If you’re leaving your Christmas shopping to the last minute (no judgement here), stocking fillers are the perfect place to start. From indulgent treats and thoughtful beauty buys to sips worth savouring and summer-ready hydration, these Christmas stocking ideas prove that small gifts can still feel special. Whether you’re shopping for wine lovers, beauty fans, chocolate devotees or sporty types, these carefully chosen picks are guaranteed to raise a smile on Christmas morning – and might even tempt you to add one or two to your own stocking.
Elizabeth Arden Blush & Highlighter Collection – Radiance Made Easy
Elizabeth Arden has unveiled two stunning additions to its prestige makeup lineup – beautifully crafted to help every beauty-lover create a flawless, radiant finish with ease. The new Blush & Highlighter Collection and Brush Collection come in five silky-smooth, buildable shades – four universally flattering blushes and one luminous highlighter – each housed in a sleek pink compact.
With a formula designed for all-day wear and crafted to complement a wide range of skin tones, the blushes give a soft diffused glow. Each compact even includes its own applicator brush, making it perfect for quick touch-ups on the go.
The new Brush Collection offers five precision-crafted tools designed for contouring, highlighting, concealing, powder application, and eyeshadow. These luxe brushes elevate any makeup routine, offering seamless blending and professional-level results with every use.
Available online and at department stores and most pharmacies.
MECCA
MECCA MAX – Brush Hour 8-Piece Brush & Creaseless Clip Set
This 8-piece value brush set has everything you need to blend, buff, and build your best look – plus two creaseless hair clips to keep every strand in place while you work your beauty magic.
With ultra-soft, vegan bristles designed for seamless application, these brushes are your go-to for every makeup moment, big or small!
MECCA MAX – A-Ha Moment Brush Holder
Protect your brushes during your summer travels and level up your brush storage with MECCA’s limited-edition holiday cherries design!
MECCA MAX – It’s My Moment Pout Pencil Lip Liner Trio
A trio of creamy, long-lasting lip liner pencils.These long-lasting shades are universally flattering for a perfect (and plump!) pout. Wear on their own or layer with your favourite Gloss Boss or Pout Pop for your ultimate summer look.
These products are available from MECCA Stores and online.
Karen Murrell’s Magic Lip Stain
Lipsticks are a classic stocking filler, but choosing the right shade can often feel like a guessing game. Karen Murrell’s Magic Lip Stains solve that problem beautifully with their clever pH-transforming formula, designed to work with your skin to create a colour that’s uniquely yours.
Following the huge success of the twice sold-out shade 38 Night Moves – which appears black and transforms into a bitten berry tone – Karen Murrell introduced two new ‘magic’ shades.
Frost Bitten starts as an icy blue and transforms on the lips into a frosted, shimmery magenta that’s impossible to replicate, moving from ice queen to incandescent princess in seconds.
Then there’s Rose Quartz, inspired by the love stone and its romantic pink hue. Beginning as a crystal pink, this sophisticated stain reacts with your skin’s pH to become a personalised shade of warm, pearly pink – subtle, flattering and effortlessly wearable.
A thoughtful, low-risk beauty gift that still feels special, Karen Murrell’s Magic Lip Stains are perfect for stockings, Secret Santa gifts or a little Christmas self-treat.
Karen Murrell lipsticks are available from department stores, larger pharmacies, or online.
Super Milk Dusting Powder by LUSH
Layer on the fruity litsea cubeba oil and creamy caramel vanilla scent with a sprinkling of this coconut milk powder and cornstarch skin softener.
This self-preserving product is formulated to stay fresh and effective without added synthetic preservatives.
Dust over clean skin to feel super fresh and super soft. Or dust over your sheets and fall asleep in Super Milk-scented bliss.
Snow Fairy Candle by Lush
The fruity zing of Persian lime oil combines with sweet, powdery synthetic musk to form this warming, bubblegum and candyfloss candle!
Available online.
Whittaker’s Christmas Treats
When it comes to Christmas stocking fillers, Whittaker’s has indulgence well and truly sorted. This Christmas, the new limited-edition Brandy Snap 250g block is a must-try. Made with perfectly crisp New Zealand brandy snap pieces encased in Whittaker’s signature 33% cocoa 5 Roll Refined Creamy Milk chocolate, it’s the perfect excuse to pause, indulge and savour a little Christmas moment – or slip into someone’s stocking for instant delight.
For chocolate lovers who enjoy variety, Whittaker’s Chocolate Pods: The Collection makes an equally tempting gift. This beautifully boxed assortment features three indulgent new flavours – Orange and Hazelnut Gianduja, Double Creamy Milk, and Creamed Coconut – alongside the original Hazelnut Gianduja favourite. Each Pod is wrapped in a smooth 33% cocoa Creamy Milk chocolate shell, delivering a satisfyingly rich bite every time.
Handcrafted in New Zealand using the finest ingredients and individually wrapped, Whittaker’s Chocolate Pods are the ultimate locally made premium treat – perfect for gifting, sharing, or quietly enjoying yourself.
Available at all good supermarkets.
Taylors Reserve Parcel Merlot 2024
If you’re shopping for a red wine lover this Christmas, this is a stocking upgrade they’ll truly appreciate. Taylors Reserve Parcel Merlot 2024 is the newest release in Taylors’ distinguished Reserve Parcel range – a collection of premium, limited-release wines crafted from parcels of exceptional fruit quality.
Deep garnet with a vibrant crimson hue, this fabulous Merlot is sourced from the Clare Valley and Limestone Coast. It opens with inviting aromas of blood plum, cassis, violet and spice, layered with subtle tobacco notes from French oak.
A versatile crowd-pleaser, it pairs beautifully with everything from festive roasts and hearty pasta dishes to strong cheeses and indulgent chocolate desserts – making it ideal for Christmas entertaining or Boxing Day leftovers.
Taylors Reserve Parcel Merlot 2024 is available from select bottle shops across New Zealand. For more information about the full Taylors range, visit their website.
Skrewball Whiskey – 200ml Hipflask
If my husband had his way, this would already be tucked into his Christmas stocking. Skrewball Whiskey – the original peanut butter-flavoured whiskey liqueur – has just launched its first-ever 200ml hipflask, and it’s available in New Zealand.
Packed with the same smooth, sweet and perfectly nutty flavour Skrewball is famous for, this pocket-perfect hipflask is made for gifting, sharing or sneaking in a celebratory sip when the moment calls for it. Parties, picnics, backyard barbecues – this little flask is designed to go wherever the fun does.
With smaller, portable whiskey formats growing in popularity, Skrewball’s latest release feels right on trend while staying true to the brand’s playful, untraditional spirit. It’s bold, a little unexpected and guaranteed to raise a smile on Christmas morning.
And, if you’re after some Christmas recipe ideas using Skrewball, these will inspire you… RECIPES
Skrewball’s 200ml hipflask is available in New Zealand from Liquorland and Thirsty Liquor.
No Ugly SALTY™ Electrolyte Drink
If you’re shopping for someone who loves their sport (or just sweats their way through summer), No Ugly SALTY™ makes a smart, practical stocking filler. This still, clean, isotonic electrolyte drink comes in a handy 500ml can and is designed for rapid hydration during the grind – and after the sweat.
No Ugly has stripped back everything people find annoying about traditional electrolyte drinks, ditching the sugar overload, fake flavours and heavy sodium hit. Instead, SALTY™ delivers a balanced, isotonic formula with the same concentration as your body fluids, allowing it to be absorbed quickly and comfortably. No sugar spike – just clean hydration that keeps pace with you.
Perfect for workouts, beach days, long walks or busy summer schedules, it’s a thoughtful gift that shows you’ve really considered what they’ll use and enjoy.
No Ugly SALTY™ is available in three refreshing flavours: Berry, Citrus and Watermelon.
Lorna Jane Gift Card
Slip this into a fitness stocking and let them choose their favourite pieces from NZ’s most loved activewear brand.
Available from Lorna Jane outlets or online.
