$40 Or Less: 21 Cheap Christmas Gifts That Bring A Lot Of Cheer

In years past, if you bought cheap Christmas gifts for your loved ones you’d have probably been blacklisted from Christmas Day.

But with more and more people feeling the crunch from the cost of living crisis, making considered choices and tightening the purse strings during the holidays is becoming more commonplace.

So if you’re on a budget but still want to spread some Christmas cheer with a present or two, keep reading. Ahead, you’ll find a hoard of cheap Christmas gifts that are either $30 or less…

Affordable Christmas Gifts

BANGN BODY Lip & Cheek Gloss Balm

From $28 at Sephora

A pigmented (hydrating) hit of lip and cheek colour all in the one tube? Yep, it’s the summer ‘no-makeup’ makeup essential that everyone needs to find in their stocking this year.

Key features:

• Multi-purpose lip and cheek
• Enriched with raspberry fruit extract, cocoa seed butter and shea butter
• Vegan formula 

Available at:

• $28 from Sephora

Lanolips 101 Ointment Strawberry & Phone Lip Balm Holder

From $26 at Lanolips

Hydrating your pout is key, especially in the drying summer temps. So, keep your (ultra-hydrating) lip balm on hand with a seriously helpful phone holder. Yep, it’s cute and practical.

Key features:

• Super cute phone accessory
• Ultra-hydrating
• Delicious scent

Available at:

• $26 from Lanolips

Ciroa Mango & Vitamin C Body Mist

From $19.95 at Ciroa

If there’s one thing we also want, it’s to smell good. And is there any better summer scent than tropical mango? We think not! Add in the fact that this mist is set to revolutionise your skin with its exfoliating and brightening powers and you’ll be the favourite gift-giver.

Key features:

• Tropical scent
• Exfoliating formula
• Skin-brightening

Available at:

• $19.95 at Ciroa

Palmer’s Shimmer Radiance Body Oil

From $19.99 at Chemist Warehouse

Name something more iconic than summer drinks and a cute ‘fit? Adding a hint of shimmering body oil, especially when said shimmer is packed with seriously hydrating benefits.

Key features:

• 48 hour hydration
• Enriched with vitamin E
• Seriously glittery glow

Available at:

• $16.99 (usually $19.99) at Chemist Warehouse

Caudalie Prep & Glow Bestsellers Set (Holiday Limited Edition)

From $35 at Sephora

You know what you need post-Chrissy feast? A little detox and glow up. No judgement here, just solutions. And this cult-duo are standing by to provide the necessities.

Key features:

• Travel-sized testers
• Cult-fave duo
• Detoxifies and enhances glow

Available at:

• $35 at Sephora

Ultra Violette Future-Proof On The Fly Duo (Holiday Limited Edition)

From $32 at Sephora

Slip, slop, slap, seek and slide are embedded in our minds. So, giving the gift of sun-safety has us very happy. With application and reapplication included in these minis you’ll be able to rest assured that your recipient is doing all the right things.

Key features:

• Easy to top up coverage
• Travel-size
• Skin-friendly formulas

Available at:

• $32 at Sephora
• $30 at Adore Beauty
• $32 at David Jones

Frank Body Squeaky Cheeks Kit

From $24 at Frank Body

We’re taking ‘sun’s out, bun’s out’ on as our personal mantra this year and imparting our wisdom onto whoever will listen. And so, a booty-boosting duo that will leave your peach (and your body) glowing, hydrating and sans any unsightly bumps is key.

Key features:

• OG coffee scrub
• Hydrating formulas
• Glow-getting design

Available at:

• $24 from Frank Body

Charlotte Tilbury Mini Pillow Talk Lip Kit

From $40 at Charlotte Tilbury

Plenty of piccies will be snapped up this time of year, so, of course we need to give everyone our insights into the cult-fave world of Charlotte Tilbury’s ‘Pillow Talk’. A liner and a lippy? You’re seriously winning.

Key features:

• Cult-classic colour
• Lip-perfecting duo
• Long-wearing formula

Available at:

• $40 from Charlotte Tilbury

Lush Little Snow Fairy

From $28 at Lush

Iconic doesn’t even start to cover this scent. Sweet, festive and totally a major must-have for any bath lover. A fizzy pink bath bomb? Absolutely! And of course, who could forget the glimmering, body wash with it’s long-lasting scent.

Key features:

• Classic Christmas fragrance
• Vegan and environmentally-friendly
• Long lingering scent

Available at:

• $28 from Lush

The Body Shop Novelty Mini Bauble

From $20 at The Body Shop

If you’re anything like us, the smell of The Body Shop Mango Butter sets you off on a nostalgic reminiscent journey. And isn’t that really the best gift to give? Well, that and a seriously high-packed level of hydration.

Key features:

• Skin-loving treats
• Incredible mango scent
• Made from mango seed oil and shea butter

Available at:

• $20 at The Body Shop

TRUYU Essential Make Up Brush Collection

From $32 at Big W

If you’ve got a beauty-lover in your life (*ahem* guilty), you’re going to want to give them the totally handy Truyu brush collection so they’ll be able to immediately test out all their new makeup without having to wash a whole heap of brushes!

Key features:

• Everything to create a flawless look
• Bamboo handles
• Easy to use

Available at:

• $32 from Big W

Morphe Hot & Unbothered Dripglass

From $28 at MECCA

We might be missing the mistletoe, but this duo would have your pout primed and ready. With an ultra-packed shimmer and stunning pigment you’re going to want to have one in every bag over the festive season.

Key features:

• Celeb-loved
• Limited edition
• Hyper-pigmented

Available at:

• $28 from MECCA

endota Organics Hands & Feet Bon Bon

From $35 at The Iconic

You know what people often forget to buy themselves? Hand and feet moisturiser. And while it’s not the most glam of gifts, it’s seriously necessary and with the gorgeous packaging (and ingredients) this duo is going to hit a much needed spot.

Key features:

• Ultra-hydrating
• Incredible scent
• Enriched with cocoa seed butter

Available at:

• $35 from The Iconic
• $28.00 (usually $29.75) from Anadey
• $35 from Endota

Skin Control Glass Skin Face Mask

From $13 at Woolworths

If you’ve not seen the K-beauty overnight sheet masks, let us introduce you to the Aussie version. With the same transformative powers the hydrogen mask imparts a whole heap of dewy skin getting ingredients as it works its magic overnight.

Key features:

• Hydrogel design
• Infused with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and adenosine serum
• Leaves behind dewy, glass skin

Available at:

• $9.10 (usually $13) from Woolworths
• $13 from Big W
• $10.99 (usually $13) from Chemist Warehouse

L’Occitane Essential Almond Ornament

From $25 at Adore Beauty

We love to get a mini tester in our stocking, especially when it’s a tester of a seriously cult-classic product. So, you best bet we’ll be giving everyone the chance to try the gloriously hydrating (and brilliantly-scented) almond range from L’Occitane.

Key features:

• Perfect travel sized minis
• Taste of the cult-classic almond shower oil
• Rich in omega 6 and 9

Available at:

• $20 (usually $25) from Adore Beauty
• $25 from David Jones
• $25 from L’Occitane

Conserving Beauty Thirsty Face Dissolving Sheet Mask

From $16 at Conserving Beauty

Love a sheet mask but can’t quite get behind the environmental impact of it all? This seriously hydrating (active-packed) pick has been designed to dissolve in water, so yep, it’s pretty impressive.

Key features:

• Water-soluble
• Infused with pro-vitamin B5, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and cica
• Dermatologically-tested

Available at:

• $16 from Conserving Beauty
• $16 from Priceline

ECOYA Fresh Pine Mini Goldie Candle

From $24.95 at Ecoya

Don’t have a real Christmas tree lit up? Don’t fret that you’ve not got that perfect pine scent on hand because this candle more than makes up for it! Plus it offers up a seriously impressive burn time!

Key features:

• Festive Christmas scent
• Aesthetic gold packaging
• Burn time: 30 hours

Available at:

• $24.95 from Ecoya
• $24.95 from Myer
• $24.95 from David Jones

OPI Nature Strong Bon Bon Duo Pack

From $25 at Sephora

Summer and a bright pink perfect mani go perfectly hand in hand. Finding this in your stocking (and applying accordingly) will make for the perfect Christmas evening slump activity.

Key features:

• Nail-perfecting kit
• Vegan nail lacquer
• Perfect summer colour

Available at:

• $25 from Sephora
• $24.95 from Myer
• $24.95 from Price Attack

Bali Body Mini Must-Haves Gift Set

From $34.95

A sun-safe summer tan? Heck yes. Gifting tanning best-sellers to get a test of the glowing glory? It’s a beauty-lover’s dream!

Key features:

• Tanning must haves
• Perfect tester size
• Skin-nourishing ingredients

Available at:

• $34.95 from Bali Body

GLASSHOUSE FRAGRANCES Kyoto in Bloom Soy Candle Bauble

From $18.95 at Myer

Glasshouse Fragrances just scream Aussie Christmas. And what’s better than being gifted a gorgeous candle? Pretty much nothing! And if the stunning bauble-esque packaging doesn’t have you completely sold, the scent will. We’re thinking it’s a ‘one for me, one for you’ kind of gift.

Key features:

• Perfect for festive gifting
• Incredible scent
• Strong, long-lasting scent

Available at:

• $18.95 from Myer
• $9.48 (usually $18.95) from Adore Beauty
• $18.95 from Glasshouse Fragrances

Sundae Body Gingerbread Foaming Body Wash

From $20 at Sundae Body

Who doesn’t want to come out of the shower smelling like gingerbread? We personally do! So, we’ll be buying up big and gifting generously, because not only is this shower whip a lot of fun, it also is seriously hydrating, deliciously scented and Aussie made.

Key features:

• Festive scent
• Suitable for dry skin
• Aussie made

Available at:

• $20 at Sundae Body

Main Image credit: @jennifer.garner

What are your tips for saving money during the festive season? Do you have any cheap Christmas gifts you love to get?