You Can’t Go Wrong With These 12 Cult Classic Beauty Gifts

Known as “miracle water” in Asia, a bottle of SKII’s iconic tonic is sold every 22 seconds. And not for nothing—the essence’s magic ingredient, Pitera (originally discovered as the secret sauce behind the youthful hands of aged sake brewers), smoothes texture, diffuses fine lines, and reduces the appearance of dark spots.

Little has changed about the Mason Pearson brush, aka the world’s most famous hairbrush, created in 1885. Beloved for its natural bristles, which massage the scalp and distribute the hair’s natural oils evenly, you will—no question—find one (or a few!) in any famous hairstylist's kit.

For over a decade, Nars’s Orgasm blush has been universally adored, yielding a just-pinched, pinky-peach flush. And during that that time, it’s inspired a number of offshoots, including the Orgasm lip balm, which Meghan Markle reportedly wore on her wedding day. What better way to make a loved one blush in more ways than one?

A longtime bestseller and pro makeup artist favorite, Diorshow not only imparts full, fanned-out fringe with its XXL brush and microfiber-enhanced formula, but it’s laced with the French fashion house’s signature rose essence for an extra dose of decadence.

It doesn’t get any more classic than a red lip, and MAC’s Ruby Woo is the most surefire shade—a matte, blue-red that is insanely flattering on virtually every skin tone.

In 1976, Benefit founders Jean and Jane Ford created their first-ever product, a rose-tinted stain designed for the exotic dancers of San Francisco’s Mission District to enhance their lips (and nipples!). Since then, it’s become a perennial favorite amongst beauty lovers of all kinds.

If there’s one fragrance that has shot to the top of beauty’s “must have” list over the past few years, it is Le Labo’s Santal 33—a distinctive bouquet of cedar, sandalwood, leather, and sweet violet. It may not be as rare as it once was—but its allure is still undeniable.

In just five years, third-generation winemaker April Garguilo’s debut elixir—a potent blend of antioxidant-packed botanical oils—has become a full-fledged skincare phenomenon, with a laundry list of celebrity admirers including Tracee Ellis Ross and Gwyneth Paltrow. The subtext being: The green beauty enthusiast in your life is waiting…

It wasn’t name-checked in The Devil Wears Prada for nothing. Shu Uemura's pro-favorite tool is set apart from the rest with its silicone padding, mushroom-shaped curve, and patented hinge technology, which all work together in failsafe fashion for a gentle, yet robust curl.

Elizabeth Arden’s multipurpose, apricot-tinted balm has been a beauty staple for nearly a century. It’s revered not just as a powerful healing salve, but as many a makeup enthusiasts’ secret weapon (fans include Beyoncé and the late David Bowie).