22 coolest gift ideas for tricky teenagers this Christmas

Teenagers live in a digital world — so it’s no surprise that tech gadgets usually top most wish lists. These are the world’s best in‑ear active noise cancellation headphones so your teen can say they can't hear you, and actually mean it. If your teen loves working out these will also come in handy - the heart rate sensor tracks your heart rate which will elevate their training schedule.

Teens love to experiment with their look so this heatless curls set will go down a treat - and you can breathe easy knowing they’re not running the risk of burning themselves on a hair tool. They’re extremely popular on Amazon. 

This is a novelty gift that’s purely for the lolz - but it couldn’t be more perfect! Teenacetamol - Moodbiotics Capsules, for rapid relief from Stroppyteenacitis. If only they really worked! In reality they’re just a pack of jelly beans, but the box is pure comedy gold - it’s full of hilarious dosage instructions and side effects “Warning: May increase desire to be nice to your family” and there’s even a realistic-looking pharmacy label you can personalise with the “patient’s” name. Genius.

Whether your teen needs a cup that keeps up with the amount they drink or need a cup to make drinking more water more convenient, the Stanley range will make it possible - all while looking trendy! This cult classic is perfect for your teens every day, in class, or hanging with friends. 

I'm a big Stanley fan - For me, having the Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler means I'm refilling less and always have a chilled drink. I love that they can now be personalised - it comes at a cost but that will get major brownie points. 

If you’re stuck for gift ideas, you can’t go wrong with this skincare set for a tricky teenager. It's a gentle everyday skincare routine featuring Universal Cream Cleanser, Universal Soft-Cream Moisturiser and Micro-Fine Wonder Scrub. 

If your teen loves books, a Kindle or a set of trending young adult novels makes a thoughtful pick — especially if you wrap it with cute little extras like socks or hot chocolate.

I guarantee this is a gift that will make any teenage girl squeal with joy - a hair tool from Dyson. It’s pricey so it definitely falls into the luxury gift category, but it’s worth every penny. I’ve personally tried the tools and they really do deliver. 

Sophie Vokes-Dudgeon, HELLO! Chief Content Officer, says: “A great gift for teen music lovers keen to build up a vinyl collection, at a really affordable price point. But our teen was happy to discover that the sound from this little machine is actually really good, and it's super easy to stream to any of their existing audio equipment as it's bluetooth enabled. Looking very sleek, the vintage aesthetics will look great in any insta-curated teen bedroom, and the inbuilt speakers mean you can literally plug in and play. And the bluetooth works both ways so you can also stream Spotify through the vinyl player. Also super portable, so you can take the party with you wherever you go.”

LEGO always saves the day and this Nike Dunk x Lego Set is a very cool exclusive, which means it's not going to stay around for long. This will satisfy the boredom of those bigger kids within your household.

Teenagers express themselves through style, and buying them clothes isn't the best advice. However, Alo Yoga is probably the exception - you wouldn't go wrong with a Alo Yoga crewneck sweatshirt. The perfect balance between trend-aware and timeless.

If the teen you're buying for loves spending time in their bedroom, this galaxy light projector could be ideal. It has 15 colours, 360 light effects and you can even create your own galaxy. Very cool@ It's also a white noise machine and has 15 built-in white noise. From lullabies to white noise and even the sound of nature, your teen will love it. 

Sophie Vokes-Dudgeon, HELLO! Chief Content Officer, says: “Teens need music wherever they are, and with these cute speakers, they can literally have tunes on demand however far from home. Connects very easily to devices via bluetooth and thanks to the waterproofing, you don't have to panic if the weather lets you down."

If you want to get your teen away from screens, this party game should do it. There's one super, simple mission – you can't say umm. Two teams race to get their pieces to the end of the board first. They'll do it by describing as many strange sounding objects as they can, from the random cards they pick up. The only problem is: you can't say umm. Every time you do, the bell will sound, adding to the pressure! As each team gets closer to the end, more and more sounds become off limit, making it a frantic dash to the finish line.

The gift of positivity - it’s a meaningful gift for teenagers that you can’t lose with. It will definitely help them start the day on the right note! With 52 uplifting quotes, each paired with vibrant floral and patterned illustrations, this desktop accessory offers a weekly boost of inspiration. Every page is filled with colour and thoughtful messages to encourage a more positive outlook. Simply flip to a new page each week to brighten your day.

If you’ve got a supercar fan in the family, this is a dream come true gift. The lucky recipient will get to choose from one of 15 supercars (including a super-sleek Lamborghini or a supersonic Audi R8) for a three-mile driving session after a training session from a seasoned pro. To top it all off, once they’ve finished their drive, they get to be the passenger, as they’re given a white-knuckle ride with one of the seasoned pros. Wow! The experience is available for youngsters aged 10-16 at 20 different locations across the UK.

If you've got a budding podcaster or YouTuber on your hands, this kit has everything he or she needs to create amazing, fresh content. It includes an LED light and condenser microphone for creating top quality content and there's even a handy tripod stand that can also be used as a grip for on-the-move recording.

This is a really unique gift idea for teen girls - and the end photos will no doubt be something both mother and daughter treasure forever! It’s really good value - you get a consultation followed by hair and makeup and a one-hour portrait session. Then you arrange a separate viewing day to see all your images and pick your favourite to be printed. You can also purchase any additional images from the session.

If your teen is posting on TikTok or YouTube or trying to be the next big thing, they'll need some decent kit. This microphone is praised for the sound quality -  even in outdoor or slightly noisy environments. This is a great choice for content creators or anyone who wants pro-level audio on a budget.

Looking for the ultimate gift for your Potterhead teen? We’ve found it, you’re welcome! Players choose a house, spin the spinner and take the corresponding movie card which they have one minute to answer. Answer correctly and you keep the card - and you need one from each movie to win. Your teens might just have to binge-watch all the movies to get a refresher!

This would look lovely on your teen girl’s bathroom shelf or bedside table - and help her keep all her makeup organised. There is also a pull-out drawer ideal for larger palettes and makeup items. What's more, the lining can be wiped clean.

If there’s one thing that teens love to eat, it’s snacks. They’ll be delighted with this snack bowl which comes with the perfect indent to hold almost any smartphone while they snack away,

Whether your teen is crazy for Fortnite or more partial to a bit of GTA, this is the perfect companion to ensure those long gaming sessions are as comfy as can be  - plus it’s super stylish, honestly one of the coolest gifts for teens out there. It’s compatible with both PS4 and PS5 consoles and features a powerful 2.0 headrest-mounted audio system for a fully immersive experience.