Christmas gifts for grown ups 2022

This post contains gifted items and affiliate links

This Christmas a lot of us are feeling the pinch so this hopefully has some gift ideas for adults to include every budget and taste

Let’s kick off with something we all need to do at the moment – RELAX! Here are a few gifts that should help you unwind:

Bath, body & self care gift ideas for Christmas

Arran Sense of Scotland

I’ve included Arran Sense of Scotland in my gift guides for a while and can confirm that the products smell divine. Monsieur Incidental has had a washbag with various toiletries, which he loved and I’ve had a diffuser that is actually still going after a year!

The Arran website actually chose this Glen Rosa set for me as they have an expression finder that asks you questions and points you to the scent that best suits your personality and life.

There are lots of different scents and gifts available on the Arran website. This particular set is the Glen Rosa Body Care Gift Set:

RRP £30 available directly from Arran Sense of Scotland

Ramer Sponges

A great stocking filler are these sponges from Ramer. This is another product I have been using for some time and I cannot rave enough about the exfoliating sponge. I suffer from “chicken skin” on my arms and legs and using this sponge daily has really helped that. It also makes any shower gel you use go much further! There is a Ramer sponge for the whole family, Little L uses a Super Soft Body Sponge – the great thing is they are also machine washable!

Made from a magical material, all Ramer Sponges harden as they dry, helping to prevent the growth of bacteria, and will quickly soften when soaked in warm water, ready to re-use. Super-soft, non-scratchy, hypoallergenic and ideal for sensitive skin, Ramer Sponges are machine washable at 40 ^o C, durable and long-lasting. 

RRP from £2.99 available from Ramer Sponges

FFS – Fuss Free Shaving

This appealed to me, not just because of the name, but also because I’ve been pinching Monsieur Incidentals razors for far too long and deserve a razor of my own. In fact the razor is even engraved with my name!

You can buy products as you need them or take out a monthly subscription depending on how often you are likely to need products, I’m saying nothing about the fact that this set will likely last me years.

With an expansive range of products and services, FFS strive to make women experience effortless luxury by conveniently delivering their kits straight to their door, no obligation subscriptions start from as little as £4.95. Their smooth-glide razors contain six fine, sharp, diamond coated titanium blades and lubricated strip, designed to reach those tricky areas and fit to the natural contours of the body. Their reusable handles also come with the option to have personalised engraving added, making FFS the perfect gift for a loved one or treat for yourself.

Sustainability is at the heart of FFS and they have proudly partnered with Carma to help reduce their impact on the environment, for every subscription they are planting a tree with Carma reforestation projects. They also have their own in-house blade recycling scheme where members can return used blades to be recycled.

Available directly from ffs.com

Dermatologist Sunscreen from Altruist 

As someone who has had to have pre cancerous cells removed from my face I am now much more careful about wearing sunscreen year round. 

Launched as a not-for-profit in 2015, the Altruist range includes SPF 30 and SPF 50 cream, SPF 50 Family Sunspray, SPF 50 Invisible Spray, SPF 50 and SPF 30 Face Fluid, SPF 50 Anti-redness and Pigmentation, Altruist Dry Skin Repair Cream, Altruist Moisturising Fluid 0.5% Hyaluronic Acid and Altruist Cleansing Foam 2% Salicyclic Acid. 40p from every Altruist box sold is donated to help protect people with albinism in Africa.

 This gift box includes:

Altruist Dry Skin Repair Cream, 200ml
Altruist Dry Skin Repair Cream is formulated with 10% urea and glycerine to repair, smooth and reduce roughness without irritation. The cream restores moisture, promotes healing and enhances hydration. Enriched with bisabolol, Altruist Dry Skin Repair has smoothing and anti-inflammatory properties.

Altruist SPF 50, 100ml
Altruist SPF 50 offers broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection. The clinically tested cream is easily absorbed, non-sticky and leaves no residue. The water-resistant formula is vegan and reef friendly.

Altruist SPF 30 Face Fluid, 50ml
Altruist SPF 30 Face Fluid is an extra-light antioxidant facial sunscreen that provides the perfect daily, year-round protection. The SPF 30 Face has a 5-star ultra UVA rating (PPD 39), offering broad-spectrum protection to help reduce the risk of skin cancer and premature skin ageing. The fluid is enriched with vitamin E to prevent cellular damage from UV induced free radicals and
reactive oxygen species.

Altruist Moisturising Fluid, 50ml
Altruist Moisturising Fluid, with 0.5% low molecular weight Hyaluronic acid, is designed to create more youthful, radiant looking skin by penetrating deeply into the epidermis. Enriched with glycerin, urea and shea butter to enhance the skin’s natural moisturising factors, the light formulation makes the perfect face moisturiser and can be used as a day or night cream.

All products in the range are fragrance and paraben free and hypoallergenic, suitable for sensitive skin.

The box retails for just £21.50 from www.altruistsun.com

Ocean Flow electric toothbrush 

Looking for an affordable electric toothbrush with a long lasting battery?

A new toothbrush that comes with high quality results, attractive design and a range of effective features, the Oclean Flow produces a powerful 38,000 rpm brush speed, comes with 5 unique brushing modes (Morning, Night, Standard Cleaning, Whitening and Gentle) design and a useful 2 minute timer. Designed to help you take that first steps in building a better brushing routine, the Oclean Flow has a long lasting battery that can last on standby for up to 180 days. 

RRP for £47 from www.oclean.com

Skincare from Image Skincare

I can’t wait to try this range! Founded by an aesthetician and plastic surgeon Image Skincare promises to deliver real results. They use proven ingredients & smart botanicals and are not tested on animals which gets the thumbs up from me!

PREVENTION+ daily matte moisturiser SPF 30 £59 

This daily mattifying moisturiser delivers broad-spectrum protection against the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays. It helps to prime and protect the skin while minimising shine and leaving a soft matte finish.

ILUMA intense brightening serum £71

Illuminate your skin with our botanical brightening serum that helps to reduce the appearance of pigmentation and dark spots while promoting clear, even skin tone. The soothing formula with brightening botanicals, vitamin C and bearberry leaf extract delivers a fading effect to sun-damaged, blemish-marked and sensitive or redness-prone skin. Experience a lightweight, smooth texture with hints of fruit and flower extracts that absorbs quickly for everyday use under your moisturiser. This international favourite helps to diminish dullness in all skin types, leaving skin soft and bright.

AGELESS total overnight retinol masque £92

This revitalizing nighttime masque features encapsulated, time-released retinol technology to minimize visible signs of aging and improve uneven texture and tone. The optimized retinol delivery system helps to maintain ingredient potency while ensuring gentler activation of age-defying benefits. Ultra-hydrating marine collagen microspheres swell and plump within the skin, helping to reduce the appearance of facial lines.

The full range of Image Skincare is available from Imageskincare.co.uk

Skin age reversing skincare from Dr. Levy Switzerland

A super splurge luxury brand for people who are serious about their skincare. According to Dr. Levy skin ageing is reversible! I haven’t started to use this yet but watch this space and I’ll let you know. I have certainly noticed that I have more lines of late, mostly around my eyes and lips, I have had a couple of micro needling sessions and my skin was much improved afterwards. I am all for growing old gracefully but if I can help hold it back a while, I’m all for it! 

Patented Formula

Protected by an international medical patent, Dr. Levy’s exclusive stem cell formula is based on Nobel Prize-winning research and is the world’s first proven to stimulate the very source of collagen: dermal stem cells. 

The Booster Serum (£280) is supercharged with the exclusive ArganCDV^TM complex, the first plant-derived stem cell extract scientifically proven to stimulate your dermal stem cells**, the source of your skin’s most powerful anti-ageing fighters: collagen.

Its ultra-light texture accelerates the penetration of the patented ArganCellActiv^® complex, giving your skin an immediate gentle silky feel and a radiant glow.

After 8 weeks of stem cell treatments, independent clinical studies have shown an average decrease in wrinkle depth of -26% and an improvement in density of +12% 

Our 3Deep^TM Cleanser>>>FastMask^TM’s (£39) unique complex acts in three simultaneous ways to deeply cleanse, to renew and to strengthen the skin, optimally boosting the Dr. LEVY Switzerland^®’s powerful, preventative and reparative powers.

More than your usual cleanser, the 3Deep^TM Cleanser >>> FastMask^TM has 3 application rituals and 3 targeted actions for immediate results.

3 APPLICATION OPTIONS:

• Gentle cleanser
• Intensive exfoliation
• Skin-renewing FastMask^TM

3 TARGETED ACTIONS:

• Double micro-resurfacing for a deep cleansing
• Skin renewal for a healthier, more protective superficial epidermal barrier
• Skin soothing & plumping for a delightful, silky-soft finish

The full range of skincare is available on Drlevy.swiss

Lands End Cashmere Hoodie

OK this one is a proper splurge, I have actually never owned anything cashmere before so this is a first for me but it is GORGEOUS! I feel so snuggly and soft, it brings a whole new meaning to “hug a hoodie”!

Lands end has a fab array of women’s cashmere jumpers as well as other gift ideas for men and women.

RRP £220 from Lands End

Belt from Trendhim

What more can a man ask for than a luxurious belt for Christmas? I chose this especially for Monsieur Incidental, I think he’ll be pleased with it!

This isn’t your average men’s belt from the department store. This piece from Fawler is made with Italian top-grain, vegetable-tanned nubuck leather that has been buffed for a soft, suede-like finish. It’s incredibly soft to the touch and yet durable with a nubuck leather lining and feathered edges. Wear it with your jeans or chinos for a stylish upgrade to the standard men’s belt.

Nubuck is similar to suede but has more strength and greater resistance to wear and tear.

The result is a belt that is difficult to stop touching. It’s not difficult to adjust the length, however. Use the hidden screw adjustment and a pair of scissors to find the exact length you need.

£79 from Trendhim.co.uk

The Copenhagen Company Scandi Christmas Candle Set   

I love a scented candle! I find they really help me unwind and relax and we light ours in the evening, they have the added benefit of getting rid of any cooking smells too.

This set from the Copenhagen Company smell divine, they have a fresh Christmassy scent but aren’t too overpowering. They have the added bonus of being really pretty too and it well with our Christmas decorations.

Transport yourself to a festive wonderland with this citrus led scent entwined with a blend of delicious spices including cinnamon and cloves, sweetened with a touch of vanilla and held together with the warm and woody notes of sandalwood and cedar.

This cute gift set contains four little votive candles.

Fragrance Notes:

Top: Orange, Mandarin, Lemon, Red Fruits

Middle: Cinnamon, Clove

Base: Sandalwood, Patchouli, Vanilla, Cedar

RRP £24.00 available from The Copenhagen Company 

Eau Lovely – Eau Holy Night Christmas candle

If you are looking for a candle that smells like Christmas then this is it! It contains pine needles so smells like a real Christmas tree. A real treat for recovering from the hectic run up to Christmas – run yourself a bath and unwind!

Eau Holy Night with Fresh Pine Needles. This gorgeous Christmas scent of cinnamon, bitter oranges and fresh cedar is completely brought to life by our fresh aromatic pine needles. It just screams Christmas and is beautifully packaged in our signature Eau Lovely packaging. Fragrance: Bitter orange, cinnamon and fresh cedar.

£19.95 Available from Enesco

Rock n Roll Nanny a Memoir by Sally Arnold 

Shut out the world and unwind with a good book. If you like rock music then you’ll love this this rock n roll memoir from Sally Arnold who began her rock n roll career in 1971 as a nanny to Mick Jagger’s daughter moving on to become the first female manager of the Rolling Stones…

From Rock and Roll legends to ministers of state, this literary journey brings in
some of the most iconic and formidable characters of our age by a formidable, trailblazing woman who has lived through myriad incredible moments in time. From The Who and The Jaggers to the Royals and State leaders, Sally has seen it all and worked with massive household names. From her time with the fated American rock band Lynyrd Skynyd, through to Classic FM and all round the networks of Charity Projects, Comic Relief and numerous other high-profile events with the likes of Princess Diana, the stories are vivid and eye-opening.
Sally was the first woman in the UK to get a tattoo over her mastectomy scar having battled breast cancer. Sally was the first female tour manager for The Rolling Stones, Peter Gabriel, The Who and Lynard Skynard. Sally really is the epitome of a true, strong, independent, trailblazing woman.

Find out what really happens in the places where cameras don’t go! Capture a unique awareness of the real journeys that paved the way for some of the most inspiring figures and ground-breaking thinkers and performers of our time, from the perspective of a Norland Nurse. Rock’n’roll Nanny is a must read for fans and believers alike and provides immeasurable insight, unseen images, photographs and thoughts into some of the most prolific people of our time.

£13.99 Available from all good bookshops as well as Amazon 

A New Dark Age: A Reckoning – Ross Patrick

If political, dystopian fiction is more your thing then A New Dark Age: A Reckoning by Ross Patrick will be right up your street. We love a bit of dystopian drama here so Monsieur Incidental will thoroughly enjoy reading this one!

When the collapsing began, in a system where scarcity was a commodity, there was always a need for the unemployed, the homeless and the hungry. When most people could no longer afford consumer goods, there were riots. The rulers called it an attack on democracy. The riots were met with militarised, armoured police. With falling tax revenues, companies took over financing the police, so the police increasingly functioned as capitalism’s own Praetorian Guard; sometimes supporting rival business leaders, sometimes bringing about their demise, and all the while living standards fell and the state started to crumble.
For Esme Sedgebrook, growing up in the provinces, there is no future other than an arranged marriage, motherhood, and domesticity, fleeing to join the uprising is as much about personal transformation as it is political.

£9.99 available from your usual book shop and Amazon 

Tennis equipment from TennisHQ.co.uk

Tennis is for Christmas, not just for Wimbledon (do you see what I did there?) and is played all year round. It’s great fun as well as a fab way to keep fit and there are clubs in most towns. I know a few of the mums from school even attend a tennis fit class that involves a tennis ball being shot at you while you run around the court. If that doesn’t make you run I don’t know what will! 

TennisHQ.co.uk as a wide range of Tennis Racquets to suit all budgets

Edifier TWS1 Pro ear buds

I have already given these to my mum. She needs hearing aids and was after a set of ear buds that she can pair with her TV so she can hear it properly and she is thrilled with these! I’ve also suggested she use them while we’re on the phone…

Edifier TWS1 Pro – a solid choice for sports enthusiasts and keep fit junkies or anyone who simply wants to listen to their playlist!

Thanks to a snug fit design, moulded ergonomically to fit firmly in the ear, and IP65 Waterproof and Dust Prevention, the TWS1 Pro are a great gift for all-weather sports people, as well as casual commuters who might get caught in the rain. 

Main features:

Qualcomm® TrueWireless™ Mirroring technology

Qualcomm® aptX™ Adaptive

Qualcomm® cVc™ 8.0 noise cancellation 

High-quality PU + titanium diaphragm

Up to 12 hours continuous playback

42 hours playtime with a 40-minute quick charge

Touch Volume controls

RRP £59.99 (on sale currently £39.99 from Amazon

Edifier GX – Gaming Headphones

Gaming might not be everyone’s idea of relaxation but I know a lot of people who do. These are a way to connect with others and chat while playing.

With the intention of placing individuals at the very centre of their gaming experience, the Edifier GX focuses on the transportive qualities of audio. A good choice for gamers, searching for high fidelity, truly immersive audio, the GX includes 50mm titanium diaphragm drivers, a frequency response of 20Hz-40KHz and a 24-bit decoder.

Main features:

New 50mm titanium diaphragm drivers deliver crystal-clear sound with Hi-Res audio

Rolling volume control, retractable microphone, and RGB lights for a high-tech look and feel

High quality headband with soft leatherette ear cups for all-day comfort

96kHz/24 bits decoding for natural sound and total immersion in game/music mode

Noise-cancelling chip with dual mics isolating you from unwanted noise for better clarity

Three types of interfaces: compatible with PC, Laptop, Smart Phone, Pad, PS4 and other gaming devices

RRP £69.99 currently on sale at £49.99 Available from Amazon

Oppo Enco Free2 Earbuds

Not wanting to leave Monsieur Incidental out of the ear buds gang, these are earmarked (see what I did there) for him. He still uses wired earphones – I know, get out of the dark ages!

Designed for those who want a premium listening experience, created in partnership with Dynaudio, these earbuds strike the perfect balance between luxury and affordability at a wallet-friendly price point of £89.99. They’re Android and IOS compatible, so perfect to pair with your smartphone. 

Key features of the OPPO Enco Free2 include:

1. Tailor-made listening experience: Analyses the user’s hearing profile to ensure they’ve always got pitch-perfect music
2. Active noise cancellation and transparency mode: Block out distractions, and transparency mode, to keep you in the loop
3. Long-lasting battery life: With 30 hours of playback, users can listen to their favourite playlists uninterrupted all day long
4. Premium design in a small form factor: Available in black or white with a dust and water-resistant design to stylishly go the distance and provide users with the ultimate listening experience come rain or shine. 

RRP £89.99 available from Amazon 

Food and drink gift ideas for Christmas

Franscois Doucet – Christmas in Provence Chocolate Box

If, like me, you like a nutty chocolate then you cannot go wrong with this decadent selection from French confectioner Francois Doucet. I can confirm they are very nice, don’t ask how I know…

Dive into the Francois Doucet ‘Christmas in Provence’ chocolate box for a celebration of the finest French delights! Discover an assortment of Francois Doucet’s indulgent chocolate-coated nuts. These roasted nuts are coated in thick shells of milk, white and dark chocolate. Combined with familiar French flavours of nougat, coffee and bourbon vanilla, this is a true confectionery celebration.  

Enjoy indulgent fruit and nut combination: 

• Olives de Provence – chocolate-coated almonds with Vanilla that look like olives. 
• Les Galets – almonds coated with nougatine and coffee dark chocolate. 
• Les Calades de Provence – almonds coated with nougat cream, milk and white chocolate. 
• Noisettes de nos forêts – hazelnuts coated in nougatine and milk and white chocolate

This limited edition selection comes in a stunning red box for a wonderful festive gift. Equally as beautiful as it is delicious, this chocolate box is ready to put straight under the tree. 

£19.99 from Sous Chef 

Independent Wines: Loacker Schwarhof “Morit”, St Magdalener Classico, Alto Adige DOC 2020 & Ca’ di Rajo “Extra Dry” Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Millesimato 2020

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Independent Wine in the past, they are the UK’s leading specialist in award winning, Italian wine. They clearly put a lot of heart into their company, they are ecologically minded and support smaller, family owned, Italian wineries, and it shows. 

I will furnish you with the details provided on each wine as I won’t do them justice!

Loacker Schwarhof “Morit”, St Magdalener Classico, Alto Adige DOC 2020 – fresh and juicy Schiava wine bursting with flavours of wild strawberry, raspberry and eucalyptus. St Magdalener is possibly the best sub-zone for Schiava wines in the whole of Alto Adige. “Morit” has more body and flavour than a regular Schiava, because it is blended with 15% Lagrein – Alto Adige’s iconic red grape. A small addition of Pinot Nero amplifies the fresh forest fragrance of red berries and herbs. The famous Italian food and wine magazine Slow Wine named Morit one of top wines of Trentino-Alto Adige. A fine recommendation, indeed!

Tasting Notes: Refreshing and vibrant, with notes of wild strawberry, red cherry, cranberry and raspberry. Herbal undertones of eucalyptus and mint, supported by undertones of sandalwood and raspberry jam. Racy, mouth-watering and pure.

£19.45 from Independent Wine

Ca’ di Rajo “Extra Dry” Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Millesimato 2020 – Single vintage Prosecco from the hills of Conegliano-Valdobbiadene. An almost innocent pleasure with aromas of white flowers, peardop candy, red grapefruit peel and only 11% alcohol. Featured in Decanter, as part of “Best Prosecco under £20: Top picks” “A lifted, lemony floral nose with a silky, creamy mouthfeel showing some delicate hints of green fruit, white flowers and pithy citrus; even some almond. There’s a persevering sweetness balanced by fresh acidity running through the core.” – James Button, Decanter

This Millesimato Extra Dry Prosecco has won multiple gold, silver and bronze medals around the world – and it’s easy to see why. It’s made from the Glera grapes grown in the hills between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene. This area is influenced by cold breezes from the Dolomite Alps, and produces grapes with zingy acidity. As a result, Conegliano-Valdobbiadene is known to offer Prosecco Superiore of much higher quality than the vast lowlands of Veneto.

£16.45 from Independent Wine

Errazuriz Estate Reserva Merlot 2021 Curico Valley, Chile

Generous and richly fruity with succulent blueberry and plum characters, together with delicate savoury notes of coffee, chocolate and toasty oak – a lovely wintery red!

RRP £10.80 | Tesco, Majestic , Cheers Wine, Taurus Wines

Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages Combes aux Jacques 2020

This Beaujolais-Villages ‘Combe aux Jacques’ should be drunk quite cool in order to protect the delicious aromas of fruits and the delicate freshness which is the signature of this wine. This Burgundy is perfect with pâté, charcuterie and lots of crusty French bread.  Or mild creamy cheeses on the Christmas cheese board are a great match.  And roast beef and other red meats are ideal, too.

RRP £7.25 37.5cl Half Bottle from Tesco and Fareham Wine Cellar 

MOM Gin 3 pack mini gift set

Featuring 5cl bottle of each of these flavours:

MOM Rocks (Yellow) – London dry style with a citrus edge (37.5% abv).  Serve with twist of lime  and black pepper 

MOM (Black) – Premium gin with vibrant berry flavour and four distillations (39.5% abv).  Serve with fresh cherries 

MOM Love (Pink) – Premium pink gin infused with strawberries during its three distillations (37.5% abv).  Serve with fresh strawberries 

Available to buy at Amazon – £11.99 & Master of Malt

London No.1 Gin miniatures

Stocking friendly version of its big brother! London No 1 set about recapturing the essence of London-style gins from yesteryear, with this triple-distilled small batch gin with quality and colour at its heart.

RRP £5.00 available from Amazon

Figures and collectable gift ideas for Christmas

Willow Tree “Brothers” figurine

My mum has quite the collection of Willow Tree figurines, and come Christmas she’ll have one more! Sadly she reads my posts – Merry Christmas mum, look surprised when you unwrap this!

I think she will love this as it really does represent my two, Big & Little L, well. Big L is quite the protective big brother and Little L looks up to him a lot. 

RRP £29 available from Enesco 

Kloche hanging ornament

I really love this decoration and it is a perfect stocking filler for any Christmas lover.

I am a sucker for a traditional style decoration and I think this is really cute with the red door with its wreath and decorations. This is already hanging on our tree!

RRP £14.00 (currently £10.50) from Enesco

Disney Traditions Christmas Figurine by Jim Shore

I love the Jim Shore figurines, he really captures the characters he’s portraying. In past years I have included Superman, the Genie from Aladdin and Father Christmas in my gift guides so you can see I am quite keen!

When I put this one out with the decorations the kids were overjoyed! Obviously it’s not a toy but it’s so cute with the Disney characters and the classic pick up truck with Christmas tree. This will be a staple for Christmas in our house for years to come.

RRP £115 from Enesco 

E vouchers from Prezzee

Prefect for last minute gifts…

A Prezzee can be purchased, personalised and sent in under 10 minutes, and can be redeemed in thousands of locations across hundreds of brands including ASOS, Deliveroo, John Lewis, Airbnb and more.

These make a perfect gift for:

• A family member/loved one who is far away on Christmas Day: whether they live miles away or it’s just not possible to meet in person this year, a Prezzee is a great gift to put a smile on their face this Christmas. Because they get sent by text/email, there’s no need to post anything or worry about it arriving on time

• The loved one who is hard to buy for: Whether they have everything they want or their tastes change too quickly, Prezzee offers them the ability to choose their own gift at hundreds of different retailers.

Available in amounts from £5 from Prezzee.uk