Gift Guides / November 9, 2023

Christmas Gift Guide 2023: Gifts she will absolutely love!

Tis’ the season to be jolly… yes, it’s almost Christmas (yipeee) and the Christmas buzz has definitely set in: Shops are adorned with Christmas decor, the Christmas lights are on in some places and it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

But, with Christmas gifting at the back of your mind, I bet there’s also some level of stress thrown into the mix. So if you’re stuck for gift ideas for the woman (or women) in your life, then this is THE gift guide for you. Beauty, jewellery, food and more, the only tough part is choosing which gift to buy!!! (And I bet you’ll want some for your own stocking too!!!).

Beauty

Odylique

I love trying out new beauty products and Odylique is a great new find. With all-natural active ingredients and skin-friendly concoctions, it lives up to its name which means “power of nature”. There are pure and beautiful products for the face, body and hair, as well as aromatherapy essential and massage oils and make-up.

I have tried two products so far and am in absolute love with them both. The Superfruit Concentrate is a game-changer face oil/ serum… the littlest amount goes a long way in keeping your skin nourished and younger looking. After all, it is a blend of organic rosehip oil, sea buckthorn and pomegranate, giving an exceptional synergy of 5 omega fatty acids, antioxidant vitamins and nature’s miracle phytosterols that boosts moisture, cell renewal and collagen synthesis for radiant, healthy skin.

Their organic mineral lipsticks are bursting with organic plant oils and butters that provide a moisturising vitamin-boost to your lips. I chose the subtle yet gorgeous Peach Melba shade, a matte peachy pink that lends a beautiful ‘your lip but better’ colour; great for those who don’t like dark shades but want a colour boost nonetheless. The lipstick is smooth to apply and lends a creamy, nourishing texture and long-lasting colour. Cherry on the cake – it’s free from toxic chemicals!

Do check out this brand for your Christmas gifting (even for yourself!!!)

Lavera skincare

Skincare is both essential and a luxury, and Lavera is a brand that takes skincare seriously! I’ve been using their Skincare Essentials Gift Set this past month and I would definitely recommend it. The gift set includes the Basis Sensitiv Q10 Anti-Ageing Moisturising Cream, the Q10 Anti-Ageing Night Cream and the Q10 Anti-Ageing Eye Cream, making for a complete skincare set that protects, moisturises and softens the skin while visibly reducing wrinkles and signs of ageing.

Bursting with the goodness of organic and natural ingredients including jojoba, shea butter, aloe vera and the all-important co-enzyme Q10 that boosts cellular metabolism, this is a brand I will definitely be using for a long time, and will also be gifting the women in my life.

Yardley London

Yardley London always have beautiful gift set options, and this year is no less. Choose from the English Lavender and English Rose Hand Cream Collection, the Modern Classic Florals Body Fragrance Collection, the Moisturising Body Mist Collection or the Contemporary Florals Body Fragrance Collection, amongst others.

However, if you choose to make your own gifts or mini hampers for the special women in your life, then there are plenty of mix n’ match options to choose from as well. If Lavender is their preferred scent, then there’s the English Lavender EDT and Body Spray Set or if Rose is their fragrance, then you have the English Rose EDT and Body Spray Set. Or, like me, you can get the best of both in their rich body lotions too. A special mention for the Flowerazzi Magnolia and Pink Orchid Body Lotion and Body Butter – this is my personal favourite!

We Are Feel Collagen

If you’re a woman in your late thirties, or are looking for a useful gift for a woman that age, then you would probably know the importance of collagen. Yes, that magical potion that our body produces for healthy joints and younger looking skin but that also produces less of as we grow older. And that’s where We Are Feel’s Pro Collagen drink comes into the picture – and also makes for a fab gift this Christmas!

This unique vegan collagen absorbs 4x times better than marine or bovine collagen, reduces fine lines and wrinkles in just 28 days, increases skin elasticity and supports hair and nail growth. Cherry on the cake… it also increases collagen production in the body! It is indeed a gift that keeps on giving…

Available in delicious Pineapple with Grapefruit and Peach with Strawberry flavours, it tastes like a fruit punch/ mocktail, so you can even sip on it at your Christmas get-togethers. It really is that simple to get glowing skin from within!

Jewellery

Francesca Rossi Designs

If you’re looking to gift an item of jewellery that makes a statement without being OTT, then this simple yet striking gold and silver double band adjustable ring by Francesca Rossi Designs is perfect. Sterling silver and gold plated and adjustable (so it can be worn on any finger), this beautiful ring is perfect for daily wear and is bound to be noticed.

Francesca also has a gorgeous range of bracelets, earrings, necklaces and resin flower jewellery, so do head over to her website and take a look. There are great gifting pieces for women and children (yes, Francesca does some delightful jewellery for children as well).

Camarillo

This Isabella Gold chain bracelet featuring long paper clip links is both contemporary and stylish, making for a perfect Christmas gift for her this season. Whether worn alone or stacked with other bracelets, it is a timeless piece.

Julie from Camarillo designs her jewellery with India as her inspiration, so you will find original, eye-catching pieces, some using semi-precious gemstones and others personalised with initials or zodiac signs. Her jewellery is unique yet affordable, and makes its own chic statement whether worn individually or layered up. She also does a bespoke design service if you have a specific gift in mind.

Gifts Instead of Flowers

I’ve written about Gifts Instead of Flowers before, but I wanted to feature it again because, well, it is the perfect gifting option for any occasion! This online portal started by Jan Jenkins exhibits the myriad talents of artists, designers and small business owners who don’t have physical stores but showcase their craft online. Which makes it the perfect go-to website when you’re stuck for gift ideas or looking for a unique gift.

From jewellery to home gifting, accessories to candles and wellness kits, there’s a gift in there for everyone. The website also supports Williams Fund – a charity that raises money to aid the research of paediatric cancer at Oxford University – and the artists make donations to the fund with every gift you purchase. That’s your feel-good Christmas gifting sorted, then!

Food gifts

A category I love, because Christmas goodies and treats just hit different, don’t they?! So let’s dig in…

Sous Chef Panettone

Sous Chef have a lovely Christmas gifting range including food and cooking gifts, food advent calendars, Christmas hampers and panettones. I was kindly gifted the Sous Chef Milano Panettone, and all I can say is that it is 1 kg of pure Christmas goodness! After all, they themselves call it the panettone of all panettoni!

Produced by a family of bakers in Italy, this traditional classic panettone made with the finest ingredients is rich with butter and sweet with dried citrus fruit, yet light and fluffy in texture, lending to their signature ‘tear’.

The panettone comes presented hand-wrapped in stunning luxury paper and satin ribbon, making for the ideal Christmas gift for the foodie in your life.

Velveteen Rabbit – Luxury Handmade Confections

If you’re looking for a unique, made-to-order, luxury food gift this Christmas, then take a look at Velveteen Rabbit. Barbara’s luxury baked-to-order hand-iced biscuits are equally a work of art, as they are delicious. She has a special Christmas Biscuits section too, and you don’t want to miss out on those!

Her other mouth-watering gourmet treats include these to-die-for Lotus Biscoff Marshmallows, bespoke cookies, pistachio mallows, ruby chocolate blondies and her best-selling Matcha & White Chocolate Letterbox Blondie Bites, amongst others. Based in North London, she ships across UK, so be quick and order your gourmet treat. It will be a mouth-watering gift for sure!

Mr Todiwala’s Pickles, Chutneys, Meal Kits and more!

Have you tried celebrity chef Cyrus Todiwala’s range of pickles and chutneys? If not, then you’re really missing out!!! If you want to savour hearty Indian culinary delights with a fresh twist, then visit their restaurant Cafe Spice Namaste, but if you want a taste of their talent at home, or to gift a foodie this Christmas, then why not make your own hamper of their delicious pickles, chutneys and spice blends.

The Venison Pickle and Wild Boar Pickle are Christmas favourites (and taste absolutely delicious), but if you’re not that adventurous then the Minted Mango and Ginger Relish and the Date and Tamarind Chutney are great pairings with crackers. The Minted Mango and Ginger Relish can also be used as a dip for your Christmas finger foods or as an accompaniment to Roast Lamb.

And if you’re thinking of a quiet Christmas at home, or perhaps don’t want to cook in the lazy days between Christmas and New Year, then their meal kits are a great option, as well as a great gifting idea.

Kelly Loves Sushi Kit

Here’s Christmas with a twist. This isn’t your typical Christmas food hamper, but if you know a sushi lover, then this might just be the gift for them! Korean snack brand Kelly Loves have some lovely sushi making kits and gift sets including the Ultimate Sushi Kit, the Complete Sushi Kit and the Sushi Starter Kit.

If you want to make your own hamper, there’s plenty of choice from snacks to cooking sauces to soups and meals and even drinks. Throw in some wasabi peas, this instant noodle variety pack, a couple Ramune sodas and a bottle or two of authentic cooking sauces and make your own personalised hamper. Or, if you want the work done for you, why not gift a Korean Variety box?

Gifts for the home

RJ Ceramics

A woman can never have too many mugs. Especially when they are this gorgeous! Rachel at RJ Ceramics hand makes the most gorgeous mugs (as well as other ceramics) and gifting one (or more!) to someone you love (or yourself) this Christmas would make for a gift that truly stands out.

Rachel produces ceramics from both earthenware and stoneware and her range of tableware is colourful, stunning and every piece is unique. Pop over to her website and be wowed with what’s on offer… bet you’ll be spoilt for choice and won’t know what to choose. I certainly was!!!

Bougie Lab Immersive Scent

This Advent candle from Bougie Lab has become my new favourite this season, and I’m sure you’ll love it too! This 100g festive candle, specially designed for the Advent of Christmas, is available in 5 Christmassy fragrances – Christmas Eve, Starry Night, Winter Wonderland, Gingerbread House and the one I chose, Cosy Cabin – each emitting a gorgeous Christmas-centric scent. Start on December 1st and burn it for an hour every day and it will take you all the way to Christmas!

Caroline also has a range of other nostalgic and warming Christmas scents to fill your home or gift this season. From reed diffusers to wax melt snapsticks to room mists, head to Bougie Lab for wonderfully Christmas gifting options.

Olivia Jane Designs

Beautiful hand-printed gift and homeware inspired by the English Cotswold Countryside – that’s what Olivia Jane Designs is all about. All her products are made and hand-finished in the UK, making every pieces unique and special.

From beautiful art (framed prints) to stationery and Christmas greeting cards to homeware (candles, cushions, fine bone china mugs, aprons, tea towels and more), there is a gift for every liking with a touch of the countryside.

This gorgeous smelling Lavender and Bergamot gift set which I kindly received, makes for a lovely gift as well… perfect to set the ambience for those winter nights in or Christmas parties.

Freya Snow

If you’re looking to gift gorgeous homeware, then here’s another business you must take note of: Freya Snow. Illustrator and surface pattern designer Freya uses a combination of collage, watercolour and digital skills to create her signature textured designs, which are digitally printed onto homewares and accessories.

Her homeware consists of kitchen essentials like tea towels, oven gloves, aprons, coasters, chopping boards in colourful delightful designs while her accessories include wash bags and zip pouches. She also does wall decor and prints.

Want to gift something Christmassy? Then check out her beautiful Christmas-themed homeware… you will be wowed!