The Holidays Are Here—Shop Our Top Editors' Picks for December

Executive Managing Editor—and new mom—Catrina Yohay says the pressure to send a family holiday card is real. Luckily, Papier has a range of festive greetings you can customize to your liking (and, of course, speedy shipping). “I finally got my act together and ordered this adorable bauble set,” she says. “The brand has so many fun designs and their cards are always high quality. Plus, they ship super fast, so if you're a procrastinator like me, your recipients will be none the wiser.” Whether you’re sending 10 cards or 100, Papier has got you covered.

Looking to upgrade your hubby’s wardrobe? Our Editor-in-Chief, Jillian Quint, surely is, and she’s already snagged these straight fit jeans from AYR. “My poor Gen X husband was stuck in an early aughts skinny jeans loop, so I got him a pair of AYR jeans that feel classic, modern and like they'll last him forever.” This particular pair comes in a myriad of washes and two inseam lengths.

Anastasia Beverly Hills has released some iconic brow products over the years. You know their iconic smudge-proof Dip Brow Pomade, and their best-selling precise, ultra-slim Brow Wiz. Now, meet their new MicroStroke Brow Pen. The brow pen is designed with a micro-fine tip to help create hair-like strokes for full, natural-looking brows. With a formula that reportedly lasts for up to 24 hours, I can’t wait to incorporate this one into my makeup routine.

New sneaks are always a great holiday wish list item, and Candace Davison, VP of Editorial Content has her sights set on these Brooks Ghost 17s. “I've been not-so-subtly hinting to my husband about the Brooks Ghost 17 sneakers,” she says. The trainers offer balanced cushioning and a plush underfoot, plus come in a wide variety of hues, sizes and widths. “I'm hoping the investment will help motivate me to get off the couch, especially with winter coming. I love the honeydew/coconut colorway and the brand's reputation for comfort and durability, despite being relatively lightweight.”

I recently sniffed this latest fragrance from Commodity after a quick trip to Sephora and immediately placed it in my cart. It’s unique, refreshing and surprisingly, a perfect winter scent. Although it opens with a fruity frozen mango note, it’s balanced out by the notes of eucalyptus and spearmint. I will be wearing this one well into spring.

“I'm obsessed with Clementine's silk scarves. I deeply admire the founder's commitment to nontoxic, sustainable business practices. But beyond that, this is hands down the best silk I've ever owned during my time as a fashion writer,” says SEO Editor Marissa Wu. Made from 100 percent organic silk, this scarf is the ultimate winter staple. You can style it similar to the above photo or even wear it as a top. Wu continues, “Currently, there's a cute ski print that's perfect for tying up my hair or knotting around my neck. I'm geeking out because the illustration was inspired by my favorite director, Wes Anderson, and The Grand Budapest Hotel. Right now, there's also a sale where your second scarf is 30% off. The material is durable and hand-washes well—a staple for my winter closet!”

The train-obsessed kiddo in your life would love to unwrap a Brio train on Christmas morning. Senior Commerce Editor Stephanie Maida picked up this interactive safari iteration for her boyfriend’s 5-year-old son. “[He’s] obsessed with Brio trains (he spends hours building elaborate tracks in his living room), so to expand his collection this Christmas, I nabbed him this fun safari set featuring a pop-up giraffe and zebra in their own little cars,” she explains. Not only does it pair seamlessly with other Brio railways, but it can help little ones understand more about their environment and build motor skills.

If you’re looking for a splurge-worthy gift, Marrow Fine’s luxury jewelry pieces come highly recommended from Associate Commerce Editor Natalie LaBarbera. She writes, “I recently had the chance to view a bunch of Marrow’s investment-worthy jewelry up close and it's all so gorgeous that it makes a worthwhile splurge, whether you're shopping for a treat for yourself or looking for a last-minute Christmas gift.”

Fashion and Beauty Director-at-Large Deena Campbell has this techy watch on her wish list this year. “I’m eyeing the Galaxy Watch8 this month because I need a wearable that works as hard as I do. As a runner, I love that it has a built-in running coach to help me exercise smarter and keep an eye on my heart rate and performance in real time,” she states, adding, “But here’s the real selling point. I barely sleep. And on the rare nights I do, it’s more of a light nap than an actual rest. The Watch8’s advanced sleep tracking and bedtime guidance might finally help me understand what’s going on and maybe even teach me how to recharge like a normal human.”

I have some holiday travel coming up and have been on the hunt for a suitable cosmetics case large enough to hold all of my essentials. PureWow editors can’t get enough of Calpak travel items, so I’m convinced the quality of this case won’t disappoint. It has transparent, dual zippered compartments (that are water-resistant), an interior mesh pocket and is spacious enough to fit full-sized products.

Remember the salmon sperm facial craze from this summer? It never left. In fact, Maida is really keen on trying this viral face mask from medicube. She raves, “I joined 40,000 other Amazon shoppers and added this overnight peel-off mask from Medicube to my cart this month.  It features PDRN (derived from salmon sperm—yes, really) along with collagen, peptides and caffeine to purportedly nourish and de-puff your face as you sleep so you wake up with a firmer, glowier and more refreshed complexion. I can't wait to try it!”

The key to a good holiday eye makeup look? This waterproof liner from Victoria Beckham Beauty, according to Yohay: “As someone who still hasn't quite mastered the art of eyeshadow, this longwear eyeliner is all you need to create the perfect special occasion makeup look, whether you're headed to a holiday party or New Year's Eve soiree. The color is stunning and the formula is so creamy and blendable, but it doesn't smear and will stay put all night. It's been my go-to since picking it up and I couldn't be more obsessed. Well done, VB.” If glitter isn’t your fancy, the pencil comes in a variety of matte shades and finishes.

There’s nothing like cracked winter skin to get you down. But this lip balm from VIOLETTE_FR has been Wu’s saving grace. “Winter is always super dry for my face, and I've been feeling it—particularly on my lips. I'm loading up on what I've found to be the best lip balm of all time, Violette_FR's Balm Amour. In the spring/summer/fall, I can get away with a once-a-day application. In the winter it's more like two times, and I love wearing it overnight to really pump in the moisture. It's kind of pricey, but I'm just now running out and have had the tube for six months.” Chapped lips be gone!

I don’t know about you, but to me, holiday party season always calls for a great clutch, and this one earned Campbell’s stamp of approval. “I’m loving this season’s clutch game, and the COS Folded Oversized Crinkled Clutch Bag might just be the most striking one out there. With its exaggerated, sculptural silhouette and tactile crinkled texture, it feels more like a modern art piece than an accessory. The magnetic roll-top closure makes it easy to tote around super small items like lipsticks and mascara, and the deep black tone makes it versatile. And here’s the funny part: The first time I carried it, someone actually asked me if it was a ‘limited-edition design object,’ and I just nodded because… honestly, it kind of is.”

With the end of another year comes the start of a new planner. As someone who purchases a planner (OK, several) yearly, this undated agenda is right up my alley. This version from Papier contains 365 pages of daily to do’s, where I can make lists, track priorities and update my schedule. And there’s no fuss if I skip a day or two of planning, the undated format allows me to pick up right where I left off.

Manifesting a great New Year? Try spritzing one of these fragrances from Ascention. LaBarbera’s a fan, and adds, “I was recently introduced to Ascention’s perfumes, which are specifically crafted to help you manifest things like prosperity, inspiration and peace and I’ve quickly become obsessed. All of the formulas are vegan and come with a ritual card to use whenever you apply it. Some of my favorites are the prosperity, inspire and enchant scents.” This specific scent has notes of blue lavender, sage milk and cypress, and is imbued with rainbow moonstone. It’s meant to awaken intuition. Ooh, witchy.

Children’s Place is the place to be for all things Hello Kitty right now, and Davison recently snagged this pajama set for her daughter. “[She’s] deep into a Hello Kitty phase, so I've been loving The Children's Place's whole collection, but especially the ultra-cozy three-piece pajama sets. It's great to have shorts and pants, so she can wear them no matter the season,” she says. Also, can’t forget to mention the adorable glitter mini backpack.