Christmas Gift Guide for Women

Yesterday we published our ‘Christmas Gift Guide for Men’, so we thought it only fair to share a little gift giving wisdom for women too. Besides all of the beautiful candles, and festive food and drink available, we’ve created an overview of some of our favourite gifts for women, ranging from the affordable, to the more exclusive. With our help at The Amazing Blog, we hope that you’ll be able to find what she desires, creating the perfect Christmas gift (and giving you some last minute inspiration too!)

Let’s get started with something that won’t make you dig too deep into your pockets. All That Jazz is a specialist (and certified vegan) nail care brand, providing professional manicure and pedicure products. Founded in 2013, the company has been our go-to when it comes to nail care, especially since we loved their Caribbean Collection (see the blog post here). With their core range consisting of 36 on-trend shimmer colours, they have created their own game-plan, with a long-lasting base coat and choices of super quick drying top coat, matte top coat and top coat, specifically designed to magnify and smoothen glitter colours. Used by countless celebrities and thousands of nail technicians, this is a brand you can trust.

Bringing out four seasonal collections each year, The Designer Collection is our absolute favourite! This is the perfect add-on for Christmas, as the colours are glittery and powerful, inspired by the works of iconic fashion designers. Combining elements of runway glamour, four unique colours are created, from the timelessly chic, shimmery blue of Vivienne, through to the metallic red Coco. The collection also contains a cool nude, Vera and our favourite, the sparkling silver Betsey. The best part? This professional nail lacquer won’t break the bank. Click here to purchase The Designer Collection for just £11.97.

Another modest choice is from Heathcote & Ivory. Established in 2000, in London by Denis Aaronson, this brand is passionate about creating beautiful products with wonderful ingredients. Their colours, textures and patterns combine an eclectic mix of novelty, with British pedigree. Their forward-thinking design celebrates the role of women in ‘making Christmas happen’, where retro Christmas wrapping designs, sparkle and glamour greet the spirits of traditional British Christmas.

A perfect gift for her is their Vintage & Co. Baubles & Belles Festive Bath and Body Tin. The packaging is a Christmas dream, elegantly designed with a festive pattern and finished with a beautiful pink hand-tied bow. Containing three bathing delights infused with orange-peel oil, this is the perfect company for the relaxing self-care holidays. The gentle cleansing shower gel has a silky texture that lathers well, and the scented crystal bathing salts with sweet orange essential oil fill the bathroom with a delicious (and festive) fragrance. Finally, the softening body lotion enriched with almond oil and shea butter locks in the skin’s natural moisture, perfect for any New Year party. All three products are scented with spiced rum, pomegranate, red berries and orange zest, and are guaranteed to give the fragrance of Christmas. Click here to purchase a Baubles and Belles Festive Bath and Body Tin for £15.

One of the sweet delights of Christmas is that there is always a beautiful scent in the air. That said, it is sometimes difficult to know how to blend fragrances together, something that Aqua Oleum can help with. This brand’s knowledge of oils spans over three generations, with over 30 years of experience in providing top quality oils, at reasonable prices. Managing Director, Julia Lawless, well known as an author and expert in aromatherapy, personally ensures that every product is of top quality - so an Aqua Oleum gift is sure to be one that will not disappoint.

Their Blending Notebook (£28) is ideal for anyone passionate about creating their perfect scents, giving clear and concise introductions into the art of blending. Introducing theory guidance and formula ideas, it is a great way to track and develop your own aromatherapy elixirs at home. Containing all essential information, journal pages to write your own formulations, a glossary of key essential oils and a perfumery chart with notes on how to train your nose, this notebook is great to get you started. It is also beautifully designed, gold foiled and singer sewn bound. To get started right away, combine this with their Clear Head essential oil for just £5.22 (10ml). It helps with breathing (particularly if a Winter cold sets in) and works to penetrate and soothe your sinuses. Equally, their Festive Joy for £6.07 (10ml) is just as great, with a heart-warming, rich, and spicy scent that is comforting and uplifting, the perfect natural room fragrance for the festive period.

If a new fragrance is what you’re looking for, then we introduce Ancienne Ambiance. Already lovers of their Goddess Waters, we were keen to try their new Mini Colonia Gift Set. Providing luxury gifts with paraben-free quality ingredients, Ancienne Ambiance products are free from animal testing and encased in recyclable packaging.

The Mini Colonia Gift Set contains five 15ml limited edition mini roll-on perfume gift bottles, the perfect scent selection to propel your spirits. Different scents for different days, complementing your clothing and making you feel good. Although we like all five scents, our favourite is Colonia IX (nine) - an exotic, woody and oriental fragrance, blending cedar and sandalwood with a hint of patchouli. It genuinely smells like Christmas! Staying true to the origins of niche perfume, all scents are hand-produced in limited quantities (in France), with the finest ingredients. Packaged in a handcrafted purple-golden gift box, this luxury gift delivers the perfect Christmas spirit (and the box can be reused at a later date). Purchase the Mini Colonia Gift Set here for £60.

Last but not least we introduce April Aromatics. Since trying their Rose L’Orange Eau de Parfum in August - the perfect scent for that balmy summer - this organic scents and cosmetics company has been one of our favourite fragrance houses. Founded by Tanja Bochnig in New York, the brand delivers natural perfumes with pure extracts that create inner well-being. Their perfumes are also pure and natural, and no animal ingredients are used.

We were therefore excited to try their Tempted Muse scent, the ideal present for Christmas. Packed in a silver shimmery, elegant box, it immediately put us into the most festive mood. Inspired by the nectars of the gods, with sweet fruity golden extracts of frangipani and jasmine, this perfume is uplifting and aphrodisiac. Purchase your own Tempted Muse for a loved one for €169 (30ml) here.

There you have it, five brands that have hopefully given you some inspiration for the special someone you are struggling to buy for! Whether they love nail varnishes, home fragrances or perfumes, we’re sure she’ll be opening her presents with a big smile.

Mirati Cosmetics Body Lotion

The Amazing Blog loves finding new hero ingredients that are unique and nourishing for the skin, so while researching various ingredients, we came across Ghee! Yes Ghee, and that's where we discovered the Slovenian skincare brand Mirati Cosmetics. The majority of skincare have a cream base, which is essentially made of oil and water. Ghee, or clarified butter, takes this process two steps further – firstly, the butter is produced from cream, then it is clarified, leaving out all the water and milk, purifying the butter and ensuring that only the qualities essential to caring for your skin remain. As the key ingredient in Mirati Cosmetics' skincare, it moisturises, soothes and is rich in antioxidants.

Given the current plummeting temperatures, we decided to try the body lotion.  As well as using certified organic Ghee from India; the body lotion also contains plants grown in the Mediterranean, America, Australia, South East Asia (i.e. organic aloe vera and honeysuckle). The honeysuckle gives the lotion a beautiful scent that lasts all day, while the aloe vera stimulates blood circulation, tightens and smoothes skin. The body lotion is suitable for all skin types as its gentle but effective formula works to improve skin texture and appearance over time. Just apply the lotion to skin after washing and gently massage it into skin until it’s fully absorbed. The product is dermatologically approved, paraben, phthalates, SLS and Synthetic fragrance-free and is cruelty-free.  Mirati Cosmetics is also committed to giving at least 10 % of their profit to good causes see here. You can purchase The Body Lotion here for £17.99

Sunflower Body Lotion - My Trusty

Moisturising is something that we should all be doing at least a day. As such it is imperative that we have an effective lotion. At The Amazing Blog, we have found that My Trusty Sunflower Body Lotion works wonders on all skin, but especially if you are prone to particularly dry skin. My Trusty is uniquely owned by Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust and will not only give you gorgeous skin, but all the profits go back to the NHS.

My Trusty Sunflower Body Lotion has been tested by dermatologists, it is lightweight and full of anti-oxidants. The key ingredient in the product is the sunflower oil, which is a natural way to keep your skin soft and smooth making it perfect for people with overly sensitive skin. What's more the lotion is also full of Vitamin E which is a staple skincare anti-oxidant for better looking and healthier skin, and is particularly effective on dry skin.

My Trusty understands that different people like to moisturise in different ways. There is a no fragrance option, a body butter or oil, and different sizes to suit your hydration needs.

With the winter months closing in you will want to have this handy little product in your bathroom, so try our favourite scent, Lavender, here for just £6.

Herbal Legend - 'Philtre de Bellis' Hand & Body Cream

After trying so many luxurious lotions, skincare and bodycare products at The Amazing Blog, sometimes we want to go back to basics with our routine. Since our skin has been in need of some TLC lately, we reached for the anti-ageing 'Philtre de Bellis' Hand & Body Cream from French brand, Herbal Legend, for some much needed moisturisation.

The lotion utilises natural medicinal herbs like Organic Bellis Extract that are free from pesticides, so sensitive and dry skin can find instant relief. The lightweight, silky texture makes application a breeze, and your skin will feel moisturised without being weighed down. Its subtle Asian Jasmine scent makes it the perfect unisex product as well, so both men and women will enjoy the lotion and its benefits. We loved how the cream made our skin feel, and have absolutely no complaints about the formula. We noted that Herbal Legend stands out in comparison to popular aromatherapy products, since the botanicals in this lotion are new and exciting, giving customers a fresh experience. This is definitely a cream to look out for if your skin craves natural hydration.

You can buy the Herbal Legend Hand & Body Cream here for €22. Sadly, it's not available in pounds just yet, but we think it's worth the purchase.

Botanicals - Lemongrass & Mandarin Body Lotion

Here at The Amazing Blog, we believe that nature really does know best, which is why we are always advocating products with natural ingredients. Botanicals Lemongrass & Mandarin Revitalising Body Lotion not only contains 100% natural ingredients, but also does wonders for your skin, leaving it feeling soft and silky in a natural way.

After reading about the various setbacks of using chemicals and artificial preservatives in beauty products, Botanicals vowed to never take that kind of risk with peoples’ bodies. Every product they sell is perfectly safe to use, and cares for your skin in a natural way. The pure and organic Revitalising Body Lotion contains Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Aloe Vera, Green Tea Extract and Lemongrass & Mandarin essential oils that combine to support the skin’s natural elasticity, replenish essential moisture and soften and smooth skin. After using the lotion, my skin definitely felt more hydrated and wonderfully soft, and it was a comfort to know that I wasn't slathering chemical laden products onto my body.

If you’re tired of taking unhealthy risks with your body, purchase the Revitalising Body Lotion here for £21.95. We certainly appreciated this guilt free way to achieving supple, heavenly skin.