I'll say this until I am blue in the face: the holidays are the best time to stock up on your beauty essentials, especially when it comes to skincare gift sets. Not only do brands give incredible discounts in anticipation of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but the deals often last through the end of the year as well.
Plus, the money I do spend goes a little further than usual because many brands also release sets that include the original product I’m already shopping for, along with some additional goodies. This way, I get to keep my primary skincare routine intact while trying out new products I might not have otherwise reached for.
As with nearly all beauty launches, narrowing down the best skincare gift sets can feel like finding a needle in a haystack — but that’s where the Marie Claire beauty team steps in. We’ve tested almost every skincare product on the market and are intimately familiar with the ones that truly work and are worth buying this holiday season. From makeup-skincare hybrids that have become staples in our routines to the underrated lip care set that is lowkey one of the best out there, we’ve done the hard work for you.
Below, you’ll find a curated selection of skincare gift sets that any beauty lover would be delighted to receive for the holidays. That said, they’re so good, you might end up keeping one or two for yourself…
Tatcha is one of my favorite skincare brands of all time, and this set will make it one of yours, too. It includes mini versions of the brand’s Rice Wash, Matcha Cleanse, and the famous lip mask. Plus, tiny versions of the popular Dewy Skin and Water Creams to keep your skin hydrated in the dry winter weather.
Adorable packaging aside, Byoma is one of the most efficacious skincare brands that I have ever tried. This set focuses on hydration and includes the jelly cleanser, gel-cream moisturizer, and the ceramide-rich hydration serum.
Instant glass skin is achievable with Glow Recipe’s Best of Glow Hues set. It features two of the brand’s niacinamide-based hue drops to bronze and flush the skin, plus a mini of its glass balm lip treatment.
I swear by the First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads, and any time I can get them in a set, the other products are just a very welcome bonus. That said, this set also includes a facial cleanser, moisturizer, and barrier balm, so consider it your winter-skin savior, just in time for the cold weather.
Sephora’s Holy Sheet set is one of my favorites to break up into stocking stuffers. Still, if you love an at-home face mask and want to keep it for yourself, expect a myriad of face, eye, lip, foot, hand, and hair masks, all to be used at your leisure.
Nudestix makes one of the best lip balms on the market, and this set includes three shimmer versions of the brand’s ultra-moisturizing formula. You’re welcome.
Another incredible skincare brand, especially for those with oily, acne-prone skin, is Paula’s Choice. This gift set offers a trio of travel-size products, including the famous two percent BHA liquid exfoliant, one of my holy grail skincare products.
Clinique was one of the first brands I turned to when I started really looking into clearing my acne. This set includes full and travel-size versions of three of the brand’s hero products for acne, perfect for any teenager or young adult who wants to up their skincare game.
Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair is a cross-generational gift that will always be a delight to open under the tree. This gift set from the brand includes the famed serum (a holy grail formula for MC Beauty Director, Hannah Baxter) as well as a deluxe-sized moisturizer and eye cream.
I love a trendy brand that works, and Topicals is just that. For anyone looking to address discoloration, this curated set includes products for the under-eyes, face, and body.
The Elemis cleansing balm is the best one that I have ever tried. Tack on the Marine Cream moisturizer that is also included in this gift set, and you’ll be stocked with makeup remover for a solid six months or more.
Any K-Beauty lover in your life will freak out over this set of sheet masks. There are 12 options for every skin concern under the sun, so it’s perfect to break up into stocking stuffers for the ones that you don’t need.
I firmly believe that anyone can benefit from using Dr. Dennis Gross's exfoliating pads. Every year, the brand comes out with a jumbo-sized version that offers 60 traditional peels and 35 extra-strength versions, the best deal all year.
What’s viral, gives glowing skin, and will please any K-beauty obsessive? This Rice Glow set, created by the brand I’m From.
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