Self-care gift guide 2020

I have an ethos when it comes to beauty gifting. It’s got to be practicable, usable and able to slot into the recipient’s life without any extra stress. (Have you ever tried to book a spa day around work, childcare and school runs……) With that in mind I’ve put together an edit of beauty and wellness gifts that require minimal to no planning to use but may just reward someone with a few stolen moments (or minutes) of escapism from 2020!

‘It’s got to be practicable, usable and able to slot into the recipient’s life without any extra stress.‘

Lets talk smell. House fragrances to be exact. A decent reed diffuser has the power to lift a mood the moment you walk into the house, or calm a mind as you sink into a bath. And while it’s all to easy to pick up a generic diffuser with the weekly shop, how many people really treat themselves to a luxury one with a scent to match. My top picks include the beautiful small brand Ubiety (whose total profits go towards funding hospice care in the community) and their Cedar, Sage & Ylang Ylang calming reed diffuser. An earthy, fresh scent blended to promote calm and relaxation and in beautiful sustainable glass packaging. For a more uplifting scent you can’t go wrong with Neom’s Feel Refreshed diffuser which harnesses the power of zingy essential oils to lift and revitalise the most tired of minds.

‘……..how many people really treat themselves to a luxury one with a scent to match’

In the same vein are candles. A sure sign of growing older is happily sending money up in smoke for the perfect fragrance. I used to roll at my eyes at people who spent more than five quid on a candle. Now I positively embrace it and enjoy gifting the ultimate self indulgence without any purse regret to friends and loved ones. I do have a rule though (as usual!) – the scent must be able to carry itself into January seamlessly, fresh, woody, earthy scents work perfectly here. I’m not sure anyone really wants to smell another cinnamon or gingerbread candle once the last of the Turkey is done and dusted. This year I’ve fallen hard for the fresh pine scents contained within Goutal’s Une Foret D’or – festive enough to last through December, transformative enough to translate into the New Year. The votive is refillable which means your recipient can save some pennies should they want to repurchase in the future.

Curated gift boxes have really taken off this year, the perfect way to customise a gift so that you know everything inside will be useful to that person. I’ve been really impressed at the range of products available from smaller brands offering these boxes. Two of my favourites are Leith & Gray and Markham & Co. Both offer letter box options for additional ease and have a wide range of beauty and wellness products to choose from for all price points. The brands included have been chosen with thought and span all genders and ages. Plus the essential addition of chocolate. The perfect option for those who are tricky to buy for!

The transformative power of smell has never been more important in a year where travel has been off the cards. Whilst we can’t gift a holiday we can gift the smell of faraway Caribbean dreams all bundled up in the most beautiful body cream courtesy of Sol de Janeiro and their dreamy range of products that you can’t help but sit, smell and dream. I also absolutely fell in love with the gift offerings from Scentered this year. Their Christmas Balm Stocking bundle tree hangers, each with a full size aromatherapy balm inside, are not only the perfect antidote to a stressful year, but also reusable. The tree hanging part can be refilled next year or kept as a decoration long after the balm is used. The brand as a whole promotes the power of smell as a tool to direct thoughts, emotions and actions to bring about positive change.

‘Whilst we can’t gift a holiday we can gift the smell of faraway Caribbean dreams‘

And then there’s washing your face. A simple act of self care that everyone should be doing in one form or another! However choosing to gift someone some skincare means you are able to pick beautiful products that you know will nourish, hydrate and leave your recipients skin feeling amazing. There’s also the opportunity to give twice with brands such as Emma Hardie who’s Christmas gift sets are in collaboration with the Charity Look Good Feel Better. Their mini Moringa Balm tree decoration is the perfect stocking filler – 15ml of the most gorgeous spa like cleansing balm to transform someone’s evening routine. My other pick is Merumaya’s Melting Cleansing balm which is not only the most dream like product to apply and use, but is also supporting two brilliant charities this December. For every Melting Cleanser sold £10 will go directly to Beauty Backed, supporting women in the beauty industry affected by Coronavirus this year and Beauty Banks, which provides basic and essential toiletries and products to those who are unable to afford or access them.

‘……..choosing to gift someone some skincare means you are able to pick beautiful products that you know will nourish, hydrate and leave your recipients skin feeling amazing.’

Hopefully that’s helped inspire any Christmas gifts still on your lists – happy shopping!