Dry skin who?
by Reem Khaleel Dec 13, 2022
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The last thing you want aside from getting a useless stocking stuffer is giving a useless stocking stuffer. Sure, gag gifts can be fun and there’s nothing like opening a million individually-wrapped Santa Clause chocolates, but the one thing I think we can all agree on is the feeling you get when you open a present you didn’t expect and say, “Wow, I really needed this.”
Since temps are only getting colder, which means havoc wrecked on your skin, it’s about time you stocking-stuff the gift everyone needs most this time of year: moisturizer. No, we’re not talking about the mini hand creams you throw into your basket while waiting in the checkout line. We’re referring to the head-to-toe moisture everyone you know deserves, from luxurious face masks to foot polishing scrubs and everything in between.
Alas, prepare to be the best stocking stuffer amongst stocking stuffers this holiday season with these 20 hydrating goodies, sure to please everyone on your list.
1. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum, $23.99
No matter your giftee’s skin type, this concentrated boost of hydration rejuvenates dull complexions with its non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, and dermatologist-recommended formula. Ingredients hyaluronic acid, pro-vitamin B5, and glycerin deeply penetrate without leaving skin feeling greasy, heavy, or sticky for moisture that lasts up to 24 hours.
Sold in a refillable glass jar ($33 for pod refills) to reduce the use of plastic, it’s no surprise this gel-like cream features nothing but the cleanest of ingredients for a moisturizer that’s top-notch. Featuring three types of plums — Kakadu, Illawarra, and Burdekin — and moisturizing agent hyaluronic acid, this miracle whip both plumps fine lines on-demand and rejuvenates skin over time for a complexion that’s supple and dewy, perfect for your Earth-loving bestie or workaholic partner.
For the most youthful-looking hands, add this fast-absorbing hand therapy to your cart. Perfect for habitual sunbathers, constant dishwashers, and anyone whose job includes manual labor — ideally, those who aim to combat dark spots and discoloration. In a clinical study of 40 penis- and vagina-havers, 97% of participants reported more radiant skin, while 100% showed improvement in skin moisture and barrier function after just eight weeks of using this treatment.
4. BeeSpa Honey Lips Lip Masque, $22.99
The intense hydration of a treatment sans the stickiness of a balm in a tube large enough to last all winter, yet compact enough to toss in a travel pouch. Zero flavors, scent-free, and made with six ingredients, this honey lip masque is for the minimalist who craves a high-performing product minus the frills.
Looking for the perfect present to gift your partner? Playground’s Mini Escape Water-Based Lube is one stocking stuffer that you can both enjoy. With a formula that's highly moisturizing, long-lasting, non-sticky, and compatible with both latex and polyisoprene condoms, a mini escape really is in store. If you can't manage a sexcation for real, allow the scent of this tropical-smelling lubricant (an enticing mix of coconut and sandalwood) to bring your island fantasies to life.
Unlike most mineral sunscreens on the market, this hybrid formula created by pro-golfer Justin Thomas is ultra-hydrating and blends easily into skin of all types and tones. Plus, its up to 80 minutes of water resistance makes it ideal for sweat, swims, and snow.
7. Ouai Scalp & Body Scrub, $38
The scalp is an often neglected part of the body that can become even more susceptible to dry patches between frigid outdoor temps and dry indoor heat. This two-in-one scalp and body scrub incorporates sugar to exfoliate and coconut oil to moisturize for instant relief during harsh winter months.
8. First Aid Face Cleanser, $24
Sensitive skin sufferers will find comfort in this vegan face cleanser that’s fragrance-free and dermatologist-tested to gently remove makeup, dirt, and impurities. It’s pH balanced to help skin maintain its natural acidity and designed to reduce signs of redness (like the kind that results from cold weather).
9. Clinique Clarifying Do-Over Peel, $25.50
This leave-on peel features a special 32% Micro-Acid+ Complex to remove dead skin cells along with oil and dirt to proactively prevent breakouts and reveal a complexion that’s soft, smooth, and radiant.
10. ESW Beauty Plant-Based Milk Mask Set, $28
Treat your giftee to an at-home spa sesh with the ESW Beauty Plant-Based Milk Mask Set. Focusing on one of four key areas, each sheet mask is designed to firm, nourish, radiate, or hydrate the face with enough serum to also treat skin below the chin. Pair with the ESW Beauty Jade Crystal Facial Roller, made with Aventurine, to calm irritated skin, help ease migraines, and soothe puffy under eyes.
11. Waxelene Multi-Purpose Ointment, $18.99
For anyone who needs a miracle treatment overnight, this multi-purpose ointment does it all. From moisturizing chapped lips to combatting itchy eczema and psoriasis flare-ups, a squeeze of this tube offers myriad possibilities. Its formula is certified organic, petroleum-free, and hypoallergenic, plus not at all sticky, glossy, or overly thick. Pack this travel-size squeezable in a carry-on to easily pass through airport security, or snag the formula in lip tube form to conveniently fit into a pocket or clutch.
12. TruSkin Vitamin C Facial Serum, $21.97
Boost, brighten, and even skin tone with just a few drops of the TruSkin Vitamin C Facial Serum. This award-winning formula features potent vitamin C, along with vitamin E and hyaluronic acid to combat air pollutants and reduce signs of aging no matter where your giftee is located (ahem, city goers).
Designed to moisturize dehydrated, flaky, and tight skin overnight, this balm is the perfect addition for anyone who wants to achieve a revitalized look by morning. Main ingredient squalane — a highly-refined botanical lipid extracted from sugar cane — easily absorbs into the skin to keep it soft, supple, and hydrated for up to three days after use.
Made from responsibly-sourced beeswax and presented in recyclable packaging, Burt’s Bees promises more than just quality ingredients (its formula is free of parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, and SLS). Its nearly 40-year history of environmental kindness translates to four holiday-themed scents — peppermint, mint cocoa, salted caramel, and vanilla bean — worth the investment.
15. Being Frenshe Hydrating Hand Serum Lotion, $7.99
Exclusively available at Target, Being Frenshe is a cross-category beauty and wellness brand created by actress Ashley Tisdale with mental health and wellness in mind. Every product in this line is uniquely crafted with MoodScience™ Scent Technology and backed by science to highlight the emotional power of scent. This hand lotion is the perfect example of a product created to comfort the mind just as much as the skin, uplifting the mood of any giftee who equally suffers from winter blues and cold temps.
16. Lush Co-Mingle Body Scrub, $25
Gift the option of multitasking with this three-in-one body cleanser designed to wash, exfoliate, and moisturize. Allow tagua nut powder and bamboo stem extract to polish the skin and lavender oil to calm the senses during a relaxing shower or bath.
17. Garnier The Super Hydrating Sheet Mask, $2.99
For the person in your life who’s always on the go, this 15-minute sheet mask is easy to transport, quick to use, and leaves skin luxuriously hydrated. Its touch of pomegranate extract adds a light scent that mystifies the senses in the most refreshing way.
Allow a blend of eucalyptus, lemon, and lavender essential oils to delight the senses of your giftee as they buff away dry, cracked heels with this foaming foot scrub featuring granulated pumice. Unlike a pumice stone that wears down after a few months, this scrub needn't be replaced until its jar is empty.
Ingredients like hyaluronic acid (to hydrate), ceramides (to build up the skin's moisture barrier), and peptides (to offer a refreshed complexion) come together in this five-piece hydration set to offer the ultimate in winter skincare. Featuring a daily cleanser, makeup-melting cleansing balm, booster drops, eye cream, and face cream in travel-size bottles, your giftee has everything they need to survive the cold. Best part? Product samples can be repurchased in full sizes once these minis are empty.
Founded by actress and singer Selena Gomez in 2020, Rare Beauty helps reduce the stigma associated with mental health by donating 1% of its proceeds to the Rare Impact Fund, which provides access to mental health resources for those in need. By purchasing this With Gratitude Dewy Lip Balm in the clear shade of "Honor", you’re not only softening the lips of your giftee; you’re helping save the lives of individuals around the world who are struggling.
Reem Khaleel Reem Khaleel is the Editorial Assistant at IntrigueMag and a writer from the Maldives who escapes into fictional worlds by writing her own YA rom-com novels. In addition to IntrigueMag, her writing has been featured on CBR.
