43 Gifts for Young Women We’re Not Subtly Hinting About
Straight from the source!
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The way to any young woman's heart is a perfectly-curated, can’t-believe-I-ever-lived-without-it gift. No pressure! It's not like we're terrifying to shop for or anything!! I know the joy/chaos of being a 20-something-year-old woman, and while it can look incredibly fun and cool (hi, late nights dancing, new jobs, and first apartments), most of us are just starting to figure this adult thing out. And gifts make everything better, right? When a bestie, significant other, parent, or loved one takes the time to find a present they know we’ll like and actually use, it’s a big deal.
With Christmas coming up alarmingly fast—as in, next-week fast—this is officially not the moment for overthinking or panic-buying something she’ll politely smile at and quietly forget. The good news: thoughtful doesn’t have to mean complicated, expensive, or planned months in advance. The best gifts for young women are the ones that feel current, useful, and just indulgent enough. Whether you’re shopping for a beauty-loving roommate, a little sister, or a best friend, this guide has got your back.
The best gifts for young women at a glance:
Take a peek at the best gifts for young women below that will actually impress them—no matter what the too-cool millennial or Gen Z gal wants you to think.
But first, what's the shipping deadline for Christmas?
If you’re here because you're trying to get a holiday gift for your favorite young gal on time, consider this your friendly nudge to stop procrastinating—Christmas is already next week. For USPS, the general cutoff for Christmas delivery lands around December 17–18 for Ground, First-Class, and Priority Mail shipping. FedEx and UPS have similar mid-December cutoffs for their ground services, but the exact dates can shift depending on where you live and what you’re shipping. Both offer faster options—like 2-day or overnight—that can buy you a little extra time, but they’ll cost more.
Bigger retailers (hi, Amazon Prime) sometimes play by their own rules, so always double-check the shipping deadline on the specific item you’re buying. Whatever you do, check the shipping deadline at your retailer before you order, preferably earlier than later. Like, now.
Best Deal
Whenever they don’t want to carry a full purse and just need the essentials, this dual pouch is the perfect solution. It holds cards, cash, keys, and a handy lip gloss—everything they need in one compact, grab-and-go holder.
A custom gift is always 100x more thoughtful than a regular gift, and this initial necklace is just so chic. The fashionista and accessory-lover in your life will adore this funky accessory.
Twenty-somethings love a sweet treat (trust me, I can attest!). This easy ice cream maker whips it up in a single mug—perfect for when they’re craving a little indulgence. Just freeze the mug, prepare the mixture, pour it in, press the power button, let it churn… and voilà!
No matter if she's Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah, she'll adore this trilogy. The beachy box is worthy of a "shelfie", and her inner teen will re-reading all three books, no matter her actual age.
Cotopaxi's fleece headband is warm and bright enough to make winter walks feel like a fashion statement. Perfect for grocery runs, dog walks around the block, and even apres.
Jo Malone London Mini Ginger Biscuit + Sandalwood & Spiced Apricot Cologne Duo Gift Set
Jo Malone's luxe scent set is so good, you'll want to keep it for yourself. One mini bottle is ginger biscuit and sandalwood (oddly delicious) and the other is spiced apricot (sultry and sweet). Perfect for the gal who is determined to find her signature scent.
Why give her one book when you can give her thousands? With a Kindle, she can toggle between cheesy beach reads and spooky thrillers with the press of a button. The matcha green colorway is so cute, too.
Or, get her this real book, which will inspire her budding green thumb. It's got tips and tricks for turning her apartment into a real-life jungle—even if she can barely keep her snake plant alive.
Scrolling sucks up a lot of juice, I get it! This sleek charger has built-in cables, so she can juice her phone, tablet, or headphones anywhere—without untangling a single cord.
All the cool girlies want Frye boots. These come from the brand's outlet, Frye & Co., and look just as stunning as the real (more expensive) thing. They're comfy enough for all-day wear and will look timeless season after season.
Everyone deserves a cozy sweater in their wardrobe, and luckily Quince makes luxe cashmere as affordable as possible. This buttery-soft cardigan will be their new cold-weather staple, and they’ll def think of you everytime they get a compliment on it.
They’ll always appreciate jewelry that feels truly personal. This necklace, crafted with a 14k gold-plated brass chain, can be customized with five cute charms that reflect their style and personality.
If they love photography or capturing memories, this compact printer is perfect. It connects to a phone or tablet to instantly print photos, with up to 25 prints per charge. When they pair with the Kodak app, they'll be able to edit their photos before printing.
TikTok loves this puffer, and so will she. It comes in a rainbow of colors, so you're sure to find one to match her personality perfectly. And when she's not wearing it, it stuffs into a pocket to double as a travel pillow. Cozy and chic, just like any good gift should be.
This thing is about to do wonders for their self-care routine. A towel warmer will have their towel hot and ready for them when they get out of the shower/bath. With this, you're basically gifting them an in-home spa experience. They can throw in bathrobes and blankets, too!
It's not the most glamorous gift, sure, but it's one that'll keep them safe when they're out and about. Whenever feel unsafe, they can activate this device by removing its top pin plus a loud siren and strobe light will go off. Because it fits in most purses and pockets, they can have it with them at all times.
Straight up: 20-somethings have busy lives. They're either out here being a full-time student or employee while trying to survive in the adult world for the first time! And this means that taking care of their plant baby isn't an easy task. Help them out with this smart planter that has automated watering, soil monitoring, and other hi-tech growth settings.
A personalized cocktail book is not only a super thoughtful gift, but it'll also look just look so cool and legit on their bar cart. Filled with 29 unique recipes that match their taste and personality, they'll be whipping this out at every one of their house parties.
La Mer is the skincare brand everyone dreams of adding to their routine. Known for its luxurious legacy and its ability to deliver glowing, hydrated, and firm skin. This kit includes some of their most viral products—all for under $100. Get ready to become their new favorite person!
The travel bag every savvy woman needs when she’s jet-setting, weekend-tripping, or overnighting back to her parents. Calpak's famous Luka toiletry bag is water-resistant, full of pockets, and hangs up for off-counter organization. The next time she travels with all her skincare products, she'll have somewhere store it all neatly.
Megan Uy is an associate shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, where she searches for the best products in all things fashion, home, beauty, sex, gifts, and more, so you don’t have to. When she’s not writing for the site, she’s whipping up some cool and trendy content for the fashion section of the print magazine. She’s been with the brand since 2019 (when she was an itty-bitty editorial fellow), and she's also written for Delish, House Beautiful, and People. Follow her on Instagram to get some BTS of the editor life and chaotic NYC content. Also, feel free to hit her up if you ever wanna discuss the madness that is TikTok.
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