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20 Secret Santa Gifts For Everyone In The Office
Perfect presents for every budget
Few things fill us with as much festive dread as the annual office Secret Santa event. While an afternoon of mulled wine and mince pies might be a team-building tradition, the thought of having to find a thoughtful present for a colleague, while adhering to a strict budget, can bring the best of us out in a rash.
Chances are, you’ll pick the new girl’s name out of that hat (or worse, your boss), forget all about it, then spend the morning of the office Christmas lunch desperately running around Boots in search of a hand cream that'll give you change from a fiver.
So this year, we’re doing the hard work for you. Here, discover that perfect secret Santa gift for anyone and everyone in the office, from your work wife to the company director. And breathe…
Potentially the most risk-free move there is, a scented candle is truly fail-safe. This one smells like citrus and warming neroli.
Anna + Nina's pastel-hued candles are Instagram catnip: the perfect gift for that cool new starter.
Molton Brown's body-wash bauble surely fits the brief. It's chic, seasonal, and smells delicious too.
Studded with pearls, this cute satin scrunchie is festive enough for the office Christmas party
Hay's fun coloured straws are the perfect token for anyone planning a New Year's Eve bash. They're all different colours, so you can keep track of your cocktail through the night.
Liberty's beauty crackers are always the most beautiful on the shelves, and this year is no exception. This floral-print creation barely needs wrapping, and the contents are cute too: a tube of Bumble & Bumble's suits-all styling cream, and Slip's luxe silk hair ties.
When it doubt, go Glossier. (While you're there, grab yourself a bottle of Futuredew, too.)
Another great shout if you're unsure what to buy your giftee; a photo frame gives them the chance to fill it with something personal to them.
If you're going to carry a coffee cup each morning, it might as well look really, really good. Stojo's collapsible design is sure to impress any sustainably minded recipient (and may even sway anyone who hasn't yet got the memo).
Hair clips are less personal than jewellery, but way more playful – ideal if you're not quite so well-acquainted with your Secret Santa recipient. Missoma is the name on everyone's wish-list this Christmas, making this luxe gold-plated hair slide a sure-fire winner.
Everyone deserves to channel their inner Katie Holmes in a pair of polka-dot tights, and this 15-denier Falke style rings in at under £25. They're ideal for festive Christmas work parties and NYE's obligatory all-black dress code.
Susan from accounts might not appreciate Katie Holmes' legs-for-days Saint Laurent looks, but she will like these fun Ganni colour-block socks.
Handmade in London, this Hopscotch hand lotion is vegan, cruelty free and smells divine.
Chocolate is an easy option, but Charbonnel et Walker's salted-caramel truffles are miles away from a standard slab of Cadbury's.
Therapie's soothing scented spray is the perfect choice for anyone into aromatherapy (or simply prone to a festive meltdown). Plus, if you persuade them to spritz in the office, you'll get to enjoy the mind-clearing benefits, too.
If their Instagram feed is essentially an ode to truffle-soaked pasta, they're sure to love this box of ridiculously posh condiments.
& Other Stories crafts some of the best high-street fragrances, and the coconut-tinged Perle de Coco is one of its most universally loved. This chic soap and hand-cream set is a real can't-go-wrong gift for just about anyone.
Gold-plated jewellery is longer lasting than costume – and it looks spenny, too. Mango's special edition 24-carat gold designs start from as little as £19.99, so they're perfect for Secret Santa gifting.
We’ve found it – the coolest pressie you can bag for under a fiver. Spacemasks’ self-heating eye mask makes a heavenly before-bed treat, and you’ll even have enough cash left over for a card and gift wrap.
If you need a crowd-pleaser for a colleague you don't know so well, cashmere gloves are an easy win. They're not too personal, yet luxurious enough to impress just about anyone.
Roberta Schroeder is the Senior Ecommerce Editor at Harper's Bazaar, ELLE and Esquire, overseeing shopping strategy and content across fashion, beauty, and travel. Roberta has reported on everything from market-leading skincare brands to the world’s most iconic fashion pieces, while also regularly updating a range of shopping guides, including LED masks, heritage cashmere brands and niche new dress brands to know.
Roberta has more than 15 years' experience in the luxury sector, spanning editorial consultancy, trend forecasting and journalism. Over the years, she has worked for global brands including Farfetch, Chanel, and Vogue.
When not testing beauty products, trialling trends and curating content that spotlights the very best in fashion and beauty, Roberta can usually be found trawling resale sites and vintage stores for a long-coveted designer find. Follow Roberta on Instagram at @roberta__schroeder
Abigail Southan is our Senior Fashion Ecommerce Editor and has five years' experience as a writer and editor in the industry. Abigail has a BA in History from the University of Bristol and an MA in Fashion Journalism from Central Saint Martins. Abigail currently covers all things style and shopping across titles including Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, Esquire and Red. On a daily basis, she helps readers buy better with how-to-wear guides, first-person product reviews and deep dives into the latest trends. Previously, Abigail has worked for The Sunday Times’ Style and Fabulous magazine as their first ecommerce writer and was a founding editor of Sun Selects. She has also written for Net-a-Porter, I-D, Man About Town, Wonderland and 1 Granary, and has interviewed the likes of Paris Hilton, Dua Lipa and Christopher Bailey. You can follow Abigail on Instagram at @abigailsouthan.
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