Christmas gifts under $25

How to choose

Begin with the person rather than the category. A colleague who wears studs most days may welcome a pair of earrings, while a friend who changes lip colour with the season will use a gloss or oil more often. The strongest small gift is one that fits a habit already in place, so think about what they reach for on a weekday morning and what they save for evenings out.

One good thing usually reads more generously than a bundle of smaller items. If you are drawn to two pieces, choose them from different corners of the store: a jewellery piece with a body oil, or a scarf with a lip gloss. That contrast makes the present feel assembled rather than bought in a hurry, and it gives the recipient two ways into the gift.

Consider how the gift will be used. A mirror, a brush or a nail kit tends to stay at home and becomes part of a routine; a bracelet, scarf or beanie is worn out and seen. Neither is better, but the setting helps you choose. If the recipient is practical, look at tools and accessories; if they enjoy colour, start with lips or eyes and build around that.

Ideas from our shelves

For jewellery, the Adjustable Freshwater Pearl Bracelet sets freshwater pearls on a slender alloy band in a clean geometric line that adjusts to the wrist. The Square Baroque Pearl Pendant Necklace puts a square-set baroque pearl on a water wave chain, light on the neck and gently luminous. Either suits someone who prefers a single finishing piece to a full stack.

Accessories are useful when you want warmth without worrying about shade or fit. The Faux Cashmere Long Winter Scarf is a long wrap to loop close on cold mornings and drape over coats, knitwear and tailored jackets. The Faux Fur Pom Pom Knitted Beanie is a knitted acrylic beanie with a satin lining and a generous faux fur pom pom, made to sit close on bitter mornings. Both work for someone who walks to work or spends weekends outdoors.

For beauty, the Moisturizing Jelly Lip Oil settles over lips in a soft, even gloss without a sticky feel, and the Ultra-Glossy High-Shine Lip Gloss gives a glassy, mirror-bright finish. The Volumizing Curling Mascara builds volume, curl and length from root to tip. A Rechargeable Lighted Makeup Mirror with 5x Lens gives a clear, evenly lit view for makeup and grooming, with a rechargeable monochromatic light and a close-detail lens. These are the kinds of pieces that slot into a routine rather than sit in a drawer.

For hair and body, the Human Hair Drawstring Ponytail Extension gathers natural black human hair on a drawstring, so extra length arrives in minutes, and the strands can be dyed and heat styled. The Silky Shimmer Body Oil is a lightweight body oil with a silky glide and a fine, shifting shimmer that leaves skin catching the light. The Brightening Eye Cream brings a brighter look around the eyes and helps makeup keep a fresh finish, while the Crystal Gel Nail Extension Kit with UV/LED Lamp includes a dual-light UV/LED lamp, 30ml crystal gel adhesive and an 18-piece tool set in a leather case for shaped, glassy extensions built at home.

When you are unsure of size, shade or taste

If size is the question, clothing and shoe pages link a size guide with UK, US and EU conversions. Read the measurements rather than guessing from a label, and if the recipient is between sizes, choose the category where fit matters less, such as a scarf, bracelet or lip colour.

For shade, Shop by Colour matches a shade from a photo, and the Beauty Mirror tries lip and cheek shades on your own face. If you cannot test in person, a gloss or lip oil is often simpler to choose than a precise base product, and a body oil with shimmer is less shade-dependent.

Taste is harder. When you are unsure, a gift card sent by email lets the recipient choose the piece. If you want something to open, choose a classic category and keep the message simple; the e-card from 'Sending a gift?' carries your note.

Making it personal

In the bag, 'Sending a gift?' takes the recipient's email and a message; they receive an e-card with your note. The parcel can go to their own address, so the gift arrives ready to open. This is useful when you are sending to someone in another city and want the message to land with the gift rather than in a separate card.

Choose a piece that matches a detail you already know: a colour they wear often, a metal tone they reach for, or a routine they mention. A pearl bracelet for someone who wears bracelets, a scarf for someone who feels the cold, a lip oil for someone who keeps a balm in every bag.

Keep the wrapping and message simple. A short note about why you chose that piece is more personal than a long card, and it gives the recipient a reason to use it. If you are building a small gift around one item, add a second from a different category only when it has a clear purpose.

Standout pieces

• Adjustable Freshwater Pearl Bracelet: Freshwater pearls sit on a slender alloy band in a clean geometric line, and the bracelet adjusts to the wrist for an easy, polished finish.
• Faux Cashmere Long Winter Scarf: The Faux Cashmere Long Winter Scarf is a long faux cashmere wrap to loop close on cold mornings and drape over coats, knitwear and tailored jackets.
• Moisturizing Jelly Lip Oil: A cushiony jelly that settles over lips in a soft, even gloss, leaving them comfortable and conditioned without any sticky feel.
• Silky Shimmer Body Oil: A lightweight body oil with a silky glide and a fine, shifting shimmer that leaves skin catching the light, worn alone or layered for depth.