From Alix Earle to Marianna Hewitt, 7 Social Media ‘It’ Girls Share Their Holiday Gift Must-haves
1. Alix Earle, @alixearle
One of TikTok’s biggest breakout stars of the year, Alix Earle is best known for her lively personality and makeup know-how. Beyond amassing a TikTok following of more than 6.1 million, Earle was one of the first creators to sign to Alex Cooper’s The Unwell Network, recently rolling out a weekly podcast in which she dives into topics like mental health, dating (aka “NFL man” — IYKYK), and the importance of female friendship.
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Go-to gift for others: Refy Lip Collection Set, $32 at sephora.com, refybeauty.com
“I love the Refy lip glosses so the full lip set would be my go-to gift when gifting a friend or family member this season. It includes a lip buff, blush, liner and gloss which is what anyone needs to complete their makeup look no matter the occasion.”
Favorite gift to receive: Moroccanoil Dry Texture Spray, $30 at sephora.com, amazon.com, moroccanoil.com.
“I use this spray almost daily — it really locks in whatever style I’m going for without making my hair feel crunchy or greasy.”
To me, quality means…“When it comes to a gift, [quality] is truly the thought behind it that matters most. It’s not about the size or scale — but more about the quality of thought and love they put into it.”
2. Monet McMichael, @monetmcmichael
Loved for her laid-back, unfiltered charm, New Jersey-based Monet McMichael is at the top of her #BeautyTok game. With 3.7 million followers and counting, the 23-year-old has cemented her status as a powerhouse creator thanks to her raw and real approach to content.
Go-to gift for others: Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wands, $42 each at sephora.com, nordstrom.com, bloomingdales.com, charlottetilbury.com.
“If you use these wands with no additional makeup, they make your skin look amazing, and they also elevate any glam look.”
Favorite gift to receive: Pat McGrath Labs Lust: Gloss, $29 each at sephora.com, patmcgrathlabs.com.
“My favorite gift to receive is definitely a gloss of any form, specifically Pat McGrath glosses — they’re next-level in color and shimmer.”
To me, quality means…“Quality means a lot of things to me in a product, especially in order to make the favorites list. Packaging, functionality, practicality and size are all factors. It’s always quality over quantity.”
3. Kensington Tillo, @kensnation
From happiness to heartbreak to the gripping lead-up to her driver’s license test last month (spoiler: she passed), Kensington Tillo brings her 1.6 million TikTok followers along with her through it all. In addition to her knack for making the intricacies of everyday life feel a little more lively, Tillo is one of the few people we’ll sit through a 10-minute “Get Ready With Me” video for and know it was time that ~couldn’t~ have been better spent.
Go-to gift for others: Tatcha Plumping Dewy Skin Essentials Set, $87 at sephora.com, tatcha.com.
“My absolute favorite beauty and wellness gift to give during the holidays would be a luxurious skin care set with high-quality products. Some of my all time favorite skin care brands are Tatcha (you can never go wrong with Dewy Skin Cream), Caudalie, and Charlotte Tilbury skin care — which doubles as an amazing base for makeup.”
Favorite gift to receive: Spa days, like at Brooklyn’s Bathhouse, where day passes start at $55.
“My favorite beauty and wellness gift to receive during the holidays would be a spa day experience; it’s a fantastic gift because it allows me to relax and rejuvenate which is very needed after the holidays.”
To me, quality means… “As a beauty influencer, quality means to me that products are not only effective, but safe and well-crafted; it’s about using and recommending items that I trust will enhance the beauty and well-being of my followers.”
4. Eloise Dufka, @eloisedufka
Between her effortless “that girl” vibe and tasteful local recommendations for fellow New Yorkers (or for the New York City dwellers-at-heart) Eloise Dufka has our For You Pages in a chokehold. Here, her faves.
Go-to gift for others: Rhode Peptide Lip Treatments, $16 each at rhodeskin.com.
“The Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment in shade ‘toast’ is a must in anyone’s handbag — a subtle touch of that goes a long way.“
Favorite gift to receive: Alo Yoga matching sets, starting at $132 at aloyoga.com, nordstrom.com, neimanmarcus.com.
“For workouts, an Alo Yoga set in Espresso is my go-to. Matching sets just hit different.”
To me, quality means… “Quality is all about the little details that might go unnoticed but make a world of difference. It can be as small as the packaging, a note from the founder about the story of the product, or the ingredients being ethically sourced — to just quality time with a loved one. It’s the secret ingredient that makes everything better, you know?”
5. Marianna Hewitt, @mariannahewitt
An OG beauty girlie, Marianna Hewitt has leveraged social media savvy into a multiplatform beauty empire. Beyond helming the Sephora-favorite skin care brand Summer Fridays, alongside her cofounder Lauren Ireland, Hewitt’s lifestyle podcast “Life with Marianna” has climbed the Spotify ranks since launching in 2020, drawing both listeners and guests of all walks on the way up.
Go-to gift for others: Oura Ring, $299 to $499 at ouraring.com.
“The Oura Ring is the best investment I got for myself a few years ago. It’s a gift that gives back in endless ways, from tracking your sleep to your steps, which helps support our self care routines overall.”
Favorite gift to receive:
“My love language is quality time, so I love to receive experiences as gifts; spending time doing something memorable with my favorite people is the best gift I could receive.”
To me, quality means… “Quality in holiday gift-giving goes beyond the price — it’s about the thought that goes into picking a gift that the receiver will really enjoy. It’s finding something meaningful and showing that you’ve taken the time to remember things they may have mentioned to you in passing to make their holiday gift special.”
6. Alani Noelle, @wuzg00d
Streetwear fanatics have long known and loved Alani Noelle, but in 2023 the Brooklyn-based beauty and fashion creative had a particularly momentous year, unveiling a Future Collective apparel collection with Target and hitting the 400,000-follower milestone on Instagram thanks to her eccentric style and charm.
Go-to gift for others: Starface Hydro-star Pimple Patches, $14.99 at target.com, amazon.com, starface.world; Topicals Faded Fan Club set, $92 at sephora.com, mytopicals.com.
“I’m stuck between Starface’s Pimple Patches & Topicals’ top products. Both brands make skin care so fun and normalize skin conditions and acne, but most importantly, they actually work.”
Favorite gift to receive: Osea Ocean Eyes Age-defying Serum, $58 at ultabeauty.com, bluemercury.com, oseamalibu.com.
“For skin care, I love Osea’s eye serum — it forcibly reminds me to focus on my eye area, which I often forget about, and has the best and easiest mess-free cooling roll-on applicator.”
To me, quality means… “When it comes to brands, quality of course means an effective product — but beyond that, it means a brand run by people who care about the product they’re making and the people they are making it for. It means a brand with intention, integrity and care.”
7. Meredith Duxbury, @meredithduxbury
Meredith Duxbury has come a long way from the 10-pump foundation technique that first made her go viral in 2021. The New York City-based creator has since inked deals with beauty’s biggest brands including Lâncome and Tatcha, garnered a TikTok following of 18.8 million, and even co-created a six-product makeup range with Morphe this summer.
Go-to gift for others: Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Dreams Come True Makeup Vault, $390 at nordstrom.com, bloomingdales.com, charlottetilbury.com
“I love this makeup vault — it’s such a cute gift and you can use the box the makeup comes in as a little makeup organizer on your vanity; it’s like a 2-for-1.”
Favorite gift to receive: NuFace Trinity+ Starter Kit, $395
“You definitely can’t go wrong with any facial toning kit from NuFace; It’s the best little device to give your face an extra lift and to feel fresh for the new year.”
To me, quality means… “Quality is something that has a lot of thought and time put into it. If someone has dedicated their personal energy and effort into something, that’s what makes it ‘quality.'”
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