Christmas is just around the corner (eight days, people!) and if you're anything like me, you probably relegate your shopping to the last possible moment. That, plus the general stresses of the silly season (money, hosting, preparing to socialise with people you'd rather not…) usually equals - panic.
But, never fear: if the stress is starting to set in, we've got you covered. Introducing our ultimate gift guide for 2022, with a range of last-minute gift ideas for everyone at every budget. It's okay, you can thank us later (name on the gift tag optional).
Dr Martens x The Met Collection (RRP$319.99-$349.99)
Perhaps I'm biassed as I stomp around in Docs on the daily, but these babies are a thing of beauty. Dr Martens first collaboration with The Met is a tribute to the enduring energy and inspiration of Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai's work. The Met 1460 boot is printed with Hokusai's notable work, The Great Wave, paying homage to arguably the most recognisable piece of Japanese art. The Met 1461 is built from the same grained leather and printed with 'Fuji from Gotenyama at Shinagawa on the Tokaido', an image from Hokusai's 36 Views of Mount Fuji series. The world is the gallery - and the wearers are the collectors.
Whittaker's Cocoa Pods (RRP$9.99-$18.99)
With a silky-smooth, decadent hazelnut gianduja filling encased in a Whittaker's classic 33 percent cocoa creamy milk chocolate shell, Whittaker's Cocoa Pods are a premium sweet treat that doesn't break the bank. Like all its chocolate, Whittaker's Cocoa Pods are made from beans-to-bar at their factory in Porirua and are proudly palm oil-free. They're also available in either a pouch or giftbox. You could team it with the Allpress limited-edition Festive Blend (RRP$17.50-$70), a deliciously sweet and complexly flavoured coffee with mild berry acidity, brown sugar and a delicate floral aroma.
Tronque Full Body Collection (RRP$550)
If you're buying for a beauty buff, Tronque's bio-cleanical, high performance products deliver ultra indulgent, luxurious body-care that feels like a dream to apply and can work even better. The Full Body Collection gift set, housed in a special-edition red box, features four full-sized products including Tronque's infamous Rich as Croesus Firming Butter, Soft Focus Scar Concentrate, Everyday Revelation Exfoliating Refining Serum and the newly launched Fully Ripe Vitamin C Body Oil. Pricey perhaps, but if this is a partner you're buying for, I can almost guarantee you'll get in the good books - maybe even for life.
Jeuneora Gift Sets and Bundles (RRP$25-$537)
Kiwi-owned beauty and wellness brand Jeuneora has made gifting easy with a curated selection of gift sets and bundles. Whether you're shopping for a beauty buff, skincare guru or health and wellness enthusiast, Jeuneora has options to suit every budget and recipient. Plus, the products are sustainably sourced, cruelty-free, and made with natural ingredients. My personal favourite is 'The Boosters' set (RRP$245), including four of Jeuneora's active serums (Clarifying Booster Overnight Resurfacing Peel, Brightening Booster Double-action Vitamin C Serum, Hydrating Booster Hyaluronic Acid Serum and Renewing Booster Advanced Retinol Serum). Most sets come in gorgeous drawstring bags or travel cases, making it easy-peasy to take everything you need away to the beach or bach.
CIRCA 2022 Christmas Collection (RRP$16.95-$89.95)
Perhaps a perfect present for mum, nana or even a fragrance-loving father, CIRCA's limited-edition 2022 Christmas collection, 'There's Magic in the Air', offers a selection of seasonal, good-enough-to-eat scents including Pine & Snow Gum, Raspberry & Rhubarb and Gingerbread Cookies. Complete with whimsical packaging reminiscent of Kiwiana Christmas, the collection has been created to capture the magic of this time of year, complete with statement frosted vessels and CIRCA's premium, artisanal craftsmanship. The collection includes 11 items spanning soy candles, fragrance diffusers, body-care and gift sets. CIRCA candles are hand-made and hand-poured using high-quality natural soy wax, fragrant oils and are free from parabens and silicones.
Mecca Limited-Edition Stocking Fillers (RRP$14-$51)
Ideal for the makeup maestro in your circle, Mecca offers a range of stunning products that could be perfect as stocking fillers or a gift basket of goodies - plus, most are limited-edition, making them exclusive must-haves for any collection. There's the Mecca Max Lip Love Mini Lip Gloss Ornament (RRP$17), a mini gloss in a giftable ornament; the Mecca Cosmetica Nourishing Hand Cream Cracker ($26), an ultra-luxe pocked-sized hand cream; the Mecca Max Nice And Spice Eyeshadow Quad ($14), a pocket-sized palette of neutrals for on-the-go glam; and the Mecca Cosmetica Lip Tint Trio ($51), offering three hydrating, nourishing tints that impart the perfect pop of colour.
Stolen Girlfriends Club New Season Eyewear (RRP$329-$379)
We all need a pair of sunnies in summer and Stolen Girlfriends Club has them in spades. Their range of new season, unisex eyewear is inspired by retro Sci-Fi, grunge and kitsch Americana, with all frames handcrafted from recycled steel and Mazzucchelli bio-acetate, making them as environmentally friendly as possible. My personal favourites? The Marilyn in black and Celestial in tortoise shell. There's also styles in pops of lime for the adventurous.
The Beauty Chef 2022 Holiday Collection (RRP$99-$130)
Why not kickstart their new year's resolutions early by giving the gift of holistic wellness. The Beauty Chef, the brand that pioneered the philosophy that 'beauty begins in the belly,' offers organic, bio-fermented ingestible products to provide that much-needed balance amid the overindulgence of the festive season. The Plump & Glow kit contains the popular GLOW Inner Beauty Essential and Collagen Inner Beauty Boost, designed to promote brighter, plumper skin from the inside out. Working synergistically, this pair boosts collagen production and contains an abundance of bio-fermented wholefoods, prebiotic, probiotics, postbiotics and nutrients. Alternatively, the Super Glow limited-edition kit contains GLOW F.A.C.E and GLOW Inner Beauty Essential, carefully curated to supercharge your beauty routine by supporting both gut and skin microbiomes, promoting improved skin tone, texture and complexion.
