26 Strategist-Approved Gifts for Your Whole List (That You Can Buy at Target)

Though artist Julia Chiang initially bought thislava lampfor her daughter, it quickly became a hit with the whole family. Best of all, setup is easy: Just plug it in and allow the wax to warm up.

A step up from microwave popcorn, this old-timey popcorn maker feels just right for pairing withIt’s a Wonderful LifeorA Christmas Story.

When I interviewedcollege students about their favorite gifts, one told me they had recently gifted this to themself. With a few different brushes and a makeup sponge, it has all the essentials for someone who’s makeup curious.

AirPods are the headphone of choice among college students, and these are a step up from the original because you can enable noise cancellation and customize the fit with interchangeable ear tips.

They’ll also need aportable speakerfor group study sessions and friend-group hangs. This one can easily clip onto a backpack, hammock, or bike basket.

This self-heating lunchbox can warm up leftovers in minutes. I gave it to my boyfriend this Valentine’s Day, and he finds it particularly useful for heating up soup, stews, and curries in the office.

As a recent grad in my first apartment, I’m ever so conscious about how my space smells. The Pura is a nice option for someone who’s hesitant about candles or wants to walk into a fresh-smelling home — all made possible by the diffuser’s app that you can control from your phone.

I came across this rather lifelike almond croissant during my most recent Target run. It might just be the replacement I’m searching for as I slowly burn through myJohn Derian asparagus candles. (Thepeppermint rollandpearare cute too.)

These wrist weights are just one pound each, so the person who never misses an afternoon walk can add a little oomph to their workout routine.

With a two-cup capacity, this blender is the perfect size for making personal smoothies or protein shakes every morning. It even comes with a handy screw-on cap, so they can take it to the gym or the office, depending on their schedule.

One college senior I chatted with recently mentioned using a Polaroid camera to create a senior photo wall full of senior bucket-list memories. I imagine this would make a sentimental gift for high-school seniors too.

Our fitness writer, Jeremy Rellosa, named this minimassage gunthe best portable option. It has an ergonomic grip, which he finds makes it easy to apply pressure on sore muscles.

CultureTags combines pop culture, hashtags, and guessing. One student I interviewed compared it to the popular iPhone game Heads Up.

In case you missed it, our beauty columnist, Rio Viera-Newton, calls this lip oil a veritable dupe for theDior Lip Glow Oil. “It’s a thick, high-shine gloss that moisturizes while adding a subtle flush of color to the lips,” she writes, adding that since it’s non-sticky, it “can be worn on glamorous evenings with a full face of makeup or on no-makeup days when you just want a little zhuzh to make you feel put-together.”

Strategist beauty writer Kitty Guo recommends this flavored balm for the kid who’s just getting curious about makeup. It comes in a fun, “pleasantly blobby” container from the brand that makes some of the most popularpimple patchesfor teens.

Speaking of those pimple patches …

As I said in myGen-Z gift guide, “I run in a liberal-arts-college-heavy crowd, and I’ve been seeing more and more blue lashes recently.” These come recommended by beauty writer Rachael Griffiths, who tried all the latestblue mascarasto find the best — this one.

If they’re always begging you to play mermaid, here’s a mermaid doll that they can play with, too.

The Eras Tour may be over soon, butSwiftieswill continue to trade friendship bracelets at Taylor Swift–related events. This is a nice kit that includes chunky gems and the very necessary alphabet beads.

Corsillo, who also works as a part-timeillustrator,says Prismacolor colored pencils are “soft and waxy and make drawing feel like it did when I was a kid, but with a little more control.” This set of 24 is the perfect starter set for budding artists.

When looking back at the purchases she made between 2010 and 2020, Corsillo named herLodge skilletas the best. “The allure of a cast-iron skillet is that it works just as well on the stovetop as it does in the oven,” she writes. “This means it can be used for almost everything I want to cook — a godsend for anyone who knows the challenges of a narrow New York kitchen.”

Our favoritetravel jewelry casealso happens to cost $10 and is available at Target. Strategist writer Ambar Pardilla describes it as “small but mighty with tabs for necklaces, a pouch for pendants, and a combination of compartments with a ring roll.”

They can clip this mini Stanley Cup onto their water bottle or purse (or tree), depending on which they want to personalize with abag charm.

As ourbest-in-class fitness tracker, the Fitbit Charge 6 will allow them to track their workouts, count steps, and keep an eye on their heart rate. For those who’d like to track their runs and bike rides, it has a built-in GPS too.

A staple in ourSTEM toy gift guide, this block set includes wheels, a bead threader, a rolling ramp, and a shape sorter for more creative opportunities. “As children grow, they’ll find new ways to engage with the blocks and be introduced to more complex concepts along the way,” writes Corsillo.

Ourteen gift guideexpert, Arielle Avila, reports that the “Nintendo Switch is still a hot console with teens, especially ones who like playing games with friends IRL.” This one is compatible with some of the most popular games right now, including Fortnite and Super Mario Bros.