The gifts I’m giving this holiday season
Tis the season to spread the joy of wellness to everyone we love.
How’s your holiday shopping going? It won’t surprise you to know that when it comes to gifts, I like to give presents that not only surprise and delight the recipient, but that also contribute to their overall well-being. This year, I’ve got my eye on a short list of wellness-inspired products and experiences—some of which are from small businesses with big ideas. Here are my top picks.
👄 For the chatty Cathy: With colder winter weather comes chapped lips! And chapped lips are the worst! 😟 So, I love giving the gift of moisturize-packed Glossier Balm Dotcom! Filled with natural castor oil, beeswax, and lanolin, I like to pick out a few different flavors (there’s original, mint, coconut—and also tinted flavors including berry, mango, and rose) and gift them in a little bundle.
🦉 For the night owl (and early bird): Regardless of your chronotype, sleep is vital to your health and well-being! And when it comes to sleep quality, the wrong lighting can be a dealbreaker. That’s why the Casper Glow Light is a great gift for all! It brings soft illumination to any sleep routine with warm white and amber LED lights that gradually dim as you fall asleep. It’s small and unobtrusive enough for any bedside table, and is controlled by the Glow app, with customized wake-up settings and more.
🌿 For the au naturale: Smelling fresh doesn’t mean you have to dose yourself with chemicals. I love Native Deodorant in Lavender & Rose for its light, herby-floral scent and all-day (seriously) odor protection, but I also love it for what it doesn’t have: aluminum, phthalates, or talc. This eco-responsible, chemical-wary company is out to improve deodorant and other personal care products for everyone—and with nearly two dozen different scents (including unscented), there’s definitely something for everyone on your list.
💪 For the mover and shaker: Why do the same boring workout when you could be mixing it up with a fresh routine every session? You’ll never get bored with a deck (or two) of JL fitness workout cards to inspire you. Each of the 50 illustrated workouts can be done solo or mixed and matched in different ways for a customized routine that keeps you engaged. Trainer Juan Lugo is a genius at crafting challenging workouts and illustrating them in a way that’s easy to understand.
💎 For the bejeweled: Words are powerful, so why not wear them as accessories? The April Soderstrom Name Game Bracelet Kit—”The Works” lets you create your own bespoke jewelry using letter and number beads. I love gifts that let you make something that’s personally meaningful to you! This Boston-area designer channels her obsession with beads and jewelry into her business, and it shows in this fantastic kit.
😁 For the grinner: Give the gift of a brighter smile to friends and family with the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9300 Rechargeable Electric Power Toothbrush! It comes in pink (so fun) and with a travel case (so useful). Sonicare has a stellar reputation for a reason, and the way I see it, anything that makes dental hygiene easier and more of a self-care moment is a true gift.
🤗 For the hugger: Entrepreneur Marina Khidekel combined two comfort items into the perfect gift: Hugimals weighted stuffed animals, which are like an adorable weighted blanket that hugs you back. And the best part is that they can actually lower stress, increase calm, and improve sleep! These make great gifts for the kids on your list and come in fun animals, including a sloth, puppy, elephant, and bear.
😟 For the worrywart: When your therapist appointment isn’t till next week, The Anti-Anxiety Notebook has guided entries for in-the-moment support, cognitive-behavior-therapy information and tools, and notes and strategies from therapists.
👩🏽 For the skin-savvy: When you’re well-being is waning, it shows. Especially in your skin! That’s why I love giving the The Skinny Confidential Hot Mess Ice Roller to reduce puffiness, boost circulation, and contour your skin—or just for a refreshing wake-up boost.
🍪 For the sweet tooth: Give something delicious and joyful to your loved ones this season. Hey, well-being doesn’t always have to be “healthy”, right? Limited-batch Last Crumb Cookies are baked in LA by an unnamed “Head Baker”, and are delicious enough to have earned a Michelin star and a cult following. Just leave your email at the website to get in on the next drop and gift a shipment to your favorite people.
👜 For the hauler: You’ve got your snacks, water bottle, lip balm, sunscreen, wallet, and more! But what are you going to haul it all in? Between the scarf-wrapped handles, the colorful butterfly artwork, and the fringed denim, the Butterfly Tote from Miami-based Elizabeth Wasserman Jewelry is the ideal go-to tote for every occasion.
🧠 For the growth-minded: Knowledge is the gift that keeps on giving! With classes on everything from breathwork to tai chi, inflammation to plant-based nutrition, MindBodyGreen caters to individuals looking to explore new modalities, improve their wellness, and expand their minds. (So basically, all of us 😊)
📱 Who I’m following: Tunde Oyeneyin’s Instagram account is filled with strength, vibrancy, and inspiration! This powerhouse is not only an incredible Peloton instructor, she’s also the New York Times bestselling author of Speak and host of the Fitness Flipped podcast.
🎧 What I’m listening to: I relate strongly to the premise of Adam Grant’s ReThinking podcast: that great minds don’t think alike, they think differently! With each new guest he has on—from author Celeste Ng to neuroscientist Chantel Prat—his podcasts challenge me to see the world in a different way.
📘 What I’m reading: It’s billed as a love story like you’ve never read before, and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow lives up to that promise. On the surface it’s about video game designers, but at its heart it’s about creativity, success, friendship, love, and connection.