Anxiety? We feel ya. Whether it’s work stress, social media’s impossible standards and the strange phenomenon of imposter syndrome, or just a tough day in general, you’ve gotta learn how to relax. Thankfully, the beauty market’s rife with all these indulgent goodies. It could be a calming candle to soothe your soul, a pillow spray so you’ll drift off to sleep, body creams to slather on, or face masks that pamper your skin with all kinds of good ingredients. If you know someone who deserves these, it’s time to give the gift of restfulness.
1. DIPTYQUE BOX CAROUSEL WITH TWO CANDLES, $180
Available at diptyque Takashimaya Shopping Centre, Robinsons The
Heeren, and escentials.
Does it get more “self-care” than some aromatic candles? Dip in the bath or snuggle in bed, and wind down with these mesmerising scents — the classic floral Rose, and Baies, one of the diptyque’s most popular scents for its fresh fruity-floral notes. The gentle flame will also cause the carousel to rotate ever-so-slowly, as you gaze into its comforting twirling motion. Quite the meditative experience.
2. L’OCCITANE DREAMY CLOUD SET, $42
Available at L’Occitane stores and online.
Sweet dreams are made of these, and no one will disagree with this. Imagine: you carefully unravel the items from this cloud-shaped pouch, step into the shower with L’Occitane’s prized Relaxing Shower Gel while taking in the aromatic scent of essential oils. Then, comes an indulgent skincare routine with the Immortelle Reset, followed by cocooning your hands with Lavender Hand Cream, and finally sinking your head onto the pillow adorned with the Relaxing Pillow Mist, of calming lavender, orange, geranium and bergamot.
3. THIS WORKS DREAM TO SLEEP, $62
Available at Sephora.
They’re calling this the gift of sleep, and isn’t that just the best thing you can give to someone? The night-time kit contains the brand’s best-selling products meant to help anyone achieve a good night’s sleep, with the soothing scents of lavender, vetivert and wild chamomile. Start off with the Deep Sleep Night Oil which nourishes your skin, before the Deep Sleep Pillow Spray and Eye Mask to accompany you through the night of restfulness.
4. NODSPARK CHRISTMAS BUNDLE, $50 [GIVEAWAY]
Available at nodspark.com.
You’ll turn up to any occasion with nice nails, minus the crazy amount of effort. Nodspark’s nail wraps are the easiest way to achieve a ready-to-go manicure with minimal time and effort, and their Christmas bundles are truly versatile enough for the year round. Witness pastel shades, candy tones, and even sparkly glitter designs. Self-care means taking the time to do what pleases you — while also freeing time for meaningful things in your life. So imagine the time saved here!
5. LUSH SHOWER & BODY SET, $157 [GIVEAWAY]
Available at LUSH stores.
Step into the LUSH store any time of the year and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Step into it during the Christmas season, and you’ll be floored. The ethical and organic brand’s always up to the grandest gestures this time of the year, and it always lifts our mood to be surrounded with so much goodness as well. Pull together a bunch of themed items from their very extensive items — you can go for Jingle Bell or Santa bath bombs, or here, gold-themed items like the Yog Nog Naked Shower Gel (no packaging!) and Drummer’s Drumming Shower Jelly, a unique Snow Apple Soap with its silvery exterior, or a Shooting Stars Soap with glitzy suds.
6. CRABTREE & EVELYN PARIS EVELYN ROSE GIFT SET, $107.50 [GIVEAWAY]
Available at crabtree-evelyn.com.sg.
Have we mentioned how glad we are that Crabtree & Evelyn’s back? With a modern sensibility and fresh look, somehow we can’t help but lust after their classics. They’re just done so well. Designed by local artist Hélène Cayre, this set will whisk you away to Paris, complete with a Velvet Body Melt, Satin Hand Cream and Soft Touch Face Foam, in the brand’s signature Evelyn Rose scent.
7. AESOP ‘THE REVELLER’ GIFT KIT, $160
Available at Aesop stores.
Aesop’s mesmerising scents in the skincare and body range are often calming, yet with a unique depth that piques your curiosity — we can’t figure out why they’re so good, but they are. Whoever you’re getting this for will be able to enjoy that too, with a fragrant kit consisting of the Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash, Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm, Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser, and Rind Concentrate Body Balm. They’ll smell good all the time.
8. HERBIVORE BOTANICALS SELF LOVE BODY RITUAL KIT, $74
Available at Sephora.
You don’t have to look too far for an indulgent bath and body ritual — Herbivore’s basically advocating the need for self-love with this pampering kit of two body polishes and a glow-boosting Jasmine Body Oil, which we want to lean into too. The Amethyst Exfoliating Body Polish garners inspiration from its namesake crystal, and contains real crushed amethyst gemstones and epsom salt. On the other hand, the Coco Rose Body Polish is a more familiar combination of Coconut and Moroccan Rose for a spa-like experience at home.
9. THE BODY SHOP FESTIVE BODY BUTTER TRIO, $26 [GIVEAWAY]
Available at The Body Shop stores.
Realistically, you shouldn’t have to spend a lot of money to be able to pamper yourself, and that’s why we love The Body Shop’s always-reliable range of body butters. Whether it’s your mom or best friend, they’ll love this special edition trio of Juicy Pear, Warm Vanilla and Rich Plum for the holiday feels, while it’s also good to know that each is enriched with Community Trade ingredients from around the world. How’s that for guilt-free indulgence?
10. PETER THOMAS ROTH MIX, MASK & HYDRATE 6-PIECE KIT, $149
Available at Sephora.
Peter Thomas Roth’s masks need no introduction — you’ve seen them, you’ve heard about them, you’ve tried and loved them. Perhaps it’s their expertise in plant biotechnology, or their knack for combining the best ingredients for our skin. Either way, we can’t get enough. Here, you’ll find some masking favourites such as the 24k Gold Pure Luxury Lift & Firm Mask, Cucumber Gel Mask Extreme De-tox™ Hydrator and Rose Stem Cell Bio-repair Gel Mask, which serve different functions so you can mix and match them according to your skin’s needs. Or, get the set and split them among your friends so you can all try one!
11. MAMONDE FLORAL ENERGY SKINCARE DISCOVERY KIT, $52 [GIVEAWAY]
Available at Sephora.
Mamonde’s botanical skincare approach to k-beauty is a refreshing one, and if you know someone who’s always curious to try the brand, this discovery kit’s a life-saver! The essentials are all here — Mamonde’s Rose Water Toner, Floral Hydro Cream, Petal Spa Oil to Foam, and the Lip Sleeping Mask — so each part of their skincare routine is well taken care of. It’s a gift you can’t go wrong with.
12. ALCHE{ME} CHRISTMAS SET, $205 [GIVEAWAY]
Available at alcheme.one.
This homegrown brand hails itself for customised skincare, and honestly, why not? It’s a good way to show your giftee that you know them well. You can choose from the bottle’s size (which also indicates the number of months it’ll last), its fragrance, and its texture. Try the clean beauty brand’s serum, which contain active ingredients uniquely selected for each customer according to anti-ageing, radiance, acne & oil control & anti pollution benefits.
13. JS ORPHIC MY FAVOURITE SKIN HYDRATOR, $169 [GIVEAWAY]
Available at jsorphic.com.
Everyone knows Olympic gold medallist Joseph Schooling, but do you know he now has his own skincare line too? The harsh exposure to the weather and the chlorine in pool water often take their toll on his skin, so his solution is to team up with a leading aesthetics doctor and Korean skincare specialists to come up with a line that protects the skin and encourages cell renewal. This paraben-free pore care moisturiser, with a refreshing watery texture, may be just what an active friend needs to keep his/her skin in its best state.
14. LA MER GENAISSANCE DE LA MER SERUM ESSENCE, $1,050
Available at La Mer counters and TANGS.
Splurge of the year? Probably. Maybe your idea of self-care means spending on luxury skincare — but hey, you’ll be reaping the benefits of that expensive routine too. La Mer’s serum aims for accelerated skin cell renewal to target visible signs of ageing, by way of the Miracle Broth™, now in its purest crystal form that’s slow-crafted in extremely small batches so it’s at its most potent. There’s also a Genaissance Ferment™ that uses rare red algae infused with waves of light and refined 24 karat gold to boost collagen and elastin levels. This level of technological advancement and care is what sets this apart from anything else. Do not waste a single drop.
15. TWO LIPS BLACKOUT MASK, $120
Available at twolips.vip.
Chaffing and post-waxing itchiness is a big no-no, as it tends to dry out the skin and cause us to feel a bit irritated. This blackout mask is made specifically for your vulva: to soothe, detoxify, bright and moisturise. Wanting to feel fresh AF after an IPL session? Like it’s even a question.
16. BROWHAUS WIDE FOCUS, $158 [GIVEAWAY]
Available at browhaus.com.
We often neglect our precious eye area when it comes to a simple skincare routine, so really, it’s about time you go for a more holistic one. This eye cream seems to do it all — it’ll help you fight gravity to lift hooded lids, while also brightening and firming the skin so you get bigger-looking eyes. Formulated with Nanomax® technology, this antioxidant blend combines Coenzyme Q10 with Vitamins C and E to activate cell metabolism deep within the skin; natural ingredients like Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract also help to prevent the breakdown of collagen and elastin.
17. AURELIA PROBIOTIC SKINCARE WOODLAND FRIENDS GIFT SET, USD222.22
Available at net-a-porter.com.
Let’s be real, skincare slip-ups are inevitable. To keep you on track on-the-go, we say opt for this skincare gift set by Aurelia Probiotic Skincare. From a hydrating hair and body wash, sleep time pillow mist among others, the medley of skin- and bodycare products deliver consistency to soft, smooth skin.
18. PERCY & REED THE VOLUPTUOUS VOLUME HAIRCARE COLLECTION, $48
Available at Sephora.
Ah, the woes of haircare in humid weather. The key to a good-looking head of hair is voluminous locks, and that starts from your shampoo and conditioner routine. Percy & Reed’s set cleanses your hair without sacrificing on its volume, which you can later enhance with a Volumising Spray for a boost. Top that up with a spritz of Dry Shampoo so you can keep that fresh look for longer.
For items with the ‘GIVEAWAY’ labels, we’re giving them away in our massive holiday gift guide contests — head over to our Facebook and Instagram pages daily to take part.
More of NYLON’s Holiday Beauty Gift Guides coming soon — stay tuned! Click here to see our full list of gift guides.
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