Gift guide · 12 ideas
Gifts for her under $25
For sisters, friends and partners: small luxuries that punch well above their price.
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A small budget doesn’t have to mean a small-feeling gift. The trick is to choose the nicer version of something she already uses: a good brush set instead of the freebie, an umbrella that survives the wind, a wallet that isn’t falling apart, or a salon treat she can do at home.
They suit a sister, a friend, a birthday on a budget or a little extra for a partner. Each idea comes with our pick from one of our top lists, and every pick was under $25 when we checked. Prices move around, especially in December, so it’s worth a quick look before you buy.
A set of hot rollers
The salon blowout she won’t pay for every week. Ten minutes in rollers while she does her makeup gives soft volume for a night out or a date.
Remington Compact Ceramic Hot Rollers (10 rollers, H1018)
$10–$20
Ten rollers, five at 1.25 inches and five at 1 inch, hot in 90 seconds and packed in a small flame-proof case that goes in a suitcase. It’s dual voltage, so it works abroad with a plug adapter, and color-coded J-clips hold without creasing.
What owners say: Quick to heat and just the right size for a suitcase, owners find, and the curls come out well. Some find the rollers on the small side for their hair, and a few have trouble keeping them in.
A closer look: Take the rollers out early for soft waves or leave them at full heat for tighter, longer-lasting curls, as Remington suggests. Click each roller firmly onto its post so it heats through, and wind hair from the ends under toward the scalp. The case is light enough that it can live in a weekend bag.
- 10 rollers, 1–1.25 in
- Dual voltage, works abroad
- Ready in 90 seconds
Heads up: Ten rollers cover the crown and the front of a long or thick head of hair, not all of it; it’s a set for volume and quick touch-ups rather than a full curl.
View on Amazon See our top 5 hot rollers →A makeup brush set
Chances are she still does her makeup with the brushes that came free with a palette years ago. A good set of soft brushes and sponges makes the same five minutes at the mirror look noticeably better.
Real Techniques Everyday Essentials Set (4 brushes, 2 sponges)
$10–$20
Four brushes and two sponges that cover a whole everyday face: foundation, blush, setting powder and eyeshadow, plus Miracle Complexion Sponges for blending. Real Techniques began as a line developed with makeup artist Sam Chapman of YouTube’s Pixiwoo.
What owners say: Super soft, with a smooth, almost airbrushed finish, and owners say they blend powder and cream blush alike without shedding. Beginners find them easy to start with and easy to wash.
A closer look: Use the sponges damp for a dewy finish or dry for fuller coverage, and wash the brushes once a week to keep them soft. There’s a spare sponge for when the first one wears out.
- 4 brushes and 2 sponges
- For foundation, blush, powder, eyes
- Sponges work damp or dry
A waterproof Bluetooth speaker
For singing in the shower, or a podcast while she cooks dinner, with her own playlist instead of whatever’s on the radio.
Soundcore Select 4 Go Bluetooth Speaker by Anker
$20–$30
A palm-sized speaker that runs up to 20 hours and dangles from a shower caddy or a tent loop by its strap. IP67 keeps out sand and water, and it floats if it slips into the pool.
What owners say: It plays clear and loud in the shower, owners report, and rarely needs charging. Pairing is quick, and it travels from the bathroom to the pool and the beach.
A closer look: A USB-C cable comes in the box but no wall plug, so charge it from a phone charger or a laptop. Two of them make a stereo pair: connect one to the phone, then hold the Bluetooth button on both for two seconds, and they play left and right in a tent or a hotel room.
- Up to 20 hours battery
- Waterproof and floats
- Palm-sized
A light-up makeup mirror
Bathroom lighting is rarely kind, and hotel lighting is worse. A mirror with its own light means her foundation looks right wherever she gets ready, at home or on a weekend away.
FUNTOUCH Rechargeable Travel Makeup Mirror (72 LEDs)
$10–$20
About the size of a small tablet and not much thicker, with 72 LEDs around the glass, three light colors and a built-in battery that charges from a phone cable. It folds flat, so it slips into a carry-on or a desk drawer.
What owners say: Owners love how bright and thin it is and that it travels flat; the battery is the sticking point, lasting well for some owners and fading fast for others, and a handful stopped working early.
A closer look: Short-press the touch button to switch on and long-press to dim, then pick the light color to suit the room. A charge gives one to three hours of light depending on brightness, so charge it the night before a trip. There’s no magnification, which keeps the view true for foundation and blush.
- Folds flat for a carry-on
- 72 LEDs, 3 light colors
- Charges from a phone cable
Heads up: Charge it only from a plain 5V/1A phone adapter: FUNTOUCH says a fast charger can make it overheat.
View on Amazon See our top 5 makeup mirrors →A gel nail lamp
For the sister with a drawer full of polish, a lamp is what turns gel nails from a salon treat into a Sunday-night habit.
JODSONE UV LED Nail Lamp (4 timers)
Under $10
It has four timers from 30 to 120 seconds, a small LCD, a sensor that lights it when a hand goes in, and at 9 in across it takes a whole hand. It suits a first go at gel nails at home.
What owners say: Owners call it good value and simple to use, and most say gels cure quickly and the manicure lasts the week; a few found some gels wouldn’t set under it, and how long the lamp itself keeps going is hit or miss by their accounts.
A closer look: Pick 60 seconds for most coats and 120 for anything thick, and keep layers thin, which matters more with a small lamp than a big one. If a gel stays tacky, cure it again rather than wiping it. The flat top makes it easy to stack away in a drawer between manicures.
- Four timers, 30–120 seconds
- Countdown display
- For LED and UV gels
A slim wallet
Most women carry the same wallet for years past its best. A neat new one with room for her cards, cash and phone feels like an upgrade every time she pays.
Travelambo Bifold Multi-Card Wallet
Under $10
A long, slim wallet that holds a lot without the bulk: 15 card slots, an ID window and two zippered pockets for cash, coins and even a phone, with snaps set on the bottom and side so it stays flat when full. It’s handmade, with a cross-line design on the leather.
What owners say: Well made, owners say, holding every card and some cash while keeping a slim profile, with a look they find classy; it fits fanny packs as well as purses, and the colors are a hit.
A closer look: With a phone in one zippered pocket and cards and cash in the other, it can stand in for a small bag on a night out. The snaps sit at the edges rather than across the front, so it stays slim in a tote even when every slot is filled.
- 15 card slots, ID window
- Blocks RFID card skimming
- Fits a phone
A weekender bag
For the friend with a calendar full of bachelorette weekends and trips home. A quilted duffel with its own shoe compartment looks far more put-together than the tote she usually stuffs.
HOTOR Travel Duffel Bag with Shoe Compartment
$10–$20
A quilted duffel that weighs just 1.2 lb, with a shoe compartment big enough for two pairs of women’s shoes (sizes 7 to 12), an attached toiletry bag, an outside pocket for a phone and passport, and a sleeve that slides over a suitcase handle.
What owners say: Three days of clothes go in it, owners find, with shoes kept apart from everything else, and they’re taken with the look and the colors.
A closer look: The toiletry bag is attached, so it can’t be left behind on a hotel counter, and the outside pocket keeps a boarding pass handy. Between trips it works as a gym bag, with sneakers in the bottom and a change of clothes on top.
- 30-liter duffel bag
- Weighs 1.2 lb
- Shoe compartment for two pairs
A wind-resistant umbrella
Her last umbrella probably ended up inside out in a trash can on a windy corner. One that makes it through the walk from the parking lot is a small thing she’ll be glad of every rainy day.
TUMELLA Windproof Travel Umbrella
$10–$20
Nine fiberglass ribs flex in a gust instead of snapping (TUMELLA tests it in 100 mph winds), one button opens and closes it, and it folds to 11.5 in for a car door pocket or a glove compartment.
What owners say: Plenty big enough to stay dry under and strong in the wind, owners say, with one finding it just right for light rain. The one-button closing splits them: easy for some, a struggle for others.
A closer look: Small enough to forget about until the rain starts, it can stay at the bottom of a work bag or backpack. Point the tip away from people before pressing the button, as the spring opens it fast. To close it, press the button to drop the canopy, then push the shaft down until it clicks.
- Folds to 11.5 in
- Opens and closes automatically
- Tested in 100 mph winds
A beginner’s crochet kit
A cozy hobby for winter evenings that isn’t another hour on her phone, with something to show for it at the end: a row of little potted plants for her desk.
MAGIMUSE Crochet Kit for Beginners (6 potted plants)
$20–$30
Six little hanging potted plants to crochet, with six colors of yarn, stuffing, eyes, a soft-grip hook, a needle and a stitch marker, and video lessons that slow down at the tricky points. Every color comes with about 40% more yarn than the plants need, so a beginner can pull back and redo without running out.
What owners say: A relaxing project with everything in the box, owners say; the instructions suit some and lose others, and the yarn draws praise from some and complaints of unraveling from others.
A closer look: Finish one plant before starting the next, so the increases and decreases that shape a pot are learned on a single piece before the rest. Keep a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round, and stuff each piece as you close it rather than at the end, when the opening is too small to fill.
- Makes 6 potted plants
- Yarn and soft-grip hook
- Stuffing and eyes included
A calligraphy pen set
She’s the one who writes the best birthday cards, keeps a planner and gets asked to do the wedding envelopes. Colored calligraphy markers make every heading look hand-lettered, with no ink pot to spill.
Kuretake ZIG Calligraphy Markers (12 colors)
$10–$20
Twelve colors of Kuretake’s ZIG calligraphy markers, each with a 2mm square tip at one end and a 3.5mm at the other, so one pen writes the small lines and the big headings. The water-based ink blends: lay two colors side by side and pull a wet brush across for a gradient, or draw flowers and leaves around the lettering in the same pens.
What owners say: Rich colors that really pop, owners say, with the jewel tones a favorite, and the broad tips make fancy lettering easy for a newcomer. A few found the markers didn’t glide as smoothly as they’d hoped.
A closer look: Hold the square tip at one steady angle to the line and its edge makes the thick and thin strokes for you: the 3.5mm end for envelope names and headings, the 2mm end for the words beneath. Cap each pen between words on a long piece, since water-based ink dries at an open tip.
- 12 colors
- 2mm and 3.5mm square tips
- Draws thick and thin strokes
An electric foot file
Sandal season and beach vacations mean bare feet, and she’ll want her heels smooth for both. A few minutes at home and she’s ready to show them off.
Elmchee Electric Foot Callus Remover (3 heads)
$10–$20
Two speeds, 1,700 or 2,000 turns a minute, three quartz heads that run from coarse to fine, and an IPX7 rating that lets the whole thing go under running water afterwards. It cuts out by itself if pressed too hard, and a display shows how much of the 90-minute charge is left.
What owners say: Gentle on the skin yet quick to take dead skin off, owners find, and feet come out soft and smooth. Being rechargeable is a plus for them, and no one complaint comes up again and again.
A closer look: Dry the feet first, as Elmchee suggests, then start on the fine or medium head at the lower speed and keep the coarse one for the thickest patches. The whole body can go under running water afterwards, though Elmchee says not to leave it soaking. A full charge from a 5V USB outlet takes about three hours.
- Coarse, medium and fine heads
- About 90 minutes a charge
- Charges in about three hours
A scalp massager
The best part of a salon visit is the shampoo, and this brings it home: a gentle scrub that feels like a head massage every time she washes her hair.
HEETA Scalp Massager Shampoo Brush
Under $10
Palm-sized and simple: hold it in the shower and its soft silicone bristles work shampoo through to the scalp with a gentle scrub, and it rinses clean in a second. It’s small and light enough to pack for a weekend away.
What owners say: Owners like how clean the scalp feels after a wash with it and say it’s gentle, easy to hold and works well on curly hair; several use it to spread conditioner or hair oil as well as shampoo.
A closer look: Wet the hair and lather, then hold it by the handle and sweep it over the whole head in long passes rather than scrubbing at one spot. It takes up almost no room in a toiletry bag, and a shake and an airy shelf are all it needs to dry between washes.
- Soft silicone bristles
- Use it in the shower
- Packs for a weekend away
Making a small budget go further
- Choose the nicer version of something she already uses rather than a bigger, cheaper novelty.
- A nail lamp only sets gel polish, not ordinary polish, so check she uses gel, or tuck in a bottle in a shade she wears.
- Bundle two small things into one present, like the scalp massager with the hot rollers, and a good gift bag does the rest.
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