15 Last Minute Gifts 16-Year-Olds Won't Return, According to an Actual Teen

Teens get a bad rap for being moody and hard to please, but holiday shopping for the 16-year-old in your life doesn't need to be agonizing; all you really need to do to put a smile on their face is to lean into their personal passions and sense of style. That being said, if your birth year begins with a 19, there's a chance that the teen you know will think your taste is cheugy. So, when it came time to curate our list of the best gifts for 16-year-olds, we made sure to check in with some actual teens.

To make sure we're picking the right items that a teenager would actually appreciate, we talked to Lila, age 17, a high school senior living in New York, who's a foodie, reader, and loves a good beauty product. She also loves math, economics, and biology. Here, Lila gives us insight into 2025's hottest products. In addition to Lila's must haves, she and other teens have also vetted every item you'll find below, which include top tech picks for teens (like the Nintendo Switch), the best in beauty (PS editors also can't get enough of the Hey Dewy Portable Cool Mist Humidifier), and some covetable fashion finds.

The Best Gifts For Teens

• For the teen who loves masks: Biodance Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask at $19
• Best gift for the lip balm-obsessed teen: Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Hydrating Peptide Lip Treatment at $23
• Best gift for teens who love photography: Fujifilm Fujicolor QuickSnap Flash 400 35mm Camera at $26, originally $30
• Best emotional support water bottle for teens: Owala FreeSip Stainless Steel Water Bottle at $30
• Best thermal brush for teens: Wavytalk Thermal Brush at $47, originally $60
• Best self-care gift for teens: Hey Dewy Portable Cool Mist Humidifier at $48, originally $60
• Best personalized gift for teens: BaubleBar All the Beige iPhone Case at $75
• Best cozy gift for teens: Ugg Discoquette Slide Slipper at $75, originally $110
• Best fashion gift for teens: JW Pei Mini Flap Crossbody at $80
• Best denim gift for teens: Levi's 501 Original Cropped Jeans at $98
• Best jewelry gift for teens: Astrid & Miyu Cosmic Star Dome Hoops in Gold at $78, originally $105
• Best comfy hoodie for teens: Lululemon Scuba Oversized Half-Zip Hoodie at $128
• Best headphones for teens: Apple AirPods Pro at $139, originally $249
• Best gift for the teen music lover: Marshall Emberton III Bluetooth Portable Speaker at $180
• Best gift for the teen gamer: Nintendo Switch 2 System at $449

How We Choose the Best Gifts For Teens

We test tons of new products every year, but these made the cut for their quality, style, and how much teens actually love them. Here's how we narrow things down:

• Start with what teens really want: We talk to teens from all walks of life to learn what fits their passions and personalities.
• Test for quality and durability: We put each product through use to make sure it can keep up with a teen's active lifestyle.
• Check if it's on-trend: Gifts have to feel fresh and relevant to today's teen culture, whether that's tech, fashion, or beauty.
• Make sure it's safe and easy to use: We prioritize items that are age appropriate.
• Consider the value: We weigh features against price to find gifts that deliver real bang for their buck.
• Get expert input: Specialists in tech, skin care, fashion, and more help us make good recommendations.

Update on December 4, 2025 at 4:00 PM ET: Updated prices, checked stock for all products, and added a thermal brush and cozy slippers.