Gift Guide for a 14-Year-Old Girl (by my teenage daughter)
Raise your hand if you've been presented a PowerPoint or Google Slides presentation by your teen in an attempt to get something they really want. A phone, a gaming console, a special event with friends. Well, my 14-year-old created a gift guide and presented it to us parents to give us an idea what she may want as a Christmas gift, a birthday present, or what she'd buy herself when she gets a job. I felt it was good insight into what she as a 14-year-old girl would like in 2023 and may help others who are shopping for gifts for a teenager who may have similar interests.
I figured no better expert to craft a gift guide for a 14-year-old girl than the 14-year-old who lives with me. So I took some of the items from the gift guide she made for her family and crafted the list below. Some items can be stocking stuffers, some items may be splurge gifts, and plenty of items are great options for aunts and uncles, grandparents, and other relatives to consider if they aren't quite sure what their teenage loved one may want this holiday season.
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Gift Guide for a 14-Year-Old Girl (by my teenage daughter)
I don't expect all 9th grade girls or 14-year-olds to have the same taste as my daughter. She is a fan of pink, of bows, of beauty products, music, video games, and comfy unrestrictive fashion. And this is her wish list, not things I will necessarily purchase her or consider even buying due to the price. But if you are shopping for someone who is a similar age and has a similar aesthetic, I hope this gift guide will steer you in the right direction.
If you're wondering what the hot athletic sneaker is for teenagers in 2023, it's the Nike Dunk. This sneaker is available in a range of color combinations, some that are so coveted they are reselling for hundreds and hundreds of dollars. But if you're not sure the color your teen may like, the classic black and white version is always a good choice. It is also easier to find at a range of retailers. I linked to ASOS which is the exact pair my daughter put in her gift guide, but you can find the best selection of Nike Dunks at the Nike website.
I had never heard of the retailer DANDY before, but my daughter linked to multiple hooded sweatshirts from here in her gift guide. The sweatshirts have unique embroidery on the front and back and are designed to be oversized (yet I would still go up a size from what she usually wears in clothing). It's worth looking through all of DANDY's hoodies because there are a lot of quirky and creative ones that may really call to you or be the right vibe for the teen in your life.
Our kid's school as a dress code of a certain color pants or skirt. We saw these pants in Hollister and loved how they were as warm and cozy as sweatpants but had a cut and finish that could be carried off as school pants. We've washed them so many times and they haven't shrunk and still look great. She wants another pair to wear as loungewear/casual fashion. I have no problem getting another pair for her; in fact, I am tempted to get a pair for myself too!
If your teenager is into skincare and social media, there is a good chance they want or already have an ice roller. This is the specific one my 14-year-old requested on her gift guide so I feel this is an ice roller that is making the rounds on social media. Stored in the freezer, it is used to tighten and soothe the face and reduce under eye puffiness without additional products and without melting like an ice cube. It comes in a range of pastel colors, and the price is so low you can also consider it a stocking stuffer gift or gift for one night of Hanukkah.
I have found that once my kid was a tween and into makeup and beauty, she was into Glossier. She wears the Glossier hoodie, she has the makeup bag, and uses the skincare as well as some of the cosmetics. Glossier is vegan, cruelty free, and even I like the products for myself. This new set of shimmery pots add a glow wherever your teen wants to apply it - eyes, cheeks, shoulders and more. Use code EARLYACCESS at checkout to get 25% off sitewide, or 30% off orders $100+ prior to Black Friday.
Exclusions apply.
I know you'd think by looking at social media that every teenager in America wants a Stanley mug. But my teen said because they're so popular they've become "mom bottles" and what she wants is this water bottle from lululemon. This insulated water bottle features a leak-proof lid and slip-free texture so it can be stuffed in that chaotic backpack without spilling everywhere. Available in a range of colors, you likely can find one that is your teen's favorite.
Made from 100% natural soy wax, this cute candle inspired by Ariana Grande's song has key notes of orange, mandarin, peach, grapefruit, red currant, and vanilla. With a glitter finish and a ego-pumping message on the front, this would also be a great gift to give a friend or have your teen give as a gift to one of her classmates.
I love it when practical items are on the teen's holiday wish list! It seems each Christmas she desires a different style of sock and right now it's all about Nike socks, this height, and in the color black. I always shop from the Nike site directly because I can trust the products are legit and it has the best selection and price.
While Target has a similar set with the same amount of brushes at the same price, only on the e.l.f. website can you get it in pink. So depending on the tastes of your teen, you can choose where to get this brush set which is highly rated for type of brushes and quality, especially for the price.
My teenage daughter is really into bows this year, and never was before. And looking at the current fashion trends for teens and what the young adult stars are wearing, I understand why. Bows are everywhere, and if your teen also is loving bows, they may also love this bow-patterned sheet set to update their room or dorm.
Now in high school, my teenager has a busier schedule and needs to be more in control of it. We've been discussing tools to help with time management and tasks and she wants a paper planner, feeling she can also use it as a journal and scrapbook of sorts. I used to use paper planners until the pandemic, and the design and color options of this one is having me consider getting one for myself too! 10 colors to choose from, and the Papier site has plenty of other stylish yet functional planners in a range of sizes, styles, and colors. Even cooler, you can customize the front of these journals to add a name, personal motto, even change the title on the front and it's included in the price!
I guess I should be honored; I have a larger version of this makeup mirror and my teenager wants the smaller 9-bulb version of the same! It is a great mirror; it angles, it's heavyweight and sturdy, different levels of light brightness and color modes. I've owned mine for several years and it has done me well so I feel confident purchasing the smaller version for my daughter.
I cannot guarantee that your teenager likes the musical artist Mitski, but there is a good chance your teen is into vinyl. If you're looking for a good gift, a suitcase-style record player and vinyl of their favorite artist would be sure to please. We got her a record player a previous Christmas and now she is trying to build up her record collection with a mix of vintage (AKA what her parents listened to her age) and new artists. Mitski and Lorde headlined the All Things Go festival last year (the festival that Lana Del Rey and Boygenius headlined this year) so if your teen is into that sort of music, they may also like this artist.
Supposedly this kis THE highlighter to HAVE right now. I love Fenty Beauty, I have multiple beauty products from the brand and have never been disappointed. And while the price is more for grown-ass woman with a job, this would be a decadent gift for the beauty-loving teenager in your life. All seven color options are deemed "cool" by my teen, but for her very fair skin, she wants Ginger Binge/ Moscow Mule, which is featured here. The Sephora customer reviews can help you pick the color that would work best for your teenager.
I thought it was only me who had L'ange following them around the internet with their ads. I guess they also have a chokehold on the teenage demographic because my 14-year-old added this curling iron to her Christmas list. Twirl your way to consistent, natural-looking curls and waves with the user-friendly, time-saving Le Pirouette from L'ange. Its digital display, 5 heat settings (260-410°F), mini clamp to hold hair in place, and spinning titanium barrel all combine to take the guesswork out of styling. Go with 1" for smaller curls or hair above the shoulders and the larger barrel for longer hair or looser curls.
This is not the first year my teenager has requested a Casetify iPhone cover. And I don't mind because I've found Casetify cases can take a beating and keep the phone in decent condition. What's cool with Casetify is you pick the print, and then you can pick the type of case you desire (high impact, MagSafe, etc.), the style of phone, and the trim color for a semi-custom experience.
Press-on nails have come a long way, baby. With so many hacks on social media to keep these nails on longer, this is a budget-friendly way to get your teen's desire for soft gel, powder dip, or acrylic nails from the salon for less. I've found a really great selection on Amazon, better than a lot of other retailers, and the price is so nice this can be a great stocking stuffer or a gift along with quality nail glue, or gel nail products (a hack is to put gel polish under the nail and cure it with an LED light).
Remember when you were a teen and nothing was more important than smelling good? I recall going into The Body Shop and Gap, and later Bath & Body Works and Victoria's Secret, wanting all the lotions, potions, and sprays to smell like fruit and flowers and feelings. Well 2023 teens are the same way and they shockingly like some of the same retailers. Victoria's Secret's brand PINK is popular with teens, and this body spray comes in a range of scents that IMO are far easier to smell on the regular than a lot of the cloying scents popular with high schoolers. From what my teen has said, all the signature scents are cool, so you can pick which one sounds the most like your teen would like it.
Everything 90s and Y2K are back in style including the earrings we wore. I have shopped ana luisa for my teen before and found the quality great (earrings are years old and still going strong, not green or tarnished or chipped). This year, my 14-year-old daughter desires these twisted hoops in gold. I know this size hoop in general is popular with her and her friends; I find she is constantly trying to borrow my pairs this size so it may be in my best interest to get a pair just for her. If this pricepoint isn't right for you, you can find twisted hoops like these at a range of retailers.
I had never before heard of the brand My Mum Made It but I guess it's very popular with teens? I personally find the price for this bag a bit ridiculous, but if this is your pricepoint, I believe this would be a well-appreciated gift. Puffer bags in general are quite popular right now, especially if it's big enough to carry enough for a sleepover or at least a laptop and water bottle. This one is a third of the price and is still considered "cool" and comes in a bunch of colors.
Just ordered those vanity mirrors for my twin daughters! Thanks Alison!!
Yay, my pleasure!
The PowerPoint my 14 year old daughter made for me last week was a presentation on why we should get a kitten! Lol, a classic!
LOL it’s pretty genius… I guess a perk from pandemic school, they all got really good at using Google and Microsoft products!
Lots of these are appealing to me & I’m certainly well past the teen years! She has good taste.
I’ll let her know!
I remember the original Nike Dunks being popular when I was a teen! Everything old is new again!
right? It floors me how almost everything from our teen years is back in vogue!