🗂️Keep in Mind These Are the Best Gifts for Teens, According to TikTok

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Teens are uniquely terrifying creatures. They are simultaneously confused and cool: As they struggle to figure out who they are as individuals, they have no problem identifying the finer points of popular culture. Simply put, they know what’s cool long before we do. If you have to shop for one this holiday season, here’s a guide for what is on trend in their world, which takes place, at least partially, on TikTok.

Gifts for a teenager's bedroom​

A teen’s room is a sanctuary. They don’t have their own home, but they do have their own space, and that space is very important to them. Here are the things they want for that sacred spot:

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  Desk vacuums remain very popular this year. This mini vacuum from Odistar ($12.98) will pick up whatever crumbs a teen is producing at the workspace where they spend so much of their time.
  
  
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  This year, teens are interested in a specific brand of speaker: Turtlebox. It is $399.99, so quite spendy, but it's also extremely popular and could be a hit if you're willing. If your teen is less interested in brands than quality, here's the Lifehacker roundup of the best bluetooth speakers on the market right now at a variety of price points.
  

Turtlebox Gen 2: Loud!
$399.00 at Amazon
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Shop Now
$399.00 at Amazon

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  LED strip lights have been big for a while now, but they’re holding on in terms of trendiness even after a few years. If you get some for a teen, make sure to get ones that sync up to a smartphone for easy color-changing, like this 100-foot set from Ksipze ($11.99).
  
  
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  Search TikTok for “birthdate candle” and try to convince yourself teens don’t love these things. You can’t convince yourself of that, so it looks like you’re about to drop $48.99 on a candle with their birthday written on the side.
  
  
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  Watching movies is a well-established teen pastime. Watching them blown up huge on the wall is a newer twist that this generation is especially keen on. This AuKing projector ($67.99) is going to be a hit.
  
  
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  New to the list this year is the Jellycat. What is a Jellycat? It's a brand of plushies. To be clear, Squishmallows aren't fully out, but Jellycats are in, so if you're looking to get your teen a stuffed animal (which they genuinely like, I promise) start here. Prices vary.
  

Gifts for a teenager's wellbeing​

Everyone needs self-care, including teens who are just a few years into the lifelong compulsion to look presentable out in the world. Help them achieve that—or just some plain old relaxation—with these gifts.

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  Brazilian Bum Bum Cream from Sol de Janeiro has gotten more and more coveted over the years and now dominates social media. It smells amazing, absorbs fast, is a celeb favorite, and claims to firm up the skin. On TikTok, influencers discuss the benefits of layering it under certain perfumes to achieve out-of-this-world scents. As a Sol de Janeiro fan myself, I recommend the brand's own extremely popular body sprays. Get 2.5 ounces for $24.
  
  
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  Any teen who is into makeup wants lip oil, same as last year. Lip oil is having a major moment and one can simply never have enough of it. Not only is it glossy, it’s hydrating. Trust and believe this is a good gift, whether you go for the well-rated NYX Fat Oil Lip Drip ($9) or the ever-coveted Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil ($40). I own a number of the Dior ones and can vouch that they're glossy, smooth, and long-lasting. If you're not sure which colors your teen has or wants, play it safe and go with clear.
  
  
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  Similarly, lip balm is very big right now, but Chapstick isn't going to cut it. If you're shopping for a teen who is into makeup and/or self care, learn two brand names: Summer Fridays and Rhode. The Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm is $24 and often hard to find. You may have to visit multiple Sephora locations or settle for whichever color isn't sold out on the website. Rhode Peptide Lip Tints and Peptide Lip Treatments are $18 each, but the real draw is a special phone case that protects the teen's iPhone and has a molded holder for the lip product on the back. That's $38. (It's very likely the teen already has this, so check first, but if they don't, this one is an easy win. Just make sure to buy a lip treatment or balm with it.)
  
  
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  It’s hard to explain, but Stanley cups—the kind of insulated, massive-capacity mug you associate with truckers—are still very popular with teens. They come in all kinds of colors. Get a 40-ounce Stanley for $45 (which is a lot less than they were going for last year).
  
  
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  Stanley's reign is ongoing, yes, but there are some contenders sneaking up and threatening to usurp the mug giant. Namely, Owala FreeSip tumblers are really popping off lately. Personally, mine is green and pink, but the variety of color combos on the market means you'll be able to get something truly eye-catching for your teen. They're cheaper and more spill-proof than a Stanley, too, making them the better gift, in my opinion.
  

Owala FreeSip Insulated Water Bottle
$27.99 at Amazon
Shop Now


Shop Now
$27.99 at Amazon

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  Shopping for a fashionable and/or athletic girl? Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag ($48). Done. Be careful with other athleisure. Leggings are out and flared pants are in, for instance, but getting the right ones requires knowing the teen's exact height and preferences. Some, especially athletes, still want leggings. Best to give a Lululemon or Alo gift card if you're not sure.
  

Other random gifts for teens​

Some gifts fall outside the parameters of home goods and self-care. These are still crucial for teens, who require many trinkets and knickknacks.

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  Still holding strong at the top of teens' wishlists this year is the Fujifilm Instax. The instant camera produces a physical photo they can display, usually in that all-important bedroom. A kit with 40 photo papers and a carrying case, as well as the camera itself, is $139.95.
  
  
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  We’re getting a little meta here because while all these gifts are popular on social media, this one is for social media: The TikTok remote control ring ($19.99) offers the ability for hands-free scrolling as well as the ability to film from far away. It’s a cooler version of the old millennial favorite, the selfie stick.
  

Prices are accurate as of publication, but are always subject to change.
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