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Friday 15 November 2019

What To Buy For Christmas - Huge Christmas Gift Guide - Christmas Present Ideas For Him And Her

Ad affiliate links used throughout blog post and some items have been Ad gifted.  Photos by Marta Ferenc.

It’s the most wonderful time, of the year! Seriously, it truly is. I absolutely adore Christmas. As soon as bonfire night is over, I get myself all giddy, stock up on the mince pies, crave the mulled wine and light my most festive of candles. Let’s get straight in with my HUGE Christmas gift guide, with Christmas present ideas for everyone whether it’s your brother, yourself, your mother-in-law, boyfriend or someone who loves luxury. Wondering what to buy your boyfriend for Christmas? This will help! Wondering what to buy your Mother in law for Christmas? This will help you! Wondering what to buy the person who has everything this Christmas? Shock, this will help you! Wondering what to put on your own Christmas list? I've got you! There is something in here to suit everyone’s budget and I really hope you’ll love and bookmark this guide, and send it to your friends and family as your ‘go to’ as it’s packed with great Christmas present ideas. P.S, if you're looking for a sale bargain don't miss the best Cyber sales or the top 10 things you should buy this Black Friday to shop right now AND my brand new Christmas present ideas for men/boys

Beauty gifts, for the beauty lover (or let’s be honest, for anyone!) Who doesn’t love a pamper?

Fragrance - I rarely buy myself perfume as I find it’s such a special gift to receive and I am fortunate to receive some of my favourite bottles as gifts every year. My personal favourites and ones I have received since growing up are Flowerbomb by Viktor and Rolf (and gift set here), everything about the brand is just magical and it screams Christmas to me. I’m also a sucker for Armani Si (and gift set here), a sensual, date night fragrance. You cannot go wrong with anything from Jo Malone, I’ve never come across anyone who wouldn’t adore a Jo Malone fragrance. My favourites from Jo Malone are endless - Tuberose Angelica for a sexy scent, Earl Grey and Cucumber by day but the most popular Jo Malone would be Pomegranate Noir and I know all my friends would adore this under their tree! For a more affordable designer fragrance this year, look at Kenzo World, Moschino fragrance (so fun), Jimmy Choo and All Saints (personal favourite is Sunset Riot). For me, it wouldn't be Christmas without Juicy Couture, I grew up buying my bestie Juicy Couture fragrances and I guess we have just grown up with this beautiful, fun brand. The bottles just instantly make me happy.

Don’t forget to look at fragrance gift sets for amazing fragrance prices this year (the best fragrance gift sets online herehere and here) A fragrance gift set usually means you end up getting something for free too, over an individual fragrance.

Male Fragrances - Top male fragrances for the boys in my life include Jo Malone Orange Bitters (online here too), my boyfriend always hints about it at this time of year and has done since it’s launch, he is on his third bottle and prays it never runs out. The great news it that you can steal it too as it’s unisex, Jo Malone fragrances work so well because you can match your favourite two together or just borrow each others! My brother loves Spicebomb by Viktor and Rolf and there’s a reason it’s a best seller. If you're wondering what perfume to buy the man in your life this Christmas and none of the above take your fancy, you cannot go wrong with Bleu De Chanel (online here too) - people say it's the best male fragrance of all time, or Jazz Club by Maison Margiela, both are heavenly. Atkinsons is also a premium fragrance brand if you’re looking for super luxe, London themed fragrances, their Tulipe Noire scent is divine and I’d definitely say a lot of their fragrances could be unisex, which is a bonus.

Candles and Handwashes - When it comes to candles, besides the obvious, Jo Malone (and online here too) (I cry a little inside when I see their incredible Christmas range and it's my dream to own a HUGE Jo Malone 600g home candle), Diptyque are one of my favourites for the most luxurious candles (and indeed hand washes too - I have one in my kitchen and use it every day). They also do the most beautiful mini candles too. Diptyque's famous candle carousel is back in stock this year too (I am desperate for one), so grab it for a candle lover before it sells out again eek! A more mid-price range but nevertheless luxurious and sumptuous, my favourites at Molton Brown and I think this years' Christmas range may be their best yet. Think brandy and all things Autumunal, it's very Gatsby. I buy my Mum Molton Brown handwash every single year, and she loves the sophisticated look in gives the bathrooms. I find it's such an easy yet luxurious gift, that doesn't break the bank but is always so well received, buying someone a luxury hand wash set for their bathroom is always my go to if I don't know what to buy them! Again we both have an endless list of favourites between us including the wonderful Oudh Accord with it little pieces of gold sprinkles or Orange and Bergamot, Rhubarb and Rose.  The Molton Brown Coco and Sandalwood candle is also one of my favourite candles, ever. Let's also not forget Maison Margiela as their candles are beautiful, last Christmas we lit ‘by the fireplace’ on our Christmas table and it’s just divine, such a luxurious brand. Last but certainly not least, Yorkshire brand Neom. Even though they rebranded to be Neom London, I know their roots started in Yorkshire and every single fragrance or candle they do is just utterly divine and luxurious. I always adore their special Christmas gifts too and this year I'd love to get my hands on their beautiful scents of wellbeing candles

Beauty Gift Sets - I know I’ve touched on fragrance gift sets as a way of saving money and more to the point, getting more for your money but some of my favourite beauty brands also do amazing, limited edition Christmas gift sets and here are some of my favourites: BeautyBlender - if you’re someone who loves beauty blenders or maybe wants to try one, their gorgeous gift set this year means you get the blenders and cleansers in one. Perfect for any make up lovers.  Real Techniques - A brush brand every girl loves as it’s affordable and actually does it’s job, I always recommend buying these brushes in the Christmas gift sets! Charlotte Tilbury - I’ve never seen Christmas gift sets like the ones Charlotte Tilbury releases, they’re always incredibly magical and full of her top selling items so I know I'll be filling my friends stockings up with these this year. The Kiehl’s gift sets are always super festive and full of epic skincare too. I'll take one of each please. Birchbox have a section full of beauty gift sets under £30 so definitely worth checking out their grotto too. Not forgetting L'Occitane, who always do the most divine gift sets (my Mum and I are truly obsessed with most of their ranges but we adore their Almond range and Shea range - we also get my Grandma L'Occitane handcreams every year as apparently they're the best you can get! I dream of the day I can take my Mum to the Regent Street L'Occitane store for a hand massage and some treats), this year I love the look of their Mum and baby set, perfect for new Mums or Mums to be. Last but not least, Origins, I'm a woman obsessed when it comes to their face masks and they have so many amazing, well priced beauty gift sets this year, one of my favourite skincare brands.

P.S, if you're buying any beauty gifts, I noticed that if you spend £100 at Space NK and get a £25 voucher!!! 

Luxury Skincare - As much as Christmas gift sets are great, if there's something you (or someone you're gifting) has always wanted that's maybe more on the luxury side of beauty and is an individual product, Christmas is definitely the time to ask Santa very nicely for it. For skincare lovers, here are some personal luxurious skincare favourites of mine: I'd highly recommend the Sisley Black Rose range - I've never felt something so divine, Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Oil - I've grown up using this before bed,  L'Occitane Overnight Reset serum - worth every penny, this a wonder serum, ThisWorks Extreme Moisturiser - I love ThisWorks ethics, branding and the science that goes into their products - Elemis Balm - the best thing for removing make up quickly but efficiently, Clinique Take Off The Day - another holy grail balm cleanser - Skin Ceuticals H.A Powerful Corrective Intensifier - I spotted one of my favourite Instagrammers saying that this has changed her life so obviously I was enabled and it's just epic, Drunk Elephant Minis - the perfect way to discover epic skincare brand Drunk Elephant, I am fully obsessed with their products and this set was perfect for travelling - Last but not least (honestly I could talk about skincare for years, I have so many favourite products for different reasons) Elizabeth Arden Vitamin C Capsules and Retinol Capsules, just the holy grail of skincare capsules if you want to supercharge your skincare or of course, every Christmas I buy family members the Arden Eight Hour Cream, there are SO many ways you can use it, including for split ends, dry skin, dry lips, cuticles! It's a hero multi-tasker.


Luxury Beauty - I'm a sucker for luxury beauty and squealed far too loud when I saw the Dior Diorific 2020 collection, look at these sparkly lipsticks! The whole collection is out of this world.


Beauty Advent Calendars - For an incredibly luxurious gift, you could always go for an advent calendar, some of my favourites this year include the Decleor advent calendar for skincare lovers (I buy my brother Decleor every year, he is hooked), the Jo Malone advent calendar (I wish I owned you), Molton Brown (you get so many gorgeous bath and shower baubles inside) and of course, the Kiehls advent calendar. I also LOVE Clinique's advent calendar every year as you get beauty and skincare together! If skincare is your thing, obviously Elemis is up there with one of the best beauty advent calendars too, alongside L'Occitane, which includes sumptuous body products too. I would love to get my hands on the Charlotte Tilbury advent calendar. Last but not least, I always find The Body Shop are very generous with their advent calendars, you get a lot of bang for your buck and they do different price ranges too. You can find loads of beauty advent calendars online here, here and here. It depends if you're wanting to treat someone to a totally new brand they've always wanted to try for advent or, their hero brand they've always loved! For me, there's too much choice with advent calendars and it really is a personal choice, I personally love the minis for travels or in my gym bag and also use them for guests staying at my house! You could always just go old school and get a Lindt advent calendar or a £1 Cadbury calendar though, nothing makes me happier than chocolate.


Top Up Of Beauty Favourites - As I’m getting older, I prefer to be gifted items that I truly need throughout the year, rather than unnecessary new stuff, so for me I’ll ask for top ups of the things I use day in day out, whether that’s my trusty Vichy Dermablend foundation, the Mac Cosmetics Mineralise powder I run out of every few months, my Marc Jacobs concealer or maybe some of my favourite skincare or fake tans, not to mention a holy grail Smashbox Primer. For me, I go through so much fake tan so I'm always grateful for new Isle Of Paradise, James Read, Tan Luxe, St Tropez Purity and Vita Liberata Invisi - yup, I have a lot of tan favourites depending on my mood! Maybe have a look in your boyfriend's/girlfriend’s/family member's bathroom and see if there are any favourites they’re running low on and top them up! My Mum and I adore Fresh skincare so we always get a top up of their Soy Cleanser for Christmas as we know we go through it. I buy my brother a new Decleor Oil every year, as a family we adore Decleor's face oils and shower gels (literally some of the best shower gels I've ever used!) You can make a nice personalised hamper of products someone uses and really loves, whether it's your Mum, best friend, boyfriend, dog or Grandparent!


Practical Beauty Hamper - When I was at University, my Mum would always get me a practical and useful beauty hamper full of things like my favourite shampoos and hair masks (I see you Redken and Pureology - who have the cutest Christmas gift sets this year actually and are some current faves of mine), shampoos of course and hair masks, I go through so many, Michael Van Clarke is a salon I've wanted to visit for one of their famous Diamond Dry hair cuts for years and they sell some incredible haircare for people wanting length and volume, it's called 3"" More Inches! micellar water, Batiste dry shampoo (love you Batiste, a girls best friend), eye make up remover, tooth paste, deodorants and more day to day items. I also think make up brushes are a really good, practical gift, (and the already mentioned Beauty Blender of course), I personally love so many different brushes whether it's Spectrum brushes, MAC or my current favourite, BareMinerals brushes! Hampers are thoughtful and can be made to look so pretty by displaying them out in a nicely packed box or wicker hamper that can then be used for storage after.

Last but not least, something incredibly useful for brushes, brush cleaners! I was gifted the STYLPRO brush cleaner years ago and it's so good!


Home gifts, for someone who loves interior, just moved house, is about to move house or loves decorating their bedroom! I'll be linking some favourite gift ideas in the photos beneath this section. 


Anthropologie - I browse the Anthropologie website far too many times per month, whether you treat someone to some gorgeous cutlery, a beautiful new mirror, a new rug or some gorgeous glasses, there are so many luxurious options. Matt’s Mum bought me a gorgeous crystal bottle opener which we have had in our house for a year and I love it. Everything is such good quality at Anthropologie.

H&M Home - One of my absolute favourites for homeware and honestly I’d buy the whole site if I could. You cannot go wrong with gorgeous mugs, throws and more from here. Their designs are lovely and generally a good price too but great quality.

The White Company - I mean who doesn’t want a gorgeous, soft dressing gown or towel set from The White Company? Particularly if they just moved house, the perfect way to gift someone something luxurious yet cosy.

Next Home - I am obsessed with Next Home, a few years ago I bought my Mum the cutest owl statue for outside (she loves owls ha) but whether it's their towels, bedding or gorgeous furniture, there are so many options.

Handwash Set - I’ve mentioned several handwashes in the section above but it’s worth another mention as they slot perfectly into gifts for the home. I think buying handwash and handlotion gift sets are such a nice way to give something useful yet luxurious to someone at Christmas, whether you buy a Jo Malone soap (highly recommend - heart eyes!) or a Molton Brown handwash and hand lotion duo. I also had the most incredible Diptyque hand wash which I know I’ve already mentioned. For something more affordable, Roger and Gallet (beautiful French brand) have designed the most divinely packaged soaps this year too.

Urban Outfitters - I find Urban Outfitters is the most incredible website for affordable homeware, whether it’s a neon light, gin glasses or a throw! They have so many amazing homeware options.

Coffee Table Books - Whether it’s something that looks good such as a designer coffee table book, or a useful book such as a set of travel guides, a gorgeous book can make a lovely treasured gift. I also love cooking books, they look great in the kitchen but also are useful too, amongst my favourites are Deliciously Ella and The Body Coach. You can find some gorgeous coffee table books online here and here

Gifts for him, the majority of gifts on this Christmas gift guide are fully unisex so this is absolutely not the only section for ‘him’. I have weaved gift ideas for everyone into all sections of this guide, but if you’re looking for a specific ‘Christmas gift ideas for him’ section of this guide, here are items I buy the men in my life.

Boxers - Every year I will buy Matt new Calvin Klein underwear, something he will obviously get wear out of every single day! You can also get them online here. 

Socks - Same as above, I know it’s such a dull gift but its a useful one! Matt goes through so many Adidas and Nike socks so I bulk buy him them, don’t ask me where they disappear to! I think my washing machine eats them!


Trainers - Whether he likes Gucci trainers for fashion, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen or just a good pair of Nike trainers for the gym. I know my boyfriend is trainer obsessed, he loves ETQ trainers. Trainers are such a good buy as let's be honest, they last forever. I'm personally a Stan Smith lover as they're so comfy and go with everything, embarrassingly, my brother has a matching pair (accidentally may I add, ha).


Backpack - Similar to the above, just like trainers, I think a backpack is totally versatile and you can go for a designer backpack like a Burberry one or a Gucci backpack or go for something with more of a reasonable price range like a Roe Menswear leather backpack or a Ted Baker leather backpack. Again, backpacks are great whether they're used at the gym or on the way to work every day!

Headphones - Whether it’s a pair of Dre Beats, the new Sony WF 1000XM3 headphones (can confirm they're REALLY good) or Apple AirPods because honestly, they seem to be on everyones Christmas lists this year. My boyfriend and brother love their headphones and use them all day every day, in fact, so do I! I feel like in a world of us all using our phones and laptops all the time, headphones are essential whether it's for the gym, taking calls, editing videos or listening to podcasts and music!

Arlo Jewellery - Gorgeous, unisex jewellery brand Arlo is independently owned and is gorgeous for 925 sterling silver pieces, were talking beautiful pendants and signet rings. Definitely worth supporting this local business too if you're looking for something a little different!

Roe Menswear - Another incredible independently, British owned menswear store. Roe Menswear is actually owned by my boyfriend and I have personally travelled across the world with him looking for the highest quality fabrics and garments. The quality of Roe Menswear is out of this world. I describe it to people as a Reiss and Burberry mix. I’ve personally been to the factories to watch the pieces be handcrafted in small quantities. You could start with an introduction to the brand by going for a more affordable leather wallet, leather backpack (Matt uses his every single day) or a luxurious quality t-shirt, or go full luxe with their divine trench coats or work jackets. If you’re looking to buy a unique, British made luxury crafted piece of design then this brand is for you, plus it's nice to support a new business and I promise, the clothes look exceptional on too.

Menswear - Generally as presents I’d buy staple and versatile pieces such as high quality t-shirts (Roemenswear do epic ones as mentioned, my brother is obsessed with his and bought extra after I bought him some for Christmas 2 years ago), or a Reiss jacket, Reiss rollneck or All Saints leather jacket. I don’t think you can go wrong with a nice forever jacket such as All Saints, Moncler or Belstaff. I bought Matt a Belstaff jacket years ago and he loves it still to this day.

Products - I know I already discussed my top male fragrances at the start of this blog post, but as well as good skincare and fragrance, my boyfriend and brother are hair product obsessed and always looking for the best hair wax or holding hair spray. Some top hair brands that have passed my boyfriend's quiffs seal of approval include Fudge, Da DudeRedken, Kevin Murphy, The Natural Barber Co - which is a cool eco brand with no nasties and Windle, an independent London based salon.

See some of my top menswear picks for Christmas below.


Birchbox - I’ve already touched on men's fragrances above in the beauty section, but for something a little different, Birchbox have a men’s limited edition grooming box this year, launching 21st November. A great way to try some new grooming products!

Watch - When I asked Matt what guys would like for Christmas he said ‘a nice watch!’ So whether you’re going all out on a Cartier watch (umm lucky him haha, we can dream) or going for a more affordable but equally beautiful Larsson and Jennings there are so many options for all price ranges. I actually got Matt an Apple Watch and he loves it for tracking his steps etc, so that's also a good and useful shout! See some of my favourites below and you can shop so many different watches online here. 


Laptop - A more luxurious gift, but I know my brother and boyfriend run their laptops into the grounds, of course an Apple MacBook Pro (I’m on my third one and cannot be without it - I would be on my second but I accidentally got water on it and had to buy a new one haha, they last for years) would be the dream-useful-forever-gift under the Christmas tree. I mean obviously there are other great laptops out there too, it just depends what your needs are. Something just as important as the laptop itself though... laptop accessories! I go through so many USB ports, cables, you name it so I've also linked some of those below that are super useful for any tech lovers.

Cameras - Maybe he/she is into photography or you just need him to up his Instagram husband skills, you could start with something like a Canon G7X, or go all out and get the Canon 5D. I just bought it and it’s phenomenal. You could also get an avid or new starter photographer some camera accessories too if they've already got the camera or there's always a GoPro or Instant Camera for fun travel videos! There are loads of different camera options for all price ranges here and here and my top picks are below.
Card Holder - I love a designer card holder, I think it's such a nice intro-designer item, without breaking the bank but my brother finds his SO useful too. You can get womens cardholders here and mens here. 

Phone - My brother wants the new iPhone 11 for Christmas and I have a funny feeling it’s gonna be on a lot of Christmas lists. I know I’m buying one for myself this Christmas for sure. If you're more of an android lover, the Google Pixel is amazing for photos too.

Gifts for her, as mentioned, a lot of the gifts above can link to everyone but just incase you’re looking for more options that aren't necessarily beauty related, here are some more gift ideas for women/girls. 

Pyjamas - It isn’t Christmas for me without a new Christmas pyjama set! Whether it’s a Christmas onesie that I wear all week during Christmas or a luxury cashmere forever set, I bought my Mum one last year and she still loves it. A gorgeous pair of slippers or a luxurious bathrobe. There’s something really special about opening new pyjamas during Christmas. I will link my favourites below but when it comes to sleepwear and cosy items, I don't think you can beat Topshop pyjamas and The White Company dressing gowns. Also Skinny Dip just launched the cutest loungewear that says 'snacks' on it, it was made for me.

Slip Silk - One of my favourite brands to exist and the dreamiest brand for gifting too. There's a reason all the Kardashian's swear by silk pillow cases! Slip design pillowcases woven from hypoallergenic mulberry silk that doesn't tug at your skin when you sleep and because its a smooth surface, it's meant to make your blow dry last longer (lol). The perfect gift for any blow dry queens or skincare lovers. They also do the cutest silk eye masks which I take on every single flight with me and the best hair ties that prevent your hair from snagging. I'll take the whole set please.

Lingerie - I love an excuse to stock up on essentials but luxury favourites such as gorgeous bras and knickers and not to mention fluffy socks are also great options.

Clothing - Whether it's loungewear, a luxurious rollneck, a gorgeous winter coat or a luxury leather jacket, you can see some of my top clothing picks for her this Christmas below too.
Jewellery - My favourite jewellery brands (as well as Arlo London) for gifts includes Thomas Sabo - their new star collection is divine (they also do engraving on lots of pieces too), Missoma for their beautiful gold pieces and and Monica Vinader for their incredible engraved pieces. Last but not least, of course, Tiffany! Obviously we can all dream of a Cartier bracelet too…




Luxury Gifts - Different people have different budgets for Christmas so what’s luxury to one person, may not be luxury to another and vice versa. A stocking filler for one, may be a main gift for another and that’s totally okay. Here are what I deem to be beautiful, luxury Christmas gifts.

SELFRIDGES - By far my favourite place to buy gifts, so many amazing options and actually for all prices too. I always find really different ideas on their website. 

Burberry Scarf - I’ve had my Burberry scarf for years and have to say, it’s been one of the best gifts ever. It’s a lifelong piece, beautifully designed and it just goes with everything - again, it’s unisex too!

Burberry Trench - Much like my Burberry scarf, a Burberry trench would be the dreamiest Christmas present. I spent so much money on a new trench every season, but now I have my Burberry trench, I can stick to it (although I shamelessly have my eyes on a new one which I DEFINITELY do not need, unless you’re listening Santa and in that case, I do).


Stuart Weitzman Boots - The creme de la creme of knee high boots. If you’re going to spend money on a good pair of knee highs, these ones are for you.


Jimmy Choo Bing Heels - I’ve had my eyes on these heels ever since I saw Lydia Millen wearing them, I have fully been influenced! A good pair of designer heels is lifelong, right? Online here. 

All Saints Jacket - I see All Saints as premium high street but their jackets can be quite expensive, so I think it’s a great investment, forever purchase. I’ve had mine in my wardrobe since 2012 and they get better with time, I promise. I actually love the shearling ones and have always wanted one so be super snuggly!

Gucci loafers - I got some Gucci loafers for Christmas one year and I get so much wear out of them. Gucci shoes I find aren’t really trend led pieces but instead, they’re really well made and last forever, plus they're one of the only designer shoe brands I've found that are so comfortable for wide feet like mine!

Gucci belt - I know how obsessed people are with designer belts, it’s a nice starter to your designer collection too and a great Christmas present if you’re wanting to buy something designer without breaking the bank. I'd say a Gucci belt is a perfect intro to designer and they come in so many different sizes and colours now too. You can also get gorgeous Saint Laurent designer belts too if you don’t want to follow the crowd.

Gucci bag - My Gucci Marmont bag is my most used handbag, ever. It comes everywhere with me and I’ve hammered it into the ground but it is so versatile and precious. The Gucci Soho is a really good intro to Gucci handbag too and again, another classic. A good handbag is timeless.

Givenchy Antigona bag - This is one of those bags that’s never going to go out of fashion. People love it so I always put it on my gift guide as I know it’s so special and I know so many people save for it.

Mulberry bag - Another classic handbag and Christmas favourite, a forever Mulberry bag. The new designs are absolutely beautiful too.

Fitness Gifts, the fitness industry has just got bigger and better over the last few years and I’m here for it. Whether you’re buying for a yogi, a wanna be yogi, a never-exercised-but-want-to-get-into-it or a pro-athlete or skier, hopefully this will help the best of fitness fanatics or the newbies to fitness!

Sweaty Betty - Honestly, anything from Sweaty Betty! From their huge range of leggings to their base layer garments to their t-shirts and hoodies, their products are quality and beautiful. Fabletics too have an absolutely gorgeous range of products, designs and colours and they are so comfortable and really last. Some of my favourites are linked below.

Thermals - Sweaty Betty base layers are my absolute faves for both warmth and style in fact they look so good I wear mine around the house. I also absolutely love the Helly Hansen range, they are bustling with colour and their warmth is unrivalled.


Reusable Waterbottles - There are too many fantastic re-usable bottles that can be taken anywhere on the market right now. The designs are beautiful and many of them use technology that means your drink will stay cold for hours on end! See my favourites below. If you're looking to support a new brand too, my gorgeous friend Steph Elswood just launched Sasstainable, a beautiful online store selling reusable cutlery, in the cutest packaging.

Useful Gifts, I'd like to think all the gifts on the guide are useful, depending on the recipient and what they like (I mean come on, the waffle maker will be getting so much use) but I wanted to put down some different, quirky presents and not necessarily things you can wrap up! 

Kobox classes - If you or your loved ones are interested in exercise that centres on full body workouts combined with the fundamentals of boxing, Kobox could just be the answer. Buying some sessions in this fast, furious and energetic with a great atmosphere and a great environment could make the perfect present. I was saying to my friend the other day that I think buying fitness classes for someone in bulk is such a good present (Kobox is London based), as we all know, boutique gyms are expensive and my dream would be to have loads of credit on my account, so I thought this would be the perfect gift for someone who loves a certain workout or maybe wants to try someone new. Also, knowing you have credit on your account means you've got to use it too! Buy your bestie 5 classes and make her buy you 5 back, then you both have to go together hehe! You can sign up and buy them in lots of 5, 10 etc here. 

Gym Membership - I absolutely love David Lloyd as an all round great gym. Whether it’s swimming, tennis, fitness classes such as Blaze (my holy grail), spin, private one to one training or just smashing it out at the gym, David Lloyd has it all. There are many David Lloyd Centres around the country and many have nice restaurants too giving them a real country club feel. My Mum has bought me personal training sessions at David Lloyd for Christmas over the last few years and buying me those in bulk was one of the best presents I could have asked for. You could print off the personal training sessions or the gym membership confirmation and wrap that up in a Christmas card, you can't ask for a better present than that, a gift that really does keep on giving!

Fantastic Services - This company provide a variety of services up and down the country including a great cleaning service which I’ve personally sampled, whilst it's kindly gifted to me, I have trialled it out enough to tell you guys that it's phenomenal and it's definitely the best way to find a good cleaner. Fantastic Services sell gift cards which could make the perfect gift for a loved one who needs a break from household chores. Let’s face it, life in busy and most of us spend so much time working that facing doing house work too can sometimes be daunting so this could make a wonderful gift, the gift of a clean house!

Nails Voucher - Having your nails done by a professional is a wonderful treat and I am always blown away by how beautiful my nails look when I've left the salon. When I’m in my hometown of Leeds I always try and visit my favourite salon RagDoll Nails. Laura the owner and her team treat your nails kindly and always do a brilliant job, my gels last so long here as the prep work is so good. If one of your loved ones appreciates a manicure, pedicure or nail paint and are likely to be in the Leeds area, a visit here would make a lovely surprise. I also think it's a great idea to buy someone a gift voucher to get their nails done because often we don't treat ourselves to things like this! In London I'd recommend Richard Ward in Chelsea for nails.

Massage or Facial Voucher - Spa treatments with brands such as Elemis or Decleor always make wonderful gifts particularly for those people in your life who are busy and just love to be taken away from it all. Elemis spa treatments can be found at numerous locations up and down the country, I had the most incredible facial in their penthouse in London. I also had an incredible Decleor facial at Richard Ward in Chelsea. Another epic treatment I had was with Espa at the Corinthia London, just a divine spa. For something even more special, you could book a stay at a spa hotel, my favourite is Rudding Park in Harrogate, I'd like to be whisked there for Christmas please. I also recently had an amazing gifted facial by Linda Meredith at the Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge, something I'd LOVE to repeat!

Hair Cut Voucher or Blow Dry Voucher - A trip to a salon for a blow dry or hair cut is the ultimate treat for anyone in my view so if this appeals to you as a present then read about my favourite places for blow dries here and get someone booked in depending on their location! I usually pay for my Mum to go to Sassoon before Christmas as a Christmas present.

Experience day - If you’re struggling for inspiration because the person you’re buying for is so hard to please or has ‘everything’ it’s always worth potentially planning an actual day somewhere, whether it's a picnic, a hike, an afternoon tea or a whirlwind trip to Paris, often making memories is more special than something you can physically open.

I Owe You Vouchers - Make a little voucher booklet with IOWEYOU in it, whether it's a cuddle, you cooking dinner, a walk, a grocery run... it's a nice little touch!

Photobook - I made my Grandparents a photobook once and printed lots of the photos we'd taken on phones over the years into one book they can always flick through, they loved it. I think it's such a special gift, you can even go old school and make it into a scrap book too.

Dinner Out - I don’t think I know anyone who doesn’t like eating out so how about buying a foodie voucher for your loved one. We are a family who likes food and love eating out so these type of vouchers always go down well. There are so many options. I bought my Mum food vouchers so that she actually treated herself to some down time and booked dinners last year! Most restaurant vouchers are available online and you can purchase them online ahead of time and set the date of the present to arrive electronically on Christmas Day. In addition to restaurants, many other food outlets such as Starbucks, Costa even Greggs do vouchers now and I know that these are very much appreciated by those who commute to their job - what better present to give someone to pick up a morning matcha or coffee while on their way to the office! I know we often buy the boys in my life a Starbucks gift card loaded with credit so when they're commuting back and forth to London, they don't need to worry about paying for coffees.

Books - I know I've already mentioned coffee table books and fitness books but how about other books? I love buying my brother business books or one year my brother bought me The Secret and I think it's one of the best gifts I've ever been given. Depending on the recipient, books like The Lean Start Up and The Four Hour Work Week are super motivating!

lightroom presets


Ems Presets - If your loved one is into photography then my easy to use photo editing filters are available to purchase online at an affordable price. I absolutely love travelling and my pre-sets are inspired by my travels and include a complete set with something to suit everyone’s taste and they come with a complete support guide and online assistance too.

Foodie gifts. This is the first year of running my own household and I have to say, gifts of food are really appreciated. 
I can’t believe how much of certain things I go through - porridge, cereal bars, dates, chia seeds, green tea etc. There are so many staples that your loved ones will buy in bulk week in and week out and a great present would be a hamper full of their regular foods. A hamper that has been built with specific food choices in mind would be a great idea too for example a vegan hamper, low sugar, organic or fully sustainable hampers could be a real win. A less healthy but absolutely yummy option could be a bespoke chocolate or American candy hamper (I say this because my family love Jolly Ranchers an American candy). I also did find a Cadbury and Oreo chocolate box which I'm for sure buying. Alternatively, a lovely hamper full of luxury foods that they will love but maybe wouldn’t purchase themselves such as items from Daylesford, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Harrods and Fortnum and Mason always make a lovely gift. I remember my brother and I building a hamper with some luxury items in for my Mum years ago and she still mentions it as one of her favourite presents to this day.

Then of course there is always a bottle of your loved ones favourite tipple - there are endless gins (love the look of this gin kit and these GIN CRACKERS, yep, gin crackers!), whiskeys and tequilas around and there is a champagne out there to suit everyone too so why not try one. Alternatively, simply just a lovely bottle of wine will always go down well.

If alcohol isn’t a good option then what about a present of tea or coffee or both? It’s even possible to buy coffee bean kits now and my goodness this is something I will probably buy Matt because he absolutely loves a fresh coffee bean. The kits come with everything you need to grow your own coffee plant and ultimately your beans! Cool right? I even found a make your own nut milk maker!

Forever gifts - last but not least, a few more forever gifts that I think will last you or the recipient a lifetime! 



Dyson Hair Dryer - This is another great idea as a present particularly for those with thick or long hair. Matt has this hairdryer and he has very thick hair and since becoming the proud owner he has never looked back. It gives a lovely smooth finish and cuts drying time dramatically, for people like me with damaged hair, the Dyson hair dryer is perfect too as it's kinder to the hair.

Electric toothbrush - I love my Philips electric toothbrush (kindly Ad gifted). It gets in to parts that manual toothbrushes just don’t. There are many different models on the market - something to suit every budget. I absolutely love it. The ones that come with a travel case are ideal too because there is space for additional brushes so as a couple you can take one base unit with two brush heads and save on space!

Ghds - I remember when ghd straighteners first became a thing years ago and I think many of us have never looked back since. I was actually one of the first people to buy them when they used to sell them in salons in Leeds so you can say I'm a forever fan. Now they have a full range of products to choose from and I rate them all from straighteners, to hot brushes, curlers and dryers, they are all excellent and make brilliant presents.

Coffee machine - Whether it’s a basic cafetière or a full blown coffee machine with built in automatic bean grinder, there is something for all coffee lovers and all budgets that could make a very special present (and even better because the person who receives it may just make you a cup of your favourite blend!) Matt is obsessed with our coffee machine. Shop coffee machines online here. 

Monthly Subscription Boxes - If your loved ones love to have a gift that keeps on giving then a subscription box could be ideal. I recommend Birchbox and Rocca Box or you could even look into a flower delivery service on a monthly basis! Through a monthly subscription your recipients can receive the latest different beauty products tailored to their skin type, hair type etc forever and a day! They will love you forever!

The Fun, Useful Kitchen Gifts - How about some fun but useful things like a toastie maker?! Maybe a mini waffle machine or even pie maker or for the film lover, a  popcorn and crepe maker. I've had my eye on a waffle machine for quite some time! One of the best gifts I ever got was a Nutribullet from my brother, I use it every single day, for smoothies, soups, juices and even making pancakes! Sometimes you can get the Nutribullet for cheaper here too. Last but not least, I saw this outdoor pizza oven on a YouTube video and have wanted one ever since, for pizza lovers, this is the coolest addition to your home! I may have just found a PASTA MAKER too!!!!

PHEW, so there we have it, I could go on, and on and on with Christmas present ideas. I really hope you enjoy my Christmas gift guide, I will be updating this every single week and you can also find lots of easy, shoppable ideas below too, which will be updated daily!

- Luxury Christmas gift ideas

- Christmas gift ideas for him

- Sustainable Christmas gift ideas

- Stocking fillers + secret Santa gift ideas 

- Christmas gift ideas for her 

- Home Christmas gift ideas 

Lots of love, Em x

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