11 Christmas gift exchange ideas that are sure to stand out (in a good way) at Christmas parties

This is the time of year when the most gift exchanges start popping up in your schedule. It’s the easiest and funnest way to celebrate Christmas, and also ensures that nobody in a group gets left out! While receiving presents is always fun and dandy, thinking about what to give can be a problem – especially when your gift recipient is usually someone you aren’t very close to.

We’ve all been there, done that, and can totally feel your frustration. That’s why we’ve put together this list of 11 ideas for your various gift exchanges that are guaranteed to delight the recipient, no matter what their tastes are.

1. Rose & Co. Peony & Rose Body Lotion

We can’t get enough of the quaint, vintage design of Rose & Co. products! The brand was founded in jolly old United Kingdom, specifically in the village of Haworth which is rich with history. If you know your English literature, you might recognise that to be the hometown of the famous Brontë sisters!

You might imagine that all this heritage and history might come at a price – but that’s where Rose & Co. pleasantly surprised us. Their products look good, smell great, and have a delightfully affordable price tag!

Their latest creation, the Peony & Rose Body Lotion (we sigh in bliss when we think about this combination), will deeply rehydrate skin while also imbuing you with a gorgeous floral scented aura.

Curious about all the vintage Christmas body care products Rose & Co. and their sister brand, Patisserie de Bain, has to offer? Check out the Christmas Vintage event at Clarke Quay Trim Shop, which runs from now to 25 Dec, where you will not only be able to get your hands on their latest products, but also enjoy a 30% discount on all items sold!

2. Kiehl’s Body Scrub Soap (Limited Edition)

Bar soaps are coming back in a big way because of all the pretty shapes they could come in, as well as how much money they could save you in the long run.

Kiehl’s takes it a step further and adds in apricot seed exfoliation particles to give your body a good once-over. Don’t worry though, the exfoliation is gentle on the skin.

This rich and indulgent soap comes in three irresistible scents: Grapefruit, Lavender, and Coriander.

Kiehl’s Body Scrup Soaps retail at SGD29 each at Kiehl’s stores and Tangs.

3. Clinique Merry Moisture

Everyone’s really into moisturising these days, even in humid Singapore. Here’s something to hang up on your recipient’s Christmas tree! This post-modernist Christmas bauble contains:

• Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief (30ml)
• Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in Super Strawberry (1.2g)

Clinique Merry Moisture retails for SGD29 at Clinique counters and Sephora.

4. Etude House Be My Universe Colorful Scent Perfumed Hand Cream Set

OK, we know that hand creams are a dime a dozen everywhere and they’re some of the most common Christmas gifts around. However, we find ourselves unable to resist the super pretty packaging that the Etude House Be My Universe hand creams come in and we just had to include it in this list. It’s holo.

There are three fragrances available in the set:

• Sweet: a sweet, fruity fragrance
• Be My Universe: a white floral musk scent
• Happiness: a peach-scented fragrance

Etude House Be My Universe Colorful Scent Perfumed Hand Cream Set retails for SGD28 (50ml x 3) at all Etude House stores.

5. Hysses Room Scent Gift Set

They used to be known as Mt Sapola, but the homegrown aromatherapy brand recently renamed themselves Hysses. We love the idea of room scents – it just gives an easily diffused and refreshing pop of fragrance to the entire room!

The gift set includes four fragrances:

• Bergamot Geranium
• Ginger Peppermint
• Lemongrass
• Verbena Rose

Hysses Room Scent Gift Set retails for SGD59.90 (65ml x 4) at all Hysses stores.

6. Marc Jacobs The Night Owl Holiday Cracker

Christmas is also a time for tons of parties and late-night gatherings for many people out there. If you foresee yourself becoming a night owl for the holidays, you’re going to need makeup that can deliver on its promise to last all day and, more importantly, all night.

The Marc Jacobs holiday cracker this year contains an artillery of all the long-lasting eye makeup you need to make sure your look stays in place:

• Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner in Blacquer (travel-sized)
• Marc Jacobs Magic Marc-er Precision Pen Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Blacquer (travel-sized)
• Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara in Noir (full-sized)

Marc Jacobs The Night Owl Holiday Cracker retails for SGD50 at Sephora.

7. Kat Von D Beauty Everlasting Lip Liner Trio

Lip liners are probably one of the most underrated makeup products out there. We generally have no time to use them or think they’re unnecessary, but if you actually try them out, you’ll be blown away by how much difference they make to your bold lip look.

If we’re talking about anything lipstick, Kat Von D is a name that just has to pop up. We’re stoked that they’re offering a trio of their Everlasting Lip Liners, and get this – all of them are full sized:

• Lolita: chestnut rose
• Hawkwind: nude sienna
• Homegirl: deep berry

Kat Von D Beauty Everlasting Lip Liner Trio retails for SGD56 (worth SGD84) at Sephora.

8. The Body Shop Body Care Gift Cube

The Body Shop is upping their ante this year with their Gift Cubes, the box of which can double up as both a Christmas decor and a fun die (that’s the singular of dice) to use during your Christmas parties.

Each gift set includes a Shower Gel (60ml), Body Lotion (60ml), and a bath lily. They come in four uniquely delicious variations this year so you’ll definitely find something your friend would love:

• Almond Milk & Honey
• British Rose
• Fuji Green Tea
• Satsuma
• Shea
• Strawberry

The Body Shop Body Care Gift Cube retails for SGD12 each at all The Body Shop outlets.

9. Crabtree & Evelyn Red Berry & Fir Room Spray

The fairy tale image of Christmas is almost always set against an English, or at least an European backdrop. If you don’t have the desire or the means to go halfway across the planet to spend Christmas in a foreign country, Crabtree & Evelyn brings that fairy tale setting to the comfort of your own home.

What we all know as Christmas trees are, of course, fir trees. The Crabtree & Evelyn room spray invokes the scent of red berries (remember them on mistletoes?) sprouting in full bloom on the evergreen branches of these fir trees.

Crabtree & Evelyn Red Berry & Fir Room Spray retails for SGD30 (100ml) at all Crabtree & Evelyn outlets.

10. TheFaceShop Holiday Special Bubble Bath

We’re so in love with the colour theme of TheFaceShop’s Christmas specials this year! If you have any holidays or staycations planned for the holiday season, or if you’re a lucky one with your own bath tub at home, this is one Christmas bauble you have to pack along with you.

The Bubble Bath set comes in two different fragrances, Rose and Lavender, so unwind, relax, and pamper yourself after a good year‘s work.

TheFaceShop Holiday Special Bubble Bath retails for SGD9.90 (60ml) each at all TheFaceShop outlets.

11. Sephora Collection 3 Masks To Party

‘Tis the season to relax and rejuvenate yourself, and Sephora Collection’s Christmas mask set is exactly what any one would need. This is a set of three masks that give your nose, lips, and eyes the attention and care they deserve. It contains:

• Pomegranate eye mask (1 pair)
• Charcoal nose strip (1 patch)
• Shea lip mask

Sephora Collection 3 Masks To Party retails for SGD9 at Sephora.