The Best Last-Minute Stocking Stuffers That Won’t Break the Bank

And just like that, we’re back in the thick of holiday shopping once again. No matter how prepared we may think we are when the summer begins to wind down, the holiday season always seems to sneak up on many of us. And that usually means shopping in a frenzy — which can lead to overspending or plying your loved ones with useless trinkets they can’t really appreciate. 

This year we’re here to help you avoid rushed shopping and busting your budget. Whether you’re picking up something for a special someone, participating in a workplace holiday gift exchange or are looking for a self-care treat, we’ve got you covered. To help you narrow down the perfect beauty stocking stuffers, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorites. Ahead, find our crowd-pleasing beauty must-haves to fill their stockings with this year.

L’Oréal Paris Grip Precision Felt Waterproof Eyeliner

If head-turning makeup looks are their thing, give them the right tools to achieve them. This smooth-glide eyeliner lets you line your eyes with no smudging or skipping. The ultra-saturated color stays put for up to 30 hours and comes off easily with a little micellar water. Be sure to include every color in their stocking so they can experiment with graphic eyeliner looks that make the eyes pop.

L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Pocket Palette Eye Shadow

Palettes are the perfect gifts for a makeup lover because they include several shades in one, allowing them to play with lots of looks without spending lots of money. This eyeshadow palette comes with four hues of the same color, which they can wear solo or mix and match. Throw in a flat eyeliner brush so this palette also doubles as a gorgeous eyeliner quad. 

L’Oréal Paris Original Washable Bold Eye Mascara

While we’re encouraging bright, colorful makeup, it only seems fitting that we introduce a colored mascara into the mix. Sure, you can gift this volumizing mascara in typical black, but if you like to go for the bold, gift them shades like cobalt blue, deep green, deep burgundy and deep violet instead. After all, isn’t the best part about giving a gift getting someone something they would love but likely wouldn’t buy for themself?

L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Intense Volume Matte Lipstick

Lipstick is one of the easiest and inexpensive things you can throw into a holiday stocking that has a huge payoff — besides a winning lottery scratch-off that is. This matte lipstick is rich in color with a weightless, smudge-proof formula that’s infused with hyaluronic acid so it won’t leave lips feeling dry. Drop all 12 festive shades into their stocking and see how quickly they get into the spirit of giving hugs and kisses.

L’Oréal Paris Micro Hyaluronic Acid + Ceramides Line-Plumping Water Cream

For the skin care lover in your life, or that loved one in need of a skin care routine upgrade, this water-based moisturizer is a must-have. It’s suitable for all skin types, including combination and sensitive skin and deeply moisturizes so dry skin bearers can find relief on those extra cold, extra dry days. The bonus: Hyaluronic acid and plump-locking ceramides help replump the skin and reduce the appearance of lines. How’s that for a gift that keeps on giving?

L’Oréal Paris Revitalift 12% Pure Vitamin C + E + Salicylic Acid Serum

Once you’re in the skin care gifting spirit, don’t stop at moisturizer — give the gift of brighter, more even skin with this antioxidant-enriched face serum. Formulated with top derm-recommended ingredients, it helps reduce the appearance of dark spots, pores and fine lines. Skin will also look and feel smoother and more vibrant. 

Layer it with L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum for a boost of hydration, creating a special cocktail of effective anti-aging skin care. Finish the routine with a hydrating moisturizer (like the aforementioned) and sunscreen if it’s daytime.

L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Facial Drops, Fragrance-Free and Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Body Towelettes

Stocking stuffers also make the best travel companions because they’re compact, easy to use and oftentimes, necessities. Throw these self-tanners into the stockings of your favorite jet-setter who fakes their tan when they can’t get away (and still uses self-tanner when they travel to hot climates). The towelettes are perfect for a full-body self-tanning job while the facial drops can be added to their night moisturizer so they wake up with a bronze glow. No one has to know that they simply went to bed and not to the Bahamas.

L’Oréal Paris Sulfate-Free 21-in-1 Color Caring Spray, Leave In

Constant hair coloring can cause damage and dullness to one's strands. In just a few spritzes this leave-in hair treatment offers colored hair 21 benefits, including moisture, detangling, frizz control, softness and strengthening. The slim and sleek packaging easily fits in a holiday stocking, leaving room for other goodies. We recommend hair accessories since they’ll want to play with their strands a lot after this spray transforms their mane. 

L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Bond Repair Shampoo and Conditioner Kit

There’s something to be said about getting a gift so practical and useful. You may not initially think of shampoo and conditioner as a sexy gift, but when you see the giftee’s healthy hair and smiling face, you’ll likely change your perspective. This duo is also perfect for hair that’s been damaged by bleaching, coloring and heat styling as it strengthens weak hair from the inside out.

Plus, the nearly seven ounce bottles still fit in a stocking, but they put those puny hotel bottles to shame, offering enough formula for even the thickest, fullest mane. Be sure to throw in the L’Oréal Paris Sulfate Free Bond Repair Pre Shampoo Treatment to complete the system.

L’Oréal Paris Dream Lengths Curls Micellar Shampoo and Elvive Dream Lengths Curls Refresh & Reshape Leave-in Spray

Curls need love too. And while you can gift your curly-haired beauties the aforementioned hair care products, there’s nothing quite like getting a hair treatment made specifically with their curls in mind. That’s why this clarifying shampoo and curl refreshing spray are the perfect treat for curls, coils and waves. Get a clean, buildup-free scalp (even with a protective style) with the shampoo, then give curly hair a refresh when between washes with the reshaping spray. Common side effects are stares, compliments and heart-eye emojis.

L’Oréal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color

You can’t forget about that loved one who won’t stop playing with their hair color. While constantly coloring their hair can be damaging, it’s less expensive than buying wigs and installing colorful weaves — on the front end at least. The answer to saving money and sparing their strands is semi-permanent hair color. It doesn’t penetrate the hair shaft like permanent hair color, so it doesn’t damage tresses and washes out over time. You can gift them every color of this collection so they can try some trendy rainbow hair color looks or switch up a single, all-over color every few weeks. 

L’Oréal Paris Men Expert One-Twist Hair Color

Since we know men sometimes want beauty and grooming products specially made for them, keep a few boxes of this hair color for men around. If your guy is graying and wants to conceal those wiry silver hairs, this is exactly what he needs. Slip one or two in his stocking — just be sure to pick the right shade to match his natural hair color. 

Make it more than a static gift and turn his hair dyeing session into a bonding experience where you can pamper him with a head massage and his favorite cocktail. At this rate, your stocking stuffers may overshadow your main gifts.

Next: 10 Holiday Beauty Buys Under $20

Written By: Shalwah Evans, Photo Design: Sarah Duvivier