Cool Editors and Their Moms Agree—These Are the Best Beauty and Fashion Gifts of 2026
Call it inherited taste.
If there's one thing I know about my fellow Who What Wear editors, it's that they can throw together a chef's-kiss gift guide. You'll see approximately one million roundups of "must-have" items from influencers, celebrities, and other editors from now until late December, but it takes years of experimentation and refinement to give truly impressive recommendations. Not only do our editors have their fingers on the pulse of all things undeniably cool before they hit the market (it's literally our job), but we also have mother figures who have bestowed their stylish ways upon us since birth. Call it inherited taste, if you will.
Our beauty, fashion, and shopping editors called upon their mothers, aunts, and loved ones to put together a chic list of bona fide crowd-pleasers that will surprise even the pickiest of giftees. Below: perfume recommendations from fragrance snobs, wellness picks that offer real results, winter accessories that chic people can't stop wearing, and even a board game set. Keep scrolling for the list you'll end up referencing when Black Friday sales roll around.
25 Holiday Gift Ideas for 2026, Per WWW Editors and Their Moms
Standout Gifts
- Best Skincare Device: Currentbody Series 3 LED Red Light Therapy Face Mask, $570
- Best Under-$40: Rhode Pocket Pair Limited Edition Lip + Cheek Set, $38
- Best Lifestyle: Oura Ring 5, $399
- Most Functional: Quince Cashmere Lined Leather Gloves, $50
- Best Keepsake: La Bonne Brosse Small Brush N02, $155
Beauty
If you want to give a gift that has staying power, consider a La Bonne Brosse hairbrush. It's a small upgrade that can make a huge impact in your recipient's day-to-day, whether detangling stubborn knots or smoothing damp, freshly washed hair. The brush feels smooth and substantial in the hand while being entirely ergonomic, and the boar bristles make it easy to glide through thick strands. Extra points if you get it engraved with their name, making it a perfect display piece on their vanity and an eventual heirloom.
If there's one thing that my mother appreciates giving to loved ones (and receiving) around the holidays, it's Jo Malone fragrances. "You can never go wrong gifting Jo Malone," says the woman herself, Lori Brascia. "They have a scent for everyone, and this duo would be amazing to try!" The combination of earthy and citrus notes between both perfumes would expand anyone's fragrance wardrobe beautifully, and you can even take things a step further by layering them on top of one another.
"My mom is a true beauty minimalist; she tends to stick to her tried-and-true routine. Recently, though, she took a trip to California to visit my brother, sister-in-law, and nephew. When she got back, she ordered Salt & Stone's Santal & Vetiver Body Wash," says WWW beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock. "'They had it in their guest bathroom,' she explained. 'It smells like it belongs in a high-end hotel.'" She's not wrong. As a fervent fan of all things Salt & Stone, I can confirm it smells downright luxurious—warm, woody, and slightly spicy. I can also confirm it has a high-performance formula (think vitamin C, prebiotics, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid). While body wash might not be the most obvious gift, my mom is already planning on giving it to her sister as a holiday present. I suggested upping the ante and including the matching body lotion as well. "
WWW editors go bonkers for Hailey Bieber's Rhode beauty products, so it's no surprise that we're eyeing the brand's new limited-edition lip and cheek sets ahead of the holidays. This kit includes two full-sized products that would set you back $45 if purchased alone, but gets you a slight deal when purchased together. Plus, there's something about the pink, mauve, and berry shades that feel oh-so holiday-coded.
Good taste in beauty runs in the family. Case in point: WWW senior fashion editor Anna LaPlaca and her aunt recommending Osea's decadent line of bodycare products. "We're both cult followers of Osea and think that the body oil is one of the best out there," says LaPlaca. "I personally love how it sinks into the skin while somehow never feeling greasy, and the clean ingredients list gets a stamp of approval in my book, but she also insisted that the body scrub would pair well with it to make an A+ gifting duo, and I have to agree. Using both together will leave you with the softest, most heavenly-feeling skin."
"When I asked my mom what beauty gifts she’d want this year, she had two words: 'Anything Yise,'" says senior beauty editor Jamie Chevron. "I’d argue she’s the biggest brand loyalist there is (no lie, it makes up her entire skincare routine), and she always asks me to divulge the latest launches so she can scoop them up as quickly as possible. Her latest obsession is the Xtremely Quenched Peptide Instant Glow Moisturizer (which, by the way, has the silkiest texture that wears heavenly under makeup), but she’s itching to get her hands on the just-dropped Xtreme Glass Vegan PDRN Hydrogel Sheet Mask for Glass Skin. Little does she know that as I type this sentence, I have this five-piece bundle en route…"
"As a shameless beauty editor, I often visit my parents in the midst of product testing. One day, I could be wearing glittery eye makeup. The next, I'm wearing a hair mask. Often, I'm wearing eye patches," says McLintock. "They're my favorite little luxury for feeling awake and refreshed, while also targeting fine lines, dark circles, and under-eye bags. At some point, my mom asked, 'Do those really work?' I said, 'Absolutely,' and sent her one of my favorite Korean pairs: Mediheal's Retinol Collagen Eye Ampoule Patches. They use retinol liposomes, collagen, glutathione, and niacinamide to firm fine lines and wrinkles, restore elasticity, fade dark spots, and brighten dark circles. My mom has started wearing them every morning while sipping coffee. 'I love how cooling they are. They make me feel more awake, and like I'm making the most of my morning,' she told me."
"My mom also asked me to recommend 'another Tom Ford eye shadow palette for fall,' as she’s deeply obsessed with the designer brand’s sumptuous, long-wearing formulas," says Chevron. "I, too, consider myself a Tom Ford makeup devotee, and the Evening Attire quad—featuring taupe, rust, gold, and rich espresso shades—is my personal go-to for an easy autumn-coded beat. A bonus: Those warm earth tones are also A+ for accentuating our blue eyes."
Wellness
Ever since introducing my mom to LED masks a few years back, she has become quite interested in seeing what else red light therapy can do for her body and skin. The Lumebox is a handheld LED device that makes it easy to soothe aching joints, menstrual cramps, sore muscles, and more, while also offering the skin-plumping benefits of collagen stimulation that we love for our faces. Instead of localizing all the effort on her face, she wants to treat her entire body—and for that, I must applaud her.
"If you really want to treat someone this year, my mom and I recommend Currentbody's Red Light Therapy Face Mask," says McLintock. My mother, on the other hand, is taking things a step further and recommending you add the neck mask as well. (She has the Currentbody mask already and wants to complete her set.) "The new Series 3 just launched. It has six clinically proven wavelengths, four clinician-approved preset modes, and personalized treatment options to target all visible signs of aging (read the full review for all the nitty-gritty details)," McLintock adds. "It's a high-impact device that can majorly upgrade someone's skincare routine. Both my mom and I use ours consistently and can vouch for the newfound brightness, smoothness, and firmness we see."
My mom is getting more into wellness and longevity, especially after acquiring the Oura Ring 4 this summer. With the release of the slimmer, less bulky version, the Oura Ring 5, her interest has been renewed. "An Oura Ring is such an amazing product to gift or receive," she states. "Tracking your sleep and health couldn’t be easier, and it offers such a great insight into our bodies!"
One of my mom's little luxuries is having silver tubes of Marvis toothpaste stocked in her bathroom, and she always makes sure to leave my sister and I with fresh ones when we see her. "It's such a great stocking stuffer," my mom raves. "It's the only toothpaste I’ve ever used that makes my mouth feel incredibly clean for hours!"
Fashion
Whether or not my mom knows I've been on the hunt for a good pair of black leather gloves, she's clearly two steps ahead of me. "Who doesn’t love receiving a great quality pair of gloves?" my mom says in a text bubble following this link. The cashmere lining inside makes these gloves extra warm on cold winter days—an essential in Chicago, where I'll be going to see her for the holidays—and the supple lambskin leather is stunningly soft. For just $50, these are a perfect gift for friends, family, and more.
Since brocade coats with fur lapels have been taking over the wardrobes of celebrities and tastemakers this season, allow this to be your reminder that you don't need to purchase an entirely new coat to participate in this trend. A faux fur pull-through scarf like this one from Apparis is a great gift for anyone who wants to transform the long coats they already own into a similar version—simply drape the scarf over the lapels of your jacket and thread one side through the other. Et voilà.
If you're looking for a chic gift for a fashion lover (or mom, if you're reading this and looking for a gift for your daughter), consider these red leather mules from Reformation. This bordeaux shade feels especially suited to fall and winter, though the classic black leather is also calling my name.
"My mom and I both on the hunt for a brown belt this fall, and I not-so-subtly pointed her to this medallion option, which hasn’t left my brain since it debuted on the Dior runway," says Chevron. "I love how the statement accessory instantly elevates an outfit, especially a simple white tee and jeans, and the rococo-inspired style feels much cooler than a loud logo buckle. We both have eyes on the smooth Cocoa colorway, so I say we match!"
"My aunt comes from a fashion background, so I take her style suggestions very seriously, and she told me that this year she's been after a printed silk scarf that she can style in any number of ways, whether it's tied around the neck or fastened to a handbag strap," says LaPlaca. "I immediately thought of this Celine one with an ivory and brown print that feels timeless but definitely cool and modern. I already can see her wearing it with a camel sweater, and I'm eyeing the blue and yellow version to style with a blazer and jeans à la the runway."
When my mom sent me the link to this cashmere cardigan from Quince, I immediately saved it for inspo later. "It's a closet staple that will never go out of style," she tells me. "The fit and quality are spot on. It's the perfect clothing item for any age!"
When in doubt, I always go to Jenny Bird when picking out a gift for the chic people in my life. Earrings, in particular, are one of the easier pieces to gift, as there are no fit issues to consider (rings, bracelet wrist size, I could go on), and almost everyone loves a set of chic statement earrings. take this geometrical style, for example, which I've immediately added to my list of items to give (and hopefully get, too).
"There's a running joke in my family that every year it's a 'cashmere Christmas' because of how much we all love to give and receive it, but the trick is finding a cashmere item that my mom doesn't already have in her closet," says LaPlaca. "I've heard nothing but rave reviews about the quality and feel of Quince's knits and landed on the Mongolian Cashmere Shrunken Crewneck Sweater that features a flattering waist-hugging fit and that I know my mom will be into and happens to ring up at $70, which I myself am very into. Red is her favorite color, so I picked out this rich-looking shade of burgundy to gift her."
Home
Whether it's a balsam-scented candle or a pluming essential oil diffuser, my mom is vigilant about keeping my family home smelling cozy and welcoming. Now she has her sights set on this cordless diffuser that doesn't require heat or oil to scent her space. "My sister-in-law owns and loves this product," she explains. "The cordless version would be an amazing gift to give or receive, as you can place it anywhere!"
"Sending handwritten thank-you cards was something my mom always drilled into us growing up, and I'm so happy I've kept up with the habit ever since," says LaPlaca. "There's nothing more special than sending a handwritten note, and it feels especially meaningful (and rare) in our current digital age, so I'm taking the opportunity to refill my mom's stationery with a set of personalized notecards. They're chic, thoughtful, and ultimately so useful—I'll be ordering myself a set while I'm at it."
My mom and her girlfriends have recently taken up Mahjong lessons and created a weekly ritual of meeting for game nights. When they graduate from classes and are ready to host at home, I want my mom to have a cute set waiting for her. This set also includes a travel bag, making it easy to transport it to her friends' houses if they want to switch off hosting.
Alyssa Brascia is an associate beauty editor at Who What Wear. She is based in New York City and has 3+ years of industry experience. Brascia has personally tested more than a thousand beauty products and services—from the hottest new eye shadow palette to the buzzy manicure sweeping New York Fashion Week. Brascia graduated with a BS in apparel, merchandising, and design from Iowa State University. She was formerly a shopping writer at People.com. Her earlier work can be found at InStyle, Travel + Leisure, Shape, and more. When Brascia isn’t writing, researching, or testing new beauty products, you can find her watching the latest movie to generate Oscar buzz, taking a workout class with friends, or updating her wardrobe post-shopping spree in her beloved city.