We are less than a month away from stacking presents under the tree and filling up Christmas stockings. It’s also that time of the year when you have scheduled mandatory meet-ups with buddies and depending on how you look at it, Secret Santa becomes an unavoidable chore. Now if you haven’t started shopping (or could do without a migraine), this guide might help you pick out that perfect gift whether it’s for your mum, sister, bridesmaid or gal pal.
This story was first published by www.asiaone.com.
Limited edition gift box that comes with four exclusive delectable festive favourites: Christmas Fruit Cake, Herb Garlic Garden, GingerFruit Muesli Munch and Choco Twilight Biscotti. Photo: BoxGreen
For your favourite health nut: Homegrown online health food store BoxGreen is celebrating the Christmas season with a limited edition gift box that comes with four exclusive delectable festive favourites: Christmas Fruit Cake, Herb Garlic Garden, GingerFruit Muesli Munch and Choco Twilight Biscotti. They’re available in limited quantity from Dec 1 to 23 and each snack box is priced at $12, excluding a delivery charge of $2.90 per box. Free delivery is available with a purchase of 5 or more boxes. Pre-order a box via BoxGreen’s gift page.
Photo: MAC Cosmetics
Matte lippies are all the rage now and we have something makeup addicts everywhere will approve of. MAC cosmetics has released a special Christmas collection comprising five colours, of which three have a matte finish. Choose from Kingdom of Sweets (soft, milky pink; cremesheen), Flamboyish (hot, deep pink; matte), Saucy Little Darling deep coral red; amplified crème), So Good For You Furiously Festive (intense cool red; matte) or Leap of Delight (deep plum purple; matte).
Photo: OSIM
Are you guilty of making your mum do your share of household chores? This hamper could be your way of saying you appreciate their time and effort. Each item is originally priced between $199.80 to $398 so it’s a pretty good deal since you get to choose two items from their list of options. And no one is stopping you from treating yourself with a set of your own.
Choose any two of these: OSIM uMist Dream Humidifier, OSIM uTingle Portable Massager, OSIM uPure 2 Water Purifier or the OSIM uPixie USB Pulse Massager.
Photo: Sheshops
For the stylish friend who’s never seen without an accessory, add to her collection with a modern rhodium cuff bangle she can wear for all occasions – from work to parties. Available on www.accessories.sheshops.com.
Melissa Space Love + Jason Wu III. The it-flat features a graceful and simple design with a fabric bow on the upper, and is available in luxurious gold, pastel pink, black and brown. Photo: Melissa Shoes
Continuing Melissa’s partnership with Taiwanese-Canadian fashion designer Jason Wu, this season sees the designer apply his clear design aesthetics to offer minimalist and romantic styles. Our favourite from this collection is Wu’s updated classic Space Love shape which now brings us the Melissa Space Love + Jason Wu III. The shoe features a fabric bow at the top and is available in gold, pastel pink, black and brown.
Photo: The Body Shop
This skincare gift set is the perfect present for anyone wanting to give the gift of youthful-looking skin. The set includes a tub of Drops of Youth Youth Day Cream (50ml) and a bottle of Drops of Youth Youth Concentrate (30ml). This range is amazing for those with dry skin and while it’s not part of this gift set, the Drops of Youth sleeping pack is also an excellent product from the collection. We highly recommend it!
Photo: Coach
With the new year just around the corner, perhaps it’s also time to switch things up and get a new wallet. Yes, there’s always a new reason (or excuse) for women to buy a new wallet or purse. This beige-white long wallet by American label Coach comes with studded details and would be suitable for ladies who prefer more compartments in their wallets.
The Little Flame Co. specialises in handmade soy candles. Photo: K+ Curatorial Space
Aussie candle makers The Little Flame Co. specialises in handmade soy candles and have released three Chrismas specials: Champange & Strawberries, Toasted Marshmallows and Christmas Pudding. There are also at least eight different scents to choose from among its regular offerings. Imagine having your house smell of toasted marshmallows when you have guests over for X’mas — what a treat for the senses! This range of candles is available at K+ Curatorial Space located in Scotts Square.
Photo: Eu Yan Sang
While some of us might enjoy drinking bird’s nest soup for its health benefits or purely because of its taste, local brand Eu Yan Sang’s Radiance Bird’s Nest aims to be a beauty booster. It’s also packaged very nicely, so those of us who are terrible at wrapping gifts will find this extremely helpful.
The brand’s Radiance Bird’s Nest Premium Rock Sugar series could be a hit among ladies because the bird’s nest used in this range was derived from “careful selection and meticulous cleaning” to help preserve the delicacy’s signature golden-yellow colour and nutritional properties. The ingredients are also 100 per cent natural and no artificial flavourings or stabilisers were added. And the best part? It reportedly nourishes and brings out that natural glow most ladies covet.
Photo: Crabtree & Evelyn
Part of Crabtree & Evelyn’s new Feast for the Senses Christmas Collection, this Rose Pineapple Solid Perfume can be applied onto pulse points. This might come in handy for busy working ladies who’d like to carry around pocket-sized scents in their purse or leave on their office desk to use after lunch or even before a meeting.
Photo: SK-II
For someone who’s already a fan of SK-II’s popular Facial Treatment Essence, why not give her the gift of a beautiful limited edition bottle? The Japanese beauty brand’s festive design this year is inspired by Suminagashi art, which means floating ink.
The bottles come in three colours – red, blue and green, and are available only in coffret sets starting from $259. The set comes with a 230ml bottle of its pitera-filled Facial Treatment Essence and a 230ml bottle of the Facial Treatment lotion.
Photo: Radium Aesthetics
The season of giving is also a wonderful opportunity to pamper your loved ones and help them look and feel good. And there’s nothing more luxurious for a woman who loves preening than a moisturising facial treatment. Local aesthetic doctor Dr Siew Tuck Wah recently opened his first clinic at Suntec City and long-time customers can attest to the facials and laser treatments done by him.
The clinic’s 75-min Serenity Skin Restoration facial treatment is meant to rejuvenate the skin while “delivering moisture into the deeper layers of your skin for reduce any appearance of fine lines on your skin”. For those looking to try out cosmetic laser treatments, you’ll be in good hands with Dr Siew — who is also the co-founder and president of animal welfare group SOSD. A good start could be with a 20-min treatment (LASEMD Cosmeceutical Delivery Laser, $498 before GST), which is designed to reduce pigmentation as well as improve skin tone, texture and elasticity.
Photo: Lacoste
For its annual ‘Holiday Collector’ edition, Lacoste collaborated with French graphic designer Jean-Paul Goude to design the logo on limited edition items such as polo shirts as well as the brand’s holiday packaging. One of the two graphics in this edition is embroidered on a navy small leather pique of a tote from the “Chantaco” line. An apt piece of arm candy for the working woman. The collection is only available at Lacoste Wisma Atria and Vivocity.
Photo: Keepers
If your girlfriend is a big fan of aromatherapy or is in need of relaxation from her stressful daily life, this gift set, which contains a deluxe 2oz travel sized candle and a 15ml Room and Linen Perfume Mist in the store’s best selling scents of Dawn or Dusk, is perfect.
Photo: Poh Heng
Homegrown jeweller Poh Heng has released its latest charm collection, Carousel, just in time for Christmas. The charms are handcrafted on a 22K yellow gold or 18K white gold chain. There is also a festive charm collection for this season called ‘Go for Joy’. It includes a wide selection of charms featuring a rose-gold gift box, a 22K yellow gold snowflake snowflake, an 18K white gold ice cream complete with yellow sapphires and even a martini glass. We think this pretty piece would make a great gift for that special someone or a cherished family member.
Photo: LUSH
Who can resist a packaging as adorable as this? Unwrap this little bundle and you’ll find two different bath bombs: Butterball and Shoot For The Stars. We’ve tried the latter out for ourselves and it will literally fill your bath tub with glitter. So if you have that one friend who enjoys a little (or a lot) of sparkle in her life — this could be all that she needs.
And for the first time ever, the whole Christmas range by Lush is self-preserving. This means the products’ formulas were fine-tuned to balance water levels or replace preservatives with natural alternatives. The brand prides itself on ethically sourced raw materials and essential oils and even their packaging is both recycled and recyclable. Nothing is tested on animals too. So if you know anyone who prefers using all-natural products, this is a great option.
Photo: Sephora
The British beauty brand’s products check all the right boxes when it comes to cheeky, attention-grabbing packaging and effective products. Whether for a gift exchange party or as part of a hamper, this award-winning body butter should not be omitted from your list of gifts to give.
Photo: Sephora
Give your skin a break after all the makeup you’ve been putting on for the numerous Christmas parties with this kit packed with popular masks from Sephora. The kit contains several masks for several occasions and skin types – from clay masks to sheet and sleeping masks.
Photo: Inga Cosmetics
Sleek packaging, various shades of sexy hues, as well as a cream matte formula that glides on like a dream, here’s a lippie we won’t hesitate to gift our beauty-loving pals. Developed by established Singapore makeup artist Marie Soh of 27A, who has been doing makeup for brides, as well as editorial and commercial projects for almost five years you can be assured of the quality of the lipsticks’ quality. What we also love? The shades – from nudes to dramatic darker plums and mauves – come with names that mean beautiful across different languages. Available at www.ingacosmetics.com.
Photo: Sephora
For the friend who seems to have everything already, this body care set from organic brand Burt’s Bees is the perfect way to show her you care.