If you thought I was going to skip over those surly teens this year – think again! Truth be told, teens are actually the easiest to shop for – if you know them. They’re the most likely to pinpoint exactly what they want, and oftentimes it’s as simple as a video game or a hoodie or a makeup palette they spotted, or better yet, a luxury item like a new phone or tablet. However, if you can’t get an answer out of them or you’re buying for a teen you maybe aren’t as close with (like a cousin or niece or grandchild), then this gift guide should give you some holiday gift ideas for teens. Onwards!
Maybelline New York The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette – $13.99 @ Mass Market Retailers Nationwide
So she wants a fancy eyeshadow palette but she has no idea how to really use it? Then get her started with a more affordable and less daunting option, like Maybelline’s newly released The Nudes set; a response of sorts to popular palettes like Urban Decay’s Naked series. Not only does it contain twelve hard-to-mess-up shades that won’t have her cringing in embarrassment five years from now, it also includes a handy guide on the back to explain how the shadows are arranged in pairs, trios, and quads depending on how you view the set, easily giving her a head start on mastering her makeup. And believe it or not, despite the super affordable price, this set delivers solid pigmentation, smooth blendability, and some lovely, shimmery neutrals she’ll wear time and again in a ton of different combinations.
Jenga Quake – $24.99 @ the Real Canadian Superstore, Walmart, Target, and Toys “R” Us
This is honestly the most stressful game I’ve ever played – but also a pretty addictive one. Whether or not the teen you’re shopping for is familiar with the original stacking blocks game or not, they’ll get a kick out of this intense, action movie-inspired twist on a classic fave. Stack your bricks high, then turn on the power button. The base of your tower will randomly shake for varied periods of time. Sometimes it gives you an advantage by loosening bricks that are otherwise tucked in tightly, but other times it can cause your entire tower to quite literally come crashing down. There’s enough daredevil cool factor for your teen to break it out at a party, and it’s such a quick and easy game to set up and learn, don’t be surprised if they get uber competitive and have a Jenga showdown with their friends.
Tilly Doro Charm Necklaces – From $48
Well don’t tell designer Nogah Rotstein this, but if I could rob someone’s entire jewelry stores, then I may very well pick Tilly Doro. Handmade in NYC (although Nogah has Canadian ties with stints in Ontario and Quebec!), this exquisite line has a vintage, customized feel – which makes sense, given many of her pieces are indeed one-of-a-kind thanks to the designer’s magpie-esque habits of collecting secondhand-sourced materials and overstocked charms and stones. Although I’m only highlighting the charm necklaces above, there are actually a ton of amazing standalone necklaces and friendship-inspired bracelets, amongst many other picks that work for literally every gal you’re shopping for. But I like the idea of a charm necklace for a teenage girl, especially because you can actually get one custom made by working with Nogah directly (the pretty ‘Love’ charm necklace in the centre is a custom example). Choose an alphabet charm for her first or last name, then add on a precious gemstone and other shapes that reflect her interests or personal style. The result is something she will truly treasure from the moment she unwraps it.
HP Stream 13 – $289.99
There comes a point in every household when it probably makes sense to ensure everyone has their own computer (or other web-enabled device). After all, trying to share one family computer means you’re prone to tears as your teens try to complete their homework – and keep up with their social circles. The HP Stream is a teen-friendly pick that offers free cloud storage for all of their files, so even if they forget to print off that important assignment they can do so once they get to school. Rendered in a vibrant blue hue with a 13.3″ touchscreen, this isn’t the computer you buy for a gamer type, but it is a practical choice that’ll get the job done if your teen is primarily concerned with having web access anytime, any place. As a heads up, the HP store is saying it’s out of stock, but the Microsoft Canada store does currently have it available.
Popular by Maya Van Wagenen – $21 + Betty Cornell’s Teen-Age Popularity Guide – $18
Imagine this: you’re struggling fitting in at your predominantly Spanish-speaking school. Your parents stumble upon a copy of a vintage 1950s popularity guide and challenge you to follow its principles for your eighth grade year, which include, amusingly, basic tips like ‘stand up straight’ and more archaic fashion principles like pearls making a fetching accessory for a long skirt. Let me reiterate – the eighth grade is not a flattering time for any of us, so you can only imagine the results when you add in some 50s flair. Hint: It’s not a fairy tale transformation. Like other ‘year-long experiment’ authors before her, Maya Van Wagenen’s escapades are both insightful into the teenage psyche and amusing anecdotes, many of them resulting in sitcom-worthy gaffes, like a memorable school photo flub. They’ll make you cringe, make you reminiscent, and make you fall in love with the spirited, vibrant girl within these pages. Indeed, the teen’s activities caught the eye not only of publishers – who have also resurrected the crusty popularity guide she based her actions on – but Hollywood as well, with a movie deal in hand to turn her whimsical, genuine tale of popularity woes into a laugh out loud film. Pick up both books to give your own teen a shot of self-confidence, and something to laugh about the next time they have a cringeworthy moment of their own.
Candy Kisses Lip Butter Gift Set – $20 @ The Body Shop
If you’re not sure whether or not she wears makeup, you can’t go wrong with this cute, candy cane-shaped set from The Body Shop. It includes five of the brand’s signature lip butters, which are as practical as they are pretty. With tasty flavours like Coconut, Mango, Strawberry, Shea and Honeymania, you’ll basically be supplying her lip gloss stash for the year – with enough to keep one in her locker, gym bag, backpack, purse, car – you name it! And as an extra bonus this is one of The Body Shop’s super awesome gift ideas that also helps fund a child’s schooling. Learn more about this great initiative with War Child here.
Luckies Deluxe Scratch Mat – $39.95 @ Opuszone
I actually got my husband an ‘original’ Scratch Mat and I have to tell you – it’s a mighty cool gift idea. But his pretty much pales in comparison to this wanderlust-inspiring map that’ll make a swell piece of imaginative wall art in your teen’s bedroom. Larger in scale, this more detailed map features relief maps of the land and ocean, as well as more islands to cover every last place your kid has been – or dreams of going down the road. Printed in copper ink on a black background, it’s a striking statement piece too, particularly as your teen starts scratching off destinations to reveal the brightly coloured pieces underneath. A great choice for the globetrotting teen, or for the one that simply dreams big.
Murad Blemish Control Kit – $45
Many of us not-so-fondly look back on our teenage years as a not particularly flattering time for our skin. The upside is, today’s teens have more advanced skincare options than ever to help banish blemishes and let their radiant youthful skin shine through. This four-piece kit (which regularly retails for $90 but is currently on for a limited time at half off!) includes some of the brand’s top acne-fighting products, all of which contain pharmaceutical-grade ingredients that will gently clear up skin while keeping it moisturized (a major downfall of other, harsher products). Loaded with anti-inflammatories and antioxidants, your teen will also say buh-bye to redness and hello to beautiful skin. One of the things I enjoy about skincare gifts for teens in particular – apart from the fact you’ll be personally responsible for boosting their self-confidence – is that it’ll teach them early on the importance of washing and moisturizing (and adding sun protection to) their skin, giving them a lifelong appreciation for maintaining a daily maintenance routine.
Quest 41-inch Tribes Pin-kick Tail Longboard – $79 @ O.co
It amuses me to no end – as someone who grew up in the glory days of Tony Hawk & co. – that skateboarding has become a pretty universal ‘thing’ now. In fact, I’d warrant that I saw five times as many teens on a longboard this past summer than I did on a bike at any point. Part of the great equalizer here comes from the introduction of the longboard, a way easier to balance on board that is the preferred transport method of choice of boys and girls alike. The gender-neutral tribal print above is a cool way to outfit your teen with a longboard of their own, with smooth wheels, a performance edge, and cold weather wood that’ll keep ‘em cruisin’ as long as the roads are snow-free.
lululemon Totally Toasty Mittens – $48 + Neck Warmer – $78
If the weather outside is frightful in your neighbourhood, keep your teen nice and warm and bundled up with a matching, super snuggly merino wool mitten and neck warmer set from lululemon. While the brand is primarily known for their fitness wear, they actually offer a great range of cold weather accessories and jackets to take you to and from yoga (or wherever your travels may take you). These cozy mitts come in four colour combinations and offer a super soft Sherpa fleece lining, as well as extended wrist cuffs to keep snow and wind from seeping into your skin. The oversized neck warmer can actually be pulled up to cover your ears or worn slouchy to keep the cold weather from nipping at your neck and chin, and includes a tiny pocket to stash essentials, like a house key, spare change, or lip gloss.
Lacc Beauty Holiday Collection Polishes – $12.99 each
Oh to be young again – I’m lucky if I find a few spare minutes to paint my nails for the week (although when I do, I can’t stop staring at my self-made mani). But when you’re a teen, you’ve got all the time in the world to say, match your tips to your outfit for the following day. If she is going to put work into her nails, then consider gifting her with some of La Couleur Couture’s (aka Lacc) gorgeous, highly pigmented polishes. Not only do they come in on-trend colours and last well past a day or two’s wear, they’re also vegan-friendly, toxic-free, cruelty-free, and the magic words every beauty maven wants to hear: five-free, meaning no nasty chemicals or toxins will seep into your nail beds. The four polishes above are Lacc’s holiday collection, but they have plenty of other stylish shades to choose from if you know your giftee already has similar colours in her collection. And it’s probably worth noting this makes a great last-minute gift as well: La Couleur Couture is now available in over 700 Shoppers Drug Mart stores nationwide.
Nude MOVE S Bluetooth Portable Speaker – $49.99 @ Amazon.ca & Shop.ca
I can think of fewer people that could benefit from a portable speaker than the teens on your list. After all, it’s teens that are likely to just hang out, whether in the park, sitting in the back of someone’s truck, at the beach, or even just in someone’s backyard. In lieu of busting the speakers on their pricy smartphone, get them a durable portable speaker they can toss in the glove compartment or in their bag for impromptu hangs and parties. Anyone can play DJ thanks to the speaker’s Bluetooth functionality, and the ultra light weight makes it a snap to even stuff into a jacket pocket or attach to the zipper of your snowboarding jacket. It’s a particularly apt pick for the outdoorsy teen, so they can bring their tunes on the go – wherever that may be.
There you have it! 12 cool gift ideas for teens that range across price points and interests, but all of which will be beloved by virtually any teen that unwraps them. As a special treat, I’m also giving away a prize package (admittedly a slightly girl-oriented one) that’s valued at over $350! If you win, you’ll be receiving:
- Maybelline New York’s The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette
– A custom Tilly Doro charm necklace
– A copy of Popular and a copy of Betty Cornell’s Teen-Age Popularity Guide
– The Body Shop’s Candy Kisses Set
– A $25 Opuszone gift card
– Murad’s Blemish Control Kit
– The Lacc Beauty Holiday Polish Collection
– A Nude MOVE S Bluetooth Portable Speaker
If you want to win this super prize package for teens, here’s how to enter:
1) First up: you must be a subscriber to the Canadian Gift Guide to enter this giveaway – I promise, it’s awesome! Just find the ‘Gift of Gab’ box on the righthand side of this page and either hit Follow or enter your email address. Once you’ve done that (or if you already did it before), simply leave a comment on this post by December 23, 2014, telling me what your favourite ‘Gifts for Teens’ gift ideas are from this post.
2) Entries are limited to one per person / per email address / per household (or more if you score bonus entries). A random draw will be conducted on or around December 24, 2014 to select the winner(s), who will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in their place.
3) Entries are limited to Canadians that have reached the age of majority in their province. Quebec is not eligible for this promotion.
4) Bonus Entry: There’s a bunch of ways to build up extra entries into this draw. For whatever bonus entry activities you tackle, be sure to leave your ‘proof’ in separate comments or your entries will not be counted. Got it? Cool:
Follow @MaybellineCAN on Twitter and send out a Tweet about their The Nudes palette that tags me (@cdngiftguide) and links back to this contest. Leave a link to your Tweet in a separate comment below.
Like Tilly Doro on Facebook and leave a comment on their page telling them what your favourite piece is from the Tilly Doro website. Link back to your wall post in a separate comment below.
Follow @TheBodyShopCA on Twitter and send out a Tweet about their Candy Kisses set that tags me (@cdngiftguide) and links back to this contest. Leave a link to your Tweet in a separate comment below.
Like Opuszone on Facebook. Leave a comment on their wall about what product you think would make the perfect gift for teens you’re shopping for and then link back to that wall post in a separate comment below.
Like Murad on Facebook. Leave a comment on their wall regarding their Blemish Control products and then link back to that wall post in a separate comment below.
Follow Lacc Beauty on Instagram and either Regram one of their photos, or share a photo from their site on your own Instagram. Link back to your shared photo in a separate comment below.
Follow @ecnewsandreview on Twitter and send out a Tweet about the Nude MOVE speaker that links back to this post and tags me (@cdngiftguide). Link back to your Tweet in a separate comment below.