The skincare gift guide: what the experts rate highly, for everyone on your list
Buying skincare for someone else is hard, because you rarely know their skin type and you cannot ask without spoiling the surprise. So we sorted this guide by the person instead. Pick who you are shopping for, and every product on that list is one the experts rate highly, led by La Roche-Posay Lipikar Balm AP+ and the Beauty of Joseon rice and honey mask at 97%.
Who are you buying for?
- For Mom Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum94%
- For a tween Curel Deep Moisture Spray92%
- For the always dry friend La Roche-Posay Lipikar Balm AP+97%
- For the luxury lover Tatcha Rice Polish89%
- For him Aveeno Therapeutic Shave Gel93%
- For your best friend Beauty of Joseon Rice + Honey Glow Mask97%
- For a stocking Geek & Gorgeous Mighty Melt95%
- For the one who has everything CurrentBody LED Light Therapy Mask91%
- For the frequent flyer Bioderma Sensibio H2O96%
What skincare should you buy Mom?
These are creams and eye products the experts rate highly, plus one big present. Two of them contain retinal: experts call the Beauty of Joseon gentle enough to start on, while the Medik8 is a strength people work up to.
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1
Beauty of JoseonRevive Eye Serum: Ginseng + Retinal
94%19 gurus
“It is one of the best eye creams ever.”Robert Welsh
What it is: A light eye serum with ginseng and retinal.
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2
CurrentBodyLED Light Therapy Mask Series 1
91%22 gurus
“I also like the CurrentBody LED Light Therapy Mask Series 1.”Dr. Sam Ellis
What it is: A wearable red light therapy mask.
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3
AesturaAtobarrier 365 Cream
90%21 gurus
“Anyone who has remotely dry or sensitive skin is going to absolutely love this product”Nipun Kapur
What it is: A Korean ceramide cream that repairs without feeling heavy.
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4
Medik8Crystal Retinal 6
89%17 gurus
“This is beautiful as a gift; it comes in this beautiful silver packaging with a little red ribbon”Beyond50Skin
What it is: A retinal serum that arrives looking like a present.
The catch: A strength people work up to, so best for someone already on a retinoid.
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5
iNNBEAUTY PROJECTExtreme Cream Anti-Aging, Firming & Lifting Moisturizer
88%12 gurus
“shipped it to my mom's house in California. It's that good.”Skin Obsessed Mary
What it is: A rich moisturizer with peptides and ceramides.
The catch: Some experts say it can sting on a damaged skin barrier.
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6
DieuxInstant Angel Lipid-Rich Firming Moisturizer
87%8 gurus
“It's like a between mid-weight to rich cream, super calming, fragrance-free.”Dr. Sam Ellis
What it is: A lipid-rich cream for extra comfort at night.
The catch: One expert finds it too heavy for oily skin.
What do you buy a tween who wants skincare?
A cleanser, a moisturizer and a sunscreen are the whole routine at this age, as our tween article found. So these are gentle versions of each, plus a balm and one spray that is simply fun to use. We left out retinoids and exfoliating acids on purpose, because those are what the experts warn young skin off. Scores are for everyone who reviewed these products, not only young skin, so patch test first.
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1
CurelDeep Moisture Spray
92%7 gurus
“It's kind of fun to use, especially if you've got young kids. My kids love spraying it, kind of gets them to moisturize in a fun way.”Dr. Jenny Liu
What it is: A fine moisturizing mist that is fun to use.
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2
VanicreamGentle Facial Cleanser
92%14 gurus
“The facial cleanser is so gentle that I used to use it as a body wash for my kids when they were younger.”Dr. Daniel Sugai
What it is: A plain, fragrance-free daily face wash.
The catch: Some experts say it is not much use at taking off makeup.
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3
IlliyoonCeramide Ato Concentrate Lotion
90%5 gurus
“If you haven't tried it yet and you have a teenager or a baby in the family, just go ahead and get it.”CYoung
What it is: A big pump bottle of ceramide lotion for face and body.
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4
CeraVePM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
88%19 gurus
“really suitable for teens that are more acne-prone, and it has a really lightweight finish.”Dr. Jenny Liu
What it is: A lightweight everyday moisturizer with ceramides and niacinamide.
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5
CeraVeHealing Ointment
88%19 gurus
“CeraVe's got a very good ointment if you need something a bit thicker.”Dr. Vanita Rattan
What it is: A ceramide ointment for dry, cracked spots.
The catch: Some experts find it messy on pillowcases.
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6
Beauty of JoseonRelief Sun Aqua Fresh Rice + B5 SPF 50+ PA++++
87%17 gurus
“If you have oily skin, you're a teenager, live somewhere hot, or hate any greasy feeling, get this one.”CYoung
What it is: A light Korean sunscreen for anyone who hates a greasy feel.
What do you buy a friend whose skin is always dry?
Something rich that seals moisture in. All six are heavy on comfort, and several are best at night or in winter.
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1
La Roche-PosayLipikar Balm AP+ Intense Repair Moisturizing Cream
97%6 gurus
“It is my go-to and I use it all the time.”The Budget Dermatologist
What it is: A thick, fragrance-free cream for very dry skin on face and body.
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2
NeutrogenaNorwegian Formula Hand Cream
92%7 gurus
“Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream. Amazing.”Dr Dray
What it is: A glycerin-rich hand cream for cracked hands.
The catch: One expert finds it heavy enough to keep for night.
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3
SkinFixBarrier+ Triple Lipid & Peptide Cream
91%19 gurus
“The triple lipid peptide cream is better for dry skin that needs hydration or like fall and winter months.”Dr. Aleksandra Brown
What it is: A rich, fragrance-free barrier cream.
The catch: Some experts call it pricey for the amount.
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4
KlairsMidnight Blue Calming Cream
89%5 gurus
“I finally gave one of my friends a tube of it and she's really enjoying it.”No BS Beauty
What it is: A soothing night cream with no added fragrance.
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5
La Roche-PosayCicaplast Baume B5
88%31 gurus
“This can pretty much repair everything except a broken heart”Nipun Kapur
What it is: A thick balm for dry, irritated patches.
The catch: Some experts find it too greasy for daytime, while others wear it under sunscreen.
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6
RhodeBarrier Butter Intensive Moisture Balm
87%7 gurus
“Their newer barrier butter with poly glutamic acid is so good.”Dr Dray
What it is: A thick overnight balm that seals everything in.
Which luxury skincare gifts are actually worth it?
These are expensive products the experts rate highly. A splurge is a treat, not a requirement, and our Christmas splurges article covers the famous ones that split them.
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1
TatchaRice Polish
89%9 gurus
“I always gift this to myself because it's one of my Holy Grail products.”Dr. Sam Ellis
What it is: A powder exfoliant that foams up when mixed with water.
The catch: The original version can feel drying, and gentler versions exist for sensitive skin.
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2
SkinCeuticalsPhloretin CF
89%10 gurus
“I particularly love their Phloretin CF, which is 10 percent ascorbic acid, so it's lighter, and it comes in a pump and an opaque bottle.”Dr. Shereene Idriss
What it is: A vitamin C serum with phloretin and ferulic acid.
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3
OneSkinOS-01 Body Topical Supplement
89%5 gurus
“The body supplement actually improved the texture of my skin.”Skin Obsessed Mary
What it is: A peptide body treatment for crepey skin.
The catch: Some experts call it pricey, though a little goes a long way.
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4
Allies of SkinBeta Glucan and Resveratrol Advanced Hydrating Serum
89%6 gurus
“I really love the Allies of Skin Beta Glucan and Resveratrol serum.”Dr. Sam Ellis
What it is: A hydrating serum with beta glucan and resveratrol.
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5
SkinBetter ScienceAlto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum
86%11 gurus
“My patients love it actually.”Dr. Daniel Sugai
What it is: A creamy antioxidant serum with a gentle form of vitamin C.
The catch: Several experts call it expensive.
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6
Elizabeth ArdenEight Hour Cream
86%5 gurus
“It works. It does. It's good.”James Welsh
What it is: The cult multi-purpose balm for lips, hands and dry patches.
The catch: It carries fragrance, which one expert says turns unpleasant over time.
What skincare do you buy a man who cares about his skin?
A whole routine, with a shave gel one dermatologist gives to family and friends, a cleanser another expert's husband uses, and a cream and a sunscreen experts say behave around a beard. Scores are for everyone who reviewed these products, not only men.
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1
AveenoShaving Gel
93%5 gurus
“This one is so good that I give it to all my family members and friends as gifts.”Dr. Daniel Sugai
What it is: A fragrance-free oat shave gel.
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2
O'Keeffe'sWorking Hands
91%4 gurus
“the hand cream is really good.”Dr Dray
What it is: A thick hand cream for very dry, cracked hands.
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3
Kiehl'sUltra Facial Cream
90%12 gurus
“even with that thicker texture, I'm not seeing a lot of it gunk up in the beard.”208SkinDoc
What it is: A classic daily face cream.
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4
NumbuzinNo.1 Clear Filter Sun Essence SPF50+ PA++++
88%9 gurus
“this would be a very beard-friendly sunscreen.”Kelly Driscoll
What it is: A light, hydrating chemical sunscreen.
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5
Paula's Choice2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
88%33 gurus
“Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is very effective because it binds to oil and extracts it directly from your pores.”Dr. Mamina
What it is: A leave-on salicylic acid exfoliant for pores.
The catch: Some experts keep it to two or three times a week.
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6
SkinFixBarrier+ Ceramide + Ectoin Hydrating Gentle Gel Cleanser
85%5 gurus
“My husband uses it too”Dr. Aleksandra Brown
What it is: A gentle gel face wash with ceramides.
What skincare do you buy your best friend?
A night in, more or less: a mask, a micellar water, a toner and a body wash, plus reusable eye masks and a sunscreen for the morning.
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1
Beauty of JoseonGround Rice and Honey Glow Mask
97%10 gurus
“I absolutely love it, highly highly recommended”Nipun Kapur
What it is: A wash-off mask of ground rice and honey.
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2
BiodermaSensibio H2O Micellar Water
96%20 gurus
“very gentle yet effective at removing everything without causing more irritation on your skin.”Dr. Jenny Liu
What it is: The no-rinse makeup remover experts keep buying.
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3
I'm FromRice Toner
94%11 gurus
“My skin loves this, it's perfect.”Allie Glines
What it is: A milky rice toner with no fragrance.
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4
NaturiumGlow Getter Multi-Oil Body Wash
90%10 gurus
“This is unlike any other body wash I've used.”Dr. Aleksandra Brown
What it is: An oil-to-gel body wash in a big pump bottle.
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5
Beauty of JoseonRelief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+ PA++++ (Korean formula)
87%32 gurus
“it's affordable enough to be a good gift.”CYoung
What it is: A hydrating Korean sunscreen.
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6
DieuxForever Eye Mask
86%7 gurus
“this gift is also going to last a really long time”Dr. Sam Ellis
What it is: Reusable silicone eye masks that seal in eye cream.
Which inexpensive skincare makes a good stocking stuffer?
Every one of these sits in our budget price tier, so they also work for a Secret Santa or a teacher present.
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1
Geek & Gorgeous101 Mighty Melt Cleansing Balm
95%11 gurus
“Their Mighty Melt Cleanser is just so easy.”No BS Beauty
What it is: An oil cleansing balm that takes off makeup and sunscreen.
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2
NeutrogenaNorwegian Formula Hand Cream
92%7 gurus
“Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream. Amazing.”Dr Dray
What it is: A glycerin-rich hand cream for cracked hands.
The catch: One expert finds it heavy enough to keep for night.
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3
CeraVeHealing Ointment
88%19 gurus
“CeraVe's got a very good ointment if you need something a bit thicker.”Dr. Vanita Rattan
What it is: A ceramide ointment for dry, cracked spots.
The catch: Some experts find it messy on pillowcases.
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4
CocokindCeramide Lip Blur Balm
86%4 gurus
What it is: A ceramide lip balm with a soft, blurred finish.
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5
AquaphorHealing Ointment Body Spray
86%8 gurus
“Aquaphor actually has a spray that's pretty cool”Doctorly
What it is: Healing ointment in a spray, without the sticky hands.
The catch: Slippery on the floor when wet, so spray with care.
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6
I'm FromHoney Jelly Mask
86%7 gurus
“Their honey mask is a product that I'm going to love like forever.”James Welsh
What it is: A honey wash-off mask for dry skin.
The catch: One expert finds it too heavy for oily skin.
What do you buy someone who already has everything?
Tools and extras rather than another cream, and the experts rate them all highly.
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1
CurrentBodyLED Light Therapy Mask Series 1
91%22 gurus
“I also like the CurrentBody LED Light Therapy Mask Series 1.”Dr. Sam Ellis
What it is: A wearable red light therapy mask.
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2
VersedDermaplane System
90%4 gurus
“I love the Versed ones.”Cassandra Bankson
What it is: An at-home dermaplaning tool with replaceable blades.
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3
DysonSupersonic Hair Dryer
89%13 gurus
“I absolutely adore my Dyson Supersonic.”Pampered Wolf
What it is: A hair dryer built to dry fast with less heat damage.
The catch: An expensive one.
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4
AquisMicrofiber Hair Towel
89%5 gurus
“These hair turbans, the Aquis Microfiber Hair Towels, make a great gift.”Dr Dray
What it is: A light microfiber turban that dries hair fast.
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5
DieuxForever Eye Mask
86%7 gurus
“this gift is also going to last a really long time”Dr. Sam Ellis
What it is: Reusable silicone eye masks that seal in eye cream.
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6
OmniluxNeck and Chest Mask
85%5 gurus
“the biggest difference I've noticed on my skin is actually the reduction of my neck wrinkles.”Dr. Jenny Liu
What it is: A red light attachment for the neck and chest.
What skincare do you buy a frequent flyer?
Everything here travels with at least one of our experts. A balm and a mist earn their place in a carry-on. Look for the mini sizes where a brand makes them, because a carry-on has limits.
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1
BiodermaSensibio H2O Micellar Water
96%20 gurus
“I have the little teeny tiny bottle that I use for travel.”Skin Obsessed Mary
What it is: The no-rinse makeup remover experts keep buying.
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2
CurelDeep Moisture Spray
92%7 gurus
“I even take this with me on the plane and yes I spritz mid-flight.”Skin Obsessed Mary
What it is: A fine moisturizing mist that is fun to use.
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3
AesturaAtobarrier 365 Cream
90%21 gurus
“This year I've done a ton of traveling and my skin always gets so stressed with that, and this moisturizer has really been a holy grail in my routine”Dr. Jenny Liu
What it is: A Korean ceramide cream that repairs without feeling heavy.
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4
AquisMicrofiber Hair Towel
89%5 gurus
“I travel with the Aquis one because it's just smaller and more compact.”Dr. Sam Ellis
What it is: A light microfiber turban that dries hair fast.
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5
La Roche-PosayCicaplast Baume B5
88%31 gurus
“This also travels with me.”Mixed Makeup
What it is: A thick balm for dry, irritated patches.
The catch: Some experts find it too greasy for daytime, while others wear it under sunscreen.
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6
Beauty of JoseonRelief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+ PA++++ (Korean formula)
87%32 gurus
“So I always have one in my travel bag because I cannot live without it.”Alexandra Anele
What it is: A hydrating Korean sunscreen.
How did we choose these gifts?
Every product here holds a Guru Score of at least 80%, from at least 4 of the skincare experts we follow, and we left out anything most of its reviews were paid for. Then we chose by hand for what works as a present, so nothing medicated and nothing with a skin condition on the label, however well it scores.
If you do not know their skin, buy something gentle and leave the strong actives to them. Our skincare gift ideas article has the products experts name as gifts themselves, plus the famous lip mask that splits them.