No matter who you're shopping for, buying a thoughtful present without emptying your wallet is perfectly possible. If it's a skincare lover you want to spoil, we've put together a list of the best gifts under $50, including everything from cleansers to moisturisers, serums and more.
Read on for gifting inspiration on a budget:
Hydrating Cleansing Oil
Price: $34
Starting strong with an affordable oil-to-milk cleanser that is powerful enough to wipe away a full face of makeup and daily debris, yet gentle enough to support the skin barrier and not strip the skin of its natural oils.
Software's Hydrating Cleansing Oil is the perfect gift for a makeup lover, but it's also great for removing sebum, sunscreen, and daily debris — a true all-in-one cleanser.
Thanks to its pre and probiotics, it helps the skin flora flourish, while the fatty acids mimic the skin’s natural fatty acid composition, and the raspberry seed oil provides anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits.
AHA/BHA Pimple Patches
Price: $39
With the hashtag #pimplepatch garnering a whopping 1.8 billion views on TikTok, it's safe to say that pimple patches are all the rage and rightfully so.
Applied directly onto pimples and blackheads, these tiny stickers penetrate the skin to reduce the size and severity of the blemish, while also repairing damaged skin and encouraging collagen production.
Software's pimple patches are supercharged with AHAs — like glycolic acid — and BHAs — like salicylic acid. Along with other nourishing ingredients, including tea tree oil and niacinamide, they're able to target blemishes at an early stage and prevent new ones from occurring.
Daily Sun Defence SPF50+
Price: $39
Developed with a broad spectrum formula that filters 98% of UV rays, our Daily Sun Defence SPF50+ is the perfect match for that friend who loves to spend their days at the beach, protecting against both UVA and UVB damage.
Thanks to its lightweight, non-greasy texture, this sunscreen absorbs fast and blends seamlessly into the skin, sitting nicely under makeup without leaving an annoying white cast. Its SPF50+ protection level means it helps to prevent hyperpigmentation, premature ageing and sunburn, all while moisturising and smoothing the skin.
It's also portable and convenient to carry around everywhere — which makes it a great travel gift for the frequent flyer in your life.
Salicylic Foaming Wash
Price: $39
If you're shopping for a sensitive skin type who has a hard time finding products that agree with their skin, our Salicylic Foam Wash is the one.
Containing a unique blend of low-irritant ingredients (rather than exfoliant acids which although powerful, can be quite harsh), this gentle cleanser is suitable even for acne-prone, sensitive skin.
Not only does it unclog debris and oils trapped in pores — effectively eliminating blemish-causing bacteria — but it also sloughs away surface layer skin cells to reveal fresh, renewed skin underneath and moisturises the skin barrier to keep it feeling supple and hydrated, not stripped and tight.
All of this for under $40? Yes, please.
Retinol Complex Oil
Price: $49
A hydrating oil is one of those beauty products that every skincare enthusiast needs — and it is an especially good gift for those with dry skin, dark spots, or fine lines they want to minimise.
Software's Retinol Complex Oil is packed with age-defying vitamin A to support cell renewal and boost elasticity, as well as sandalwood seed oil to moisturise and protect against free radicals, rosehip oil for bouncy, elastic skin, and seabuckthorn oil for a stronger, healthier skin barrier.
Applied at night across the face, neck and chest, this serum restores the look and feel of skin. Plus, it's an excellent option for a friend or family member with sensitive skin who may be hesitant to use medical-grade retinoids.
Ceramide Repair Balm
Price: $49
If you want to stick to the essentials, a moisturiser is always a safe choice — after all, everybody, and we mean everybody needs one.
The Ceramide Repair Balm is one of our bestsellers and for good reason. Like a blanket of nourishment for the skin, this luxuriously rich moisturiser delivers long-lasting hydration and leaves the skin feeling soothed, smooth, plump, and never greasy.
Thanks to its ceramides, it protects against external stressors, while the squalane provides a calming effect and the hyaluronic acid attracts, binds, and retains moisture.
This is also a great gift idea for a friend or family member who lives in a colder area, as when temperatures drop, skin can often become dehydrated, irritated, and even chapped — but nothing a good face cream can't help with.
Hyaluronic Complex Serum
Price: $49
When it comes to skin hydration, hyaluronic acid is in a league of its own. So why not give the gift of supple, smooth, healthy skin with Software's Hyaluronic Complex Serum — containing not one, not two, but four types of the powerful humectant?
Lightweight in texture but heavy in hydration, this multi-level serum penetrates the deepest layers of the skin to combat both dryness and dehydration, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, help the skin retain moisture and support the skin barrier integrity.
Just a couple of pumps of this powerful serum, followed by a layer of moisturiser, are enough to provide the skin with hydration that lasts all day long.
Multi-Peptide Eye Serum
Price: $49
Lastly, our Multi-Peptide Eye Serum. Part of our anti-ageing collection, this eye cream is packed with highly targeted ingredients, chosen specifically to combat undereye concerns from all angles and rejuvenate the skin around the eyes.
The marine algae and millet seed work together to penetrate the skin's layers and help firm and smooth skin texture, while the powerful peptides help reduce the appearance of ageing signs. And if that's not enough, this eye serum also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to nourish the skin and shield it against free radicals.
As you can see, there's no need to break the bank to put a smile on your loved ones' faces. Whether you're on the lookout for Christmas presents or celebrating another special occasion, shop the best gifts under $50 for her at Software.
References
Real people, incredible transformations
backed by dermatologists
Software for ageing concerns, June 2022
Software for ageing concerns, June 2022