Christmas gifting: a little luxury for everyone
I know, I know, it’s only November, but Christmas shopping has a habit of creeping up on us, and I am a great believer in getting a few lovely gifts organised before the December party madness kicks in.
This week, I’ve picked three beauty gifts that I think have universal appeal. Beauty, after all, is ageless, and whether you’re buying for your daughter, your mum, your best friend or treating yourself (and I fully encourage that!), there is something rather lovely about receiving products that make everyday routines feel a little more luxurious.
Rituals – The Ritual of Sakura 3 Piece Set
RRP €24.45 | Chemist Warehouse €19.49
I have always had a soft spot for Rituals. They do that whole affordable luxury thing so well, and the packaging alone makes their gift sets look far more expensive than they actually are.
The Ritual of Sakura 3 Piece Set is a gorgeous little treat, featuring Foaming Shower Gel (50ml), Body Scrub (125g) and Body Cream (70ml), all with that beautiful rice milk and cherry blossom fragrance. It’s fresh, feminine and wonderfully comforting, and who doesn’t love a bathroom that smells like a spa?
At €19.49 in Chemist Warehouse, this is a really lovely gift without spending a fortune. Perfect for almost anyone on your list, and definitely one I’d be happy to find under my own tree.
The Smooth Company – The Headliner
RRP €99.99
Now this is my kind of Christmas present! I’m a big fan of a good hair day, and The Smooth Company has put together a fabulous collection for anyone who loves their haircare and styling products.
The Headliner features seven of the Irish brand’s beauty essentials, including the Detangled Spray, Smooth Dream 11-in-1 Styling Cream, Smooth Talker Healthy Hair Oil and the award-winning Smooth Stick. You also get the 4-in-1 Smooth Styler Comb, a foldable travel brush and silky satin hair ties.
I love that this isn’t just a selection of products thrown into a gift box. It’s a proper little hair wardrobe, with everything from detangling and smoothing to finishing off your style. Whether you’re after a sleek ponytail, a glossy blow-dry or simply trying to tame the inevitable flyaways in our Irish weather, there’s something useful here.
At €99.99, it’s a more luxurious gift, but a gorgeous one for the hair lover in your life. And I always love seeing Irish beauty brands doing well.
Revive Active – The Ritual of Radiant Skin
RRP €59.95
Another Irish brand, and one that will be familiar to plenty of beauty lovers, is Revive Active. Their Ritual of Radiant Skin gift set is a lovely combination of beauty from within and a little pampering on the out side.
The set contains 30 Collagen Complex sachets along with four complimentary hydrogel face masks, making it a particularly nice gift for someone who already enjoys their skincare and supplements.
The Collagen Complex contains collagen peptides, vitamins and other selected ingredients, while the hydrogel masks are a lovely excuse to take twenty minutes for yourself. And let’s face it, finding twenty minutes of peace over Christmas can feel like a luxury in itself!
I like the idea of combining a daily supplement routine with a little at-home pampering. Of course, no supplement is going to turn back the clock overnight, but for someone who enjoys taking a considered approach to their beauty routine, this is a thoughtful gift.
A little something for everyone
What I love about these three gifts is that they really are universal and ageless. We can sometimes get far too caught up in marketing beauty products to particular age groups, when the reality is that enjoying beautiful products has absolutely nothing to do with the number on your birthday cake.
I’m all for looking after ourselves, enjoying a little glamour and finding pleasure in those everyday rituals, whatever stage of life we’re at.
And while these gifts cover three very different price points, they all have that lovely combination of practicality and indulgence that I look for when Christmas shopping.
Because really, who doesn’t deserve a little luxury at Christmas? And if you happen to pick up something for yourself along the way, well, I certainly won’t judge!