Self-Care Gift Guide | Christmas Edition

Contains PR Samples – Self-Care Gift Guide | Christmas Edition

Self-care is a topic I’m rather passionate about, I talk about this quite a lot and I 100% believe in taking care of yourself before you can take care of others because as the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup.

So, it makes sense to share some of my top picks in gifts that will encourage the recipient to take some time out for them and after the disaster 2020 has been, I’m sure we could all use a little pick me up. 

Much like my other gift guides, I will be showcasing some items which I feel are a great fit for Christmas gifts for todays topic, but things are going to be a bit different as I’ll also be sharing some ideas on how to get creative in sharing the gift of self-care this year.

There are also some honorary mentions which include products I stand by and use for my own self care routines, some come from companies I have worked with in the past and they will be labelled with *. 

To start off, let’s take a look at some gifts that are perfect for sharing some of that self-care magic 

*Books That Matter Subscription Box

Self-care looks different for everyone, some of us like a sit down and a cuppa with TV, some like a big bubble bath and candle, and some of us love curling up with a good book and tuning into a whole new world.

Books That Matter is a brand putting women’s writing at the forefront through unique reading experiences. Their mission is to put the classics of tomorrow in your hands today, and this involves hand picking female led fiction for their themed subscription boxes, holding events interviewing feminist authors and activists, their podcasts, and much more.

If you’re buying for a reader this year, consider getting them a Books That Matter subscription, not only is it perfect for introducing the recipient to new books, it’s a great way to encourage them to take some time out for themselves to read and have some down time.

Here is a little bit about Books That Matter from their about page

“Books That Matter was started by founder and CEO Molly whilst she was in her second year of university. Empowered, inspired and transported by the texts she was reading on her literature course, Molly’s reflection on her experience, that had opened her up to so many female authors, turned to frustration. As a working class student, she knew all too well the barriers to entry that stood in the way of higher education, and felt it was completely unacceptable that a huge proportion of women weren’t being afforded the cultural education of the women that came before her that she so deserved.

So, in hope that she could be the one to bring this to them in a unique way, Molly founded Books That Matter. The start-up journey of the brand began at Start Up Sussex, an entrepreneurship competition in Brighton of which Molly was the first female winner. The grant fund included in the prize helped her to start up the business you see today, and when the brand opened its doors in July 2018, it sold out of all it’s boxes in less than 2 days! Since then, it’s been many more months of themed boxes to educate, empower and enlighten on different areas of feminism and women’s writing.

As well as this, we’ve been featured across Forbes, Stylist, Huffington Post, London Evening Standard, Bustle, Thrive, and more! Books That Matter was also recently crowned the UK’s Female Start Up of the Year after just a year of trading, and our team is continually growing.”  

The Box

Having received a box myself I can confirm that it is a great gift. I loved opening up the box to a mystery book and was delighted with what I got.

Inside the box there was; The book Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak, 3 Inspiring prints from Cocoroses, 3 Pencils with empowering statements printed on them from Thisgirlismighty, Tea from Bird and Blend Tea Co, Wax melt clamshell in scent Dreamscape which smells AMAZING and very similar to a popular sleepy cream from The Good Aura Company, An essay on Sisterhood, Family and strength by Elif Shafak which is written exclusively for Books That Matter, BookMark and a booklet about the Strong Female Lead box I received.   

As you can see, you get a lot in the box to fit the specific theme and it’s a great way to not only discover some lovely businesses but it is perfect for reading new books and this would be perfect for any book lover this year! They also offer a gift option on the site making it easier to give the subscription box to the recipient. 

So, to get your hands on one you can check out their site here – Booksthatmatter.co.uk

*Temple De Luna

I have a very specific Sunday self-care routine, it’s one of my week’s highlights and it’s one of the only times when I get some time on my own to just take care of me.

In my Sunday routine I like to treat my skin to some quality skincare that helps me indulge a little, and I think Temple De Luna ticks that box perfectly.   

Temple De Luna are a small business based in my own back yard of Glasgow and funnily enough I stay minutes away from the owner and creative genius behind the brand, Rebecca. I fell in love with her brand’s aesthetic and admired from afar for a while. Everything about the products are super inviting and they have even been featured in Vanity Fair!

All of the products are handmade with love and care using natural, plant based ingredients. The brand is completely free from animal cruelty and all ingredients are of the highest quality and ethically sourced. At Temple De Luna they strive to be environmentally conscious every step of the way.

Inspired by the tarot card of wisdom, mystery and connection to nature, Their High Priestess range is a truly divine treat for your face, body and senses.

The High Priestess Butter

“is packed with nourishing oils and shea butter that will moisturise your skin and promote collagen production, power-house ingredient blueberry seed oil (upcycled from the juicing industry!) that helps to shield the skin from blue light exposure and is a natural source of Vitamin A, all with an intoxicating blend of vetiver and patchouli oil, that will truly soothe your senses, leaving your skin radiant and glowing from your shoulders to your toes.”

I have really enjoyed using all three products, every night I smear myself in the High Priestess butter which leaves my skin feeling silky smooth and nourished, it’s been doing wonders for my dry skin and it absorbs into the skin really well.

The High Priestess Serum

“is packed with nourishing oils and soy-wax that will moisturise your skin, promote collagen production, power-house ingredient blueberry seed oil (upcycled from the juicing industry!) that helps to shield the skin from blue light exposure and is a natural source of Vitamin A, all with an intoxicating blend of vetiver and patchouli oil, that will truly soothe your senses, leaving your skin radiant and glowing.”

The Tierra Balm

is a “versatile, multi-purpose balm, with a blend of herb-infused coconut oil, skin-soothing essential oils and collagen-stimulating soy wax. This beautiful little balm can be used for an array of things; from dry patches of skin, cuticles, elbows and knees, dry or chapped lips, as a face moisturiser, beard balm, balm cleanser and so much more. Simply dab or rub on these areas or anywhere in need of a nourishing boost of moisture.”   

My OH has also been giving it a go for his psoriasis and he really likes it, plus my gran always asks for some, any time she’s near my room she nips in and looks for the jar, it’s hilarious so I’ve gone ahead and ordered some of her very own.

The High Priestess serum is lovely as well, it feels like you are applying a thin layer of velvet to your face and it absorbs quite quickly. I’ve been using this serum after my last face one ran out and it’s been a lovely addition into my routine and works well with my other products. The Tierra Balm is a great all rounder as it can be used for multiple things such as lip balm, balm cleanser, for dry skin and more. I personally use this balm for my lips and cuticles and it works a treat.   

So if you’re looking for some good quality, natural vegan skin care, take a look at Temple De Luna, plus you will be helping to support a small business. These products are perfect for adding into a self-care gift basked. – templedeluna.com

*Temple Spa

Like I said above, Sundays are my designated self-care night and I love adding that pamper feeling in because it leaves me feeling relaxed and refreshed, that’s why I love using Temple Spa because their products really do evoke that spa feeling.  

Temple Spa is an award-winning skincare brand with a Mediterranean soul. Their luxurious results-driven skincare and spa experiences have created their motto of “spa wherever you are” and most importantly to live, breathe and love who you are.The founders and owners Liz and Mark Warom run their beautiful Temple Spa skincare company from West Sussex.

Their story began in the Mediterranean 20 years ago when they were inspired with the warmth, the vibrancy, the wonderful nutritious indigenous ingredients and the love of living life to the full.

What I really love about Temple spa is that they are clear on what their brand values are! Temple Spa don’t test on animals and their “founding principles in 2000 were to develop a cruelty free skincare brand and they remain the same to this day.” You can read about their no animal testing policy here and you can read about their values here. They also support charities that focus on mental health and homelessness such as Mind and Safehaven which you can read about here.  

Their new gift collection represents layers of knowledge and wisdom built over time. Like trees, years of growing into something beautiful. To capture the real beauty of trees, Temple Spa collaborated with Dr Gabriel Hemery; a renowned British author, tree photographer and forest scientist. His passion comes through his spectacular photography, full of colours, shapes and textures making it the perfect partnership.

His passion for spectacular photography and a respect for forest colours, shapes has created the perfect partnership. There are a whole range of gift sets available for Christmas such as the Do Not Disturb set and the Read My Lips one, which I was kindly sent. 

Just like the skincare products I’ve been using lately, these gift sets are perfect for adding in a little bit of luxury to your self-care or pamper routine. Both sets would be the perfect gift all wrapped up under the tree and they come in such beautifully designed boxes.

Their gifts start at £16 and there are plenty to choose from when it comes to finding the one that’s just right for that special someone, plus their packaging is 100% recyclable and made in FSC-certified sustainable board or paper and reuses plastic instead of creating new plastic.

You can shop their Christmas range here – templespa.com/discover-into-the-woods-collection 

*Zi Beauty 

Zi Beauty is an organic, handmade, luxury skincare and wellness brand, using the best ingredients for their products.

Their ethos is ” to love yourself and the environment around you. This is why 98% of their packaging is eco-friendly, recyclable and sustainable. They hope to be 100% in the coming months”

At Zi Beauty you will find a whole range of products that are perfect for a self-care pamper night from gift boxes to individual products that would fit in any gift basket nicely.

I have previously received items from Zeenat over at Zi Beauty to review, which you can check out here – Zi Beauty Review

But I can hand on heart say that I genuinely love the Zi Beauty products. They come well presented in cute little boxes with personalised ribbon around it with the Zi Beauty name, it’s a lovely detail for sure.  

If you are looking to buy from a small business this Christmas whilst also getting stunning, high quality products, then you should check out Zi Beauty. Etsy.com/uk/shop/ZiBeauty

*Essench

When I say I ADORE Essench, I mean it, I ADORE them, and before I go any further I have worked with them in the past but ever since I first tried their bath bombs at the beginning of 2020, I have been hooked.

I have been adding CBD into my routine as much as I possibly can as I find it helps my fibro and when I use their products, I know I am getting good quality bath items that really work.  

Heres a little about Essench

Essench developed a range of original and distinct formulas for CBD infused skincare products, their first being the REVIVAL moisturising cream. With the popularity of the cream, a welcomed push came to extend their line of CBD skincare. The passion for creating products that work using the benefits of CBD came from Christina’s own story, who is one of the founders of ESSENCH and was diagnosed with Endometriosis six years ago and also has a prolapsed disc.

You can read more about Christina’s story here – About ESSENCH.  

If you are looking to get bath products that are sure to make any self-care evening complete then you HAVE to go and check out Essench, they have high quality bath bombs and bath salts that will be sure to transport any recipient into the land of chill. Essench.co.uk

Self-care Gift Basket Ideas 

Because Self-care is such a big spectrum, it can mean different things to different people and sometimes it can be hard knowing exactly what the recipient does to take care of them, that’s why creating a gift basket is a great way to go as it means you can add in an array of different items. 

Each year I create gift baskets for my nearest and dearest, it’s my way of giving back to them for everything they do for me throughout the year, especially my best friends Linda and Lisa because those women are extremely special to me.

When I create gift baskets I always have one thing in mind, Self-care, because I know the importance of getting some time to myself and using items that help me relax. So, I make sure to put in items that they can use themselves in any way they want to create their own self-care time. 

My top picks for versatile items that seem to work well in terms of self-care are:

• Tea bags/Loose tea leafs/Coffee/Hot Chocolate
• Mug
• A book 
• Pyjamas
• Slippers 
• Fluffy Socks
• Scented Candles 
• Wax Melts
• Shower Gel/Soap
• Bath Salts
• Bath Bomb
• Skincare Products
• Body Lotion
• Face Masks
• Water Bottle
• Wine
• Positive Affirmation cards
• Notebook/Journal 

Using a range of these items and bundling them together in a nice little gift basket and making it look well presented for the recipient is a great way to show them that you care, as well as giving them the tools to create their own version of what self-care looks to them. 

So, if you’re looking to give the gift of self-care this year, why not try out a gift basket. If you are looking for recommendations on products to put into them, I have some of the items mentioned above in my Gifts for her and Gifts that won’t break the bank gift guide.