Holiday Gift Guide

Tired of giving the same ol’ gift card or pair of socks for Christmas? How about giving the gift of great skin this year? It’s easy to do with the right skincare products. The best part? You can absolutely pick the perfect lotion and potion to match the personality or lifestyle of everyone on your list. Below, gift options to make even your distant third cousin squeal with joy!

FOR THE MODERN WOMAN

“Busy” is the modern woman’s usual response to how things are. Long gone are the days of homemaking for this type of woman, who is always on the go and with a million and one things on her mind. She’s the lady who usually slacks on her skincare routine (if she has one at all), which makes a moisturizing night cream the perfect gift. A good night cream like IMAGE’S The Max Stem Cell Creme ($96) applied right before bed can repair, hydrate, and exercise skin while sleeping, requiring very little effort and time. How’s that for beauty sleep?

FOR THE OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST

If you live in Colorado, you’re bound to know at least one (if not a few) outdoor enthusiasts, especially in Boulder. Since these folks spend a lot of time in the elements of nature, their skin requires some special attention. Even if the outdoor enthusiast in your life is religious about SPF, we bet they’re probably forgetting to care for their lips, causing their smoocher to get dry and chapped. So help keep their kisser healthy with IMAGE’s Ormedic Balancing Lip Enhancement Complex ($17.50), which works to both heal and hydrate lips, a must in this dry Colorado weather and especially so during the cold Winter months ahead.

FOR THE MINIMALIST

Less is more for the minimalist, who if given the choice would ideally use one product and be done. And while a well-rounded skincare routine is ideal, if the minimalist is going to use one single product it should be a great tinted moisturizer with SPF, since it provides hydration, coverage, and protection. IMAGE’S PreventionPlus Daily Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30+ ($37) does exactly that in one single application! Minimalists rejoice.

FOR TEENS

Gifting a skincare product to a teenager may not sound very exciting, but do you remember how clueless, busy, and prone to breakouts you were as a teen? Between sports and hormonal highs and lows, teens have enough on their minds to put skincare at the very end of their list of priorities (if even at all). So help out the teen in your life by giving the gift of skincare on the go with IMAGE’S Clear Cell Salicylic Clarifying Pads ($29). Not only do these handy pads fight against breakouts by removing oil and bacteria from skin, its blend of antioxidants and calming ingredients reduce acneic inflammation while leaving skin fresh and clean.

FOR THE COLLEGE STUDENT

Remember your college days? Between the parties and finals, it was hard to keep skin looking fresh and dewy, no thanks to the effects of alcohol and stress on the skin. Help a student rediscover their glowing skin this holiday season with IMAGE’s Iluma Intense Brightening Exfoliating Powder ($29.90). Containing a blend of coconut and papaya enzymes, this exfoliating powder does double duty, cleansing and exfoliating skin for a clear complexion and a healthy glow.

FOR EVERYONE ELSE

From young to old, everyone can benefit from an effective product with a good dosage of Vitamin C. Similar to other antioxidants, Vitamin C is essential in nourishing skin and fighting free radicals. When added to a serum like IMAGE’S Vital C Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum ($56), Vitamin C works to immediately soothe the effects of environmentally damaged skin an create a healthy glow. Best part? This serum is ideal for ALL skin types, making it easy for you to cross off even that distant third cousin from your christmas gift list.