Gift Guide 2020: Thoughtful Last-Minute Gifts
The biggest giveaway that shows you’ve lagged on holiday shopping (or worse: forgot about the recipient until the 11th hour)? Giving a gift card. Even more dismal: these gifts often go unused, with American adults owning some $20 billion in unused gift cards, according to a January 2020 survey. Talk about a waste.
Here’s the thing: With some brands offering curbside pickup and others expedited shipping, more inspired gift giving awaits even for last-minute shoppers. We’re talking about cozy options to help relieve anxiety, must-have kitchen tools for even the most reluctant cook, and a kit that makes barrel-aged whiskey a do-able DIY. Ahead, find some of the most thoughtful gifts to dazzle anyone on your list — and with presents this targeted, they’ll never know you got it on the fly.
After a year in which even the most reluctant cooks took to baking bread and boiling soups, kitchen appliances have never been more desirable. A proven holy grail helper for both novice cooks and skilled home chefs alike? This versatile pressure cooker, which can shave hours off of cooking times and turn out everything from pulled pork to quiche (and yes, even sourdough).
SHOP: Instant Pot 6QT Duo Evo Plus, $119, available at JCPenney
If small children or dogs with wagging tails make candle burning too risky a maneuver in your household, why not sweeten the air with a diffuser instead? With two mist modes, an automatic shut-off, and the capacity to run eight hours straight, this matte ceramic model turns the air in any space from stale to spa (minus the fire hazard).
SHOP: Airome Harmony Ultra Sonic Diffuser, $29.69, available at Belk
Uncorking the terroir of your favorite wine-making region doesn’t have to be a pain in the wrist. This electric opener does the job with the touch of a button — and features a no-slip rubberized grip, ergonomic shape for easy holding, and a foil cutter for the most seamless pour ever.
SHOP: Studio Mercantile Electric Wine Opener, $27.99, available at Macy’s
Does someone on your list need an extra pair of hands? Hook her or him up with the next best thing: a Google Assistant-compatible speaker — which does everything from control thermostats and deliver Google query results to provide scheduling updates and read the kids a bedtime story — all with simple voice commands.
SHOP: Google Home Mini With Google Assistant, $24.99, available at Lowe’s
One of the most heart-warming figures of 2020? Baby Yoda, by a landslide. This plush doll brings The Child (as it’s officially known) from The Mandalorian and into your home in the most cuddly of ways.
SHOP: The Child Plush – Star Wars: The Mandalorian – Small – 11'', $16, available at Shop Disney
For some, winterizing your home means stocking the pantry with canned goods. For others, it means securing a stash of soul-warming whiskey. If there are those on your list who tend toward the later, do them one better by giving this whiskey making kit. The DIY process gives recipients an immediate project that will produce barrel-aged booze sure to blow away guests once house parties become a thing again.
SHOP: Studio Mercantile Whiskey Barrel 5L, 69.99, available at Macy’s
If working from home has put a dent in your loved one’s early morning coffee runs, give them the equivalent of their very own barista with this single-serving coffee and espresso maker. Included in the box are 12 Nespresso pods that kick out perfectly calibrated double espressos, gran lungos, and standard cups of joe in seconds flat.
SHOP: Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Maker by De'Longhi, $173.27, available at Walmart
Makeup fans know that when it comes to mask-friendly lipstick, it’s long-wearing, matte shades or nothing. This lipstick and lip liner kit comes in 10 high-intensity shades that make wearing a TikTok (and mask)-ready lip a no brainer.
SHOP: Kylie Cosmetics Matte Lip Kit, $29, available at Ulta Beauty
We’ve raved about the breathability and comfort of these cotton face masks before — and months later, they still stand out as affordable frontrunners, compliments of simple prints and color ways that the whole family can wear.
SHOP: Kitsch Three-Pack Pleated Face Masks, $12, available at Madewell
Does it get any more cozy than a pair of wool-lined Uggs? Probably not. But it can get more simple: instead of climbing into ankle or calf-length boots, slide into this pair of slippers, which are made with the brand’s famously cozy Tosacana lining and water-resistant suede (but pull on and off with considerably more ease).
SHOP: Ugg Australia Ansley Moccasin Black Women's Slippers, $95, available at Sears
Can’t be with your bestie for 2021 NYE celebrations? Send this candle, which fills the air with an unmistakable and effervescent scent of champagne grapes topped with citrus (mandarin, grapefruit and orange) notes. Bonus: the box is a godsend for those with no time to wrap; it features space to personalize the gift on one of its panels.
SHOP: Homesick Candles Let's Toast Candle, $34, available at Macy’s
If your resident foodie fantasizes about dominating the last dab on Hot Ones, challenge his or her palette with this 10-pack of hot sauces, which includes kicky flavors like Garlic-habanero and Chipotle.
SHOP: Aztecs Revenge 10-Piece Mexican Style Hot Sauce Gift Set, $19.99, available at Bed Bath & Beyond
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Nothing says "new year, new you" better than a fresh mini bag you can wear every day, everywhere. The leather rainbow colorway exudes positive vibes, which is exactly what we all need right now. Plus, your giftee can wear it as a crossbody using the long detachable chain or as a clutch for fancier moments.
SHOP: Mini Wallet On A Chain With Rainbow Linear Quilting, $52.50, available at Coach Outlet
After the year we’ve had, we’re convinced: There’s no one on our list who can’t benefit from anxiety-reducing comfort gifts — and with research connecting weighted blankets’ capacity to reduce anxiety, lower heart rate and improve sleep, giving this chunky-knit throw is a no brainer. We noticed our typically fitful sleep felt more calm after sleeping with this sustainably-farmed, organic cotton version for a couple of weeks. Bonus: For those set on sustainability, the brand offers an option made from biodegradable wood pulp created in a closed-loop process (something that diverts landfill-bound waste).
SHOP: Bearaby Cotton Napper, $249, available at Bearaby
This gender-neutral scent is one of the brand’s top sellers for a reason: bright notes of California-sourced clementines and Italian mandarins join comforting sandalwood, cypress, and vetiver for a fragrance that’s simultaneously grounding and energizing. With research that shows these notes to boost productivity in work environments and to elevate mood, this gift box (which includes a candle to scent your home and cologne to scent your skin, along with a leather travel sleeve) delivers an impressive roster of positive feels.
SHOP: Atelier Cologne Clémentine California Cologne Absolue & Candle, $95, available at Nordstrom
For as helpful and versatile smart speakers can be, most lack the sonic payoff most audiophiles demand. This speaker, compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, also kicks out incredible sound quality (thanks in part to a downward-firing tweeter equipped to fill a room with sound — something many bluetooth speakers struggle to do). But what really sets the device apart is in its portability: A built-in handle and water-resistant design means this baby is also built for outdoor use; At recent socially-distanced backyard hang, the device impressively delivered more than nine hours of play on a single charge.
SHOP: Sonos Move Speaker, $399, available at Sonos
Giving the gift of a home gym doesn’t have to take a big bite of your budget and square footage of living space. This kit offers $483 in equipment (including a $100 polyurethane leather yoga mat, two uplifting blocks, a yoga strap and an oversized tote to store it all in) alongside a one-year subscription to Alo Moves, an app that streams unlimited, studio-quality fitness and mindfulness classes to practice pilates, yoga, barre, HIIT, and meditation, among other workouts, anytime.
SHOP: Alo The Ultimate Home Studio Set, $250, available at Alo
Giving a gift of packing cubes may seem counterintuitive during a time of restricted travel. But the genius packing solution offers Kondo-like home organization that can also make sense of your suitcase once frequent flying resumes. What makes this set outperform others? Mesh windows and custom labels make child’s play of IDing what’s inside and it’s variety of sizes (which includes a water-resistant pouch for cables and chargers) are engineered to snuggly fit inside carry-on luggage or dresser drawers.
SHOP: Calpak Packing Cubes 5-Piece Set, $58, available at Calpak
After a year of living in athleisure, wearing a bra has never felt so stifling. Enter this breast tape, which comes in several shades of nude to match fair to deep skin tones. Apply tape in bandeau, holster, couplet, or crossover styles (don’t worry — the brand offers tutorials) to give the lift, separation, support and coverage of a traditional bra, but without the wires and metal that make conventional bras so very uncomfortable. We can’t think of a more fitting stocking stuffer to supports the girls.
SHOP: Nue Breast Tape, $25, available at Revolve
Part running shoe, part luxury athleisure, this sneaker is designed as much for workouts as it is for first-class travel. Weighing just 6.8 ounces, the vegan, unisex sneaker is one of the most lightweight running shoes on the market and features a pattered rubber outsole and forefront crash pad for plenty of sole support. But colorblocked styling and a satin comfort band also make the pull-on style just as suitable for brunch at the country club — or wherever 2021 takes us.
SHOP: APL TechLoom Bliss, $220, available at APL
When even the idea of getting sick can feel paralyzing, there may be no better gift than one aimed at preventative care. This bundle includes a raw honey that’s infused with royal jelly, bee pollen, and propolis for immunity support (and also makes a heck of a dessert topper); propolis spray to address sore throats without the sticky-sweet taste that many lozenges carry; and an adaptogen-packed supplement designed to improve mental focus.
SHOP: Beekeeper’s Naturals Hive Pharmacy Kit, $88.99, available at Beekeeper’s Naturals
In a world in which one can never have enough hand sanitizer, why not give a stylish bottle from a clean fragrance line that dupes its own best-selling scent?
SHOP: Henry Rose Jake’s House Hand Sanitizer, $10, available at Henry Rose