These gift ideas for friends are the perfect way to make sure your besties know you love them whatever the occasion
There’s nothing better than a best friend, except maybe the look on their face when you manage to nail the perfect gift.
We know how important it is to be able to show your friend you love them, and sometimes that’s just by picking up the phone or remembering their coffee order, but for birthdays, job celebrations, or just because you want to go the extra mile, we’ve come up with a handy list of perfect gift ideas to help show your bestie that you care.
Whether they love a quiet evening in or a big day out, are a beauty fanatic or a skincare convert, we’re bound to have something to suit your wallet that’s sure to put a smile on their face (even when they’ve insisted they don’t want anything).
From the memorable to the meaningful, unexpected and unique ideas to more practical gifts, scroll on to find their perfect present.
6 of the best gifts for your female friends
We know that some of our friends are our mirror image, while others are so different we sometimes can’t believe how close we are. That’s why it can be difficult to buy for the different women in our life. We’ve done the legwork to help take some of the guesswork out and have come up with our favourite present ideas we think your gal friends will love.
Boots X REN Premium Beauty Box
• 4-piece set
• Suitable for sensitive skin
This is a present that feels like pure luxury, minus the price tag. This exclusive gift set comes with four of Ren’s bestsellers, including the brand’s Evercalm Day Cream, Overnight Recovery Balm, Brightening Dark Circle Eye Cream and Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic. It’s the perfect gift for a skincare-loving friend, or one who’s new to the game and looking for a full routine.
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer
• Size: 9ml
• Available in 6 shades
No one does gloss like Rihanna. Her Fenty Gloss Bombs have become make-up bag staples, and if your best friend doesn’t already have one, she’ll want one. The range of nudes have that gorgeous high-shine shimmer that’ll really level up her pout.
Stylpro Makeup Brush Cleaner and Dryer Gift Set - Mermaid
• Includes: eight flexible silicone collars
• Collar stand
• STYLPRO device
• 2 x AAA batteries
• Recyclable plastic, BPA-free, scratch & stain resistant bowl
• Bowl Neck
• 150ml STYLPRO vegan make-up brush cleanser
• 2 x STYLPRO make-up brushes
Every make-up lover needs to take care of their toolkit but let’s face it, washing brushes can be a chore. If you’re looking to treat your friend, why not make the cleaning process easy with this handy make-up brush cleaner and dryer set? It contains everything they need to keep their trusty tools in check, cleaning their brushes in under 30 seconds! Simply attach one of the collars to a brush, dunk it in the bowl and spin the brush clean – we can’t get enough!
La Librairie Oud Poudré Eau de Parfum
• Size: 100ml
• Fragrance family: amber
• Top notes: pear & jasmine
• Heart notes: vanilla & patchouli
• Base notes: coffee
We know buying fragrance is a risky game – but fear not, we’ve got you covered. This delicious scent from La Librairie is a crowd pleaser, making it the perfect gift for friends. The amber base with some lighter fruit and floral notes is cleverly curated to make her feel as though she’s spritzed a breath of fresh air. It will leave your friend feeling bright and breezy all day long.
No7 Silver Illuminated Make-up Mirror
• Normal view, plus 5x magnification
• 360-degree lighting
Now we know you and your friends are used to getting up close and personal, but you can’t really get more up close than the 5x magnification on this No7 mirror. Designed to eliminate shadows and glare and with a handy built-in light, it’ll be there for every step of their beauty regime.
Soap & Glory Fizz-A-Ball Bath Bomb Smoothie Star
• Effervescent bath bomb
• Cruelty-free
It may seem small, but we think a bath bomb is one of the most underrated presents. It tells your friend you’re thinking of them and that they deserve a little treat every so often. They just have to drop this Soap & Glory Fizz-A-Ball in the bath and watch as the water turns a beautiful dusky pink and the air fills with comforting sweet and creamy notes.
Shop more great gifts for her in our full range.
6 of the best gifts for your male friends
When we ask our male friends what’s on their gift wishlist, the answers are often pretty minimal. Not helpful! That’s why we’ve done the work for you (and them) and pulled together our top picks of Boots presents for male friends to suit any occasion.
Baylis & Harding The Fuzzy Duck Bergamot Hemp & Sandalwood Men’s Luxury Wash Bag Gift Set
• 4-piece set
• Vegan
Level up your male friend’s travel minis by giving him this luxury gift set. The bergamot, hemp and sandalwood scents really smell like a treat, perfect to help him feel like his very best self. We also love that it comes with such a good-quality wash bag, ideal for wherever he’s off to!
Fitbit Inspire 2 Black
• Up to 10 days of battery
• With 20+ exercise modes
• Track all-day activity
A dream for the fitness fan in your life – we’re totally convinced there’s nothing this fitness tracker can’t do! (ok, maybe it can’t cook you dinner but it’s still pretty impressive). This easy-to-use fitness tracker makes healthy habits a walk in the park. Your friend can track their heart rate, stay on top of their fitness goals, assess the quality of their sleep and more, all from their very own watch.
Lacoste L.12.12 Blanc Eau de Toilette for Him
• Size: 175ml
• Fragrance family: woody floral
• Top notes: cardamom
• Heart notes: Mexican tuberose
• Base notes: suede
We love this classic Lacoste scent. If you could bottle confidence, it would probably smell like this – so it’s perfect for your most outgoing friends. With top notes of cardamom and a base of suede, there’s a muskyness to it we just can’t resist.
Boots Deep Tissue Percussion Massage Gun
• 4 attachment heads
• 2.5-hour battery life
• 3 intensity modes
• Compact size
If your friend loves physical challenges, is a little stressed, or has spent far too much time sitting at their desk lately, this is a really lovely unique gift idea. This deep tissue massage gun helps relieve stiffness and soreness, promotes muscle warm-up and post-workout recovery too. The four different attachment heads are each specifically designed to target a different muscle group, and with three intensity settings, it’s a brilliant multitasker.
Sony EX110 Premium Headphones - Red
• 1.2 metre cable lenght
• Includes a selection of earbud sizes
If you’ve got a friend who loves music, this pair of headphones will make the perfect gift. With comfortable silicone earbuds that boast a secure fit, these lightweight headphones are perfect for those who are always on-the-go. The built-in microphone even allows them to receive and make phone calls. We also love how lightweight they are, making them easy to fit into any pocket or bag – a staple if you ask us!
Bulldog Oil Control Face Mask
• Size: 100ml
• For oily skin
• Contains 3 natural clays
The men in our life need to look after their skin just as much as the rest of us, and this Bulldog face mask is a great way to encourage them to do just that. It’s affordable and full of lovely ingredients like juniper and witch hazel to help minimise excess oil and deep cleanse skin.
Discover more top gifts for him in our full range.