This is the luxurious, delightfully grown-up (and mess-free) version of those coffee scrubs that were all the rage a few years ago. It’s supposed to smell like a delicious dessert, (without any calorific downside). The raw sugar, coconut shell, and sea-salt combo gently buff away the dry, flaky skin, and the Shea butter + coconut oil will hydrate and replenish my dry skin. I’m going to look great and smell like a Mounds Bar right into the New Year.

This is an old favourite, but always a cherished gift! What is it about French women? All that effortless je ne sais quoi!  I might be baffled how they manage it, but I’m not averse to stealing the occasional ‘secret’ – and this one is as cult-status as they come. This oil does everything. Add a few drops to your moisturiser for an extra glow, slather it on your stretch marks, or rub it into your hair for a subtly scented instant shine. It will legit quench the thirstiest skin but never feels sticky and, much like the French women, I’m damned if I know how it works. Only that it does. P.S. It also smells divine.

The sound and texture of a regular emery board sets my teeth on edge, but until recently I was clueless as to an alternative. It was only when the COVID-prompted home manicure became a thing that I discovered Crystal Nail Files earlier this year. I read about them in an article that says glass nail files gently buff your nails while sealing the edges of keratin together. Perfect for shaping your nails between salon visits! I’m hinting heavily for the crystal cuticle stick and foot file now to complete my collection.

Sometime around my mid-thirties my hands started to get seriously thirsty. So, now I have hand cream within reaching distance of most places. In my car (obviously!), on my desk, by my bed, and next to every sink. It’s the kind of product that acts as the perfect prompt because it’s not easy to walk past a bottle of hand cream without stopping briefly to slather it on. This is the only one I buy. Why? Because it’s that damn good (and it comes in delicious fragrances like Japanese Quince, Lemon Myrtle, and Australian White Grapefruit). They are always on my wish list!

When I want to be where other people are not, I can usually be found in the tub. It’s my happy place. Pre-soak is the ideal time to use the Heales Dry Brush - this fine specimen (vegan, made with FSC-certified wood and sisal bristles) I find it so invigorating! It makes my skin positively glow and has improved my terrible circulation. After my bath (usually served with a side of pinot grigio and an episode of something no one else wants to watch). I’ve asked for the cult-y Heales Apothecary Body Oil that supposedly smells good and feels even better. This combo is the perfect example of a gift so nice you want to give it TWICE – grab one for a friend and another for yourself.

File this one under “perfect for my hard-to-buy-for friends.” Everyone has had that ancient French-fry or pizza smell in their car. This gift is the Holy Grail: appropriate for anyone, practical AND beautiful! A million miles away from those tacky air fresheners you see at the car wash, this looks like fine jewelry. You just add a few drops of your favourite essential oil into the felt locket, clip it into your vent, and it infuses your car with a scent that dispels unwanted odours. I’ve asked for one, but am also buying 4 of them to give as gifts!

After some recent low-level insomnia, I decided to try this out as part of my new night-time ritual. Talk about a change in the atmosphere! This ultra-chic diffuser uses ultra-sonic vibrations (I have no idea what that means either) to stream pure essential oil and moisture into the air. Thus, replacing the dry, scratchy night time feels with a soft, scented sedative has seen me joyfully hop into bed and start counting zzz’s before 10 pm. An added bonus is that my skin looks plumper and better hydrated in the morning. I’m now hinting for more oils to try– Goodnight Y’all.