Dose of Prose
Can you believe that after blogging for over 4 years I’ve never created a holiday gift guide?! I know, I can’t believe it either. If you’re reading this post right now, first of all, I want to say happy holidays! Secondly, I want to say thank you. I know there’s a ton of gift guides out there for you to choose from…and the fact that you’re taking time out of your day to use mine means a lot to me.
I recently wrote a post about how to always score great deals, so I recommend checking that out before you look at this guide. Even though there’s a ton of sales going on right now, I’m sure you all want to take advantage of deals year round. Check out that post to learn ways you can shop smarter at any time of the year.
As you look at my guide, feel free to browse around and hopefully you find something you love. For your reference, I’m also going to list the brands featured in the guide below and explain why I feel they make great gifts. Enjoy!
Your Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide
I call this gift guide timeless, because I believe the roundup of products I selected would make great gifts for anyone (including yourself) during any holiday or special occasion. I included a variety of products with a range of pricing to accommodate men, women and your personal budget.
To shop the products/brands listed in the guide, you have two options:
- Click the ‘download’ button below to access to guide, which will have clickable images for you to shop each item.
OR
2. Click the image below, which will take you to the guide, again where each individual image is linked and you can shop directly from the site.
Just click on any individual item and it’ll take you right where you need to go!
Why You Should Buy
FOR THE HAIR PRODUCT JUNKIE
Briogeo hair mask
I like this brand, not only because it’s Black-owned, but also because their products are amazing. I’ve been using the hair mask and shampoo duo for a while now and I love the way it makes my hair smell and feel. You can’t beat the price either. Getting this detox + restore kit is definitely a bang for your buck! If you or someone you know wants to create a spa-like experience at home, this Briogeo product will make the perfect gift.
Revlon blow dry brush
I normally go to the salon, but during the times where I have to take matters into my own hands, this Revlon hair tool has come in handy. If you’re looking to replicate a blowout at home and cut your blow drying time in half overall, this brush does the trick. I have kinky coily type 4 hair and it blows my hair out pretty straight. I plan to make a more in depth Youtube video review and demo about this brush, but in general, this tool is essential for someone who wants to achieve a salon-like look, without the time, effort and money.
FOR THE HOME FRAGRANCE HOARDER
P.F. Candle Co room spray
This local Los Angeles company is my go-to for all of my fragrance desires! The Teakwood and Tobacco smell is my personal favorite – think woodsy/forest/mountain scents combined with a sexy man’s cologne. I always get the incense, but they have candles, room/linen sprays, car perfumes, etc. You can’t go wrong with any item from P.F. Candle Co. – it makes a great addition to anyone’s home!
Poo-Pourri bathroom spray
I’m going to keep this one short and simple. Get yourself, your friends, family members and partner some poop spray. This is not the same as air freshener. You spray it in the toilet BEFORE you go and trust me, this stuff works. It literally creates a barrier between you and the smell of your bowels. Coming from me, who had to use community bathrooms in college and would hear ‘wow it smells good in here,’ every time someone new walked in while I was doing #2 in the bathroom…it’s safe to say that PooPourri eliminates it all.
FOR THE GYM RAT
Bala bangles
As you may or may not know, I am a huge fitness enthusiast, so I’m always on the lookout for new athleisure clothing brands and athletic equipment. Bala, anther LA company, has super trendy and futuristic-like workout gear that will take your workout experience to the next level. I have the Bala bangles, which are 1lb weights that you can wear around your wrists or ankles, as well as Bala gliders. They have a variety of colors and weights available, so take your pick. You won’t be disappointed!
FOR THE TRAVELER
MyCharge portable charger
Everyone needs a portable charger. Even if you don’t think you need one, you do. I like MyCharge because it’s not too bulky, it can charge all types of devices and it even has a USB port. This charger will come in clutch for someone I’m sure of it. Check it out.
FOR THE STUDENTS + THOSE WHO WORK FROM HOME
Swanwick blue light glasses
My vision is terrible and if I’m not wearing my glasses, I have in contacts. I hadn’t even heard of blue light glasses until recently, but once I got some for myself, it was a game changer. Since I work from home and am on the computer several hours a day, wearing Swannies doesn’t put so much pressure on my eyes and prevents me from getting a headache. They even have Swannies for those (like me) who wear glasses, so you can wear your Swannies over your regular glasses. I may look nerdy but you know what’s better than 4 eyes? 6 eyes!
FOR THE HOSTS & TEA DRINKERS
Tea Drops tea drinks
If you like tea, supporting small, minority-owned businesses and living sustainably, this product is for you. Tea Drops are organic loose-leaf teas without the tea bag. All you have to do is pour boiling water in your cup, drop the tea drop in the water, stir and enjoy. No steeping time, no clean up. Some of them are already sweetened too, so you don’t even have to add sugar! If you know me, you know that I’m definitely a coffee snob, but I still like to switch it up sometime and have tea. Tea Drops is a perfect way to start your day!
FOR THE PARENTS
The Laundress x Le Labo detergent
This is some of the best laundry detergent I’ve ever used. I am obsessed with the smell (again, think musk/sexy man cologne smell) and the fact that it’s highly concentrated, means that I don’t have to use a lot of it in one sitting. The Laundress (+Le Labo) are pricey, but for good reason and totally worth the splurge!
FOR THE SELF-CARE SPA LOVER
Ouai hair & body oil
This rose hair and body oil from Ouai is like perfume for your hair and a nice finishing touch on your skin post shower. I usually prefer warmer scents, but the smell of this oil is really light and not too old-lady-ish lol. It’s a versatile gift that many ladies would appreciate!
Necessaire body care
This brand is so bougie and luxe, which is right up my alley. If you want to elevate your body care routine, Necessaire is the perfect match. From body wash, to lotion to exfoliants to deodorants, there’s a variety of products and scents to choose from. This wash doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin and a little goes a long way, which justifies the higher price point. Highly recommend.
Footnanny foot cream
Fun fact: I was an audience member on the show The Real (check out my blog post about that here), and they gave us some free foot cream, which is how I found out about this brand. Don’t underestimate the power of foot cream folks! I have pronation in my feet, which is a fancy way of saying that I have very flat feet…so I often get calluses on my toes and heels. I started using this cream habitually and it made a huge difference in how my feet look and feel! The dry, hard skin on my heels and toes after using foot cream? Gone. My favorite Footnanny scents are tea tree and peppermint, but they’re all worth giving a try.
An Alternative Gift Giving Option
If you don’t have interest in the items mentioned in this guide, or you want another method of timeless gift giving, you should check out Girlfriend Box! Girlfriend Box is a prescheduled subscription jewelry gift box automatically sent to someone you love (i.e. your girlfriend, BFF, mom, or sister) on all the big days. What I love about this service is that it takes the guesswork and stress out of finding the right way to celebrate any and every special occasion. The jewelry itself is gorgeous too, of course.
I’ve been wearing some of the pieces myself and I can attest to the how lovely and luxurious the jewelry is. It’s good quality for a great price! The process is simple as well. All you do is choose your plan (5 special occasion pack, monthly or one time gift boxes), preschedule when you want your jewelry sent out and customize how many pieces of jewelry you want in each box! I highly recommend looking into this service, not only during this holiday season, but also if you have any anniversaries coming up. It’s an easy way to plan ahead and show love to a special someone in your life. For more information, click here.
I hope you enjoyed my first gift guide and found it helpful! I want this guide to serve as a reference for you for any holidays throughout the year. If you end up buying from any of these brands and love them as much as I do, please let me know! Happy shopping.
