Just eight days to go until Christmas, and if you’re still hunting for the perfect present, consider this your sign. Welcome to another Skin Cupid gift guide (you can find our first one here), but this time we’re doing things a little differently. Instead of shopping by skin type or product category, this guide is all about buying gifts based on your recipient’s favourite pop culture moments of 2025. 

From fragrances and trendy C-beauty picks for those who lived for the year’s most dramatic headlines, to fashion-forward skincare for friends obsessed with 2025’s biggest style moments, to unexpected formulas inspired by the year’s wildest twists and turns – plus one bonus category for the nostalgia lovers – we’ve got something for everyone. Keep reading for gift ideas that are as memorable as the year itself.

For Drama Queens

Luckily for those who thrive on mess, there was no pop-cultural shortage of controversy in 2025 – from Kendrick’s beaming smile as he mentioned Drake while singing “Not Like Us” at the Superbowl half-time show, to Jeff Bezos taking over Venice for his wedding celebrations, to Sydney Sweeney’s extremely contentious American Eagle ad. If you’ve got someone on your gift list whose top movie of the year was Ari Aster’s exploration of Covid-era social and political divisions, Eddington, or who enlisted you to dress up as the Coldplay kiss cam couple with them for Hallowe’en, then we’ve got the perfect selection of high-impact makeup products – ideal for helping them create looks as dramatic as their favourite 2025 pop culture moments.

Skin Cupid’s gift recommendations

• JUDYDOLL Slim Liquid Eyeliner – An ultra-precise eyeliner for double-take-worthy cat’s-eye looks. 
• A’DDCT Solid Perfume Naked Wild Flower 402 – A solid perfume with subtle floral notes that will help them steal the show while still flying under the radar. 
• MUZIGAE MANSION Objet Liquid – A vivid, velvet-finish lip colour with paint-tube-inspired packaging.  
• PEACH C Dual Beam Highlighter Peach Ruby Beam – A shimmery pink highlighter containing both pearlescent and glitter shades: ideal for adding glamour to any makeup look. 
• JOOCYEE Eyeshadow Single in Broken Stars & Cold Silver Gun – These richly pigmented, metallic-glitter eyeshadows are perfect for those who love the spotlight. 

For Fashion Devotees

2025 might not have had a song of the summer (we got served “brain rot” instead), but at least fashion delivered some memorable moments, from Sandy Liang's collaboration with GAP, to Timothee Chalamet’s Marty Supreme windbreaker, to – we’d be remiss not to mention – Labubus, knock-offs of which are now available at tourist stores from Athens to Addis Ababa. For your friend who spent the summer in cowboy boots and jorts, and found the most interesting part of Kendrick’s Superbowl performance the Celine jeans he was wearing, one of these trending products will make the perfect (and perfectly stylish) end-of-year gift. 

Skin Cupid’s gift recommendations

• ANUA Azelaic Acid 10 Hyaluron Soothing Serum – Another hit serum from one of Korea’s most globally successful brands, featuring trendy, sensitive-skin-friendly Azelaic Acid. 
• EQQUALBERRY Bakuchiol Plumping Serum – Beautifully packaged and effective to boot, this anti-ageing serum, from one of 2025’s most viral brands, features a plant-based alternative to Retinol and is enriched with barrier-reinforcing Ceramides. 
• NACIFIC Rice Pepta Collagen Gel Mask – Long-wear collagen sheet masks were one of the biggest hits of 2025, and this NACIFIC version is one of our favourite ways to repair and rejuvenate skin overnight. 
• SONNY ANGEL Monchhichi – This ultra-hyped figurine series celebrates the iconic ‘70s Japanese monkey plush toy, Monchhichi. 
• BEPLAIN Mung Bean pH-Balanced Cleansing Foam – This water-based cleanser, from clean Korean brand BEPLAIN, harnesses the natural detoxifying power of Mung Bean.
• GENABELLE PDRN Vita Toning Ampoule – From one of the leading creators of PDRN-infused skincare, this skin-restoring ampoule also contains vitamin capsules to enliven dull skin. 

For Fans of the Unexpected

2025 delivered some truly gonzo twists, from Harry Styles secretly running marathons, to Katy Perry going into space (as well as breaking up with Orlando Bloom, and starting a relationship with former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau – all in the space of a few months), and – spoiler – a baby winning Squid Game Season 3. And who could have predicted that this would be the year that serial monogamist and self-proclaimed “English teacher” Taylor Swift would announce her engagement – to “gym teacher” Travis Kelce? For those who love their presents as surprising as their pop culture, try gifting one of these formulas, each infused with a unique ingredient. 

Skin Cupid’s gift recommendations

• Dr REJUALL Advanced PDRN Rejuvenating Cream – Infused with PDRN, a collection of DNA fragments derived from salmon sperm that helps to soothe, hydrate, and repair damaged or sensitive skin.
• PURCELL 24/7 Colostrum Pore Defence Ampoule – Made with Colostrum, the protein- and vitamin-rich “first milk” of mammals that helps to smooth wrinkles, improve elasticity, and soothe irritation.  
• MA:NYO Bifida Biome Aqua Barrier Cream – Formulated with a proprietary blend of pro- and postbiotics to strengthen the skin barrier and balance the skin’s microbiome. 
• MOLVANY Artichoke Calming Care Soothing Cream – A gel-type cream fortified with Artichoke Leaf Extract, to protect against free-radical damage and help skin retain moisture.   
• GENABELLE Melacare Spicule Toning Shot Ampoule – A potent blend of spicules – tiny pieces of hydrolysed sponge that help create absorption pathways in the skin – along with Niacinamide and Tranexamic Acid to fade dark spots and combat wrinkles.  

For Nostalgia Fiends

Nostalgia – it ain’t what it used to be! Contemporary culture’s yen for retooling or reviving past successes was in full force for 2025: a reboot of ‘90s supernatural horror drama Buffy the Vampire Slayer was announced early in the year, the much-anticipated Oasis reunion tour kicked off in the summer, and – to the delight of millennials everywhere – skinny jeans were anointed ‘fashionable’ once again for the autumn. For those people in your life who can’t just let go of the classics that have stood the test of time, we recommend these tried-and-true, fan-favourite products. 

Skin Cupid’s gift recommendations

• MIXSOON Bean Essence – A cult classic, this minimalist essence uses fermented Soybean Extract to gently exfoliate, hydrate, and smooth skin, delivering a “glass skin” glow.
• MA:NYO Pure Cleansing Oil – One of Korea’s most beloved cleansing oils, this gentle yet effective formula melts away makeup and SPF without stripping the skin, making it a staple for skincare purists and longtime K-beauty fans alike.
• Dr. ALTHEA 345 Relief Cream – A soothing, barrier-repairing cream that’s earned its reputation as a sensitive- and acne-prone-skin saviour, thanks to its calming botanical ingredients and rich-but-never-greasy texture.
• S.NATURE Aqua Squalane Serum – Lightweight, deeply hydrating, and endlessly popular, this Squalane-based serum helps lock in moisture and support the skin barrier.
• I’M FROM Rice Toner – A long-time favourite made with Rice Extract to brighten, soften, and nourish the skin, this milky toner delivers gentle radiance and a comforting, back-to-basics feel.
• SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum – A modern classic that combines broad-spectrum sun protection with soothing Centella Asiatica and hydrating Hyaluronic Acid, all in a lightweight serum texture that never feels like sunscreen.