The countdown to the holidays is on, and our annual Gifts We Love awards are here! For this year’s installment, we sifted through thousands of gift ideas to find these top 100 picks that made the nice list.
To break the holiday gifting news, executive editor Adrianna Brach stopped by Studio 1A with a sneak peek at the award-winning finds we can’t wait to gift (or receive!) this season. From tried-and-true Amazon favorites to the year’s most viral finds, there’s something for everyone to love in our curation.
Scroll on to peruse presents for every personality from brands like Jellycat, Lancôme, Kendra Scott and more. And to finish crossing off everyone on your checklist, be sure to check out the full roundup of Gifts We Love here.
Gifts We Love seen on TODAY
We’ve been keeping tabs on the hottest toys all year, and Jellycat is still the “it” plush to have, with some of the brand’s friendly faces selling out multiple times. Now, you can carry the plush toys with you everywhere you go in bag charm form. There are currently 43 to choose from across animals, inanimate objects, foods and more, including a capybara, a peanut, a croissant, a disco ball, a pickle and so many others.
The New York Times 2027 Mini Crossword Calendar
Whether you’ve been solving for decades in print or picked the game up from the New York Times app, the mini crossword calendar is high on our editors’ lists for the second year in a row. It gives you a new puzzle to solve for 300 days (weekends are combined into one), with solutions on the back of each page. If you want one, we suggest you act fast — these sold out last year.
Plus, you can score 25% off sitewide at The New York Times store with our exclusive code: TODAY2026
Uncommon Goods is one of our favorite sources for unique gifts, and this year we found a fun DIY that will live on in their home long after the activity ends. You can color your own tiles using the kit, and then assemble it in combinations to get a totally unique, custom stained glass-looking lamp. With the sun setting earlier and earlier each night, adding some cute lighting inside lifts the mood and helps your space feel extra cozy.
Adding a new photo ornament to the tree each year is such a sweet tradition for celebrating milestones, and this one from Minted makes the perfect thoughtful keepsake. Simply upload your picture online and your ornament will arrive with the photo printed on high-quality paper, housed in a scallop-edged, silver-plated frame with domed, water-resistant glass.
Bring home videos back this holiday season with Camp Snap’s CS-8, which combines all the nostalgic fun of OG camcorders but with modern convenience.
“Old-school footage, no film to buy and no screen to watch, so you can stay in the moment,” Brach notes. “It’s so easy to use, with nostalgic film-like filters and design inspired by the iconic Super 8... But you can easily recharge and transfer your footage with the USB-C cord. This is a fun one all ages will want to get their hands on!”
Gifts We Love seen on 3rd Hour of TODAY
We all know that person who’s always cold, and this gift idea promises to keep them cozy! It can be draped around the shoulders, almost like a wearable blanket, and it’s anti-static and brushed for added softness that resists pilling. To make it that much more special, you can even personalize it with a monogram or embroidery of your choosing. Plus, it’s a one-size-fits-all layer, so you don’t have to stress about sizing.
Everyone is looking to lower their screen time these days, and this punch needling canvas kit is a stellar choice for anyone looking to take up a new analog hobby. It comes with seven colors of yarn, a needle and a canvas with a pre-printed design that’s easy to follow. At the end, you have a beautiful piece of art you can display.
You’ve probably seen Funko Pop dolls of your favorite celebrities and characters, but did you know that you can actually Funko Pop yourself? This season, you can turn your loved ones into their own little figurines. Brach says the creator is so fun to use and almost feels like making an avatar in a video game, since each one can be totally customized with their hair, clothes and accessories. Build one at a time, create a pair in a boxed set or even make the whole family, starting at 35 bucks a pop!
This little astronaut is more than just a cute trinket to display; it’s actually a galaxy light projector that turns your walls and ceiling into an immersive view of deep space. It’s controlled via remote and projects stars and colorful nebula clouds to give you static, cycling or layered ambient lighting. Plus, you can even set sleep timers from across the room!
The beauty lover on your list will be so excited to add this upgraded gua sha tool to their routine.
“Gua sha is a skin care technique with roots in traditional Chinese medicine, where you stroke a flat tool along face and body contours to increase circulation while lifting and firming the skin,” Brach explains. “This tool combines that with buzzworthy modern beauty innovations, like infrared light, vibrations and heat to give you every benefit in one tool... I recommend doing slow upward lifting motions along the face and neck.”
Brach’s pro tip: Start with the lowest heat and vibration settings and ramp up as you get more comfortable with usage.
These mugs feature a scannable QR code that unlocks something themed around that vessel — the dad mug unlocks a new dad joke each day, while a tarot mug unlocks a tarot reading each morning. We counted 37 options spanning everything from daily trivia to sports, history, horoscopes and more. It’s a fun twist on a classic gift and Brach says there’s truly something for everyone.
Gifts We Love seen on TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle
We know a thing or two about saving big with boxes and Lancôme’s Holiday Beauty Box is an amazing value. It would run you $616 for all of the products individually, but right now you can get this bundled set of 11 favorites for just $89.
“This is packed with editor-approved beauty finds… three full-sized makeup products, skin care from the Génifique and Absolue Longevity lines, plus a travel-friendly perfume,” Brach shares. “[I] have to call out the flutter extensions mascara, which won a Shop Today Beauty Award last year! It all comes in this beautiful cherry velvet case which is so luxe and ready to gift.”
For a daily dose of mindfulness, this popular pick is sure to be a hit. Per the brand, the “One Line a Day” journal series has sold more than four million copies!
“What we like about them is that it makes keeping a diary and journaling so easy and manageable — it’s truly just one page for each day,” Brach explains. “Write a quick summary of what you did, something on your mind or simply a highlight from your day to look back on. I think this is a brilliant, meaningful gift for all ages... and it’s cute enough to keep out on your nightstand!”
A total of 8,910: That’s the number of therapeutic acupressure points the brand says are on this mat and pillow.
“It sounds wild, but reviewers say this spiky set is great for reducing pain, muscle tension, stress and even headaches… I own and love it,” Brach vouches. “The brand says it utilizes acupressure techniques to release endorphins and relax muscles in the back, neck and feet... The brand recommends using it for 10–30 minutes each day and claims that it can even help improve circulation to boost energy levels.”
When L.L.Bean’s Boat and Tote first came out in 1944, the bags were built to last and designed to carry heavy loads of ice. These days, they’ve become a year-round staple that marries style and function, still manufactured in Maine to endure loads up to 500 pounds! The tote comes in four different sizes, but our pick for gifting this season is the mini, which is perfect for holding the essentials when you’re traveling light. The open-top bag is made from sturdy canvas that can withstand the elements.
Brach’s favorite part? You can get it monogrammed, so everyone in the family gets their own!
These dainty, custom bracelets from Kendra Scott boast gemstones in over 70 options, ranging from mother of pearl to turquoise and even letters to choose from. You can combine their birthstone, favorite color or their initial, so it feels really personalized without having to guess what they’d want or wait for engraving. Brach says they can even be treated almost like elevated friendship bracelets, so you’ll think of each other every time you spot them on your wrists.
More Gifts We Love
Need a more subtle wake-up call? This pick won’t disappoint.
“If you want to give the gift of better sleep, look no further than the Hatch alarm clock,” says one editor. “I love that my dark, cave-like room finally gets some light in the morning. Everything is super customizable — from the color of the light to the sound that wakes you up to the wind-down routines you can create for bedtime.”
Essence’s mascaras have amassed a cult following. The Shop TODAY team has been singing the brand’s praises for years, having waxed poetic about both the original Lash Princess and Curl & Volume editions. Now, you can get a boxed set featuring four of the brand’s top-rated tubes for $15 (that’s just $3.75 per mascara!).
This lamp will make your candles last longer — without having to light a single flame. Partnerships editor Kara Quill said she used to spend a ton of money on replacing her candles before using a warming lamp.
“I haven’t needed to replace the candle in over a year — and it’s still going strong!” she says. She also adds that it puts her mind at ease, saying, “I no longer have that overwhelming anxiety that I could burn down my apartment building.”
Gifting photos? Add this damage-free find as the finishing touch, which is perfect for renters (or anyone looking to skip the hassle of hanging up pictures the old school way). Simply peel the adhesive, stick the magnetic back on the surface you’d like to hang the art on and pop your photo frame on.
We all know that person who’s totally obsessed with their phone. Optimize their screen time with this phone stand that comes with a remote control. It might sound a little silly, but it’s the ideal setup for scrolling from bed, or from distances up to 65 feet away, per the brand.
The ultimate winter luxury is a cashmere sweater. Luckily, we found options for the guys and gals in your life that won’t break the bank. Quince is known for making high-quality products at affordable prices, and while a cashmere sweater will normally cost hundreds of dollars, these ring up under $60.
Add some sparkle to the everyday with this necklace. The accessory instantly elevates an outfit and pairs well with any existing necklaces. Plus, you can pick one featuring their birthstone, so it feels extra thoughtful.
Brooklinen Dreamweave Waffle Bundle
Elevate their everyday with a set of matching bathroom staples. This bundle includes a robe and a zippered pouch, aka all the “getting ready” essentials. Plus, we have an exclusive discount code that’ll score you 30% off the bundle through Nov. 16 with code: TODAY
Wavytalk Airshape Pro Roller Air Styler Set
With attachments including a blowout brush, fast-drying concentrator and auto-wrap barrels, you can dry, smooth, add volume and curl hair all with this one tool. The thermal roller attachments help to set your curls for bombshell-level volume and body. With similar multi-stylers from competitors costing upwards of $600, we’re excited to give you the chance to score the tool for under $250 at Wavytalk through Nov. 11 with our exclusive code: TODAYWAVY
What is Shop TODAY’s Gifts We Love?
For Shop TODAY’s fourth annual Gifts We Love Awards, we combed through buzzy products, new launches, tried-and-true favorites and products our editors already know and love to find 100 gifts worthy of a spot on anyone’s wish list. Our final list is a true reflection of our editors’ tastes and expertise, with thoughtful finds for a range of recipients, interests and price points. Above all, these are gifts we’d be genuinely excited to give or receive ourselves.
How we chose winners
Our selection process is rooted in firsthand experience, editorial expertise and thoughtful consideration of what makes a great gift.
Shop TODAY editors and staffers discover, sample and interact with products throughout the year, considering each item both on its own merits and through the lens of gifting. When narrowing our selections to the final 100, we consider factors including quality, usefulness, value, originality, recipient appeal and overall giftability.
There is no single quality that automatically makes a product a winner. A gift doesn’t have to be the newest, buzziest or most expensive option in its category to stand out. Ultimately, our 100 winners are products our editors can genuinely stand behind and would be excited to give to someone on their own lists, or receive themselves.
Meet the experts
At Shop TODAY, our reporters interview a range of qualified sources and experts to capture a wide scope of perspectives on the latest beauty products. We also ensure that all expert guidance and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest. Products were independently chosen by members of the Shop TODAY team along with Adrianna Brach.
- Adrianna Brach is the executive editor at Shop TODAY, with over a decade of experience as an editor covering beauty, fashion and shopping.
- Shop TODAY is a team of shopping editors and writers who spend hours every day finding the best new products, tried-and-true favorites and more finds that are worth shopping, according to our high standards.
Has your product been featured?
The Shop TODAY editors and writers interview expert sources, try newly launched products and search the internet to find the best products out there. Based on personal experiences and expert recommendations, we aim to make shopping easier for our readers. With our rigorous methodology created to ensure every product is reviewed the same way, we stand by everything we recommend across our broadcast, digital and social platforms.
The New York Times 2027 Mini Crossword Calendar
The New York Times 2027 Mini Crossword Calendar
