MANILA, Philippines – One of the best ways to make any Christmas season unforgettable is by warming your loved ones’ hearts through the perfect, thoughtfully chosen gift.

The challenge of finding the best gifts for all the unique personalities in your life doesn’t have to be difficult — whether you’re shopping for your aspiring beauty influencer friend, your foodie father, stylish mother, or active brother, here’s a roundup of Rappler-approved gift ideas to surprise them with.

Beauty, grace, and a pretty face

Add a touch of Barbie magic to your jewelry collection with local brand Penny Pairs’ latest collaboration with the doll herself!

The Shiny Barbie Collection features reversible sparkly pink heart-shaped cubic zirconia pieces, perfect for switching from glam to classic looks. The Playful Barbie Collection takes us back to the retro era with pastel opal and enamel designs for a nostalgic vibe. The Elegant Barbie Collection blends freshwater pearls, enamel, and cubic zirconia for charming but sophisticated pieces.

Penny Pairs is known for its high-quality jewelry that’s both dainty and classy. The Barbie x Penny Pairs Collection is available exclusively online at pennypairs.com and in stores at Alabang Town Center, Eastwood, Glorietta, SM North EDSA, Uptown BGC, and UP Town Center.

Personal Collection enters the cosmetics world through its new In The Mood lipstick collection, combining vibrant matte shades with skincare benefits!

Infused with 12 essential oils, these lipsticks keep your lips soft, smooth, and hydrated, with added sun protection. The collection features six versatile shades across two finishes: for a moisturizing matte look, choose Ruby Slay, Cherry On Top, or Berry Burst; for a weightless silky satin finish, try Ember, Espresso, or Yas Queen Red. They’re available through Personal Collection dealers or official stores on Lazada and Shopee.

By the way: Tapies is now available at Watsons! Known for its seamless, skin-like adhesive nipple cover-ups, Tapies empowers women to wear every outfit with confidence — they’re made from hypoallergenic silicone and are sweatproof, waterproof, and reusable for up to 150 wears.

The Tapies Daily Nipple Cover-Ups provide secure coverage, while the Tapies Triangle Nipple Cover-Ups are perfect for low necklines, including bikinis. Need a little lift? Try the Tapies Cuddle Bra for support and a push, or the Tapies Boobie Tape for extra security. They’re available at Watsons stores nationwide or online through Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.

Korean clean beauty brand barenbliss launched two new Dream Chaser Quad Eyeshadow Palettes shades: Pink Romance and Moonlight Fantasy. Perfect for versatile looks, Pink Romance offers warm, romantic tones with rich mattes and rose gold shimmer for date nights, while Moonlight Fantasy dazzles with glitter and shimmer shades like silver and lilac for playful day looks.

Made with a silky, micro-fine formula, these beginner-friendly palettes are long-lasting, waterproof, and enriched with nourishing ingredients. They’re also vegan, cruelty-free, and non-toxic. They’re available on barenbliss TikTok Shop, Shopee, Lazada, and Watsons stores nationwide.

Food as a love language

At the heart of Bizu’s impressive holiday menu is the 10-Hour Roast Beef Family Set, featuring Bizu’s 10-Hour Roast Beef, accompanied by sides designed to complement the richness of the beef, including Spinach and Mushroom Ravioli with Pomodoro and Feta, Baked Seafood Au Gratin, Rosemary and Lemon Chicken, and Parmesan Mashed Potato with Gravy. To end your feast on a sweet note, Bizu offers the classic Tres Leches Cake, combining moist sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk. You can order via Bizu’s website.

Bizu also has Yuletide Splendor Gift Boxes filled with the best confectionaries, chocolates, sweets, macarons, cookies, and more.

For cheese lovers, La Petite Fromagerie offers the LPF Sampler Set priced at P1,600. The set includes a sampler of Truffle Cream Cheese Spread, Kesovore, Taba ng Talangka Cheese Spread, and Smoked Salmon Cheese Spread. You can choose to pair it with either Herb Crackers & Breadsticks or a pack of large Crostinis. Beautifully packed with a ribbon and a Cheesy Card, it’s an ideal gift.

For a unique holiday treat, Baken presents the Bacon & Toffee Dark Chocolate, a collaboration with chocolatier Theo & Philo. This limited-edition chocolate bar combines Baken’s signature crispy and salty Real Bacon Crisps with Theo & Philo’s rich, single-origin dark chocolate, finished with a toffee twist. Available when purchasing three bags of Real Bacon Crisps, this chocolate bar can be found at select outlets like Kultura, One World Deli, and online at shopbaken.com.

If you’re looking for something healthy and savory (and also vegan-friendly), SAFA Hummus now offers mini sizes of the best-selling hummus, perfect for single servings or those wanting to try out different flavors before committing to a bigger tub. Available favorites include Zesty Garlic, Lemon Pepper, Pesto, Pomodoro, and Black Bean. They’ve also introduced baked falafels, chicken kebabs, and classic tahini with authentic Lebanese garlic sauce (toum). You can find these products at The Vegan Grocer PH or on GrabFood PH.

Sebastian’s Ice Cream has launched the festive 2024 Christmas Collection, which features a fusion of Filipino and Western flavors. Some Filipino-inspired highlights include the Bibingka Ice Cream Cake, Food for the Gods Ice Cream Cake, and Fruitcake Chilly Burgers filled with Butter Rum Ice Cream. The collection also introduces new Queso de Bola Crispwiches, filled with Gatas, Ube, Latik, and Ensaimada Ice Cream that balance both sweet and savory flavors!

Carmen’s Best also offers limited-edition Christmas pints made with 100% fresh milk and local ingredients: Jolly Ol’ Eggnog combines cinnamon ice cream with chocolate sauce, while Merry Mint Chocolate features mint ice cream with real chocolate pieces. S’mores The Merrier mixes marshmallow ice cream with graham crackers and chocolate sauce.

Celebrating in style

New Balance continues to provide runners of all levels with shoes designed for both comfort and high performance. The brand’s Fresh Foam X 1080 is a personal standout, built with a comfortable combination of reliable cushioning and smooth transitions. The v14 update introduces a new, breathable triple jacquard mesh upper, a propulsive outsole, and added durability in high-wear areas, ensuring that each run is both comfortable and supported, with a range of fresh and hip colors including white, grey, green, navy, and black.

PUMA is also making a bold statement with the release of the PUMA Speedcat Colorway in adorable blush pink! Originally designed for the race track, the Speedcat’s latest version features a sleek light pink suede upper while maintaining the signature off-white suede PUMA Formstrip on the sidewalls. The PUMA cat logo is engraved across the shoe’s toebox, tongue, and heel.

The classic black and red colorways are also available in select stores such as PUMA Bonifacio High Street, PUMA Shangri-La, and Foot Locker outlets.

Of course, your furry friends aren’t forgotten! Wag World offers a curated and luxury collection of stylish and functional pet accessories as the official distributor of premium brands like BOSS, Ralph Lauren, and Tommy Hilfiger for your doggos! Find them at The Podium and Mistukoshi BGC.

Lastly, Pan de Manila is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a limited-edition collaboration with Casa Juan, launching a series of beautifully illustrated plates and cups. Designed by Mia de Lara, these pieces feature classic Filipino scenes that evoke nostalgia and capture the essence of Filipino life — perfect for those looking for unique, locally made, and limited edition keepsakes.

They’re available in select Pan de Manila outlets, Merienda restaurant branches, and Kultura stores in SM Malls. – Rappler.com