Gift card to the brand or retailer that they seemed to like the most! Alternatively, since gift card is kind of cheating, I’d say something that would help organize their makeup, brush holder, etc.
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I don’t think a gift card is cheating – in fact, for someone like me (and many here, I’m sure) who have a lot of makeup and particular tastes/preferences in terms of colours – a gift of a coral blush to me would be no gift at all), a gift card is the BEST gift. Failing that, if I knew what skin care products they loved, I’d buy that (or a favourite lipstick) rather than taking a chance on something they might not like.
A Gift card to the retailer they like the most.
As someone who has loved makeup for a long time, I would want a Sephora gift card rather than a makeup-related gift that I didn’t specifically ask for—including organization and storage tools. I like to pick things out myself.
I don’t see gift cards as cheating at all. For me, the gift card is two gifts in one: (1) the actual gift I buy, and (2) the experience of shopping for something new.
So in answer to the question, it would depend on the person I’m giving the gift to. If I knew there was something they had been looking at, I’d buy it. Otherwise, I’d give a gift card and a small token makeup-related gift to go with it. Then I’d take the time and effort to make an awesome greeting card to go with it.
A big YES to makeup/brush organizers! Because those who may already have a lot of stuff may not have been mindful of their own personal space for storage and organization.
Another one that I would suggest is; just SURPRISE them with something that you know that they would appreciate and cherish! Someone has done this for me, now I will pay it forward to another somebody, too!
If it’s something I know they like but haven’t purchased I’ll pick it up. I really enjoy beauty shopping so I’m always trying to find the perfect beauty gift for my family and friends. A lot of them are on a budget so I can treat them to stuff that can’t buy. Like nice fragrances, I usually buy a few bottles for gifts. Every year I buy multi packs of eye lashes and a MAC gift for my niece. Got my Mom luxury skin care this year, found out my oldest sister also brought skin care oops. lol. Ok any reason to shop for beauty products, sucker!
I have been gifted makeup and some brushes before as a Christmas present, but I don’t think I would be comfortable picking out colors for someone else.
I would probably give them a gift card so they could get what they want.
Now that my DIL and, to a lesser extent my twin sister are into makeup, I have bought them makeup products that I know they would love – eg for Anika I gave her the Smashbox Petal Metal eye palette a couple of years ago and she loves it. For my twin sister, on our recent birthday, I got her the Clarin’s Brown eyeshadow quad – full of mattes and satin in the cool tone neutrals she loves. But I have only done this because I know their preferences. And I often check with them first.
Even skincare gifts can be dicey due to allergies.
For my DIL, I always get her a massive skincare bag for Christmas and now that she has sampled a few of my offerings, she can tell me which brands or products she has found to work best on her.
But other than that, no-one else I know is into makeup quite like me – a gift card is really the best way to go. Then they can choose something they really love.
I’d probably give an expensive but neutral product. Maybe a sweet Westman Atelier blush or a Gucci lipstick. Just something they might not gift themself. It’s just a present and it’s the thought !
I have a brush cleaning mitt that I swear by; I buy it off Amazon, it fits over your nondominant hand and it makes the process of washing brushes SO much easier! I would probably gift that since nobody I know loves washing their makeup brushes, and some of my friends are downright bad about it. I’d want to package it with brush soap, but the two best brush soaps I’ve found are Dawn dishwashing liquid and the cheap blue Suave clarifying shampoo and those lack….something as far as being giftable. Maybe the soap in a nice container with a pump? Anyway, either that or a gift card.
I would buy something NOT makeup related. For example, tickets for experiences or events where he/she will be able to USE all that makeup he/she already enjoy
I think a gift card for a favorite brand or retailer really would be the way to go here.