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27 coolest Christmas gift ideas for tricky teenagers

Teens can be hard to buy for, but we guarantee there’s a Christmas present here they’d love

Best gifts for tricky teens
Katherine Robinson
Senior Lifestyle Editor
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Looking for a gift idea for the teenager in your life? Teens can be hard to buy for – and with that in mind, we’ve scoured the best online retailers for the best present ideas for teen girls and teen boys of all ages.

Whether you’re shopping for your fashion and beauty-obsessed teen niece or your avid gamer teen son, we've got you covered. These cool gifts are the best ones you can find for Christmas 2023 and they'll earn you major brownie points on birthdays and special occasions too!

Best gifts for teens at a glance

The TikTok-approved hair tool - Revlon One-Step Dryer & Volumiser - £39.48

For adrenaline junkie teens - Gel Blaster Surge gun  - £59.95

Best gift under £25 - Inflatable lounger - £21.99

For those texting marathons - Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard - £16.99

For the Emo teen - Gothic Name Necklace - £21.76

The top gift all teens will love - Buyagift 30-minute Young Driver Experience - £49.99

For future YouTube stars - Vlogging light and phone holder - £15.88

Great for sleepovers - Progress Home-Made Ice Cream Maker - £24.99

A positive message to light up their life - Good Vibes Bulb And Stand - £69.99

The most useful gift for teens - Life Skills For Teens Book - £16.34

The trending footwear - Pillow Slides - £7.99

A gift that’ll last years - Kodak Smile Classic Digital Instant Camera - £127.50

For makeup-obsessed teens - Mini Fridge For Cosmetics - £56.99

To jazz up their cave (sorry, bedroom) - Create Your Own Neon Sign Kit - £12.50

For the gamer teen - USB charger and Headphone Stand - £25.58

Pricey but worth every penny - Levitating Moon Lamp - £149

Our Senior Lifestyle editor Karen Silas was on our testing panel and knows all too well the struggle of shopping for teens. She says: "After spending over a decade buying cute toys for your little one, I have to admit it’s kind of a shock to the system when your baby is suddenly a teenager with a very narrow definition of what’s cool, and a whole new repertoire of eye rolls.

And to them, there’s nothing worse than a gift that says, ‘My mum gave this to me.’ I’m a mum who has nearly survived my son’s teen years, and a proud aunt of tweens. So I know that gift cards and Amazon wish lists are a godsend. But if you really want to surprise them, I’ve been most successful when I’ve paid attention to what they’re wearing – accessories have been a big hit – and what they’re chatting about when they do spare the time for us oldies. And if all that fails, channel your inner teen and check out TikTok to see what’s trending."

How we chose the best Christmas gifts for teens

  • Personal experience: Several members of the HELLO! Online team are parents to teens or have plenty of experience in shopping for teen family members. Where possible, we included products tried and tested by us - and actually gifted to real-life teens  - and we only recommend something if it got the thumbs up
  • TikTok trends: We keep our eye on TikTok for the latest trends that teens love. If it’s hot on TikTok - or other social media, you can find it in this guide
  • Reviews: Where we couldn’t test the products ourselves, we focused on reviews from verified shoppers - and we only included products that received a good number of consistently positive reviews.
  • Variety: Teens come in all shapes and sizes. Some are tech-obsessed, and others are massively into makeup. We tried to include something for every type of teen.
  • Price: Some shoppers might be looking for a blowout main present, and others might be looking for a gift in the ‘small treat’ variety. We tried to cater to all budgets, and looked for teen gifts on sale.
  • Revlon One-Step Dryer & Volumiser

    Revlon hot brush

    The TikTok-approved hair tool

    Editor's note: "A TikTok-approved hairstyler is the perfect gift for teenage girls. It’s gone viral with over 90 million hashtag views and it’s easy to see why - combines the power of a dryer and volume of a styler to deliver effortlessly beautiful, full-bodied and frizz-free hair with 22% more shine and in up to half the time. It’s available in both large and small barrel sizes for short and long hair."

  • Gel Blaster Surge gun

    Gel blaster surge gun

    For adrenaline junkie teens

    The Gel Blaster surge gun shoots water-based beads or ‘gellets’ that burst on impact and it’s serious fun for staging battles with your teens your back garden. There’s no mess to worry about cleaning up - the gellets are eco-friendly, non-toxic, and non-irritating and they burst on contact. There are two velocity modes and you get up to four hours of play on a single charge. This is a great gift for teens who loved Nerf guns when they were younger and are looking for something a bit extra. Just remember to use the provided safety goggles when the battle is in progress!

  • Inflatable lounger

    Inflatable lounger

    Best gift under £25

    Editor's note: "Whether they’re a festival-goer or just want to chill with friends, this lounger is amazing! It’s as easy to collapse and pack as it is to inflate. Great to have on hand for parties or Netflix and chill!"

  • Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard

    Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard

    For those texting marathons

    Editor's note: "Teens don’t call each other, they spend hours chatting via text - this funky keyboard with super soft buttons will let them chat comfortably for hours - just hook it up to their device via Bluetooth. It’s available in a rainbow of different colours to suit all tastes, too."

  • Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser + Futuredew set

    Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser + Futuredew set

    The perfect skincare gift for teens

    Editor's note: "Teen girls love Glossier, and this best-selling gift set is an amazing present. It features the brand's award-winning daily wash and their amazing Futuredew - an oil-serum hybrid daily skin finisher for a fresh, healthy-looking dewy glow that lasts."

  • Benefit The Great Brow Basics Brow Gel & Pencils Collection

    benefit The Great Brow Basics Brow Gel & Pencils Collection

    Give the gift of #onfleek brows

    Editor's note: "Any teen girl worth her salt knows that eyebrows absolutely need to be #onfleek – so she'd love to get this gift. The Benefit Gret Brow Gift set nets you £67.50 worth of products for £33.50 – three of the brand's full-size brow bestsellers. There’s everything here you need to create beautiful, natural-looking full brows and it’s available in three different shades."

  • Gothic Name Necklace

    Gothic Name Necklace

    For the emo teen

    Editor's note: "A gothic name necklace is a present that both teen girls and boys love - this Etsy seller has rave reviews, with happy shoppers giving them the thumbs up for the quality and design. There are a number of different text styles and chain lengths available."

  • Gandy’s Khaki Artisan Blanket

    Gandy’s Khaki Artisan Blanket

    For the socially conscious teen

    Editor's note: "How about a gift for teens that helps give back? This snuggly blanket is by travel-inspired fashion line Gandys. It has an incredible back story - the brand was started by brothers Rob and Pal Gandy after they lost their parents in the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. The duo are dedicated to doing good, by building kids' campuses and giving back to other underprivileged children around the world."

  • ROKA LONDON Farringdon Recycled Taslon Crossbody Bag

    Roka London Farringdon Recycled Taslon Crossbody Bag

    The trending unisex all-purpose bag

    Editor’s note: “ROKA LONDON is the brand that came out of nowhere this year and now seems to be everywhere - and teens love the bright colours and the fact they’re made from recycled materials. The crossbody bag is an absolute gem - it’s super roomy and available in all colours of the rainbow as well as neutral tones like this graphite grey which are popular with teen boys too. Winner!”

  • Nanoleaf Shapes Limited Edition Ultra Black Triangles Starter Kit

    Shapes Limited Edition Ultra Black Triangles Starter Kit

    Teen-approved room decor

    “My son is a music lover and while renovating his room, we decided this would make the perfect gift although they can be expensive. Easy to install, eye-catching and a multitude of add-ons ensured we took hours planning the perfect alignment for his bedroom wall.” Christian Anderson-Ramshall, HELLO! Online’s Head of Channels.

  • Buyagift 30-minute Young Driver Experience

    Buyagift 30-minute young driver experience

    The top gift all teens will love

    Editor's note: "Is your teenager desperate to get behind the wheel? Just because they can’t drive on a road until they’re 17 doesn’t mean they can’t practice beforehand! The 30-minute young driver experience is run by the UK’s largest under-17 driving academy and is designed for 10-17 year-olds to learn the basics of driving with a qualified instructor. There are 61 locations UK-wide that run the course. If they want a bit extra, there’s a one-hour experience available."

  • Stanley H2.0 Quencher

    Stanley Quencher cup

    The coolest gift to keep them hydrated

    "I've used the Stanley H2.0 Quencher to drink enough water. For me, having this personal-sized 40oz water bottle means I'm refilling less and always have a chilled drink. The handle and FlowState lid makes it easier to travel with and the lightweight stainless steel tumble’s vacuum installation keeps my drinks cold for 11 hours. Whether your teen needs a cup that keeps up with the amount they drink or need a cup to make drinking more water more convenient, the Stanley range will make it possible - all while looking trendy! This cult classic is perfect for your teens every day, in class, or hanging with friends." Nichaela George, HELLO! Online's Social Video Producer

  • Vlogging light and phone holder

    Vlogging light and phone holder

    For future YouTube stars

    Editor's note: "Do you have the next YouTube star at home? If your teen loves recording makeup tutorials or videos of themselves gaming then this is an essential piece of kit. It has three settings – cool light, warm light, warm yellow light and adjustable brightness for the perfect close up and it clips to any surface to hold your smartphone in place for hands-free vlogging."

  • Cherry Ribbed seamless underwear set by Boux Avenue

    The trending underwear for teen girls

    Editor’s note: “This cute Cherry Ribbed seamless underwear set by Boux Avenue went viral on Instagram when it was first launched and quickly sold out. Now it’s back in stock and is a great gift choice for teen girls. It’s been hailed as the most comfortable underwear in existence, and the top has even been worn as a crop top as outerwear.”

  • Progress Home-Made Ice Cream Maker

    Progress Home-Made Ice Cream Maker

    Great for sleepovers

    Editor's Note: "This is a fun teen gift idea – a machine that lets you make your own fruit sorbets and flavoured ice cream at home in just 15-25 minutes Gift it with the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream recipe book and you’re onto a winner!"

  • Studio Creator 360 Video Maker Kit

    Studio Creator 360 Video Maker Kit

    For influencers in the making

    Editor’s note: “If you have a aspiring YouTuber or video creator in your midst, this is a great gift idea. As well as the green screen and LED ring light, what really elevates this creator kit above others is that it features a 360 degree roating electronic device which tracks the movements of the video creator around the room. It will really take their content to the next level.”

  • Good Vibes Bulb And Stand

    Good Vibes Bulb And Stand

    A positive message to light up their life

    Editor's Note: "Teens live in their rooms (or caves, if you prefer) and this extremely cool lamp will make them the envy of their pals who come round to hang out. You can choose from a range of word designs - including: be happy, love, pride - so there's a positive message to suit every personality and taste!"

  • Life Skills For Teens Book

    Life Skills For Teens Book

    The most useful gift for teens

    Editor's note: "Your teen might think thisis a joke gift, but they’ll actually find this book super helpful once they start to read it. It’s an easy-to-read manual of visual-guided life hacks every teen needs to know, including time management, finding a ‘calling’, how to set goals and achieve them, and even navigating parent-child relationships."

  • Pillow Slides

    Pillow Slides

    The trending footwear

    Editor's note: "It's crazy how these ugly-looking slides became a worldwide bestseller, even making it onto Love Island! Teens love them, and to be fair they are super comfy! They’re available just about every colour you can imagine, and they make a great extra gift."

  • Kodak Smile Classic Digital Instant Camera

    A gift that’ll last years

    Editor's note: "They probably have about 80,000 photos on their phone, but nothing beats actually having a physical picture to pin on the wall or decorate school books. This cool camera lets them print any photo from their device or take one and print it in the moment. It’s a gift they’ll keep on using for years to come."

  • Mini Fridge For Cosmetics

    Mini fridge for cosmetics

    For makeup-obsessed teens

    Editor's note: "For the makeup-obsessed teen, this cute mini fridge is a must! It’ll keep her makeup in tip top condition and make it last longer. The 6-litre capacity is a perfect size to store everything, and it’s available in a white mirrored design and a kawaii brown bear version as well as this pretty teal-hued model."

  • Neon Sign Kit

    Neon Sign Kit

    To jazz up their cave (sorry, bedroom)

    Editor's note: "Both teen girls and teen boys will love this kit - they can use it to make their own neon sign for their bedroom wall using the three yards of flexible neon wire - the possibilities of what they create are endless!"

  • Levitating Moon Lamp

    Levitating Moon Lamp

    Pricey but worth every penny

    Editor's note: "This 3d printed lamp is a little spenny but it so worth it, teens will absolutely love it and be the envy of any friends who come over. It defies gravity, magically floating and spinning on its axis while it lights up their room. It looks so much like the real moon you won’t believe it!"

  • Warning, Official teenager mug

    Teenager Mug

    For the just-turned teen

    Editor's note: "If you're buying for a freshly minted teen's 13th birthday, this mug is a MUST. They'll absolutely love it!"

  • USB charger and headphone stand

    Headphone Stand And Charger

    For the gamer teen

    Editor's note: "Gamers and music-obsessed teens need a place to rest their headphones - and you get double brownie points with this gift because it also has ports to charge their devices too. It’s a nice chic wooden design which will look nice in their room which is an extra bonus."

  • Beautifect Box

    beautifect box
    beautifect box

    For the beauty lover

    Editor's Note: Things have definitely changed since we were teenagers, and instead of electric blue eyeshadow and lip gloss being more than enough for a Christmas party, nowadays teens definitely know how to do their makeup perfectly - and this gorgeous gift is perfect for anyone who wants to perfect their beauty game. Sleek, stylish and packed with new products, we're obsessed!