Last-Minute Gift Ideas
We are delighted you are with us for this year’s edition of our BAHGG! We have the tips for. you on the best last-minute deals that we have found to be especially cool.
Here’s the lowdown on our favorite beauty and lifestyle products and books for the 2020 holiday season!
BADASS BEAUTY
MYCHELLE Pumpkin Renew Cream & Incredible Pumpkin Peel
Fellow PSL LOVERS, Did you know that Pumpkin is packed with fruit enzymes and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) which help increase cell turnover to promote brighter, smoother skin? It also contains antioxidants like Vitamin A and Vitamin C that soften and soothe your skin while boosting collagen production to prevent signs of aging. For this reason, we LOVE pumpkin as a key ingredient for skincare this fall! After testing Mychelle’s products for myself, I found their Pumpkin Renew Cream to be a cooling, green gel-crème. I apply it first thing in the morning after I wash my face, and sometimes for an afternoon-pick up. As for the Incredible Pumpkin Peel, it’s fantastic! A natural face brightener, and, delightfully, it smells like pumpkin, too.
Incredible Pumpkin Peel — Harnessing a powerful blend of pumpkin puree and extracts, this peel naturally exfoliates dead skin cells to help clear away impurities, while encouraging renewal for a more revived, luminous complexion.
$25.50
- Pumpkin Renew Cream — Made with Pumpkin Seed Oil, this is an lightweight hydration cream that nourishes and balances skin. It prevents dehydration, and replenishes and balance skin’s moisture levels.
$30.00
Linhart Oral Care Products
Here’s one of the most practical, shelfie-worthy little luxury you could possibly give: Linhart Oral Care Products.
Developed and backed by a world-renowned father-son dentist duo with more than 50 years of experience, Linhart is the maker of the most effective and innovative oral care products that are proven to fight cavities and whiten teeth. Bonus: they use clean, vegan ingredients you can *actually* pronounce, and even the Whitening Gel strengthens enamel!
Linhart is perfect for:
- The budding TikTok star in your family
- Your clean beauty obsessed coworker
- A friend who’s trying to step up her beauty game
- The guy you know who’s got a serious grooming routine
- Stocking Stuffers
- White Elephant Exchanges
+ The toothpaste comes in a TSA-friendly size for travelers, is the perfect addition to a gym bag or guest bedroom, and a perfect stocking stuffer for less than $15.
+ Use the toothpaste alone or with the Tooth Whitener Gel ($24) for a selfie-worthy smile.
+ Subscriptions are the best quarantine solution–no need to scramble or plan a store trip, they’ll take care of getting you what you need every month.
Need something more powerful? Linhart’s just launched Whitening Collection delivers office-level whitening results from home for under $100. I tried it myself and it works.
Literally everyone on your list has to take care of their teeth, making this the most practical gift for this quarantine holiday season. Linhart is available on their website, Amazon, and in select specialty pharmacies nationwide.
MIND NATURALS from Flora. Moisturizer, eye cream, cleanser and mask with CBD’s.
Mind Naturals is a Colombian skincare line that uses premium CBD as the base for its inaugural collection. The brand was created to celebrate nature and mindfulness and reinforces the importance of celebrating small moments in our daily routine.
The first collection of the brand launches with four products:
- Unwind Moisturizer– US $22
- Refresh Cleanser– US $12
- Decompress Eye Cream– US $18
- Relax Hydrating Mask– US $14
Flora Growth is a vertically integrated cannabis company striving to be a globally recognized cannabis brand by leveraging low-cost production of cannabis to supply CBD oil to its portfolio of consumer and medical brands..
Their highest quality organic CBD vibes with thoughtfully sourced, naturally occurring ingredients:
Hyaluronic acid: naturally produced by our bodies, think water-loving sponge that rehydrates and recharges the skin.
Sacha inchi oil: cold-pressed liquid gold from Peru that moisturizes and boosts elasticity.
Thalassine: a sea chamomile extract with unique skin relaxing properties.
They are also known for creating CBD products that are paraben and phthalate free, vegan, and absent any ingredients that utilize animal-testing. You know how we feel about that here at The Badass Writer. Further, all packaging is designed to be sustainable – for example utilizing sugar cane tubing – to help reduce the environmental impact and support their sustainability
Graydon Face Glow
A little goes a long way with this green product. Featuring mica, your face will glow naturally. You can apply it with a brush but I like to use my fingers to highlight my cheekbones with Graydon Face Glow. Their ultra-flattering tinted moisturizer is a multi-tasking hero. The 2020 Eco Excellence Awards finalist is packed with superfood ingredients like raspberry, spirulina and pumpkin seed oil. You can use Face Glow as a primer or on its own. And there’s no messing around with finding the right shade. This product works on a broad range of skin tones and types for that fresh faced “no makeup” look.
$46.00
Desert Harvest Hair Care
You just gotta love aloe vera-based hair and skincare products! But did you know at Desert Harvest, all of their creams, gels, and hair care products are 100% natural and IC/PBS friendly?
Not only that, but all Desert Harvest skin care is made with the purest ingredients, no parabens or artificial ingredients. I feel good about that, don’t you?
- Aloe Herbal Hair shampoo/bodywash & conditioner: helps reduce sebum/oil on the scalp. Excess sebum can mix with dirt and debris leading to blocked pores.
This gentle, 100% natural Shampoo & Shower Gel is a superfood for your healthy hair and scalp. It’s rich in aloe vera, herbs and essential fatty acids which help to remove dulling, yellow residue from your hair to reveal your natural shine. It gently cleanses your hair and skin, leaving it silky clean and soft. Gentle enough for permed/color-treated hair and it’s hypoallergenic and safe for the most sensitive skin.
The Aloe Herbal Hair Conditioner is amazing! By combining beneficial levels of organic aloe vera with vitamins, herbs and essential oils. Desert Harvest has created a conditioner that transforms dry or damages hair in just minutes1
* No artificial ingredients
* 100% natural
* Organic Aloe as their #1 ingredient
* No animal testing
* No parabens
* No synthetic preservatives
Eight Saints Lip Trick .05 oz $28.00
All I can say about the Eight Saints Lip Trick is yummmmm….They have concocted a delicious vanilla super-hydrating mask to provide extra healing by targeting your delicate lips. It’s made of coconut oil, Vitamin E, plant-based stem cells and silk amino proteins. All of these ingredients work together to make your lips super soft, firm and plump. Apply it with their included-in-the-box cute applicator wand at night before sleep, and simply wipe off any remaining residue when you awaken. To keep winter lips soft and inviting, this Lip Trick is a great stocking stuffer.
Eight Saints Dermaroller & Serum
While hundreds of needles on your face sounds intense, they promise this roller delivers, pain-free. The avocado to their toast, estheticians swear by microneedle rolling while applying products!
Their team at Eight Saints developed a professional-grade tool that will micro-puncture the skin to promote collagen and elastin regrowth while increasing absorption of the skincare products in your routine. Used with a special serum, their needles are 0.3 mm and were made to glide across your skin, improving fine lines and wrinkles, dullness, acne scars, and reducing pore appearance. Bravo!
$84.00
https://eightsaintsskincare.com/products/how-we-roll-dermaroller-serum-combo
Merle Norman Cosmetics
This isn’t your Grandmother’s make up…you can be glam at any age!
- Eye & Cheek Makeup Vanity (SRP: $64): Create countless soft-to-show-stopping looks with 6 buildable Eyeshadows, 2 Cheek colors and a detachable mirror in 1 convertible compact
- Starry Eyes (SRP: $29): Two shimmery multi-dimensional retail-sized Liquid Foil Shadows and gift-sized Fat Lash Mascara will bring a million stars to her eyes
- Creamy Matte Lip Crayon (SRP: $22): 5 neutral-to-berry shades wrap lips with weightless color and a refined matte finish
- Hydrate & Glow for Face (SRP: $16.75): Two fan faves – Moisture Rich Facial Treatment & Energizing Concentrate – unite to rejuvenate and balance all skin types
- Hydrate & Glow For Lips(SRP: $16.75): The cutest duo – Lip Revive & Lip Conditioner SPF 15 – to exfoliate, condition and protect lips
Check out their Merle Norman entire holiday gift guide here.
All Merle Norman Cosmetics products are available online at www.merlenorman.com.
BADASS BOOKS
Here are some titles that are just perfect for the holidays!
Deep Flavors:A Celebration of Recipes for Foodies in a Kosher Style by Kenneth M. Horwitz
A delicious, lovingly prepared meal can comfort the body and the soul. Imagine a savory wild mushroom pie with a flaky crust. Or a lemon coconut custard cherry pie! 2020 Readers’ Favorite award-winning Deep Flavors: A Celebration of Recipes for Foodies in a Kosher Style, from Kenneth M. Horwitz, is brimming with warm family favorites reimagined in a Jewish tradition. It is an eclectic collection of stories, tips and recipes sure to entice novices and experienced cooks alike.
“Cooking is worth some effort and attention to detail,” Horwitz writes. “The positive reactions from family or guests, as well as your own enjoyment, will make it worthwhile.”
Deep Flavors
Publisher: Inspire on Purpose
ISBN-13: 978-1-941782-51-4
ISBN-10: 1-941782-51-5
Available from Amazon.com
Creating Smudge Sticks, 15 Projects to Remove Negative Energy & Promote Wellness, By Peg Couch
Smudging is an ancient ritual most commonly used for purification and the dissipation of negative energy. For example, when someone I do not care for enters my space, I will take out my sage smudge stick, light it, and let the smoke fill up the room the toxic person was in, and it cleanses the air. It can also be used to enhance mindfulness, joy, serenity and even creativity!
In this book, you will learn how to raise your vibrations by creating smudge sticks with 15 different projects, starting with the most basic of sticks, then onto elaborate floral bundles. You’ll love working with fresh flowers, plants and herbs, from the calm-inducing stress relief smudge with lavender and sage, to the anti-anxiety smudge with bay leaf and rosemary. Now you can benefit from this powerful tradition and incorporate smudging into your rituals, no matter what your background. All you need is an open heart and an open mind! This is a beautiful hard cover book filled with photos and inspiration.
$24.99 www.schifferbooks.com
American Compacts of the Art Deco Era, By Howard W. Melton and Michael A. Mont
The Ideal coffee-table book for the beauty lover. In the late 1920’s and earlu 1930’s, American manufacturers created a stunning variety of powder compacts reflecting the modern design concepts we now know as art-deco.
This large and heavy book features 1,129 color photos and historical information.
ISBN: 978-05785-9006-6. Hardcover $79.95 www.schifferbooks.com
There is Nothing to Fix: Becoming Whole Through Radical Self Acceptance, by Suzanne Jones
I found this book to be a refreshing guide at dealing with and resolving deep-rooted trauma.
Also, as women, we often expect too much out of ourselves and think something is terribly wrong with us if we don’t try to live and uphold the perfect lifestyle tailored to society and its values.
Do you ever feel not good enough? Are you constantly trying to fix yourself? Do you want to find your way back to the person who you know you are deep down? There Is Nothing to Fix is The Power of Now meets Brene Brown meets the #MeToo movement. Interspersed with case studies and stories of real people—stories you can connect with—the book illustrates the power of Jones’s approach to create innate healing and hope. In today’s struggle to feel connection and approval in our chaotic and critical world, There Is Nothing to Fix teaches us how to suspend judgment, become curious, and find emotional freedom from within.
For more information please visit www.suejonesempowerment.com, or connect with the author on Instagram: @thereisnothingtofix; or on Facebook: There is Nothing to Fix.
I recommend There is Nothing to Fix if you are going through or have gone through something terrible—an intense trauma in your life.
Personally, I found it helped me address deep-seated issues from abuse that happened when I was a 14. And learning from this, I’ve found it to be helpful in healing the pain in my heart.
There Is Nothing to Fix: Becoming Whole through Radical Self-Acceptance
Publisher: LAKE Publications
ISBN-10: 1734083506
ISBN-13: 978-1734083507
Available from Amazon.com, Audible.com, BarnesandNoble.com and Target.com
The Poison of Money by Joe Torrence
Money. Society’s barometer for success. A one-way ticket to a life of luxury. How lethal can money really be? You’re about to find out. For the first time ever, a family member takes readers behind the scenes and into the personal and very private life of Chicago Mob mastermind Johnny Torrio in Joe Torrence’s The Poison of Money.
This new and exciting release from American European Entertainment is based on a true story and brings authenticity to the classic “Godfather” tale, cleverly contrasting the American Dream and the evil of money, with the mystique and power of the Cosa Nostra as a backdrop.
The Poison of Money
Publisher: American European Entertainment Inc.
Release Date: October 6, 2020
ISBN-10: 1777095603
ISBN-13: 978-1777095604
Available from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and Indigo
Crimes & Passion
Betrayal leads to murder in this gripping novel
Danger meets desire in the gripping mystery Crimes and Passion from Jeffrey S. Stephens, author of the popular Jordan Sandor thrillers. Crimes and Passion opens with the murder of a seductive socialite and unfolds into the fast-paced narrative and clever character development for which Stephens is known. When the detective assigned to the case discovers a racy journal the woman left behind, he needs to decipher her cryptic tales of sexual conquest in time to prevent more victims.
For more information about the author: www.jeffreystephens.com.
Crimes and Passion
Publisher: Mandevilla Press
ISBN-10: 162704051X
ISBN-13: 978-1627040518
$15.96 Available from https://amzn.to/36P5aaJ
Everyday Mindfulness: 108 Simple Practices to Empower Yourself and Transform Your Life by Melissa Steginus
Transform Your Life
Everyday Mindfulness bridges the gap between knowledge and action. This book will encourage you to be active and engaged in your life and will empower you to create the changes you want to see. A must-have tool for anyone seeking a rich and fulfilled life!”
There are daily exercises and assignments in this book that will move you to a peaceful place of mindfulness at it’s very best!
The authors’ website:www.melissasteginus.com
YOUR STORY MATTERS: Own Your Story and Tell it With Clarity, Confidence & Impact, by Linda A. Olson
Stories have the power to connect, to transform and to leave a lasting impression. Your Story Matters: Own Your Story and Tell it with Clarity, Confidence & Impact by Linda Olson offers breakthrough secrets to help readers discover the power of their stories and share them with confidence.
“The question isn’t whether you have a powerful story, it’s valuing the power in your story,” Olson advises.
In Your Story Matters, readers will learn the simple secrets to finding their personal story, using their story to build instant trust and credibility and embracing the greatest gift they have been given.
Olson guides readers through a step-by-step process to empower them with the five Cs — everything needed to create an impactful personal story:
- Clarity: Find your story to connect, impact and even transform lives.
- Creation: How to create your story with simplicity and ease using a simple framework.
- Confidence: Know the value of owning your story.
- Connection: Use your story as a tool to build instant trust and credibility.
- Courage: Tell your story in as little as 2 minutes to impact and transform lives.
Your Story Matters is a must-read for anyone who wants to find and harness the power in their story to help transform lives.
BADASS DOGS
The First Ever “Pet-ra-ceutical” To Hit the Market—Buddy Custard!
Buddy Custard, a canine wellness program, are shipped frozen and conveniently stored in your freezer until ready to serve. It comes in two delicious options: Original and Peanut Butter flavor. Original Buddy Custard is comprised of cottage cheese and flax seed oil in a specially blended protocol inspired by the renown Budwig Diet with no additional flavoring or preservatives. The Peanut Butter has the same core formula and consists of only 4 ingredients – cottage cheese, flax seed oil, stevia and peanut butter flavoring. Buddy Custard comes in 20 oz. frozen tubs containing approximately 40 tablespoons per container. Their dog-licious custard provides vital nutrition for healthy dogs to stay healthy or for ill dogs to overcome common chronic illnesses. How to serve? Buddy Custard easily mixes in with your dog’s regular diet for a delicious taste that dogs love.
Prices vary
Snoozer Dog Car Seats
Snoozer Dog Car Seats. With a variety of different sizes, types, and colors to match any car interior, your dog can enjoy the comfort and style of riding right alongside you while remaining perfectly safe. Snoozer’s various styles of dog car seats are designed with sturdy foam form construction, heavy-duty yet easy-to-use safety attachments for your console or seat, and microfiber fabric with a sherpa interior to provide additional luxury and softness, and to provide your dog with a warm, comfortable place to relax and enjoy the ride.
Your dog can enjoy the comfort and security of riding right along side you, thanks to its sturdy foam form construction. The Console Dog Car Seat attaches easily to your car’s console. With sherpa interior and available in quilted, poly cotton and vinyl fabrics.
Available in 4 colors and 2 sizes // $39.95 – $49.95
Casper Dog Bed
Casper Dog Bed– Let’s face it, your dog deserves to get a good night’s rest just as much as you do. This Casper dog bed is made out of the same materials as larger Casper mattresses, customized to fit your pup’s needs. Available in three sizes and various colors, dog owners will love the machine-washable impenetrable cover. It’s durable enough for scratching and playtime, but comfortable enough for your dog to fall asleep with ease.
$135.00 Size M
Canine Coddler Anxiety Blanket
Canine Coddler Anxiety Blanket– This weighted blanket is designed to provide gentle pressure to a dog that mimics the feeling of being held, which is a sensation that has a positive effect on a dog’s moods while reducing stress and anxiety. This scientifically-backed technology has been used on humans for years. Similarly, weighted blankets have demonstrated comparable effects for dogs with anxiety and are a veterinarian-recommended alternative to doggy downers, tranquilizers, or other sedatives.
$79.98 https://caninecoddler.com/collections/anxiety-blankets
BADASS LIFESTYLE
Nourished Personalized Vitamins
Head into the holiday season “stacked” with vitamins and nutrients to keep you going.
Nourished is the first-ever customizable 3D printed vegan vitamin containing 7 vitamins and nutrients in one delicious sugar-free vitamin “stack” delivered straight to your door in 100% plastic-free home compostable packaging.
Customers can:
- Build their own by choosing 7 “nourishments” out of 28 depending on their own dietary needs or lab requirements
- Customize their own by taking a short quiz to reflect their current lifestyle and goals (ie. more energy, heart health, anti-aging, immunity, etc)
- Choose from the convenience of pre-made stacks including menopause, prenatal, inner beauty, immunity, frequent traveler, or inner vitality for those 55+
- Choose from a one-month or a 3-month subscription option
Nourished was founded by Melissa Snover who is an award-winning female technology entrepreneur who is originally from New York, went to college in Boulder, CO and now resides in the UK where the brand is based. Snover is looking forward to bringing the Nourished technology to a city in the U.S. once over-seas travel restrictions are no longer of a concern, but for now, orders are quickly and efficiently shipped from the UK.
Learn more: https://youtu.be/pvbhoGnzTZ4.
50% OFF YOUR FIRST BOX WITH CODE NOV50
Olika Hydrating Hand Sanitizer
A little birdie told us their hand sanitizer kills 99.9% of germs and contains 500 refillable sprays. If your usual hand sanitizer dries out your skin and causes it to crack and peel, try this. It could be exposing you to harmful bacteria. OLIKA hydrates and soothes your skin while removing germs and bacteria. Their cute ergonomic dispenser fits nicely into one hand while you spray it with the other. It’s the perfect stocking stuffer that everyone needs.
$14.99 per pack of three (3) 0.6fl oz/20mL units at OLIKALife.com
$4.99 per one (1) 0.6fl oz/20mL unit at select retailers including Anthopology!
baebody baetea 14-day Detox Tea
Let’s be real. Most of us haven’t exactly been up on our health. Stress-eating is off the charts and a recipe for unwanted pounds. Not to worry—there’s an easy fix with baebody’s 14 Day Detox Tea. It’s your helper in cleansing and purifying your body as it helps to boost metabolism and naturally suppresses your appetite. Each individual tea bag is packed with a superfood, nutritional blend of green team, ginger root & pomegranate, to help relieve bloating while increasing your energy. It’s a cult favorite with four stars on Amazon. I like this stuff. Replace your coffee for the detox tea, and you’ll be on your way to looking and feeling fantastic!
$14.95.
Gorgeous yoga mats from indie brand Yoga Zeal
Perfect for the fitness fanatic, yoga aficionado, eco-friendly product lover or design and art obsessed, Yoga Zeal’s mats are not only stunning but also functional. Practice on it to stay slim this season.
Their ingenious combination of a yoga mat and yoga towel prevents slipping and is great for all forms of yoga and fitness – including bikram yoga, hatha yoga, pilates and general exercise. The mats use a revolutionary grip technology – designed to grip the more you sweat! Made with a luxuriously soft suede-like top cover with natural rubber backing, they’re thick, durable, and comfortable.
Even better, they’re eco-friendly, biodegradable and recyclable – causing less of an environmental impact than traditional fitness mats. And they’re machine washable – easy to keep clean!
Their stunning mats are from $59 to $110
Happy Holidays!
I hope you are inspired with these cool ideas for you and your loved ones this holiday.
I understand that this year’s holiday season will be celebrated differently in smaller groups and gatherings. I won’t see my extended family. I am saddened by this, but I understand the logic. It feels good to make decisions to protect our loved ones and ourselves. I hope you can take a moment this week to give thanks for the abundance and good things in your life and those with whom you share it.
Next week, look forward to more on beauty, books, lifestyle and travel topics right here at our blog, The Badass Writer.
Share this post as it keeps this blog going! Plus, in doing so, you are entered to win CIATE’s Setting Powder so be sure to play with Sugar-the-Westie who heads up the Badass Fun & Games Department!
Sugar-the-Badass Westie, in charge of The Badass Fun & Games Department, is accepting entries for Ciate Setting Powder. Simply share this post on social media and subscribe. It’s free and a winner will be selected at month’s end! Your odds are pretty good in comparison to the Lottery so give it a shot!
Have a safe, wonderful, relaxing, stress-free, decadent, pampered holiday season from all of us here at The Badass Writer. Sending you my love, heartfelt wishes and…
Holiday blessings,
Connie
The BADASS HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2020 is comprised of sponsored posts. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Any books I read, I do it to review it. The books I receive are advanced review copies from whom I refer to as badass writers. The beauty and lifestyle products are sponsored as well, yet all of my opinions are honest and transparent. As an amazon affiliate, we may earn a small commission if you buy certain products from this gift guide.
