Holiday shopping is picking up again, and Black Friday and Cyber Monday are on the horizon. The Points Guy has published a gift guide aimed at trend-focused shoppers, and it pairs its picks with tips on earning rewards from each purchase ([1]). The gift ideas run from viral skincare to collectible plushies, but the rewards angle is what makes the guide relevant to travelers.
Where Loyalty Programs Make the Difference
Many of the featured products are sold by retailers that run their own rewards programs, so signing in before checkout is often the easiest step. Ulta Rewards credits each purchase toward dollars that can be redeemed later, which makes it a practical stop for a skincare gift such as a collagen gel mask. Sephora’s Beauty Insider tiers can also affect the discounts available during sales.
Other brands follow a similar pattern. Nordstrom’s Nordy Club lets shoppers earn points toward future buys, and LEGO Insiders awards points on purchases made directly from LEGO. The guide recommends logging in to each account before paying, since points are often missed when a shopper skips that step.
- Sign in to the retailer’s loyalty account first.
- Check whether a cash back portal pays on the store you are using.
- Compare which card earns the most on online purchases.
- Watch for sales, since loyalty tiers can stack with markdowns.
Cash Back Portals and Card Choices
Beyond store programs, the guide points to Rakuten as a source of cash back on several featured items, including blankets, water bottles and fragrance sets. It also suggests checking whether a card’s shopping portal offers a bigger mile multiplier at a particular retailer. Because the same camera or plushie may be sold by several stores, comparing options can change the return on a single purchase.
Card choice matters as well. The guide recommends using a credit card that earns on online shopping to get the most from a water bottle or similar purchase. Earning rates and portal offers change over time, so shoppers should confirm current terms with their card issuer or the retailer before relying on them.
Gift Ideas for the Trend-Focused Shopper
The product picks cover a wide range of interests. Skincare fans may appreciate the Medicube PDRN Collagen Gel Mask, which the guide calls viral, or the Shark Ninja Depuffi, a face-sculpting tool that uses hot and cold settings. Plushie collectors often look for Jellycat designs, and the guide notes that some styles are sold only in certain countries.
For wellness-minded recipients, the list includes the Oura Ring, which tracks sleep and overall health, and Bink’s glass or stainless steel water bottles. Creative gift buyers might consider a Canon digital camera or a LEGO set that can serve as home decor once it is built. Each item works as a starting point, and the rewards steps stay the same no matter what goes into the cart.
Making the Season’s Spending Count
Holiday purchases happen regardless of rewards, so the goal is to make them work harder. A few minutes spent signing in, comparing cash back options and reviewing card choices can turn routine gift buying into points or cash back. Those rewards do not change the appeal of a thoughtful present, but they can make the holiday budget stretch a little further.
