Just after the end of summer, I woke up to a text from my mother. This is expected: she always wakes up before me, and always has something to say. The unexpected: the text itself, reading, “Christmas List?????” Ignored.
But when Thanksgiving rolled around the other day, I received another text.
I couldn’t think of a single thing I needed. I already have the essentials, and I don’t need more material items that would take up space in my small bedroom. So, in deciding on last-minute gifts for myself and for this gift guide, I’ve tried to let go of frivolity, and focus on quality and style.
This seems like a long read. And it is, for a gift guide. That said, I’ve categorized my selections to make gift-giving as easy as can be, based on who you’re shopping for. If you see anything you like, please let me know in the comments!
For the Beauty Buff
Curated Pouches for the Plane
Make TSA a breeze for your beauty-obsessed traveller with 100ml‘s pouches. Each pouch contains five travel-size items (aka “little luxuries”) in a pre-made or customizable set. From products like vintage-inspired Marvis toothpaste, earth-friendly condoms, and Aesop’s high-end moisturizing hand balm, every piece of your 100ml pouch is clean, vegan, cruelty-free, and safe for the skies.
Inner beauty boost! When you buy this selection of the best outer beauty products under 3.5 ounces, you’re supporting a woman-owned small biz!
From $70. Shop 100ml here.
Swift-Approved Shadows
Best believe the Mothership X: Moonlit Seduction Palette will make the whole place (eyes included) shimmer! These Taylor Swift-approved shades were integral to her makeup looks on recent red carpets and in the ‘Bejeweled’ music video, brought to life by legendary beauty artist and entrepreneur Pat McGrath. This is a gift that doesn’t scream Swiftie, yet is the perfect addition to a superfan’s makeup kit. It’s undercover like Taylor in a suitcase, but bright and pigmented like the Lover era. From buildable mattes to starry metallics, there’s a pressed powder for every occasion in this palette, designed by the Dame Pat herself.
$128*. Shop the Mothership X Palette here.
Glow Away Another Day
Shine, shine, go away, (don’t) come again another day. While Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty may be known for its bestselling, powerfully pigmented Pinch Me blushes (aka my favorite product right now), the star’s line also offers elevated basics for skincare & small fixes throughout the day. Complete with a powder puff, blotting papers, and a mirror, the Blot & Glow Touch-Up Kit maintains your natural glow while reducing oil. This little pink compact has elegant packaging that goes with any bag you throw it in. Bonus: it’s refillable! Reduce your impact while revamping your makeup!
$26*. Shop Rare Beauty here.
For The Career-Focused Friend
Read It and Weep
From $5+/month on Substack, you can support individual, independent writers covering anything and everything! My favorites include the following:
In Link in Bio, Social media strategist/consultant/wunderkind Rachel Karten shares thoughts on industry norms, trends, and culture. Rachel is a career idol for me. Her newsletter makes me better at what I do while maintaining a connection with its community through polls, interviews, and a job board catered for its audience.
Musings of A Twenty-Something‘s title speaks for itself. My friend Burake Teshome is also in the social media industry and uses her essay-format newsletter to muse on pop culture, young adulthood, and more. As co-interns in a virtual, business-first setting years ago, we bonded over how weird the experience was while still managing to make the best of it. Anyway, she’s killing it in social at Vanity Fair, and I’m unemployed. That alone should convince you to close this page and open her latest piece.
Hunter Harris’ Hung Up is a weekly output by an ace writer and freelancer. Hunter’s profiled many heavy hitters in entertainment for some of the biggest outlets you’ve ever heard of, and has recently taken her incredibly funny and relatable words into her own hands. She describes her audience as “extremely-online and extremely-with-taste”, which I’ve chosen to take as a compliment against medical advice.
F*** You, Pay Me
As silly as it sounds, for a freelance, multi-hyphenate creative such as myself (Jesus, use buzzwords much?), the “If I’m Not Getting Paid, No” crewneck sweatshirt from Hermana has been a great, very soft reminder that my time, work, and creativity are worth proper compensation. There’s a big issue in the creative economy which boils down to this: companies need creators to advertise, but aren’t always willing to pay them fairly.
The days of “for trade” collaborations are over, as more and more people make a living off of creative pursuits (like social media) that can be supported by ads. Support your fellow creatives at Hermana Agency— Canada’s coolest influencer agency— by snagging one of these ethically-made comfy cozies before they’re gone.
Shop here for $59.
Let’s Link
A Linkedin Premium subscription is the golden ticket to the world of professionalism, which these days seems to be defined by the weirdly-spaced, guilt-induced ramblings of a crying CEO and the 9-5 community’s new hero, Ryan Reynolds. For your skilled friend who’s running into walls and burning out as often as a dollar store box of matches, the insights and legs up provided by Linkedin Premium will make the job search so much less daunting.
$30/month on Linkedin.
For The Bookworm
These are the books I’m most excited to read in the coming days and weeks and months. If you’re not a reader and are shopping for one, please take my word for it, these books are gonna be good. And when you find yourself at your nearest independent bookstore, combing through the shelves with unfettered intrigue, you’ll know who to thank.
Already Released:
- “The Light We Carry” by Michelle Obama
- “Carrie Soto is Back” by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- “101 Essays to Change the Way You Think” by Brianna Wiest
Coming Soon:
- “Happy Place” by Emily Henry (May 2023)
- “I Didn’t Know I Needed This” by Eli Rallo (Fall 2023)
- “Paris: The Memoir” by Paris Hilton (March 2023)
Find an indie bookshop near you here.
For the “Clean Girl Aesthetic” Come to Life
If you’re not familiar with the “clean girl aesthetic” check out the tag on TikTok. It has roots in metropolitan residents from NYC to Oslo with aspirational, model-off-duty vibes. The aesthetic is characterized by neutral clothing, slower living, and slicked-back buns. It isn’t only for girls, but I love an alliterative theme, so I stuck with it here.
Before you universally adopt this aura, take a look at this article from Byrdie that examines the unsavory side of the trend and continue on with the knowledge in the pocket of your new aesthetically-aligned puffer coat.
Cozy Girl
My desire for this jacket was sparked for the same reason as many female ancestors before me… because my sister has one. If that’s not a good reason to get something, I don’t know what is. Regardless, this puffer is THE staple of CGA. (Yes, I made up that acronym. Let’s move on.) The Aritzia Super Puff is the most marshmallowy my body has ever felt. It’s wonderfully warm without being suffocating, and comes in over 20 colors.
$250. Shop here.
Clear Girl
Merit Beauty’s The Minimalist Complexion Stick is the best new makeup product I’ve tried in years. I’ve literally never looked so awake before lunch! The medium coverage stick was originally formulated as a concealer, but devotees (myself included) love it for varied use. The product clings to skin to prevent product loss while blending naturally for an even, not-too-shiny skin tone.
I wear shade Dune (for my fellow cool-toned vampires of the world) under my eyes, on spots, and occasionally all over. I would use shade Silk (3 shades darker as recommended) for contour, if I cared enough about myself to bother with a facial art project at the crack of dawn. Five stars.
$38 $30* right now on meritbeauty.com.
Curly (or Wavy) Girl
Sometimes, with mental health issues, hygiene can be tough. I’m not sure if it’s the super-cute pink packaging or the lack of sulfates, but the Dae Hair Signature Duo Set has made a chore feel like a luxury. I originally learned about them through my friend Natalie‘s adorable Instagram reel back in July. I was so influenced that I bought the regular size set for myself, and later, the mini set for another friend who really needed a hair routine makeover. Dae’s line is also vegan, with many products made with natural extracts derived from desert flowers and seeds. My wavy hair loves the formula that tames any frizziness instantly, lathers beautifully, and treats my color-treated hair with kindness.
$48*. Shop here.
Candle Girl
In the last year or so, I have become obsessed with candles. In my old studio apartment, a little shrine of candles and trinkets atop one of my two dressers became a makeshift space separator. Anyone with a shoebox apartment knows that making separate spaces may save your sanity, and candles is such a cool way to do it. I collected candles for that project from various stores and sites, but it wasn’t until this fall I found the treasure trove of candles from Little Chateau.
Another women-owned small biz enters the gift guide! Chrissy and her mom Jackie co-own the store, which was born from Chrissy’s blog and her seaside cottage, both of the same name. From no-frills New England candlemakers like Minot to Shimmer candles intricately enveloped in glass , LC has the perfect scent for you or your loved one. The store, occasionally staffed by a lovable pup named Brody, also carries clothing, gifts, stationery, and more with a cool, beachy vibe that never goes out of style.
From $20 at Little Chateau, in person in Newport or online anywhere.
Happy holiday shopping!
Disclaimer: Some affiliate links (indicated with *) were used in this post.