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25 Gifts From Ulta Under $25 So You Can Sleigh The Holiday Gifting Game

by Kim Carpluk
Ulta

Thanks to the rise of beauty articles (hi!) and tutorials, just about everyone is a beauty guru these days. It can be d*mn near impossible to impress the makeup lover in your life with a holiday gift, especially if the product isn't approved by their fave YouTuber. Thankfully, these Ulta gift sets under $25 will impress even the most discerning makeup lover without breaking the bank.

Growing (and glowing) up as a tiny baby makeup-artist-in-training, all I wanted was for my family to gift me makeup for the holidays. But even as a small beauty guru in the works, I could recognize good quality. I remember the children's makeup set I once received as a gift from an undisclosed family member. We've all seen those giant plastic set with some shadows, blushes, lipsticks, and foam applicators. The glosses it contained were thick and oily. The shadows had so much fallout that the entire palette was covered in blue powder. I loved my family for recognizing my passion, but TBH, it just sat in the back of my closet collecting dust because I simply couldn't use it.

In our digital age, consumers of all ages are more knowledgable about the quality of their makeup. It can be hard to get a makeup gift that doesn't cost $100 or more, but will still impress your smoky-eyed siblings. Luckily, Ulta's bomb selection of beauty gifts is here to help you sleigh the gifting game.

1. Stila Big Shots

Ulta

All Day Liquid Eyeliner Set, $25, Ulta

If your bestie loves a good cat eye, then hook her up with this money-saving Big Shots HUGE Mascara and Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner set. The bestselling and truly budge-proof Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner is a mere $22 on its own, so you're getting the full-size HUGE Mascara for three dollars. Your friend will definitely owe you big in the new year.

2. Cargo Cosmetics Swimmables Eye Pencil Kit

Ulta

Cargo Cosmetics Eye Pencil Kit, $25, Ulta

OK, so we may not be in the season for swimming, but we definitely are in the season for ice cold wind and runny, drippy eyes. Give the whole Cargo Cosmetics Limited Edition Swimmables Eye Pencil Kit to that one aunt you always confide in about how problematic the rest of the family is, or break the set apart and have four stocking stuffers for your snot-nosed cousins.

3. NYX Meet The Metallics Lip Vault

Ulta

NYX Meet The Metallics Lip Vault, $25, Ulta

With the NYX Meet The Metallics Lip Vault, you're getting 12 NYX Lip Creams for $25. I think the value speaks for itself. Plus, it's an Ulta exclusive so you won't find it anywhere else.

4. Too Faced Is My Life! Set

Ulta

Too Faced Is My Life, $25, Ulta

The Too Faced Is My Life! set is ideal for your over-scheduled friend who needs a little bit of everything to shove in her makeup bag. Plus, in case you haven't tried it, that Mascara Melt Off Cleansing Oil Mascara Remover is actual magic. Just watch weeks worth of mascara build up run off your lashes like a waterfall. It's an unsung hero.

5. Urban Decay Little Vices

Ulta

Urban Decay Little Vices Set, $25, Ulta

Is your boss's signature her perfectly applied lipstick? The Urban Decay Little Vices Set boasts five of its versatile Vice Lipsticks, including the iconic color "1993" and gorgeous, metallic "Mad."

6. Laura Geller All Over Glow Gilded Glow Baked Body Frosting

Ulta

Glow Gilded Baked Body Frosting, $25, Ulta

Be the fairy godmother you were born to be and grant someone's holiday wish with the Laura Geller All Over Glow Gilded Glow Baked Body Frosting. This set is currently is on sale from the original price of $45 and comes with a lollipop-shaped powder puff, so snag it while it's still around.

7. Lipstick Queen Mini Transformative Trio

Ulta

Lipstick Queen Mini Transformative Trio, $25, Ulta

Impress your social media-conscious friend with the Lipstick Queen Mini Transformative Trio. These color-changing lipsticks have been all the rage on YouTube this year, and will bring her Boomerang game to the next level.

8. Lash Lookbook 8 Pairs + Duo

Ulta

Lookbook 8 pairs, $25, Ulta

If your sis is a beauty guru in her own right, then she needs this Ardell Lash Lookbook 8 Pairs + Duo. The set comes with a whopping eight pairs of lashes, plus the always amazing Duo Lash Glue. She'll be serving up looks for days.

9. L'Oreal's Infallible Pro-Matte Lip Gloss Mini Collection

Ulta

L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Lip Gloss Mini Collection, $25, Ulta

Let your lips shine bright this holiday season with the L'Oreal's Infallible Pro-Matte Lip Gloss Mini Collection. You get eight shades ranging from nude to bright so you can really take your look from the office to the office party.

10. Smashbox Be Legendary Pucker Up Lip Palette Bold

Ulta

Smashbox Pucker Up Lip Palette Bold, $24, Ulta

We all know it is d*mn near impossible to find the perfect lipstick shade for yourself sometimes. And in the words of RuPaul, "If you can't love yourself, how in the h*ll are you going to love somebody else?" So skip the uncertainty and buy your best friend's mom the Smashbox Be Legendary Pucker Up Lip Palette Bold instead. If she's more on the conservative side, it comes in nude as well.

11. BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Deluxe Edition 21 Color Eyeshadow & Highlighter Palette

Ulta

BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel 21 Color Eyeshadow & Highlighter Palette, $23, Ulta

The BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Deluxe Edition 21 Color Eyeshadow & Highlighter Palette will always be in for the holiday season. Get ready to glow brighter than the star atop any tree.

12. Smashbox Drawn In. Decked Out. Travel Primer Set

Ulta

Smashbox Travel Primer Set, $22, Ulta

Smashbox is basically giving its primer away with the Smashbox Drawn In. Decked Out. Travel Primer Set. The limited-edition packaging, designed by editorial illustrator Ana Strumpf, is just so rad.

13. Winky Lux Kitty Glam Kit

Ulta

Winky Lux Kitty Glam Kit, $22, Ulta

Is this the cutest thing you've ever seen in your life, or what? The Winky Lux Kitty Glam Kit comes with a Pink Flower Balm and the Radiant Pink blush and highlighter combo in the most adorable little wide-eyed kitten pouch you ever did see. Cat lovers will simply purr over it.

14. Buxom Plump and Contour Lip Trio

Ulta

Plump and Contour Lip Trio, $20, Ulta

Follow in the footsteps of Kylie Jenner with the Buxom Plump and Contour Lip Trio. Line, fill, and gloss your way to lip contoured splendor.

15. MAC Snow Ball Extra Dimension Eyeshadow

Ulta

MAC Snow Ball Extra Dimension Eyeshadow, $20, Ulta

If your mom is a sucker for packaging, then grab her the gorgeous MAC Snow Ball Extra Dimension Eyeshadow. TBH, it's almost too pretty to even use.

16. Stila Warm & Fuzzy Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick Set

Ulta

Stila Liquid Lipstick Set, $20, Ulta

Stila is slaying the sets this season. First, it had the Stila Big Shots. Now, it has the Warm & Fuzzy Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick Set. What's better than a fiery red and two neutral liquid lipsticks? Pretty much nothing.

17. Becca Lit-From-Within Kit

Ulta

Becca Lit-From-Within Kit, $20, Ulta

Get lit with the Becca Lit-From-Within Kit. You can't go wrong when you give the gift of glow in the form of a primer and cult-favorite highlighter.

18. MAC Snow Ball Lipstick

Ulta

MAC Snow Ball Lipstick, $18, Ulta

How pretty is this MAC Snow Ball Lipstick? Frosted lipstick, frosted packaging... consider yourself a frosty ice queen. Plus, it's tiny and will get through TSA with ease.

19. Tarte Tarteist Lip Trio

Ulta

Tarte Tarteist Lip Trio, $15, Ulta

First of all, Tarte makeup for $15? Sign me up! Second of all, this Tarte Tarteist Lip Trio set comes with a liner, a matte lip paint, and a gloss so your lips will last all night, even after three glasses of egg nog.

20. Wet N Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Palette

Ulta

Wet N Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Palette, $15, Ulta

Get glowing with the Wet N Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Palette. We all know the Wet N Wild highlighters are amazing AF, so why not hook up your favorite dog walker with a whole palette.

21. Maybelline Gigi Hadid West Coast Glow Eyeshadow Palette

Ulta

Maybelline Gigi Hadid West Coast Glow Eyeshadow Palette, $15, Ulta

If your little sister is a big Gigi Hadid fan, then light up her holiday season with the Maybelline Gigi Hadid West Coast Glow Eyeshadow Palette. She will squeal and then stop stealing your makeup.

22. Morphe 9A Always Golden Eyeshadow Palette

Ulta

Morphe 9A Always Golden Eyeshadow Palette, $12, Ulta

This palette can work for your your cousin, your aunt, your sister, and your second-cousin-twice-removed. The Morphe 9A Always Golden Eyeshadow Palette is chock full of smoky neutrals that will work for most skin tones, and it's only 12 bucks.

23. Clinique Merry Moisture Set

Ulta

Clinique Merry Moisture Set, $12, Ulta

Everyone squad has that friend who is just extra thirsty. Hook 'em up with the Clinique Merry Moisture Set, which as the packaging says, "provides extended thirst relief." Make sure you emphasize this in front of the whole group.

24. Catrice The Essential Nude Eyeshadow Palette

Ulta

Catrice Cosmetics The Essential Nude Eyeshadow Palette, $8, Ulta

If you want to give your piano teacher a lil smoky eye, but you're a little strapped for cash, then the Catrice Cosmetics The Essential Nude Eyeshadow Palette works wonderfully.

25. E.L.F. Lip Parade Lip Balm Set

Ulta

E.L.F Lip Parade Lip Balm Set, $5, Ulta

Who doesn't like lip balm? Prevent the chapped lips of all your favorite friends with the E.L.F. Lip Parade Lip Balm Set.