Holiday Gift Guide 2023
Happy Holidays Friend!
My annual gift guide is back, and I always have so much fun curating my list of favorite wellness-inspired gift ideas to help you streamline your holiday gifting.
You know I’m a sucker for clean beauty and hair products, so of course I’ve included some of those along with options for travel, fitness, and some delicious, healthy gourmet goodies. At the time of publishing (Nov. 23), several of these brands are offering black Friday deals, so be sure to check them out.
I hope you and your loved ones have a very happy, healthy, and safe holiday.
And P.S., I am not affiliated with any of these products, and do not receive commission or incentive to promote them.
Kari Gran Skincare is one of my favorite brands that you’re sure to see in this guide year after year. Kari’s holiday Body & Bath Oil is inspired by the Northern Italian countryside and features the bright, fresh, and citrusy notes of organic bergamot peel oil balanced with the subtle warm aromas of cedar. This lightweight body oil contains a unique blend of organic oils that replenishes skin’s essential moisture leaving the body supple and satin soft. Also, if you’re someone who loves Kari Gran products but doesn’t tolerate lavender, this one is a great option for you.
Almost every year I include some of Anima Mundi Apothecary’s products because I adore them so much. I also adore jasmine and this sustainable cultivated essential oil is a rare and special treat. One of the most valuable essential oils, it takes over 8 million jasmine blossoms to produce 1 kg of absolute oil. Starting around 11 pm, night blooming jasmine buds only release their fragrance at night. Each blossom must be carefully harvested by hand to avoid bruising the flowers since bruised blossoms produce unpleasant fragrance notes in the finished oil. This exquisite oil is a beautiful alternative to toxic synthetic fragrance and can be used as a perfume oil, in a diffuser, mixed with jojoba as a body oil, or rubbed on the hands and inhaled as aromatherapy. This precious oil is believed to bring confidence, optimism and feelings of euphoria.
This stainless bottle is what I’ve been waiting for for years! For years I used a plastic water bottle with a built in filter whenever I traveled, but I really hate using plastic because it always leaches nasty chemicals into your water that aren’t necessarily filtered out.
With this filter bottle you’ll never get stuck drinking tap water again and you can avoid buying plastic bottles of water when you’re on the go. The hidden filter inside protects you from hundreds of contaminants, and the double-walled, stainless-steel exterior keeps your water cool. It has a simple, clean design and it comes in 20 or 32 oz sizes in an array of tasteful colors.
For the fashionista in your life, Norma Kamali’s Sleeping Bag Coat is a classic, iconic piece that remains as relevant and chic today as it was back in 1973. Using the nasa method for warmth, each coat is actually two coats sewn together with air pockets in between. Featuring, an oversized fit (size down), ample sleeves can be rolled or used as a hand muff, drawstring hood, attached self-tie belt, drop shoulders, side seam pockets, comes with storage bag, and a 27" length from center back.
Black Black Friday - from $25
Black Black Friday is an initiative by Internationalist + BECU to highlight Black-owned businesses this holiday season. This holiday season, we can all get more by not only saving, but intentionally spending at Black-owned businesses around the Puget Sound.
BECU is supporting a 20% discount* on program gift cards which can be purchased at this link. The cards can be redeemed at over 100 shops, restaurants, cafes and spas through the holiday season and beyond. See the full list of participating businesses here and be sure to check out my personal favorite, Citrine Design Shop in Issaquah. *The 20% discount is limited to the first $250,000 in prepaid debit cards purchased.
I have always loved Lulu gym bags but wished that they designed them to be used for travel as well. Finally my wish has come true with this duffle that features a padded 16” laptop pocket and a trolley-compatible sleeve to keep it in place on your wheeled luggage. I also love this yummy berry color which makes it a perfect holiday gift. Also check out their their Wunderlust Weekender Bag
Flying Bird Botanicals Cacao Chokola - from $10.75
Based in Bellingham, WA this organic tea company is always a great go-to for gifts, and this organic, Mexican-inspired drinking chocolate is no exception. I mean, who doesn’t need a little chocolate in their lives during the holidays?! I love a cup of spiced hot cacao reminiscent of the spicy Ibarra Mexican chocolate I enjoyed as a kid, but if you don’t want the heat, check out their other drinking chocolates, teas and matcha. Their Holiday Cheer Gift Set is a great option too.
Osmia Clean Teen Starter Set - $118
I had terrible acne as a teenager and I so wish I had known of a gentle, non-toxic skincare alternative to the harsh chemicals that did more harm than good to my skin. Thankfully there are some effective, clean options available now and this Osmia set is a great one. All of the Osmia products are wonderful, and this simple 4-step set is ideal for teenagers or anyone struggling with acne or congested skin. It includes Osmia’s cult-fave Black Clay Facial Soap for cleansing, followed by the Purely Simple Face Cream, Spotless Blemish Oil, and Lip Doctor lip balm in an organic cotton canvas bag with a soap saver and instructions on how to get started.
I have this dispenser in my office and I absolutely love it. As I mentioned above, it’s important to avoid drinking from plastic whenever possible, but since most filter pitchers/dispensers are plastic, that can be tough and it can be prohibitively expensive to install under sink or whole house filter systems. ZeroWater filters consistently filter out more contaminants that nearly all countertop filter including Berkey. I know because I have both and have tested each of them. The size of this dispenser makes it harder to keep in the fridge, but if you’re like me and prefer room temp water or adding ice, this is the best product out there for price and performance.
Move over truffle salt, there’s a new kid in town! The word obsessed seems like an understatement when describing how I feel about this salt. My husband will testify that I put in on EVERYTHING, and it makes everything delicious. I am admittedly a somewhat lazy cook so I tend to make ultra simple dishes of mostly protein and veg, but I never skimp on flavor and this stuff makes it so easy. And don’t get me wrong, I LOVE all things truffles, but I find this salt much more versatile and I don’t worry about using it liberally whereas truffle salt I tend to use very sparingly because it’s so pricey (Jacobsen’s is $48). This company has so many great gifts for the foodie in your life, and their gift boxes are another great option.
Cult + King Tonik - $15-52
My stylist introduced me to Cult + King a couple years ago, but I didn’t start using the products regularly until a few weeks ago, and now I’m hooked. Not only do these gorgeous, refillable bottles look beautiful, they are clean, non-toxic ad work SO well. TONIK soaks into scalp, skin, and hair follicles with 23 natural, organic botanicals and essential oils for refreshed, rejuvenated, healthy looking scalp, hair, and beard. All their products come in mini travel-friendly sizes too and a trio of the Tonik, Jelly and Setspray make a fabulous gift.
Every year I include one big splurge gift and this is it for 2023. For someone who suffers from chronic pain, sports injuries, arthritis or other inflammation, this device would be an incredible gift. I heard about it on the Next Level Human Podcast with one of my teachers and mentors, Dr. Jade Teta and it’s on my own personal wishlist.
Light therapy works by enhancing your body's natural self-healing response and it can help reduce inflammation by increasing blood flow, triggering anti-inflammatory molecules, and reducing oxidative stress. These benefits have been validated by hundreds of human trials, showing just how effective light therapy is for reducing pain and inflammation.
