The Skin Nerd: Here's my pick of the best of Irish gifts and stocking fillers
Pic: iStock
Let’s be real - gifting skincare and beauty can be a stressful task.
These gifts require extra thought to make sure that the giftee will like it, use it, and won’t be offended.
With that in mind, my top tip is to avoid anything emblazoned with the word “anti-ageing” unless it is clearly asked for.
That being said, beauty and skincare can make brilliant gifts, so if you have a loved one who you want to treat to a beauty-themed gift, read on for some of my top tips.
Handily, many are in the stocking filler price range — ideal for your Kris Kindle! Some could even rise to the top of your own wish list…
For the person who craves a winter glow, the will brighten their party season tanning routine.
This overnight mask gets to work whilst you sleep and contains a moisture maximising blend of hyaluronic acid and ceramides to ensure the skin is as soft and hydrated as it is glowing.
is a great treat for makeup lovers, containing three essentials for brightened, radiant skin.
Including a liquid blush, highlighter and dual ended brush, this set is sure to get plenty of use during the festive season and beyond.
One stocking stuffer that is ideal for everyone on your list is the .
I would apologise for mentioning our own product, but we receive so many messages post-Christmas from people that have been COMverted after receiving this handy little mitt as a gift. It is great as a pre-cleanse but can also be used on the body, in the shower, and to wipe mucky little mouths.
Pamper your pout with .
This sheer, colourless balm is the only lip balm I’ve felt to actually do something and makes a perfect stocking filler for mistletoe season.
It contains a powerful, anti-aging polypeptide complex that supports collagen in the lips, so they look naturally firm and plump.
It’s a winter saviour — feeling amazing on chapped lips and
providing lasting moisture for continued healing.
For a present that will benefit overall wellbeing, you can’t go wrong with .
This eco-friendly candle not only has a beautiful lavender and rose geranium scent but also encourages restful sleep, having been designed by founder Nicola Connolly as the first grounding step in your night-time ritual to create a space of calm and balance.
A present best kept for those who have clearly told you they like to whiten their teeth, the contains seven whitening strips, a full-size teeth whitening diamond PAP powder and a whitening pen, making it ideal for those who want to lift stains and signs of discolouration.
- Start with self-care. Indulge your giftee by selecting a present that encourages them to slow down, relax, and enjoy a pamper. Soothing shower oils and bath soaks are fail-safe gifts that encourage your giftee to dedicate some time to self-care.
- Ignore buzzwords. Trending ingredients don’t work for every skin. Instead, consider what products are likely to suit your giftee’s complexion. Radiance boosting sets can be popular, all-rounder presents but look for those including enzyme-based exfoliators (such as papaya, pineapple), rather than scrubs as these can be harsh on the skin barrier.
- Look for pro-ageing ingredients. I consider ageing to be a privilege and so I advise my clients to address the signs of accelerated ageing as opposed to fighting the intrinsic ageing that happens to us all. Vitamin A is a great investment as it is a hero pro-ageing ingredient that can be applied to the skin topically to help keep our skin looking youthful for longer. Retinyl Palmitate is ideal for those new to the active ingredient as it is the fatty form of the ingredient and is gentler on the skin.
- Protect. Everyone should be wearing sunscreen daily and so a gift containing some is the ultimate skin health booster. If your giftee is a skincare fanatic, it may be worth booking them a skincare consultation. A one-on-one appointment allows your giftee to get bespoke advice from a qualified skin expert, who can then recommend a regime and help them to avoid wasting money in the future. The Skin Nerd offers online skin consultations, making the appointments super easy to book and attend.
Clinically proven to intensely moisturise the skin, this handy spray-on formula not only helps to relieve and nourish dry, sensitive skin but works to improve elasticity and uneven skin texture too. Unlike some oils, it can also be used when you are in a rush — feeling lightweight and fast absorbing enough to allow you to get dressed straight after application — all while leaving a lovely, silky sheen!
Lavender can be heavenly for relaxing the body and mind and this oil envelopes the skin in the scent. Along with helping to promote a restful night, it works to hydrate the skin and reduce the appearance of varicose veins.
