2024 Christmas Gift Guide

Real gifts I’ve given, received, or written into my wishlist!

Nov 16, 2024

This year, I’m trying to give gifts that are plastic-free wherever possible. In life, reducing plastic can feel impractical, but since gifts by nature are luxurious, I’m hoping it’ll be a fun challenge!

This gift guide is part 1 of 3:

SILKY (gifts you can buy)
SCRUNCHY (gifts that are experiences)
CRUNCHY (gifts you can make)

SILKY gifts you can buy

Holiday gift guides often round up generic things meant for anyone and everyone, and therefore are meant for no one… re-giftable in bland banality. I can’t say mine is any better. All I can say is, here are 12 specific gifts I’ve given, received, or written into my wishlist for this year.

Do you remember the reason for the season? Jesus! The Najeau olive oil soap ($18) is made in Lebanon (Jesus’ neck of the planet) and made with olives from a 900-year-old monastery. I bring back the same kind of olive oil soap each summer when I visit our family in Lebanon.

Here they recommend it as a shampoo bar, but I actually wash my fruits with it— that’s how clean this soap is. You can also buy their cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil ($56). It would make a great gift for whomever in your life wants to feel closer to Jesus.

THE gift I’ve been giving for years is Senteurs d’Orient The Oil ($45). I first found it on the NYT Gift Guide, though I had already been using their soaps. Scented with 14 essential oils like neroli, cypress and red thyme, this oil smells luxurious while being light and quick-drying.

I find it comparable to fancy body oils that sell for twice the price. Smooth it on your hair and arms to moisturize, or dab on your wrists to smell amazing without any plastic synthetic oils or phthalates.

That Victoria’s Secret glow can be attributed to the brand RMS. The founder, Rose-Marie Swift, was a make-up artist struggling with health problems in her 30s when she started the RMS brand with the goal of creating safer, synthetic-free beauty products. The Living Luminizer and Lip2Cheek colors come in little glass pots, reducing plastic packaging. The Soiree Set ($128) is a thoughtful gift for a new mom or someone who’s immunocompromised and needs a “clean beauty” pick-me-up.

If you’re unsure about such a big purchase, their Lip2Cheek Stocking Stuffer ($32) is a great value and has three shades, including my holiday party fave: “Beloved.” Fun fact, this is the shade they use on the Victoria Secret models!

Plant-based sustainable leather. Show your plant-based friends you see them! Most vegan leathers sound wholesome but are actually just plastic.

This adorable mini baguette bag ($325) is made to order in two weeks from plastic-free cactus leather in NYC. For the planet it means there’s less waste; for you it means you’re unlikely to find it for 50% off after paying full price. According to the founder, Monica, the cactuses only rely on rainwater and are plastic-free in their manufacturing process.

I also admire the chic card cases ($95) with cotton lining.

A high quality juicer for parents who could probably be eating more fruits. This Nama Juicer ($550) is the most expensive thing I’ve ever gifted, but my aunt loves it and uses it regularly. It’s a breeze to clean and can handle even the toughest fruits! She juices pomegranates and freezes the extract for refreshing coolers. You can also make sorbet!

Lauded in Epicurious, it’s the best juicer on the American market by far. A comparable one, Hurom H320 Juicer ($509), for slightly less by the same Korean manufacturer, Hurom, around since 1974.

Personalized cocktail napkins. The elegance! These scalloped cocktail napkins look like they’d also be perfect as coasters. Here are other customizable linen napkins I’ve gifted to friends. If personalization feels like a lot of responsibility, these cheers napkins are sweet. Let’s bring back reusable cloth napkins!

A candle for anywhere in my teeny apartment. Perhaps because my apartment door opens to the kitchen stove and bathroom door opens to the kitchen sink (Brooklyn pre-war apartment), I love this tomato soy wax candle ($65) (and the spray!) for its versatility. It doesn’t smell too floral or musky, which can be weird in a kitchen, it just smells like a vegetable garden.

My sweet friend McKenna gifted it to me years ago and I’ve ordered it thrice since. The olive tree candle is another favorite.

The woowoo thing I want. Did you know you’re supposed to “charge” your crystals in selenite to purify and give good energy?

Starting at $14, these crystal selenite charging bowls are silky crunch for holding jewelry, berries, really anything. Probably best for someone who’s already into crystals and sage.

A scarf for most seasons. There are dozens of crocheted/knit bonnets out there, but this hand-knit cashmere headscarf ($54) is on my wishlist for its versatility, size, and merino-cashmere blend. I like that it doubles as a dandy little neck scarf, and is small enough to wear in the fall or spring too.

As someone who is perpetually cold, carrying this around in my purse sounds more appealing than the alternative: wrestling with a chunky scarf as tall as I am OR freezing my ass off.

Mulberry silk scrunchies. In a world where most hair ties are made of polyester, here’s a silky gift that feels luxurious for under $10.

Silk is biodegradable and healthier for your hair too. No one can be mad about receiving extra hair ties! You can also throw them in the wash and air dry.

Hair treatment for damaged hair. The Elizavecca Collagen Coating Protein Treatment ($8) is my holy grail.

I used Olaplex for years when my hair was bleached blonde, until my Greenpoint stylist (whose bleached Japanese locks cover her ass, and look healthier than my shoulder length hair) recommended this Korean product. You put it on after shampooing and leave it in, no need to rinse. I’ve gifted it to both friends and family.

An after dinner digestif. We received this intriguing bottle of Borghetti as a gift from an Italian friend, and we’re still savoring it! Sip it after a meal in tiny espresso cups (shake it with ice first!) or use it in a full out espresso martini for party mode.

For a non-alcoholic option, I enjoy the smokiness of the Parch nonalcoholic spiced piñarita. Have you tried any of those aperitifs that come in a barcart-worthy bottle? If you have a favorite, please share!

Silky Crunch might make some money if you purchase using the links above.

Did any of these ideas catch your eye? What intrigued you? I’d love to know.