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Liz’s Holiday Gift Picks: My Favorite Products and Easy-to-Gift Subscriptions

Liz Cadman
ByLiz CadmanOct 1, 2020 | 36 comments

Liz's All-Time Favorite Subscription Items + Easy-To-Gift Boxes

Subscription boxes have helped me become a much great gift giver! I feel like I have a much better sense of upcoming product trends, I get to try out so many items, and I definitely understand the value of a good unboxing experience! Want more gift ideas?

Here are some of my favorite items I discovered through subscription boxes that I'll be gifting this year:

Updated 10/1 to reflect updated pricing for Allure Beauty Box. Lean more here!

1. Beauty Pie Items

Cost: Memberships start at $10 a month. Sign up here.

What is it? I first discovered Beauty Pie items thanks to Box of Style, and after listening to founder Marcia Kilgore's How I Built This podcast episode, I became a little obsessed! If you aren't familiar, Beauty Pie works with the same labs as luxury beauty brands, but with complete price transparency (no markup, no middleman, etc.) Similar to Costco, you pay for a membership subscription to get access to these beauty products at cost.

How I'm gifting it: You can buy gift subscriptions, but unless someone is already obsessed with Beauty Pie and shopping there anyway, you're basically buying them access to shop more. Instead, I'll be using my membership to buy some of their upcoming gift sets, like the candle set pictured above! (If you are looking for stocking stuffers, they make an excellent BeautyBlender dupe - you get 2 sponges for just $5.31!)

2. Honest Tinted Lip Balm

Cost: $8.99. Buy it here!

What is it? I've been a fan of the Honest Company for years thanks to their Honest Bundle subscriptions. I haven't loved everything I've tried in their Honest Beauty line, but this lip balm is the best thing ever.

If you're looking for a great stocking stuffer, this is my top recommendation. It's a sheer lip balm/lipstick hybrid that gives your lips lots of moisture, a little shine, and just a hint of color. Plum Drop is my go-to shade (I bought multiples to make sure I'm never without one!)

How I'm gifting it: I'm thinking of making my typical wine bottle hostess gift a little more fun by adding a lip balm to the bow!

2. Lalicious Body Scrub Tower

Cost: $49.00. Buy it here!

What is it? I discovered Lalicious Body Scrubs thanks to POPSUGAR Must Have (their amazing December 2017 Box), and I've been buying the body scrubs ever since! (Right now, I'm loving their seasonal Pumpkin Spice scrub.)

These scrubs are so decadent! They smell like delicious treats (Sugar Kiss smells just like a Sugar Cookie), the formulas are ingredient-conscious, and it's a gentle sugar scrub that leaves your skin feeling moisturized but not oily.

How I'm gifting it: I'll probably buy 2 towers - one to break into mini gifts, and another one for someone special! (And I'm probably going to buy a few of their holiday scents for myself once they are available!)


And this item is not from a subscription box, but I love it, I use it every day, and I've gifted it to a few cherished people so I have to include it in case you are searching for this type of gift:

3. Bose Soundwear Companion Speaker

Cost: $299.00. Buy it here!

What is it? Eric and I gifted each other this last Christmas, and it is probably the most-used gift I've ever received. If you aren't familiar, it's a speaker you wear around your neck as an alternative to headphones. Aside from being on a plane or in some other public area where no one else wants to hear what I'm listening to, I really prefer not to be wearing headphones. And this speaker/collar is the solution I didn't even know existed until last year!

I also love this for cleaning around the house because I'm moving from room to room and need music/a podcast to move with me, and again, I don't want to be wearing headphones when I don't need to be. (I startle very easily.) It's also great for outdoor walks when you still want to be able to hear other sounds, etc. (And you can take calls on it!)

How I'm gifting it: I think this is what I'm getting my brother this year!


Here are some of my favorite items subscription boxes that are SUPER easy to gift.

There are so many subscription boxes that I love, but quite a few aren't perfectly designed for gifting. (For example, lots of meal kit subscription gift cards still require a recipient to enter their own credit card info and who wants that?) So for this list, it's short and sweet - just boxes that I think are awesome and also happen to be super easy to gift:

4. Nest Fragrances Subscription Box

Cost: $56.00 a month (available in 3 or 6 month gift subscriptions). Buy it here!

Why this is so easy to gift: Just pick the month you want the subscription to start and the length, and you're good to go! Plus the presentation on this box is fabulous, so your gift wrap is taken care of, too!

Why it's a great gift: Nest makes luxe candles that smell great (especially their Holiday scents), so I think this is a gift that could work for just about anyone - as long as they aren't sensitive to fragrance!

Check out our reviews of this box to learn more.

5. Allure Beauty Box

all contents

 Cost: $23.00 a month. Sign up here!

Why this is so easy to gift: Allure has a dedicated page just for gift giving. Pick the length subscription you want, and it's a one-time purchase.

Why it's a great gift: I love this for anyone on your list who is beauty-obsessed. There's a good mix of haircare, skincare, and makeup, plus at least 3 full-size items in every box. And Allure is pretty great about getting newly released products in their boxes, so it's a great discovery box - even for a beauty expert.

Check out our reviews of this box to learn more.

6. Book of the Month

Book of the Month April 2019 book and box

Cost: $49.99 for a 3-month gift subscription. Sign up here!

Why this is so easy to gift: Book of the Month is made for gift-giving. They have 3 month, 6 month, and 12 month subscriptions. You can email the recipient, print out a gift card, or get a physical gift card in the mail.

Why it's a great gift: If you know someone loves to read but don't know what book to buy them, this is the absolute perfect gift. Each month they'll get to pick from 5 brand new releases covering different genres. They will find something they love each month, and they will have you to thank!

Check out our reviews of this box to learn more.


What do you think of these suggestions? Anything you recommend for gifts this year? (Subscription box related or not!)

See our complete gift guide to find the right subscription for everyone on your list!

Liz Cadman
Liz Cadman
Liz is the founder of My Subscription Addiction. She's been hooked on subscription boxes since 2011 thanks to Birchbox, and she now subscribes to over 100 boxes. Her favorites include POPSUGAR Must Have, FabFitFun, and any box that features natural beauty products!

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36 comments

Jeanette

Liz, please keep doing these lists every year! I went through your link and ordered the Bose neck headphones as I call them because my hubby is so hard to buy for. Not only did he love them, but I love them! And, when I told him who gave me the suggestion, he said he wasn’t surprised because I have literally gained so much insight on beauty and home etc. from this site! Thank you, thank you again. And just a side note. My hubby has discs issues and these are so perfect (not making medical claims here) because the way they lie are easy for his neck. He also can be alert to his surroundings but still jam on his Metallica!

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samples4rosa

Great list!

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Michelle

I need those headphones in my life!

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Leah

Great suggestions! I never would have thought of it, but the Book of The Month would be perfect for my mom!! Thanks!!

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Sheila

Great ideas! Thank you Liz.

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miniso911

the allure beauty box is a great gift for teens!!

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Gwen

Gilt has a coupon for 3 months of Allure box for $29.95!

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Illy Junus

Thank you for the gift ideas

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Laurel R

Thanks for the list ideas and I would also love to see more of your ideas – meanwhile the lipbalm is calling my name – will get one for my friend as well! Thanks for the heads up!

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Jan

I had never heard about “Beauty Pie” until now. Thanks so much for all of the gift giving tips. I could think of someone that would love each one of your suggestions. Thanks so much for the holiday stress relief!

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gina

Thank you !! Wonderful ideas !! Happy Holidays!!

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Anna

I just had a friend mention looking for a good tinted lip balm. Perfect timing! Thanks, these are great gift ideas.

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Misti

Beauty Pie seems to good to be true . Are the products very good ? This would be perfect for a budget like mine but I hate spending money on products that I end up throwing out.
Can any reviews be done for this sub ? more info just curious Thanks

Does Beauty Pie charge shipping and if so any idea how much ? there is no info I can find on the site

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Misti

Beauty Pie seems to good to be true . Are the products very good ? This would be perfect for a budget like mine but I hate spending money on products that I end up throwing out.
Can any reviews be done for this sub ? more info just curious Thanks

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Misti

I found shipping for Beauty pie $8.27

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Ingermaria

Thanks for the great suggestions, Liz! I love those Lalicious scrubs! That box was my first from PSMH!

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Liz Cadman

What a great first box! Glad to hear you love the scrubs, too! 🙂

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Tracy

Great tips!

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Keri C

These suggestions are awesome Liz! Most of them I hadn’t heard of but will make amazing gifts now that I’m in the know. Pretty, pretty, pretty please post more!

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Your Friends @MSA

Noted, Keri!

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Liz Cadman

Yay! That’s so wonderful to hear! 🙂 Thanks for letting me know!

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Linda

I just listened to the Beauty Pie podcast, I have to sign up! Good thing I’ve canceled most of my subs.

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Liz Cadman

Isn’t Marcia Kilgore incredible?!

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Dani

@LizCadman the Lalicious website has a sale right now 30% off all scrubs and free shipping!

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Melissa

Thanks for the great tip!

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D

No problem Melissa, I posted yesterday so hopefully it’s still going on.

Ann

Love these picks from Liz! I just ordered the lip balm from Target. If Liz likes it after reviewing a gajillion sub boxes it must be the best!

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Liz Cadman

I hope you love it, too, Ann!

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Marion

Fun post! (and the thumbnail preview image for the post is so cute!)

I like the idea to break apart the scrub tower for individual gifts. I’m using the adorable Bonne Maman advent jelly jars for gifts for my coworkers!

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Your Friends @MSA

Happy you liked it, Marion!

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Christina

I love Lalicious and also the Kneipp salts pictured above!

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Darlene

Some of these are really good ideas for battered women’s shelters as well.

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Your Friends @MSA

That is a really good suggestion, Darlene.

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Beccah

I had never heard of Beauty Pie until you posted about it here! Now I’m obssessed! Thanks Liz!

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Sharon in SE TX

If you give someone a subscription, make sure it doesn’t auto-renew and is not linked to your subscription. That way you don’t get any surprise bills and your accounts don’t get mangled together in case there is a problem with either account. Also, make sure that you use their preferred name. I once had an aunt who instead of using my full name, Sharon Whatever, shortened it to S. Whatever. After the subscription was over, I started receiving mail (ads) for several months addressed to S. Whatever.

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Jody

Thanks for the reminder of Lalicious tower! I forgot about those!! They are awesome. Never heard of a speaker like this around the neck(love Bose) need to check that out as well.

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