Gloss Angeles Podcast Summary

Episode: Here’s Everything We’d Gift For the Holidays (and Why)

Hosts: Kirbie Johnson & Sara Tan
Date: December 9, 2025

Overview

In this cheerful and practical holiday special, Kirbie Johnson and Sara Tan, two veteran beauty journalists and close friends, unveil their 2025 Holiday Gift Guide. They offer insider picks spanning beauty, self-care tech, cozy home essentials, and trendy fashion—each thoughtfully recommended for specific recipients in your life. Their approach this year is "more civilized" than previous wishlist extravaganzas: each host selected gift categories at random for a more focused, fun (and occasionally competitive!) guide. This episode is full of real-life recommendations, product breakdowns, and the duo’s signature banter, tailored for anyone in search of perfect presents for friends, family, hosts, teens—and themselves.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Game Plan and How Picks Were Chosen

• This year, categories were assigned at random “old school style” by drawing from a cup (03:01).
• Each host bemoans/trumpets their luck with the category picks.

  “Sarah, in my opinion, got the better categories.” – Kirbie (03:11)

2. Gifts You Can Get at Macy’s

a. Beauty Advent Calendars

Sara’s Pick: Macy’s Glow Getter 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar

• Contains 25 products including Tony Moly, MAC, Philosophy, Benefit, YSL, Clinique, Smashbox, and more.
• Combination of sample sizes and full-sized goodies.
• “It’s currently on sale… $236 value, but priced at $75. And as we’re recording this, it’s 50% off.” — Kirbie (06:32)
• “Anyone would be happy to receive this. I would be happy to receive this.” — Sara (06:58)

Kirbie’s Pick: Macy’s Created for Macy’s 12 Days of Lip Advent Calendar

• 12 full/travel-size lip products (Make Up For Ever, Kylie Cosmetics, Tarte, Clinique Black Honey, Kaja, etc.).
• Especially suitable for beginner makeup lovers or lipstick hoarders.
• “You do not have to wrap this. It looks like a giant lipstick.” — Kirbie (07:18)
• “It’s just such a cute package to give.” — Kirbie (08:42)
• Both hosts admit they’d keep it for themselves: “I would display it.” — Sara (09:34)

3. Big Ticket “Splurge” Gift

The Ultimate Sleep Upgrade

Sara’s Pick: Eight Sleep Smart Mattress Cover (Pod 5)

• Tech-infused mattress cover for precise cooling/heating on each side—ideal for couples with different sleep needs.
• Tracks sleep and can gently vibrate as an alarm.
• “Every day I get in it, I’m like, thank God for my Eight Sleep.” — Sara (10:13)
• “This is goop level. This is… I mean, I want to point at Paltrow. This is a goop gift guide.” — Kirbie (12:56)
• Price: ~$3,000 for Pod 5, up to $5,300 for Pod 5 Ultra with snoring mitigation and elevation features (13:09, 14:53).

Notable Moments

• Candid complaints about bad pillows and the importance of sleep investment:

  “Men with pillows that are brown, lumpy, they haven’t been washed, and it’s like, that’s their favorite pillow ever.” — Kirbie (15:36)

4. Hostess Gift That Goes Beyond Wine

World of Oils Ethically Sourced Cold-Pressed Body/Hair Oils

Kirbie’s Pick:

• Packaging looks like fine gourmet cooking oils.
• Ethically sourced, cold-pressed, with blends like Santal & Jojoba and Blue Tansy & Apricot.
• “People were like, this is the cutest idea ever… Not just people that follow me for beauty advice, but people in the beauty industry.” — Kirbie (19:18)
• Bundle of two: $80. Suitable for hair, body, some for face (19:40).

5. Gift for Teens (Teenage Dream Category)

Pink Palm Puff Pastel Hoodies & Accessories

Sara’s Pick:

• Started by 17yo Lily Belace from Toronto.
• Pastel sweatshirts, matching sweats, plush slippers, and pajamas, hugely popular with Gen Alpha.
• “It is everywhere…every teen/tween girl has been asking for this.” — Sara (21:39)
• “It’s almost like a status symbol at this point…like a Stanley.” — Sara (22:50)
• Prices range: $89 for sweatshirts, pajamas, and $99 reversible tote.

6. Cozy Home & Apparel Gift

UGG Slippers & Mary Jane Styles

Kirbie’s Pick:

• UGG Fluff Yeah slippers (discontinued), now replaced by new “B Mary Jane” and heart-cutout versions.
• Hard soles make them perfect for indoor/outdoor wear.
• The cuteness and comfort are cherished by both hosts, who admit to holding onto battered pairs:

  “They are one with me now… They are my feet.” — Sara (26:50)

• “The Mary Janes are so cute…If something is cute, it’s guaranteed to be on my mind.” — Kirbie (28:15)
• Price: Varies, some up to $200 for special editions (32:50).
• “That’s the thing about a gift: it’s like you’re gifting somebody something they wouldn’t normally buy for themselves.”—Kirbie (32:53)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Macy’s Holiday Spirit:
  “If you’re going to New York during the holidays, [the Macy’s windows are] a must see.” — Sara (05:00)
• On Advent Calendars’ Rise:
  “People love—literally make entire content series around advent calendars.” — Kirbie (07:18)
• On Eight Sleep Bed:
  “If you have a partner… it has its own sides. That’s what sells it for me.” — Kirbie (11:45) “This is definitely…I would say this is, like, goop level gift.” — Kirbie (12:51)
• On Giving Useful Hostess Gifts:
  “It’s a unique gift that people will be surprised and delighted by, and I think that always makes the best gift.” — Kirbie (20:58)
• On Teen Trends:
  “It blew up—like every teen/tween girl has been asking for this. … It’s almost like a status symbol at this point for the Gen Alpha.” — Sara (22:50)
• On UGG Slippers and Gifting:
  “I truly feel naked without my slippers in my home.” — Kirbie (29:40) “It’s fun to receive as a gift because you’re like, oh my god, I did need a new pair—I just didn’t want to buy a pair for myself.” — Sara (30:07)

Timestamps at a Glance

• 02:29: Introduction to the Holiday Gift Guide concept
• 03:01: How the gift categories were chosen
• 05:30: Macy’s Glow Getter Beauty Advent Calendar (Sara)
• 07:18: 12 Days of Lip Advent Calendar (Kirbie)
• 10:13: Eight Sleep Smart Mattress Cover (Sara’s “big ticket” gift)
• 14:53: Pod 5 Ultra and luxury sleep gifting for “the Goop crowd”
• 17:41: Hostess gift discussion—moving beyond wine
• 18:05: World of Oils packaging & unique appeal (Kirbie)
• 21:09: Gifts for teens—Pink Palm Puff brand explosion (Sara)
• 25:31: Cozy picks—UGG slippers and their cultural status (Kirbie)
• 28:17: New UGG Mary Jane slippers as a cute, cozy update
• 32:50: UGG x Jungle Heart Mary Jane: designer collabs and price talk
• 33:04: Wrap-up; reminder that more picks are available on their Substack

Final Thoughts

Kirbie and Sara serve up a holiday gift guide that’s genuinely useful, full of warmth and practical advice, and sprinkled with their signature wit. From Macy’s exclusive advent calendars to splurge-worthy sleep-tech and cozy-chic UGG slippers, their picks run the gamut for every person (and budget) on your list. Throughout, their candid stories and enthusiastic recommendations make this a can’t-miss resource for inspired, trend-aware gifting in 2025.

For the full list and extended picks, check their Substack.