Last Minute Christmas Gifts 2020

Saturday, December 12, 2020
Today's post is my penultimate Christmas gift guide of the year! The lead up to Christmas has really sped by but thankfully there's still time to purchase (in-store or online) a range of wonderful Christmas gifts for friends, family, neighbours or colleagues. I wanted to include a very wide range of gift ideas in today's post so we have a few stocking fillers and essentials as well as a few non-fiction book recommendations, along with a unique subscription box, home fragrance ideas and a rather luxe item that would be ideal for dads and grandads. 
*Justice Professional Cool Mint Shampoo and Conditioner (£9.99 each)
Let's begin with a few essentials that I think would make fantastic, practical stocking fillers (or as part of a self care hamper). Justice Professional is a new-to-me salon quality brand, from Just Cuts. They have a great selection of haircare products as well as treatments, styling tools and home hair colour, along with three inexpensive Christmas hair packs which look very colourful and festive! 

I was very kindly sent a few of their products, including the cool mint shampoo and conditioner which are both designed to improve circulation, stabilise oil production, correct irritation and promote hair growth. I have definitely noticed a lot of hair loss during 2020 and I think it is something a lot of us have experienced due to anxiety and stress so I hope this very refreshing duo will help with long term use. 

*Justice Professional Treatment Mask (£11.99)
The product I've been using the most and that I was initially impressed by has to be the treatment mask. The mask contains vitamins and oils to strengthen, moisturise, add shine and to revitalise coloured hair. I've used it on dry hair and then followed with the cool mint shampoo and I have used it as directed - both left my hair feeling smoother, moisturised and softer. I'll definitely be using all three products from Justice Professional throughout the winter months to try to strengthen my hair and restore it to it's normal pre-pandemic state! 
*Limited Edition Christmas Carfume (£11.99)
Another fantastic practical stocking filler is a car fragrance from Carfume (great name!). The car fragrance  comes in a variety of aftershave and perfume scents such as Black Opium, Si, Alien and Flowerbomb, to name a few. However they also have a selection of three limited edition christmas fragrances to choose from as well including Christmas spice, Christmas tree and gingerbread - I was kindly sent the latter. 

Each car air freshener comes with a hand painted glass bottle, cork stopper and fragrance of your choice - there are so many to choose from. Additionally, you can choose from their premium range, gift sets, deluxe boxed air fresheners, home air fresheners, wax melts, diffusers, subscription and more. I personally love the limited edition christmas option and the gingerbread scent as it looks so festive, especially with the red glass bottle. I cannot recommend it enough as a cute, heavenly scented and practical stocking filler. 
*Temple Spa Siesta Forever Candle (£25)
Sticking with the theme of heavenly scented products, next up are two gorgeous and luxe candles that I think anyone would love to receive this christmas! Temple Spa has been one of my favourite brands for a couple of years but it has become even more of a go-to brand this year as I have been using their incredible Be Gone cleansing creme constantly (my skin adores it). However, I've also been a little obsessed with their Quietude room spray and Siesta Forever candle too.

The candle is composed of natural wax with a relaxing blend of essential oils which has a burn time of around 45 hours. The scent is wonderfully calming, relaxing and subtle - it is not headache inducing or too strong. I think it is the ideal relaxing candle for those who don't love overpowering or strong scents. Check out the fantastic Temple Spa gift sets too!

*Rituals The Ritual of Jing Candle (£19.90)
I received this gorgeous candle in the LookFantastic x Rituals box earlier this year and I utterly adore every single product from that box, my absolute favourites being the hand cream and candle. Firstly, the packaging is so simple but beautiful and the scent is even more so. It has a very calming and soothing scent but it is also quite woody, natural and earthy - which is definitely my kind of scent! 
*The Passenger: Japan published by Europa Editions (£18.99)
Next up, I wanted to recommend a few non-fiction books as 2020 has definitely been the year of non-fiction for me with some of my favourite books of the year being non-fiction. One of the most beautifully published non-fiction books I read in 2020 has to be an essay/article collection published by Europa Editions, all about various aspects of Japanese culture and its people. It is both an interesting glimpse into a culture I didn't know too much about but it is also a look into facets of the Japanese people, their customs and traditions as well as devastatingly tragic experiences and natural disasters. 

You'll have to read my upcoming favourite books of the year post to read the full list of my non-fiction recommendations from 2020 but here are a few books I'd highly recommend as Christmas gifts this year, for readers and non-readers alike:

  • Tiny Tattoos by Rebecca Vincent 
  • City of Light, City of Poison by Holly Tucker 
  • Smoke Gets In Your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty 
  • The Smile Stealers by Richard Barnett
  • Stiff by Mary Roach 

Make sure you are following me on GoodReads to see my occasional reviews, ratings and what I'm currently reading! I'm currently reading a great non-fiction book, Cursed Objects by J.W Ocker which is fantastic and so far, I'd recommend it too. 
*Skimming Stones Subscription Box (£25)
My penultimate gift idea is a great option for those who love crafting and DIY as it is a subscription box focusing on beautiful fabrics that you can transform into a beautiful item each month! The box contains a new project and everything you need to create it including handy step by step instructions, delivered straight to your door with free postage. You can purchase a one off box which would make a great gift for £25 or you can purchase a flexible subscription for £25 each month. In addition to the subscription box you can also purchase fabric and accessories such as pre-made wash bags, tote bags and more - although orders of these items will be made after the 15th January. 

I was very kindly sent their December box which features a wash bag and pouch project that includes their beautiful 'forget me not' fabric which I adore! I love the look of the design and so far the instructions have been easy to follow but as sewing isn't my forte, the project is taking me a little while to complete; however I'll be sure to share my final creation when it is finished on instagram soon (@ofbeautyand). I think it would make a fantastic and unique gift for anyone who loves fabric and crafting. Order before the 27th December to receive the January box which includes a project to create fabric hearts filled with lavender - how cute! 
*Barrington Single Watch Winder - Shadow Black (£149)
The final gift within today's gift guide is a fantastic, luxe option that I think would be ideal for dads and granddads. The Barrington watch winder is designed to be used with automatic watches - watches that do not have a battery which typically means older and or higher end watches. The watch winder I was very kindly sent is the shadow black option (love the name) in the standard size but it is also available in a flexible cushion size as well as a wide range of colours from burnt amber, crimson red, midnight blue and racing green to slightly more unique options including electric yellow, American walnut, grey koto and glacier white, among others. As well as the single watch winder, there are dual winders, along with four, six, nine and twelve options too. 

I think it would make a very luxe gift, although it is a fantastic price compared to other watch winders online; however the quality isn't compromised. We all know by now how much I love aesthetically pleasing gifts that are also very practical so this one ticks all of the boxes and I think my grandad will absolutely love it; especially as it beats a pair of socks and a tin of biscuits which is what he usually wants for Christmas! They also have a variety of watch cases, storage options and a repair kit so if the watch winder is a little out of your price range, you can still pick up a fantastic gift from their selection.

What do you think of my gift ideas? Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? 

* AD - gifted items sent to me, not paid

9 comments

  1. Anything minty and I am game! Will definitely check out these x

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  2. Barrington watch winders are definitely amazing quality x

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  3. Some great ideas and candles are always a good idea x

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  4. I'd happily add the Temple Spa set to my wishlist! xx

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  5. You've included so many great ideas. I have the gingerbread carfume and it smells amazing. They would make such lovely gifts for people.

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  6. So many great ideas, I am going to have to get some of these!

    Danielle xx
    https://www.thereluctantblogger.co.uk/

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  7. These are all amazing ideas, I've pretty much finished my Christmas shopping now xx

    Tiffany x www.foodandotherloves.co.uk

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  8. I have the same Temple Spa candle - it's so relaxing!

    Jasmine xx

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