Starting Your Holiday Shopping? Check Out These Gift Guides for the Perfect Present for Everyone on Your List

Lexa Krajewski Student Contributor, Boston University

BU Contributor Student Contributor, Boston University

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at BU chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

For a lot of people, the holiday season begins the day after Halloween – just turn on the Hallmark Channel and you’ll see that the all-day holiday movie marathon has already begun. Maybe your friends have already started picking names for secret Santa, or maybe you’ve already received an Evite for an ugly sweater party. These are all reminders that the holidays are right around the corner. With the season of gift-giving upon us, we’re all looking for that perfect present for every person in our lives, but maybe don’t have the time to spend hours searching the Internet or scouring the mall. Luckily, there are endless holiday gift guides available online that will make it easy to purchase for everyone on your list — and we’ve found the best gift guide for every type of person you’re shopping for this season.

1. For Your S.O.

Photo from Buzzfeed

When it comes to your boyfriend or girlfriend, the pressure is always on to nail the perfect holiday gift. If you’re looking to go the romantic route, BuzzFeed has a 2017 Holiday Gift Guide just for the occasion. Within the larger, searchable gift guide that offers categories like gifts for your BFF, parents, and even budget-friendly under $25 buys, the romantic category links you to other BuzzFeed articles titled in that uniquely BuzzFeed style, like “17 ‘Friends’ Gifts to Give to Your Lobster” and “26 Shamelessly Corny Ways to Spoil Your Significant Other.” If you want to get sappy this holiday season with a sentimental gift, BuzzFeed’s got you covered.

2. For Your Secret Santa Exchange

Photo from Urban Outfitters

We’ve all been there -– you go to draw your name for secret Santa and inevitably get the one person who’s impossible to shop for. Maybe you don’t know what kinds of things they like, or maybe they never gave you the wish list you were all supposed to write. Either way, you’re now faced with the challenge of getting them a gift that they’ll actually like with not a lot of information to go off of. Since most gift exchanges have spending caps, start with a gift guide that breaks down products by price. Urban Outfitters, who sells everything from clothes and tech to home décor, has gift guides broken down by gifts under $12, $25, or $50, so you can find a gift to fit any budget. If you want a few more options, check out their “Stocking Stuffers” gift guide, where you can buy all of the above: cat ornaments, a make-your-own glitter slime kit, or a Star Wars coaster set -– there’s something for everyone.

3. For the Beauty Guru in Your Life

We all have that one friend who should be doing makeup tutorials on YouTube, or maybe they already are. They always know the newest contouring methods, are the first to know about a new product release, and are always offering to do your makeup before a night out. For all the beauty gurus you’re shopping for this holiday season, check out Ulta’s Holiday Gift Guide. It lists the “Top 25 Beauty Gifts” and also breaks it down by gifts for “The Music Lover,” “The Brilliant Bestie,” “The Hostess,” and “The Party Girl” with a variety of beauty products for every kind of makeup lover. If you’re lucky, maybe the beauty guru you’re gifting will even use their new products to give you a fabulous makeover.

4. For Your Fashionable Friend

Photo from Who What Wear

Similar to the above-mentioned beauty guru, we also all have that friend who looks ready to pose for a fashion magazine when you’re just going to brunch. They’re always reading up on the latest fashion trends, and fill their Instagram feeds with fashion magazine editors, stylish bloggers, all the stores they love to shop, and their own trendy OOTDs. Who What Wear is a hub for celebrity style news, fashion trends, and shoppable links, and has a gift guide perfectly suited for the all those fashion-forward friends in your life. A compilation of editor-picked products, they have guides like the “17 Gifts That Are Perfect for the Chic College Girl in Your Life” and “23 Monogrammed Gifts That Are Stylish and Special.”

5. For Your Sorority Sister

Whether it’s your big, your little, or your roommate, sorority sisters can be hard to shop for if you’re looking to gift them with your letters, since Greek life apparel isn’t sold everywhere. If you’re looking for ready-made sorority apparel that you don’t have to order in bulk, you can start with sites like South by Sea, Duo Studio Designs, The Social Life, and Greek Gear. But if you’re looking to get in the true sorority spirit and get crafty, you can start with good ole’ Pinterest as your DIY sorority holiday gift guide. With tons of canvas, letters, frames, and basket ideas, you’ll feel like you’re searching for big/little week crafts all over again. Get ready to break out your paint brushes, glitter, and stencils, and start crafting the perfect handmade gifts for all the sisters in your life.

Hopefully, this guide to gift guides will help you navigate your shopping this holiday season, and all your friends will love unwrapping their presents at your next gift exchange.

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