Having spent most of my life in the Midwest, I’ve found myself staring down Target’s fluorescent aisles on many a late December night in search of unique and thoughtful gifts for the trickiest people on my list. With shelves stocked with everything from kids’s toy to home décor, the retailer embodies the phrase “something for everyone” — which is what makes it a convenient place to check off your entire holiday gift list (and maybe even get something for yourself). With that in mind, I’ve dug through the Strategist’s archives to unearth all the staff-tested, expert-recommended, and celebrity-approved gifts that are available to buy at Target — including a self-heating lunch box, Law Roach–approved sweatpants, and a Stanley cup-shaped bag charm.
Update on December 22, 2024: Since none of these items will arrive before Christmas, we removed items that aren’t available for in-store pickup; updated prices and checked stock for all products.
For the tween who’s obsessed with the ’90s
Though artist Julia Chiang initially bought this lava lamp for 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.
For the family-movie-night organizer
A step up from microwave popcorn, this old-timey popcorn maker feels just right for pairing with It’s a Wonderful Life or A Christmas Story.
For the teen who’s experimenting with makeup
When I interviewed college 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.
For the college student who’s always in the library
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.
For the college student who already has a hammock
They’ll also need a portable speaker for group study sessions and friend-group hangs. This one can easily clip onto a backpack, hammock, or bike basket.
For the co-worker who meal preps
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.
For the person who’s decorating their first apartment
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.
For the person who sets an alarm for every John Derian x Target drop
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 my John Derian asparagus candles. (The peppermint roll and pear are cute too.)
For the person who’s serious about “Hot Girl Walks”
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.
For the brother who hits the gym on Christmas Eve
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.
For the student anticipating their senior spring
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.
For the friend who just ran a marathon
Our fitness writer, Jeremy Rellosa, named this mini massage gun the best portable option. It has an ergonomic grip, which he finds makes it easy to apply pressure on sore muscles.
For the college student who hosts game nights
CultureTags combines pop culture, hashtags, and guessing. One student I interviewed compared it to the popular iPhone game Heads Up.
For the teen who posts GRWM videos
In case you missed it, our beauty columnist, Rio Viera-Newton, calls this lip oil a veritable dupe for the Dior 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.”
For the tween who’s been sneaking into your makeup bag
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 popular pimple patches for teens.
For the teen who’s acne-positive
For the recent liberal arts grad
As I said in my Gen-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 latest blue mascaras to find the best — this one.
For the 4-year-old who loves the beach and the pool
If they’re always begging you to play mermaid, here’s a mermaid doll that they can play with, too.
For the Swiftie who’s still talking about their surprise songs
The Eras Tour may be over soon, but Swifties will 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.
For the kid who doodles on their homework
Corsillo, who also works as a part-time illustrator, 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.
For the roommate just getting into cooking
When looking back at the purchases she made between 2010 and 2020, Corsillo named her Lodge skillet as 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.”
For the person who never misses a Catbird sale
Our favorite travel jewelry case also 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.”
For the person who lined up for a Target Stanley cup
They can clip this mini Stanley Cup onto their water bottle or purse (or tree), depending on which they want to personalize with a bag charm.
For the person who’s actually serious about going to the gym next year
As our best-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.
For the next Frank Lloyd Wright …
A staple in our STEM 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.
For the teen who’s into Fortnite
Our teen gift guide expert, 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.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
