The holidays can be particularly difficult on the old pocketbook. Sure, it's lovely to show your friends and family you care, and gift shopping is fun … for the first five gifts or so. The trouble is that you're never done. Even if you manage to get everything on your list and stay on budget, you get stuck with little, last-minute things, like extra presents for people you weren't expecting to buy you a present, or stocking stuffers.
These last items are some of our least favorite things to shop for, because it's way too easy to spend thirty dollars on useless stuff that will wind up getting tossed out with the wrapping paper. Nothing like dropping money on unappreciated gifts to raise your holiday stress. These cheap stocking stuffers cost $5 or under, and best of all will be greeted with oohs and ahs instead of shrugs.
1. Ms. Manicure Mini Emery Boards
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Emery boards are one of those things that you can never have enough of, partially because they seem to delight in getting lost. We can almost guarantee you that the recipient of this gift has just misplaced her last emery board, and will be delighted to see these cute little mini boards in her stocking. Under $2.50.
2. e.l.f. Studio Cream Eyeliner
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This cream eyeliner comes in six colors, but our favorite is definitely the plum, which will go nicely with the five purple tops you've no doubt acquired over the past few years. When that color goes out of style, we're all going to have to start from scratch. $3.
3. Burt's Bees Super Shiny Natural Lip Gloss
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We're pretty much in love with everything Burt's Bees makes, but this gloss gets a special mention, because of its amazing price. Under $2 right now from some sites.
4. Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen
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Nail art pens are hot right now, in part because of a renewed interest in intricate nail designs. Also, they're just fun. We're in favor of any gift that lets people regress to childhood in a totally acceptable way. Under $3.
5. CoverGirl Professional All-In-One Curved Brush Mascara
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You can keep your $30 department store mascara. For our money, there's no better mascara out there than CoverGirl Professional. It doesn't flake, doesn't smudge, and will even stand up to a good late-afternoon eye rub. Around $4.50.
6. Petal Fresh Botanicals Facial Peel-Off Masque
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This aloe and cucumber mask lifts off dead skin cells, which is great, but we're really interested in the peel-off thing. There's nothing more fun than a peel-off mask. It makes you feel like you did something productive, when in fact you're really just sitting around waiting for your face to dry. It's laziness in a tube. Best stocking stuffer ever. Around $3.
7. C. Booth Foot Scrub, in Peppermint
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Name an ingredient that can soften rough feet, and this scrub has it: peppermint, tea tree oil, pumice, and apricot seeds. If your feet aren't soft and sweet-smelling after using this scrub, you're beyond the scope of cosmetic help. Around $4.
8. Scrip Cooling Blue Gel Eye Mask
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Sometimes the best remedies are the old-fashioned ones. These refrigerated masks are still the best thing we've found for reducing puffy eyes. This is an especially great stocking stuffer for folks who work with computers. It makes your eyes look younger, and forces you to stop staring at the screen for five or ten minutes. Win-win! Under $2.
