The best Secret Santa gifts under £20 are small, useful and hard to get wrong: something your colleague or friend will actually use, that doesn't need you to know their size, shade or taste. Below are ten beauty gifts under £20, starting with ours. A set of Loste press-on nails is £14.95, or £18.94 with standard UK delivery. Every set has 15 sizes in the box, so you don't need to know theirs.
Order by 21 December for UK delivery before Christmas. Standard UK delivery is £3.99 and free on orders over £40.
What makes a good Secret Santa gift under £20?
Three things, in our experience of choosing gifts for people we don't know well:
- They'll use it up or wear it. A gift that gets used beats one that gets kept in a drawer to be polite.
- No guessing. Skip anything that depends on a size, a skin type or a foundation shade you can only guess.
- It looks like more than £20. Good packaging and a brand they might not buy for themselves do a lot of the work.
Every pick below meets all three, and each one is priced at £20 or less on the brand's own website.
Are press-on nails a good Secret Santa gift?
Yes, if the person likes a manicure. A salon set costs far more than a Secret Santa budget, and a set of press-ons gives them the same look at home, for the Christmas party, in minutes and with no UV lamp. Each Loste kit has everything in the box:
- 30 nails in 15 sizes, two of each, so they can match each nail.
- Ultra Strong Press-On Nail Glue and sticky tabs: glue for up to 14 days' wear, tabs for a few hours to 3–5 days, which suits a single party.
- A cuticle stick and a nail file, so they can apply the set the day they open it.
- Reusable up to 10 times, so it is more than one manicure.
What if you don't know their nail size?
You don't need to. Every set comes with 15 sizes, two of each, and the size number is printed under each nail, so they can pick the right one for every finger. If a nail sits between two sizes, they can choose the smaller and file the edge to fit.
If you're unsure about length, choose a short set: short nails suit an office job and anyone who has never worn press-ons. Glow Up and Soft Girl, below, are both short.
Loste press-on nails, £14.95
Three French tip sets our readers love. A French tip goes with any outfit, which matters when you don't know the person's style.
1. Duchess Press-On Nails
£14.95
The classic: a nude base with a white tip in an almond shape. The safest choice if you know nothing else.
2. Glow Up Press-On Nails
£14.95
A short square French on a glossy pink base. Practical enough for a keyboard, smart enough for the party.
3. Soft Girl Press-On Nails
£14.95
A super-short squoval that melts from nude to white. The easiest first set for someone new to press-ons.
Want something festive? See our Christmas party nails: reds, golds, chrome and black French tips, all £14.95. For more short sets, shop short press-on nails.
More Secret Santa gifts under £20
Six more beauty gifts under £20, most of them from independent British brands. None needs a shade, a skin type or a size. Prices were checked on each brand's own website on 27 October 2026 and can change; delivery is extra and varies by brand.
4. Bloom & Blossom Lip Service Nourishing Lip Balm, £12
A lip balm in a size made for a stocking or a desk drawer, from a female-founded, independent British brand. Shop at Bloom & Blossom
5. NEOM Perfect Night's Sleep Hand Balm 30ml, £10
A small hand balm that fits in a bag. It pairs well with a fresh set of nails. Shop at NEOM
6. Beauty Kitchen Rosemary & Eucalyptus Hand & Body Soap Bar 100g, £6.50
A soap bar for hands and body with a fresh, unisex scent: a safe pick when you don't know who you've drawn, and well under budget. Shop at Beauty Kitchen
7. SILKE London Claw Clip in Pink, £15
A claw clip from a London brand run by a mother and daughter. One size, and anyone with hair long enough to clip will use it. Shop at SILKE London
8. UpCircle Face Scrub with Coffee + Rosehip Oil, £19.99
A coffee face scrub from a British brand that makes its products with upcycled ingredients. It works for any face, so it suits men and women alike. Shop at UpCircle
9. Rituals The Ritual of Hammam Foaming Shower Gel 200ml, £10.90
A shower gel from a brand most people recognise, with a warm, unisex scent. Shop at Rituals
10. A spare glue to go with it, £2
If your budget is £20 and you're buying a set, add a spare Ultra Strong Press-On Nail Glue for £2. A set and a glue come to £16.95, and every kit already has glue in it, so the spare is for the second and third wear.
How late can you order for Christmas?
Order Loste by 21 December for UK delivery before Christmas. Orders are dispatched within 1–2 working days, and standard UK delivery with Royal Mail takes 2–5 days. If you're buying for a few people, orders over £40 ship free.
Can a Secret Santa gift be returned?
Unopened, unused Loste sets with the seals intact can be returned within 14 days of receipt for a refund. See our refund policy for the details. For the other picks, check each brand's own returns policy before you buy.
Not sure your Secret Santa will wear them for long? Our guide to how long press-on nails last explains glue against sticky tabs.
