The best beauty gifts at Sephora, according to a beauty writer
As a beauty lover, gifting season means finally asking for the big beauty buys on my wishlist. However, shopping for a beauty enthusiast can be tricky, especially if you’re no expert yourself (I’ve watched my dad and brother struggle through this enough to know firsthand).
I’ve covered beauty for three years and tested countless products across skin care , hair care and more, so I know what’s worth buying this season. Read on for my list of the best beauty gifts you can get at Sephora right now.
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The best Sephora beauty gifts of 2026
Below I gathered the best gifts to shop at Sephora this holiday season, including expert-approved products from our previous coverage and ones recommended by NBC Selected editors.
I tried this red light therapy mask from Dr. Dennis Gross for three weeks last winter, and I was pleasantly surprised by how well it helped even out my skin’s texture and reduced the size of any breakouts. The mask has separate red and blue light settings (red for addressing fine lines and blue for fighting acne), along with a dual setting that lets your giftee use both treatments at once. Each treatment runs for three minutes, and the mask includes an adjustable strap for a customized fit.
We’re big Rhode fans at NBC Selected, and if your giftee struggles with dry skin, this essence can give them the hydration boost they need. It has a lightweight, milky texture and includes three ceramides, as well as vitamins and minerals like copper, magnesium and vitamin E to help strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier and protect against environmental stressors, according to the brand. It’s also great for treating redness and dullness, making it a winter skin care essential.
This viral shower oil is an ideal gift for any loved ones who are heavily into body care, or who may just want to level up their shower routine. The oil turns into a milky lather in the shower, and includes nutrient-rich sweet almond oil to soften the skin, according to the brand. “This oil is my favorite part of my shower routine — I’ve given it to countless friends and family members as gifts,” says NBC Selected commerce editor Mili Godio, who uses it as a post-body wash lather and as a shaving gel.
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Laneige is one of our favorite K-beauty brands, and the Lip Sleeping Mask is one of its standout products. “I’ve used this lip mask every week for years, and I always wake up with smooth, soft and hydrated lips,” says Godio. This set includes five mini Lip Sleeping Mask, along with samples of the Bouncy & Firm Serum and Sleeping Mask.
Your giftee can pair these eye masks with any eye cream or serum. “I love gifting my friends eye masks in general, but especially these from Dieux,” says Godio. “They keep serums and creams in place to add extra hydration, plus they’re washable and reusable, which helps minimize waste (and is easier on the wallet).”
Mascara and a bit of inner corner eyeshadow is my daily makeup look, and this mascara from Ilia is my favorite to use. It lengthens my lashes without leaving them dry and clumpy, and includes biotin to help strengthen them. I also love the way the Sele shade accentuates my lashes without looking too dark, and also subtly complements my brown eyes (the mascara is also available in a traditional black shade).
A nourishing hair mask can be an indulgent yet useful gift this holiday season, and this one from Gisou helps address common hair concerns like dryness, dullness and breakage. “This hair mask is my current obsession. I use it about once a week, and it leaves my hair so shiny and soft. Plus, it smells incredible,” says Godio. Suitable for all hair types and textures, the mask has Mirsalehi honey and bee garden oil to add shine, along with ceramides and hyaluronic acid to add moisture and hydration without weighing hair down, according to the brand.
Although summer is behind us, sunscreen is still a daily necessity (yes, even in the winter). Godio loves this formula from Kiehl’s — in fact, she says it’s one of the best she’s ever tried. Since she has sensitive, rosacea-prone skin, she struggles to find a sunscreen that works for her because most chemical formulas tend to irritate her skin, while mineral options tend to leave a white cast. However, Godio likes that this sunscreen has an invisible formula that helps brighten and soften her skin.
Glossier’s You line has been a staple in my fragrance lineup for years now — the original perfume has a sweet, warm scent with notes of pink pepper and iris that’s great for daily wear. The set includes a full-sized Glossier You bottle, along with a travel-size rollerball for on-the-go reapplications. The perfumes also come inside of a red Glossier bucket that doubles as storage for makeup and skin care.
NBC Selected editorial operations associate Jem Alabi originally bought this glossy lip balm during the spring Sephora sale and says it was worth every penny. It has lactic acid and hibiscus enzymes to exfoliate away dead skin and dryness, according to the brand. The angled metal applicator also provides a cooling sensation, according to Alabi. “It’s also buildable and has no fragrance, which I love,” she says. I’m also a huge fan of this lip balm for full-face glam, since it has a great color payoff that’s noticeable with even just one swipe.
NBC Selected social media associate editor Caitlin Cusack says this blow dryer brush cut her styling time from 40 minutes down to 20, and it gives her hair “a perfect blowout look.” It includes four attachments, so your loved one can use it as a hair dryer or styler depending on which piece they attach.
When myself and two other NBC Selected editors tested the Topicals Faded Serum, we all noticed fading dark marks and scars over a two-month period. With this gift set, not only will your giftee get the brand’s famed serum, but they’ll also receive the Faded Brightening & Cleansing Body Bar and the Faded Under Eye Brightening Masks. Each product has niacinamide and kojic acid to combat dullness and dark marks, resulting in full-body brightness.
For the beauty lover in your life, one of the best gifts you can get is a higher-end product that they won’t necessarily buy for themselves. This hair oil from Kérastase is one of those products — it has wild camellia flower, which is high in antioxidants, so it can address a range of hair concerns, including dryness, frizziness and breakage, according to the brand. It also functions as a heat protectant, which is perfect for those who are consistent users of hot tools.
This YSL perfume is one of NBC Selected intern Kailey Sigoda’s favorite scents — in fact, it was the perfume that she says finally turned her into a fragrance lover. “I love warm scents, especially those with vanilla and woody notes, and this perfume has just that mixed with lavender and orange blossom,” she says. This set includes light and intense versions of the fragrance, which Sigoda says makes it great for stocking up on both day and night scents.
I fell in love with this foundation when testing for our Tower 28 brand review. I’ve honestly never tried a formula that melted so well into my skin without any powder or setting spray. It has a very natural finish and leaves skin looking glowy and hydrated.
If you know your giftee is big on fragrance but aren’t sure of which one to get, this gift set from Sephora has you covered. It comes with 20 sample-size perfumes from brands like Gucci, Marc Jacobs Beauty, Ariana Grande Fragrances, Phlur and Rare Beauty. Plus, it includes a voucher that they can redeem at any Sephora for a full-size version of their favorite from the set at no extra cost.
Glow Recipe is one of our favorite K-beauty brands, and this gift set comes complete with the brand’s top products and bestsellers. It includes ten full-size products, including the Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops, the Guava Vitamin C Bright-Eye Gel Cream and the Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier Cleanser and more. Plus, the set comes in bright packaging that’ll look great in your giftee’s bathroom cabinet.
This Pat McGrath concealer is lightweight yet still full coverage — it has a natural finish that diffuses the pigment, creating a blurring effect that resembles a filter, according to the brand. The concealer has a flexible wand applicator and is available in 33 shades. Godio, who has very dry skin and under eyes, says she can comfortably use this concealer on dry spots around her undereyes and nose.
When testing products for our Cyklar brand guide, NBC Selected senior editor Nikki Brown loved this in-shower moisturizer. “It really comes down to the application; it’s uncomplicated, and I simply rub it all over my damp skin and let it dry down,” she says. It includes a hydrating lipid complex and ceramides for lots of hydration, so your giftee can leave the shower without needing a moisturizer afterward.
A natural-toned eyeshadow is a makeup kit staple, and this palette from Dior includes a range of blendable shades. Each palette has an eye primer to help hold and lock in the shadow, along with eight shades in a range of matte and shimmer finishes, according to the brand. The palette is also available in Smoky Essentials and Warm Essentials versions, so you can choose the color range your giftee will like best.
How I picked the best beauty gifts at Sephora
When picking the best beauty gifts at Sephora, I sifted through hundreds of products, including newly released items, and drew on products from past coverage and my own beauty reporting expertise. I also gathered NBC Selected editor-favorite products. Each of my recommendations is highly rated, with a minimum 4-star average rating from hundreds of Sephora shoppers.
Why trust NBC Selected?
I am an associate SEO reporter for NBC Selected who’s been covering skin care, hair care and body care for over two years. I frequently report on beauty deals during big sale events like Amazon Prime Day, and have written gift guides for winter holidays, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and more. I’ve also been a skin care and beauty obsessive since college, and have been shopping at Sephora for even longer. As a certified great gifter, I combed through the Sephora site to find the best beauty lover’s gifts available this holiday season.
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