I think it’s a do, but if you’re going go there, you have to be very thoughtful with the gift.
A long time ago in a galaxy far away, I read somewhere that if you’re going to give a gift, chances are, if it’s a gift you’d like to receive, then you’re on the right track.
I would absolutely LOVE a thoughtful skin care gift, so it’s one of the things I like giving to people!
But it’s not like I’m wrapping up bottles of Kate Somerville Anti-Bac acne treatment, though, LOL! I know that most people are particular about their skin care products, so I try to give skin care gifts that I think they’d like or at least want to try.
My go-to gift lately has been the Laneige Lip Mask. Not only do I love it and use it every day, I feel like dry lips are pretty much a universal issue, so it’s one of those nice little extras that everyone could appreciate. If I have a friend with a birthday or someone who I want to say thank you to, it’s one of my favorite gifts to give.
If I know the gift recipient has a very specific skin care regimen which limits what skin care they use on their face, then I’ll try to give them a indulgent body care gift, like a fancy hand or body cream they’d probably never buy for themselves.
Of course, I always include a gift receipt so they can return it, and I try to make it as easy for them by buying it from a store that I know they have easy access to.
How about you? How do you feel about giving skin care gifts?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Hope your Wednesday is going great so far!
Oh man this is a tough one! I’ve been gifted hand cream and body cream and even body scrubs before which I appreciated. Those have a “treat yourself” vibe. If I was gifted something that fell along the lines of “self-improvement,” I don’t think I would like that. If someone knew me well enough to gift me one of the products I use regularly that would be probably be ideal!
Gotta love those friends who know you well. When I have a friend rave about a skin care product, I try to make a mental note to buy one for her as a gift, so she always has a backup on hand!
I regularly make little “goodie bags” for birthdays for the women in my church (which is fairly small). I put in small travel sizes of various products, but go for ones everyone would use, lotions, hand creams, bath products, soaps, etc, as opposed to targeted skincare. A couple of those with some packets of tea and some good chocolate and a card are always well received.
What a sweet gesture! 🙂
Generally I’d say no, but it depends on how thought out the gift is. My SIL likes Lancome to the point of exclusive use. If she ever gifted me Lancome I’m not sure what I’d do. On the other hand, when I was in the hospital after having Dear Daughter one of my friends brought me some Clarins hand cream and some body skincare (you know for that flaking, crepey skin your belly has after delivering the baby). It was the most fitting and thoughtful gift. And here I am 30 years later and still remembering it.
Even though I have the Laneige Vanilla lip mask on my bedside table, I wouldn’t complain about receiving another pot of it. I’d put it on the end table next to the sofa to apply it while watching TV in the evening.
The Clarins gift is so thoughtful! I have to make a note to do that next time someone has a baby. 🙂
My go-to skin care gift to my friends group at Christmas has been a sugar scrub that I make, and they love it and start asking when I’m going to make more. I use a blend of sugars, almond & jojoba oils, coconut oil, and essential oil drops for scent.
I ALSO gift Laneige lip mask for birthdays, and have converted them all – it’s so good!
The Laneige Lip Mask is the product that made me a brand enthusiast! Have you tried the Cream Skin Toner? If you have dry skin, it’s the best!
I’ve been gifted and have given as gifts spa type treats like body lotions, creams, salts, and oils, but I always make sure the fragrance is one the recipient likes and that the products are things they’ll actually enjoy using. For example, I’m not going to give bath salts to someone who only takes showers. Because these types of products are for personal care, I think it is very important to be thoughtful regarding the recipient’s preferences.
As for the Laneige Lip Mask, I think it’s OK but I much prefer Ole Henriksen’s Pout Perfect. It has peptides and other ingredients appropriate for the lips and is more of a treatment. It also comes in a tube rather than a pot.
I’ll put that on my list of things to try. Thanks, Eileen!
I agree about the skincare products. If it’s a friend, and you know they love it, then gift away! As you know, I’m also a Laneige fan – I actually just got my Friends and Family haul yesterday (thanks again for the tip!). I’m usually not hot on Vitamin C because it doesn’t do much for my skin, but I received a sample of their Vit C cream with my order and tried it last night – I really liked it. This weekend will be the big test for the new sunscreen. I didn’t bother today since I knew I’d be inside for most of the sunny hours.