Gifts that Keep Giving
It’s that time of the year once again when one is invariably hard-pressed to come up with gifts for friends, family and colleagues. While I’ll admit to being woefully unqualified to suggest a suitable present for your charmingly eccentric uncle, I can offer some tips for the perfect offering for the beauty fanatics on your list. There’s nothing, I’ve found, that brings greater joy to a beauty addict’s life than a perfectly curated monthly beauty subscription box.
Being properly versed in the importance of all-natural, clean, safe and environmentally sustainable beauty, I’ve directed my attention to the best of organic and non-toxic beauty boxes. Whether your recipient is a beauty generalist who just loves sampling a variety of products or a nail lacquer aficionado, we have you covered this holiday season. Get ready to deliver recurrent beauty bliss throughout the forthcoming year!
Here is a short list of my absolute favorite beauty subscription boxes:
For the discerning beauty product lover, I strongly urge you to consider giving a year’s subscription to Art of Organics, a collection of ultra-luxurious, high-end, 100 percent natural skincare products and beauty tools. Founded by lifelong self-described “product junkie” Claire Molyneaux, Art of Organics strives to deliver organic, non-toxic and luxurious products of the highest standard in an elegantly presented box, with beautiful wrapping and a personalized card. The price of the products included in each box averages $90, but the subscription price is $58 with complimentary shipping. There is also a selection of one-time gift boxes available as well.
If you’re seeking to please an animal lover who eschews all products of animal origin, I suggest looking at the fabulous collection of natural, cruelty-free products offered at Vegan Cuts. The products selected are assuredly made without any kind of animal products and devoid of paraben and other unhealthy ingredients. I like the mix of full and sample size products, and the beauty curator does a superb job of combining a mix of skin care, eye, lip and nail products in each box. This site is great for trying excellent under-the-radar brands that one otherwise may not have the opportunity to experience. The monthly beauty box is an affordable $19.95 per month, and there are numerous gift box options available perfect for holiday gifting.
Nail polish enthusiasts in search of healthier varnishes will be delighted with a subscription to Square Hue, purveyor of premium, fashion-forward, 7-free nail lacquer. Based in Miami, the company was founded by a group of creative friends with a social conscience and an eye for color. The polish is of the highest quality, is an impressive 7-free (no formaldehyde, formaldehyde resins, toluene, DBP, camphor, ethyl tosylamide or xylene) and comes in stunningly original colors. Every month subscribers receive either a box of either two ($16) or three ($21) full-size nail polishes and a portion of each subscription is donated by Square Hue to organizations devoted to helping others. One can paint one’s nails while doing good. Sounds like the perfect arrangement to me.
A few weeks ago I experienced fabulous foot care products by London’s Pedisoaks at the Skincando Pop-Up at the Emerald Door Spa. Our feet are so often neglected and abused (those stilettoes do take a toll!) so pampering them with gorgeous, all-natural products is just what most of us need. I was impressed by the line, which includes foot soak, polish, treatment masque, foot butter and spray mist in a variety of aromatherapeutic scents — my personal favorite is the jasmine-infused Jazz Me Up. This local, DMV company offers artisanal, hand-crafted natural products in several subscription box options. I really can’t think of a better gift for someone who needs a little beauty boost for her tootsies after an exhausting holiday season.
A native Washingtonian, Beauty Blogger Lia Phipps is an interior designer with an irrepressible, life-long fascination with health and beauty. When she is not selecting fabrics and paint colors for clients, she occupies herself with trying new products and dispensing beauty advice to friends, acquaintances and anyone who is willing to listen to “Tips from Phipps”.