Gifts for the Very Cool and Not-at-all-Scary Teen In Your Life

Gifts for the Very Cool and Not-at-all-Scary Teen In Your Life

Bonus: if your teen doesn’t like these gifts, you can probably keep them for yourself.

Even if you’re the coolest adult you know, chances are that the teen in your life is one step ahead of you. Teenagers aren’t inherently terrifying, but they are ineffably of-the-moment in a way that can make even the most youthful adult feel like the passage of time is accelerating. Rifle through the gifts we found, all of which will (hopefully) spark something akin to joy.

A winter hat for a budding streetwear aficionado.

Tonal Patch Beanie
Introduced in 1987, the acrylic watch hat is one of the most iconic pieces we make. This version of the A18 has a leather patch that matches to the color of the beanie. It's made of soft, stretchy rib knit that keeps out the cold.

Glossier’s signature scent is just as pleasant in candle form.

Glossier You Candle
Now your favorite room can wear Glossier too. Light up and wind down with one (or both) of our signature scents. Glossier You has the same scent as our best-selling fragrance, with notes of Pink Pepper, fresh Iris, and woody Ambrette to bring comfort and warmth to your space.

The more intrepid teens in the bunch will feel comfortable leaving the house with these on their face.

Starface Hydro-Stars
Hydro-stars are made with 100% hydrocolloid, a material that’s clinically proven to absorb fluid and help reduce the appearance of inflammation to shrink spots overnight. Perfectly shaped to grip the contours of the face, hydro-stars are designed to really stick.

Help your TikTok perfume influencer start their collection.

Dedcool Fragrance 01“Taunt”
Creamy and alluring. Watching vanilla clouds in a citrus sky. Smells like daydreaming about your first perfume. Feels like a coming-of-age story. 

Instead of going into their room and turning on the big light, give them this lamp, which is also the gift of autonomy over their lighting choices.

MoMA Store SOWDEN PL1 Portable Lamp
MoMA Exclusive: The latest from SOWDEN, the brand of George Sowden, one of the founding members of Memphis, is the PL1 Portable Lamp, a small rechargeable lamp composed of a painted aluminium stand and a shade made from silicone—a material that George Sowden discovered is a great diffuser of light,...

As difficult as it is to keep track of what the current status water bottle is, this sleek option should fit the brief.

Owala FreeSip 24 oz Water Bottle
Stay hydrated with our new favorite to-go sipper by Owala. Triple-layer insulation vacuum water bottle with choose your own adventure sipping options with its built-in straw or wide-mouth opening.

For the teen who loves to take notes by hand but understands the ease of digital.

Moleskine Smart Writing Set Paper Tablet and Pen
Watch your ideas travel off the page and onto the screen with a new generation Moleskine Paper Tablet, Pen+, and companion app. Enjoy the hands-on immediacy of putting pen to paper, teamed with all the advantages of digital creativity.

It’s never too early to find inspiration for whatever the hell you’re gonna do with the rest of your life! (This applies to teens and the adults that love them.)

Big Magic: Creative Living Without Fear
Readers of all ages and walks of life have drawn inspiration and empowerment from Elizabeth Gilbert's books for years. Now this beloved author digs deep into her own generative process to share her wisdom and unique perspective about creativity.

Pair the above with the below.

Cotton Napper
A knitted weighted blanket to help you sleep better and feel calmer, naturally. Made of organic cotton.


Cuter than any other portable speaker that’s out there!

MUZEN Button Mini Candy Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
This pocket-sized, retro mini suitcase-shaped speaker comes with an included lanyard, effortlessly attaching to backpacks, bags, or keys, making it one of the best portable Bluetooth speakers for travel and outdoor activities.


There is absolutely someone out there who will love, appreciate, and cherish a BAPE-branded laptop.

ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED BAPE Edition
Experience the ultimate combination of street fashion and tech with the Vivobook S 15 OLED BAPE Edition, our groundbreaking collaboration with the renowned streetwear brand, A BATHING APE® (BAPE®).

Don’t shell out AirPods Max money, when these exist!

Soundcore Space One Headphones
Reduce noise by up to 98% with adaptive noise cancelling Crisp, Hi-Res sound via 40mm dynamic drivers Worry-free battery (40H ANC on, 55H ANC off)

We love the products we feature and hope you do, too. If you buy something through a link on the site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Looking for something else? Check out the rest of our holiday gift guides here.

Megan Reynolds
Megan Reynolds is Dwell's Senior Home Guides Editor. She's previously worked at Jezebel, The Billfold, and many others. She feels strongly about neon as a neutral and loves a good lamp. Holler: megan.reynolds @ dwell dot com.

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