38 unique gifts to give your best friend - all under $100
A high-tech towel that's better for their hair
Aquis' cult-favorite hair towels have inspired a slew of rave reviews online, including one from our own team of reviewers.
The towels are made from a proprietary fabric called Aquitex that's composed of ultra-fine fibers (finer than silk) that work to reduce the amount of friction the hair experiences while in its weakest state. It also prevents hygral fatigue — the stretching and swelling of wet hair that makes it vulnerable to frizz and damage — by cutting the hair's drying time by 50%.
Note: Currently unavailable on Amazon
A customized map of their favorite place on earth
Memories tend to be tied to specific locations — places that start to signify whole periods of our lives: where you met your best friend, where they grew up, where they met their significant other, where they went to college. Grafomap lets you take that place and those memories with you through customized maps. You can adjust, pan, and zoom to specific spots; add or remove text; select the size, frame, and orientation; and opt for a specific color theme that matches their interior.
Insider Picks senior editor Ellen Hoffman tried it, and the process of turning an ordinary map into a work of art only took five minutes. At $49 for a 18-inch by 24-inch print, it's affordable, too.
A small but powerful Bluetooth Bose speaker
The term "small but mighty" gets thrown around a lot, but this small Bose speaker is only a little larger than the phone used to control the music — and has a much bigger sound. It comes in three colors and has a six-hour battery life.
Two pounds of the best Starburst flavor
In a true gesture of friendship, deliver two pounds of only the best Starburst flavor to them.
A screw-on top that turns a wine bottle into a glass
If they're more of a "one bottle per person" vino drinker, why not cut out the middleman with this twist-on bottle-to-glass helper?
A gimmicky-seeming nail polish holder they'll actually wind up using
Finding a convenient spot to place an open bottle of sticky, vibrant, and fast-drying liquid while you paint your nails is not easy. This $7 nail polish holder looks gimmicky, but it's actually pretty useful.
A hilarious collection of Tinder exchanges that, altogether, become one modern horror story
"Tinder Nightmares" is a modern horror story of Tinder exchanges organized by theme, with chapters such as Bad English, Broetry, Strange Requests, Sneak Attacks, and more. The Instagram account of the same name has nearly 2 million followers. But beware — like Tinder, this book is not for the faint of heart.
A personalized, hand-drawn portrait
Photographs are wonderful, but a hand-drawn portrait of a memory may be even more special. Whether it's a trip you took together, a concert you loved, or an inside joke, you can give your friend something sentimental, budget-friendly, and truly unique.
A three-month subscription to the book club that put "Gone with the Wind" on the map
This subscription gift was handcrafted for bookworms. Book of the Month has been around since 1926, and it's credited with the discovery of titles like "Gone with the Wind" and "Catcher in the Rye." A team of experts and celebrity guest judges curate must-read books — usually new releases, hot topics, and debut authors — and send them to the subscriber's doorstep. If they're more into audiobooks or e-reading, check out a gift subscription to Scribd (full review here).
A makeup and skincare subscription
Birchbox is a skincare and makeup subscription that sends tons of samples of new and cult-favorite products so subscribers can find products they love without much commitment in the meantime. The gift box above includes a selection of best sellers plus a three-month subscription.
A twill weekender for their travels
Perfect for weekend trips or shoving into the overhead compartment of an airplane, Everlane's twill weekender is a pretty good deal for $98. It's 100% water-resistant, has leather straps, and includes little gunmetal feet for stability.
Everlane is also a good fit for friends who are concerned with transparency in business — especially with the company's new ReNew collection made from recycled plastic bottles.
A leather makeup pouch from a cool startup they'll love
Dagne Dover is one of our all-time favorite handbag companies, and most of that has to do with quality, style, and a peerless attention to detail. The Lola Pouch comes in seven colors of genuine pebbled leather. It has helpful features like elastic lip gloss loops, slip pockets with hidden magnetic closures for compacts and shadows, and a smooth lining that's easily cleaned. Zipper tabs can be unsnapped to adjust the shape, too.
An insulated stainless steel water bottle that keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours and hot for up to 6 hours
This double wall, vacuum insulated stainless steel mug is especially perfect for commuters who would rather drink hot coffee than room-temperature for the 45 minutes on the subway — or any other time. We're big fans, and it does a pretty incredible job of keeping cold drinks cold for up to 24 hours and hot for up to six hours.
A giant cardboard cutout of your face
Especially good for long-distance best friends, this giant cardboard cutout of your face is one giant physical reminder that you care. Michael Scott once said that gifts were great because you can point to them and say "Hey man, I love you this many dollars worth." This gift also says "I love you this huge."
A funny adult coloring book
Adult coloring has had a resurgence in recent years as a great de-stressor (even Kate Middleton is a fan). It turns out, though, that adult coloring is even more fun with adult beverages. Here's one that combines both.
A brass and wood display box that's a bit cooler than the average picture frame
Artifact Uprising's brass and hardwood Display Box is a bit more aesthetically pleasing than the traditional picture frame. They can showcase their favorite picture by sliding it into the front of the box, and the box itself can hold up to 50 five-inch by five-inch Square Prints inside.
If you're just looking for prints, you can find those starting at $8 here.
A topical "spill the tea" meme pin
Perfect for the friend who is always around to spill the tea — discretely or shrewdly.
A box of gourmet artisan milk and dark chocolate
A box stuffed full of chocolate needs no introduction, but this one is a pretty good deal. The box comes with 36 mini bars of gourmet artisan milk and dark chocolate, all made in small batches and free of artificial flavors. The 14 flavors range from sweet to savory, and each bar is only 60 calories.
Handmade glass wine charms inspired by "The Golden Girls"
These handmade glass wine charms with Blanche, Rose, Dorothy, and Sophia are a great way to turn a basic wine night with the girls into an occasion.
A silk pillowcase for smoother hair and less breakage
This Celestial Silk pillowcase is one of the internet's hidden gems. It's $40 on Amazon, but we rated it the best silk pillowcase you can buy in our guide — and it gives you more silk per square inch than options twice the price at Sephora. It's made out of 100% Mulberry silk — one of the highest quality silks you can buy — and comes in 13 colors and three sizes: standard, queen, and king. It's the one I personally own, and it makes a big difference for frizzy hair.
A poetry book that has become a phenomenon
Rupi Kaur's "Milk and Honey" is a New York Times best seller and a small cultural phenomenon. It's a collection of poetry and prose dealing with love, loss, femininity, and survival.
A personalized saint candle with either their face or their pet's on it
Whether officially recognized or not, your best friend is your own small-time proof that saints really walk the earth. Here's how to say thank you in a pretty explicit way for all the attention, care and advice on everything from menu decisions to life-altering decisions.
A yoga mat towel with skid-less technology made by a trusted company
Manduka consistently makes some of the best yoga gear on the market, and their cult-favorite Yogitoes mat towels aren't an exception — they'd probably be the main response if you asked around yoga studios for a mat towel recommendation. They have patented skid-less technology that uses 100% silicone nubs, and it makes a big difference.
Each Yogitoes towel is also made from at least eight recycled plastic water bottles, and the dyes used to make it are free of azo, lead, or heavy metal.
A cute and functional 2019 planner
Planners make our lives far easier if we use them, and cute ones like this one help inspire that consistency. Whether she's already extremely into organization or just has a big year coming up, this is a thoughtful way of helping make the whole year a bit easier.
A vitamin C serum developed by MIT scientists that keeps selling out
Maelove is a skincare company founded by a team of MIT grads (skincare obsessives, brain and cancer researchers, and chemical engineers) to make affordable, high-quality skincare accessible. The entire under-$30 line is supposedly great, but this $28 vitamin C serum (which people have likened to the multi-award-winning $166 C E Ferulic Serum) is the real showstopper — and it keeps selling out. I've tried it, and it does a great job of reducing hyperpigmentation, hydrating, and adding a "glow" to the skin. Read more here.
A monogrammed leather passport case
For the world traveler, adventure companion, or person who has a lot of places left to see before they're satisfied, this leather passport cover is one of the best mixes of quality for price you're bound to find. You can also personalize your gift further with a monogram (starting as an extra $10). Every time they use it, they'll think of you.
A super soft $75 cashmere sweater from a sustainable startup
This $75 cashmere sweater is one of the best I've worn, and it took me by surprise for $75. You can get it in either crew-neck or v-neck styles, unisex sizing, and ten colors. In person, the cashmere is one of the softest I've felt.
Plus, Naadam is a sustainable startup. They avoid toxic chemicals, invest in sustainable grazing practices, fund better vaccination programs for healthier goats, and use 100% clean energy to power production facilities. By cutting out middlemen, they pay nomadic herders about 50% more and charge about 50% less to customers without changing quality.
A personalized zodiac necklace
Mejuri is an up-and-coming Canadian jewelry startup, and it's one of our favorite names in affordable fine jewelry. These zodiac necklaces are gold vermeil, minimalist, and decorated with AAA-quality white sapphires.
A design service that can help them figure out their decor or new apartment layout
Whether they're moving, always talking about redecorating, or would love a gallery wall but don't want to expend the necessary brain power, they'll appreciate a Modsy gift. The service makes an exact 3D, digital replica of their room and fills it with actual pieces of furniture from well-known brands that they can buy on the spot.
Handmade wine soaps
These all-natural handmade soaps blend popular red and white wine varieties with complementary scents and oils, like citrus with chardonnay and berries, plums, and apples with the pinot noir.
A new book by the co-creator of "Broad City"
This new book by Abbi Jacobson, co-creator of "Broad City", deals with love, loss, work, comedy, and identity.
A soft, durable pair of slippers they'll want to live in
They're not a new name, but UGG slippers have stuck around for a very good reason: they're incredibly soft, durable, and made really well. The sole is sturdy enough to withstand walks to the mailbox, and the water-resistant material can take a little gross winter slush on the way there.
If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, check out Minnetonka — we're big fans of their mix of price and quality, too.
A vase and smartphone stand handmade from glazed stoneware
These smartphone stands are handmade out of glazed stoneware, and they double as vases so their owner can have the benefit of convenience without totally giving into the sterility of tons of tech devices.
A mug with a "coffee reading" tarot-inspired theme
Perfect for the avid coffee drinker or casual fan of the occult, this ceramic mug made by the independent artists of Society6 is a fun — and useful — gift. They've also got pretty much every mug pattern you could want.
A set of bath bombs that look like macarons
These macaron bath bombs are the perfect excuse for a night of pampering. Pair them with a sheet mask and some wine to give your friend a much-deserved night off.
Three must-have hair products from celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin's line
The Three OUAI Hair Kit comes with celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin's signature Texture, Volume, and Waves foams and sprays, plus a few slender hair clips for the process.
A cookbook of 75 recipes that elevate "pub grub" to chef-driven beer cuisine
This is the perfect gift for the craft beer aficionado. The set includes a polished bottle opener and "The Beer Pantry: Cooking at the Intersection of Craft Beer and Great Food" by Adam Dulye + Michael Harlan Turkell. It includes more than 75 recipes that turn "pub grub" up a notch into chef-driven beer cuisine and insight into craft beers.
A tiny waffle maker
This mini waffle maker may seem more gimmick than substance, but it didn't garner 1,000+ reviews just for being pretty cute. It's compact for small kitchens and people who only want to make three waffles rather than buffet quantities, and it's really easy to clean.
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