Under $25 Beauty Gifts With Over $25 Energy

December 9 | 3 minute read

Words by Ruby Devlin and Kerri Gordon

The MECCA HQ Kris Kringle has two rules. One, in my opinion, is reasonable: spend $25 – no more, no less – and the other, less so; no MECCA allowed.

After several years of falling in love with the brands and products we meticulously curate, I still feel a tinge of jealousy seeing MECCA bags sprawled across cracker and bubble-laden tables in the Instagram Stories coverage of my friends’ work holiday parties. We almost make it too easy to ditch the dust-gathering gifts for little luxuries that come in under budget, but feel like so much more (artful Natalya Hughes-emblazoned bag and a flurry of tissue paper intact).

These beauty gifts under $25 will leave your lucky recipient surprised, delighted and convinced you blew the budget (and me, wishing I were on the receiving end).

Kitsch Recycled Plastic Assorted Claw Clips 3 Piece

It’s hot, it’s sticky and there is truly nothing worse than working up a sweat on the dance floor of your holiday party and realising you don’t have a hair tie, clip, pin or claw in sight. Lucky for your giftee, you wrapped up this trio of clips, which come in a variety of sizes and styles to suit different hair lengths and textures.

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Kit: Lip Kit: Ornament

If you know your friend is gearing up to meet someone under the mistletoe this year, this lip balm will not go unappreciated. With Australian river mint to freshen, sea buckthorn oil to plump and cocoa seed butter to lock it all in, they (and their date) will thank you. Even if you don’t know your giftee that well, this balm – like any kit: holiday pick – makes the perfect gift.

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Half Magic Face Gems

Adorning the likes of Chappell Roan, Sydney Sweeney and Hunter Schafer and created and recommended by Euphoria Head Makeup Artist Donni Davy herself these gems add the perfect pop to any look and will be much appreciated by the regular concert-goers, beauty maximalists and lovers of all things sparkly in your life. Plus, the medical-grade adhesive means they will last all day and night long.

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MECCA MAX Smoke Signal Eyeshadow Quad

Simple enough for your beauty-novice mum, but fun enough for your beauty-obsessed bestie, this quartet will become the effortless palette they can’t live without. The two matte shades and two shimmers were handpicked by the MECCA MUAs who have helped countless customers find their perfect eyeshadow look.

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Patchology Moodmask Exfoliate Mate Gentle Exfoliating Peel Sheet Mask & Get Dewy With It Mega Moisture Sheet Mask

It’s a rite of passage that if you walk into a MECCA store during the holiday season, you’ll walk out with a stack of Patchology masks in hand. Whether it’s a stocking stuffer, a last minute KK gift or a little something extra, they make perfect gifts for everyone.

And at $8 each, you’ll be able to wrap up three and still come under the $25 limit! We'd pick the Gentle Exfoliating mask to brighten and two Get Dewy With It masks to hydrate, because who doesn’t want to glow like no tomorrow?

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Lanolips 101 Ointment Keyring Bauble

For the friend whose worst nightmare is being without their emotional support lip balm, a moisture-locking option like Lanolips 101 Ointment will be much appreciated. Not only is it ultra-lush on the lips, it comes on a handy key ring, making it nearly impossible to lose.