(Shopping)

Found: The Best Glam Stocking Stuffers From CVS

Do your holiday shopping while grabbing household essentials.

Written by Deanna Pai

Shopping for the perfect holiday presents can so easily tilt from festive to frustrating, especially when your to-do list is already running the show. But CVS is bringing the joy back to the hunt. Long known as a reliable stop for wellness essentials, household staples, and those inevitable last-minute cards, CVS proves it can also be an unexpectedly chic destination for stocking-stuffer finds. They’re practical, personal, and playful, and you can find them all in one place.

It makes sense when you consider the breadth of what CVS offers. It’s why Karina Alyza, lifestyle tastemaker and mom of three, counts it as her secret weapon for stocking stuffers spanning elevated beauty picks, self-care luxuries, and travel-friendly must-haves. When curating gifts for her loved ones, she loves “mixing in a few everyday essentials with a couple of fun surprises or cozy treats that feel personal to them,” she says. “CVS makes that so easy because they carry so many trusted, gift-worthy brands at great prices.” With that in mind, here’s what she’s adding to cart for her friends and family this holiday season.

Merry Brite
Cable Knit Stocking
$11.99
Stocking stuffers belong in a stocking, of course — so for an extra-thoughtful touch, “wrap” them in this plush, cable-knit stocking that they can then hang. “It’s the coziest, most classic touch for our mantel,” says Aliza. The pom-pom details and ribbed cuff make it display-worthy, too.
MakeUp Eraser
Winter Village MiniPro
$9.99
In a pretty pastel pattern, this makeup-removing cloth isn't just cute. It's also seriously effective, with water-activated fibers that can lift away grime, sunscreen, and even waterproof makeup. (And, on the other side, the nubby texture serves as a gentle exfoliant.) Aliza loves that “this can remove makeup with a swipe,” she says. “It’s gentle, reusable, and travel-friendly.” The resident teen in your life will not not be impressed.
eos
Ultra Derm Hand Cream
$4.79
For anyone from your work wife to your mom, spring for this vanilla-scented hand cream. It's infused with both shea oil and butter to nourish and protect dry hands, and leaves behind a delicious fragrance. "With the cooler weather, it’s always great to have some lotion on hand that you can also throw in your purse," says Aliza.
Vaseline
Lip Therapy Mini Balm
$3.79
Lip balm is a crowd-pleaser, and even more in a Crème Brûlée flavor. The pocket-sized tub uses a blend of petrolatum and cocoa butter to smooth, soften, and protect lips. “You can’t go wrong with this hydrating classic,” says Aliza. “It’s so cute and [they] can take it on-the-go.”
Tree Hut
Mini Best Seller Gift Set
$19.99
Aliza has this body-care set on her wishlist, noting that it’s perfect for the person who needs a mini spa-at-home moment; it includes the brand's gel wash, shea sugar scrub, body mist, and shave oil, all with a cozy Vanilla fragrance. “The scent is so good — even my husband loves their body scrub,” she says.
Ghirardelli
Holiday Chocolate Snowmen
$8.99
Treat them, literally, with a bag of chocolate snowmen in Ghirardelli's Peppermint Bark and Milk Chocolate Caramel flavors. Each snowman comes individually wrapped — so you can divvy it up among giftees — and “is festive and delicious," says Aliza.
NYX Professional Makeup
Butter Gloss Kit
$14.99
For a little luxury without a big price tag, Aliza is eyeing this set, which comes with three dessert-inspired shades: Crème Brulee (peach-pink), Fortune Cookie (nude beige), and Madeleine (soft bronze). They’re “glossy, non-sticky, and flattering on everyone,” she says.
Vitamasques
Holiday Eye And Lips Mask Set
$9.99
When she’s shopping for stocking stuffers, Aliza looks for “great packaging, quality ingredients, or cult favorites,” she says. This mask set checks all of those boxes, with a Candy Cane Lip Mask, which softens and nourishes lips with hyaluronic acid, and Snow Glow Eye Mask, which tackles puffiness and dark circles with hyaluronic acid, caffeine, and ceramides. They’re both packaged in festive patterns that make them a joy to unwrap.
Batiste
Mini Dry Shampoo Favorites Kit
$12.99
For the person with zero spare time, it doesn't get much better (or more convenient) than this trio of mini dry shampoos, which they can use to quickly clean hair at the roots or add instant body and texture — or both. “These are so great for busy mornings or travel,” says Aliza, who especially loves the scents.