We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. An AeroGarden Harvest hydroponic garden, so your favorite green-thumbed pal can enjoy fresh herbs, veggies, or leafy greens year-round. It’s always growing season with one of these countertop gardens on hand — even in places that aren’t exactly known for their garden-friendly climates.
2. A pair of AirPod Pro ear buds that’ll fill their world with sound. These babies have all the perks of regular AirPods — they’re truly wireless, have a built-in microphone, and last for up to 24 hours on one charge — plus the added benefit of noise cancellation properties. Also, they’re sleek as heck. What music, podcast, or audiobook lover wouldn’t want to see a pair of these when they open up a beautifully wrapped gift box?
3. A Yonanas machine, so the frozen dessert fiend in your life can have soft serve whenever they feel like it. Even at two o’clock in the morning (especially at 2 o’clock in the morning). Throw in a bag or two of their favorite frozen fruit along with this machine — because yep, that’s all you need in the way of ingredients! It turns any frozen fruit into a smooth, creamy treat in mere moments — and you’ll have rightfully earned the title of Best Gift Giver of 2023.
4. A lil’ touch-activated duck lamp, for the loved one who is Going Through It and could use both a little solidarity and a good laugh. Does this soft silicone duck look like he’s having a rough one, lying there prone on whatever desk or tabletop he’s chosen to call home? Yes. Is he still adorable? Absolutely. And is he useful to boot? 100%. He’s a great reminder that things might be hard, but that’s okay! He’s doing his best, and that’s more than enough. Good job, duck.
5. A truly excellent, carbon steel kitchen knife set that’ll give your favorite aspiring chef everything they need to live their best Carmy-inspired life. Filleting a delicate piece of fish? Slicing up some crudités? This 20-piece set includes everything they’ll need to get the job done — no matter what that job might be. It even comes with a super cool acrylic knife block to display them all!
6. A 12-piece set of Instagram-famous Caraway cookware to upgrade their pots-and-pans situation in a big, big way. Each piece of this ceramic nonstick set looks beautiful and cooks phenomenally — exactly what the dedicated home chef both needs and wants. A splurge? Yes, but the perfect gift for someone who really deserves a treat.
7. OR, a Lodge cast-iron skillet that'll present them with perfectly seared steak — or the crispiest bacon, or just-right eggs, or whatever else they feel like whipping up — every. Dang. Time. This 10.25-inch pick comes pre-seasoned, too, so they’ll be able to get cooking literally right out of the box.
8. A handheld massage gun, because the most stressed-out person you know will absolutely appreciate receiving the ultimate self-care gadget. With five speeds, five different massager heads, and a ridiculously long battery life, this massage gun is the take-care-of-yourself tool they didn’t know they needed — but will be so glad to have.
9. An inflatable hot tub that’ll turn their backyard into a literal spa. This pick is big enough for four people and features a whopping 140 jets, an integrated water filtration system, and a digital temperature control panel so they can set the water just how they like it. The best part? They won’t need any additional equipment to inflate it — it includes its own pump. Aaaah. How soothing.
10. A copy of Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, a fast-paced challenge that’ll test any tabletop game enthusiast’s reflexes and word association skills and crack ‘em up in the process. Easy to learn but tricky to master, this three-to-eight-player card game is excellent for kids and adults alike.
11. A Nespresso VertuoPlus coffee and espresso maker that your most loyal coffee-run buddy will flip their beans over. This fancy-schmancy, pod-based machine can brew up four different cup sizes — single and double espressos and five- or eight-ounce regular coffees — at the touch of a button. Their mornings will never be the same, in the best way possible.
12. Or, a DASH rapid cold brew maker, if they’re more of an iced coffee person. Cold brew is great — less acidic, deeper flavor, very ~extra~ — but the one downside is how long it typically takes to brew. Not with this kitchen hero, though! It’ll brew them up a refreshing iced beverage in under 10 minutes (compared with, uh, the 12 hours cold brew usually requires).
13. OR, a HyperChiller beverage cooler that’ll take their coffee from hot to iced in 60 seconds (yes, really). We all know someone whose entire personality is coffee. We also know someone who is plagued by indecisiveness. And some of us know someone who is both. (It’s me. I’m talking about me.) This is THE perfect gift for the indecisive coffee fiend. If they make hot coffee, then decide they want it iced, all they have to do is yank this thing out of the freezer, pour in the hot coffee, swirl it around, and bam — hot coffee is now iced.
14. An acrylic book-shaped vase just right for any bookworm who, like Mrs. Dalloway, regularly buys the flowers themselves. Minimalist yet unique, it’ll make for a wonderfully literary way to brighten up their surroundings — whether they’re into real flowers or faux ones.
15. And a beautiful Lego flower bouquet set to go with it, that — bonus! — will never wilt. Who doesn’t like getting flowers, especially when they’ll last literally forever?
16. A magnetic tiles building set that’ll quickly become a toybox favorite for the architecturally inclined toddlers in your life. The 32 pieces in this set all fasten together with the magic of magnets, giving kids the freedom to build anything they can imagine. It’ll be so fun that they won’t even realize they’re learning things like pattern recognition or problem-solving skills while they play.
17. A cat window hammock, because there are few gifts a cat person appreciates more than a gift that’s actually for… their cat. (Source: me, your friendly neighborhood cat lady.) This neat little cat bed attaches to most windows using the power of ~suction cups~ giving Hercule Purrot or Ruth Bader Ginspurr a place to snooze, watch the world go by, or both. Their human will love it. Trust me. (Why, yes, my multicat household was gifted a similar item once upon a time! Why do you ask?)
18. And a touch-activated Purr Pillow toy that’ll literally start purring whenever their cat snuggles it. The purring will last for two minutes once activated, providing instant comfort to their kitty — and as a bonus, it can be machine-washed, as long as they remove the purring mechanism first. Love a gift that’s equal parts fun and practical!
19. Or, a sloth version of the same Purr Pillow that works just like the purple cat one, except it’s, y’know, shaped like a blue sloth. Ugh. So cute. Just picture their cat snuggling with it. It’s a surefire way to make sure their camera roll is filled with only pictures of their cat. (Not that it isn’t already, but, well… more cats is never a bad thing!)
20. A Furbo dog camera and treat dispenser that’ll let your most dedicated dog-parent friends keep an eye on Sir Barks-A-Lot, even when they’re not home. This camera, which can be controlled via smartphone, features night vision, motion detection, and a barking alert, so they’ll always know what their furriest family member is up to — and since it also has audio capabilities, they can even talk to Bow-wow-wowser if he starts getting a little rowdy. They can even use the app to dispense treats!
21. Or a doggy DNA test kit, so they can finally learn exactly where their hilariously adorable rescue pup gets their floppy little ears, fluffy tail, or stubby little legs. Bonus: In addition to offering tons of info on what breeds combine to make their puppy pal so unique, this kit also provides valuable health insights that’ll help keep Indiana Bones happy and healthy for years to come. Pets are family, after all!
22. An astonishingly versatile indoor playset ideal for super active kiddos — and their parents, of course! This wood playset can be configured in tons of different ways: It’s a climbing structure! It’s a rocker! It’s a slide! And it folds away for easy storage, too, because sometimes you’ve just gotta get the big toys out of the way!
23. A “Silly Poopy” hide and seek game any kid will get a kick out of (and honestly, their parents probably will, too, whether or not they’re willing to admit it). From the folks behind the What Do You Meme? this rainbow-colored, oversized emoji toy emits some choice… noises after being hidden; the first one to find it wins. If you know a kid who’s deep in their potty humor phase — or an adult who never left it — this wacky pick is sure to tickle the poop out of them. (#sorrynotsorry.)
24. A singing, dancing cactus plushie, so your favorite budding movement artist can have a silly, fantastic dance party whenever they want. Soft, squishy, and battery-operated, this goofy lil’ guy packs a whopping 120 songs in his spines, providing plenty of variety for both kids and parents alike.
25. Or, a dance party-ready Bluey toy, if your kid can’t get enough of the bright blue animated pup. Not only can your tot sing and dance along with Bluey to four different songs, they can even play games like Statues and Copycat.
26. A teak bath tray that’ll let your loved one be pampered the way they truly deserve. Nothing beats an at-home spa night, so why not give them the perfect way to start it off? This gorgeous tray has spots to stash a beverage, book or tablet, scented candle, and any other bathtub favorites while they relaaaaax. Throw in a bath bomb or two and you’ll be their favorite person forever. For. Ev. Er.
27. A pack of satisfyingly squishy Globbles, so your favorite fidgety human will always have something to do with their hands. With all the fun of slime and none of the mess, they’re great to push, pull, pick at, and of course squish — but they’re also a blast to throw at flat surfaces: They’ll stick wherever they land, seemingly defying gravity, Elphaba-style. BUT, they also pull off again with ease, leaving no residue behind. Everybody wins!
Check out a TikTok of the Globbles in action.
Promising review: "Bought a six-pack for my neurodivergent family. We are all either ADHD or autistic. I struggle with compulsive hair pulling and bought these to help keep my hands busy. They are the perfect size, more satisfying than a stress ball, clean easily, fun to hurl at the wall or ceiling, and so far have lasted very well. I did test the durability of one and did break one when I pulled it as hard as I could — the inside looks something like shaving cream and didn’t smell or anything. But if you have a kid who is an aggressive chewer, perhaps keep an eye on them." —Amazon Customer
Price: $11.99+ (available in packs of six or 16)
28. A KitchenAid Artisan Mini stand mixer any baker would be thrilled to receive — especially if their kitchen situation is less Nancy Meyers and more Lily-before-she-moved-in-with-Marshall-and-Ted circa the early seasons of How I Met Your Mother. Packing all the power — and prettiness! — of its larger counterpart into a much more space-efficient size, this 3.5-quart beauty creams butter and pulls dough with the best of them.
29. A super cozy, super pretty throw blanket, because if there’s one thing no homebody can ever have enough of, it’s throw blankets. This 100% cotton muslin pick is constructed from four cloud-like layers of comfort, with a neat, bubble-like weave for visual interest. For the friend whose absolute favorite place to be is home, it doesn’t get much better than this.
30. An Urban Decay Naked 2 Basics eyeshadow palette, because your most glam pals absolutely understand and appreciate the value of a workhorse like this sucker. It might not look like much, but this compact little palette can do so. Much. Those six, slightly cool-toned matte shadows combine in countless ways, creating both barely-there, no-makeup makeup looks and dark, dramatic styles with ease.
31. A classic denim jacket from Levi’s they’ll wear with literally everything. Jeans and a tee? Denim jacket. Cute little skater dress? Denim jacket. Flowy boho beach look? Denim jacket. Sweater weather? Denim jacket. The best gifts are the ones you can really use, and this one, with its never-goes-out-of-style trucker cut, is something they’re sure to put in heavy rotation pretty much immediately.
32. A copy of Burn After Writing, the TikTok-famous guided journal people can’t stop raving about. If your favorite person tends toward introspection, this interactive book will help them plumb their own depths in some surprising ways. It’s a way to remind them that you love them for everything they are.
33. A quilted crossbody bag for your pal with a penchant for Mary Poppins purses who has been talking for ages about wanting to downsize from the giant carpet bag they usually carry to something a little more compact. With plenty of space for essentials in the main compartment and smaller zippered pockets both inside and out, this faux leather pick makes for a terrific everyday bag — and since it comes in tons of colors, there’s sure to be something here to fit their aesthetic.
34. A “Mystical Fire” flame colorant that’ll let your witchiest loved one live their most magical life. Dropping one of these little packets into any wood-burning fire — campfire, fireplace, you name it — will summon a series of colors in the flames so mesmerizing, they won’t be able to look away.
35. A game-changing slushy-making cup that’ll turn aaaaaaaaall your resident 7-Eleven enthusiast’s cold drinks into an icy, refreshing treat — no actual trip to 7-Eleven required. Just pop the cup in the freezer for a couple of hours, then add any cold drink — soda, juice, coffee… the possibilities are endless — and squish the sides of the cup. Watching the slush form inside is the most delicious of magic tricks.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Check out a TikTok of the Slushy Maker Cup in action — it even comes with a spill-proof lid so it won't leak while you're crushing the cup!
Promising review: "It actually works! To my disbelief of all things seen on TikTok and YouTube, this silly cup actually worked and now I really like it! It’s a good gift for a teenager or school-aged kid." —tracy
Price: $8.99+ (available in 49 colors/styles)
36. An insulated drink tumbler that’ll keep their water — or their iced coffee, or their smoothie, or whatever — cold for hours. No one likes to drink tepid water; with this double-walled pick from Simple Modern, they can be sure their beverages stay icy until the very last drop. Also, it’s gloriously Instagrammable, if they’re into that kind of thing.
37. A meat thermometer that’ll boost any carnivore’s cooking game, whether they’re a grill master or a low, slow, roast-in-the-oven chef. This sleek, wireless thermometer interfaces directly with their smartphone for easy, accurate, detailed readings. It even tells you exactly when to take your food off the flame. Talk about literally bringing home the bacon!
38. An inflatable paddle board set, so your adventure-loving bud can pack up and head towards the water whenever the mood strikes (which is probably often, knowing them). This standing board inflates to a full 10 feet in length — but also quickly collapses back down again for easy storage. No one likes driving around with surfboards sticking out of the back of their trunk, but with this handy option, they’ll never have to worry about that problem again!
39. A 3Doodler 3D printing pen that’ll have them literally making their artistic dreams a reality. If the doodlers you know ever wished their two-dimensional sketches could be three-dimensional objects, this super unique device will make that happen: It doesn’t dispense ink — it dispenses a thin line of heated plastic, letting them literally draw in three dimensions. Wild!
40. A big ol’ bag of wildflower seeds, so they can fill their outdoor spaces with a riot of colorful blossoms. Each packet includes 21 or 24 different varieties of wildflowers, depending on whether you opt for the perennial or annual mix, and they’re so easy to grow that even beginners just starting to dabble in gardening say they’ve had great success. Activities often make the best gifts, and with this one, they’ll end up with a beautiful field of flowers when they’re done!
41. A sleek gaming chair, because if your gamer buddy spends a lot of time in front of their computer, they deserve the most comfortable seat in which to do it. Like most good desk chairs, this one has adjustable height, a tilt-and-lock mechanism to set the angle just the way they like it, and five sturdy casters. BUT, because it’s built specifically for, say, long Baldur’s Gate 3 sessions or good ol’ fashioned World Of Warcraft raids, it’s also got a thicker backrest and seat cushion, an adjustable headrest, and a lumbar pillow to keep their back and neck in tip-top shape.
42. A pair of hanging glass prisms that shine as brightly as your giftee does. These two teardrop-shaped suncatchers turn any room into a rainbow room certain to delight your sunniest and most colorful loved one. It’s the little things, you know?
43. A Taylor Swift Little Golden Book that’ll press all the right nostalgia buttons for the Swifties you know and love. This adorable, lovingly illustrated book might look like the kind of Little Golden Book they grew up reading — but it is perfect for the current, ahem, era, as it tells the story not of the Poky Little Puppy or the Shy Little Kitten, but of the one and only T Swift.
44. A desktop wacky waving inflatable tube guy that’ll perk them up whenever their workday starts to draaaaaag. I mean, look at this lil’ guy. Look at him. They are guaranteed to get a kick out of him. How could they not?
45. Or a screaming goat desktop figurine, because we all need to scream sometimes, and this thing makes doing so a tiny bit more office appropriate than it might otherwise be. All your stressed-out work buddy needs to do to let off a little steam is give this lil’ goat a gentle push, and voilà: The goat will scream for them. Excellent solution. Everyone wins.
46. A copy of P Is For Pterodactyl, a cheeky grammar book starring all the weirdest letters of the alphabet that's sure to give your beloved wordsmiths and grumpy grammarians alike more fuel for their ever-burning linguistic fires. It is absolutely true that the English language is a nightmare. This clever book pokes fun at some of its most inexplicable oddities, like the unpronounced P in “pterodactyl” and the errant K in “knot” — because even sticklers for grammar like to have a laugh every now and again!
47. A set of gorgeous pastel highlighters so pretty, they’ll look for every possible excuse to use them. The highlighters in this set come in six dreamy colors — perfect for anyone who thrives on a color-coordinated organizational system. Never underestimate the joys of nice stationery. It makes everything better.
48. And a positively massive pack of stickers, because bullet journalers and scrapbookers can never, ever have too many stickers. The 500 — count ‘em! — stickers in this set are of the puffy variety, too, which, y’know, is just a fun little detail. Kids love ‘em. Adults love ‘em. Everyone loves ‘em.
49. A set of pretend grocery store goodies from Melissa & Doug, because it’s never too early for the kids in your life to learn the fine art of customer interaction. Okay, I jest — but grocery shopping is really exciting when you’re tiny, and your fave toddlers will love getting their pretend-play on with this set — and they’ll work to develop their imaginations, their sorting and organizational habits, and their interpersonal skills, too!
50. And lastly, a Sophie the Giraffe teething toy, so the teething babies in your life — and their parents! — can finally get some relief from the literal pain and agony that is acquiring human teeth. Generations of parents and caregivers swear by this soft, pliant herbivore for help with the whole messy teething process; also, Sophie is so cute. Just adorable. A-plus, no notes.
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.