The Cosmo Girl's Guide To Easy Holiday Gifting

Sassa Gurl is the first to admit she's not an early-planner type girly. "I don’t plan at all," she says with a laugh. "I'm new to shopping on Christmas day, because when I was younger, I really [didn’t] buy gifts for people or myself. So now that I have the means, I just buy on the day of Christmas, which is more expensive and time-consuming. I'll plan this time around, though, haha."

Still, when she shops for her stylish, fashion-forward barkada, she makes sure she gets it right. "My trendsetter friends are maarte," she says. "So I make sure that I buy something that is on brand for them, but something that they don't own yet—something unique but still functional."

And yes, Sassa gets that holiday shopping can get stressful—but she embraces the chaos. "The stress in gift-giving is in the process of choosing and buying," she tells us, "but it's also the fun part."

Her holiday hack? GCash. "It's better to use your GCash so that you have records of what you bought, plus it's very convenient as a payment method."

And she leaves us with a great reminder:

Inspired by Sassa's vibe and the energy of every fashion-forward bestie, here are some gift ideas we've curated with GCash for your trendsetter friend:

Aztrid — Bowler Bag: A sculptural arm candy moment. Clean lines + chic shape = instant statement.

Plains and Prints x Vania Romoff Top — Soft, feminine, and universally flattering — quiet luxury with a Filipino designer collab twist.

RAF x Martin Bautista Skirt: Asymmetrical, flowy, and dramatic. The skirt that says "Yes, I look expensive."

Charles & Keith — Metallic Pumps: Sparkly heels that can turn any entrance into a statement.
Penny Pairs — Gold Locket Necklace: Timeless, sentimental, but still very sosyal.

Disclaimer: Gifts curated by Cosmo.ph and GCash. Talents featured do not personally endorse the products listed.

If anyone understands the emotional support that beauty products provide, it's Jaz Reyes. When we asked what her favorite part of receiving beauty gifts is, she lit up: "Favorite part of receiving beauty gifts is that I could share it with my mom," she says. "That’s how I get to try it out first and then share it with her when I think it's good."

When choosing gifts for her beauty-loving friends, she sticks to her holy trinity:

She continues: "So if it is able to cross any of those lines for the person, even if it's [just] two out of three, it'll be a good gift."

Her go-to trick for thoughtful gifting? "Putting initials on beauty items like a hairbrush or a face towel is already a great gift without spending too much."

And when it comes to avoiding holiday stress, Jaz keeps it practical. "I like to gift something from [a] local company and then have them include shipping in the service to lessen the hassle." She adds: "You also get it cheaper by buying from the source and GCashing payment (wink)."

Inspired by Jaz's beauty-loving energy, here are our picks, in partnership with GCash, your beauty aficionado bestie will obsess over—no stress, all glow:

Popique Hydraprep Essentials Set — A hydration dream team. Fresh, plump, juicy skin is guaranteed.

Sunnies Face Major Holiday Lip Kit — Three wearable, festive shades in one iconic Sunnies package.

Issy Curated Eyeshadow Quad — Blendable, buildable, and totally baddie-friendly.

Teviant Skin Lock & Grip Spray — The spray that whispers, "Your glam isn't going anywhere."

Happy Skin Hair Volume Shampoo — A shower staple that gives bounce, life, and main-character hair.

Disclaimer: Gifts curated by Cosmo.ph and GCash. Talents featured do not personally endorse the products listed.

Kaila Estrada is that girl who always looks effortlessly put together — the sister who somehow stays calm even during holiday panic mode. Her gifting philosophy reflects her vibe: "I usually like to give gifts that I know my loved ones really need and would use," she says.

Does she think practical gifts can be special? Absolutely. "When I give or receive gifts, I usually go for—and appreciate—getting what I really need…I think it's really thoughtful."

When she’s shopping for people who say, "Don’t get me anything," she doesn’t overthink it. "I usually just pick something I know anyone would appreciate, like food or dinnerware."

And when it comes to surviving December madness? Kaila swears by being early.

She continues: "So as much as possible, get ahead of the rush!"

Here are some picks we've curated with GCash for the sister who loves chic, intentional, no-fuss gifts:

The gift ideas featured in this list were curated by Cosmo.ph in partnership with GCash. The talents included do not endorse or promote any of the products mentioned.

Loop — Experience Earplugs: Pretty earplugs that double as a lifestyle essential. Concert-goers will cry happy tears.

Bash — Gateway Mini Weekender Bag: Compact but roomy — for the sister who always says "I'll just bring a small bag" and ends up overpacking.

Nike Air Rift — Cool, comfy, unique — aka the Kaila formula.

Nod Robe — Jawbreaker: A robe so soft she’ll cancel plans just to stay home.

Aesop — Resurrection Hand Balm: A quiet luxury staple that smells like a well-organized life.

Disclaimer: Gifts curated by Cosmo.ph and GCash. Talents featured do not personally endorse the products listed.