Favorite Things Party Gift Ideas I’d Bring, at Every Budget
If you’ve never been to a Favorite Things party, consider this your sign to host one, or at least get excited about going to one. It’s part girls’ night, part gift exchange and part excuse to pour a glass of wine and talk about the little things that make life lovely. What’s not to love?
Before you shop, find out how your party works, because that sets your budget. If everyone brings one gift to swap or draw, you can spend a little more on a single item. If everyone brings enough of the same thing for the whole group, most parties keep it to $15 to $30 per item, and smaller groups sometimes go up to $50.
Some parties have a theme, like beauty, gadgets or food. Others ask everyone to bring the one thing that genuinely delighted them this year.
Finding and trying new things is one of the best parts of my job, so I have a lot of favorites. These are the gifts I’d be happy to bring to any Favorite Things party, sorted by price so you can find something that fits your party’s budget.
My Favorite Things Party Gift Ideas, by Budget
Favorite Things Party Gifts Under $25
Tony’s Chocolonely Sampler Pack, $12.39 Pantry
I LOVE Tony’s in all forms. Their bars make insane s’mores, and I keep their minis in my snack bag. The six-flavor sampler is a great option because it includes milk, milk caramel sea salt, milk nougat, milk hazelnut, dark almond sea salt and dark 70%. All are incredible.
Fleur de Sel French Sea Salt, $14.95 Pantry
It isn’t new to me, but I reach for it so often that I’m almost through the jar. Fleur de sel is a finishing salt with delicate, flaky crystals. A pinch right before serving really adds that extra something and makes everything taste better, and a pretty jar looks chic on your kitchen counter.
Biodance Bio Collagen Real Deep Mask (4 Pack), $19 Skin
This is the sheet mask that went viral and actually stayed popular, which tells you something. You leave it on overnight, and with the four-pack you can try it more than once before you decide you need more. You wake up with dewy, glowy skin.
Shoe Washing Machine Bags (Set of 2), $19.99 Home
This is the practical gift everyone ends up using. Zip a sneaker into each bag and toss them in the washer. The microfiber lining scrubs while the bag keeps them from banging around the drum. The day mine arrived, I ran around the house washing every pair of sneakers I could find like a crazy person. It’s one of my favorite finds in ages.
Quince 100% Washable Silk Skinny Scrunchies (Set of 6), $20 Hair
Silk is easier on hair than a regular elastic. You get six skinny mulberry silk scrunchies in three colors. If you have long hair, these are the best to wear when you wash your face or sleep.
EADEM Le Chouchou Lip Softening Balm, $24 Lips
It’s a peptide lip balm, so it does real work on dry lips, and it leaves a sheer wash of color with a glossy finish that isn’t sticky. The tint is so light that you don’t have to know anyone’s shade. Bissap Glaze, a deep berry, is my favorite.
Appointed The Notebook, $24 Desk
As a paper lover, I think there’s nothing better than a brand-new, well-made notebook. It makes a running list a lot nicer to open. This one is hardcover and comes in nine colors. I like the navy. It seems so silly, but everyone who has seen mine has geeked out over it.
Loop Quiet 2 Earplugs, $24.95 Sleep
My personal hell is trying to sleep through snoring, and between my husband and the girlfriends I regularly travel with (YOU ALL SNORE), these are a lifesaver, or should I say, a sleep saver.
Olio Santo Extra Virgin Olive Oil, $24.95 plus 20% off with code FRIEND20 Pantry
This is one of my favorite olive oils, and it’s the one Ina Garten recommends most. Use it for everyday cooking, then drizzle a little over a finished dish, a salad or a piece of good bread.
Favorite Things Party Gifts $25 to $40
Dieux Forever Eye Mask, $25 Skin
These go on over your eye cream and seal it in for 10 to 20 minutes, which is about how long it takes to drink your coffee. They’re silicone, so they rinse clean with soap and water and go back in their tin. I’m surprised how much I like these.
Momofuku Chili Crunch + Hot Honey Duo, $26 Pantry
Chili crunch is one of my favorite condiments, and I only recently tried the hot honey version, which is amazing. If you’re going to a foodie Favorite Things party, everyone will love this.
JEKOSEN Crystal Coupe Glasses (Set of 4), $26.99 Home
These are the BEST coupe glasses you can find, and they’re well under $30. I can’t stand tiny martini glasses, the ones where a full pour spills everywhere. These are a generous size, beautifully shaped, sturdy and dishwasher safe, and I use them for cocktails, mocktails and even desserts. Even if you’re not going to a party, you won’t be disappointed stocking your home bar with these.
Dosey 7-Day Pill Compact in Holiday Leopard, $29 Wellness
A pill case doesn’t have to look like it came from the pharmacy aisle. This one is slim enough to slip into a handbag, holds up to eight pills a day for the whole week, and snaps shut with a magnetic closure. I fill mine every Sunday and keep it on my nightstand, and it makes traveling with vitamins easy peasy.
Billion Dollar Brows Best Sellers Universal Brow Kit, $32 Brows
Billion Dollar Brows was a new discovery for me, and it’s the best brow line I’ve ever used, and I’m including Anastasia. Brows thin out for a lot of us after 40, and this kit has everything to fill them back in. You get the Universal Brow Pencil, Brow Duo Pencil, Smudge Brush and Brow Gel, and the pencil is one universal shade, so you don’t have to guess anyone’s brow color. Billion Dollar Brows has been one of my readers’ most-ordered beauty brands this year.
Olaplex N°.3Plus Complete Repair Treatment, $34 Hair
Color, heat and time all take a toll on hair. This pre-shampoo repair treatment needs only three minutes before you shampoo, and your hair looks noticeably healthier, shinier and smoother.
LONDONTOWN Peptide Gloss Duo Set, $36 Nails
Londontown is another recent find, and I haven’t stopped talking about it. It’s all I use now, and it has cut my time at the nail salon to almost nothing. This two-step set is for nails that need some help. The peptide serum treats cuticles and nails, and the Nail Glow gives a sheer, rosy pink finish you can wear alone or under polish. I recommend all of their products, but this is a great place to start.
Quince Mongolian Cashmere Square Scarf, $36 Accessories
A small square scarf is the easiest way to add a little color at your neck, and this one is 100% cashmere. It ties like a bandana, comes in eight colors and is one size. In a neutral, it’s a safe pick for anyone.
Chris McMillan The Glassy Smooth Blowdry Spray, $36 Hair
I’ve also become a huge fan of Chris McMillan, and his blowout spray gives you a smooth, shiny, just-left-the-salon finish at home.
Hanni Splash Salve In-Shower Body Balm, $37 Body
This one changed my post-shower routine. You apply it after cleansing, rinse quickly, pat dry, and you’re done, with no waiting for lotion to soak in. It’s rich but not greasy, and everyone I’ve shared it with ends up ordering their own. 10/10
Favorite Things Party Gifts $40 and Up
CALPAK Tiny Clear Cosmetics Case, $42 Accessories
A little case like this keeps the essentials together in your daily tote or in the car. It’s clear, so you can see everything inside at a glance, and it comes in a long list of colors, from classic black to a cheerful tomato red.
Lake & Skye 11 11 Fragrance Oil Rollerball, $48 Fragrance
Soft, clean and elegant, the kind of scent that makes people ask what you’re wearing. I’m really particular about fragrance and almost never finish a bottle, but I went through nearly an entire bottle of the 11 11 eau de parfum. This is the fragrance oil version, in a rollerball that fits in a handbag.
Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask + Moisturizer, $49 Skin
I use this constantly, and it’s always in my bag when I travel. It’s a rich, fragrance-free moisturizer you can also leave on overnight as a mask, which makes it an easy gift for anyone with dry skin.
Hotel Lobby Candle Blue Skies, $58 Home
If your party draws names and everyone brings one gift, this is the one I’d bring. It smells like sparkling champagne, vintage leather and candied ginger, burns for up to 65 hours, and comes in a white box with a ribbon, so it’s ready to hand over.
Crown Affair The Towel, $59 Hair
This is the BEST towel for wet hair. Wet hair is fragile, and a regular cotton towel is rough on it. This microfiber waffle knit dries hair faster with less frizz and breakage, and an elastic strap holds it in place. It comes in white, black, green and bordeaux, and I own two.
What Is a Favorite Things Party?
A Favorite Things party is a holiday gift exchange with a personal twist. Everyone brings something they love and use all the time, then takes turns sharing what they brought and why. By the end of the night, you go home with new favorites, each one chosen by a friend.
I love knowing what my friends are into. I want to know what they’re cooking for dinner, what’s always on their grocery order and what they keep in their handbag. I’m the nosiest person you’ll ever meet, so a Favorite Things party combines everything I love: my friends, a celebration and discovering something new.
How Many Should You Bring?
If you’re bringing enough for everyone, how many you need depends on the size of your group.
| Party size | Common format | How many to bring |
|---|---|---|
| 4 to 8 guests | Everyone takes home one of each gift | One for every other guest (with 7 guests, bring 6) |
| 9 or more guests | Names drawn for each gift | Usually 3 of the same item |
How the Swap Works
- Everyone brings identical, unwrapped gifts.
- Take turns sharing what you brought and why you love it.
- If there aren’t enough for everyone, put names in a bowl and draw.
- Decide before you start whether steals are allowed.
How to Pick a Great Favorite Things Gift
- Bring something you use. Your enthusiasm is half the gift.
- Keep it one-size. Skip anything that depends on clothing size, shade matching or a specific phone.
- Make sure you can buy several. Check stock before the party. Small brands sell out in December.
- Choose something that looks lovely on the table. A pretty package or glass jar makes a small gift feel special.
More Holiday Gift Ideas
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