Shopping for the Perfect Gift this Festive Season

Whoever you’re buying for this festive season, we have some gift ideas of all sizes, and to suit all budgets. Stocking fillers are a great way to introduce friends and family to natural and green living.

Here are our top picks to help make your Christmas shopping experience a little less stressful, all from the comfort of your own home.

Gifts for Mum

We have two beautiful limited edition gift sets for this Christmas from Avalon Organics. The Brilliant Balance Gift Set is great for sensitive skin and helps brighten the skin. As well as a free cosmetic bag the set contains:

• Ultimate Night Cream to deeply moisturise and encourages skin rejuvenation to minimise fine lines and wrinkles.
• Exfoliating Enzyme Scrub with finely ground walnut shell to gently buff away dead skin cells to uncover fresh, luminous skin.
• Lightweight Daily Moisturiser to infuse skin with vital hydration.

The Intense Defense Gift Set helps anti-age the skin with vitamin C, lemon and white tea to naturally boost collagen and elastin production. As well as a free cosmetic bag the set contains:

• Renewal Cream that encourages collagen and elastin production to strengthen skin's underlying support structure so the surface feels soft and resilient and signs of ageing fade.
• Hydrating Cleansing Milk with botanical cleansers to lift away impurities, leaving skin smooth, hydrated and never tight.
• Antioxidant Oil with a blend of apricot, raspberry and argan oil that absorbs quickly, reinforcing skin's natural lipid barrier to lock in moisture and protects skin against environmental stressors.

Gifts for New Mother & Baby’s First Christmas

Mothers don’t always have an easy time with post-pregnancy skin. Stretch marks are the common condition that springs to mind but sensitivity, acne, pigmentation, dryness and redness are all problems that new Mums can face. To help them get their glow back we recommend gifting them an easy to follow skincare routine from Antipodes.

Obviously everyone’s skin is different so if you want more specific advice please email us. If we had to put together a simple 3 step “universal kit” however we would include:

1. Grace Gentle Cream Cleanser - dermatologically approved for sensitive skin with anti-inflammatory Vinanza Oxifend, and avocado oil and marigold flower to gently yet effectively cleanse, freshen and soften your visage.
2. Apostle Skin Brightening Serum - a water-based serum to help target pigmentation, brighten your skin and restore even tone. Packed with antioxidants, and kiwifruit exfoliating enzymes to renew skin for true fresh-faced beauty.
3. Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream - with revolutionary antioxidant Vinanza Grape to keep skin healthy and energised, and antibacterial manuka honey to help keep skin clean and free of blemishes

One useful product from Antipodes that can be used on both mothers and babies is the Saviour Skin Balm. Some of our customers swear by it for stretch marks, and it can help relieve babies of cradle cap and nappy rash.

If you’re looking for some organic products for babies’ sensitive skin, we suggest you check out Earth’s Best Baby.

Gifts for the Green Teen Girl

Girls grow up quickly, who doesn’t remember dipping into their mother’s makeup bag when they weren’t looking, or spritzing a bit of their perfume before going out. We’re learning more and more about a group of ingredients known as phthalates that are regularly found in perfume, and the effect that these chemicals can have on our hormones. To keep your teenager happily stocked with clean and green beauty products, we recommend Pacifica’s range of makeup, body care and perfume. All vegan and cruelty-free.

Gifts for the Health & Fitness Freak

We all have at least one in our lives, and whilst they can be difficult to cook Christmas dinner for buying them a gift doesn’t have to be! For the green foodie, gym bunny or yoga addict we recommend stuffing their stocking with some superfoods. Amazing Grass offer both sachets and tubs of their certified organic green superfood powders which are great for active types who are always on the go. For healthy home cooks, Nutiva offer organic coconut, hemp and chia superfoods - watch out for our Christmas cooking with Nutiva post coming soon!

Gifts for the Men in Our Lives

Ladies, let’s face it: men can be difficult to buy for, particularly when it comes to toiletries. Many are set in their ways when it comes to their grooming regimen, sticking to what they’ve used since their first trip to the chemist all those years ago.

Whilst the metrosexuals men among us, Sam Smith included, are reaching for Antipodes products, not all guys are going to be quite as open-minded. To help switch the man in your life to a greener lifestyle, we recommend a selection of natural stocking fillers to help him make the transition one step at a time:

• JASON Anti-Razor Burn Shaving Lotion - many mainstream shaving products contain all sorts of undesirable ingredients such as SLS, parabens, parfum, phthalates and triethanolamine. This alternative is a natural soap-free shaving lotion with jojoba beads to exfoliate skin and lift hair and soothing Aloe Vera Gel to soften even the toughest haris and form a protective cushion of rich lather for a close and comfortable shave.
• JASON Hi-Shine Styling Gel - most mass market styling products contain petrochemicals which are not very healthy. JASON’s gel contains a unique blend of panthenol, plant proteins and extracts plus flax seed adds body and volume with great structure and a lustrous shine.
• JASON Naturally Fresh Deodorant Stick for Men - antiperspirants contain aluminium salts which block and may aggravate your sweat pores. Aluminium has been indicated in several health conditions. JASON deodorant is clinically proven to provide all day odour protection.