Wednesday, 6 December 2023

Christmas Gift Guide | The Best Gifts for Gen-Xers


From calming candles and innovative beauty devices to must-have homeware and extraordinary novels, I've rounded up some of the best presents to gift the Gen-Xer in your life this holiday season...


Our Place | Always Pan 2.0
First up is a gift for the home cooks or aspiring chefs. It is the much-hyped Always Pan 2.0 (£130 fromourplace.co.uk), a 10-in-1 cookware system that really does it all. Deep enough to roast a chicken and shallow enough to flip an egg, the Always Pan 2.0 is the gold standard for versatility, doing the job of ten pieces of traditional cookware.

The 25.5cm pan braises, sears, steams, strains, sautes, fries, boils, bakes, serves, and stores! It features Thermakind, Our Place's exclusive, most advanced, 50% longer lasting ceramic nonstick coating made without potentially toxic materials like PFAS (including PTFEs and PFOAs), lead, and cadmium. It is also oven safe up to 230°C and induction compatible, meaning it can do anything for anyone with any type of kitchen.


Poppy Cooks | The Actually Delicious Air Fryer Cookbook
Another great gift for home cooks or aspiring chefs is the Poppy Cooks: The Actually Delicious Air Fryer Cookbook (£18 WHSmith).

In this book, TikTok superstar Poppy O'Toole shares her fool-proof air fryer recipes and shows you how to get the most out of your appliance.

100 recipes feature in the book – ranging from light bites and puddings, to mains and sweet treats. Every recipe is elevated with hacks, tips, and flavour ideas, giving readers the best chance to create something mouth wateringly good. Recipe highlights include the perfect roast potatoes with extra crunch, veggie corn ribs, succulent chicken wings, and blondies with fully customisable flavours.


Estée Lauder | Show off Your Glow
For the makeup lovers, I recommend gifting the Estée Lauder Show Off Your Glow Gift Set (£69 beautybay.com).

This limited-edition gift set contains a full size Futurist Watery Glow Primer, full size Limited Edition Highlighter in Luminizer, and a full size Pure Color Revitalizing Crystal Balm, all of which are guaranteed to delivery glowing, healthy-looking skin.

The Futurist Watery Glow Primer instantly triples skin's moisture levels and strengthens the skin barrier to provide all day and long-term moisture. The lightweight, watery fresh formula is designed to be worn alone or under foundation for skin that’s plumped, dewy, and radiant.

The Limited-Edition Highlighter gives skin an overall soft glow thanks to a soft champagne shade that compliments all skin tones.

Finally, the Pure Color Revitalizing Crystal Balm revitalises skin with all-day lip plumping hydration. The colour included is the universally flattering Caring Crystal, a glowing raspberry with a warm undertone and shimmer finish.


Benefit | Nice List Lashes
Another great makeup gift to give this year is the Benefit Nice List Lashes (£45 very.co.uk). It is a limited edition gift set that contains three of the San Fran beauty brand's best-selling mascaras (full size!), alongside a mini version of the Fan Fest Fanning Volumising Mascara. This new mascara is designed to amplify volume and multiply the look of lashes to deliver a 24-hour full-fan effect.

The full-size mascaras featured in the Nice List Lashes gift set include BADgal Bang! - a volumising mascara in intense pitch black, Roller Lash - a super-curling and lifting mascara in black, and They’re Real! - a lengthening mascara in jet black.


Spectrum | Katie Jane Hughes 11 Piece Brush Set
For those that are serious about makeup, the Spectrum x Katie Jane Hughes 11 Piece Brush Set (£99.99 spectrumcollections.com) will make the perfect gift.

This 11 piece set will help create the glowy complexion, inspired eye looks, and fun details that Jane Hughes' artistry is celebrated for. Each brush has been beautifully crafted and is bespoke to Katie’s unique style of makeup. In addition to the luxe brushes, the set also includes Katie's essential microfibre brush towel to emulate her buffing technique, true to her way of working as a celebrity and editorial makeup artist. 

The brushes feature cream coloured synthetic bristles that are complimented by robust pale gold-hued ferrules. The handles boast a gorgeous olive-toned and are finished in a tapered design made from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) sustainable wood.


Nails.INC | Winter Wonderful Mani

If the woman you're gifting would choose a good mani over makeup, then she is sure to love the Nails.INC Winter Wonderful Mani (£25 Sephora).

This nail set provides the basics for keeping nails looking healthy and primed for a perfect manicure. It includes the NailKale Base Coat (12ml), 45 Second Top Coat (12ml), Sprinkled With Love Gel Effect Longwear Plumped Polish (12ml), Kneady Hands Sheet Masks, and a nail file.

The Base Coat, Top Coat, and Polish all feature the patented, wide hugging brush that is exclusive to Nails.INC. It is ergonomically designed to work with the shape of the nail, make application easier, and minimise the number of strokes required per application.


Helen Sanderson | The Secret Life of Clutter

For the women who have too much stuff and never enough storage, I recommend gifting The Secret Life of Clutter (£16.99 Waterstones), a thoughtful and surprisingly emotional account of our complex relationship with stuff.

In this book, psychotherapist, interior designer, and one of the UK’s most well-respected clutter experts, Helen Sanderson, tells inspiring stories of people whose blocked homes mirrored a blockage in their life. Filled with compassion and understanding, The Secret Life of Clutter helps uncover the psychological reasons that lie beneath your clutter. Unlocking some of the meaning your possessions may hold can free you to say goodbye to what you no longer need, whilst keeping your precious memories intact.

The insights revealed in this book will help you understand some of the factors that may be sabotaging your efforts to make more space. It will inspire you to act and create a home that you love, that loves you back - a home that reflects who you are and the life you want to live. You'll never look at your clutter - or your home - the same way again.


Dr Sebagh | Plump and Glow Set
For the skincare obsessed, you can't go wrong with gifting the Dr Sebagh Plump and Glow Set (£178 libertylondon.com).

This luxurious gift set showcases a glow-boosting trio that includes Dr Sebagh’s Rose De Vie Serum (30ml), Serum Repair (20ml), and Pure Vitamin C (5g x 2). Designed with youthful radiance in mind, these three powerhouse formulas are enriched with hydrolysed collagen, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and rose hip oil. They work in synergy to flood skin with moisture, strengthen the skin’s natural defences, and improve texture, resulting in a glowing and healthy complexion.

The Plump and Glow Set is suitable for all skin types, particularly dry, mature, and very sensitive.


Clarins | Beauty Flash Balm Collection

For a more affordable skincare gift, I recommend the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm Collection (£38 John Lewis). This limited-edition set is a celebration of the Clarins fan favourite, Beauty Flash Balm. It is a radiance-boosting trio made up of the Beauty Flash Balm, Lip Perfector Mini, and SOS Primer White Mini.

The Beauty Flash Balm (50ml) is a much-loved skin saviour that restores skin’s youthful glow, diminishes signs of fatigue, and smooths and soothes the skin.

The Lip Perfector Mini (5ml) is an award-winning glossy lip balm that comes in the shade Rose Shimmer.

The SOS Primer White Mini (10ml) is a makeup hybrid that combines skincare with instant colour correction to leave the complexion flawlessly glowing. The formula improves makeup hold, delivers 24-hour hydration, and nourishes and balances skin.


NEOM | Cosy Nights
Candles are universally loved by most women, so you can never go wrong with gifting one at Christmas. There are hundreds of candle brands on the market but when it comes to which has the best scents, best projection, and best lasting power, it's NEOM.

As for which NEOM candle to gift, I recommend the Cosy Nights scented candle (£50 Selfridges). Available in a three wick, one wick, and one wick travel size, the 100% natural Cosy Nights fragrance is the perfect scent to enjoy when you’ve come in from the cold. It is formulated with a rich blend of pure essential oils including sandalwood, frankincense, and nutmeg. Sophisticated festive aromas of blazing embers and smoky firewood are also included to help you relax and conjure up memories of snuggling by an open fire on a warm, winter night.


L'Occitane | Noble Epine EDP
For the fragrance fans, L'Occitane's new Noble Epine (£69 QVC) will make for the perfect present. This captivating eau de parfum is formulated with a delightful blend of fruity freshness, floral and almondy softness, and musky notes. It is the perfect scent for any occasion, whether you're heading out for a special event or simply want to feel uplifted throughout the day.

Noble Epine features top notes of bergamot, almond, and pear, heart notes of magnolia, may blossom, and peony, and base notes of blond wood, musk, and Ambroxan.


Virtue | Holiday Healthy Hair Revival Kit
For the hair obsessed, I recommend gifting the Virtue Healthy Hair Revival Kit (£93 lookfantastic.com). It features two of Virtue’s award-winning repair products, the Restorative Treatment Mask (150ml) and Healing Oil (£50).

The Restorative Treatment Mask is a creamy but weightless mask that has been formulated to deeply nourish, hydrate, and repair damage in just three minutes. It is rich in hair-saving keratin and healing plant extracts that include brown algae and aramanthus seed.

The Healing Oil is a treatment designed to deliver immediate shine, as well as strengthen and protect the hair. It is formulated with Tahitian tiare flower to help remedy weak and damaged strands, as well as antioxidant-rich Kalahari melon seed oil to protect against environmental aggressors and provide long-lasting hydration.


Silke London | Hair Wrap
Another great haircare gift is the Silke London Hair Wrap (£50 currentbody.com).

Made from the highest-quality 100% mulberry silk, SILKE’s Hair Wrap protects the hair from friction and moisture absorption while you sleep.

By cocooning the hair throughout the night and saving it from tugging and snagging, this silky-soft hair wrap is able to promote growth, boost thickness, and reduce flyaways. It is also ideal for freshly styled tresses as it prevents kinking or creasing, revealing salon-quality styles day after day.

Working to a one-size-fits-all approach, the Silke London Hair Wrap supports all hair types, from long to short and curly to straight, and features a discreet elasticated band that shrinks and expands to comfortably fit all head sizes.


Sebastian Faulks | The Seventh Son
For the book worms, I recommend gifting the latest Sebastian Faulks novel, The Seventh Son (£22 Waterstones).

The story of The Seventh Son begins when a young American academic, Talissa Adam, offers to carry another woman’s child with no idea of the life-changing consequences.

Behind the doors of the Parn Institute, a billionaire entrepreneur plans to stretch the boundaries of ethics as never before. Through a series of IVF treatments, which they hope to keep secret, they propose an experiment that will upend the human race as we know it.

Seth, the baby, is delivered to hopeful parents Mary and Alaric, but when his differences start to mark him out from his peers, he begins to attract unwanted attention.

Sweeping between New York, London, and the Scottish Highlands, The Seventh Son is an extraordinary novel about unrequited love and unearned power. It is described as a spectacular examination of what it is to be human.


CurrentBody | Skin LED Light Therapy Face Mask
If you want to gift something extra special for the woman in your life this year, make it the CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Face Mask (£299 currentbody.com). It is the number one best-selling LED face mask with 1000+ 5-star reviews and is proven to be at least 31% more powerful and effective than any other at-home red and near-infrared LED mask on the market.

Used by Halle Berry, Lily Collins, Suki Waterhouse, and Renée Zellweger, CurrentBody’s LED Light Therapy Face Mask provides four main skincare benefits. It firstly improves fine lines and wrinkles, thanks to two clinically proven wavelengths that stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. Secondly, it balances skin tone and soothes the symptoms of sensitive skin by reducing redness, rosacea, and the size of broken capillaries. Next, it evens tone and reduces texture by stimulating cell renewal and boosting circulation and cell oxygenation to improve the appearance of surface inflammation. Its final benefit is that it brightens.

The LED Light Therapy Face Mask is clinically proven to reduce wrinkles in just 4 weeks, with 95% of users having seen improved skin tone, texture, and firmness in this time.
This LED Light Therapy Mask is 100% pain free and delivers visible results in just 4 weeks when used consistently 10 minutes a day, 3 to 5 times per week.


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