The holiday season is here, and with it comes the excitement of finding the perfect gifts for our loved ones. Skincare makes a thoughtful and luxurious gift choice, offering self-care and confidence. With so many options available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Here are some of my top gift ideas as a dermatologist — and a few things I recommend avoiding.
Must-Have Skincare Products
Hydrating Products
A skincare routine focused on hydration is an easy gift, especially during the colder months. Look for sets that include a hydrating cleanser, a serum rich in hyaluronic acid, and a nourishing moisturizer. These essentials are versatile and work well for all skin types, making them an easy, safe, and thoughtful gift. Some of my favorites include:
Anti-Aging Essentials
For those looking to prevent or target fine lines, a gift set featuring a potent serum containing peptides, antioxidants, and a gentle retinol is a great choice. Pairing it with a soothing eye cream and a hydrating SPF for daytime use makes for a thoughtful and effective anti-aging routine. These products work together to protect and rejuvenate the skin. Some of my top Anti-Aging products are:
You can find a full list of all my favorite age-defying skincare products HERE.
Luxury Devices Worth the Splurge
LED Face Masks
LED face masks are a fantastic way to relax, meditate, and promote skin health. Using them 2-3x a week can have great benefits for the skin. They’re especially beneficial for patients with high anxiety and stress, offering a calming ritual while delivering skin benefits like collagen production and inflammation reduction. For acne, blue and red LED lights work particularly well: blue light has antimicrobial properties, and red light helps calm inflammation. However, LED masks aren’t ideal for everyone—those with melasma should avoid them, as they can sometimes worsen pigmentation.
My top options include OmniLux for its science-backed research, Qure, Current Body (which also offers neck and chest masks), and Dr. Dennis Gross. These brands provide a range of price points, allowing you to find one that suits your budget.
At-Home Mani-Pedi Gift Sets
For nail care enthusiasts, an at-home mani-pedi set can be a wonderful gift, allowing them to save money and protect the health of their nails. Frequent salon visits—especially for gel manicures—expose nails and surrounding skin to UV light, which can damage DNA and, over time, increase the risk of nail bed melanoma. DIY kits offer a safer alternative, helping to maintain nail and skin health without the potential long-term risks of UV exposure.
Pampering Products for Self-Care Sundays
Sheet Mask Bundles
Sheet masks are a simple way to give skin a hydration boost, making them a luxurious yet affordable gift. Look for masks with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, or peptides to keep skin bright and dewy.
Body Care Essentials
Skincare isn’t just for the face—body care sets are a fantastic gift, especially during the winter. Look for sets with rich creams and balms to help soften and smooth dry, flaky skin. Products with ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid can make a noticeable difference by providing deep hydration and strengthening the skin barrier.
In Office Gifts
Customized Facials
The easiest and most versatile in-office gift is a facial, as it can be tailored to fit individual skin needs. Whether it’s a hydrating, anti-aging, or clarifying facial, this option provides immediate results and leaves skin feeling refreshed. It’s also a safe choice if you’re unsure of the recipient’s specific skincare concerns. I especially love the Diamond Glow facial or Hydra-Facial–both can be customized for different skin types and deliver stunning, noticeable results.
Botox
If your loved one has expressed interest in trying Botox, this can be an ideal holiday gift, especially with holiday parties approaching. Botox helps smooth fine lines and creates a refreshed, more youthful look. For best results before a big event, I recommend getting Botox at least 2–3 weeks in advance. This gives the Botox time to settle, ensuring a flawless look for holiday parties or New Year’s celebrations.
Chemical Peels
A chemical peel makes a wonderful gift for someone looking to achieve a radiant, rejuvenated glow. These peels help exfoliate and brighten the skin, addressing concerns like uneven tone, fine lines, and pigmentation. Plan for a 3–4 week period for full healing and for that stunning post-peel glow to emerge. It’s a gift of transformation that lasts well beyond the holidays.
Gifts To Skip
Pore Vacuums
Nay, nay, nay to pore vacuums! While these devices might seem like a quick fix for clogged pores, they can cause more harm than good. Pore vacuums can scrape the skin, lead to bruising, discoloration, and even broken capillaries. If you’re determined to use one, stick to the lowest vacuum setting and only use it around the nose, avoiding the delicate skin around the eyes.
At-Home Laser Hair Removal Devices
At-home laser hair removal devices come with risks, particularly for darker skin tones. These devices target melanin to remove hair, but they can also target melanin in the skin, leading to burns or discoloration. If you’re going to be naughty and try one, look for a model like the U-Like, which features a chilled tip for added cooling protection to help prevent burns. While these devices can be useful for maintenance between professional treatments, they’re not suitable for everyone or every skin type.
Sweet Treats
Sugar can trigger glycation in the body, a process where sugar binds to other molecules like proteins and lipids. These sugary by-products do two things: they stop cells from functioning properly and create free radicals, which further damage skin cells. This damage accelerates the breakdown of collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep. skin looking tight and toned. As a result, consuming excessive amounts of sugar can reverse these skin-smoothing effects. It can also make you more prone to damage from UV light, pollution, smoking, and other environmental stressors.
As you shop for the perfect skincare gifts this holiday season, keep in mind that thoughtful, dermatologist-approved products can provide both immediate joy and long-term benefits. Whether it’s a hydrating serum, an anti-aging treatment, or a relaxing facial, these gifts not only pamper the skin but also encourage self-care and wellness. Remember, skincare is personal, so choose gifts that align with your loved ones’ individual needs and preferences for a truly meaningful and radiant holiday season. Here's to glowing skin and a little extra joy this time of year!
