28 best self-care gifts to give in 2026

Ranked our best overall sleep mask, the Mavogel Sleep Mask is among the very few designs on the market that really, truly blocks out surrounding light. It’s a solid gift choice for the person you know who’s always traveling in different time zones. “The mask is soft on the eyes and comfortable on the head, and it never so much as budged during the night, no matter my sleep position,” our associate editor Jillian Tracy said in her review. They’ll be able to sleep easier with this essential at the ready.

There’s nothing better than tuning out the world while taking a hot bath, but faucets and hard tubs can make the ritual a bit uncomfortable. Our senior lifestyle editor Tamara Kraus said this pillow changed her bath routine for the better. “I never knew my tub could feel like a literal sofa. Let’s just say I’ve been finding more excuses to soak in my tub,” she said.

This is the one thing I recommend giving yourself (or your partner). The Eight Sleep Pod 5 Core has improved my relationship with my fiancé, who famously likes to sleep in sub-zero-degree temperatures. We can each individually select the temperature we want our sides of the bed to be when we go to sleep, and it also automatically shifts the temperatures to better our slumber throughout our REM cycles. Each morning, we awake to a sleep report in the Eight Sleep app and get to see stats including health trends, respiratory disturbances and time slept. Most importantly, we also get to see who was actually snoring that night. It also gives you a recommended time window to workout or do focus work based on your energy levels, so it’s kind of like a health tracker on your bed.

I questioned whether this red light could actually do anything for my bedtime routine, but after using it for a few months straight, I noticed better sleep, including more time in deep sleep and a better REM cycle. (I know this because I wear a Garmin running watch and Oura ring every night that tracks these metrics.) With the touch of a button, it emits 630 nanometers of red light that cover the room for 14 minutes. I spend this time meditating or reflecting on my day, and it allows for me to have a nightly routine that signals to my brain that it’s time to sleep. I drift off immediately after.

I call this my PT office in a bag. The Chirp Halo muscle stimulator uses electronic muscle stimulation (EMS) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to alleviate soreness, inflammation and arthritis. It’d be an ideal gift for the runner in your life who’s always trying out the latest and greatest recovery equipment. All they have to do is place the pucks onto sore spots, select the treatment mode they want and the 20-minute treatment will start and stop automatically. I use this on my calves, knees and back following particularly tough workouts. The subtle zaps take some time getting used to, but are worth the relief. I appreciate that it’s compact so it’s easy to bring while traveling.

Cupping might seem trendy, but the practice can be traced back to ancient Chinese and Middle Eastern cultures. This technique alleviates pain and reduces muscle tightness, which is the true gift they’ll receive. The simple device uses suction decompression, heat therapy and vibrations to increase circulation, boost lymphatic flush and diminish inflammation. I love that it comes with three built-in safety sensors and an auto-shutoff feature that monitors suction and heat levels. I’ve always felt safe and comfortable using this gadget, and I feel even better after.

Giving somebody you love an excuse to lie down is truly so special. Have them take a breather on this acupressure mat to get blood flowing and relieve tension. Just maybe tell them about the 10,000 spikes spread throughout the mat after. But not to worry: They won’t feel much on this thing aside from relief.

Foam rollers are among the most affordable recovery essentials you can buy. They’re cheaper than massage guns yet effective in relieving tightness, especially around the legs. Kyle Hoffman, one of the head trainers at the Alo Wellness Club in New York City, said he relies on this foam roller for pre- and post-workout recovery, adding that it “helps improve mobility and blood flow, easing sore muscles and preventing injury.” If you know a fitness lover who’s always sore, this practical pick will be a home run.

Sometimes there’s nothing better than putting pen to paper to jot down notes, affirmations, schedules, appointments and journal entries. This vibrant notebook is a favorite of our editors, thanks to its durable construction that withstands months and years (depending on how much you write) of use. “I’m so grateful for this splurge; I always feel better after scribbling in my notebook,” our associate testing writer Carolina Gazal said.

Our associate updates writer Maxwell Shukuya went on a 30-day journey to cut down on screen time and said he owed much of his success to this gadget. “This app blocker forces you to touch your phone to a plastic cube to lock and unlock distracting apps, and unlike purely digital productivity tools, it puts enough friction between you and your apps to actually prevent you from scrolling,” he said. A gift for the chronically online, the Brick can inspire your friend to touch grass and find new hobbies that will better their mind, body and spirit.

Finding mindfulness is easier said than done, but this handy app will help them enjoy the process. They’ll have access to guided meditations, sleep resources and expert-led mental health programs. “On those nights when I’m tossing and turning and I just can’t turn my brain off, I love turning on the sleepcasts on the Headspace app,” said Kai Burkhardt, our outdoors, sustainable living and pets editor.

Blue light emitted through digital screens can cause eye strain, disrupt sleep and age skin, but you can combat this. This red light converter fits onto smartphone screens to turn that blue light into red light while protecting your phone from scratches and cracks. “It’s a really cool intersection of beauty and tech, and one of the most intriguing products I’ve tested this year,” said our beauty and fashion editor Sophie Shaw.

Gift the worrywart in your life this futuristic-looking headband that assists in meditations and mindfulness. With the power of EEG brain sensors, this band detects brain activity and provides feedback during meditations. “When your mind is calm, a bird chirps, and when it’s active or straying away from a meditative state, it plays rain sounds,” our managing editor Rachel Quigley said. “I’m looking forward to becoming a zen master.”

With 360 medical-grade LEDs across three simultaneous science-backed wavelengths, the Illumina face mask targets wrinkles, dark spots, inflammation and acne to promote clear, smooth and firm results in as few as six to 12 weeks.

This ultrasonic cleansing brush has a dual-sided head that includes thermal heating and exfoliating treatments that will gently rid your skin of gunk and grime. “It’s sleeker, more travel-friendly and cheaper than my old Clarisonic, and it really helps me get any gunk off my face at the end of the day,” Shaw said.

I’m sure you’ve noticed how cold plunges are the latest craze among wellness obsessives. In fact, a lot of wellness fans like to take things the next level and plunge their faces into an ice bath every morning. I partake in this type of cold therapy using The Face Tub, a tool that fits my head comfortably. Unlike normal bowls, this one allows me to get my entire face submerged and it comes with a breathing attachment, which helps me stay underwater longer so I can reap all the benefits. The process can temporarily decrease puffiness and even diminish the appearance of some of my wrinkles.

I’m a red light therapy fanatic, but committing to a long routine every day is not for me. Luckily, this red light mask requires just three minutes of my time for a full treatment. I love it because it’s helped diminish signs of aging (like fine lines on my forehead), acne or both after a month of consistent use, thanks to the three pre-programmed modes.

In my opinion, no brand makes throws as luxurious as Cozy Earth. This bubble one feels softer than silk, fluffier than marshmallows and warmer than a mother’s hug. Yes, it’s pricey, but it’s worth every penny. Every house guest I have (and my dog) curls up with this thing and doesn’t let it go, and I end up physically taking it from them. You could buy it for someone else, but I think you should buy it for yourself.

Instead of giving them some fancy face serums this year, a shower filter can tackle the source of their hair and skin concerns head-on. Lots of folks have hard water, meaning it has high traces of calcium and magnesium in it, coursing through their pipes. Health and fitness coach Hunter Stoler said this shower filter is “a small change that makes an instrumental impact.” It removes chlorine and contaminants that can dry out your skin and hair, he added. It also has four stream settings, including regular, mist, massage and high pressure, that will turn your shower into a luxe experience.

Give the gift of peace of mind by helping them create a cozy moment minus the open flame. Our home and gifts editor Amina Lake Patel said this is her favorite candle warmer because it melts evenly so candles last longer and you can control the intensity of the scent. There are a variety of colors and styles, but I personally love this sleek modern black style.

This diffuser is the next best thing to taking them to the spa. The compact essential oil diffuser is a favorite of our social coordinator Gabriella Triolo because it projects long-lasting scents that fill her home. She said it makes her house “smell like a calming oasis.”

Brooklinen’s cotton sheets are an editor- and expert- favorite, so if your giftee just moved into a new home, has been complaining about their scratchy sheets or is going off to college soon, you can’t go wrong with this reliable set. “Sleep is the ultimate form of self-care, as we spend a third of our lives in bed,” Stoler said. “Brooklinen’s organic cotton sheets are soft, breathable and nontoxic, turning your bed into a 5-star wellness retreat.”