20 Holiday Stocking Stuffer Picks by Esthetician Ian Michael Crumm

'Tis the season for incredible stocking stuffers! We sat down with our friend Ian Michael Crumm to chat about what products he's putting in stockings this holiday and what he loves the most about the season of giving. Read on for more!

Q: Why is it important to you to incorporate skin-safe gifts for your loved ones this holiday season?

So many people stop using sunscreen and other sun safety practices in the winter since it gets cloudy and the temperature is cool, but that doesn’t mean we should stop wearing sunscreen and practicing good sun-safe habits! I am that broken record that keeps playing and my song is about skin cancer awareness and prevention. I utilize EVERY opportunity and occasion to remind my family, friends, and followers about my song with a lovely curation of sunscreens, UPF clothing, and other sun-safe items at any time of year.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about how you, in conjunction with the Skin Cancer Foundation, are using the holiday season to do good for the community?

I will be donating all affiliate revenue from the holiday curation to my personal Skin Cancer Foundation fundraising efforts, as well as (collectively) through our respective channels we are continuing to raise awareness for the importance of self skin screenings, annual dermatologist appointments, and overall good sun-safe practices. I’m so honored to be a part of the 2023 Champions for Change Gala committee and use these platforms to not only micro fundraise, but to keep the skin cancer prevention conversation going in as many ways possible all year long.

Q: When you're making your list and checking it twice, how do you decide what would make a good stocking stuffer?

Size and novelty. Smaller items naturally feel right as they nestle perfectly into the nooks and crannies of a stocking. Novel items, especially in beauty, bring instant delight (at least in my eyes) when opening. A perfect stocking stuffer is definitely the Ami Cole Lip Oil as it is both small in size and novel. It’s a new-ish brand to market and that freaking lip oil is so bomb. I’ve been wearing it all year and have given it to so many of my friends. It makes the perfect item for me to stuff in stockings this year — I hope you will too!

Q: What is your favorite part about gift-giving during the holiday season?

It’s a time to pause, reflect, and appreciate. For me, day-to-day life gets a bit insane with work, especially considering travel. I’ve missed seeing my family as much as I did during the quarantine lockdown. This year was back to full force work mode, so I’m very excited to take a bit of time off. I will be sharing some amazing things I’ve grown to love in the beauty world with my family and friends this holiday season.

Q: What are some of your skincare goals for the new year?

I’m normally very good about buffering my skincare trials to ensure my skin barrier doesn’t become upset with me! However, I’ve been testing more products than normal lately as there are just so many beauty launches! For the new year I will be scaling back on testing so many new releases and letting my skin bask in my holy grail products. This will mean it will take me longer to test and review products, but it will be worth it in the long run for my skin barrier.

Ian's 20 Holiday Stocking Stuffers

Limited Edition Lip Treatment Oil Trio: Hands down my favorite lip oil of all time. It's the perfect combination of hydrating and glossy without feeling sticky or disappearing fast. I've gone through 4-5 so far this year.

Knee-High Compression Socks: Not only do these compression socks help keep legs from feeling fatigued, the healthy pressure supports the blood vessels and will aid in preventing varicose veins with repeated and regular use.

Lava Self-Heating Repair And Hydrating Mask: An instant spa moment at home! Just add water and this mask gets lovely and warm to soothe skin.

Carat Ray: This roller is great to work on tension in the masseter muscle and work on snatching the jawline.

GX Kit: Microcurrent is so beneficial to maintain good facial structure and muscle support under the skin. The ZIIP has a very easy-to-navigate phone app to keep up with facial workouts.

Pillow Mist: A grounding scent with hints of lavender that quickly set the stage for a calming night with a few pillow mists.

Anti-Wrinkle Sleep Mask: The raised silicone dot design on the sleeping mask prompts the facial muscles to relax, ultimately aiding in less muscle usage, meaning less fine lines.

Hydrate Trio: Cotton gloves at night are a simple and highly impactful luxury.

Shorty Lux Shield: This one requires a slightly larger stocking as it's a shield, but this is a fabulous pick for anyone looking to improve their sun safe practices. Forehead sun damage be gone!

Men's Eco Sol Shirt: Protected Skin Wins! I've been wearing these UPF shirts since the summer and have really grown to love them immensely. They are made from recycled plastic bottles and have a UPF 50+ so skin stays nice and safe in the sun.

Power Mist Hydrating Hand Sanitizer: I love that these hand sanitizers don't feel sticky. This Beach Coco scent smells like a coconut vacation on the hands and I am here for it, especially in cold winter months. Instant mood booster!

Speed Soak: Hate the feeling of body cream? This is your new best friend. The lightweight, silky gel drenches the skin in hydration without feeling heavy. It's understated decadence.

Women's Ancient Vine Vitality Serum: Beautiful formula that's perfect for daytime protection with its inclusion of vitamin C.

Perk Up Plus Extended Clean Dry Shampoo: This dry shampoo does not feel chalky which makes it a solid win!

Intense Overnight Sleeping Cream: I used this when my cheeks were super dry and irritated, and the next morning I was in shock how smooth my face looked.

Probiotic Exfoliating Powder: This is great as a gentle physical exfoliation for the face, but even better as a spa-like scalp treatment. Activate it with warm water in the shower and use your finger tips to massage the scalp.

Pack Up & Glow Priming SPF 40 Mineral Sunscreen: I normally don’t wear face primer but have really grown to like this one, and sometimes use it solo for a skin blurring effect. It performs like a tinted SPF.

UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF 50+: HOLY GRAIL SUNSCREEN. I love how easily this blends into my face considering I normally have facial hair of some sort. It easily hits the skin in all of those facial hair gaps and distributes so there isn’t a cakey appearance in the beard.

Mineral Sun Stick SPF 45: The subtle luminescence adds so much to this product. I love this for on-the-go SPF reapplication.

London Funk Eau de Parfum: The name is such a perfect description of this scent: London music scene in the 70s with hints of sandalwood, vetiver, and basil.