How to Gift Skincare This Holiday Season

Sure, you can spring for another pair of socks — but nothing brings joy quite like a skincare gift. After all, when a given product changes your skin for the better, it’s only natural to want to share the glow with others. “Skincare is all about sharing knowledge and tips, having fun, and discovering products that really do work for your skin,” says David Kim, MD, a dermatologist at Idriss Dermatology in New York City. “This, of course, is with the understanding that people have different skin types — and not all products work the same on different skin types.”

On that note, there’s the rub: Gifting a skincare product or set can be a little tricker than just picking up a pack of hand creams and calling it a day. There are personal preferences to consider, from fragrance to texture — not to mention their skin type and other conditions in the mix. With that in mind, try these dermatologist-approved tips for choosing the perfect skincare gift.

Make it feel personal

If they’ve never used a highlighting serum before, make it feel approachable and fun by sharing your own experience. Include a note with your Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops that shares why it’s your favorite product, and share tips on how to use it to make it feel personalized.

Or, you can use your intel about their habits to get ideas; for instance, you could write: “I know you’ve got a big presentation coming up and I’m