The Panic Buyer’s Last Minute Gift Guide
A curated gift guide edit for your boyfriend, mom, dad, second cousin, coworker, jetsetter friend, and everyone in between.
In true procrastinator’s fashion, I always leave my gift buying to the last minute and in turn have left my gift guides to the last minute. With just 2 weeks until Christmas, it’s definitely time to get my act together and if you’re starting to scramble like me, don’t worry. This short and sweet curated gift guide includes thoughtful last minute gift ideas for everyone on your list, featuring some of the best gifts that I’ve given to people in the past, gifts that I’m giving this year (I hope no one in the family reads this!), or some of the best gifts that I’ve been given myself.
There’s a little bit of everything in here, and most of it is not beauty related because as much as I’m a beauty girl, most of my IRL friends and family are not and they are very difficult to buy gifts for. Most of these gifts (except for a couple that are for the most truly treasured people in your life) are also under $100, and many of these gifts ideas are under $50 because I wholeheartedly believe that a thoughtful gift can be affordable and meaningful.
If you’re struggling to think of the best gift ideas for your brother who has very niche hobbies and doesn’t care much about anything else, or your father who is as on top of online shopping and buying things for himself as you are for yourself, or any other hard to please family member, this is the panic buyer’s gift guide for you.
For the coffee enthusiasts, these are my most used coffee mugs and one of the best gifts I’ve ever received. They’re more durable than you’d think for being a completely glass mug. Are your loved ones espresso drinkers instead? The espresso-sized cups look even more cool and chic and I just bought a set for my espresso-fanatic brother (who I’m 99.9% sure doesn’t read this but if you are, pretend you didn’t see this!)
For the true coffee fanatics in your life (aka me), it doesn’t get better than this coffeemaker - trust me, it’s not just an expensive drip coffee maker. It’s lightning fast (a full pot in 5 minutes!), dead silent, and makes the smoothest cup of coffee I’ve ever had from a machine. Everyone that has ever come over to my apartment to try coffee from this machine has commented on how good the coffee is,plus it is one of the most aesthetic drip coffee makers I’ve come across. Anyone coffee lover will never go back to a standard drip machine after this.
Everyone needs a water bottle, specifically this one - Anyone that knows me knows that I am a heavy water drinker and am basically inseparable from my classic Nalgene, which is always reliable but I admit it's not the most exciting gift - unless you get some Glossier or Necessaire branded ones, which I have and adore (by the way don’t forget code STEPHANIE10 for all your Necessaire necessities)! However, after one too many clumsy moments involving a fully filled open water bottle and my keyboard, I concede that I need something a little easier to drink from that still stays securely closed. I finally gave into the hype of this water bottle and the design and functionality are so good it’s become my everyday office water bottle to keep me hydrated. It’s easy to open and drink from with one hand and is absolutely leak proof, plus the color combinations are just so much fun. I’m about to start buying them for everyone in my life as gifts because this is certainly a gift worthy and functional water bottle for everyone’s hydration needs.
For someone who drinks as much coffee as they do water, this water bottle is essential - it looks like a plain water bottle at first sight, but the bottom actually untwists to become a travel mug with the travel lid cleverly concealed in a compartment in the lid of the bottle. This was a gift for my boyfriend a few years ago and it has come in handy so much, especially when we travel and don’t want to use a paper cup, or on camping trips to save packing extra mugs. My boyfriend is probably more, if not just as clumsy as me and this bottle barely has any dents or scratches after multiple drops.
The scarf I’ve ditched every other scarf for - I used to have my own wardrobe of scarves, but I am not exaggerating when I say this is the only scarf I wear now after I first received it as part of a PR package (and I can confidently say it’s the PR gift that has had the most longevity in my life!). It’s made from lamb wool and feels light to the touch but is the warmest and coziest scarf I have that I not only wear outside of the house, but also use as a shawl when I’m working. There are also different sizes whether you’re looking for a more traditional scarf, or a larger blanket scarf. This is sure to be a winter crowd pleaser for any friend or family member, and it also doubles as a convenient blanket on any long flights or train rides.
These reusable bags save my life at least once a week - I keep one tucked into every purse, suitcase, backpack, and tote bag. They’re great for impromptu grocery runs, shopping trips, lugging multiple bottles of wine to a party, or even doubling as an emergency carry on when I’ve stuffed a little too many things into my luggage. Plus, they come in so many fun prints you’ll find something for everyone (I’m literally getting my dad the Snoopy one because how could I resist some Snoopy nostalgia?) For the travel lover and habitual shopper in your life, I swear by the packable carry on that I can unpack and use as a separate carry-on, which absolutely saved my luggage after my recent shopping spree in Paris.
I love a mini bag for my bag (and also the cutest stocking stuffer) - I am unfortunately drawn into cute and mini things and this bag charm is perfect for stashing my earbuds, keys, and a little lip balm and keeping it within sight at all times. It’s a mini bag! How can I resist? It clips perfectly onto my tote bags that are basically bottom-less pits. For something a little less sporty and a little more chic, this mini satchel version is the perfect chic bag accessory.
For the family member who recently went to Italy and only wants Italian food now - if that sounds like a niche description, it’s because that family member is my boyfriend. I bought him this cookbook for his birthday to continue his travels at home and it really has been the gift that keeps on giving because now I get a new delicious pasta dish every week as my boyfriend works his way through the cookbook. Not in an Italian mood? This Taiwanese cookbook has all the food I grew up with and is even approved by my father as being true to the techniques and recipes he knows.
The pouch that does it all for anyone that’s a sucker for a small leather good - from my touchup makeup bag, travel makeup bag, tech organizer, or random clutter collector, this pouch is the perfect size to hold an obscene amount of things while still being very compact and bag friendly. This one is a luxurious delight without a price tag that’s crazy eye watering. There’s also an even smaller version for more compact bags, or a larger version to help organize my bottomless pit tote bags.
A sleek and minimalist backpack that has all of your organization needs - this slim little backpack fits so much more than you could possibly imagine and is great for the traveler or commuter in your life (maybe yourself?). It has a dedicated waterbottle (or umbrella) pocket, front zip, top zip pocket for a phone or sunglasses, a dedicated zipped laptop compartment, plus it has organization pockets in the main compartment. If I commuted daily this would be my perfect backpack (plus my boyfriend still uses this every single day even after 2 years and it looks like new). If this day pack size isn’t quite big enough, the Backpack Pro size fits a 16” laptop and has an additional secret side pocket.
I’ve bought this cat toy for every cat (and cat owner) in my life - okay, maybe this is slightly less of a universal gift, but for anyone you know with a cat, this very cute and cutely priced $5 set of sushi toys will be the easiest cat entertainment of the year. Not only does my very hard to please cat ADORE these little sushis, he even tries to steal the sets I buy for all of my friends. Two of the 4 toys have a very soft but enticing rattle that is enough to keep my cat entertained without waking up the entire house when he has his 4am zoomies.
Now onto just a few beauty ideas for non-beauty lovers - I promise any beauty product in here are gifts even a casual beauty consumer (or even non-beauty consumer) can appreciate!
Hand soaps are always a hit - even for people who could care less about anything beauty related like my brother who tried this soap in my apartment once and requested some for himself. For a hand soap with fragrances that are as nuanced as perfumes, it doesn’t get better than these soaps that will make your hands and bathroom smell like scent heaven. Cece is my favorite scent, with its sweet and spicy notes of cardamom, cinnamon, and mate tea.
Everyone needs a hand cream - and this unscented and nongreasy hand cream (code STEPHANIE10 for 10% off) has been my staple for years. It’s wonderful as a nighttime hand cream or simply to keep on my desk where I can immediately type up an email as soon as I’ve applied it . Looking for something a little more fragranced and decadent? This one is my absolute favorite and the small tube makes it perfect for travel while still being a decent size to last you several months (mine lasts 3-4 months with daily use!)
I’m convinced everybody needs my absolute favorite balm that feels like a cushiony hug on the lips. It’s sold out at the moment, but this one in the plain unscented version is a close favorite. For the man in your life that wants a lip balm that’s upgraded from Burts Bees (which always seems to dry my lips out more than moisturize them?) I swear by this one and it has gotten me through the driest and coldest winters because it can heal the worst cracks. Even though it’s in a tube format, it isn’t shiny or glossy, but just looks like healthy moisturized lips.
If you want something in a stick format, this gloss stick that is also a thick nourishing lip balm is perfect as a little luxurious treat, and while any of the shades would be a lovely gift, I find that the clear version is exceptional on its own. I also love both the clear and tinted versions of this balm which is an upgrade from a traditional chapstick because of the soft grippy barrier that it creates on your lips that also lasts for far longer than any chapstick you’ll find at the drugstore. It’s “order 6 at once” and backup worthy for sure.
And because I’m curious now - what are the gifts you’re giving this season that are sure to win you the most thoughtful gift giver award? Which loved one is still stumping you, and how can I help?
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What coffee maker is this? The link was not live. 😢
for the coffee fiends in my life, i got glasses where the internal geometry highlights different aspects of coffee. basically the wine glasses of the coffee world. i also eyed the ember cup after hearing someone rave about it.
as for reusable bags, i prefer nanobag. they fold down smaller but can super a lot of weight. i’ve hauled home several days worth of water for two people in them.