NYLON’s Booster Gift Guide 2021: The Conspiracy Theorist

Is the government listening in our conversations? Are there aliens living among us? We all know a paranoid relative (or parent) who has probably spent way too much time in their social media echo chamber. The pandemic really brought them out in full force though — so much so that today, we have the anti-vaxxer.

Science is scary in its vast unknown, or maybe politicians and leaders are yielding it in nefarious schemes that are out to get us; either way, skepticism is at an all-time high so they might find it best to rely on their “pro-choice” beliefs. Agree or disagree, they still deserve a thoughtful gift for the holidays — just, not too thoughtful in case it seems like you’re reading their minds.

SAMSUNG SMART AIR PURIFIER
— $649 – $899, available at the Samsung Online Store and major consumer electronics & IT stores.

Now, the conspiracy theorist may generally be wary of technology, but an air purifier seems like a good thing, especially if it’s one that claims to do what it does best: purify air within enclosed areas, by getting rid of common allergy triggers so we breathe in fresh, clean air. Samsung’s latest model is equipped with a Multi-layered Purification System and 3 Way Air Flow feature, while the device can also be controlled remotely via a smartphone to conveniently monitor and regulate the indoor air quality in their homes at any time. The more control, the better to ease their unnecessary worries.

LUMISTRAW
— $119, available at Shopee

This is the world’s first UV-C LED water purifying straw, and it works through a combination of precision engineering, flow rates and UV-C exposure for a long-term purification system to effectively kill 99.99% of bacteria and viruses. To use, just fill the bottle with water, push the button to start the purifying process, and then drink. You can also remove it from the included bottle and place it in a mug or glass to purify the water in there.

COACH ID LANYARD IN SIGNATURE CANVAS
— $175, available at Coach stores. 

“Where is your badge??” uttered a famous Karen. If you know someone who’s always demanding to see the badges of our dear Safe Distancing Ambassadors, they’d better be carrying one of their own too. Keep it classy with this lanyard-turned-official documents holder.

PANDORA ME LUCKY HORSESHOE MINI DANGLE
— $39, available at Pandora stores and online.

A cute charm in sterling silver you can add on to your chain link bracelet or ring, this one also makes a subtle gift for the anti-vaxxer, since, you know, they just love their horse-related alternatives so much. Or it’s just a symbol of good luck and protection against the virus! Either way, it works.

MARPAC WHISH WHITE NOISE MACHINE
— $120 – $146, available at dropnoisestore.com.

For the people who can’t get enough of the sound of white noise, maybe it’s a sign they’re meant to be constantly surrounded by it. Well, at least they’ll sleep easy with this little machine by their side.

MOON-SHAPED DECORATIVE LIGHT
— $8, available at SHEIN

Was the moon landing a hoax? What other things has the world been lying to us about? These might be some of the questions they’ll ponder as they stare into the depths of this dreamy bedside table accessory.

TBALANCE CRYSTALS SET OF 2 AMAZONITE & ENAMEL BRACELETS
— $148, available at net-a-porter.com.

Trust the… pseudo-science? The word is clearly a big thing among their circles, and whether you feel it’s misplaced or not, an inspirational bracelet of semi-precious amazonite stones might be just what they need to alleviate worry and fear in their lives.

LONGCHAMP LE PLIAGE CUIR CROCO METAL CARD HOLDER
— $270, available at Longchamp boutiques. 

Based off the signature Longchamp Le Pliage, this one’s a cute number that goes perfectly with their tin foil hats.

EARTH INFINITY PUZZLE
— USD120, available at n-e-r-v-o-u-s.com.

Good news everyone, the earth is flat! At least, in this whimsical 441-piece Earth Infinity Puzzle ™ that’s based on photographs from NASA’s Earth Observatory, which is then shaped into an icosahedral map projection that “has the topology of a sphere”. Oh, right, guess we’re wrong — which is more than they’ll ever admit.

PORTER REUSABLE BOWL IN MINT
— $36, available at thepaperbunny.com.

With this much dine-in restrictions for unvaccinated folks, it’s time they invested in a durable plastic lunch bowl that allows for handy takeaway meals instead. No shame, we’re just looking out for the environment here.