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9 Trendy Beauty Gifts For Your Friend Who's Always Ahead Of The Crowd

by Anna Buckman

Oct. 28, 2019

Manner Market / Instagram

A hair scarf is the perfect beauty gift for your friend who's ahead of the trends

There are probably very few people you actually need a gift guide to buy for — you already know the exact sweater your mom's been eyeing for months and the headphones your significant other has had on their wishlist forever. But if you know a person who somehow stumps you every year — aka that beauty-obsessed friend who owned Glossier Balm Dot Com before everyone else and was the first person you knew to get a shag haircut — then you might actually need a list of trendy beauty gifts to help you with your shopping.

To impress your in-the-know friend, look to trends that haven't hit the mainstream just yet. As the Spring/Summer 2020 runways have predicted, scarves are set to be the next big hair accessory — meaning you should skip that word-emblazoned barrette you've been considering and invest in a silky scarf that can be worn now through to next season. Creative eyeliner was also a runway favorite at the most recent NYFW shows, making Marc Jacobs Beauty's new liquid-gel eyeliner, $27, an easy choice if you're shopping for any makeup enthusiasts.

Not totally sure what their makeup and accessory preferences are? The New Yorker recently declared this the "Age of Bathfluence," so a brand-new bathing product (inspired by an old one) from Fur will give your gift recipient an Instagram-friendly way to indulge in a relaxing pastime without the stress of you trying to figure out their favorite colors.

To really up the ante, throw in Nécessaire's new The Body Serum. It's the latest launch from the cool-girl brand that's bound to follow in the footsteps of Nécessaire's cult-y lotion and become another crowd favorite — and it serves as the perfect way to add moisture post-bath.

Ahead, these and more trendy gifts that will impress even the most discerning beauty lover on your shopping list.

The Body Serum

Your skincare-loving friend probably has too many facial serums to count — but what about serums for the body? Cool-girl brand Nécessaire recently launched this moisturizing product that's packed with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, making it a must-have in any stocked beauty arsenal.

Custom Hair Mask

Function of Beauty

Custom Hair Mask

Customizable haircare is having a moment, and Function of Beauty is one of the notable brands leading the pack. Its newest launches, the Custom Hair Mask and the Custom Hair Serum (also $19), are not only effective (they gave my straw-like hair a silky effect), but they make for a cute, personal gift since you can add a name, pick a color, and even choose a scent for the products.

Lip Definer

Victoria Beckham Beauty

Fashion girls, Spice Girls fans, and beauty lovers alike will appreciate any gift from Victoria Beckham's beauty line. The newly launched brand brings chic packaging to staples that the icon herself uses, making it a no-brainer gift for any makeup enthusiast on your list.

Skin Therapy

Under-the-radar beauty brand Prima has been making a name for itself with editors since it launched in June 2019. The label offers a range of products, from elixirs to oils, but I personally love its Skin Therapy cream the most — it gives my skin serious hydration and just feels *good.*

Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow in Modern Glamour

Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow in Modern Glamour

There are almost too many breakout eyeshadow trends to keep track of this season, but one of the most unexpected (and, arguably, the chicest) is white eyeshadow. Lily-Rose Depp and Cardi B are among the celebs who've been spotted wearing it as of late, and there's no doubt it'll only get more popular from here. Gift your friend a more versatile present with this black-and-white palette from Chanel, which can also provide a stunning smoky eye once the white eyeshadow trend has run its course.

Bath Drops

'The New Yorker' recently dubbed this year the "Age of Bathfluence," so there's obviously never been a better time to give the ones you love a product to make their wind-down routines even more relaxing. And now that Insta-famous beauty brand Fur has released its new bath drops, there's never been a more Instagrammable bath-friendly gift, either.

Highliner Liquid Eyeliner

Marc Jacobs Beauty

Highliner Liquid Eyeliner

Creative eyeliner was all over the runways at NYFW this year, and what better way to take on the trend than Marc Jacobs Beauty's latest launch? It's waterproof, has a liquid-gel formula, and comes in seven colors on Sephora so your gift recipient can create new looks to their heart's desire.

The Brigitte

Hair scarves were yet another beauty trend all over the Spring/Summer 2020 runways, which means whoever you gift it to will be ahead of the crowd well into summer. Choose a style that transcends seasons, like this silk option which comes in an elegant burnt orange and can be tied in a bow or woven into a braid.

Holiday Hinoki Fantome

Holiday Hinoki Fantome

Not only is Boy Smells the ultimate indie brand — its candles are developed and mixed in the founders’ home in Los Angeles — it makes scents packaged in vessels that somehow look both elegant and ultra trendy at the same time. The brand just released its holiday collection, which includes a brand-new scent, Hinoki Fantome, that smells like smoking Japanese cypress and jasmine petals.