‘Tis the season for gifting, but also the season of stress on top of what has already proven to be a stressful year. It's a good time to indulge in some self care hence this self care gift guide with over 20 great gift ideas.
Let's be honest, the holidays are a time to shop for others, but also to treat ourselves. This self care gift guide has presents that are great to give to others but many gifts that are perfect to give to yourself. Hopefully, this list will inspire you but also remind you to care for yourself.
Remember the oxygen mask concept – you cannot care for others if you do not first care for yourself. Be kind to yourself; self-care is never selfish.
A Self Care Gift Guide
While I am a fan of all sorts of CBD for self-care and am a fan of multiple products from Equilibria (read my Equilibria CBD review), I think their bath soak is ultimate self care. Boasting over 30 minerals, this powerful soak is delicately infused with 200mg of full-spectrum, premium CBD to purify and destress. Made from Mediterranean Sea salt, Dead Sea salt, and dendritic salt. Gardenia and Jasmine aromatic oil blends nourish skin and invigorate senses with modern floral and grapefruit notes. Use WARDROBEOXYGEN at checkout for 15% off your first order with Equilibria!
Soma's Cool Nights pajamas are made from an innovative fabric that feels like a silky jersey but tackles the problem of overheating throughout the night. They feel luxe, they come in some of the most beautiful prints, and a variety of pieces (pullover and button-front tops, pants, and shorts in a variety of lengths) up to XXL. Just slipping on my Cool Nights pajamas make me feel fancy and soft and luxe.
I own this exact mat and it has been a gamechanger this year. Dealing with stress, back and neck pain from exercise and sleeping weird (and stress), I find lying on this for 10 minutes reduces pain and also relaxes me. I also will stand on it and let it do its magic on sore feet; standing on such a mat is also supposed to help with headaches. Many find such mats help with insomnia, fibromyalgia, sciatica, and more. Acupressure mats are essential all the same - a thin fabric-covered pad of the general same size with around the same number and height of plastic pressure spikes. I chose this one for the price (less than $30) and color and it has done me and my husband well for several months.
This is self-care in the true and intimate sense. This vibe is powerful, gender-neutral, and doesn't try to replicate a part of anatomy or a children's toy. If found in your drawer or luggage, it almost looks like some sort of skincare device, especially when in its travel pouch. Called Best-in-Show by The Strategist, maude's soft-touch vibe is made with 100% platinum-grade silicone (RoHs passed / FDA grade) and is a discreet, quiet, easy-to-use, 3-speed vibrator. With a runtime of up to 2.5 hours and charged via USB, it’s water-resistant, phthalate- and latex-free and can go anywhere. Comes with a natural canvas travel pouch perfect for storing the vibe and other essentials. All this for less than $50.
I recently got a pair of Ettitude sheets and they are BEYOND. Made with 100% organic and sustainable bamboo, these sheets are silky soft, breathable, and cooling (great for warm sleepers like me). They wash up beautifully and don't wrinkle. They are truly decadent while also being comfortable; it's a treat to go to sleep or just spend a bit of time away from the world in bed with a good book. There are 11 colors and prints to choose from; I have Cloud Pink which is a warm peachy glow of a color that you just want to dive into.
This nylon washcloth which costs less than $10 has been by far the best body care purchase I have ever made. It's way more scrubby than a body pouf or washcloth, doesn't harbor mildew, exfoliates beautifully without scratching or damaging skin. I use it with body wash and it makes my skin gleam, better absorb lotion, and I think it helps with allover skin tone and texture.
There are a lot of bath caddies on the market, but a lot of them suck. What if you have a tiny apartment tub, or a vintage oversized one? Why are the slats horizontal, allowing a Kindle to fall into the bath? Why don't they have flat places to hold a variety of things, instead of specific places thinking everyone bathes wanting the same exact items? And why are they so expensive? This one is bamboo, it almost always on sale for less than $40, it's great quality, and fits nicely on both my 1940's cast iron shower tub and my 2010 more modern tub. Hold your book, your Kindle, your tablet, your wine, your La Croix, whatever makes you happy!
You have your AirPods or PowerBeats or some alternative version of earbuds that let you get work done and workout and listen to your podcasts on your walk or commute. But there is something truly decadent about comfy over-ear headphones that offer amazing sound while canceling out the noises of the world around you. These have over 22 hours of battery life and a quick charge, and can still let you take calls, activate Siri and more with wireless control. Available in a variety of colors to fit your personal taste.
I own an Embr Wave bracelet (read my Embr Wave bracelet review) and I find it utterly genius. Chilly this winter in a drafty office or home? Sleep hot and it causes you to be restless? The Embr Wave bracelet generates a series of pleasant cool or warm sensations on your inner wrist, activating a natural brain pathway that helps you feel better. And as someone who has owned one for a year (I just got the new version seen here) it truly works and is worth it!
Miss the sauna at your gym or wish you could have a sauna on your budget and in the size of your current home? This infrared sauna blanket from Higher Dose is for you. Infrared saunas claim to boost immunity, increase blood flow and circulation, and improve mood by increasing endorphins and serotonin through increasing the body's thermal energy. It also increases your heart rate, and can give your body the experience of a workout while watching your favorite Netflix series, reading a good book, or meditating. Taking up no more space than your spare blanket, this can be used on your bed, couch, or floor and is also known to help improve sleep.
Nécessaire makes some of the most luxe body care products made with skincare ingredients to pamper and nourish. I buy a bottle as a decadent treat to myself. The lotion absorbs beautifully, the shower gels have the most elegant fragrances - sandalwood is sexy and sophisticated, eucalyptus smells like a spa. This is a great gift for others as well as a treat for yourself.
PROMO CODE: Use ALISON10 at checkout to save 10% on your entire Nécessaire order!
There are many e-readers on the market, the one I have is the Kindle Paperwhite and it is one of my most beloved items. It can hold so many books, is easy to read in bright sun and late at night without waking the person sleeping next to me, the battery lasts forever, and it's durable. I have an older generation (here is my original Kindle Paperwhite review) but seriously... I thought I left my Kindle on a business trip and a year later found it in the glove compartment of my car. It was there through below-freezing and over 100-degree temps, plugged in to be charged, and continued to work just as well with just as long-lasting of a battery. The new generations are waterproof, making reading in the bath or a pool that much more relaxing.
My husband bought into the weighted blanket hype several years ago and claimed to have the best sleep of his life with it. I tried his blanket for a nap and got so hot but I loved the feel of the weight on me. So when I found the Tree Napper by Bearaby I was thrilled. Made from natural eucalyptus fibers, this silky-soft and sustainable cooling weighted blanket is perfect for hot sleepers. The weight on your body from blankets like this stimulates the production of serotonin (the happy hormone), reduces cortisol (the stress hormone), and increases melatonin, which helps you fall (and stay) asleep. Machine washable and dryable (FYI it takes me two rounds in my dryer or one round and some time outside on a nice day to get it 100% dry), this has been a favorite for me whether it's sleep soundly or having an uber cozy and chill afternoon on the couch.
When I worked in Corporate America, I had a windowless office that someone thought would be a good idea to be painted brown. With super high ceilings having super strong fluorescent lights, the room was either a cave or causing a migraine. I did a lot to make that space comfortable - multiple floor and desk lamps, art on the walls, but the best thing I got was a HappyLight. The perfect size to put on your desk next to your laptop, this light made my body feel happy like it would outside on a beautiful sunny day. Therapy lamps claim to boost energy, improve mood, regulate sleep, and enhance your focus and I have found just that. Now that I work from home, I regularly place my HappyLight next to me while working in my bedroom, home office, or on the couch.
There are plenty of fancy electronic devices on the market, but if you want something easy and effective, I can't recommend an ice roller enough. And if you're going to go with an ice roller, this is the one worth your time and money. Pop it in the freezer and it's ready to use on face and body to soothe stressed skin, help with acne, deal with aches and pains, make a tired face look awake and taut, and much more. What makes the StackedSkincare ice roller so great is that the "ice" is wrapped in stainless steel meaning no dripping and leaking like so many other ice rollers. This roller is available at Sephora, but it's always at least $4 cheaper at the authorized StackedSkincare store on Amazon.
Powered by packed with potent herbs and mushrooms to support a sense of calm and well-being without a prescription, this blend is designed to protect against stress and fatigue while helping support your immune system. With a hint of organic cocoa powder, it offers an earthy, not-too-sweet chocolate taste that's perfect for pairing with coffee, milk, tea, or smoothies. Peak + Valley is a Seattle-based company by Nadine Joseph. She was working in a lab studying the neuroscience of stress and learned about adaptogens. Wanting high quality and scientific backing for what she wanted to consume, she started her own company that offers inclusive, science-backed, and honest products to the world of wellness.
The NIGHT Trisilk™ pillowcase is made of couture-grade, luxurious mulberry silk to promote healthy skin and hair in your sleep. Silk pillowcases can hydrate your skin and hair, protect hair from breakage and bedhead, protect skin from wrinkles, and improve the effectiveness of your skincare products. This pillowcase features a hidden zipper enclosure for added allergen protection and is available in seven different colors. Click here to read what I've written about the benefits of a silk pillowcase.
While I may own and love my Peloton bike, you don't need one (or any bike at all) to reap the benefits of the Peloton app. The bike is just one small aspect of what Peloton offers. With this app you have guided meditations, stretches, yoga, walks, runs, weight training, bootcamp classes, barre classes, and more. There are thousands of classes on demand and several new ones available every week so you will never get to the end of their catalog. The first month is free, it's $12.99 after and just the guided sleep meditations IMO make this app worth the membership fee!
You're not alone if this was a year where you felt stuck or wrong or held back or lost. More than once in my life I have felt that way and used this book by Julia Cameron to help me unlock my creativity and find myself. If that sounds like a lot of woo, it is, but so is self-care. If you have wanted to be more creative or reinvigorate your artistic side, this is a wonderful book to help you do so. Gift this with a fabulous pen and a journal to a loved one for an incredibly thoughtful gift for a new year.
Many times before I have written about the benefits of dry brushing. It is one of the simplest and lowest-cost ways to perform self-care. Light brushing over dry skin can increase circulation, reduce the appearance of cellulite, prevent K.P., help moisturize absorb better, provide an even canvas for self tanners, and much more. I love the morning ritual of dry brushing, it wakes me up and feels so good. I own this same dry brush from ELEMIS and find the quality stellar, the bristles the right density and firmness, and the long handle helpful for getting my back and other body parts.
This deep conditioning hair mask from BRIOGEO is a clinically proven weekly treatment that strengthens damaged hair and helps prevent future damage. Formulated with rosehip oil, B vitamins, and algae extract, this antioxidant-rich formula restores essential moisture and hydration to dry, brittle, colored, or over-processed hair. Founded by Nancy Twine, Briogeo makes hair products that are naturally derived, formulated 6-Free™, and have a much-deserved cult following and is a four-time Allure Best of Beauty winner.
I have had this makeup mirror in my virtual shopping cart for months. Earlier this year, a member of the Wardrobe Oxygen Community on Facebook asked for recommendations for makeup mirrors. She received dozens of responses and based on them, bought this very makeup mirror. And she loves it. I have a functional makeup mirror that is only about a year old so I can't justify buying it right now... so I am sharing it here in case you are dealing with an old, dim, or no makeup mirror. This sturdy mirror can be angled, has a magnification mirror feature, is available in black, white, and rose gold, and has both adjustable brightness and adjustable color of lighting (daylight, cool white, and warm yellow).
You may also like: The Benefits of Dry Brushing
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I hope this self care gift guide helps you find great gifts for yourself and others that will inspire relaxation, slowing down, and pampering. If you have any great self care items not seen in this list do share in the comments!
I just learned about these mats from a you tube video and I was immediately intrigued. My husband thinks I’m nuts but I want one – so glad to see this recommendation from you!
Asking more for myself (hehe) — is the body brush light or heavy? I had bought a brush from Amazon, but it was really heavyweight.
Uh… medium? I’ve had lighter and heavier. I like the weight of this one, it’s heavy enough to get pressure on my back but not so heavy it’s awkward.
What a great guide Allie! I just got the accupressure mat set (I didn’t even know something like that existed) and if it works on me then I know what my sister-in-law will be getting for Christmas. The tea kettle’s got me thinking too…..
Oh I hope you like it as much as my husband and I do. I went to my sister’s house and saw she had the same mat, it’s pretty awesome!
Alison, you knocked it out of the park!
Thank you! It was fun to put together.
Oh my gosh, what a terrific list. I’ll take one of each please!
Thanks so much I’m glad you liked it!