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Teenage girls are notoriously hard to shop for. But you’re in luck, because I happen to be an expert. Since last year, I’ve heard from teens about what’s on their wish lists and what’s in and out in their friend groups. Below are some of the products I’ve unearthed during my research, plus some particularly covetable items for this age group (including some things their favorite celebrities can’t live without). I’ve broken the gifts down into five categories, and you can use the links above to navigate to the category you think will best speak to your teenager. (If you’ve got an adolescent boy in your life, check out our list of gifts for teenage boys, too — and if you can’t find something that speaks to you, check out our list of every gift guide we’ve written this year.)
Update on July 26, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
Beauty gifts for teenage girls
Buy her multiples of this Dior Lip Oil dupe. It’s a super-shiny pigmented gloss that she won’t feel precious about reapplying throughout the day.
A quick-drying replacement for the full-size towel she’s currently using.
They’ll appreciate a restock of their favorite smiley-face pimple patches. Or gift the party pack, so they can mix and match.
Refresh their polish collection with a set from Olive & June, a favorite of 16-year-old actress Pressley Hosbach. The long-lasting and quick-drying formulas come in over 100 different shades, shimmers, and glitters.
Chillhouse’s on-trend press-on kits give her Instagrammable designs — no manicure skills required.
A hydrating, anti-inflammatory serum they likely already know about from beauty TikTok.
Introduce her to K-beauty with a set of Peach & Lily essentials: gel cleanser, essence, antioxidant cream, and the Strategist-approved hydrating serum.
Give her the rose-scented, hydrating mist her fave Sabrina Carpenter uses.
Lemonhead’s easy-to-apply glitter balm in Houdini has been ID’d on both Zendaya and Beyoncé, making this an upgrade for their kits.
Summer Fridays’ lip butter balms were name-dropped by two teens as perfect stocking stuffers. Pink sugar is the best scent, according to teen Ella Nagel.
Laneige’s deeply moisturizing lip masks have taken over makeup bags, purses, and nightstands in the past few years.
Here’s a not-too-overbearing starter perfume that comes in a cute pink bottle she’ll want to display on her vanity.
Makeup-obsessed teens told us a lighted makeup mirror is on their wish lists. We have one for her room below, but this durable compact is perfect for on-the-go touch-ups.
A silk pillowcase can help with hair frizzing and acne-prone skin.
She’ll appreciate a restock of dry shampoo. Go with a non-aerosol bottle that’s fancier than her usual drugstore pick.
Multiple teens I spoke to mentioned Selena Gomez’s makeup brand Rare Beauty and specifically its blendable, universally flattering liquid blush.
Accessories and jewelry for teenage girls
A festive replacement for her already worn-out scrunchies.
Or switch it up with a claw clip from cool brands like Free People, Kōv, or Chunks. But a generic one from Kitsch would be good, too.
Teens told me their friends are wearing silk scarves as much as scrunchies and claw clips.
And if she’s really a fan of monograms, I spotted nameplate necklaces on one of the teens I interviewed. The 16-inch sterling silver is trendiest.
Minimalist jewelry is both timeless and on trend with teens. This specific brand was name-dropped when Strategist writer Kitty Guo spoke to Beacon high-schoolers about their most-wished-for gifts.
Teens love Stoney Clover Lane’s customizations: Add her initials and a patch for her favorite hobby.
Fjällräven’s Kanken backpacks are durable and statusy. Teen poll respondents and college kids say the style-minded opt for yellow.
Décor gifts for teenage girls
These string lights (beloved by new college students and teens) brighten up her bedroom and hold up to 20 photos.
Gift them this set of bubble candles for their nightstands (and showing off on their feed).
This statusy Boy Smells scent layers black currant, peony, and vanilla.
If your teen is the type to get sucked down a rabbit hole of TikTokers looking for rare Squishmallows, or just enjoys having their own collection, consider gifting them one.
This tabletop cinema box lets them express themselves, display silly sayings, or see their name in lights.
For the teen who’s into Netflix on Friday nights, Barefoot Dreams are the coziest and softest throws.
Here’s a throw for a fraction of the price that comes in cotton-candy colors and other fun tie-dyes.
This adorable color-changing nightlight matches the rest of her mushroom décor.
More in non-cheesy room décor: Each kit comes with high-quality four-inch by six-inch prints in themes ranging from “desert dreamer boho” to “dark academia.”
It sounds old-fashioned, but we do think the right teen would enjoy this beginner-friendly needlepoint kit. Once she’s finished, she can hang the result on her wall.
As mentioned earlier, a lighted makeup mirror topped teens’ wish lists. This one has a minimalist design and three dimmable light temperatures.
Books and tech gifts for teenage girls
At the top of Beacon high-schoolers’ wish lists was this portable device that turns phone photos into Polaroid-style prints.
I gifted this Instax to my then-13-year-old cousin, and unlike most passing infatuations, she’s still taking instant photos a year later.
Here are the latest viral reads for the teen who’s on BookTok.
A classic graphic novel your artsy teen probably hasn’t heard of.
If she’s into rom-coms, give her this complete boxed set of the Summer I Turned Pretty series. (She’ll stay up reading it even if she’s already binged the hit Amazon show.)
Pair this relaxing art-therapy coloring book with colored pencils, pens, or markers for the teen who could use a digital break.
A Bluetooth speaker is great for park hangs and toting around friends’ houses. This one happens to be our best overall pick and is durable enough to withstand inevitable drops and portable enough to throw in a backpack.
Just as portable and even less expensive is JBL’s Bluetooth speaker she can easily clip on her backpack or purse.
Or an analog experience: Lots of teens are into collecting vinyl, and Victrola is a fairly inexpensive option that’s still good quality.
Over-the-ear headphones outrank earbuds with teens. Two types that came up were Sony’s XM4s and the even fancier AirPods Max.
If she already has the Stanley Quencher that was all over TikTok last year, she may like this much more portable 20-ounce tumbler.
Clothing gifts for teenage girls
UGGs are still the most popular shoe. Go with a pair they can wear outside, like the viral Minis.
In second place is Dr. Martens: The platform Jadon 8-Eye Boot is beloved by teen-favorite celebrities Emma Chamberlain and Dove Cameron.
Adidas Sambas were brought up by nearly every teen I spoke to, but a similar and more in-stock option is the Gazelle. Instead of gifting a black or white pair, opt for one in her favorite color instead.
The top gift on multiple teens’ wish lists was concert tickets to see their favorite musician or band, and merch tees were a close second. To find out what music they’re into, poke around on their Spotify — but Taylor or Olivia Rodrigo are probably going to be hits.
She’ll appreciate throwing on this cozy robe while she does her makeup, watches movies in bed, or lounges around.
Help her start flipping her thrift finds (a trend multiple teens mentioned) with this beginner-friendly sewing machine.
If they’re the crafting type, they’ll appreciate an all-in-one crochet kit from Strategist-favorite Wool and the Gang. Teen Sunam told me lots of her friends have crocheted things like crop tops, skirts, pouches, AirPod cases, and headphone covers.
For a present that’s just an afternoon of fun, rather than a new hobby, I recommend a tie-dye kit. This comes with everything they’ll need to tie-dye shirts, hoodies, socks, and whatever else they like.
Any teen, whether they prefer secondhand or not, will love a pair of new Levi’s. Sunam suggests a baggier style, like these dad jeans.
Flare boot-cuts came up often, and Nagel, who’s a fan of Aerie’s “buttery soft” leggings, has this specific pair on her wish list.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best women’s jeans, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, ultraflattering pants, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
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