Whether you’re shopping for friends, family or both this holiday season, the pressure of finding the perfect present for every person on your list can be daunting. You want to find cool and unique gifts that show how well you know them, but spending hours scrolling through hundreds of options can turn anyone into a Grinch. So to help lend some inspiration (and save you precious time), we asked some of our favorite tastemakers, entrepreneurs and friends of Forbes Vetted to let us in on their own holiday shopping lists.
According to actress and Casa Del Sol co-founder Eva Longoria, the best gifts are often the ones that you would want to receive yourself. “Birds of a feather flock together, so anything I really like, usually my girlfriends will like too,” says Longoria, noting that she most recently bought her go-to Naked Cashmere sweat set for a bunch of her pals. Actress and host Drew Barrymore recommends tailoring the present to your loved one’s interests as much as possible, whether they like soaking in the tub with a luxe bath set or getting crafty with the kids. “It’s all about celebrating the people (and pets!) we cherish most,” she says. Ahead, check out more than 30 of the best celebrity-approved gifts—from Brooke Shields’ favorite candle to Nate Berkus’ trusted work jacket—and get your holiday shopping done in one fell swoop.
A Soft Wool Blanket For Staying Warm And Cozy
When Drew Barrymore isn’t hosting her popular daytime talk show, she moonlights as Etsy’s Chief Gifting Officer, lending her tips, tricks and signature style to the retailer’s marketplace of artisanal goods. “Gift giving is one of my love languages, and that’s why I adore Etsy for the holidays—every gift tells a story and feels like it was made just for that special person,” says Barrymore. Among her top picks for the season include this super soft merino wool blanket and an olive oil-scented candle—a sweet nod to her oldest daughter, Olive.
April Notes Shop Merino Wool Blanket
$149
A Silk Bamboo Eye Mask That Can Be Personalized
For the women in her life, Barrymore opts for a mix of personalized accessories and self-care items that will inspire a little rest and relaxation. For your favorite busy bee, she recommends this striped eye mask that can be embroidered with your giftee’s name, initials or a funny phrase. She also suggests an at-home spa kit with savasana massage oil, bath salts and a bath bomb. Another thoughtful option is a custom birthstone signet ring that never goes out of style. “It’s all about making the season just a little more magical,” she says.
Letter Party Embroidered Eye Mask
$45 And Up
A Festive DIY Ornament Kit For The Whole Family
“As I was curating these gifts, I thought about the holiday traditions I look forward to the most, like decorating the tree with my girls and exploring new places together as a family,” says Barrymore, who recommends picking up this DIY ornament kit that comes with five customizable wooden ornaments, plus paint pots and a paintbrush. Her other picks for kids include sweet gifts like this cute set of monogrammed pajamas and an activity-based advent calendar.
Jill Makes DIY Ornament Kit
$38
A Handcrafted Bottle Of Reposado
“Tequila is the gift that keeps on giving,” says Eva Longoria, who co-founded Casa Del Sol Tequila in 2022. “I also think people are really focused now on where their gifts come from, who's making it and how. Casa Del Sol is the only portfolio that ages in cognac barrels, but we also lean into our authenticity of being Mexican, while giving back.” For the holidays, Longoria loves gifting the brand’s espresso martini kit or a bottle of smooth reposado. “It goes really well with winter cocktails like Mexican hot toddys or an old fashioned with reposado, orange bitters and an orange slice over ice.”
Casa Del Sol Reposado Tequila
$67
A Luxe Perfume That Smells Good On Everyone
“I'm obsessed with Victoria Beckham's fragrances right now—even if we weren't friends, I would buy her perfume,” says Longoria. “I love Suite 302 and San Ysidro Drive, which is where she used to live in Beverly Hills, but Portofino is my favorite. They all come in a beautiful bottle with very luxurious packaging, which makes them a great gift for any woman in your life.”
Victoria Beckham Beauty Portofino '97 Eau De Parfum
$200
A Pair Of Joggers For The Guy On The Go
“For my husband, I’m buying athleisure wear from Alo,” says Longoria. “I wear their trousers and I shop there all the time for myself, but people forget they have an amazing men's line and the fabrics are so soft. I love these sueded joggers for my husband because he always wants to be comfortable and still look put together.”
Alo Edition Sueded Jogger
$128
A Sweet Holiday Treat For Kids
“I grew up eating buñuelos and Siete has these seasonal mini crisps that are so good,” says Longoria. “They taste like cinnamon fried tortillas, but they're grain-free, so they're a healthier option for a kids’ snack that still feels very holiday.”
Siete Grain Free Mini Buñuelos Cinnamon Crisps
$20
A Quality Bottle Of Wine To Toast The Season
“During the holidays, I get invited to a lot of gatherings and I always like to arrive with something for the table,” says interior designer and author Nate Berkus. “A bottle of wine is always a great idea. I like to bring a bottle of Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon, and for those who prefer a white wine, their Chardonnay is a versatile choice. This year Woodbridge Wines has partnered with Feeding America to help provide more than 2 million meals to those in need this holiday season, so another reason to gift a bottle to friends and family.”
Woodbridge By Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon
$8
A Classic Work Jacket With A Tailored Fit
“This classic men’s work jacket—to dress up or down—is a wardrobe staple and a great year-round gift idea for the man in your life,” says Berkus. Made in Portugal from 100% organic cotton, it comes in eight colors and a range of sizes up to XXL.
Isto Work Jacket
$225
A Thoughtful Design Book About The Meaning Of Home
“The Space That Keeps You is a beautiful book by my husband, Jeremiah,” says Berkus. “It’s a love story to home and the spaces that we create memories in. Perfect for a hostess gift, or any design-loving girlfriend.”
‘The Space That Keeps You’ By Jeremiah Brent
$33
A Patterned Pickleball Paddle For The Sporty Pal
For sports-loving friends and family, Giadzy founder Giada De Laurentiis recommends Tangerine’s patterned pickleball paddles. “I love their retro-chic design, plus they’re beautifully made so they feel good in your hand, too,” she says. Team that with a pair of De Laurentiis’ favorite Vuori sweatpants for men and women and you’ve got the perfect gift for the person on your list who likes to stay active.
Tangerine Gardiner’s Bay Pickleball Paddle
$85
A Trucker Hat With A Friendly Greeting
“I’m constantly stealing this cute trucker-style hat from my daughter,” says De Laurentiis of this cheeky unisex snapback from Clare V. “I just love the blocky print and bright colors.” For the accessory lover on your list, she also recommends a personalized piece of jewelry. “Designer Jane Winchester Paradis makes beautiful vintage-inspired pendants that are off-beat, meaningful and a great conversation piece.”
Clare V. ‘Ciao’ Trucker Hat
$50
A Holiday Delicacy Handmade In Italy
“Like a not-too-sweet cross between cake and brioche, panettone is a holiday staple in Italy. It’s delicious any time of day, but especially as a midnight snack,” says De Laurentiis, who offers both the traditional style bread on Giadzy, plus variations like double chocolate and apricot. If you have an Italophile on your list, a Giadzy membership is also an inspired choice. “With exclusive access to recipes, videos and travel guides to Italy, I designed it for anyone who needs a little extra dolce vita in their life.”
Giadzy Traditional Panettone
$75
A Minimalist Trio Of Tinted Lip Balms
“The pink and red shades in this chic trio of clean lip balms are so flattering and easy to wear,” says De Laurentiis of the Goop set that’s packed with botanical oils, vitamin C and shea butter. “I love that they keep my lips super-moisturized, too.”
Goop GoopGenes Clean Nourishing Lip Balm Trio
$48
A Cozy Hoodie For Football Sundays
“This hoodie is my favorite because it combines a sleek, versatile design with subtle team branding, making it perfect for everyday wear or game days,” says the entrepreneur and Good Morning America co-host. “The high-quality, comfortable material keeps you cozy while showing off your team pride in a stylish, understated way.”
MSX By Michael Strahan Denver Broncos Men’s Black Resolution Hoodie
$90
A Soothing Massage Gun For Enhanced Recovery
“After a workout or a long day, this is perfect,” says Strahan of the percussive massage gun that helps release muscle tension and stress. “It gives you that pro-level relief right at home, and it really gets the job done.”
Therabody Theragun Pro
$499
Customized AirPods For Easy Listening
"Customized AirPods Pro are next-level for both style and sound quality,” says Strahan. “They’re perfect for workouts, commutes or unwinding, and adding a personalized touch makes them even better for gifting."
Customized Apple AirPods Pro 2
$249
A Top-Of-The Line Wine Opener Created By French Sommeliers
“The Laguiole wine opener is perfect if you appreciate wine and want to add a cool accessory to your bar cart,” says Commence founder Brooke Shields. Handcrafted in Laguiole, France and designed by professional sommeliers, the corkscrew can be purchased in a variety of colors and wood types (olive, oak barrel, rosewood and more) and comes ready-to-gift in a beautiful leather sheath and gift box.
Forge De Laguiole Corkscrew
$259
A Chic Handmade Candle From Paris
“I love Rigaud Candles from Paris,” says Shields. Available in both holiday-themed scents like cypres (above) and classic ones like gardenia, “they are the perfect gift for everyone as they are chic and timeless.”
Rigaud Paris Cypres Candle
$45
A Lightweight Dry Shampoo That’s The Ideal Stocking Stuffer
“The Commence 2-In-1 Instant Shampoo is a great stocking stuffer or holiday gift for the woman in your life,” says Shields. “It’s a lightweight multitasking dry shampoo that instantly refreshes both the hair and scalp—perfect for the on-the-go woman who needs a quick refresh.”
Commence 2-In-1 Instant Dry Shampoo
$21
A Cool, Sustainably-Made Sneaker
“Allbirds sneakers are super light and incredibly comfortable, and the wool footbed adds that extra warmth—perfect for winter wear,” says Olympic snowboarder and Whitespace founder Shaun White. “They're just what you need when you’re stuck on a plane or out in the cold, keeping your feet cozy. Plus, they’re stylish and so great to throw on with a travel outfit or for a day out and about.”
Allbirds Tree Runners
$98
A Luxury Candle That Everyone Can Enjoy
“A Diptyque candle is such a great holiday gift—it’s simple and makes any room feel instantly cozier,” says White. “The scents are amazing and add that warm, festive vibe everyone loves this time of year. It’s one of those gifts that you really can’t go wrong with.”
Diptyque Baies (Berries) Classic Candle
$74
Outdoor Gear That Does Good
“This High West x Whitespace Merino Baselayer Mockneck Top is versatile, made with quality in mind and a great holiday gift for someone who loves the outdoors,” says White. “It’s also a gift you can feel good about giving with 20% of proceeds directly benefiting High West’s Protect The West Initiative, supporting organizations dedicated to preserving the West.”
High West x Whitespace Merino Baselayer Mockneck Top
$119
A Light, Floral Fragrance With A Beautiful And Refillable Bottle
“Armani Beauty My Way perfume makes every woman feel empowered and glamorous,” says actress Sydney Sweeney, who has been the face of the light and floral fragrance since 2023. “Not only is this an insanely gorgeous scent that smells amazing on everyone, but it also reduces its carbon footprint and impact on the environment through its innovative refill system, responsible ingredients sourcing and biodiversity protections. I love that you can smell good and do good this holiday season.”
Armani Beauty My Way Eau De Parfum
$90
A Lip Mask That Works Wonders While You Snooze
“Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is my go-to gift for everyone,” says Sweeney of the popular pout perfector that uses berry fruit complex, murumuru seed and shea butter to moisturize while you snooze. “I love giving different flavors to different friends.”
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
$24
A Moisturizing Men’s Body Wash That Smells Like Vacation
“I love practical gifts that are still fun and unique—Dr. Squatch Body Wash really nails that balance,” says Sweeney. “It's a perfect gift for any guy in your life, it smells great and it's a healthier, cleaner-for-you product. It's also one of those gifts that adds a little something special to their day and will definitely get used. I highly recommend the coconut scent.”
Dr. Squatch Men’s Coconut Castaway Body Wash
$14
A Festive Holiday Candle To Brighten Up Their Home
“Candles always make a great gift,” Sewing Down South co-founder and Southern Charm star Craig Conover told us when we caught up with him at the 70th anniversary party for Cracker Barrel Cheese in New York City. “They make your space so much cozier, they smell good and they bring back memories of growing up. At Sewing Down South, we make candles in Charleston and my holiday scents are my favorite, especially Pumpkin Pie and Under The Tree, but you can buy nice candles from anywhere. I like the ones that have wood wicks because they sound like a fireplace.”
Sewing Down South No. 13 Under The Tree Deux Candle
$54
Magnetic Collar Stays To Keep Shirts Looking Polished
“Another great present that you can buy on Amazon is a set of magnetic collar stays,” says Conover. “They’re perfect for any man or woman in your life that wears collar shirts and a cheat code for looking nice. They’re truly one of the best things I've bought recently.”
Würkin Stiffs Magnetic Collar Stays (Set Of Two)
$19.95
A Quality Set Of Cookware For The One That Likes To Host
“I’m a big soup guy, so I think a great soup pot is a nice thing to have for the holiday season,” says Conover. “I keep a set of All Clad pots and pans at my house in Charleston for holiday hosting. I love making cheddar broccoli, chicken noodle and vegetable beef soup, and the way the All Clad pot holds its heat makes cooking so much easier. When it comes time to make your guests breakfast, the sauté pan is also awesome for scrambled eggs and bacon.”
All-Clad D3 Tri-Ply Stainless-Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set
$699.95
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