but helps her stay organized – a great goal for the coming year! Look to kits that come pre-packaged in fun bags, or purchase your own bag and fill it with goodies. You’ll find bags suited to a variety of personalities, such as:

• The fun, floral-patterned Eco Tools Alicia Silverstone Cosmetic Bag, made with natural hemp and recycled PET.

• The little black dress-inspired Allegro by Conair SOHO Basics Medium Clutch, Black.

10. Can’t decide? A beauty gift card to an online retailer like Skinstore.com will ensure that your loved one splurges on a few much-needed beauty items this holiday season. With amounts ranging from $15 to $200, this is a gift that can fit any budget – plus, you can have it emailed to you, which is perfect for that last-minute gift.

Holiday shopping doesn’t have to be a chore when you can surprise your loved ones with gifts they’ll love to use, long after the holidays are over. Use this as an opportunity to buy your loved ones a gift they wouldn’t purchase on their own!

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See also:

Skincare & Beauty Calendar: Twelve-Month Guide to Complete Skin Transformation

Holiday Season Gift Guide for Men

Celebrate Skincare Success! And Make Your Holiday Beauty Wish List (Skincare Monthly Series - December)