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While we personally prefer the strategic gameplay of White Elephant—especially since there’s no pressure to find a thoughtful present for someone you may hardly know anything about—Secret Santa is a holiday party standard that’s impossible to avoid. To fight the Ebenezer Scrooge feelings, we came up with 28 unique Secret Santa gifts (from $6 to $45) to have on hand in advance. Think: a multipurpose cheek tint, a 15-pack of Japanese matcha sticks, and the cutest sticky notes. For our full list of recommendations, read on.
Fresh Starts
Sparkly sponges and block-print towels upgrade dishwashing duty; a mini horsehair brush sweeps away annoying keyboard crumbs; and this handy magnetic strip is the shower soap organizer you didn’t know you needed.
Mini Glow-Ups
Even the lowest-maintenance Secret Santa recipient will appreciate having a hydrating lip balm, multipurpose tint, and set of good bobby pins on hand. For a real spa moment, this exfoliating hemp bath mitt gets skin buttery soft in no time.
A House That Smells Good
A scented candle in chic cherry red packaging or a box of woodsy incense is a great gift on its own, but it’s always nice to throw in a set of fun matches. Psst: The Diptyque ones have a forest fragrance all their own.
Energy Boosters
For the giftee who is always on the go: single-serve coffee and travel matcha sticks. For the person committed to their at-home morning ritual: a fishy glass mug and a stoneware pitcher for either iced tea or cold brew.
Snacky Snacks
It’s 3 o’clock somewhere and we’re hungry. Wrap up a big tin of Spanish potato chips or a pound of Swedish candy depending on if they prefer things sweet or salty, or get a dish topper that keeps on giving, like this limited-edition Garlic Crunch or zippy citrus-infused salt.
Happier Happy Hours
No more boring cocktails! A deck of 52 drink recipes opens up the possibilities, as does a tart berry aperitif or small-batch espresso syrup (both nonalcoholic, to boot). But whatever your giftee mixes up, it’s guaranteed to impress in these sunshiny handblown glasses.
Work and Play in One
Looming deadlines are a little less scary when you’re tackling them with a cheery rainbow of sticky notes, fine-point pens, Japanese pencils, and erasers shaped like none other than sardines.
