The 30 Best Gifts We Tested for Everyone on Your List

It can be an adrenaline rush to pick out the perfect gift for someone — something useful, fun, and long-lasting that will bring a smile to their face. Consider us your elves this holiday season: We play with products all year to make sure every recommendation is genuinely worth it.

Whether you’re looking for gifts for a best friend, the dad who is impossible to shop for, a wife’s luxury taste with a fixed budget, or any holiday soiree needs such as white elephant gifts or stocking stuffers, we have you covered.

Read on for 30 of our favorite tested gifts that will make a splash for the lucky recipient of your choosing.

Best Stocking Stuffers

Bagsmart Toiletry Bag

People / Tamara Staples

Buy on Amazon

$18

While it might not literally fit into a stocking, this toiletry bag would make a great stocking stuffer for anyone who likes to travel. We tested 26 popular toiletry bags and the Bagsmart won us over with its smart design. It has a hanging system to view all of your cosmetics, a compact shape to easily fit in a suitcase, and water-resistant materials.

Price at time of publish: From $18.39

L’Oreal Paris Skincare Pure Clay Face Mask with Charcoal

People / Tamara Staples

Buy on Amazon

$13

Relaxation is always a good gift, and this charcoal face mask gives someone a spa-like facial in the comfort of their home. We loved the easy application — it spread evenly and didn’t feel too tight while drying. Plus, it has a nice scent and left our skin feeling completely hydrated and velvety soft.

Price at time of publish: $13

Maybelline The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette

People / Tamara Staples

Buy on Amazon

$12

A nude eyeshadow palette is the gift that keeps on giving, letting someone create countless makeup looks all year long. We tried 32 eyeshadow palettes to see which had the best pigments, shade range, and application. The Maybelline palette proved to be a great value with versatile shadows like metallics and mattes for a neutral day look or the perfect smokey eye. 

Price at time of publish: $11.98

eufy Security by Anker SmartTrack Link Luggage Tracker

People / Anna Popp

Buy on Amazon

$20

This gift will definitely fit into a stocking, but its impact is much bigger than its size would suggest. A luggage tracker like the eufy SmartTrack Link can make or break a trip, and we loved how easy it was to use: You can pair it with existing apps like “Find My” and accurately follow your luggage while in transit.

Price at time of publish: $19.99

Tree Hut Shea Sugar Body Scrub

Amazon

Buy on Amazon

$8

A body scrub is always a fun stocking stuffer, but it’s hard to know if it’s any good unless you’ve used it. We tried the Tree Hut Shea Sugar Body Scrub and appreciated its functionality — a little goes a long way and the ingredients create the smoothest skin texture after you’ve scrubbed.

Price at time of publish: $7.94

Plush Velvet Travel Jewelry Organizer Box

People / Leticia Almeida

Buy on Amazon

$20

Despite its small size, this travel case fits a decent amount of jewelry. We were able to fit a series of necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings, and you can move the dividers around to accommodate different-sized jewelry. The box also made an appearance on Oprah’s Favorite Things list, so it’s both PEOPLE-tested and Oprah-approved. 

Price at time of publish: $19.99

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Best White Elephant Gifts

YETI Rambler 26 oz Bottle

YETI

Buy on Amazon

$40

Yeti has a special talent for keeping cold things cold, and the Rambler Bottle excels at this. We liked that the lid prevented spills, the durable stainless steel didn’t scratch despite being dropped three times, and the double insulation maintained the temperature for cold and hot drinks for hours at a time. The Yeti outperformed most of the bottles we tested and would make a great white elephant gift for those who want to stay hydrated on the go.

Price at time of publish: $40

Hycoo Travel Duffel Bag

People / Conor Ralph

Buy on Amazon

$27

When we tested 30 weekender bags, the Hycoo Travel Duffel Bag was a standout for its nearly perfect scores and a price tag under $30. We really liked the water-resistant fabric, the wet pouch for keeping damp items separated in your bag, and the dual handle options. Plus, there’s a huge assortment of colors to choose from.

Price at time of publish: $26.99

Cacala Lightweight and Thin Turkish Beach Towel

People / Henry Wortock

Buy on Amazon

$20

A Turkish towel is a versatile linen because it works just as well as a beach towel, bath towel, or wrap (depending on the design). The Cacala towel proved to be lightweight, quick-drying, and fairly absorbent in our tests, despite its oversized but thin design. Plus, with nearly 40 colors to choose from, there are no limits on preference.

Price at time of publish: $19.79

Quince Organic Turkish Waffle Slippers

PEOPLE / Marisa Viglione

Buy on Quince.com

$30

Another Turkish delight, these waffle slippers make you feel like you’re at a spa. The quality was apparent during our test: The slip-ons stayed on, had good traction, and felt comfortable while worn, despite not being overly plush. 

Price at time of publish: $29.90

Dash Mini Waffle Maker

PEOPLE / Dera Burreson

Buy on Amazon

$17

A waffle maker is such a fun gift, and this compact wonder is lightweight, easy to use and clean, and made delicious waffles during our test. It created the perfect waffle — just the right amount of golden brown crispiness. It also has a pre-light so you know when it’s ready for you to pour the batter, and it comes in several colorful shades.

Price at time of publish: $17.45

Comfier Electric Cordless Hair Scalp Massager

Amazon

Buy on Amazon

$40

Give the gift of a massage with this cordless hair scalp massager. Our team used it on wet hair and loved that it didn’t cause any tangles — it’s waterproof, so you can actually use it in the shower. It’s easy to use with just a push-button start, and since it’s an electronic massager, it can be used on your neck, shoulders, or other places that need a little massage, too.

Price at time of publish: $39.96

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Best Friend Gifts

Cozy Earth Waffle Hand Towels

Cozy Earth

Buy on Cozy Earth

$42

A set of hand towels can be a thoughtful and functional gift, and this waffle set from Cozy Earth is durable and aesthetically pleasing. We tested the bath version of these towels and loved how durable and quick-drying they were. Cozy Earth is another consistent favorite of Oprah’s, known for its soft bedding, linens, and loungewear.

Price at time of publish: $42

Crate & Barrel Aspen White Ceramic Canisters with Scoop

PEOPLE FOOD STUDIO

Buy on Crate & Barrel

$20

These sophisticated ceramic canisters are the perfect gift for a friend who lives in the kitchen. They have a classic design that’s pretty enough to store on the counter, and during our tests, they didn’t leak and kept dry ingredients fresh (like coffee grounds). The sleek ceramic exterior is easy to clean, and the wooden lids and stainless steel spoons add a chic design touch.

Price at time of publish: $19.95–$29.95

Threshold Microplush Weighted Blanket with Removable Cover

People / Dera Burreson

Buy on Target

$69

Who doesn’t love cozying up in a warm, plush blanket? This Threshold microfiber weighted blanket is a luxurious gift for any friend. The blanket is durable with a machine-washable cover — despite several washes, it still looked brand new when we tested it. Plus, when you visit your friend for movie nights, you know there’s a plush blanket waiting for you to borrow.

Price at time of publish: $69

Gabriel-Glas, Austrian Lead-Free Crystal Wine Glasses

People / Russell Kilgore

Buy on Amazon

$68

For friends who love to catch up over a glass of wine, this Gabriel-Glas wine glass set is an ideal gift. The pair of glasses is sturdy with a classic shape, and bowls specially designed to help the wine open up. After testing, we think these glasses are solid enough for everyday use while looking luxurious.

Price at time of publish: $68

Anthropologie Beech Wood Handle Watering Can

PEOPLE / Rachel Marek

Buy on Anthropologie

$38

If you have a friend with a green thumb, a stylish watering can, like this one from Anthropologie, is a gift they will love to use. Apart from the chic design, the watering can also poured steadily during our test with a long spout for good reach. It’s also petite for storage and refilling purposes. 

Price at time of publish: $38

Monos Metro Backpack

People / Conor Ralph

Buy on Monos.com

$200

If you really want to spoil your friend, consider gifting the Monos Metro Backpack. This gorgeous bag is perfect for commuting, travel, and everyday use. We tried the bag and can vouch that it’s comfortable to wear even when full, has deep storage pockets, and has a durable exterior with nylon and faux leather options. 

Price at time of publish: $200–$230

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Best Gifts for Women

Aeromat Elite Yoga Mat

People / Cindy Erskin

Buy on Amazon

$41

If your mom or wife enjoys yoga, then a sturdy yoga mat like the Aeromat Elite would make a great gift. It provides medium cushioning with a textured surface to give you traction while moving through various yoga poses. We especially appreciated its lightweight feel and how easy it was to carry during our test.

Price at time of publish: $40.78

Vivaia Pointed-Toe Knot Sandals

Vivaia

Buy on Vivaia.com

$97

These gorgeous mules are a perfect gift for any woman with a taste for fashion. Not only are they beautiful to look at, they’re surprisingly comfortable. One of our teammates wore these shoes walking all over Europe and loved how non-restrictive and lightly padded they were. Plus, the knit outsole is entirely made from recycled plastic water bottles for a sustainable design.

Price at time of publish: $97

Cosori Air Fryer Pro

People / Russell Kilgore

Buy on Amazon

$85

A multipurpose kitchen device like an air fryer not only saves time, it lets you cook a variety of foods with the press of a button. We set it up quickly and navigated the digital touchscreen with ease. It was one of the quietest air fryers we tested, and did an incredible job with caramelized apples, biscuits, and even shrimp.

Price at time of publish: $84.99

Beis the Weekender

People / Conor Ralph

Buy on Beistravel.com

$108

Shay Mitchell’s brand, Beis, offers stylish but functional luggage, and the weekender is a staple within the collection. We loved the spacious chamber, laptop sleeve, numerous storage compartments, and bottom zippered section for shoes. The bag stands on its own for easy packing and isn’t too heavy to carry around — plus, it has a trolley sleeve so you can strap it on a rolling bag for easier transport.

Price at time of publish: $108

Renpho Power Massage Gun

People / Jhett Thompson

Buy on Amazon

$70

If you have a woman in your life who enjoys working out or playing sports, then a massage gun is a gift they will be relieved to receive. The Renpho massage gun had varied intensity levels (up to deep tissue massage), intuitive attachments, and a long-lasting battery. Our team found immediate relief from soreness with this handy device.

Price at time of publish: $69.99

Lyealion Automatic Hair Curling Wand

People / Jessica Juliao

Buy on Amazon

$90

If you know someone who loves their hair curled, but not the curling process itself, consider gifting them a rotating curling wand. This set comes with three barrel sizes, a series of hair clips, and a glove for heat protection. We found this wand easy to hold and use with straightforward buttons for temperature control and barrel turns.

Price at time of publish: $89.99

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Best Gifts for Men

Soundcore by Anker Life P3 Noise Cancelling Earbuds

People / Jhett Thompson

Buy on Amazon

$70

Noise-canceling headphones make a great gift for anyone, allowing them to take music, podcasts, audiobooks, and phone calls on the go. These earbuds were easy to set up, pair, and use — delivering high-quality sound and adequately blocking out background noise. We liked that the touch controls were responsive and the earbuds stayed in place securely.

Price at time of publish: $69.99

Gonex Compression Packing Cubes

People / Jessica Juliao

Buy on Amazon

$30

These compressive packing cubes are a huge lifesaver for overpackers — they compress clothes down and let you squeeze all the excess air out to conserve space. During our test, the lightweight fabric with reinforced seams proved extremely durable and didn’t rip despite each cube being packed to capacity. The four cubes are varying sizes for different types of clothes and even have handles for added convenience.

Price at time of publish: $29.99

Miko Foot Massager Machine

People/Tara Donne

Buy on Amazon

$130

This is a luxurious gift for any man on his feet all day. With multiple pressure settings and massage modes — including vibration, compression, rolling, and shiatsu massage — this machine gave the best foot massage of any device we tested. Not only did it provide immense relaxation, it even relieved some aches and used air pressure to stimulate blood flow.

Price at time of publish: $129.99

Carhartt Duck Insulated Flannel-Lined Active Jacket

People / Alessandra Amodio

Buy on Amazon

$110

Winter has come, and with it, frigid temperatures. We love this flannel-lined jacket because it’s extremely comfortable and provides immense warmth without feeling bulky. It’s basically a hoodie with the durability of a full winter coat, and with the wide range of sizes in regular and tall, it would make a great gift for any man in your life.

Price at time of publish: $109.99

Ooni Karu 12 Multi-Fuel Outdoor Pizza Oven

People / Morgan Hunt Glaze

Buy on Amazon

$295

For pizza enthusiasts, there’s nothing better than the flavor of a wood-fired pizza. Now you can gift this savory experience with an Ooni pizza oven. We tried this state-of-the-art oven and loved that it baked all pizzas evenly — creating a perfectly charred crust and delicious melted cheese. It works quickly and bakes restaurant–quality pizzas. However, you will need to buy an oven peel (glorified pizza tray) to use with this particular model.

Price at time of publish: $295.26

Fitbit Inspire 3 Health & Fitness Tracker

People / Sarah Felbin

Buy on Amazon

$99

Whether you know a guy already immersed in the fitness world or someone starting a new health regime, a fitness tracker like the Fitbit Inspire 3 is a thoughtful and useful gift. We were impressed with the many health metrics available: exercise tracking, heart rate, sleeping patterns, and more. The Fitbit was comfortable to wear all day and the battery lasted for 10 days before needing a charge — a stamina we can all strive for.

Price at time of publish: $98.95

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Why Trust PEOPLE?

Madison Yauger is a senior commerce writer at PEOPLE with a penchant for gift-giving (it’s her top love language). She loves thinking of the perfect gift for every person on her list and has an extensive track record of success (Secret Santas, birthdays, and holidays past). For this story, she scoured our inventory of tested goods — put through many tests to ensure quality — and found the best gifts for every occasion and person this holiday season.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education