UPDATE: I was going to do three separate gift guides for the beauty guru, the fashionista, and the Parisian lover…but I thought it would just be easier to combine everything into one. So, with that said, let’s dive in!
Beauty & Skincare
- Calming Blend Bath Salts – The Wellness Apothecary
- Mon Huilette Body Scrub – Les Huilettes
- Body Butter – The Wellness Apothecary
- Hair and Body Oil – Nuxe
- Hair Elixir (nourishes and strengthens), Hair Amplifier (ultra moisturizing), and Scalp Reviver (grow thicker, healthier hair with a healthier scalp) – Cane Beauty
- Rose Face Oil – Chantecaille
FYI: All the skincare and beauty products here qualify as clean/nontoxic. What does that mean? It means that each product is free of preservatives, silicones, petroleum, and other endocrine disrupting or cancer causing ingredients. So, you can shop knowing you are not getting any of the bad stuff!
Facial Tools
- Facial Steamer (link to the French version) (link to the US version). Use 5-10 minutes once a week and then follow with a mask of your choice.
- Opal Gua Sha Mushrooms (Tip: Keep them in the refrigerator and use them in the morning under your eyes for a nice cooling effect)
- Acupressure Tool – Odacite (use one side to relieve pressure in your face and the other as a spatula to remove skincare product from the jar)
Self-Care
- Smart Water Bottle – Hidrate Spark (tracks your water intake to ensure you are getting your 8 glasses a day)
- Much Ado About Mean Girls & The Taming of the Clueless – Ian Doescher (Shakespearan adaptations of our favorite movies, you can get both from this seller)
- Place des Vosges Candle – Kerzon (These candles are named after neighborhoods, parks, or squares in Paris. They smell divine.)
- The Sword & the Shield – Peniel Joseph (Two legends of history Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X)
- 100 Days to Brave – Annie Downs (A faith based author sharing daily devotionals to help us be more brave)
- Silk Eye Mask – Slip (Link for those in the US) (Link for those in France) (You may think you would never acclimate to sleeping with something over your face, but this eye mask does such a great job at blocking light, you will soon find that you cannot sleep without it)
Note: For the mom’s in the house sitting down to read a book may seem almost impossible, but consider finding a way to carve 10 minutes out of each day for your own reading time.
Beauty/Self-Care Bonuses
These items are not pictured in the guide above, but you definitely do not want to miss out!
Create your own custom lip color. This is a great gift card idea for a friend or just a fun way to celebrate the holidays with some girl friends. You can book appointments in person (they will customize and make your lip color right in front of you) or you can schedule a virtual session.
FaceGym’s “facial workouts” are much more than a facial! Their cryo contour workout, specifically, will super hydrate your skin for weeks. A great way to care for that winter skin!
Knowing how to invest your money is one of the best things you can do for your self care! The Dahlia Project teaches women how to grow wealth through investing. The founder is a woman deeply invested in the growth of her clients and incredibly kind, caring, and funny. I was actually part of the first group of students to graduate from the program and I cannot say enough good things about the program!
I just wanted to recommend you gift yourself (or someone else) a few yoga/pilates classes as part of this holiday season. Yoga and pilates is wonderful for the body. It may seem like glorified stretching, but wow does that stretching help, especially if you suffer from back pain or tightness in your legs/hamstrings.
Yoga and pilates will compliment any other workout routine that you are already doing. And, if you do not have a workout routine, yoga and pilates is a great place to start.
I suggest you use ClassPass to find a studio that you like – ClassPass is a great way to experiment with lots of local studios without breaking the bank! ClassPass is available in the US and France
Fashion Splurges
If you have a fashionista in your family, these are brands you should consider splurging on for her.
This fun and funky UK-based brand has super cool laser cut skirts that you absolutely need to try. I specifically love their deconstructed and laser cut skirts. I can’t choose what I love most so I’m linking to ALL the skirts!
I absolutely love this brand. They’re bags are well-structured, great quality, and come in fun colors. The best part, you can customize your bag with a design or your initials (see link here). My favorite is their Mini Vienna just released in a fun pink color. I can’t share a photo of it though because mine is under the tree!
- Ferragamo (Handbags and Shoes)
Ferragamo is one of the few luxury brands that still makes a really nice handbag. The stitching is perfect and they never use that glue on the edges of the bag. Their shoes are also of phenomenal quality and will last you a true lifetime. If you are looking for your first luxury bag purchase, I would actually recommend you start with this brand. Their bags are classic and never go out of style.
**Disclaimer: Images shown remain the property of each of the rights holders.
Gifts from Paris
This Parisian brand makes the most comfortable leggings that come in fun colors. Take a look at my Insta to see them in action!
If you have never tried praline before, consider this your moment. Praline consists of noisettes (type of nut) and milk chocolate. It’s best for spreading over a baguette or a piece of toast.
For those in need of French-style hot chocolate, Angelina’s is the spot. Fortunately, you can order it from Paris to make at home.