Updated on Dec 13, 2024 at 1:35 PM
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A Yankee swap gift exchange is a fun, creative way to enjoy the season of giving without having to shell out a ton of cash for your entire friend group or family. Never heard of it? Here's how it works: each person contributes one wrapped (and ideally unlabeled) gift to the swap, that way other participants are unaware of who exactly provided the gift and what the item could be. Participants then go one by one in picking to either unwrap a gift of their choosing, or to steal an already-opened gift from someone else (depending on how your family or colleagues prefer to set up their Yankee swap!).
Speaking from personal experience, things can get cutthroat. Often, Yankee swaps impose a budget, which means a little ingenuity (and some expert deal-hunting) is required to find an affordable gift that your friends or coworkers will actually want. Or, you could just pick something from our editor-curated list below. Ahead, we've rounded up the best Yankee swap gift ideas, with everything from cool tech gifts to skin-care gifts that are perfect for beauty mavens, plus ideas for home cooks, fashionistas, and more. Best of all, everything is under $35. Keep reading to shop our full list of the best Yankee swap gifts.
01
Best Yankee Swap Gift: A Spa Headband
Holler and Glow Bubble Headband ($5)
It's giving Blair Waldorf meets GRWM. This absorbent headband is the perfect solution for getting your hair off your face so you can wash or prep your skin.
02
Best Yankee Swap Gift: Soothing Shower Steamers
PS Eucalyptus Shower Steamers ($7)
We might be a little biased because our name is on this product, but we are in love with these shower steamers from PS's new bath line, now available at Walmart. Place a steamer (a coin-size disc) in the corner of your shower; as things heat up, the calming scent of eucalyptus will fill your space. To see how these work, read our PS Shower Steamers review.
Editor Quote: "To start, I'll turn my shower faucet on and let the water run for a few moments as it gets hot; living in an apartment building, this usually takes a minute or two. Once I get the water temperature to my liking, I'll unwrap one of the tablets and place it in the corner of my shower, away from the direct water line coming out of my showerhead. Within 30 seconds, I can start to smell (and feel) the shower steamer working its aromatic magic." — Kyley Warren, assistant editor, Shopping
03
Best Yankee Swap Gift: A Cheeky Spray
Poo-Pourri Before-You-Go Toilet Spray ($7, originally $8)
This gift is sure to get a chuckle when its unwrapped at your Yankee Swap — but the thing is, this sh*t really works! The recipient might make a stink about going home with a bottle of Poo-Pourri, but we guarantee they'll be secretly happy to find a place for it in their bathroom.
04
Best Yankee Swap Gift: A Practical Kitchen Gadget
Handheld Milk Frother ($8, originally $17)
Whip up a latte (espresso, turmeric, matcha — take your pick) at home with this handheld milk frother. Reviewers say it works well in all types of milks, both dairy and alt.
05
Best Yankee Swap Gift: A Makeup Brush Set
Coshine Travel Makeup Brush Set ($8, originally $10)
This adorable five-piece makeup brush set is just larger than a pack of cards, which means it's the perfect size to stash in your carryon. It comes with eyeshadow, powder, shade, lip and blush brushes made from synthetic fibers, housed within a mirrored carrying case. "I was just looking for a nice mini set of brushes to take on my travels so that I wouldn't have to pack my full size brushes," says one happy Amazon reviewer. "They are definitely a small set that I think could fit in your bag/backpack with ease for on the go."
06
Best Yankee Swap Gift: Fun Acne Pitches
Starface Hydro-Stars Pimple Patches ($13, originally $15)
Breakouts happen — and when they do, we're all about embracing the cute pimple-patch trend. Acne is nothing to be ashamed of, and these star-shaped patches from Starface (apt) are a cheery way to heal your blemish without hiding its existence. They're made with 100 percent hydrocolloid, which has long been used by derms to dry out pimples and reduce inflammation. Also, how cute is this smiley case? (Yeah, I said cute again — everything about this is cute cute cute.)
07
Best Yankee Swap Gift: A Nourishing Eye Mask
Peter Thomas Roth Goodbye Eye Baggage Hydra-Gel Eye Patch Kit ($15, originally $19)
Peter Thomas Roth went viral on TikTok for making under-eye bags disappear in seconds. This colorful kit of eye patches from the brand helps to depuff, firm, and hydrate the delicate skin beneath your eyes in under 10 minutes.
08
Best Yankee Swap Gift: A Scrunchie Bundle
Slip Pure Silk Scrunchie 3-Pack ($22)
Hair ties are like socks and bobby pins: constantly disappearing. Your Yankee swap participants will clamber to refill their supply with these beauty-editor fave silk skinny scrunchies from Slip.
09
Best Yankee Swap Gift: A Yummy Lip Mask
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask ($24)
This hydrating lip mask from Laneige achieves the good-gift trifecta: it's gone viral on TikTok, the PS beauty team is in love with it, and it's a bestseller with PS readers. "It's a lusciously thick formula with a silky-soft texture and a glossy finish," says one PS editor. Check out our review of the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask to learn more.
Editor Quote: "As for what it looks and feels like: it's a lusciously thick formula with a silky-soft texture and a glossy finish. I agree with our former content director, Macy Cate Williams, who reviewed the original Berry formula and said: 'This lip mask isn't sticky or uncomfortable — it glides on smoothly and feels very soothing on my lips.' Like her, I'm also a fan of using it instead of a regular lip balm throughout the day. The tiniest amount goes a long way, so even with multiple applications daily, it lasts a while." — Marisa Petrarca, contributing editor, Shopping
10
Best Yankee Swap Gift: A Collapsible Cup
Stojo Collapsible Coffee Cup ($25)
This 16-oz cup easily collapses so that it takes up less space in your bag when it's empty. This comes in handy when you're trying to convince TSA your (bursting) carryon is small enough to fit under the seat in front of you. For the full product details, check out our Stojo Cup review.
Editor Quote: "This cup is great for any frequent traveler or person who prefers to always have a drink in their hand. The product provides the same ease of carrying a drink with you while you're on the go — whether that's simply commuting to the office, heading out to an event, or just gearing up for a long day of travel — and all in a compact design that eliminates the hassle of having to carry around a traditional coffee cup or water bottle." — Kyley Warren, assistant editor, Shopping
12
Best Yankee Swap Gift: Tinned Fish
Patagonia Provisions Smoked Mussels ($25, originally $30)
Tinned fish is having a moment (really!). Add a savory snack to your appetizer menu and instantly feel transported to the Iberian Peninsula. Bonus: Dietitians love tinned fish because it backs a punch of healthy protein and omega-3s. (One editor says that a can of herring from Patagonia Provisions was the most-stolen gift at the Yankee Swap she attended last year.)
13
Best Yankee Swap Gift: A Thoughtful Candle
Homesick Premium Scented Candle ($25)
Homesick is known for its super-niche, ultra-nostalgic candle scents, like "Fall Hearth," "New Home," and "Ice Cream Parlor." The Brunch Club scent, now on sale on Amazon, has sweet notes of citrus and berries mixed with delicious Prosecco and tonka bean.
14
Best Yankee Swap Gift: A Cozy Beanie
Carhartt Black Label Watch Hat ($25)
There's no easier way to get that snowboard-girlie aesthetic than popping on a Carhartt beanie. While the brand has become synonymous with hipsters in recent years, it's made heavy-duty workwear (jackets, coveralls, and hats) since the 19th century. This means, this rib-knit toque will be more than just a fashion statement.
15
Best Yankee Swap Gift: A Mimosa Essential
Minute Mimosa Sugar Cube Trio ($30)
OK, this is genius. Drop one of these flavored cubes into your glass of bubbly, and you've got an instant mimosa. Choose from flavors including citrus, peach, raspberry, and strawberry.
16
Best Yankee Swap Gift: A Travel Adaptor
Twelve South AirFly Adaptor for AirPods ($30, originally $35)
Frequent fliers will love this handy doodad, which allows you to connect your wireless earbuds to your plane's in-flight entertainment system. This means, no more struggling with tangles of wires every time the person in the window seat needs to use the bathroom.
— Additional reporting by Abbey Stone
Kyley Warren (she/her) is an award-winning writer, editor, and affiliate strategist with more than four years of experience in the publishing space. She currently works as an assistant editor on PS Shopping and is an expert on all things related to shopping and fashion. She previously worked with Entertainment Tonight as a style commerce writer, and her byline has appeared in publications globally.
Abbey Stone is the former interim wellness content director. Abbey uses her decade-plus of digital media experience to bring great stories to life, specializing in health, feminism, and culture. She is the former editor-in-chief of the Webby-Award-winning brand Well+Good. Abbey was also an editor at publications including Mental Floss and People and has bylines at The Daily Beast, Wondermind, She Knows, and more.