Great Gift Under $50: These Customizable Gel Mani Stick-Ons That Are All Over the Internet

As it's officially the season for giving (and gifting!), lifestyle expert and mom Chi-Lan Lieu is sharing three of her favorite gifts — and they're all mom-approved! Including this super-cool option:

The ManiMe.

"Pre-pandemic, I was all about my nails," says Chi-Lan. Now, she can barely get an appointment at her favorite nail salon — or a sitter for when she pops out. And the pandemic pricing? Wild!

Which is why she's fully on board with ManiMe's at-home manicure kit "with a high-tech twist."

So what makes this mani kit different from any other bundle you might find at the store? It's all about the customization.

"You choose your designs [online]," Chi-Lan explains, "and then you upload picture of your fingernails." This way, she says, you receive nail decals that are perfectly sized and shaped for your specific nail beds.

They run from $15 to $25 and they last anywhere from 10 to 14 days—so basically the same length of time as a gel manicure. And all from the comfort of your couch. (It doesn't get better than that!)

Her other two top picks? Photo books created with the Chatbooks app (which she says makes designing the books SO easy; she gifts these to her parents and in-laws every year). And for a splurge? Pure Cycles' Pure City Step Through Bike, an eight-speed bike with a vintage aesthetic that Chi-Lan's been using throughout quarantine and absolutely adores. (The Pure City Step Through Bike is currently sold out, but you can keep an eye on stock here.) 

For more gift ideas, check out the Rachael pot that the editor-in-chief of Rachael Ray In Season says makes a great gift, her top gift for cat owners AND the perfect gift for someone who's hard to shop for.