Is anyone getting into the holiday spirit already? Half of my holiday shopping is done. This week we are moving on to large gifts – you know, the ones that go under the tree or are handed to the recipient.
These are some of my favorite things/ideas that are too large for a stocking and/or cost between $100 and $500.
Gifts for Beauty Gadget Lovers
Not surprisingly, I have rather a lot of beauty gadgets aimed at keeping your outsides as youthful as your attitude. These are all gadgets I own, I’ve tested and I swear by!
This gadget uses sonic technology to help deep clean pores. It also has a heating plate (the metal side) that warms and massages the skin. It can help anti-aging products sink deeper into the skin so it’s more effective. The silicone sleeve is easy to keep clean. I switched from a facial brush to this – and it brings a little luxury spa experience into my nightly routine.
What’s good for the face is good for the body. Okay, not always, but in this case, PMD upped their game and came out with a body scrubber that includes magnetic (detachable) loofah, massage head and exfoliating pad. I use this to keep my skin soft and smooth. (May I say that I’ve received unsolicited compliments on my skin softness so I take that as a strong endorsement!)
When the body is feeling good, it’s nice to have the next layer (muscles) feeling good too. I’m a big fan of massage but in the current environment, I had to switch to the massage gun. Trust me when I say that THIS is a gift for everyone!
I’ve owned this NuFace Facial Toning device for YEARS! It uses microcurrent to help tighten the substructure of your face and make you look younger. What’s not to love?! Fortunately there are several different options to suit your pocket book. There’s a mini version, one with (or without) the eye lip enhancer (ELE) attachment. If you have a spa addict to buy for – consider this.
Pro tip: Only get it for someone who can create habits. This device requires regular use. I would skip the wrinkle attachment. There are better red light therapy solutions (read about them below!).
Another long loved beauty tech product I love is the Dr. Dennis Gross LED Face Mask. You’ll find cheaper ones on the market but this one is superior for two reasons. First, comfort. You’ll have to take my word when I tell you the competitors are painful to wear. This face mask has a silicone layer that cushions your skin. Second, treatment time. Other masks have treatment times from 10-30 minutes. This one has a simple 3 minute treatment that definitely shows impact. It will take a few months but I swear by this mask!!
My most recent Must Have is at home laser hair removal! You might think that no one will appreciate this. After all – aren’t you saying they are hairy? No. No you are not! What you are doing is providing a way to be rid of the time lost to shaving legs, removing arm hair and shaving armpits. All from the convenience of your own home. It might raise an eyebrow, but trust me it will be appreciated in the long run! It’s pricey BUT so much cheaper than even a single laser treatment!
Gifts for the Remote Worker
Perfect for the work at home warrior who needs to elevate the work environment. I adore these. It’s actually what I miss most (mine is still in the office at work). If you like the throwback, retro vibe – just be warned that these feel a little more like a classic typewriter. It’s not the soft touch of the modern keyboard – but it is a thing of beauty. Available in a variety of finishes to customize to your recipient. (Check out the matching mouse!)
One of the best things about working from home is the impromptu dance parties. Don’t you all do this? Sometimes you just need to get up and jump around! I find working from home is sometimes TOO quiet. Well, this little baby pumps out some sound and is portable. Worth every penny!
This might seem like a ridiculously simple thing – but honestly for all of the calendars and planners I’ve tried, this is my favorite! For a world that has so much digital, I found the “old school” approach works best for me.
Gifts for Crafters
If you’re a crafty person, it’s nice to get gifts that teach you things or keep on giving. The adorable kits from Stitch and Story are some of my favorites. It’s a great way to introduce someone to knitting. Before you worry whether or not your recipient knows how to knit or crochet, I must tell you that I learned to knit from a book. With YouTube, it’s even easier!
Just in case, my picks are both rated “Easy” for beginners. A scarf is definitely one of the easiest things to knit…but I threw in a cute bunny crochet kit for good measure. Check out their site. They have a broad array of options for all interests and levels!
Gifts for the Lover of Random Things
I find that the random gifts are often the most appreciated precisely because no one thought to ask for them. Nothing better than the gift you didn’t even know you needed. These are all truly unrelated but I’ll give you ways to build them into a bigger gift.
If you have a sunglass obsessed fashionista in your life, consider finding that perfect pair of sunglasses to go into this beautiful case. It can hold multiple pairs of sunglasses but rolls up securely for transit or travel. Your fashionista will appreciate the organization AND care. (It’s not very expensive but it is too big for a stocking! In this case, the sunglasses may be the “bigger” part of the gift. If you need some sunglasses recommendations, drop me a line – I have TONS of options to recommend!
You may know from my other posts that I love the bath/spa experience. Part of that is beautifying my bath area by having lovely containers for my bath salts. You can purchase some bath bombs or bath salts from your favorite store and wrap them up in one of these lovely containers. I recommend finding a scoop to go with it to top it all off. I tried a lot of containers and this one is reasonably priced and sturdy. It’s weird, I know, but every day when I see this in my bathroom, it brings a smile to my face. Maybe it will do that for someone else too!
If you have that impossible-to-buy-for person who has everything, consider buying then a kaledioscope. Trust me. It’s relaxing, beautiful, mesmerizing. I bought one of these for my dad many years ago and it sat proudly in the living room. Whenever the kids (or adults) were visiting, the kaledioscope would make its rounds. A few years ago when everyone was marking out what they’d like as a memento, the kaledioscope was in heavy dispute. Everyone wanted it. It’s an heirloom. It’s calming, relaxing, beautiful and it will become a family heirloom. For me, it’s like bottling up the magic of childhood and handing it to someone.
I hope some of these options inspire you or at least get your gift giving mojo fired up. If you need things in a certain price range or for a certain interest that I haven’t represented, drop me a line. I’m pretty good at finding unique things and I love a challenge.
Next week we’ll do the final part of the gift giving guide – Luxury Items which may or may not be useful but promise to be totally unnecessary. Sometimes we just have to dream, right?!
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. Some of these links are affiliate links. If you click a link and buy something, I may receive a commission for the sale. It does not cost you anything extra and you are free to use the link or not. Product purchases for review are made with my own money and my opinions are my own. If product is ever provided or the article is sponsored, it will be clearly noted at the top of the page.
