Sometimes I wish I could stuff my own stocking, but since I can’t, I’ll settle for strategically asking my husband to check my grammar on this post. Just kidding–he’s actually pretty good at stockings.
If I’m being honest, we usually stuff each other’s stockings…and our own. I don’t know how it happens every year, but we both end up shopping for stocking stuffers and both end up with at least one ‘santa’ surprise on Christmas Day.
It’s one of our favorite things to open on Christmas because it isn’t loaded with pressure for either of us.
Picked a dud of a gift? No problem, it was just a stocking stuffer and Santa picked it out. Picked a winner? Thank goodness, since the main gift was the wrong size.
It’s also a relief to open after years of having advertisement (continue reading those at your own risk!) after advertisement thrown at us. This isn’t about going big, it’s about being thoughtful and having some fun.
I’ve started to rely on my favorite gift givers advice for help on gift ideas. Luckily for me, I have some pretty thoughtful gifters in my family.
To me, a thoughtful stocking includes a well-rounded list of things that are unique to the person you are shopping for, as well as providing opportunities to try new things with low pressure for the gifter and giftee.
This is a great opportunity to have a little fun too! I remember one year I got my mom a Dollar store crossword puzzle book that she could enjoy on the airplane–personal to her tastes but also something she would use without any pressure to keep it when she got home.
Gift cards are always appreciated as well, but having something to instantly enjoy can be even better.
If you want to impress the women in your life, try getting one thing from each of the below categories:
1. A Gag Gift
Life just isn’t the same without a laugh. These fun gifts can be candy coal, Poopourri, lip balm in an unusual scent (Dill Pickle scent for anyone pregnant), nail bandages for a girl that always breaks a nail (https://amzn.to/3FV7O1k OR https://amzn.to/3HDA6OX), or even these shower steamers with a note from Santa to Get Better Soon.
I have a thing for homeopathics. “Nux Vomica 30c” is the perfect tiny gift for anyone who needs a hangover cure or eats too much sugar or Christmas dinner.
2. Something with a tradition
In our family this is usually a food. For my brother, it was always pickles. For me, it was always an orange and a candy cane.
For my husband, it’s maple candy. To this day, we still do oranges, candy canes, and maple candy even though I’m now playing Santa’s Helper as an adult.
I can say the maple candy tradition has stuck now that we’re married because it’s unbelievably good and perfect for any foodie. Personally, I love that it’s ‘candy’ with no processed sugar.
3. Sugar
This could be hot chocolate packets (so good with some crushed candy cane and whipped cream), those old fashioned mints (I love having a couple of these for my purse), or my favorite, Sugarfina Lips. My husband and I fight over these Sugar Lips regularly, so it’s no wonder they’re usually sold out. Get the set so you aren’t tempted to steal them from her stocking.
4. Something Unique to ‘her’
Perhaps this will take a little effort to include, so here are some things to think about:
- Do her feet get cold? Socks!
- What are her hobbies? Those mini photography sets for the phone are really fun. Or get her a serious lens with this.
- Does she hate it when you steal her favorite snack that she hides? Include that holiday chocolate bar or Pringles or cookie she always wants to hide.
- Does she always have a candle lit? Get her a holiday mini.
- Does she have a pet? Put a cute holiday collar in the mix or this fun ring.
- Is she sentimental? Put matching jewelry in each of your stockings, or this cute keychain.
- Does her hair frizz easily? See the Oi Oil below.
- Does she love having a nightly beauty routine? Try something on trend, like a gua sha tool or a silky eye mask (this one is cute). If you get her a gua sha tool, this is my go-to oil to use with it right now. It takes the place of my nightly moisturizer and is a great weight for winter skin.
4. A Hair Product
Travel-sized fits really well in a stocking and I never travel without this Davines treatment for my frizzy hair. It’s also one of my mother-in-law’s favorite hair products.
I also love their dry texturizer but I think they’re sold out in the travel/stocking size. If they are, get her the shimmering mist as a gift because it does exactly what it says (makes hair shiny) and smells delicious…kinda like vanilla cookies.
5. A Skincare or makeup product
You can’t go wrong with Aveda’s Rosemary Mint hand cream.
This is one of those things she won’t even know she wanted until she gets it because they only carry this scent for the holidays–it’s extra special and you’ll love it too. It also comes in a set if you want to do this as a small gift instead of for her stocking.
The Laura Mercier caviar sticks (I recommend in Cashmere because it’s very neutral) are amazing if she wears makeup. They’re so easy to use that they’ve made me pretty lazy (so easy) and I don’t use much else for eye makeup anymore.
The Ordinary’s cleanser feels amazing for any skin type and now comes in a mini for $7.90.
I’m also obsessed with this YSL oil-infused lippie if you want to spoil her with a little luxury. Although the packaging appears to be a lipstick, it is sheer like a gloss.
6. Lip Balm
If you’re the boyfriend or husband buying this, choose a scent/flavor that YOU love and tell her so. She’ll wear it often, trust me. However, if she gets chapped lips in the winter, here are some of my favorites from over the years:
Aveda Lip Saver
Aesop Cedar and Citrus Lip Salve
Jack Black Lip Balm – Not just for men. I steal this from my husband all the time because it solves my dry lip problems fast.
I usually break open these gift sets and give one to each of my family members. It’s that good.
7. Shower Steamers
If she never gets a chance for ‘me’ time, let alone spa time, this would be a pretty special stocking stuffer or even a regular gift. This is another one of those things I would probably individually wrap for family members and split apart the gift set (hey, stocking stuffers for women can be pricey). Just make sure you label what it is on the wrapping.
8. Nail Polish minis
This Dazzle Dry system is the best I’ve ever tried. You must use the system together, so buy this first for the real present, but then you can do mini nail polishes and they’re fabulous for stocking stuffers. Why is it so great? Each layer dries in 5 minutes, it’s hard like gel nail polish, it’s non-toxic with a rubber base that expands with the nail bed when wet, and so easy a half blind, 80 year old can do it (tested IRL).
Hope this gave you a ton of ideas for the best stocking stuffers for the women in your life. Merry Christmas!
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