Last-minute gifts that should arrive on time
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The holidays can be a hectic time, which means it’s likely that one or two people on your shopping list may have slipped your mind. Fortunately, there are plenty of thoughtful last-minute gift ideas that can be a good fit for every type of recipient. There’s even options that don’t make it seem like you threw something together at the last second. While the deadline to order some gifts and have them arrive in time for the holidays has already passed (many brands will list a cutoff date to order on their site), we’ve rounded up some of our favorite last-minute gift ideas that you can order today that should arrive in time for the holidays.
The best last-minute gifts this year
To help you find the best last-minute gifts for your loved ones, we’ve perused our expert-recommended shopping guides across skin care, tech, home appliances and more. We’ve also included a few staff picks and other highly rated products based on Select reader interest. We narrowed down our picks below to only those products whose retailers offer expedited shipping, either included with a subscription or available for an added fee.
Baked by Melissa Holiday Cheer Cupcakes
Baked by Melissa cupcakes are typically my go-to treat to send during a special occasion or holiday — they’re adorably bite-sized, beautifully crafted and delicious. The Holiday Cheer Cupcakes sampler comes with 25 of the brand’s most popular holiday flavors, including Christmas Sugar Cookie, Vanilla Fluff, Snowcap and Brookie (which is stuffed with cookie dough and topped with a blondie and nonpareils).
Baked by Melissa Holiday Cheer Cupcakes
Baked by Melissa Holiday Cheer Cupcakes $ at Baked by Melissa
Anker Soundcore Motion+ Bluetooth Speaker
The Soundcore Motion+ Bluetooth Speaker, which we previously highlighted in our guide to Bluetooth speakers, boasts IPX7 water resistance and features USB-C connectivity for wider compatibility with chargers and other devices. You also have the option to pair two Motion+ devices together to amplify the sound as a makeshift stereo system, according to Anker.
Soundcore Motion+ Bluetooth Speaker
Soundcore Motion+ Bluetooth Speaker $ at Amazon
Soundcore Motion+ Bluetooth Speaker $ at Soundcore
Soundcore Motion+ Bluetooth Speaker $ at Walmart
“Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist”
For the book lover in your life, this cocktail book highlights 65 drink recipes inspired by famous novels throughout history. Each recipe includes witty literary-infused commentary and whimsical illustrations. You can also find suggestions on additional things to pair with your cocktail creations, including bar bites and drinking games.
Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist
Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist $ at Amazon
Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist $ at Target
Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist $ at Barnes and Noble
Brooklinen Pure Wool Throw Blanket
To help loved ones survive the colder months, consider gifting this wool throw blanket from Select-reader favorite brand Brooklinen. Made from 100 percent pure wool, this soft blanket is offered in two colors: Latte and Greige. If the blanket doesn’t live up to your standards, the brand says it will let you return or exchange the product if it’s within their one-year warranty period.
Brooklinen Pure Wool Throw Blanket
Brooklinen Pure Wool Throw Blanket $ at Brooklinen
Vitruvi Stone Diffuser
The Vitruvi Stone Diffuser is a Select staff favorite due to its sleek, ceramic design. The diffuser disperses an essential oil-infused mist in rooms up to 500 square feet and has a 7-hour runtime when used intermittently (or three hours straight), according to the brand. You have the option to purchase a variety of essential oils from the brand's site, but Vitruvi says you can also use any 100 percent pure essential oil with the device.
Vitruvi Stone Essential Oil Diffuser
Vitruvi Stone Essential Oil Diffuser $ at Vitruvi
Vitruvi Stone Essential Oil Diffuser $ at Saks Fifth Avenue
Vitruvi Stone Essential Oil Diffuser $ at Anthropologie
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
Several Select staffers are fans of this Laneige lip mask for its sweet scent and hydrating formula. A great product for avoiding dry, chapped lips in the winter, according to the staffers who've used it, this lip mask comes in scents like Vanilla and Pumpkin Spice. Dr. Annie Chiu, a board-certified cosmetic and general dermatologist, recommended it in our guide to lip masks, noting that the formula is “rich in antioxidants and hyaluronic acid.”
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask $ at Amazon
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask $ at Sephora
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask $ at Kohl's
Bean Box Deluxe Coffee + Chocolate Tasting Box
For your coffee-obsessed loved ones, this gift set from Bean Box features eight bags of either whole bean or freshly ground coffee, along with eight chocolate bars to pair them with and tasting notes for each pairing. The 1.8-ounce bags of coffee in this box come from independent roasters across the country, according to Bean Box. If you’re looking to give a monthly subscription of coffee, Bean Box also has a couple of subscription plans to choose from.
Bean Box Deluxe Coffee + Chocolate Tasting Box™
Bean Box Deluxe Coffee + Chocolate Tasting Box™ $ at Bean Box
COLORWORK DIY Paint by Numbers
Paint by Numbers is exactly what its name suggests: The picture is divided into numbered sections that correspond with specific paint colors, so you can create a beautiful painting without needing to put in as much of the effort. You can choose between six canvas designs, and each comes with a kit of three different-sized paintbrushes to fill in both big and small areas, the brand says.
COLORWORK DIY Paint by Numbers
COLORWORK DIY Paint by Numbers $ at Amazon
KODAK Step Wireless Mobile Photo Mini Printer
This mini photo printer lets you print your pictures directly from your smartphone or tablet using Bluetooth, according to the brand. It’s small enough to bring on the go, has a rechargeable battery and prints 2-inch by 3-inch photos using Kodak's Zink photo paper that has a sticky back. You can also use the Kodak mobile app to create collages, use filters, personalize photos and more.
Kodak Step Wireless Mobile Photo Mini Printer
Kodak Step Wireless Mobile Photo Mini Printer $ at Amazon
Beats Studio Buds
The Beats Studio Buds offer both active noise cancellation and a “transparency mode,” which the brand says lets in ambient sound when you need it. Beats says the earbuds can provide up to 8 hours of listening time on a single charge (up to 24 hours when combined with the charging case), and they're IPX4-rated for sweat and water resistance. You can also use the on-ear controls to answer calls, play music, enable voice controls and more, according to the brand.
Beats Studio Buds
BloomsyBox Bloomsy Original
BloomsyBox can send monthly blooms straight to your loved one’s door. The Bloomsy Original monthly plan delivers a hand-tied bouquet of 22 to 24 stems of seasonal flowers and, according to the brand, arrives within five days of being picked, ensuring they’re fresh. The box also comes with plant food and an informational card. You can choose the month-to-month plan or a three-, six- or 12-month prepaid plan.
Bloomsy Original
Bloomsy Original $ at BloomsyBox
Dash Mini Maker Waffle Maker + Griddle
This waffle maker and griddle combo pack allows you to make a plethora of breakfast foods, from simple waffles and pancakes to hash browns and eggs, according to Dash. The devices each weigh around 1 pound and feature a nonstick surface and an indicator light that lets you know when it’s heated and ready for you to start cooking.
DASH Mini Maker Waffle Maker + Griddle
DASH Mini Maker Waffle Maker + Griddle $ at Amazon
YETI Rambler 20-oz Tumbler
This durable tumbler from YETI is one of our picks for the best travel mugs because of its temperature retention and the magnetic slider on the lid for spill protection. The dishwasher-safe tumbler features a stainless-steel body with double-wall vacuum insulation and comes in more than 20 colors, including Ice Pink, Nordic Blue, Seafoam and Navy.
YETI Rambler 20-Ounce Tumbler
Brightland The Artist Capsule
Brightland’s The Artist Capsule includes four infused cold-pressed olive oils: Ardor (infused with red chili peppers, jalapeño peppers, chipotle peppers and paprika), Rosette (infused with garlic), Lucid (infused with lemon) and Arise (infused with basil). Each olive oil is packaged in a 375-milliliter fully-recyclable glass bottle that has been UV-coated to protect the olive oil from damaging light, according to the brand.
Brightland The Artist Capsule
Brightland The Artist Capsule $ at Brightland
BalanceFrom Yoga Mat
The BalanceFrom Yoga Mat can be a good gift for someone looking to get more into fitness and yoga. Select writer Rebecca Rodriguez recommended this mat in our staff sleep aids roundup and said she uses it during her pre-bedtime and morning yoga sessions. The BalanceFrom mat is 71 inches long and has a double-sided nonslip surface. You can choose from multiple colors, including Purple, Green, Pink and Blue.
BalanceFrom Yoga Mat with Carrying Strap
BalanceFrom Yoga Mat with Carrying Strap $ at Amazon
Lodge 6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
If your gift recipient loves to cook, this 6-quart Dutch oven from Lodge is made of durable cast iron with a chip-resistant, porcelain-enamel finish, according to the brand. Stefano Veila, owner of the blog Pala Pizza and former chef, called this a more affordable alternative to the popular Le Creuset Dutch oven in our guide to Dutch ovens and noted that the heavy lid “is excellent for braising meats and keeping the heat and liquids in.” This Lodge Dutch oven comes in a variety of colors, including Desert Sage and Pumpkin Orange.
Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven $ at Amazon
Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven $ at Wayfair
Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven $ at Home Depot
Mikasa Cheers White Wine Glasses
This set of four wine glasses has unique designs and patterns to spruce up any glassware collection. Each stemmed glass can hold 16 ounces of your drink of choice, and they’re all dishwasher-safe.
Mikasa Cheers White Wine Glasses
Mikasa Cheers White Wine Glasses $ at Amazon
Mikasa Cheers White Wine Glasses $ at Bed Bath and Beyond
Mikasa Cheers White Wine Glasses $ at Macy's
Book of the Month Subscription Box
For the bibliophile in your life, a Book of the Month subscription can ensure they have a new book to dive into each month. You can choose between three subscription plans to gift: A three-book, six-book or 12-book membership that delivers a monthly book directly to your giftee. They’ll be able to choose from up to seven new book titles every month and select their favorite to receive.
Book of the Month (3-Book Membership)
Book of the Month (3-Book Membership) $ at Book of the Month
Baloo Living Weighted Blanket
One of our favorite weighted blankets, this pick from Baloo Living comes in various sizes, ranging from a mini 9-pound version to a 25-pound option sized for a king or California king mattress. The blanket is made with a 100 percent cotton exterior and interior, and it’s both machine-washable and dryer-safe, according to the brand (although it recommends using a commercial washing machine for the largest, 25-pound blanket). Available in colors like Pebble White and Silver Sage, the blanket also features small loops at the sides and corners to connect to a duvet cover.
Baloo 15-Pound Weighted Blanket
Burt’s Bees Classics Set
This gift set from Burt’s Bees comes with six travel-size products, including a cuticle cream, hand salve and repair cream, moisturizing ointment, foot cream and lip balm. The brand says its products are formulated with responsibly sourced ingredients and without parabens and phthalates.
Burt's Bees Classics Set
Burt's Bees Classics Set $ at Amazon
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