You don’t have to wait for a holiday to roll around to give your friends a beauty gift, but if we had to choose one day to shower our besties with presents, it would have to be on Valentine’s Day(or, as we know it, Galentine's Day). Aside from the limited-edition pink packaging and the major discounts on our favorite products, Valentine’s Day is the day of appreciation for the people you love the most, and we’re here to provide all the gifts worth giving.
Treat your girlfriend to a redness-reducing CC cream or give the gift of a beautifully designed home with oil diffusers that add a touch of luxury to their shelf. Maybe opt for a brightening eye balm for the friend who never sleeps, or a purifying mask for the friend that loves to indulge in self-care. And don’t forget a high-powered device, like NuFace FIX Line-Smoothing Regimen, for a three-minute pick-me-up.
Coincidentally, SkinStore’s Anniversary Sale commences on the same day as Valentine's Day and continues through 2/27. Many of the below products will be available at 30 percent off, so the sooner you shop the sooner you’ll be able to save. Until then, join the waitlist so you're the first to know when the sale drops.
No matter which friend you’re catering to, there’s something for everyone in your girl squad in the roundup below. We can almost guarantee this will be your best Galentine’s Day gifting yet.
For the one who always re-applies lip balm:
If you ask me, this shiny lip gloss is the ultimate gift for Galentine's Day. And here’s why: it’s rich in antioxidants and fatty acids to deeply condition the lips, it creates a protective barrier from environmental stressors thanks to organic jojoba oil, and it naturally adds volume and shine to your pout. I dare any gloss lover not to fall in love with this purse essential.
For the scent-obsessed:
I have more candles than I care to admit, but the one that always racks up the most “oohhs” and “aahhs” is Ellis Brooklyn Verb. Energetic and bright, each whiff of this candle wisps you away to a tropical island, and it fills your entire space with that just-left-the-beach calmness. Boasting top notes of bergamot, mandarin, and green basil with base notes of musk and cedarwood, delicious is an understatement when it comes to this home essential.
For the one with the two-step routine:
This Korea-born color-correcting cream is currently going viral on TikTok, and it’s for good reason. It makes you look like you, just a touch more even, blurred, and glowy. If you’re looking for a filter-like finish without layers of products and powders, this will be your new go-to. It also features shade match technology to blend seamlessly into your skin, and it’s easy and pliable enough to apply with your hands.
For the homebody:
Turn your space into a fragrant oasis (yes, this is possible even in New York City) with Nest’s aromatic and fresh diffuser. Designed to slowly and evenly disperse the scent into the air, this rich aroma lasts up to 90 days without dying out. If your Galentine loves a clean and fresh moment (think pink grapefruit, Lily of the valley, and coriander blossom), they’ll be re-purchasing this shelf essential until the end of time.
For the night owl:
Whether they’re hard at work, doom scrolling on TikTok, or reading until the sun comes up, we all know a night owl.And we have just the right solution when they wake up looking like they got no sleep. This eye balm instantly brightens the under eyes, helping to refresh and visibility illuminate dull-looking eyes. The formula—it’s lightly tinted and completely mineral-based—includes hyaluronic acid, cucumber extract, red algae, and glycerin to cool the eyes upon contact and help reduce visible puffiness. It’s the perfect one-stop-shop for faking that fresh-faced glow, and we're giving it to all of our sleepy friends on Galentine's Day.
For the one who struggles with acne:
The gift of a multi-acid facial peel may sound a bit intense, but trust us when we say that this is one of our all-time favorite products for unleashing clean, mirrored skin. Harnessing kojic, lactic, glycolic and salicylic acids, this peel resurfaces and evens the skin tone with each use without being over-drying or irritating. Simply apply the pre-saturated step-one pad onto the skin, allow it to dry, and proceed to pad number two. Top with an ultra-hydrating moisturizer—we've been loving Obagi Medical Hydrate Luxe—and make sure to wear SPF 30 or above whenever you’re in the sun for seven days prior to use (and forever!).
For the one who never wears SPF:
Wearing sunscreen is arguably one of the most important skin care steps, but according to cancer.gov, only about 30 percent of women and less than 15 percent of men regularly use it on both the face and other exposed areas of skin. If your bestie is one of the many that don’t prioritize SPF, give them the gift of protection with SkinCeuticals’ UV-blocking formula for Galentine's Day. Formulated with 1 percent tranexamic acid and 2 percent niacinamide, the serum-sunscreen duo helps reduce existing discoloration and protect against future sun damage. We like to apply it over our moisturizer or by itself for all-day hydration and defense.
For the self-care obsessed:
What do you give a friend on Valentine’s day? In my opinion, the best answer is always a face mask. We know it can be tricky to tailor your gift to your giftee’s skin type, so opt for a mask that does the job on anyone.This decongesting formula isrich in volcanic ash, Irish moor mud, and activated charcoal to hydrate and revitalize skin, minimizing the look or pores and fine lines. When you wash it off, you’ll be in shock at how glowy and clean your complexion looks.
For the forever-young:
Fine lines stand no chance against this limited-edition, microcurrent-powered skin plumper. From aging lips to crow's feet around the eyes, this tool targets the skin at every level to smooth, hydrateand brighten, and it leaves no crease left behind. Use it for three minutes per treatment area for optimal results you’ll notice right away.
For the girly girl:
Bright pink and perfect for the hair lover, this ceramic hot brush will get your giftee’s hair smooth and bouncy in just a few minutes. We prefer to use it on second-day hair when we wake up with a frizzy ‘do, as it immediately takes out any crimps and bumps and unleashes gorgeous locks. As a bonus, $20 from every purchase will be donated to The Pink Agenda in support of breast cancer research.
For the one with expensive taste:
We get it: you probably wouldn’t spend $80 on a brush for yourself without a special occasion. But you may be excited to receive one from your bestie on Galentine's Day. This one in particular helps detangle without snagging or damaging the hair, providing that amazing glide you look for in your everyday brush. It gently massages the scalp as it smooths thanks to its flexible pneumatic cushion, which is suitable for bothwet and dry hair.
For the one with fine hair:
My mom is my number-one Galentine, so I’m re-stocking her all-time favorite conditioner as a token of my love and affection. She has very fine hair, so she likes a lightweight formula that still packs a punch. This one checksallofher boxes. Formulated with the brand’s Alpha Keratin complex, this conditioner acts as a high-powered treatment for dry hair by depositing human keratin directly into the scalp. When you step out of the shower, you’ll notice the shine and softness before you even turn the blow dryer on.
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