34 Beauty Gifts Teens and Tweens Are Secretly Wishing For

The heyday of Limited Too and Bath & Body Works scents might be behind us, but teens and tweens still love viral, smelly potions. At the top of their wishlist this holiday season are the sweet smells by Sol de Janeiro. You can’t go wrong with any of the fragrance families. Plus, this set allows them to experience the body wash, cream, and mist.

Who would have ever imagined that staying germ-free would be cool? Touchland made it happen with its easy-to-recognize sanitizers, which have become popular among kids and adults. Gift this pack of three to one special tween in your life, or split it up as the ultimate stocking stuffer.

“While a tween or teen doesn’t necessarily need an expensive moisturizer, for those who are looking for a Drunk Elephant product, this one contains ceramides to help support the skin barrier,” Dr. Garshick explains. If you aren’t familiar, this is the brand that the young ones flock to in Sephora stores. The formula is gentle. “And it helps to leave the skin feeling softer and smoother,” Dr. Garshick adds.

I know what you’re thinking: Dior? For kids? But, yes, they are already showing strong interest in prestige brands, thanks to viral TikToks. One Sephora shopper wrote a question under the lip oil saying, “Hii I’m a 6th grader 🎀 and I have been seeing these lip oils everywhere. Which shade do I get: raspberry or pink? For background info, I go to a private school, and I like natural-looking makeup. TYSM!!❤️” Chances are your little one is secretly wishing for this one, too. And you can feel safe gifting it to them, thanks to its clean, allergen-free formula.

Another brand at the top of Generation Alpha’s lexicon these days is Bubble. “This lightweight mineral sunscreen is a great option for tweens, as it is non-comedogenic while effectively providing broad-spectrum SPF 40 coverage,” Dr. Garshick shares. “It’s easy to apply and blends easily into the skin without leaving a white cast.”

Preteens think of beauty routines as another fun activity, which is why Cala’s playful eye pads have caught their attention. Pick from a combination of watermelon, daisy, and avocado pads to make their self-care rituals even more fun.

Another brand front and center in the minds of young beauty lovers is Byoma. While the brand isn’t specifically created for little ones (some formulas have anti-aging ingredients), there are a few products that are appropriate for any age group, including the Creamy Jelly Cleanser here. It’ll gently remove debris and dirt, and if they’re playing around in makeup already, it will melt away those products, too.

Speaking of viral beauty essentials for teens and tweens, one thing their favorite beauty tutorials have in common is these fluffy headbands. Not only is it cute to wear while washing their faces, but thanks to a microfiber material that absorbs water, it also helps to keep their hair from getting wet. Go all out this holiday season and get them a set with coordinating scrunchies.

Here’s a brand built specifically for the little ones. Evereden advocates for learning about skin health early and prides itself on creating non-toxic products. Get your young one started on the right track with this fun, face-stamped shampoo and conditioner set that also comes with a free brush.

Add Rhode to the ever-growing list of buzzy internet brands. The easily recognizable beauty brand, founded by Hailey Bieber, is beloved for its phone case and lip gloss combos. For the fall, Rhode released a few new shades, ranging from this bright pink hue to trendy espresso.

“This lip sleeping mask not only feels great and smells great, but also delivers a boost of hydration overnight using coconut oil, shea butter, and murumuru seed butter,” Garshick explains. “The different scents and colors make it fun for teens and tweens while still providing benefits.”

Help them get their beauty sleep with Slip’s holiday-themed set. This one comes with a plaid eye mask to block out any light while sleeping and two silky scrunchies to tie hair up without any damage.

“Containing a blend of ceramides, niacinamide, and cucumber, this gentle cleanser helps to support the skin barrier while also calming inflammation and soothing the skin, making it a great option for a tween,” Dr. Garshick recommends. “It is also fragrance-free and hypoallergenic.”

When they aren’t swinging the bat at softball practice or shooting threes at basketball games, they’ll enjoy dressing up with these prismatic press-on nails. The mix of lighting strikes, checker boxes, squiggles, stars, daisies, and hearts will speak to their souls.

The gentle ingredients in Peach & Lily’s skin care formulas are ideal for sensitive skin. Plus, the panda wrapping these masks come in is too cute to say no to.

KNC Beauty is one of those brands that has transcended generations, but Gen Alpha loves the label specifically for its playful eye patches shaped like shooting stars.

Frosty the Snowman teamed up with Colourpop to deliver a kid-friendly eyeshadow duo. Your little one can choose from icy blue or rosy pink shades to play in this holiday season.

“For those who are looking for a dewy glow, these drops contain niacinamide, which is gentle enough for tween or teen skin,” Garsick explains. The viral drops are also great for mixing with their favorite moisturizers for hydrated, glass-like skin.

Glossier has mastered the art of a less-is-more approach to beauty, which is exactly what the younger generations love. This holiday season, you can wrap up two beloved lip glosses in ready-to-give ornament packaging.

In addition to all the makeup and skin care favorites, Emi Jay’s hair clips have become the must-have accessory. These pins add a playful touch to any hairstyle, from ponytails to braids and so much more.