Gifting

6 Luxe Yet Affordable Beauty Gifts To Shop This Holiday Season

Whether to give or to keep, you can’t go wrong with these thoughtful makeup palettes, skincare sets, and more.

Written by Deanna Pai

It’s like the ultimate seasonal riddle: Shop for the coolest gifts you know they’ll love, but also — somehow? — stick to your budget. More often than not, something’s got to give. But that doesn’t actually have to be the case, especially when you stick with brands that offer incredible, gift-worthy offerings without the steep price tag. Take e.l.f. Cosmetics, for example, which has long been known for pairing approachable pricing with a high-quality, luxury lineup of makeup, skin care, and tools — no sacrifice needed.

Even better? The brand’s limited-edition holiday offerings take the must-have, can’t-miss factor to the next level, thanks to thoughtful sets and festive packaging, meaning you can find a gift for practically everyone on your list for under $20. Whether you’re shopping for your sister, work wife, or yourself, consider these gifts the best of both worlds.

Shop e.l.f. Cosmetics’ covetable gift sets:

Precious Gems 4-Piece Brush Set
e.l.f. Cosmetics
Brush sets can be notoriously expensive — but this is the exception. Not only is this four-piece set versatile, offering everything they need for creating a full face of makeup, but it clocks in at just $10, too, making it a great stocking stuffer. The limited-edition design, which includes high-shine brush handles, makes it feel special enough for gifting, and the cruelty-free bristles — which are 100% synthetic — mean you can feel good about your gift, too.
Simply Enchanted Face Palette
e.l.f. Cosmetics
Gift them everything they could possibly need for sculpted cheeks with this powder-based complexion palette. With eight pans total — including two highlighters, two bronzers, two shimmer blushes, and two matte blushes — it keeps everything they need to perfect their complexion at their fingertips, whether their goal is to shade, contour, define, and enhance (or, of course, all of the above).
Reign-Drop 3-Piece Sponge Set
e.l.f. Cosmetics
While makeup brushes have their perks, face sponges offer unique advantages. Not only can they work with a variety of formulas, including powders and liquids, but they can also make blending easy and seamless — no telltale lines here. In three strategic shapes, these sponges can be used to apply face makeup, buff in powders, and dab concealer into the smaller nooks and crannies of the face, like around the nose and under eyes.
Celestial Winter 10-Piece Eyeshadow Palette
e.l.f. Cosmetics
Show respect to their inner ice-queen with this dreamy eye shadow palette, inspired by none other than the night sky in winter. With 10 shades that feature matte, glittery, and metallic finishes, this lineup makes it easy to create a huge range of makeup looks. And, bringing together the best of a cream and powder, the formula allows for a smooth, easy-to-blend application — and delivers a ton of pigment in a single wash. Whether they’re leaning neutral for work or playing up the festive vibe, this palette has them covered.
Under The Mistletoe Moisturizing Kit
e.l.f. Cosmetics
Everyone could use more moisture — especially in winter when the cold air leaves skin dry and dull. With a nourishing face cream, hydrating booster drops, and a smoothing face primer, this trio works to moisturize skin both ASAP and all day long. Inside, they'll find a slew of powerful skin-care actives, such as hyaluronic acid (to draw in moisture), soothing niacinamide, and squalane, which supports the skin barrier. Together, they create healthy, happy, and overall radiant skin — which let’s be real, is the *ultimate* gift.
Blinding Lights No Budge Shadow Set
e.l.f. Cosmetics
Few makeup products can match the ease and convenience of eye shadow sticks — especially when they're this blendable, long-lasting, and packed with pigment. In four metallic colors, the creamy shadow sticks make it simple for your giftee to create iridescent eye looks that catch the light. And the versatility is unmatched: Wear one alone, pair a few, or layer them with other shadow formulas.