The holiday season is a magical time of the year, until it’s time to narrow down the perfect gift for your loved ones. This can be even trickier when coming up with gifts for your sister-in-law. You may know important tidbits about her life, but you might be stumped when it comes to what she’ll appreciate as a gift.
Before you let the overwhelming feeling take over, think about her recent life moments. Does she have a budding baby bump? Is she traveling more for work or leisure and needs the best travel essentials? Has she been hinting at wanting a fancy at-home coffee maker?
Still coming up with nothing? That’s okay. We’ve crafted a list of gifts under $100 that offer practical solutions for your sister-in-law’s daily life, plus items that PEOPLE tested throughout the year, and a few straight from Oprah’s favorite things (and ours!).
Best Overall Gifts
Gifts Under $25
Going over your holiday spending budget isn’t a requirement for a gift that wows. In fact, there are tons of options coming in at $25 or less that can act as stocking stuffers or be gift-wrapped and nestled under the tree.
The previous Oprah’s Favorite Things lists and thousands of five-star reviews inspired us to add this People-tested jewelry box to cart and hit buy. From speedy domestic trips to long international hauls, this compact organizer boasting six slots, two removable dividers, and a built-in square-shaped mirror has kept our coveted pieces organized and tangle-free (even dainty necklaces and oversized hoops). It’s a useful Christmas gift for the sister-in-law who loves baubles.
Whether at a cozy bonfire or on a sweltering beach day, a chilled glass of rosé will stay crisp in this stainless steel, no-sweat wine tumbler. Best of all, no matter which Duracoat color you select from the 25 vibrant hues available in this Christmas gift for your sister-in-law, it’s guaranteed not to crack or fade!
Gifts Under $50
Gifts $50 and less can be equally as memorable as the most expensive gifts. The key here is thoughtfulness, so check out some of our favorite gift ideas for sister-in-law that show how highly you think of her.
If your sister-in-law has the travel bug, this People-tested, water-resistant cosmetics organizer won’t get regifted. Our testers noted this pick was great for traveling to weddings because it offered storage solutions for makeup brushes, dry shampoo, eyeliners, and other tall beauty products. And the five-star rated organizer is quite stylish, too!
For the homewares-loving sister-in-law who is also a Friends fan, a product designed by Courteney Cox is a perfect match. The non-greasy hand cream infused with Australian hibiscus flower extract, shea butter, and fermented microalgae comes in six scents. And the sleek, black packaging will look great anywhere in the home, from the kitchen sink to the guest bathroom. That was a design must-have for Cox, who told PEOPLE, “I’m so into the design, and it’s something that you would leave on your counter.”
More Celeb-Owned and Celeb-Loved
An amazing gift for everyone on your list, Avaline Natural Wine is co-founded by actress Cameron Diaz, and Kandi Koated Makeup Brushes are the brainchild of singer and Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi Burruss — not to mention the brush set made Oprah’s Favorite Things list of 2024!
Gifts Under $100
The cost of gifts can add up quickly, especially when purchasing items for members beyond your immediate family. But with these thoughtful gifts coming in under $100, you’ll stay within your budget, and your sister-in-law will be using these items for years to come.
Christmas gifts for sisters-in-law can be thoughtful and practical. These plush sheepskin-lined indoor slippers prove just that, making them ideal for a new mom, an in-law who’s recently had surgery, or a sister-in-law in your life you know deserves a moment of comfort in her day. Our testers found that the sole of the cozy Ugg slippers offered a cloud of plush fur (hello comfort!) and are made with quality in mind to ensure they last for years.
For the sister-in-law who’s always snuggled under a cushy throw, this electric blanket designed with ten heat settings will be an instant — and thoughtful — hit. We’ve got you covered (pun intended) as this blanket has been PEOPLE-tested. In fact, our testers found that the fabric was super soft and warm, with a hint of luxury. Additionally, after being washed, the blanket still looked and felt like new and performed as it should.
PEOPLE Tested Gifts
Check out some more of our favorite items that have met our rigorous product tests, ultimately gaining the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval, so you know these gifts are recommendations you can trust to live up to the hype.
For the coffee aficionado you’ve heard go back and forth about purchasing the best coffee machine for the home, this Nespresso will be a welcome surprise. Our testers were incredibly impressed with the machine’s espresso, saying it was “robust in taste and aromatics.” Also, our testers found this to be an ideal beginner-friendly option that’s easy to use and makes excellent espresso even with its small size.
Editor’s Favorite Pick
PEOPLE’s senior shopping editor Shalwah Evans considers Nespresso her sole coffee of choice. She has two machines, one she keeps on her countertop at home and one she travels with. “I constantly have to explain to people that I don’t drink coffee, I drink Nespresso,” she says. “It’s not the same; one is just coffee, the other is a superior beverage experience!”
Skincare isn’t a game for your sister-in-law, but where do you begin? Think of an item she may not have on her radar: a great retinol product like an effective face stick. This PEOPLE-tested stick serum was beloved by our testers, who found the formula to be gentle and lightweight on the skin while smoothing fine lines and wrinkles and exfoliating the complexion. It’s perfect if she likes a slight sheen on her skin, so do some stealthy digging to get the deets on her skin type to ensure this is the right pick for her!
Testers Say
Winning the best overall pick for best hand creams, Grown Alchemist Restorative Hand Cream is not only from a Gwyneth Paltrow-loved brand, but it wowed our testers with its sleek minimalist packaging. They noted that the hand cream’s plush consistency struck a beautiful balance between not-too thick and not-too-thin, with the formula absorbing into the skin about 30 seconds after application and didn’t leave behind residue.
Why Trust PEOPLE?
Bianca Lambert is a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE who specializes in beauty, style, and travel. She’s well-versed in the art of gift giving as she’s written numerous gift guides for publications like Byrdie and Who What Wear and never misses an opportunity to send a handwritten card for a special occasion. Her favorite gift received recently is MERIT’s Retrospect Extrait de Parfum, which she thinks is the perfect size to travel with in a carry-on bag and complements her growing collection (42 bottles and counting) of fragrances.
Our Shopping Experts
- Erin Johnson is the associate editorial director with a penchant for vacuums, bed sheets, and large appliances. Her sister-in-law is an excellent gift giver who keeps her at the top of her game when the tables are turned. They’re pretty similar, so if Erin loves it, sis-in-law will likely love it, too.
- Shalwah Evans is a senior shopping editor. She shares a birthday with her sister-in-law (her husband’s sister) so she understands the importance of giving only gifts she — a picky Taurus — would want to receive.
- Kayla Kitts is a shopping editor with expertise in home and lifestyle content. She’s been picking out awesome gifts for her sister-in-law for more than eight years — and she doesn’t strike out.
- Madison Yauger has tons of cousins-in-law (only child here) but that hasn’t stopped her from curating some of the best gift moments, especially in home, pets and travel.
- Cai Cramer is a staff shopping writer who specializes in beauty and health. Though her siblings aren’t married, she treats her brother’s girlfriend like a sister-in-law and loves to pick out gifts for her.
- Alyssa Brascia is a staff shopping writer. As the eldest child she has yet to have a sister-in-law, though when she does, she plans to shower her with the best beauty gifts any woman could ever want.
- Genevieve Cepeda is a staff shopping writer who loves a great deal, whether it’s fashion, beauty, personal care or home. She understands the pressure of getting only the best gift for sister-in-law that’s thoughtful, practical but doesn’t break the bank.
What Is PEOPLE Tested?
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.