What no woman wants to get for the holidays - and what to buy her instead
To that end, Loop Commerce - the e-gifting platform used by Ralph Lauren, Nordstrom, and others - shared with us the gifts that were exchanged the most and least often on its platform.
When an e-gift is sent via Loop, it is bought and paid for on the retail site. The recipient is then notified via email, and they can either accept the gift by entering in their details or exchange it and receive a store gift card of the same value.
According to Loop's data - which is based on "thousands of transactions," a spokesperson said - the most commonly exchanged gift from men to women was a sponge makeup applicator. Yes, we mean the makeup-applying accessory that runs between $5 and $15. These sponges made up 9.6% of all of the gifts that were exchanged after being sent from men to women during the holidays
If you, like most men, didn't need to be told that a sponge makeup applicator isn't a great gift for the holidays, you're probably feeling pretty good about yourself right now. If not, you still have the opportunity to get a real gift. Even if it's not your main gift, the message a makeup sponge sends probably isn't the best. Do better.
On the flip side, you're probably wondering what the sure bet is - the one no woman will exchange or return. According to Loop, that item is "deluxe high-color lip gloss." It's worth noting here that the recipient can choose the color of the item when accepting it.
The message here is clear: go glitzy and eschew practical. No one really wants a practical gift, after all.