20 Truly Great Gifts SELF Editors Recommend This Year (2024)

Not to flex—but here at SELF, we test a lot of products. In order to get the intel we need for our signature awards (like our Healthy Beauty Awards, Sneaker Awards, and Home Fitness Awards) and in-depth reviews and recommendations, we rack up tons of hours trying the best activewear, beauty products, fitness equipment, pantry staples, and more. Plus, we’re just generally a group of humans who love to shop.

Now that the holidays are here, we want to tell you about the stuff living rent-free in our heads that we think would make great gifts for anyone on your list. Our favorite picks include a self-heating mug, a comfy cashmere hoodie, a customizable photo album, and even a funky puzzle. Whether you’re shopping for friends, family, coworkers, or yourself (hey, you deserve a little treat!), you can find something they’ll love—take it from the SELF editors and testers who already do.

Our top picks

1. Ember Smart Mug 2
2. Shark Smoothstyle
3. Bombas Sunday Slipper
4. Therabody Theragun Mini
5. Cozy Earth Short Sleeve & Pant Bamboo Pajama Set

For more present picks, check out all of the best gift ideas of 2024.

Under $500

Sonos Ace Headphones

If they have a long train commute or live in a loud neighborhood, grab them some noise-canceling Sonos Ace Headphones to protect their peace. “The padded headband and ear cups are the right balance of firm and plush, and the noise cancellation and transparency modes work really well,” one SELF editor says. “I especially love how lightweight they are—I can wear them for hours while I work from home and they never feel too heavy or uncomfortable.” Bonus: They also come with a carrying case, so your giftee can toss them in a bag or suitcase worry-free.

Brooklinen Washed Linen Core Sheet Set

I was skeptical of how comfortable linen sheets could be when my mom gifted me this set last year—but now I totally get the hype. They’re soft and warm like flannel, but still breathable and lightweight, so I sleep like a baby.

Under $200

Therabody Theragun Mini

Don’t be surprised if you get a call thanking you for gifting them this gem of a device. They can use Therabody’s Home Fitness Award–winning massage gun on tight muscles after a workout or almost any ache. “It’s nice and compact, but still so strong and effective on sore spots!” one SELF editor says. “I love that pulling it out to use doesn’t feel like a whole to-do—it’s really purely self-care. I’ve also had it for four years, and it’s still in perfect condition.”

Cozy Earth Short Sleeve & Pant Bamboo Pajama Set

I’ve worn these pajamas every single week since getting them over six months ago. That also means they’ve been washed once a week, but they still feel as silky as they did on day one and haven’t pilled at all. I love the combo of a short-sleeve top and long pants, especially because I don’t have to keep rolling up my sleeves while washing my face or making breakfast. Plus, I can wear them in the summer without overheating.

Reigning Champ Robe

As comfy as their favorite hoodie, this robe will make sipping their morning brew a truly indulgent experience. One SELF editor says it’s the definition of luxury: “It’s the perfect weight; it has cuffed sleeves (so no dragging through food or sink water); and it has a hood, which I’ve found truly completes the cozy vibe.”

Kindle Paperwhite

Even a lengthy novel will be lightweight and portable when they read it on a Kindle Paperwhite. Good news if they’re wary of adding another screen to their life: It’s anti-glare and emits very little blue light, so it’s easy on the eyes and shouldn’t cause headaches. “I went from maybe picking up one book a month to flying through entire novels in a single day,” SELF’s senior commerce editor wrote in her review. “Now, I actually look forward to waiting in long lines or hopping on the subway—any excuse to pull my Kindle out and sneak in another chapter.”

Etam Pallie Cashmere Hooded Sweater

This cashmere hoodie is equally cozy and sleek, which is why one SELF editor reaches for it over and over again. She loves the loose—but not too oversized—fit, and the way the cuffed wrists and cinched waist give it more structure. “It's one of my absolute favorite pieces to wear snuggling on the couch or out to brunch with my girlfriends,” she says.

Ember Smart Mug 2

This self-heating mug can keep their coffee or tea steaming hot for up to 80 minutes (or all day on its charging base), so they won’t have to keep nuking it in the microwave. SELF’s senior commerce writer says this is one of her favorite presents she’s ever received: “The best gifts can make your everyday life feel a little fancier, and that’s exactly what this did—it’s easy to charge and connect to the app to operate it; it has a really nice weight to it; and it keeps my coffee seriously hot, even after I’ve dumped a bunch of almond milk in it,” she says.

Manduka’s Eko Yoga Mat

Don’t underestimate how much a solid yoga mat can improve their practice. SELF’s senior commerce writer has used this Manduka mat for the last year during her daily flows. Its zebra-striped texture makes sure clammy hands won’t slide, and it grips the floor like it’s been super-glued in place. “The greatest gift you can give a yoga lover is the promise that they won’t slip on their own sweat in the middle of a sequence—and with the Eko Mat, those days are blessedly behind me,” she says.

Shark Smoothstyle

If they hate battling with their blow-dryer, the Shark SmoothStyle will be a game changer for them. It dries and straightens my long, wavy-curly hair in about 20 minutes. But my favorite feature is the heated combs—which only turn on when the air is off—because they make my hair extra smooth and bouncy. And nothing says gift-worthy like someone asking “where’d you get this thing?” (which is exactly what my mom and friend wondered when they tried mine).

Under $100

Papier Our Family Annual Large Hardback Photo Book

A photo album is always a hit—it’s a sweet memento to have in their home and it’s entertaining to flip through. A SELF editor recommends this one from Papier: “I used its photo book for my wedding album—it’s such a lovely keepsake, and the paper quality is so sturdy,” she says, adding that there are tons of ways to personalize it. “Everything is super high quality and there are so many design options that feel chic, modern, classy, and beautiful.”

Bombas Sunday Slipper

If they’re constantly walking around the house in socks—or worse, bare feet—these slippers are about to majorly upgrade their life. “I feel sooo fancy and bougie with these on!” SELF’s lifestyle writer says. “They look chic and expensive (they kind of are, but the quality is legit). They come in all sorts of fun colors and are supersoft and durable.”

Athleta All About Backpack

Giving them a sleek bag they can bring to the gym, take on a trip, or use as a work bag? How thoughtful of you. “It can be tough to find a backpack that doesn’t give middle school, but this one is simple and stylish,” SELF’s senior commerce editor says. “The size is deceiving—it’s pretty small, but I can fit a ton of stuff inside.” It has all of our must-haves, like an internal water bottle sleeve, a padded laptop compartment, a zippered pocket, and a loop for their keys.

Under $50

Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag 1L

This belt bag first took the internet by storm a few years ago, but it still holds up for several SELF editors. I break it out any time I’m going for a stroll around my neighborhood or a quick grocery run. It fits the essentials: phone, wallet, keys. And its small size is perfect for concerts or other live events with bag restrictions.

Sistine Stretch Good Body Oil

This Healthy Beauty Award–winning body oil might be the product that gets them to start moisturizing from head to toe. “I’ve never had a good body oil before, and now I don’t know how I lived without one,” our tester says. “It doesn’t absorb super quickly, which I actually like. It leaves you with that freshly hydrated, slippery feeling for a good couple of hours, which is why I’d recommend using it before bed.” And while we know it’s what’s on the inside that counts, the packaging is too gorgeous not to give a shout.

Loop Experience Ear Plugs

As SELF’s senior commerce writer puts it, these Loop ear plugs have “saved [her] from being a cranky elder millennial at concerts.” They’re tiny and tech-free, but make a huge difference—they dampen cacophonous background noise while still allowing vocals and instruments to sound crisp. “They’ve helped me enjoy shows that I probably would have found too loud or overwhelming otherwise, and they don’t draw attention to themselves or need to be readjusted a million times in order to work properly,” our writer says.

Owala FreeSip

Several SELF staffers roll up to the lunch table carrying this water bottle—it’s a real crowd-pleaser. It keeps H_²O icy cold for hours, has a leakproof, lockable lid, and comes in a bunch of funky colorways. But our favorite feature is its combo spout, which has a larger opening for glugging water and a smaller one attached to a straw for sipping.

“I’m convinced that once you try the two-in-one spout, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it,” SELF’s senior commerce editor wrote in her review of the Owala. “I’ve already yapped about it enough to convince a few friends and family to pick up their own (mostly so they’d stop borrowing mine).”

Rare Beauty Find Comfort Gentle Exfoliating Body Wash & Hydrating Body Lotion

I tried Rare Beauty’s body lotion for our Healthy Beauty Awards (spoiler alert: It’s a winner), and fell in love with its fresh scent and lightweight, creamy formula. But adding the body wash to my routine really took my self-care to the next level. It has a gel consistency and little exfoliating beads that give my skin a gentle scrub. Plus, it fills my shower with the lotion’s same notes of fresh lemon zest and vetiver.

Magic Puzzle Company The Sunny City Jigsaw Puzzle (1000-Piece)

Bring back the fun of opening a holiday gift they can play with immediately by getting them this whimsical jigsaw puzzle. While they make progress fitting together all 1,000 pieces, they’ll have at least 50 Easter eggs to spot as an added challenge. “Once you finish, there’s an added element where you can rearrange the whole image and get an extra set of pieces to build out a surprise ending, which is very cute,” one SELF editor says.

Lanolips 12-Hour Overnight Lip Mask

Nourishing hyaluronic acid and ceramides are the star ingredients in this Healthy Beauty Award–winning lip balm. “I LOVE LOVE LOVE this!” our tester says. “I work in a hospital and have to wear a mask for many hours, which dries out my lips. After having this on all day, my lips stayed moisturized thanks to its superthick consistency.”

How We Picked These Products

Every single product on this list has been tested by SELF staff or contributors. We try new products day in and day out, whether it’s for our awards or in our everyday lives. Now that it’s gift-giving season, we leaned on our experience to come up with a curated list of our all-time favorite finds, including products we’ve gifted our own loved ones.

Related:

• 58 Actually Useful Gifts All Practical People Will Appreciate
• 51 Thoughtful Gifts for People Who Have Everything
• 29 Subscription Gifts You Can Send Last-Minute

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