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gift-guides

What to Buy Your Friend Who’s Notoriously Picky

“Cute! For you, but really not my style.” If you’ve ever heard this phrase uttered from a friend’s mouth, you’re officially dealing with a notoriously picky bud. Don’t get us wrong—we love them for their keen sense of style and expert taste, but man does it make them hard to shop for. Instead of browsing the internet for hours on end, just take a peek at our list below to find a gift that’s sure to please—all of them chosen for their stylish neutrality or undeniable appeal.

dieux skin
Dieux Skin

1. Dieux Skin Forever Eye Mask

Chances are she’s quite particular about her skincare. This set of reusable under-eye masks will hold whatever gels, serums or creams she chooses, then encourage the product to sink in deeply while she wears the patches. They come in a compact little case to keep them clean and safe, and she can’t deny the A+ sustainability.

material snack set1
Material

2. Material The (mini) Reboard Tahini Set

Whether she’s a foodie or simply loves to whip up her own meals at home, this snackable set will be a welcome addition to her kitchen. It features a smaller version of their popular recycled plastic cutting board, a 4-inch paring knife and a 16-ounce jar of Seed + Mill’s organic tahini. It comes in nine color combinations of knife and board, but we’ve got our eye on Moss + Cool Neutral.

vans shoes
DSW

3. Vans Asher Slip-on Sneaker

These classic kicks will go with anything and everything in her wardrobe. The canvas upper and cushioned footbed are sleek and soft, making them the perfect pair to throw-on-and go while still looking completely put together.

ana luisa bracelet1
Ana Luisa

4. Ana Luisa Elina Bracelet

A modern twist (quite literally) on a gold stacking bracelet, this piece can be worn a multitude of ways (meaning, it fits whatever style she’s going for). Plus, the brand plates all of their jewelry in house and offsets 100 percent of the carbon emissions related to the product’s lifecycle.

halfmoon cork massage balls
Anthropologie

5. Halfmoon Cork Massage Balls

The wellness gift that keeps on giving. Made of natural cork and complete with a netted bag for storing, this set of three will help relieve tension, pain and increase circulation. They’re made for those tough spots that are hard to reach—like her shoulder blades and back—and also ideal for loosening up the plantar fascia under her foot.

machete comb and clip set
Nordstrom

6. Machete No. 2 Comb & Mini Heirloom Clips Set

How lovely will this Italian handmade set look on her bathroom sink? Too lovely for her to scoff at, we’ll bet. The comb is appropriate for all hair types and will turn detangling into an absolute pleasure.

ordinary habit matching cards1
Ordinary Habit

7. Ordinary Habit “learn Your Leaves” Matching Cards

There’s a certain set that would be glad to never see a jigsaw piece again. If she falls in that camp, gift her these matching cards instead. The gorgeous illustration is honestly reason enough, but the nostalgia that will come from playing this simple game is what she’ll truly enjoy. Don’t forget to tell her they were printed in Italy at a 100 percent solar powered facility, too.

dr martens combat boots
DSW

8. Dr. Martens 1460 Combat Boot

The white leather colorway sets these combat boots apart from the overly-popular black look. (Perfect, because she likes to take trends and make them her own.) Don’t worry, the cushioned footbed and round toe keep them firmly in comfort territory, and one of the best parts about these smooth Dr. Martens is how easy they are to wipe clean.

lux mane hair growth cocktail1
Lux Mane

9. Lux Mane Ayurvedic Hair Growth Cocktail

One thing almost no one would turn down? Thicker, healthier, faster growing hair. This all-natural oil blend of Indian Ayurvedic herbs and oils delivers just that by stimulating damaged and inactive hair follicles and promoting overall growth. It also happens to be one of the brand’s best sellers.

BUY IT ($19)

paravel fold up bag
Paravel

10. Paravel Fold-up Bag

With more frequent road trips making a comeback, her suitcases have likely taken a back seat. Gift her a smart nylon bag made from upcycled water bottles that folds flat for easy storage. Fitting 3-5 days of clothes and 1-2 pairs of shoes, or a laptop and her gym gear for Monday through Friday use, she’ll never want to leave home without it.

weezie hand towels
Weezie

11. Weezie Piped Edge Hand Towels (pair)

These luxe hand towels are made in Portugal and will spruce up her bathroom is an instant. There are nine color options to choose from, so go for her favorite (or the one that matches her bathroom the best) and consider adding custom embroidery. Maybe her initials, maybe a quippy saying she loves—either way, they’re guaranteed to be a hit.

marc fisher glorena bootie
DSW

12. Marc Fisher Glorena Bootie

With an elegant pointed toe and stacked heel, there's nothing classic about this pair of booties. The zippered closure will make it easy for her to slip them on and off, and that snakeskin print is one of the most authentic we've seen. Thanks to the versatility—they can be worn with jeans, dresses, you name it—it's not only a gift she'll love, but one she'll get serious mileage out of, too.

nuori hand wash and lotion1
50ml

13. Nouri Enriched Hand Wash & Lotion

Everyone is washing their hands like crazy right now, which, while important, takes a toll on that precious skin. Feed the healthy habit and the health of her hands with a luxe wash and lotion set. The refreshing soap is formulated with gentle, plant-based cleansing agents and the lotion is lightweight with a blend of shea butter, olive squalene, grape seed oil and sweet almond oil. Both are enriched with white tea extract, a powerful antioxidant, and both are minimally packaged to perfection.

bosom buddies
Burke Decor

14. ‘bosom Buddies’ By Violet Zhang

This illustrated book captures 25 female friendships throughout history, describing and celebrating the inspiring and remarkable relationships between women from Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King to Katherine Mansfield and Virginia Woolf. We suggest adding a footnote to include your friendship at the very end.

boba guys the boba kit1
Boba Guys

15. Boba Guys The Boba Kit

When shopping for someone is tough, experiential gifts are often the way to go, and this year, anything that can be done at home (and eaten, of course) is sure to be a winner. Complete with tapioca balls, organic matcha, amber rock sugar, a metal reusable straw, a teaspoon and a bamboo whisk, she’ll be whipping up her own bubble tea in no time, and thanking you every time she takes a sip.

BUY IT ($50)

blue lotus body oil
Verishop

16. Anokha Blue Lotus Body Oil

This body oil is much more than just a treat for the eyes (really, how gorgeous is that hue?). It uses yuzu essential oil and blue yarrow to sooth dryness and discomfort from her chest to her legs. The brand is sustainable and vegan and was created by a board certified plastic surgeon to deliver real results, safely and reliably. Oh, and Anokha donates ten percent of its proceeds to doctors without borders.

framebridge gift card1
Framebridge

17. Framebridge Gift Card

A beautifully framed print is always a fabulous gift—but for your picky friend, letting her choose the image and frame on her own is the way to go. She’ll love the thoughtfulness behind the whole thing—that you’re giving her something personal and letting her customize it herself.


purewow mark salmon

Director, Branded Content

Cristina Polchinski is a director of branded content at Gallery Media Group. She produces sponsored content campaigns across all verticals and platforms, in addition to researching, testing and writing about beauty, family, fashion and trends. Cristina joined PureWow in 2016 and holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Elon University and a master’s degree in integrated marketing from NYU.