With the festive season fast approaching, you’ve probably started picking out the perfect gifts for the people you love (and if you’ve already got your Christmas gifting all wrapped up, we salute you). But have you stopped to consider yourself?
In the midst of all the season’s social events and celebrations, it’s so easy to neglect your own wellbeing and end up shattered on the sofa by mid-December. Which is why it’s important not only to make the others in your life happy, but to save a little love for yourself, too. With this in mind, we’ve compiled an edit of the very best gifts to give yourself this season, so you can take some time out to nurture your wellbeing and enrich your soul.
It may not be something you consider much throughout the year, but there’s something supremely indulgent about a luxurious hand treatment – especially in the depths of a biting winter. Jurlique’s rose-tinted Immersive Rituals kit is aptly named – it contains an exfoliating treatment, cuticle oil and hand cream for a total hydrating treat.
Jurlique Immersive Rituals Hand Care Gift Set, £25, available at Jurlique
If a racing mind leaves you struggling to settle at night, consider Votary’s soothing Pillow Spray your perfect ally.
Made in the UK by founder Arabella Preston herself, this all-natural blend contains extracts of lavender and chamomile to gently scent your pillow and help you drift off into a deep, restorative sleep. And if that’s not enough, the gold and black bottle will look chic on your dressing table, too.
Votary Pillow Spray, £30, available at Liberty
**PROMO FEATURE**
Few things have the power to enhance your mood quite like scent, and this season we’ve found our perfect match in Ghost Dream.
"I wanted to create a fragrance that was like a smile," explained perfumer Nicolas Beaulieu."I wanted it to be a feelgood fragrance, something you wear for yourself to make you happy, which would bubble over into carrying yourself with confidence and walking tall. It’s about a sense of optimism and wellbeing, with nothing overpowering or cloying."
Beaulieu’s aim is realised with a top note of rose, a soft, sensual floral that encourages feelings of calm. At the heart is Moroccan orange and violet to energise the mind, and at the base lies a lighter, fresher twist on traditional patchouli.
Alongside the 50ml flacon, this brilliant set contains a dream diary and matching pen, two holographic nail varnishes (we are so into these), a compact mirror and a clutch-sized miniature bottle for those mid-party touch-ups. Spritz, and try not to smile.
Ghost Dream Gift Set, £38, available at Boots
When it comes to beauty rituals, a perfect manicure always sits at the top of our list. A polish refresh has the power to make you feel instantly pulled together, and there’s something so luxurious about the deep, glossy finish that gel formulas afford.
This festive version of Le Mini Macaron’s sweetly packaged at-home gel kit may look cute, but a gimmick it is not. Containing a USB-powered LED lamp alongside all the essential accessories and a bottle of glitter-drenched varnish, it’ll deliver salon-quality results from the comfort of your own sofa.
Le Mini Macaron Chocolate Sparkle Glitter Kit, £36.99, available at Feel Unique
For many, the festive season can prove a source of anxiety; it’s easy for the endless social calendar to take its toll on our mental wellbeing. When stress levels rise, aromatherapy may offer respite, helping to calm immune triggers and reset the mind.
Crafted by hand in small batches in London, Isla Apothecary’s organic pulse-point blend harnesses the calming properties of chamomile, eucalyptus and lavender. Simply apply it to your neck, chest, inner elbows or wrists for a little clarity in times of emotional difficulty, be it the morning commute, the office Christmas party, or simply a stressful day.
Isla Apothecary Reset Ritual Pulse Point Therapy, £12, available at Isla Apothecary
In the midst of the modern quest for wellness, sometimes all we need is a bloody good laugh, which is why journalist Daisy Buchanan’s debut book is one of the most necessary reads of the year.
A welcome respite from the madness of millennial mindfulness, How To Be A Grown Up serves as a witty reminder that adulthood can be hard – especially when society says we’re supposed to be batch-cooking avocado brownies, mastering advanced yoga and meditating daily, alongside all the regular grown-up stuff.
A truly powerful weapon in the battle against today’s pressures of perfectionism because, in reality, you’re probably doing just fine.
How To Be A Grown-Up by Daisy Buchanan, £14.99, available at Waterstones
Most facial treatments slot neatly into one of two camps – pampering or performance – so when we discover one that wins on both counts, we consider it truly special. The signature facial at Vaishaly Patel’s slick Marylebone salon is just that: a seamless blend of so-good-you’ll-fall-asleep massage techniques and simple yet supremely effective products (all created by Patel herself, no less). Book yourself in for an hour of bliss, and emerge with a quiet mind as well as a glowing complexion.
Vaishaly Signature Facial with Aesthetician, £120 for 55 mins, available at Vaishaly
Step away from that moth-eaten T-shirt and baggy tracksuit bottoms, because that big night you’ve been waiting for all week deserves your most comfortable pyjamas.
For luxury with a charitable heart, look to Hush’s limited-edition Nightsky pyjama set. Crafted in collaboration with women’s charity Refuge, every pair sold provides a mother and child with a night in a safe space, alongside emotional and practical support. Plus they look pretty great on, too.
Hush Refuge Nightsky Flannel Pyjama Set, £60, available at Hush
When it comes to self-care rituals, few can top the soul-soothing powers of a long soak, and Susanne Kaufmann’s organic bath oils will take your bathing experience to a whole new level.
This scaled-down set contains miniature bottles of the brand’s three coveted bath oils, so you can discover the one that works best for you. The ylang ylang and lavender-infused Oil Bath for the Senses is perfect after a stressful day, while Witch Hazel Bath contains active medicinal extracts to rebalance dry, irritated skin. Finally, Oil Bath Winter contains warming cinnamon, clove and orange for a comforting, Christmassy vibe.
Susanne Kaufmann Bath Oil Collection, £18, available at Space NK
Whether you’re new to yoga or reconnecting with your practice, a new pair of leggings is sometimes the little push you need to clear some time and hit the mat.
Under The Same Sun’s sleek designs are on point, yes, but they’re also good for the planet. This bird-print pair is crafted using eco-friendly methods from REPREVE polyester fabric, which is made from recycled plastic bottles and uses 53% less energy and water to create, as well as omitting 54.6% fewer greenhouse gases than regular polyester.
Under The Same Sun Bird Recycled High-Waist Leggings, £80, available at Under The Same Sun
When it comes to festive home scents, it pays to choose wisely – there’s a fine line between a warming hint of spice and a sickly sweet assault on the senses. If there’s one brand that can be relied upon to strike the perfect olfactory balance, it’s NEOM, and this year the creation to covet is the limited-edition Christmas Wish candle.
The hand-poured vegetable wax base is infused with a blend of 13 pure essential oils – mandarin, cinnamon and tonka bean take centre stage – that delivers a cocooning, comforting fragrance with none of those cloying mulled-wine notes. Plus, the sizeable three-wick glass vessel and rose-gold design will make a perfect centrepiece to your dining table.
Neom Christmas Wish Scented Candle, £45, available at Neom Organics
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