Right, here we go again. Christmas is creeping up, and if you’re anything like me, you’ve got a list of people to buy for and absolutely no idea what to get half of them. So I’ve pulled together a gift guide for the women in your life, whether that’s your mum, your sister, your best mate, or the one who says “oh, don’t get me anything” and definitely doesn’t mean it.
This year there’s skincare and haircare, an embroidery kit for the crafty ones, boozy fruit for the foodies, and some very comfy pillows. There’s a mix of price points too, from £8 stocking fillers to something a bit more special. Have a scroll and see what takes your fancy.
Thinking Gifts Tech Zip Charger
Thinking Gifts make reading gifts and accessories (book lights, bookmarks, that sort of thing), and they sent me their Tech Zip Charger. It’s a wireless phone charging pad that comes in ten designs, including floral, tile, vinyl, a mix tape and an avocado, so you can match it to whoever you’re buying for.
At £19.99 it’s a good shout for the bookworm who reads on her phone, or for anyone whose bedside table is a tangle of cables. It’d work as a stocking filler or a Secret Santa present too.
Hollyberry Cosmetics Extra-Large Hyaluronic Acid Serum
If you’re buying for a skincare lover, this one will keep her going well past Christmas. Hollyberry Cosmetics do a 500ml bottle of hyaluronic acid serum, which works out as more than sixteen of the usual 30ml bottles. It’s a 1% hyaluronic acid formula with just three ingredients (water, hyaluronic acid and a preservative), it’s fragrance-free, vegan and cruelty-free, and it can be used on the face, neck and body. Handy for winter, when the heating’s on and everyone’s skin feels a bit tight.
Hollyberry is a family-run British brand, founded by Graham and Holly Berry, and everything is made in the UK. They also donate £1 from every 500ml bottle to Children with Cancer UK, which is a lovely touch for a Christmas present. The 500ml bottle is £23.98.
Lee Stafford Heat Protection Shine Mist
One for anyone who’s never far from her straighteners or hairdryer. Lee Stafford’s Heat Protection Shine Mist is sprayed onto towel-dried hair before styling, and it’s made to shield hair from heat while keeping frizz and static down. It suits all hair types, coloured hair included, and it’s been winning awards for over 18 years.
At £9.99 for 200ml it’s an easy stocking filler, and the bright pink bottle looks cheerful poking out of the top of one.
Martian Made Velistra Pillows
Pillows might not sound like the most exciting present, but hear me out. A good night’s sleep is the thing most women I know would ask for if they could, and new pillows are one of those things nobody gets round to buying for themselves.
The Velistra pillows from Martian Made are their hotel-style ones. They have a microfibre filling with a bamboo viscose cover, so they’re soft and plush but with a bit of weight to them, a lot like a feather or down pillow. They’re made to work for back, side and front sleepers, which is handy if you don’t know how she sleeps (and why would you). A twin pack is £44.99.
Paraffle Embroidery Kits
If she’s the crafty type, or keeps saying she wants a hobby that doesn’t involve her phone, an embroidery kit is a lovely idea. Paraffle is an independent craft brand from Edinburgh, started by Sammy Bishop, who got back into embroidery while she was doing her PhD and needed something calming to do with her hands.
The kits come with the materials and stitch guides, and there are step-by-step video tutorials online if you get stuck, so you don’t need to have picked up a needle before. I was sent the Cherry Blossom 6″ Embroidery Kit (£25), which is a colourful botanical design inspired by Edinburgh in spring. It’s made to be displayed in its hoop once it’s finished, so she ends up with something pretty for the wall as well as a few cosy evenings of stitching.
Opies Fruits With Alcohol
For the friend who loves to cook (or the one who’s impossible to buy for), a jar of boozy fruit is a fun one to unwrap. Opies do three, all hand-packed in Luxardo spirits: Black Cherries in Kirsch, Baby Pears in Amaretto and Peaches in 12-Year-Old Brandy.
You can eat them straight from the jar with cream or ice cream, or use them in puddings. The cherries are made for a Black Forest gateau or a chocolatey trifle, the pears would be lovely with sticky toffee pudding, and the peaches are asking to go in a crumble. There are recipe ideas on the labels too. They’re gluten free, dairy free and suitable for plant-based diets.
The jars are 570g and start from £8, so they’re a good one for Secret Santa, or for popping in a homemade hamper. You’ll find them in Morrisons, on Amazon and in farm shops and delis.
Craft Buddy Festive Favourites Crystal Art Decorations
Another one for the crafters, and a good early present so she can get it done in time for the tree. The Festive Favourites Crystal Art Hanging Decoration Kit from Craft Buddy has twelve Christmas designs to make. You fill in each one with colourful crystals, then hang the finished decorations on the tree, so there’s plenty of sparkle and a nice excuse to sit down with a cuppa and a Christmas film on.
The kit of twelve is £18.99.
And that’s your lot! Hopefully you’ve spotted a few things in here and can tick some names off your list. I’ve tried to cover a mix of budgets, so there should be something whether you’re after a little stocking filler or a main present. Happy shopping, and good luck getting it all wrapped before the big day.