With so many gift ideas to choose from, it can be hard to narrow the selection to accommodate the teenage or college-age girl in your life. Based on her needs, preferences, and personality, you're able to determine the best possible gift ideas with consideration to the budget you set for gift-giving this year. If you know the young woman well, it's far easier to select a present with personal meaning to give her. If you don't know much about her, the gift you choose to give will likely be something she may need to buy for herself in the future.
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The best Christmas gift ideas for teenage & college-age girls foster a sense of individuality and independence. As young women leave the nest, they need items that help them feel safe, secure, and capable of handling life on their own. The gifts listed here are fun and functional. They allow the recipient to express herself and carve her own space in the world.
This guide helps you identify the things that teenage and college-age girls want for themselves for Christmas. Each suggestion explains why it is of use to young women. By the time you're done reading the listings, you'll be an expert at buying for teenage and college-age girls.
Photo Frames and Photo Displays
What young woman doesn't want to celebrate the important moments in her life with photos of her family and friends? Photo frames and photo displays allow her to do just that. They're decorative and sentimental. With so many ornate options to choose from, there is a frame or display that fits her personality perfectly.
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Amazon Kindle Tablet and Case with Wireless Keyboard
Lightweight and portable, this is the gift that keeps on giving for years. Loaded with exciting features that allow girls to read ebooks, watch their favorite movies and TV shows, play games, and access the internet, an Amazon Kindle tablet with wireless keyboard case makes traveling between school and work and home and college much more enjoyable. It's something she can easily pack in her purse or bag and enjoy her wait more.
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A Favorite Movie or TV Series on DVDs and Snacks
Watching movies or TV shows with friends is a real possibility when the teenage or college-age girl has DVD versions to take with her to a friend's house, apartment, or dorm room. This type of gift is appealing because it encourages her to relax and enjoy premium entertainment and snacks without feeling an ounce of guilt. She doesn't need to change out of her pajamas or spend a lot of money on a popcorn combo at the theater, either.
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Mirror for Applying Make-Up
Girls who want to ‘glow-up' need the best tools for applying make-up. They may be trying to prepare for the day using a standard hand mirror without great success. A lighted mirror meant specifically for applying make-up helps them achieve that flawless finish perfect for posting pics on social media. Some mirrors come with built-in ‘selfie-rings' for the right amount of illumination with every photo shot.
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A Beautiful Journal or Stationery Set
Journaling has known physical and mental health benefits. It gives young women a place to explore their thoughts and dreams. It provides them with a safe space to vent as well as record daily occurrences, so she doesn't forget them. Beautiful stationery can be used to send letters and postcards to family and friends back home while a girl is away at camp or college.
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A Curling Iron
Special occasions call for big, beautiful curls. With a styling tool, young women can curl their hair quickly before heading out the door for a dance, date or job interview. Curling irons range in size, too, making them portable enough to take to the gym and travel with. A curling iron bag allows them to put the heating tool inside of it and go without fear of burning something in the process.
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Tickets to a Movie Theater or Concert Venue
If the young lady you're buying a gift for loves pop culture and the entertainment industry, she likely has favorite movie stars and musicians. Giving her the gift of movie theater or concert tickets allows her to be part of the scene. She can gather her best girlfriends and enjoy a night at the cinema or the hottest music venue. It's one way for her to create a memory that she never forgets.
Protecting a laptop is impossible without a good case. Choosing one of the trendiest colors, patterns, or materials is a great way to get the teen or college student to take care of her electronic equipment. With extra padding shielding the computer from damage, she'll feel comfortable taking it wherever she goes.
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- Dachee Waterproof shockproof laptop shoulder bag is light and easy to carry
- Say Goodbye to dull color laptop bag,our special patten laptop bag make you unique
- Made of high quality canvas and thick metal zipper puller,metal buckle.Our bag is strong and durable to use
Manicure/Pedicure Set
Every girl can use some pampering after a long day of lectures, taking tests, and working at a full-time or part-time job. A manicure/pedicure kit allows young women to keep their fingernails and toenails looking great without spending a lot of money to do so. It's one way for them to practice self-care regularly.
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Pretty Tumbler and Starbucks Gift Card
When pulling an all-nighter, coffee is a must because it keeps students awake and alert. Girls can take their Starbucks gift card and tumbler to their favorite coffee shop to get the beverage and snack of their choice. It gives them the fuel needed to study like a boss.
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Flat Iron Styling Wand
Girls with curly hair know the struggle of keeping it looking neat. A flat iron allows them to straighten their strands with the greatest of ease. A cordless or travel-size flat iron travels with them to the gym, a friend's house, and on vacation where it gets the most use.
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A Case for a Mobile Phone
Young ladies who like to accessorize also enjoy expressing themselves through the cases they put on their phones. By giving the girl a new phone case, you're allowing her to show others what type of things she's into at the moment. Phone cases can be TV show or character-related, solid-colored, patterned, embellished with glitter, or even be made of fake fur or similar fuzzy materials.
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Emergency Kit for the Car
If the young lady drives, you can prepare her for auto-related emergencies by buying her a kit for her car. Compact and ready-to-use at a moment's notice, it's packed full of the things she needs if her car were to become disabled. If a college student drives back and forth from school and her parents' home, she'll want the added security of a car care kit.
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A Fashion Scarf
One of the most accessible and most versatile accessories there is, a fashion scarf takes seconds to put on and adds a pop of color, pattern, or texture to an outfit. It doesn't take up much space in a girl's closet, either, which is a concern of college students living in small dorm rooms or apartments. Scarves come in an array of styles, colors, patterns, and materials, making it easy to personalize the gift you give.
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Gift Card for Gas
Any girl with a car knows the price of gas. It's likely one of the most significant expenses she has. A gift card for gas allows you to fill her tank once or twice. It gives her peace of mind knowing that she can drive to school, work, and home without the gas needle sitting on E for Empty.
Skin Care Products or Set
Today's teenage and college-age girl cares a lot about how her skin looks. She wants it to be dewy and blemish-free so she can go places without wearing makeup. Gifting her skin care products or a set containing several products allows her to keep her skin looking clean and healthy always.
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- Reveal glowing skin with the 3 item Aveeno Ultimate Radiance Collection Skincare Gift Set complete with Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Daily Scrub, Positively Radiant MaxGlow Infusion Serum...
- Use the 5-ounce Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Daily Scrub for softer, brighter, more even-toned skin. It contains moisture-rich soy extract and naturally derived granules designed to...
- The smoothing and brightening .35 ounce Positively Radiant MaxGlow Peel Off Mask gently exfoliates and helps lift away dull, tired skin. It is specially formulated with alpha hydroxy acids (AHA),...
Digital Photo Frame
Rather than keep all their photos on their phones, give the girl in your life a digital photo frame. She can keep all of her favorite pictures on it. The frame will scroll through all the photos loaded onto it so that there's something new to look at continuously.
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Fashion Watch
Being able to tell the time in settings where phones aren't permitted is essential. Teenage and college-age girls appreciate the beauty and simplicity of a fashion watch. Choosing one where the band can be switched out allows the recipient of your gift to have multiple options that match what she wears.
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Digital Alarm Clock
No girl wants to wake up late for class and rush through her morning routine. This gift, although practical, is very sought-after. The alarm on the phone isn't always loud enough to wake a sleeping beauty. A digital alarm clock, however, can wake up the neighborhood when the volume is turned up.
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Wristlet Purse
Perfect for a night out, a wristlet holds all the essentials a girl needs while out for the evening. There's room for her phone, driver's license or ID, cash, and a tube of lipstick. She doesn't need to carry her entire purse with her to the school dance or nightclub that way.
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Nail Art Supplies
One of the hottest trends today is nail art. Girls of all ages love to take care of their nails and express themselves through the use of colors, images, and glitter. They can do many things to make them stand out from painting them neon colors to applying geometric designs or entire galaxies onto their fingernails and toenails.
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Mini Travel Hair Dryer
Young ladies know the hassle of trying to air-dry their hair. A mini travel hair dryer allows them to achieve the look that they love without relying on a hotel hair dryer that only works part of the time. The heat tool allows them to dry their hair quickly so they can be out the door enjoying their vacation.
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- Compact Travel Hair Dryer: This lightweight travel blow dryer features a folding handle for compact storage, making it easy to pack in a suitcase or carry on bag or store in a drawer and it only...
- Travel In Style: Powered by 1600 watts for quick and easy styling of all hair types, this hair dryer features 2 heat speed settings; With dual voltage, it's perfect for worldwide travel
- Stylish, Lightweight And Ergonomic: With plenty of power and dual voltage conversion folded into its stylish and ergonomic housing, this styler produces big results with little effort
Chalkboard Message Board
From writing out favorite quotes to serving as a message board for friends, a chalkboard memo board is the ultimate gift that keeps on giving. It can be erased and used repeatedly. If a girl loves hand lettering, she can try her hand at using different lettering techniques to make her messages stand out.
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Phone Charger for the Car
An absolute essential, a phone charger for the car is a must-have. It allows her to have a way to charge her phone while driving. If an emergency came up, she'd be able to call for assistance because the battery a full battery enables her to.
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- The Anker Advantage: Join the 50 million+ powered by America's leading USB charging brand.
- Advanced Charging Technology: PowerIQ and VoltageBoost combine to provide the fastest possible charge up to 4.8 amps or 2.4 amps per port. (Does not support Qualcomm Quick Charge).
- Certified Safe: Anker's MultiProtect safety system ensures complete protection for you and your devices.
Hoodie from the School of Her Choice
Showing school pride is easy with an oversized hoodie. Not only is it warm, but it's also comfortable. The girl that receives this type of gift appreciates its novelty and how it lets others know where she goes to school or hopes to attend college at one day.
Oversized Beanbag Chair
Great for lounging around on, this gift is the height of comfort. It's an alternative solution to bedroom or dorm room furnishings. An oversized bean bag can take a lot of abuse yet still look fantastic at year's end. It's great for seating friends when a girl is limited in space, too.
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- It’s all about the FOAM: Cozy Foam’s long smooth strands are designed for maximum comfort and durability. Our unique design prevents lumpy uncomfortable spots created from irregularly shaped...
- It really is about the FOAM: Cozy Foam is made from 100% CertiPUR-US certified foam. CertiPUR-US certified foams Do Not Contain: Formaldehyde, Phthalates, PBDEs, TDCPP, TCEP, mercury, lead and other...
- PROTECTIVE LINER: Durable Cozy Sack liners protect our patent pending bean bag filler and make it possible to remove chair’s outer cover for cleaning or replacement.
Make-Up Kits
Perfect for the girl who loves to take selfies and photos with friends, make-up kits range in size, style, and price. They're a welcome sight for teenagers and college students who love dressing up and feel that makeup is yet another way to express themselves. Beauty influencers on Instagram and YouTube especially love receiving makeup as a gift.
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Warmer for Car Seat
If the young lady you're buying for lives in a state that experiences four seasons, she will appreciate this gift more than you know. If a vehicle doesn't already have warmers built into its seats, having ones that you place over the seat is ideal. She can use them throughout the colder months of the year to keep herself and her friends warm.
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Initial or Monogram Jewelry
Unique and personal, initial jewelry and monogram jewelry are something that teens and college-age girls love to wear. It allows them to take pride in their name and cherish the sentimental gift you've given them. Initial jewelry can be gold or silver, metal or plastic, colored, or translucent.
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S'mores Maker
Some occasions call for a sweet and satisfying treat. With an S'mores maker, girls will never be without something yummy to eat. Best of all, they can make S'mores for their entire family or circle of friends. It's perfect for parties and special events.
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Sunglasses
A good pair of shades is essential. It helps teens and college-age girls see while driving. It protects their eyes while they're at the pool, lake, and beach. It's also a fashionable way to accessorize themselves.
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Bath and Body Products
A little pampering goes a long way. Girls can relax and enjoy the soothing scents of their favorite bath and body products. This gift is one that will be appreciated and used often, especially if the young woman is on a budget and not able to buy these items for herself regularly.
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Fuzzy Socks or Slippers
Another item of comfort, fuzzy socks, and slippers are always welcome. Teenage girls and college-age girls love lounging around between work and school. Having something soft and cozy on their feet is something they look forward to especially during the colder months of the year.
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Selfie Stick or Tripod for Phone
Young women love to take photos wherever they go. A selfie stick or tripod for their phone allows them to create the perfect shot for their Facebook and Instagram accounts. It allows them to set the scene before taking a photo, which is very handy especially while they are traveling.
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Charm Bracelet
A gorgeous gift idea that is rife with sentimental value is a charm bracelet. Girls can add charms to it as they go to different places. It can reflect their interests, extracurricular activities, goals, and dreams, too. It's a fun way to remember trips and milestone events with a new charm.
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Cooking Gear and Cookbooks
Every young woman needs to eat! If she's on her own for the first time, it becomes imperative for her to have the right tools to create delicious meals. Luckily, cooking gear and cookbooks give her a distinct advantage. You'll find recipes for every type of cuisine available, including plant-based vegetarian and vegan options.
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The Perfect Present for Every Teenage and College-Age Girl in Your Life
The best Christmas gift ideas for teenage & college-age girls range in price, style, and meaning. This guide is packed full of suggestions for you to choose from. The only issue you'll have is narrowing down the incredible choices to one or two gift items because there is a lot to choose from.
Now that you've read about why each gift idea works well for teens and college-age girls, you'll be able to power through your gift list with ease. You'll have picked out the perfect present for each young woman in your life, and they'll be extremely grateful for your gift.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Rosemary Buffoni / dreamstime.