For the holidays there are certain gifts we need like socks, and then there are gifts we hope to get for the sake of self-care. Most of these come in the form of beauty products like face masks, nail polish, eye shadow palettes, etc. Part of being your best self is also taking care of yourself. This is why the holidays are a great time to pamper yourself on those days off. Sitting around the fire with loved ones and enjoying life at a slower pace can make you feel like a whole new person. In regards to gifts, I happen to love the anticipation of all the new beauty product releases during the winter/holiday season. Most of them have themes and even colors to match. This makes getting ready for work in the morning a bit more fun than your average day. So, here are my top picks for beauty gift ideas for a nurse who enjoys pampering herself from time to time. 

*Prices may change during holiday sales*

1. Charlotte Tilbury, The Gift Of Pillow Talk Lips $35.00

Charlotte Tilbury is a high-quality brand but with prices that are steep for most people. This is why the holidays are a great time to purchase reduced-price sets to try products you wouldn’t normally splurge on. This brand is known for having beautiful and long-lasting lip colors which are why this set is great for the lipstick obsessed nurse. The set includes the Pillow Talk Matte Revolution Nude-Pink Lipstick and the Mini Pillow Talk Lip Cheat Lip Liner. 

2. Mario Badescu, Facial Spray Travel Set $15.00

Mario Badescu is popular for its facial sprays, with the most popular being the Rosewater spray. Facial sprays can be really refreshing and calming but are not necessary for a beauty routine. They are products that are for fun and a spa-like experience. There are some fragrances in these products. The facial sprays in the set are Rosewater, Green Tea, Lavender, and Orange Blossom. So I wouldn’t recommend this for sensitive skin individuals. 

3. Peter Thomas Roth, PTR’s MVP Collection $44.00

Peter Thomas Roth as a brand is focused on high-quality skincare products. Ranging from face cleansers to serums to masks. The 24K Gold Mask is a popular item of his and very fun to wear around the house. The MVP Collection this year comes with the Potent-C Power Serum, Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel, 24K Gold Mask, FirmX Peeling Mask, and the Hyaluronic Cloud Cream Hydrating Moisturizer. These products are powerful so this is not recommended for someone with sensitive skin. 

4. Kiehl’s, Total Hydration Trio $45.00

The Kiehl’s line has very effective skincare products, even though they come in very small packaging. The Total Hydration Trio comes with its top-selling products which include the Midnight Recover Concentrate, Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado, and Ultra Facial Cream. I haven’t tried these products but have heard people raving about the Avocado eye treatment. The packaging is adorable but I will warn that the sizes are very small in this holiday set. 

5. Philosophy, Candy Cane Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath $18.00

Philosophy products are very popular around the holidays. They always have new seasonal scents for spring, summer, fall, and winter. Their latest one is the Candy Cane scent. I’m not a fan of this scent, but I will choose one of their vanilla scents for the holidays. Their scents tend to be very strong so I would keep that in mind. If you are looking for other Philosophy gift sets, they often feature them on home shopping networks.

6. OPI, Hello Kitty Holiday Collection 10-pc. Nail Polish $14.99

During the holidays or any other time of year, you probably don’t have the time to go to the nail salon. Instead, you can paint your nails at home while waiting for a meal to cook or in the 15 minutes you have to yourself at night. This set of 10 nail polish colors is best for someone looking for sparkly “holiday” nails. These are not basic colors, so I would give this to the nail obsessed friend or loved one. 

7. The Body Shop, Feel Empowered To Dream Big $15.00

The Body Shop is another brand that releases holiday sets every year with really beautiful packaging. Making this an exciting gift to open for the recipient. The Feel Empowered To Dream Big Head To Toe set includes Tea Tree Oil, Wild Argan Oil Body Butter, Ginger Shampoo, and Almond Milk & Honey Hand Cream. A skincare lovers dream basically. The Body Shop US will be donating to Plan International USA this year. 

8. Boscia, Oh What Fun: Magic of Masking Kit $34.00

Face masks are another enjoyable pamper experience that can be expensive on its own. Boscia’s masking kit comes with three products for the perfect at-home face mask experience. This set of best selling masks include the Deluxe-sized Charcoal Pore Pudding, Full-Size Luminizing Black Charcoal Mask, and Deluxe-sized Mermaid Fire and Ice Crysoea Peel-off Mask. This gift is so luxurious that you may want to keep it for yourself. 

9. Becca, Party Popper Ultimate Lipstick Love Mini Kit $17.50

Becca’s lipstick set includes three shades of their top-selling lipsticks. The shades are Sugar (cool light pinky beige), Orchid (cool pinky plum), and Rosewood (warm rich rose). The lipsticks are infused with avocado and olive oils so they won’t dry out your lips. These are mini sizes of lipstick but they do contain hyaluronic acid which is great for hydration and moisture retention. Also, they last up to 8-hours, so it will last your entire shift.  

10. ULTA, Skin Care He Loves $24.00

Guys like to take care of their skin as well, some just don’t know where to start. Ulta’s skincare set for guys includes sample sizes of popular men skincare brands for him to find what he likes. The brands which come in travel sizes include Boscia, Clinique for Men, House 99, Dr. Brandt, Jack Black, and Philosophy. The Jack Black brand has been really popular for men, especially with shaving products. 

Happy Holidays!