Gift Guide #6: Your Gorgeous BFF Who Personally Supervises Your Skincare From 3,500 Miles Away.
The kind of triangle scarf — red, gray, or brown — you keep spotting cool women wearing around NYC. From $13.
Delicious hot chocolate with a twist, like cinnamon or ginger. $14.
Pick a Color, $26, a propulsive novel that reveals the inner monologue of a nail-salon owner. (I tore through it this fall.)
A beloved serum, which visibly plumps fine lines and wrinkles (“It’s cheap as chips, and I LOVE it,” says Gemma), because you’ll do any beauty thing she says. $17. This winter set also looks amazing.
A pair of earrings that feel just like her, $48. (So many fun combos. The jam and toast! The tomato soup and grilled cheese!)
A beautiful speckled sweater, $90, that comes in five colors. (This one is so cozy, too.)
John Derian’s new sticker book — with more than 800 stickers — for craft nights and vision boards. $35.
Two bedroom trays for her pencils, notes, and keepsakes. $48.
A donation in her name to the National Network of Abortion Funds because you both believe that people know how to best care for their own bodies and build their own families.
Or dinner and dessert, just the two of you, since that’s what she wants most anyway. xo
P.S. The 2024 gift guide for friends, the 2023 gift guide for friends, and the 2022 gift guide for friends.
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Tags: 2025 holiday gift guide, gift guide, gifts, gifts for best friends, gifts for women
Comments
67 commentsJoanna, I’m a huge John Derian fan and went to order the sticker book, acccck!!!! the book is $35 and the shipping is $40 ????. WTF?
that’s a lot! we don’t link to amazon anymore, which is great overall, but one drawback is that small businesses often have significantly higher shipping fees. if you want to order from Amazon, both sticker books are available there: https://amzn.to/4pAOZVe https://amzn.to/3Mnot2Z
Those bedside trays just caught my eye! I am definitely going to find one for myself :)
I love this gift guide! I want to put everything on my wish list! Thank you for the more affordable options, this is much more in my budget. We appreciate your efforts!
Yay to the coffee and croissant earrings from Haricort Vert! I discovered them earlier this year and now own 3 pairs…lote the whimsy and craftsmanship! And cheers for art markets! Heading to a few this weekend…much prefer shopping them than the mall!
I love Gemma!
Ok but can we have Gemma write us a guide to starting out on skincare? I feel like there are so many choices and options! I have no skincare routine to speak of beyond moisturizer and sunscreen and I’m happy with my skin … but I always wonder if I’m missing out on something amazing by not using serums and potions and lotions.
Dear Cate, my opinion is that you are not missing out at all on skincare! I used to use more of it (Vitamin C, chemical exfoliant, retinal), until I took a break from it and discovered that my skin was acting up from too many products. Now I pretty much just use sunscreen. The marketing is all fun and shiny, but my understanding now is that skincare is not necessarily helpful for many of us. Jessica Defino has been a great source of info for me on this: https://jessicadefino.substack.com/p/the-science-of-skincare-isnt-science?utm_campaign=posts-open-in-app&triedRedirect=true Sending good wishes :)
Yes please!
I have to be honest here, you don’t need any of that. Go to a real derm and just do what they say. That’s all you need and they keep it very simple.
My skin is happiest since I started taking Jessica DeFino’s advice. I’m now only using jojoba oil and thermal water and sunscreen. It’s difficult to refrain from buying serums and potions but they don’t add anything for my skin. If you are happy with your skin, I wouldn’t change a thing. I know it’s hard though. Reading Jessica’s substack helps.
Sofia, thank you so much for sharing Jessica Defino’s article – it might have just changed my life (and my wallet and self-esteem) !!
If anyone knows where I can find the earrings pictured in the first photo, with the scarf, please let me know! Gorgeous!
I think they are: https://www.cos.com/en-us/women/accessories/jewellery/earrings/product/arched-freshwater-pearl-earrings-gold-1308086001. If you search for “front and back gold pearl stud earrings” you will find other options!
I would love to know data on how many people have already bought that beauty serum (I’m one of them!) because as Cup of Jo readers, I think all of us will “do any beauty thing Gemma says”. Legit immediately went and bought it at the mention of her name.
I miss seeing Gemma in your blog! How are you guys staying in touch to continue to be BFFs now that she’s across an ocean? I am the Gemma in my best friend group, with all my best friends in Toronto and I keep moving away from them, but try to stay in touch and visit as often as possible. Would love a post on this!
Using this post as my own personal wish list, so as to make it easy on my partner (and anyone else who might be thinking of what to possibly give me!) Thanks as always CoJ, at times you know me better than I know myself ;)
The only thing missing is Kate Baer’s new book! If Cup of Jo or Big Salad had a physical magazine (I miss those especially when travelling over the holidays) that would be top of my (and my long distance bff’s) list.
Ooh, am I cool enough to pull off saying “cheap as chips”?
I think you have to be English, LOL.
I use British phrases and terminology constantly bc I am 1. Obsessed with a few British authors, 2. Love BBC shows and BritBox, 3. have regular calls with my company’s UK team. It makes me smile so big when I overhear one IRL. Definitely use it! Even if it’s jut for you and gives you a little smile.
The Ordinary deals are fab this time of year. That ginger hot chocolate is on my list, the novel as well. Cute sweaters. 10 dearest ladies are glam/camping in our backyard the week before Christmas and the holiday ideas here have inspired all us! Plans are unfolding.
Can we please get details on the logistics of backyard glamping because that sounds brilliant!
This is actually a follow up to the wine bottle toppers in gift guide #4 (the outdoorsy sister). I ordered SIX of them to accompany wine bottles for Christmas gifts — they arrived the next day (!!!), carefully packed, and they are quite lovely in person…..what a nice feel to them. I highly recommend.
I love Gemma and her recommendations but if I read about another serum, even one “cheap as chips” (love that phrase!) I honestly might cry. I’m 42, and am just feeling like I’m constantly being sold to and made to feel less than great about my skin and appearance. The conversations here around aging and beauty are nuanced and wonderful so this is not a criticism. Just a scream into the void from a broke mom of young kids who has reached her Black Friday advert limit
One internet stranger is rooting for you! You don’t need to buy a serum. All advertisements are designed to make you feel bad about your (insert whatever quality here). Taking a break from the web (and thus the advertisements) might help you feel a bit more ease. <3
Don’t click on a gift guide link then! You can be in control of the content you wish to receive this season.
I see you Anon, I also find the marketing and external pressure so overwhelming :( and disheartening.
I love that we all thought “Gemma!” as soon as we read the title <3
These gift guides are so sweet and natural. I don’t really use them (too far away), they inspire me to remember that a gift is about Love. That’s all. Love from Paris
“A gift is about Love”. I’m going to stitch this on one of the tree ornaments I’m working on, because it’s just the perfect heartfelt sentiment. I’m picturing a white snowy back ground, a tiny rabbit with a tiny wrapped gift. A star shining in the sky. (I work in wool felt). I’m also working on *a pink toy bunny next to a fluffy highland cow*, those are my baby grandson’s favorite lovies, for him. And for my daughter, the back side of her beloved dog on her paddle board, on her favorite lake with a sunset over the mountains. Merci Agnes. Love from the mountains of Montana.
Sasha, do you have an etsy shop?? These sound so lovely and while I do KNOW how to embroider and all the sewing things, I don’t. I love to support others and what a beautiful and thoughtful gift it would be. Agnes, I love seeing your comments as they are always so tender. I am shopping for 5 birthdays and Christmas for 10 people and I get a bit overwhelmed and anxious about picking out a gift. I want people to love the things I find them. Reading “A gift is about Love” calmed my heart. I will certainly keep it in mind as I continue shopping.
Hi Eli, I do not have an Etsy shop. Folks just find me. If you think you might like felt ornaments for gifts, shoot me a message on FB messenger, Sasha Lindberg, or email at Bellabirthing@msn.com. I mostly make pet felties (you send me pics and name and I create a custom ornament for you). But I can make other things too if you have something specific in mind.
I have entered into whatever stage of life causes me to suddenly feel delighted at the idea of a grownup sticker book.
Same here. I saw one while browsing in a museum gift shop and regret not buying it.
I just bought one called Bibliophilia and it’s so good (and fun).
I feel the sticker book love : ) I have the Bibliophilia book, and also one called Imaginarium, and they’re great! (They’re not super sticky, so I’ve taken to using a glue stick on them, but the uses are endless…also delightful for handmade ornaments.) Enjoy : )
Adult coloring books are equally delightfully relaxing. For essential tremor sufferers, (like me) they are therapeutic.
I just ordered that Volifuline last week and am excited to try it, and less nervous now that I know you both use it! Any tips?
Oh Joanna, I just love every gift guide on your website. I browse the old guides for inspiration before every christmas. I would buy almost every single recommendation – but unfortunately taxes + shipping to Germany seem to be a fortune. Wish I had a Joanna-gift-guide for my country. Any readers have recommendations for gift guides in Germany/Europe or ideas for online-shops? It would never be as wonderful as Joannas of course, but still..
Same here! I’m from the Netherlands. But! I do find that with a bit of searching, some of the products can be found in local webshops. I found the stickerbook in this giftguide in a dutch webshop, for instance.
What I do here (in Belgium!) is that I just look for similar products by searching for them. Sometimes you can find the exact thing, or sometimes something even better. Kind of use these guides as an inspiration or jumping off point. But if any Europeans here have any favorite shops, I am all ears. I like to go myself to independent shops and find small trinkets to gift. Also the sale sections from De Bijenkorf, Sissy Boy, &Other Stories are usually great.
The title touched my heart- my best and oldest friend lives 9000km away. We aren’t always in touch and our lives are very different. But she does spoil me with high end skincare and makeup I’d never buy myself and I I’m grateful (and let her know that with lots of cringe selfies).
Love The Ordinary skincare. My teens love the sets too.
Thank you for mentioning abortion funds 😍🥰💖
I echo that! A wonderful coalition spotlight. Thank you
I love this gift guide!
Appreciate the more affordable recommendations, I can tell you guys have been making an effort.
Amen! Good on you, Jo + team, and good call for recognizing it, Nadia.
Also there have been no links to Amazon! Thank you so much CoJ!
I wholeheartedly agree!
Yes to no links to Amazon! Jeff and the bros do not need more of our money!
@Ashley Ford there have been links to Amazon! I’ve called it out on at least one post (the one with the big jigsaw puzzles or something like that) and my comment wasn’t approved.
we’ve hardly linked to amazon at all — only when there weren’t trustworthy sites carrying the specific product. this takes a huge toll on our small business’s revenue, yet we’re so happy to do so. we definitely aren’t trying to pull one over on anyone, I promise :)
agreed, this has been noted and appreciated COJ + team!
I agree! Thanks COJ!
Another consideration! Perhaps some readers (like me) are staying BECAUSE of the lack of Amazon links. I have stopped reading/clicking/sometimes purchasing from other blogs/sites that use Amazon to link to products. So it could cause an immediate/short term loss of some revenue but actually be a long term reader retention strategy. And I suspect the more people learn about Amazon’s highly problematic business practices, the more beneficial your decision will be. Thank you for helping to lead the way!
More Gemma content! Will literally buy anything she endorses.
Same!!! Love Gemma
Please consider going to a holiday market in your town. You’ll find local artists that are really trying to make ends meet. Many make incredible things! You can literally google the name of your city and holiday “maker fair” or holiday “craft market”. I know so many folks who make dreamy things and could use the support.
Very true!
Excellent suggestion! I just went to my town’s maker’s market. There really seemed to be something for everyone. It was prior to payday, so I could only buy a scone and watch the dogs escorting their humans, but that was plenty of entertainment! I may need another apple toffee scone before long, though. 🤤
My real estate team hosted one last night, all proceeds went to theStow Community Chest which gives back to the community, the households that need it the most. All vendor kept their proceeds of course, but we did a raffle, we asked for donations to the chest and we had music and food and everyone had such a great time, all local artists and vendors and even a gal with a local waffle truck outside. It felt so good to do.
Yes! The big market in my town is my personal official opening of gift picking season! (It was two weeks ago.) I particularly appreciate them for my hard-to-buy-for folks. I find things that I might not have considered otherwise – and potentially they don’t already have – but honestly, I also feel better because if they don’t love the gift I at least supported a local artist or maker!
This might be my favorite gift guide ever.
I’m so glad!
It’s so good!! And the cup of Jo gift guides are gold standard, so it’s really la crème de la crème