Christmas Beauty Products: What to Buy, What to Skip, and What’s Actually Worth It

Christmas beauty products are one of the most popular gift categories, and they’re also one of the most likely to disappoint. The problem is that most holiday beauty sets are overpriced repackaging of regular products. A “holiday gift set” that contains a full-size shampoo and a mini conditioner, wrapped in a tin, for twice the price of buying them separately. The right beauty products are the ones that are quality, that the person will actually use, and that are worth the money. This guide covers what to buy, what to skip, and how to choose.

Christmas beauty products covers the holiday-themed beauty, skincare, haircare, and makeup products sold during the holiday season, including gift sets, limited-edition products, and advent calendars. The best beauty products are quality, useful, and worth the price. The worst are overpriced, under-filled, and feel like a rip-off.

The right Christmas beauty products are quality and worth the money. Here’s what to buy, what to skip, and how to choose.

The Best Christmas Beauty Products

Skincare Sets

Skincare sets are the most popular beauty gift. They’re the sets that include a cleanser, a moisturizer, and a treatment.

What to look for:

• A set from a quality brand (CeraVe, The Ordinary, Drunk Elephant, or a brand the person uses)
• A set that includes full-size products (not just minis)
• A set that’s a good value (compare to buying the products separately)
• A set for the right skin type (oily, dry, sensitive, or combination)
• A set that’s dermatologist-tested (for sensitive skin)

What to skip:

• A set with mostly mini products (it’s not a good value)
• A set for the wrong skin type
• A set from a brand the person doesn’t use
• A set that’s more expensive than buying the products separately

Price range: $25 to $100.

Makeup Sets

Makeup sets are the gifts that include a palette, a lipstick, or a set of products.

What to look for:

• A set from a quality brand (Urban Decay, Too Faced, Tarte, or a brand the person uses)
• A set that includes a palette or a set of lipsticks (not just one product)
• A set with shades that match the person’s style
• A set that’s a good value (compare to buying the products separately)
• A set that includes a mirror or a brush (for convenience)

What to skip:

• A set with shades that don’t match the person’s style
• A set from a brand the person doesn’t use
• A set that’s more expensive than buying the products separately
• A set with mostly mini products

Price range: $20 to $75.

Haircare Sets

Haircare sets are the gifts that include a shampoo, a conditioner, and a treatment.

What to look for:

• A set from a quality brand (Olaplex, Ouai, Living Proof, or a brand the person uses)
• A set that includes full-size products
• A set for the right hair type (curly, straight, color-treated, or fine)
• A set that’s a good value

What to skip:

• A set with mostly mini products
• A set for the wrong hair type
• A set from a brand the person doesn’t use

Price range: $25 to $75.

Beauty Advent Calendars

Beauty advent calendars are the calendars with a small beauty product behind each door. They’re the gifts that are fun and that give a variety of products.

What to look for:

• A calendar from a quality brand (Sephora, LookFantastic, or a brand the person likes)
• A calendar with 24 doors (one for each day of December)
• A calendar with a mix of products (skincare, makeup, haircare)
• A calendar with full-size or deluxe-size products (not just tiny samples)
• A calendar that’s a good value (compare to buying the products separately)

What to skip:

• A calendar with mostly tiny samples
• A calendar that’s more expensive than the products inside
• A calendar from a brand the person doesn’t use

Price range: $30 to $150.

Fragrance Sets

Fragrance sets are the gifts that include a perfume and a matching product.

What to look for:

• A set from a quality brand (the person’s favorite, or a new scent they’d like)
• A set that includes a full-size perfume and a matching product (lotion, shower gel)
• A set that’s a good value
• A scent that matches the person’s style

What to skip:

• A set with a scent the person doesn’t like
• A set that’s more expensive than buying the perfume separately
• A set from a brand the person doesn’t use

Price range: $30 to $150.

Bath and Body Sets

Bath and body sets are the gifts that include bath bombs, body scrub, body lotion, and soap.

What to look for:

• A set from a quality brand (Lush, Bath and Body Works, or a brand the person likes)
• A set with a variety of products (bath bombs, scrub, lotion)
• A set with scents the person likes
• A set that’s a good value

What to skip:

• A set with scents the person doesn’t like
• A set that’s more expensive than buying the products separately
• A set with mostly small products

Price range: $20 to $60.

Nail Sets

Nail sets are the gifts that include nail polish, a nail file, and a nail treatment.

What to look for:

• A set from a quality brand (OPI, Essie, or a brand the person uses)
• A set with a variety of shades (in colors the person likes)
• A set that includes a base coat and a top coat (for a complete manicure)
• A set that’s a good value

What to skip:

• A set with shades the person doesn’t like
• A set from a brand the person doesn’t use
• A set that’s more expensive than buying the polishes separately

Price range: $15 to $40.

How to Choose Christmas Beauty Products

Think about what the person uses. What brand of skincare, makeup, or haircare do they use? Choose a set from that brand.

Think about their skin type. Oily, dry, sensitive, or combination. Choose a set for the right skin type.

Think about their style. What colors do they wear? What scents do they like? Choose a set that matches their style.

Compare the price. Is the set a good value, or is it more expensive than buying the products separately? Check before you buy.

Choose quality over quantity. One $40 quality set is better than five $8 cheap sets.

Check the sizes. Are the products full-size, deluxe-size, or mini? Full-size is the best value. Mini is the worst value.

What to Skip Entirely

Overpriced holiday sets. A set that’s more expensive than buying the products separately is a rip-off. Compare the price before you buy.

Sets with mostly mini products. A set with mostly minis is not a good value. Choose sets with full-size or deluxe-size products.

Sets for the wrong skin type. A skincare set for oily skin, given to someone with dry skin, is not useful. Check the skin type.

Sets with the wrong shades. A makeup set with shades that don’t match the person’s style is not useful. Check their style.

Sets from brands the person doesn’t use. A set from a brand the person doesn’t use is a gamble. Choose a brand they use.

Novelty beauty products. A beauty product with a holiday gimmick (a reindeer-shaped bath bomb, a Santa-shaped soap) is fun for a day and then forgotten. Skip it.

FAQ

What are the best Christmas beauty products? The best are a skincare set from a quality brand ($25 to $100), a makeup palette ($20 to $75), a haircare set ($25 to $75), a beauty advent calendar ($30 to $150), a fragrance set ($30 to $150), a bath and body set ($20 to $60), and a nail set ($15 to $40). Choose quality over quantity.

What should I look for in Christmas beauty products? Look for a set from a quality brand the person uses, full-size products (not minis), the right skin type or hair type, shades that match the person’s style, and a good value (compare to buying separately). Choose quality over quantity.

How much do Christmas beauty products cost? Skincare sets cost $25 to $100. Makeup sets cost $20 to $75. Haircare sets cost $25 to $75. Beauty advent calendars cost $30 to $150. Fragrance sets cost $30 to $150. Bath and body sets cost $20 to $60. Nail sets cost $15 to $40.

Where can I buy Christmas beauty products? You can buy Christmas beauty products at Sephora (wide selection, quality brands), Ulta (wide selection, drugstore and high-end), Amazon (competitive prices), a department store (Macy’s, Nordstrom for quality brands), and a drugstore (CVS, Walgreens for affordable options).

What should I avoid when buying Christmas beauty products? Avoid overpriced holiday sets (compare the price), sets with mostly mini products, sets for the wrong skin type, sets with the wrong shades, sets from brands the person doesn’t use, and novelty beauty products. Choose quality and value.

Are beauty advent calendars worth it? Yes, if you choose a quality one. A Sephora or LookFantastic advent calendar is worth it because it includes full-size or deluxe-size products from quality brands. A cheap advent calendar with tiny samples is not worth it.

What are good stocking stuffer beauty products? Good stocking stuffers include a quality lip balm ($5 to $15), a good face mask ($5 to $10), a quality hand cream ($5 to $15), a good nail polish ($5 to $10), a luxury mini perfume ($10 to $25), a good bath bomb ($3 to $8), and a quality lip gloss ($5 to $15). These are all under $25.

References

• Sephora. “Holiday Gift Sets.” https://www.sephora.com/holiday-gift-sets
• Ulta. “Holiday Beauty Gifts.” https://www.ulta.com/holiday-beauty-gifts
• Amazon. “Beauty Gift Sets.” Check on Amazon