In the frenzy of day-to-day
goings-on, shopping for gifts might be the last thing you want to squeeze into
your already tight to-do list. Or
perhaps by now you’ve succumbed to the pre-Halloween onslaught of “holiday” shopping,
and have already completed your shopping, or so you think. Maybe you’ve completed shopping for some, but
there are still last-minute names on your list, including your own. So, what do you do now? Hopefully, not panic. Breathe deeply and strategize!
If you’ve been reading my articles
for the past three years, you’ll know that whenever I’ve reviewed a spa, beauty
or wellness related product, my reviews have been objective, but more
importantly, I’ve presented quality products for your consideration. This year’s Gift Guide is no different.
With one slight modification, the majority of the products I’m including
in the Guide are from companies I’ve
dealt with in the past and didn’t find it necessary to actually review the
product listed. Those I have tried and
tested will be so noted. The good news
is that most of these products will remain available year round and appropriate
for gift giving, regardless of the season, reason or occasion. Keep that in mind as the Christmas Carols
fade, the eggnog vanishes and the tree gets recycled. Enjoy checking out some of my top gift picks!
~ Festive & Sparkly ~
Crabtree & Evelyn ~
The holidays wouldn’t be the same
without limited holiday edition items.
They’re always festive, shimmery and sparkly and capture the aromatic
essence of that special time that only happens once a year. This year’s
collection include delectable Golden
Petals and Golden Fig collections
that capture the warming essence and glow of these iconic holiday scents. Golden
Petals captures the scent of berries, rhubarb, florals and musk. Golden
Fig captures the scent of figs, citrus, mangosteen, amber and musk. In the Golden
Petal collection, I had the pleasure of trying the Eau de Parfum Fragrance Rollerball, the Bubble Bath Body Wash and Silkening
Body Nectar. In the Golden Fig collection, I had the
pleasure of trying the Eau de Parfum
Fragrance Rollerball and Shimmering
Body Mist. The aromas of both
collections were subtle and layered nicely without creating a clash or
off-scent. I also loved how gentle the Body Wash was and how smooth my skin was
after using the Body Nectar. Adding the Body Mist after applying the Body
Nectar left my skin glowing. The Fragrance Rollerball aromas were also
subtle and long lasting. Lastly, I had
the chance to try their Red Sparkle
Shimmer Lip Gloss. This super
hydrating Lip Gloss is formulated
with shea butter, caster and grapeseed oils; a delicious scent of candy cane
and vibrant candy cane red complete this lip treat. http://www.crabtree-evelyn.com/
Jane Iredale ~ Jane Iredale knows how to add that special sparkle and glow to anyone’s
holiday. The brilliant shimmer of newly
fallen snow as the glow of moonlight deflects off of it reminded me of the gorgeous
Limited Edition Triple Pearl Powder
Finishing Powder, which I tried. After
applying it over makeup, it added a shimmer and radiant luminosity to my face;
applied to shoulders and décolleté, it also added a subtle shimmer to those
areas. I enjoyed how my face looked
brighter, naturally. The Triple Pearl Powder comes beautifully
packaged in a silver reusable box. The compact
is beautiful and has a natural shell top; the luxuriously silky applicator,
generous sized mirror and twist top dispenses just the right amount of powder
and is suitable for all skin tones. https://janeiredale.com
~ Face,
Body & Beyond ~
Aveda ~
Packaged in handmade Lokta bark
paper from Nepal, the lavender aromatherapy based De-Stress Gift Set comes complete with Body Lotion, Bath Salts and Fragrance
Rollerball. http://www.aveda.com/
Darphin ~
For luxe skincare, Darphin’s Predermine Gift Set includes Predermine Firming Wrinkle Repair Serum
and travel sizes of Predermine
Anti-Wrinkle Cream and Eye Serum.
http://www.darphin.com/
Eminence Organics ~
A special collection of nine travel
sizes of Eminence Organics most
popular skincare and body care products is their Beyond Organic Gift Box; presented in a special re-usable presentation
box. us.eminenceorganics.com/
Essence Cosmetics ~
Need to get some stocking-stuffer
ideas, then look no further. This
popular retail budget brand has everything you could think of to stuff those
stockings. http://www.essence.eu/us/home.html
FragranceNet.com ~
Last minute shopping or just being
stumped for making purchasing a gift can easily be taken care of by shopping
online at this all-things giftable website.
http://www.fragrancenet.com/
Jurlique ~
This popular Australian brand
offers their natural Hand Care Essentials
Gift Set with tubes of their most popular hand treatment creams, including Rose, Lavender, Jasmine and Citrus.
http://www.jurlique.com/
Kate Somerville ~
Innovative skincare guru Kate
Somerville offers their Get Gorgeous Kate
Gift Set that includes ExfoliKate,
Somerville360° Self Tanning Body Towelletes
and Face Pads, DermalQuench Liquid Lift Advanced Anti-Wrinkle Treatment and
Daily Deflector Moisturizer Anti-Aging
Sunscreen. http://www.katesomerville.com/
Kerstin Florian ~
Just in time for sweet dreams is
the Kerstin Florian Lavender Dreams Kit
complete with their new Turkish Body
Scrub With Eucalyptus, Lavender Eye Pillow, Lavender Body Oil, Lavender Body
Spray and Soothing Mineral Bath. http://www.kerstinflorianusa.com/
Liz Earle ~
The popular Holiday Limited Edition of Cleanse
& Polish will naturally and gently dissolve even the most stubborn
makeup and mascara without irritating or stripping delicate tissue. http://us.lizearle.com/
MyBody ~
Luxuriate with this MyBody Pamper Me Gift set of Probiotic
Shower Gel and Probiotic Body Lotion;
choice of Rose Chamomile, Revitalizing
Citrus Coconut or Energizing Bergamot
Lime. http://www.lovemybody.com/
SpaFinder Wellness ~
The Essential Beauty Gift Box comes with six indulgent spa products
plus a $50 SpaFinder Wellness Gift Card,
or get The Deluxe Beauty Gift Box, which comes with six products plus a $100 Gift Card. http://www.spafinder.com/
Votre Vu ~
Your holiday feet will thank you
with Votre Vu’s Trés Magni-Feet Gift
Set complete with Exfoliant Pour Les Pieds and Crème Pour Les Pieds. http://votrevu.com/
~ Destinations ~
International SPA Association (ISPA) ~
ISPA is the largest and most prestigious
of any global professional spa organization and its various member properties
are offering special holiday promotions and incentives at their
properties. They include Hiatus Spa+Retreat (Austin and
Dallas, TX); Kelly’s Spa at the Mission
Inn (Riverside, CA); Spa Réveil (Austin, TX); Glen
Ivy Hot Springs (Corona, CA); Ponte
Vedra Inn & Club (Ponte Vedra Beach, FL); Four Seasons Hotel George V (Paris, France); Silverado Resort and Spa (Napa, CA); AWAY Spa (Austin, TX); Bloom Spa Toya (Abutagun, Hokkaido,
Japan); Mirabeau Inn & Spa (Skaneateles, NY); Sundara Inn & Spa (Wisconsin Dells, WI); Solace Spa at Boyne Mountain (Boyne Falls, MI); Four Seasons Hotel Toronto (Ontario,
Canada); and, The Umstead Hotel and Spa (Cary,
NC). Be sure to check other favorite
destinations for special holiday pricing between now and the New Year.
~ Budget
Buys & Beyond ~
For quick, last-minute stocking
stuffer items that won’t break your holiday bank, don’t overlook the brick and
mortar stores or their online equivalents; even specialty food stores or local
grocery stores have gift possibilities.
These might include Target,
Kohl’s, Sears, Penney’s, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, CVS and Osco Drug. Then there are
the biggies like Amazon, eBay, Zappos,
etc.
Lastly, remember that while a
tangible gift can be a sign of love, friendship or gratitude, the giving of
oneself to others is the greatest gift anyone can give. The gift-giver and not the price tag is the most important thing!
May the blessings, peace, hope, joy and promise of Christmas be with you and your loved ones throughout the coming New Year.
May the blessings, peace, hope, joy and promise of Christmas be with you and your loved ones throughout the coming New Year.
That’s it for this edition. Until the next one, remember to take care of
yourself and those you love.
By Terry Herman
Terry Herman is a recognized expert in the industry, and
regularly covers issues that include business, management, operations, customer
care, treatments, products, and trends. In addition to writing and reviewing,
she is also a management consultant and motivational speaker. She also serves on EXPERIENCE
| PREMCHIT Journeys In Retreat To Wellness Advisory Board, which is comprised of ten international
experts in various fields of wellness and spa.
She also serves as a Group Manager for the popular LinkedIn group, The
Spa Buzz. You can email her at
terrysspabeautywellness@gmail.com.
ALL MATERIALS COPYRIGHT PROTECTED
(Opening photo credit, Christmas at my childhood home c1960s;
all other photo credits as represented by the specific brand.)
N.B. Google’s blog platform is incompatible with my
Mac OS X and Firefox browser latest software versions, which is why some web
links appear in different colors and why when attempting to have embedded
images their sizing is consistent and/or can’t be sized.
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