20 Beauty Products to Buy Yourself This Holiday Season

If you look up the phrase “cult favorite” in the dictionary, a picture of Then I Met You’s beloved balm is there. As the first step in a double cleanse process, this sorbet-like face wash removes dirt and debris without over-drying your skin. You’ll feel like you’re getting a professional facial every time you use it.

’Tis the season for sweet-smelling candles, and this one from FORVR should be at the top of your list. Its subtle notes of cranberry, black currant, and holly leaves make every room feel fresh and festive.

Many of us tend to neglect our lips when it comes to skincare, but they need a little love too. This oil-to-gloss treatment uses soothing baobab seed oil and camellia oil to offer long-lasting hydration and endless shine.

Many vitamin C serums can be too sticky or thick, making them finicky with other products. That’s not the case with this vegan formula from OLEHENRIKSEN. In addition to containing antioxidant-filled orange and green tea extracts, it’s lightweight, and it’ll melt into your skin the second you put it on.

If you’re applying any chemical treatments to your face, you need an ultra-hydrating moisturizer to keep your skin from drying out. Made with maqui, acai, prickly pear, goji berry, sunflower, moringa, and squalane, this mask from beloved brand Youth to the People reduces dullness and evens out skin tone. And here’s a bonus: It smells absolutely heavenly.

Can you believe? Jonathan Van Ness’ hair-care line has plenty of fan favorites, but this scalp oil, complete with hemi-squalane, rosemary extract, turmeric extract, and bisabolol, keeps your head and hair free of buildup. Applying it to your roots 10 minutes before showering can lead to a massive difference in how your locks look and feel.

Primer is one of those products that some people treat as an afterthought, but having the right (or wrong!) one can entirely change the way makeup looks. Tatcha’s primer lives up to its name and provides a flawless canvas while seamlessly blending into skin.

The pigments in this Lightwork palette are works of art in and of themselves! If you want to experiment with a variety of eye shadow colors in 2023, these shades will do the trick.

If you’re not an eye cream user, Biossance’s silky smooth moisturizer will make you a believer. Its squalane-based formula reduces fine lines and wrinkles, and it won’t look cakey under your eye makeup. It’s a win-win!

This shampoo is one of Olaplex’s newer releases, and it’s already flying off the shelves. Much like Olaplex’s other products, the patented formula is on the thicker side and works into a rich lather. Leave it on for a few minutes once a week, and you’ll notice a difference in not just your scalp but your individual hair strands too.

At first glance, it may seem odd for a jewelry company to have a nail polish side business, but there’s a reason why J.Hannah’s bottles have gained such a cult following. Neutrals make up a large part of this collection, but this wine stain-inspired color is stunning any time of year.

This satin microfiber towel will not only dry your hair in half the time, but it’ll significantly cut down on frizz without over-drying. It’s truly one of the simplest ways to add a little luxury to your beauty routine, and your head will thank you for it.

Dieux’s best-selling cream is deeply moisturizing and ultra-rich, providing a barrier-protecting layer of hydration to your skin. Plus, a little product goes a long way with this one; you won’t need more than a quarter-sized amount every time. The brand is also coming out with a gel-based formula in 2023, so there’s even more angelic goodness to look forward to.

Finding the best sunscreen for your face can be tricky, as many products may clog your pores or not sit well on your skin. Madagascar Centella’s sun serum is different, as it provides a thin but sun-protecting barrier and a hydrating finish.

Plenty of people preach the Glow Recipe gospel, but this sweet-smelling cream is perfect for everyday use. Its formula is light without feeling watery or greasy, and you can truly use it any time of year.

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Lily Herman is a New York-based writer and editor. You can find her on Twitter.

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