Hello friends – I left the snow behind and escaped to warmer climes for a few days; if you’re reading this on Tuesday, I should be on a plane heading home, but I will be delving into comments. This is where you come in: any great ideas for small gifts suitable for an office-friendly gift exchange, Hanukkah, stocking stuffers etc? Leave ‘em in the comments!
Today I’m going to talk about two things that haven’t managed to work their way into another post.
First, this eczema cream from Earth’s Care. I have sensitive skin, live in a dry climate blah blah. Sometimes I get a little patch or two of dermatitis, especially if I’ve been a little too aggressive with my skincare actives, plus actual eczema on my elbows and knees. I tried this on a whim because it’s got a lot of great reviews — it’s packed with colloidal oatmeal and some other star ingredients, and it was cheap. (Note the shape/size: it’s the cream, not the lotion in a pump bottle, ointment in a tub, etc., there are several variations.)
It looks like it’s designed for tree-hugging hippie Whole Foods babies, and maybe it is; I’m a big baby sometimes. Anyhoo, it doesn’t smell like much of anything. Not perfumed, but also it doesn’t smell medicinal like organic diaper rash cream. Why am I writing about it? WELL. If you stuck this in a fancy jar labeled Crème d’Or or some similar nonsense and charged 10 – 20x the price I wouldn’t have been shocked. It’s the most luxurious, soothing substance to ever emerge from a tube that costs me less than a breakfast burrito. It sinks in, isn’t sticky, doesn’t give me milia, it’s an absolute delight. Hydrating but not occlusive.
Also, this Peter Thomas Roth instant eye tightener, new version — Have you ever tried StriVectin? The instant (okay, five minute) under-eye tightener for bags and wrinkles, in the tiny yellow pump bottle? The substance itself works great, but the packaging drives me up the wall – it gums up and/or simply quits when it’s still half full, and there goes your $35ish. This Peter Thomas Roth is a reformulation of their original – if you want to try it, make sure you’re buying the one with the brush, that’s the new one. It’s in a tube that does not fail halfway through, and it works wonderfully! Don’t use the brush they include, just dab a teeeeensy amount on with your finger and let it work its magic. It’s not a “repair” cream – purely cosmetic – but it lasts all day. Goes on sale periodically for less than $30; regular price is $38, but that tube will last for months and it’s 20ml compared to the StriVectin’s 10ml for the same price.
Finally, have you tried drenching a piece of clothing in a beloved fragrance? I’ve been wearing Mitsouko on a particular scarf, and every time I put that thing on, it brings me joy in the way only Mitsy can do. I’m tempted to spray a bit on my car seats, but what if I hate it? You know Mitsy’s never, ever going to vacate the premises. Not sure I want to live that dream when it’s 112 degrees in there in the summer.
Okay, your turn! Any cool little gift ideas? Hey, here’s some scented pencils and I want this tiny broom for the kitchen counter. Carolyn bought this mug for the house which is probably NSFW but I find it hilarious.
cover image via Pexels
Thanks for the recommendations March! I bought the eczema cream because I have a little patch on my neck that won’t clear up. I bought and returned the PTR FixIt gel 2.0 with the brush. I couldn’t get it to work and play well with others — others being my skin care products and concealer. I’m glad it works for you. I also bought the scented pencils– great stocking stuffer! I bought some magazines as stocking stuffers for my big kids: a Pokémon retrospective from Life magazine, and a Bluey puzzle/coloring book. Also some gel pens that have tiny fidget spinners inside the pen clip for my ADHD gang.
I have two friends who get weird white spots, is that what happens to you? It must be interacting with something. The StriVectin works great, but as I said, I can’t stand the dispenser. Awwwww, I love all those little gifts! I love stocking stuffers. Hope the cream works out for you.
I had done that with fragrance. Recently a cheap spray of Joy on an old cashmere sweater that was simply unwearable. It’s great but I really prefer it to smell like what it smells like on me.
I mean, fair enough. I’m not sure everyone’s enjoying a free wallop of Mitsouko at the CVS at 8am hahaha
I’m with Cinnamon & Musette. Any L’Occitane minis are good stocking fillers. I adore their Almond Bath & Shower Oil & associated products as well as their Verbenas.
Other small gifts that have been well received in the past were tiny, lightweight umbrellas with covers that fit neatly into handbags. I’m in the UK & admittedly they may not go down as well where you live.
I reallllly need to pick up some of those L’Occitane minis, they all smell great to me. And oh boy the umbrella collection I used to have in DC — wanted them to look nice to/from work, they were off limits to the kids. I think I’ve used an umbrella here … once?
I want one of those mugs. Like Mussette I didn’t get it until looking at the animated spinning of it. Suddenly there it was! lolololol.
I was looking at the Roth eye tightener. If it weren’t for you and Musette, I would think all the pictures with comments on amazon were paid ads. I really want it. You are true enablers!!!
Little gift ideas are tougher than it seems. Many have already been mentioned.
Oh, I stared at that thing for the better part of a day before I “got” it. For the PTR — remember, it’s just a temporary cosmetic “fix” like concealer. It’s worth a try; maybe you can return it if you hate it?
I know that it’s temporary but worth it if it works. I checked and it looks like it can be returned. Yay!
I hope your few days in the warmth and sun were wonderful.
They were! I’ll probably be writing about it next time.
Small/Secret Santa-ish gifts … I think most people would appreciate high quality, nice smelling, really emollient hand creams. I am thinking stuff like l’Occitan Shea butter. Boy, is that stuff good.
Packets of Bee Bombs — ya know, those little boxes of nuggets of seeds you throw in the garden and let what may happen.
I wonder if our spaceNK has Strivectin. will have to look.
Such a lovely idea to go to the warm for a short break.
I love the L’Occitaine hand creams!! A few years ago I hosted a baby shower and gave them as party favors!
L’Occitane and bee bombs — what fabulous ideas! And yes, it WAS lovely. I’ll probably write about it next time.
If you are dealing with people who can’t stop with the hand sanitizer, Bath and Body Works has some. You can get 6 for $10, lesser amounts are $1.95. Those are great for someone you don’t know well or pretty broke. The Cheirosa 62 hand creams are great for gifts or stocking stuffers. What I am missing is the old Neutrogena Norwegian formula for hands or the Burt’s Bees banana hand cream for my dry winter skin.
I really like that Cheirosa 62 — I don’t think I’ve talked about it! Oh, I loved that Neutrogena, has it been discontinued?!?
That PTRoth is my New Best Friend! And you’re right- a teeensy bit! Any more and it does The Dreaded White Snot. And it does work All Damb Day!!
I suuuck at office friendly gifts, so no joy there
AND I wouldn’t worry about the NSFW mug. I looked at it for… well… awhile… ( insert shrug)
Safe travels home!
Hi honey! I am thinking of you tonight. Also, whyyyyyyy does it do the white snot thing?