20 Bright Ideas For Gifting Your Best Friend

Are you wondering what gifts to buy your friends this holiday season? We can relate. How to find the perfect present for the person who you rant to over glasses of Sauv Blanc and helps you organize your impulse purchases into keeps and throwaways? Choosing the best gifts for your best friends is tricky — because, while you’ll talk to them at length about anything under the sun, you don’t want to ruin the holiday surprise by straight-up asking your BFF what they want for Christmas this year. You have to be able to read their mind like they read yours, obviously.

Are you lucky enough to have a ride-or-die best bud who’s by your side as you cue up that Mariah Carey album, bookmark wreath-making tutorials on Pinterest, and make an exhaustive gift list as the holidays approach? Don’t worry, friend — we’ll take it from here. We found 20 gifts that say “ILYSM” to your best pal ahead. Because maybe you and this person do share a brain after all?

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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GLDN Handwriting Bar Bracelet

These delicate, gold-filled chains take friendship bracelets to the next level. Your handwriting sample can be used for the engraving, so your little scribble of your partner-in-crime’s nickname or an inside joke can be turned into a one-of-a-kind memento.

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Gldn Handwriting Bar Bracelet, $, available at Gldn

Bombas Gripper Slipper

If you have a friend who suffers from freezing toes as soon as the weather gets cold, this cable-knit sock-slipper hybrid will be a godsend. For every pair purchased, the brand will also give a pair to homeless shelters — heartwarming and body-warming, indeed.

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Bombas Women’s Gripper Slipper, $, available at Bombas

Nixit Menstrual Cup

Give your bestie the invaluable gift of hassle-free periods this holiday season: the Nixit Menstrual Cup is made in a soft silicone that molds to fit all body types. It can be easily cleaned with soap and hot water, meaning your giftee will be saving loads of money from buying new tampons. Read our review of Nixit here.

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nixit Menstrual Cup, $, available at nixit

Dedcool Holiday Bundle

If you have a single buddy who is bravely navigating the dating world in 2023, give them the gift of a sexy-smelling home — a much-needed element for a successful sleepover with a Tinder meetup. This scented home product bundle comes with a fancy-smelling laundry detergent, a sensual massage candle, air fresheners, and “poop drops” — a toilet perfume that will surely impress any date when they swing by.

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DedCool Holiday Bundle, $, available at Dedcool

Birthdate Co. Custom Gold Birthdate Pendant

Your astrology-obsessed friend will absolutely treasure this unique gold-plated necklace, adorned with customized gems based on their date of birth. The unique stone arrangements are picked by the brand’s team of astrologers, according to their birth charts, and is aimed to bring positive energy and good fortune. You can also add a personalized engraving.

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Birthdate Custom Gold Birthdate Pendant, $, available at Birthdate

Lisa Hedger Designs Custom Embroidered Cartoon Pet Sweater

Do you have a pal that is utterly obsessed with their pet? The best present you can give them is this cute customized sweatshirt embroidered with their favorite face in the world. You can even choose to add the pet’s initials on the sleeves for an extra-special detail.

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Lisa Hedger Design Custom Embroidered Cartoon Pet Sweater, $, available at Etsy

Les Belles Shimmer Noir Tights

Tights are such an important part of winter dressing, and we can always use an extra pair to go with festive outfits. With these disco ball tights made from recycled yarn, your friend will be the belle of the holiday season. Bonus points to the brand for offering an extra stretchy and tall waistband, which will definitely come in handy after big holiday meals.

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Les Belles Shimmer Noir Tights, $, available at Les Belles

Tower 28 BeachPlease Luminous Tinted Balm

This pretty, blendable tinted balm adds just the right flush of color to make your bestie’s skin tone pop. It can be dabbed over the eyelids, cheeks, and lips with fingertips.

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Tower 28 BeachPlease Luminous Tinted Balm, $, available at Tower 28

Literie Bravoholic Candle

For your BFF who simply can’t stop marathoning The Real Housewives and Below Deck.

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Literie Candles Bravoholic Candle, $, available at Literie Candles

Free People Du Jour Beret

Because they really liked Emily in Paris — and cannot wait for season 3 to drop on Netflix.

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Free People Du Jour Beret, $, available at Free People

Maude Vibe Personal Massager

Best friends don’t let best friends live life without the best orgasms, right? This celeb-approved personal massager, with a sleek designer and three vibration settings, gives the most enjoyable rumbles. Read our glowing praise for the chic vibrator here.

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Maude Vibe Personal Massager, $, available at Maude

Wonderskin It’s A Miracle Eight-Minute Mask

This compact liquid mask, which promises to tighten and brighten the skin in under eight minutes, is the beauty glow-up your best friend needs. Each packet has enough product to cover the face, neck, and hands, and is an excellent stocking stuffer for someone who is always on the go.

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Wonderskin It’s A Miracle 8 Minute Mask, $, available at Wonderskin

Caitlyn Minimalist Birth Flower Signet Ring

Nothing says “friends forever” like this signet ring engraved with the flower that represents their birth month.

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Caitlyn Minimalist Birth Flower Signet Ring, $, available at Etsy

Pink Moon Capricorn Moisturizer

Dubbed one of the first-ever astrology-based skin-care collections, Once in a Pink Moon is inspired by the four elements: fire, earth, air, and water. Each horoscope is represented by a product in the vegan range, which includes cleansers, moisturizers, and serums. You can gift your best friend the product designed for their star sign, or pick one out based on each product’s benefits, which include hydration and brightening.

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Pink Moon Capricorn Moisturizer, $, available at Pink Moon

Offhours Homecoat

This snuggly quilted lounge robe has been called “the robe to top all other robes,” with a fluffy terrycloth lining made from recycled plastic bottles and roomy front pockets. It’s the ideal treat to give a long-distance bestie — like a virtual, warm hug on chilly days. If your pal is on the petite side, check out the smaller version.

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OFFHOURS Homecoat, $, available at OFFHOURS

Fishs Eddy Palette Cheese Tray

An artsy serving platter for your friend who loves hosting cheese and wine nights.

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Fishs Eddy Palette Cheese Tray, $, available at West Elm

MLE Butterfly Claw in Dahlia

This gorgeous hair clip is made for your bestie who can’t get enough of butterfly-shaped things. You can even nab a matching one for yourself in purple.

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MLE Butterfly Claw, $, available at MLE

Printfresh x Tuckernuck Spearmint Stripe Long PJ Set

Your BFF deserves the best sleep ever, and these playful printed PJs — made in an organic cotton fabric that gets softer with every wash — will more than deliver. You might even want to go matchy-matchy and snatch a complementing pair for yourself.

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Tuckernuck Spearmint Stripe Long PJ Set, $, available at Tuckernuck

Quince Mongolian Cashmere Sweatpants

Cashmere gifts are always a brilliant idea. These plush bottoms are made with butter soft Mongolian wool and make the dreamiest winter loungewear. We would act fast before the 47% off discount runs out.

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Quince Cashmere Sweatpants, $, available at Quince