It’s gift-giving season once again, which means a lot of us are in the middle of figuring a balance between relaying just how much we care and not burning a hole in our pocket. We can be generous and smart by going through a Christmas checklist.
Here’s our luxury on a budget guide for gift-givers willing to shell out a little more to spoil their loved ones.
Innisfree Green Holidays Jeju root energy masks
South Korean brand Innisfree has become one of our beauty faves. Its goodies are sure to put a smile on anyone’s face, especially a friend who’s keen on skincare and a big Hallyu fan.
For its 2020 Green Holidays collection, Innisfree is putting some of its top products into fun packaging made in collaboration with LA-based artist Steven Harrington. It includes the 8-piece Jeju root energy mask set that retails for P630, a vegan gift that will have your friend’s skin glowing through the holidays. It has root vegetable variants in carrot, beet, potato, burdock, kohlrabi, lotus root, ginger and yam. Each mask has a different formula to address different skin problems so you can gift it as a set or divide it among friends, depending on their needs.
Our other picks from the line are the moisturizing green tea seed serum and perfumed hand cream set. Another cool thing about the Green Holiday line is that a portion of every purchase will be donated to Indigenous students and teachers in Zambales.
Swatch’s holiday special HohoOuch watch
Swatch is known for creating gorgeous timepieces that a lot of couples enjoy sporting as a pair. Not only does the brand know how to incorporate romance its designs, it also occasionally adds a bit of humor. A case in point is its holiday special HohoOuch watch that you can gift as a ninang or give your kid-at-heart BFF.
The limited-edition New Gent piece has Santa crash landing from his sleigh. Judging from the cracked ice and snow details, that’s got to hurt. Retailing for P6,250, the unusual design is a reminder that the holidays call for some silliness and smiles.
Kurimu’s handcrafted Kohi Cream ice cream
You can never go wrong with sending sweets. Kurimu’s premium handcrafted ice cream is an instant pick me up for any foodie and a great Noche Buena dessert. Known for its Japanese-inspired flavors, Kurimu ice cream tastes as good as a well-deserved holiday trip.
The latest addition to its menu is the Kohi cream that infuses the brand’s signature ice cream base with Yardstick Coffee’s Golden Ticket Blend. It has coffee notes of milk chocolate, almonds and caramel. Partnering with A-HA! Learning Center, Kurimu will donate a portion of every Kohi Cream purchase from Nov. 27 to Dec. 11 to support public school children with free after-school educational solutions.
The ice cream’s 16-ounce pints retail for P420. Our other faves are the equally rich Shoyu caramel and black sesame flavors.
Pond’s Ultimate Miracle collection
It wasn’t until this year that a lot of us really got to appreciate preventative skincare. Going through several glow-ups and breakouts these past few months is, truthfully, pretty exhausting. If you have a sibling or a parent (and even the friend who’s a first-time mom) with a similar experience, maybe a regimen is the gift that they’ve been hoping for.
Pond’s Age Miracle line includes an eye cream, a double-action serum, a day cream, a nourishing essence and a night cream. Originally priced at P3,187, the limited edition Ultimate Miracle Collection box retails for P1,899 on the Lazada 12.12 sale. It’s morning and bedtime sets come in a big red box which is pretty handy for anyone who still struggles with the art of gift-wrapping.
Another set you could try out is Pond’s Dewy Duo made up of a 3-in-1 essence and serum burst cream. Smelling like roses, it’s pretty soothing too.
Your Usuals handcrafted body bars
Your Usuals is a new artisanal shop in town that has become one of our R&R buddies. It offers a collection of cold process (which means it doesn’t require heat in production) soap bars and soy candles that a friend who’s stressed out or really passionate about self-care can definitely appreciate.
You can opt for a P540 duo set or a P735 trio set that allows you to mix and match the goodies. The duo set has three variants: Going Mint-al, Night Night, Darling and O, Please. On Dec. 12, you can get 12% off your order.
Rest assured, all their products are paraben-free, sulfate-free and animal-cruelty free. Plus, there’s really nothing sexier than supporting local.
What will you be copping from our list?
Art by Jan Cardasto
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