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Marne’s Holiday Gift Picks: My Guide to a Stress-Free Holiday

Marne Orenich
ByMarne OrenichSep 2, 2020 | 10 comments

Marne's Gift Guide

Ah- the holiday season. Full of cold weather, hot drinks, cozy nights at home, and... stressful shopping trips? Heck no, I do not want to panic over what to get my friends and family and I don't want that for you either. Luckily, I've made a lil' gift guide for y'all that includes my top picks for items that I found via the subscription box world as well as the top subscriptions I'd gift to those I love. Get yourself a cup of cocoa in one of those mugs I know you've gotten in every Fall or Winter box and let's dive in!

Marne's Gift Guide To A Stress-Free Holiday

First, let's start with the a la carte menu of products I found via subscription boxes that I cherish or would love to gift. These are products I urge you to buy for yourself to practice #selfcare during this stressful season or to grab as gifts, stocking stuffers, or advent calendar-like goodies for those who might enjoy them!

1. Blüh Alchemy Toning Elixir

Beauty Heroes Bluh Alchemy Toning Elixir

Cost: $54.00 Buy it here!

What is it?: I've tried a lot of toners in my day and this finger lime caviar and hyaluronic acid toner from Bluh Alchemy is the GOAT, in my opinion. I first discovered it through Beauty Heroes and was blessed with it once again later in the year via Laurel & Reed

This would make a great gift for: Anyone who needs an extra boost of hydration for the colder months who want to indulge in a clean beauty routine.

2. Frank And Oak SeaCell Cotton Oversized Cropped Sweater in Golden Palm

me in my mustard yellow frank and oak ribbed turtleneck

Cost: $89.50 + shipping cost. Buy it here!

What is it?: Sooooo- Anna (thanks for the pic, girl!) got this sweater in her Style Plan by Frank And Oak a couple of months back and I was like "WOW." (it's made of seaweed, y'all)! So what did I do? I went to a Frank And Oak store while in Toronto last month, straight-up single-white-female'd her, and got the same one. This sweater is so soft, fits perfectly, and I just love the marigold color for Fall! 

This would make a great gift for: The sustainable fashion-plate in your life, or like, YOU. Because it's wonderful and you deserve it. 

3. Osèque True Noble Soil Layering Mask

Cost: $4.50 + shipping cost. Buy it here!

What is it?: I was really impressed with this sheet mask that I received in the Fall FaceTory Lux Plus Box and the scent of mistletoe is on-point for this season. 

This would make a great gift for: You- to have yourself a little spa day after shopping/decorating/cooking/planning for your upcoming holidays. Or give this as a thank you to your bestie for listening to all of your problems, day-in, day-out. 

4. Henne Organics Luxury Lip Tint in Bare

Henne Organics Luxury Lip Tint in Bare with box

Cost: $21.00 + shipping cost. Buy it here!

What is it?: Henne is a maker of organic makeup that pops up in my clean beauty boxes, but I specifically discovered this lip tint in The Organic Bunny Box. They do a great mix of skincare, makeup, personal care, and snacks that are all organic! 

This would make a great gift for: I immediately thought of my best friend, Alicia, since she's very committed to clean beauty and always looking for a delicate lip tint to keep moisturized. 

5. Skandinavisk Flamma Scented Candle

Cost: $33.15 + shipping cost. Buy it here!

What is it?: I was introduced to this heavenly scented candle by Norlii, a quarterly box that sends the best decor and lifestyle items from the Nordic countries. Fall and Winter are the perfect time to get Hygge, so this cozy candle that smells like a campfire fits the bill.

This would make a great gift for: Anyone! Who doesn't love candles? I had to restrain myself from buying several different scents from this company when I first discovered it.

6. Sephora Favorites: Skincare’s Next Big Thing

Cost: $40.00 + shipping cost. Buy it here!

What is it?: It's hard to contain my obsession with the Sephora Favorites kits. I think they are the perfect way to discover new products and try brands without breaking the bank. A skincare addict like me swoons at the very sight of something like the "Skincare's Next Big Thing" kit. This one includes TEN products from brands like Youth To The People, Sol de Janeiro, Herbivore, Supergoop!, to name a few, and the box makes it a wonderful giftable box without signing up for a full-blown subscription.

This would make a great gift for: Skincare addicts and newbies alike. There is something for everyone in here!

My Favorite Subscription Boxes For Your Favorite People

1. Laurel & Reed

4 items gathered around Laurel and Reed box

Cost: $49.95 per month + $6.99 shipping (U.S.). Sign up here!

What They’ll Get: Laurel & Reed happens to be a favorite clean beauty box of mine. I also love that it's a smaller operation than some of the large companies which makes me feel good to support. Each month, they do a wonderful job of curating full-size beauty items from awesome brands like Ursa Major, Captain Blankenship, and BKIND. Every box features 4-6 non-toxic products like serums, body wash, toners, masks and more. 

This Would Make a Great Gift For: People who want to switch to more clean beauty or those who want to continue discovering new products sans harmful ingredients but prefer fewer full-size to more sample sizes.

Gift It: You can easily sign up for a gift subscription here! If you're interested in a one-time purchase to kick things off for your loved one, some past boxes are available through their website here!

Ships To: U.S. & Canada.

Want to learn more about Laurel & Reed? Read all of our Laurel & Reed reviews!

2. Sunday Riley Box

Cost: $95.00/box or save 10% and subscribe to get it for $85.50/quarter! Sign up here!

What They’ll Get: The Sunday Riley Box is hands-down my favorite quarterly lifestyle box. Each delivery will include a mix of several Sunday Riley beauty products (mostly mini and deluxe sizes) along with high-end and of-the-moment lifestyle and beauty brands like Maude, Luna, Lipstick Queen, Oribe, Harry Josh, R+Co, Boy Smells, and more! This box is well-curated and always has a fantastic value.

This Would Make a Great Gift For: Anyone who is already a fan of Sunday Riley or a newbie to the subscription box world and wants to try the newest products and discover even more beauty and lifestyle brands.

Gift It: This is a pricier subscription, but the good news is that you can buy it as a one-time box which makes it perfect for gifting! You can purchase either a single box or sign up for a subscription here. They don't offer gift subscriptions specifically, but you can add your receiver's address when you sign up.  

Ships to: U.S. only.

Want to learn more about the Sunday Riley Box? Read all of our Sunday Riley Box reviews!

3. Bespoke Post

Bespoke Post Mellow mens subscription box review all contents

Cost: $45 a month for members, $55 if purchased without a membership. Sign up here!

What They’ll Get: This is probably one of the most giftable subscriptions in my opinion because it allows the recipient to choose their own curated box. I always find something I love in their collection and they release new boxes every month. Featured items range from well-made clothing, sturdy camping gear, artisanal food and drink offerings to rugged outdoor tools, or even kitchen items. Each box contains 1-5+ items depending on the theme and value.

This Would Make a Great Gift For: Bespoke Post seemed to start off being targeted towards men, but I think the quality items they offer to appeal to anyone with an eye for design and craftsmanship. Many of these items I wouldn't purchase for myself when shopping but would LOVE to receive as a gift and love choosing each month!

Gift It: Bespoke Post allows you to easily purchase a one-time box (for $10 more than the subscription price) if you aren't ready to set up a subscription for your friend or family member. Just visit their site to browse boxes or grab them a gift card if you can't decide!

Ships to: The lower 48 US states for $3.95, Hawaii, Alaska, and Canada for $10. All orders over $75 qualify for free shipping.

Want to learn more about Bespoke Post? Read all of our Bespoke Post reviews!

4. Pusheen Box

group of 8 Pusheen items surrounding box

Cost: $43.95/quarter + $6 US shipping. Sign up here!

What They’ll Get: Voted cutest subscription box ever by ME! Each Pusheen Box includes the cutest items ever seen with exclusive Pusheen designs from clothing to useful household items to plushies and figures.

This Would Make a Great Gift For: Children or adults who are Pusheen superfans! This is also a great box full of re-giftable items since many of the contents come in awesome gift boxes.

Gift It: Pusheen Box doesn't offer specific gift subscriptions, so you'll need to know the recipient's shirt and shoe size when ordering and use their shipping address so it gets delivered to the right place! Sign up for a quarterly or annual subscription here

Ships to: Worldwide. Shipping costs vary.

Want to learn more about Pusheen Box? Read all of our Pusheen Box reviews!

5. The Detox Box

3 items surrounding the Detox Box

Cost: $55.00 a month with free shipping. Save with longer commitments. Sign up here!

What They’ll Get: I am consistently delighted by The Detox Box because they always feature brands I'm excited about and tend to switch it up between makeup, haircare, and skincare each month so I get a taste of all the best clean beauty brands. Each month concentrates on one brand and includes a small array of 2-4+ full-size products for you to try. Popular brands like W3LL PEOPLE, Herbivore, Josh Rosebrook, and The Beauty Chef have all shown up in past boxes.

This Would Make a Great Gift For: Clean beauty addicts who want to have an opinion on all the latest products and brands. I've learned so much from this box and share my knowledge with my friends who are looking for recommendations.

Gift It: The Detox Box offers gift subscriptions, so simply click here to sign up your beauty-ful loved one!

Ships to: U.S. only. 

Want to learn more about The Detox Box? Read all of our Detox Box reviews!

6. FaceTory 7 Lux

Cost: $19.90 per month + free U.S. shipping. Sign up here!

What They’ll Get: Facetory 7 Lux sends seven Korean sheet masks every month that are hard to find over here in the US. They have the cutest packaging and great descriptions and tips for each mask so you get the best use out of each!

This Would Make a Great Gift For: Sheet mask aficionados or self-care warriors that want to pamper their skin and hair for seven days out of every month.

Gift It: Gift subscriptions are available from Facetory, so head on over to sign someone up here to give them the gift of beautiful skin!

Ships to: The US for free and Worldwide starting at $9.95

Want to learn more about Facetory? Read all of our Facetory reviews!

Well, that'll just about do for this year. I tried to include a little something for everyone but only feature boxes I love! Of course, beauty takes a front seat for me, but nowadays there are subscription boxes for just about everything, so I hope you got some good ideas for everyone on your list. If you wanna see more MSA picks, check out our full 2019 Gift Guide here!

Who are you buying for and what would YOU choose to get them?

Marne Orenich
Marne Orenich
Marne is a lipstick connoisseur, record collector, and twice over cat mom. She loves discovering new clean beauty brands and has quite the collection of beautifully packaged serums and moisturizers.

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10 comments

Tamara Dungan

Great selection! I’m intrigued by the toner!

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Marne Orenich

Ahhhh- it’s so nice!!! The mist and scent are perfect!

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Heather S..

My girls will agree with the Pusheen box. They pack that box with so many fun items, even I managed to keep a couple for myself 😁

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Marne Orenich

Fun for the whole family! 😛

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h

Great choices and all of my favorites. I actually laughed out loud at the “straight up SWF’d her”. I’ve bought some of these as gifts throughout the year, so I definitely agree wholeheartedly with you on your choices and advice for readers.

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Marne Orenich

I’m so happy I got you to LOL, h!
We must share the same great taste! 😉

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Lisa

Marne, I love your picks! I just signed up for Bespoke to get a gift for my father but can’t wait until next month when I get to pick for me!

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Marne Orenich

Yeaaa!!! The first of the month is one of my favorite times because of the choosing! It takes me sooo long somehow. I think that’s a good sign since it means it’s hard to decide from all the great stuff. Hope your father likes his!!

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Kristine

Thanks Marne. I love all these gift options. Thanks for great reviews and ideas for gifts. ❤️🛍

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Marne Orenich

My pleasure, Kristine! Glad you liked them. 🙂

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