World-Saving Holiday Gifts under $25

holiday-giftsA few last-minute holiday gift ideas that make the world a better place in their own way, from companies I love.

How is your holiday shopping coming along? If you’re all set, good for you! For the rest of us, here are a few nice ideas for small gifts (under $25) that make a difference, for people and the planet.

For skin care and cosmetics enthusiasts, the California-based company Beautycounter has the most stringent ingredient selection criteria in the industry, with a focus on both safety and performance and a “Never List” of over 1500 questionable or hazardous ingredients they will never use in their products. Switching to Beautycounter for my skin care routine has completely transformed my skin for the better. I’m actually so smitten with this company’s amazing products, that I became a consultant myself. It took some seriously special products to turn me into a skin care ambassador, and I’m really excited to share them with you. Here are two of my stocking-stuffer-worthy favorites:

Hand Cream in Citrus MimosaBeautycounter Hand Cream in Citrus Mimosa, $17

I love the natural citrus scent, but this is honestly also the BEST hand lotion I have ever tried. It is deeply moisturizing and dries almost instantly, so you’re not sliming everything you touch after you put it on. Also available in a Set of Five at a steep discount ($58), bringing these down to less than $12 per tube — a truly amazing deal.

Charcoal Cleansing BarBeautycounter Charcoal Cleansing Bar, $24

I wash my face with this every night. It is one of the few bar soaps I’ve ever used that doesn’t dry my skin. Charcoal is a hot trend in skin care right now, functioning much like it does in a water filter, drawing out impurities. With Beautycounter’s ultra-high safety standards, this is a gift you can feel good about giving.

Please note: Beautycounter’s ordering deadline for Christmas delivery via ground shipping was Thursday, December 15 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. But expedited shipping is still available!


If you’d like to support a woman-owned small business with amazing, all-natural, organic products, look no further than ZeetaBody, based in Las Vegas. Founder Christine Frazzitta hand-crafts essential oil-infused body oils, aromatherapy sprays, salt soaks, scrubs and more. Free shipping on orders over $49 and two of my favorite items are currently on sale! Hooray!

ZeetaBody Cardamom Spice Body Oil (2 oz), $12.99 (sale price)

Cardamom Spice OilI adore this product in the wintertime. After a shower, before toweling off, rub this oil all over your wet body and instantly enjoy relaxing aromatherapy and the warming effects of therapeutic-grade essential oils, not to mention the blend’s moisturizing properties, which stave off the dry, itchy skin so typical in the colder months. With almond oil as its base and hints of cardamom, ginger, sweet orange and tangerine, among others, this body oil is both a treat for the senses and a treatment for the skin.

 

ZeetaBody Holiday Warmth Aromatherapy Room Spray  (2 oz) in a handmade knit stocking, $16.89 (sale price) 

zeeta-room-sprayHints of cedarwood, cinnamon, clove and scotch pine create a festive atmosphere with this holiday-inspired room spray. This product doubles as an all-natural antiseptic spray for pet beds, yoga mats, car seats and more. It comes in an adorable hand-knit stocking, which you can spray to add a beautiful scent to any space. The sweet packaging, both functional and aesthetic, makes this a very gift-worthy item.


 

If fair-trade fashion piques your interest, definitely check out Fair Indigo. Their tagline is “Style with a Conscience” and their mission is to curate a collection of clothing, accessories and gifts that are stylish, sustainable, and the means to a happy, healthy life for the individuals who craft them. Artisans work in safe surroundings and earn a fair wage, allowing them to care for their families and strengthen their communities. Free shipping on orders over $50. Order by December 19 for Christmas delivery.

Solmate Mismatched Socks, $19.90

Mismatched SocksThese adorable socks will keep your loved ones feeling warm and looking super cute. Made in the USA of a blend that includes 62% recycled cotton, 22% polyester, 15% nylon and 1% lycra, and available in a variety of fun, cheerful colors in whimsical patterns, they are also environmentally friendly and entirely vegan! These are sure to be a hit with all your girlfriends.

 


If you’re as a big a smoothie fan as I am, you’ll want to invest in some reusable straws and help protect the environment by using fewer disposables. Enter Glass Dharma, whose mission is to create world-wide awareness about single-use plastics and how damaging plastic straws are to our environment. Glass Straws provide an alternative. My pick for a small gift ($25) would be two smoothie-sized glass straws (9-inch length) and one cleaning brush. Free shipping using the code FreeShipGD until December 18.

GlassDharma Smoothie Straw (12mm x 9″), $10 each, plus $5 Cleaning Brush

GlassDharma Smoothie StrawIn my opinion, drinking from a glass straw is better than plastic the way drinking wine out of a glass is better than a plastic cup. It enhances the experience. Plus, it’s beautiful and doesn’t harm the environment. These super-durable straws are made of borosilicate glass (the same material as Pyrex products), which is so strong that your straw comes with a lifetime guarantee. Be sure to pick up a cleaning brush for $5 with your order, which will make your straw a breeze to clean.


For more natural products that aren’t harming your health or the environment, you can’t go wrong with Dr. Bronner’s all-natural soaps. Fair trade, organic, non-GMO verified, vegan and never tested on animals. Amazon Prime free shipping is available.

Dr. Bronner’s Organic Hand & Body Shikakai Soap (24 oz), $16.19

Lemongrass Lime Hand SoapFair-trade, organic sugar gives these soaps a rich caramel color and sweet scent. The sugar is combined with organic white grape juice to keep skin nourished, hydrated and smooth, while the pure castile liquid soap base offers a rich, emollient lather and moisturizing feel. These soaps come in lots of beautiful scents. I’m partial to the Lemongrass Lime, but you could also choose Peppermint, Lavender or Unscented. Smaller, 12-oz pumps of the same soap are also available from the Dr. Bronner’s website for $9.99. Added bonus: Rather than purchasing a new container whenever you run out, you can buy a half-gallon refill directly from the Dr. Bronner’s website, as well.


For the tea lovers in your life (of which I am definitely one), I have a few fun gift suggestions.

Two Leaves and a Bud Organic Gen Mai Cha Tea Sachets (Box of 15 sachets), $8.99

Gen Mai Cha Tea SachetsThis is one of my everyday favorites. Most commercially available tea sachets contain tea powder, which is the dregs of the tea production process, left over after the premium whole leaves are sold as loose-leaf tea. That’s not the case with Two Leaves and a Bud. Here, steeping high-quality, organic, loose-leaf green tea is made more convenient, as it comes in pyramid-shaped (compostable!) sachets that allow the tea leaves to unfurl and steep optimally. I love the toasted rice flavor of the Gen Mai Cha tea, but also highly recommend the Alpine Berry Sachets for those who prefer a caffeine-free herbal blend. Free shipping on orders of $50 or more.


Ah Tea Company Happy Holidays Tea Blend (2 oz canister), $5.99 (sale price)

Happy Holidays Tea BlendAh Tea Company is a brand new Texas-based supplier of traditional teas, exotic infusions and modern tea blends featuring organically grown, sustainable, non-GMO teas. They use recycled, sustainable products for their beautiful packaging, which is also biodegradable. The Happy Holidays tea blend begins with premium black tea from Sri Lanka and is flavored with real candy cane pieces and peppermint leaves. It has a creamy mint finish that makes it an uplifting after-dinner tea and a holiday favorite. I can also highly recommend the Spiced Pumpkin Pie tea blend, which makes a wonderful chai latte when mixed with almond milk and your favorite liquid sweetener (I chose maple syrup). Free standard shipping on all US orders, and each order comes with a free infuser and tea samples.


Rishi Fair Trade, Organic Loose Leaf “Teasers” — prices vary (most just a few dollars)

Rishi Silver Needle TeaRishi Tea is known for its ultra-high-quality, certified organic teas. The company engages in direct trade through active, personal relationships with tea growers and farmers around the world. Do a little browsing and choose a few different sample-size servings for your tea-loving friends (or yourself!) They make great stocking stuffers at just a few dollars apiece.

 

Masala Chai Loose Leaf Tea

 

I can also recommend a quarter-pound bag of Rishi’s delicious Masala Chai organic black tea blend ($12). Alternatively they offer a 50-count box of convenient Masala Chai tea bags for $24.00 and very gift-worthy 3-oz tins can be purchased on Amazon for $6.99. I also really enjoy their caffeine-free herbal Cinnamon Plum tea blend, as well.


 

So that about wraps up my list of world-saving, last-minute, small holiday gift recommendations. But I will close with one final note: Please be sure to always shop through Amazon Smile when buying anything on Amazon. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization at no cost to you. You can choose from nearly one million organizations to support. There’s no reason not to do this.

Thanks in advance for your contribution to the greater good. Happy holidays and happy shopping! I’m looking forward to sharing more yummy recipes with you again very soon.

Best, warmest wishes to you and your loved ones, in the holiday season and always.

 

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