23 Great Gifts We're Giving in 2019

There are a lot of gifts to be bought this time of year, but you don't want to give the people in your life the same ol' presents they've already seen countless times. So, we thought we’d help you out a bit by sharing a few of the things we plan on gifting this season. From comfy slippers your giftee will never want to take off to unique cosmetics and travel accessories, we think you'll find something for everyone (or yourself) on this list.

1. Sylfairy Growth Chart; $9

For relatives with little people in their lives, this oversized ruler helps chart their growth spurts without marking up doorways. —Jake Rossen, Senior Staff Writer

Buy it: Amazon

2. KitchenTour Clean and Dirty Magnets; $7

For couples who turn debates over whether dishwasher contents are clean or dirty into a marriage-threatening catastrophe, this magnet set could literally change the course of their lives. —J.R.

Buy it: Amazon

3. Cryptex Brain Teaser; $35

For the know-it-alls in the family who are too picky to buy for and just want cash, now you can make them test their puzzle-solving aptitude before scoring dough. —J.R.

Buy it: Amazon

4. Marginalia Paraphernalia Enamel Pins; $6–$11

Alison Atkin creates enamel pins and more inspired by wonderfully absurd illustrations in the margins of medieval texts. Choose from jousting bunnies, a man with a trumpet coming out of his butt, nuns picking penises off a tree, and other delights. Sure to please the hard-to-buy-for medieval scholars in your life. —Bess Lovejoy, Staff Editor

Buy it: Birch Bark

5. The Writer's Map: An Atlas of Imaginary Lands; $30

If I'm giving a book as a gift, I like it to be something that will impress the recipient as soon as they open it. This coffee table book from Huw Lewis-Jones is filled with stunning illustrations of lands from epic novels, comic books, and nursery rhymes. In between the literary maps, the book features essays from the authors and illustrators who brought the worlds to life. —Michele Debczak, Senior Staff Writer

Buy it: Amazon

6. Crystal-Growing Hedgehog; $15

This crystal-growing hedgehog is like a Chia Pet for the budding chemist in your family. Just submerge the toy figure into a special solution and wait a day for a cluster of spiky, colorful crystals to appear on its back. It's meant for kids, but I definitely wouldn't be mad to find one in my Christmas stocking. —M.D.

Buy it: Amazon

7. Binh Minh Shawl; $27

This silk-and-cotton shawl made by a Vietnamese weaving collective has just the right weight and texture to add a glamorous layer to any outfit. Perfect for anyone who could use a dose of (responsibly sourced) glamour.—B.L.

Buy it: Amazon

8. Dr. PawPaw Original Balm; $10

I'm obsessed with this multipurpose, papaya-infused balm, which leaves lips and skin well-moisturized and soft. The balm comes in multiple colors (which can be used as lip gloss and blush), but I'll be gifting everyone the original or shea butter balm in their stockings. —Erin McCarthy, Editor-in-Chief

Buy it: Amazon

9. Glerups Shoe; $135

Holiday season is hygge season, and there's nothing cozier than these Glerups slippers. Even though they're made of wool, they're not itchy, and the felt forms to the wearer's foot, so the fit is perfect. The wool wicks away moisture, keeping feet warm and dry. Plus, they have a rubber sole, which means they can be worn outside—making them perfect for all the dog walkers on my list. —E.M.

Buy it: Glerups

10. Seirus Heattouch Glow Ladies Glove; $330

My mom has Reynaud's Disease, which means her fingers are always cold. So this year, my brother and I went halfsies on these gloves from Seirus. They have a flexible heat panel that heats the back of the hand and the fingers. The batteries are also really thin, and depending on the setting, can provide up to six hours of heat to every frosty digit. —E.M.

Buy it: Seirus

11. Polish Pottery Mug; $28

A hand-painted Polish pottery mug brings a touch of timelessness and elegance to anyone’s daily caffeine routine, and the delicate design on this one will probably make the recipient want to display it prominently on their desk even when they’re not using it. —Ellen Gutoskey, Staff Writer

Buy it: Amazon

12. CouchCoaster Drink Holder; $25

This weighted drink holder that rests on the arm of the couch is perfect for people who don’t have a coffee table at all, or just don’t want to have to reach forward to retrieve their drink every time they want a sip of it. —E.G.

Buy it: Amazon

13. Lasko Personal Heater; $20

Know someone who’s often complaining about the near-Arctic temperatures in their office? This 6-inch desktop heater will keep them rosy-cheeked and productive, no matter the season. —E.G.

Buy it: Amazon

14. Glazed Turquoise Plant Pots; $8–$15

These versatile plant pots can take one's desk at work from boring to brilliant. The deep turquoise glaze goes really well with purplish foliage as well as light-green ferns or succulents, and the two sizes will fit most small houseplants. —Kat Long, Science Editor

Buy it: World Market

15. WOW Skincare Science Foaming Face wash; $17

Skincare addicts on my list are getting this face wash, which is made with natural ingredients (it's infused with apple cider vinegar, aloe vera, and vitamins B5 & E) and great for sensitive skin.—E.M.

Buy it: Amazon

16. Blissy Sleep Mask; $40

Frequent flyers will love these Blissy's silk sleep masks. They're handmade, come in white, black, gold, pink, and marble, and have their own travel pouch. The silk won't irritate the skin, and they hug your face without being too clingy. Who says sleeping on a plane can't be luxurious? —E.M.

Buy it: Blissy

17. Duke Cannon "Great American Frontier" Soap: $27

If you’ve ever used a bar of Duke Cannon soap, you know it comes in a rectangular hunk that is nearly the size of a car battery. The bold look also carries over to the scents, which tend to favor stronger, earthier tones that make you feel like some sort of frontiersperson (the bar infused with Buffalo Trace whiskey is my personal favorite.). If I'm buying for someone that fits this niche, I go for this variety pack of three bars—one has the characteristics of tobacco and leather, another smells of pine, and the other is like taking a whiff from a bonfire. —Jay Serafino, Special Projects Editor

Buy it: Amazon

18. Plugable Digital Microscope; $40

I’ll be the cool aunt when I get all the curious kids I know this digital microscope, which plugs into a computer via USB and comes with a suction cup stand. Set up is super easy—you just screw it together. The microscope has 250x magnification and an LED light with diffuser, so they’ll be able to get a clear, close look at whatever interests them, whether it’s geodes or bugs or microprocessors. —E.M.

Buy it: Amazon

19. Backcountry Rockport Seawool Flannel Shirt; $100

This thick flannel shirt from Backcountry will keep any guy you need to buy for—from dad to boyfriend—looking sharp and feeling cozy. Made of recycled seawool and polyester, it’s perfect for adventuring in cool weather (as one reviewer notes, it’s “somewhere between a button up flannel and a light jacket”), and it’s equipped with two chest pockets plus pockets on the side for hands. —E.M.

Buy it: Backcountry

20. Hoka One One Arkali; $200

Hikers will be obsessed with this shoe, which is available in both men’s and women’s. It's lightweight, has great grip, and, with adjustable heel and ankle straps, it's customizable. One reviewer noted that they were comfortable out of the box and “definitely enhanced traction while scrambling and on steep/looser terrain.” Each comes in two colorways: One that’s more classic, and one with a fun, retro-feel. —E.M.

Buy it: Hoka One One (men's, women's)

21. AYRPlane Suit; $125

As someone who travels a fair amount for work, I find that there’s nothing worse than being uncomfortable on a plane—so I’m gifting myself the AYRplane Suit this Christmas. Described as “basically street-legal pajamas,” this set is made with pima cotton, modal, and spandex, and it’s not only comfy—it’s also cute. I’ll be donning it to travel to California for the holidays with my family. Merry Christmas to me! —E.M.

Buy it: AYR (top, bottom)

22. REI Socks: $16

Anyone who knows me knows that I go hiking any chance that I get. But nothing is worse than getting halfway up a mountain only to realize your socks aren't built for the trek. Luckily, I bought a few pairs of REI hiking socks a few years ago and have not had that issue since. So this year, I'll be giving these soft yet supportive socks. Even if someone isn't into the outdoors, they are ankle length, so they go with sneakers. —Kristen Richard, Associate Editor

Buy it: REI

23. FinalStraw; $25

Like myself, my friends are very dependent on coffee. But with busy schedules, it's hard to remember to bring reusable straws everywhere you go. So as someone who wants to support my coffee-guzzling friends and the ocean, I'll be gifting these easy-to-clean steel straws. And it attaches to a keychain, so you'll never forget them. —K.R.

Buy it: Amazon

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