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.
Art of Organics delivers premium natural beauty in an elegant presentation (Photo: Art of Organics)
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.
A beauty box subscription is the perfect holiday gift for the beauty enthusiast on your list (Photo: Vegan Cuts)
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.
Square Hue offers brilliant, 7-free nail polish delivered monthly (Photo: Square Hue)
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.
