Beauty Gifts 101: Ulta Beauty’s Top Picks for Those Gifting The Special People in Their Lives

As someone who has spent years immersed in beauty—first as a plus size model, now as a beauty editor and expert—I’ve witnessed firsthand the joy a great product can bring, not just in how we look, but in how we feel. With the holiday season approaching, it’s the perfect time to share that joy and check names off your gift list—or even treat yourself to something special! Busy work schedules, social commitments, and endless to-do list can make it hard to tackle shopping until it’s crunch time. 

This year, let Ulta Beauty make it easier than ever to find the best beauty gifts for 2024, so you can enjoy a stress-free shopping experience. From skincare essentials and limited-edition makeup, to luxurious self-care products, my ultimate beauty gift guide features everything you need to spread holiday cheer. Whether you’re shopping for affordable beauty gifts, exclusive picks from Black-owned and founded brands, or trending items that are perfect for the beauty lovers in your life, this curated guide has you covered. Below, you’ll find 18 beauty products that make excellent holiday gift ideas for everyone.

Best Black-Owned and Founded Gifts

’Tis the season to be intentional about your shopping. Shopping Black-owned and founded brands this holiday season is an opportunity for you to make a positive impact by supporting entrepreneurs and small business owners and advocating for a more inclusive marketplace that values representation. Here are the best Black-owned beauty gifts to buy.

 

1. Juvia’s Place Blushed Duo

$18 at Ulta Beauty

When it comes to Juvia’s Place, pigment is the name of the game. This blush palette exclusively at Ulta Beauty is explicitly crafted to flatter darker complexions—so you get beautiful colors without an ashy undertone. In addition to being highly pigmented, this blush is buildable—a little goes a long way. I bought Volume 4, which has a beautiful, rosy pink, and Volume 6, which contains a vibrant orange, to create the sunset blush look of my dreams.

2. Pattern Treatment Hair Mask

$28 at Ulta Beauty

There’s a reason this hair mask has 4.6 out of 5 stars on Ulta Beauty. Infused with rice water and moringa seed extract, this mask will soften your hair for an easier detangling process and is formulated with protein to strengthen your strands for less breakage. It’s undeniable that Tracee Ellis Ross is the queen of curls, and with this hair mask, you can have moisturized, luminous, and, most importantly, healthy hair like Ms. Ross, the Hair Boss.

 

3. Pound Cake Cake Batter Liquid Lipstick

$24 at Ulta Beauty

We all have friends who won’t wear red lipstick because they “look like a clown” or struggle to find a go-to nude lip. This beauty product exclusively at Ulta Beauty is the answer to all your lipstick woes. Formulated with color theory in mind, it comes in 11 varieties of red and brown to compliment different lip tones and can serve as a lipstick, lip stain, or lip tint, depending on how much you apply. Buy your significant other the perfect date night red or 90s brown lip—for guaranteed kisses all night.

 

4. Donna’s Recipe Sweet Potato Pie Extra Creamy Hair Cream

$16 at Ulta Beauty

Whenever I hear Tabitha Brown speak, her warm personality is like a hug with words. She created Donna’s Recipe, her hair care line, to share her own hair care techniques and formulations with her audiences. This Sweet Potato Pie Extra Creamy Hair Cream is a treat for your tresses, with vegan ingredients formulated to hydrate your hair, add shine, and fight frizz.

 

Gifts for Skincare Lovers

Great makeup starts with great skin. In addition to the best moisturizers, buy a makeup-skincare hybrid featuring skin-loving ingredients. For the person who wants their makeup to look good and benefit their skin, below are products that will work well under makeup and are skincare hybrids.  

5. Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Vitamin-C Day Serum

$79 at Ulta Beauty

Brighten the holiday season—and their skin—with Drunk Elephant’s C-Firma Fresh Vitamin C Day Serum. Mixed upon first use to activate its powerful formula, this serum delivers a potent dose of antioxidants and fruit enzymes to firm, hydrate, and dissolve dull, dead skin cells. Layer it under sunscreen for all-day protection against UV damage and pollution, leaving skin visibly brighter and radiant.

6. Peach and Lily Glass Skin Discovery Set 

$39 at Ulta Beauty

Give the gift of glow this season with the Peach & Lily Glass Skin Discovery Set exclusively at Ulta Beauty—an easy to follow, four-step routine designed to support clear, luminous skin for all skin typers. Each clean, non-toxic formula works to smooth and brighten, delivering that coveted ‘glass skin’ look. From the hydrating power of the Glass Skin Refining Serum (a personal favorite!) to the peach extract, peptides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid, this set is a gateway to plumper, more radiant skin. It’s perfect for anyone ready to transform their skincare game.

7. E.L.F. Halo Glow Liquid Filter

$14 at Ulta Beauty

E.L.F. makes great products, using quality ingredients, but won’t break the bank. If money is tight, but you still want to gift a coveted beauty gift, opt for the E.L.F. Halo Glow Liquid Filter. Enriched with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalene, this makeup-skincare hybrid can be used in multiple ways for an effortless radiance. This complexion booster blurs fine lines and smooths pores for a real-life Paris filter effect. 

 

8. MAC M·A·Cximal Sleek Satin Lipstick

$25 at Ulta Beauty

This full-coverage, highly pigmented lipstick leaves you with the perfect pout (with 32 shades to choose from) and leaves your lips hydrated for up to 8 hours. Suppose you’re like me and suffer from dry lips. In that case, you may be accustomed to applying a chapstick or lip balm under your lipstick—MAC removes this step for you, thanks to pomegranate flower extract as well as camellia seed and rosehip oils to condition your lips for a comfortable, all-day wear. The best part is this formula is safe for lips and cheeks!

 

Self-Care Essentials

Give the gift of self-care to the dedicated nurse, teacher, or essential worker in your life. While a spa weekend may not be within reach for everyone, bringing those soothing, spa-like qualities home is possible. Below, I’ve curated my top picks for a gift that will help the special person in your life embrace relaxation and reduce stress, allowing them to truly unwind and rejuvenate.

 

9. Homebody Amethyst + Alchemist Pearlescent CBD Bath Bomb Soak

$14 at Ulta Beauty

Take a deep breath, breathe out, and repeat three times. When was the last time you did that? The holiday season can be stressful, so incorporate self-care and wellness into your calendar. Bring the spa to you with this eco-friendly CBD bath bomb soak exclusively at Ulta Beauty. Combining lavender, peppermint, spearmint, and rosemary, this soak upgrades your bath experience to relieve stress, combat pain, and promote sound sleep. Soak your way to a soothing state in just one bath.

10. Sol de Janeiro Best & Brightest Body Routine 

$48 at Ulta Beauty

Whether you’re treating yourself or someone special, Sol de Janeiro’s Best & Brightest Body Routine set exclusively at Ulta Beauty is the gift that keeps on giving. The Brazilian Bum Bum® Cream is a favorite amongst beauty lovers, leaving skin feeling smooth and smelling amazing, while the Bom Dia Bright Cream gives you that radiant glow. It’s perfect for anyone who loves skincare that works and smells like a tropical vacation. Bonus: Gen Z can’t get enough of this one!

11. OSEA Undaria Algae Body Oil 

$52 at Ulta Beauty

Replenish and revive dehydrated skin with this seaweed-infused body oil, a fast-absorbing formula that deeply moisturizes and boosts elasticity. This vegan, cruelty-free blend is designed to soften, nourish, and firm, leaving your skin feeling silky and supported. With a bright, citrusy scent that’s the ultimate pick-me-up for post-shower mornings, it brings a burst of sunshine to your routine. For the best results, apply to damp skin and enjoy a fresh, radiant start to your day.

12. Tree Hut Moroccan Rose Scrub 

$11.49 at Ulta Beauty

A Morrocan Hammam experience is truly transformative, leaving you feeling refreshed, softened, and utterly relaxed. While a trip to La Mamounia in Marrakech may be a dream, this Morrocan Rose Scrub brings the ritual right to your shower.  With sugar, shea butter, and a blend of luxurious oils including argan, rosehip, safflower, and orange—it’s a luxe addition to any “everything shower.” 

Makeup Must-Haves

I get it—there are thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of beauty products on the market. So, where do you even begin? No worries. The long nights of doom scrolling on TikTok for the best makeup products are gone. From cult classics to beauty best-sellers, these are the top makeup must-haves of 2024. Whether you are searching for the perfect makeup gift set, an eyeshadow palette for bold looks, or a long-lasting lipstick, I curated the best gifts for you. 

 

13. Pat McGrath Labs Luminous Legends: Mega Eye Shadow Palette

$76 at Ulta Beauty

Give the gift of artistry this holiday season with an eyeshadow palette from the iconic Pat McGrath. Bursting with richly pigmented jewel-tones, radiant finishes, and sparkly shades, this palette is perfect for holiday parties, nights out on the town, or any special event where you want to shine. These high-performing eye shadows are long-lasting, buildable, and versatile, making them the ideal gift for the makeup lover or budding makeup artist in your life.

 

14. Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Gloss Bomb Swirl Twisted Lip Luminizer

$24 at Ulta Beauty

I love beautifully packaged gifts because you don’t have to worry about wrapping them. This festive lipstick is swirled to mimic a candy cane, with shimmering pink and deep fuchsia for a versatile pink pout that flatters all skin tones. It would be great as a stocking stuffer or an ornament on your Christmas tree.

 

15. Clinique Black Honey Gift Set

$45 at Ulta Beauty

This versatile shade looks flattering on everyone. Clinique Black Honey exclusively at Ulta Beauty is a cult classic, and in addition to the Almost Lipstick in this iconic color, you get a limited edition Cheek Pop Palette, which combines two blushes and a vibrant highlighter into one travel-friendly compact. This makes the perfect gift for your jetsetting friend who needs more room in their carry-on.

 

Fragrance Favorites

If you want to always be on someone’s mind, give the gift of a signature scent. As a fragrance lover, I’ll admit my collection is nearing almost 200 scents (yes, I wear them all). Whether it’s an eau de parfum, an extrait, or a mist—your perfume makes a statement before you even say a word and leaves a lasting impression when you exit a room. When choosing a scent for a loved one, find out if they like floral, fresh, woody, citrus, or sweet to help you find a starting point.

 

16. Valentino Donna Born In Roma

$135 at Ulta Beauty

For the person who enjoys sweet scents but doesn’t want a childish silage, purchase this perfume for a sophisticated signature scent. It opens with an effervescent fruity freshness—thanks to the vanilla base combined with blackberry and bergamot—and softens out thanks to the jasmine. Its musky finish makes it great for 9 to 5 and after 5. This is a gourmand, but not overly sweet, making it the perfect gift for your sweetie.

 

17. Burberry Goddess

$168 at Ulta Beauty

This is one of my favorite fragrances. Every time I wear it, someone inquires about it. It’s a vanilla-forward scent with notes of lavender and ginger for a spicy-sweet sensual scent that’s become my go-to for fall and colder weather months.

 

18. YSL MYSLF

$105 at Ulta Beauty

This is the fragrance for the person in your life who is always well-dressed, pays attention to detail, and is forward-thinking. YSL MYSLF is a luxurious scent that’s spicy and rich with a bold finish. Its fresh fragrance balances woody and floral notes, making it a must-have scent for the modern individual who appreciates sophistication and elegance. 

*Bonus: Ulta Beauty Gift Card

 Ulta Beauty

For a flexible and fail-safe option, an Ulta Beauty gift card is the perfect bonus item to add joy, giving everyone on your list the freedom to choose their favorites.