Yahoo Finance Celebrate National Relaxation Day by treating yourself to the best self-care gifts
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Let's be honest, most of us could use a little more relaxation and self-care in our lives. A special holiday or birthday is not necessary to deserve a little pampering, but National Relaxation Day on August 15 might be just the little nudge one needs!
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Perhaps your mom, sister or best friend has been stressed out or going through a rough season and could use a little extra TLC, so Reviewed is here to help. From a salon-quality mani from Olive & June, to an Ivation foot spa or even a Mysa wine subscription (yes, a glass or two of vino can be considered a form of self-care), we've rounded up 20 useful self-care gift ideas to bring instant calm to anyone who is stressed out. As you're shopping for a loved one, we strongly suggest you also treat yourself to any of these relaxation gifts. Trust us, you deserve it!
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1. LifeAround2Angels Bath bombs
A set of our favorite bath bombs is a good way to decompress after a hectic week. The top-rated LifeAround2Angels Bath Bombs Set comes with 12 fizzy, colorful and moisturizing bombs and has more than 40,000 overwhelmingly positive reviews on Amazon, with many claiming they're just good as the more expensive Lush bath bombs. We loved their pleasant scents and how they didn't stain our bathtubs as most other bath bombs do.
2. Jojowell Shower Steamers
If they prefer showers, consider these pure essential oil shower bombs. Seven pleasant scents such as lavender, rose, grapefruit and eucalyptus are included in this Jojowell aromatherapy gift set. To enjoy this relaxing aromatherapy, simply place a tablet on the shower floor away from the heavy stream and allow the shower steamers to release their natural essential oils.
3. Royal Craft Luxury Bathtub Caddy Tray
If she loves taking long, relaxing baths then she'll absolutely adore one of our favorite bath trays. This Royal Craft Luxury Bathtub Caddy is made from natural bamboo, expands to fit across any tub and features all the compartments needed to store a phone, a candle, even a glass of wine and more.
4. Ivation Foot Spa massager
You could gift a heated Shiatsu Neck Massager to someone with a sore neck, but those who are in the most need of relaxation tend to spend a lot of time on their feet. This is why the Ivation Foot Spa massager is a highly recommended self-care gift that is also good for the sole. This baby is fully loaded with features like water jets, adjustable heat and massage rollers which is no wonder why it also proved to be the best overall foot massager we tested.
5. Emu Australia Slippers
Slippers are a quintessential cozy gift to give to your wife. Emu Australia Mayberry slippers made our list of best slippers for women because not only are they super stylish but they'll keep her feet warm without overheating and are made with plenty of plush shearling. If she prefers her toes fully covered, I love the Joy Teddy, which is made from soft, cozy wool and keeps my feet warm and comfy all day.
Joy Teddy $90 at Emu Australia
6. The Five Minute Journal
Journaling is a great way to monitor or document your self-care routine. The Five Minute Journal features a linen cover and recycled pages and includes daily writing prompts, weekly challenges, inspirational quotes and more. Plus, there's no added pressure to write something every day because the pages are do not include dates, so you can pick up where you left off at any time.
7. Mzoo Sleep Mask
We could all use a little more sleep, but for the girlfriend who really values her beauty rest, you can equip her with the best sleep mask we've ever tested. We found Mzoo's Sleep Mask to block out light, avoid pressure on the eyeballs and liked that its strap was adjustable and stretchy.
8. Saje Aroma Om Essential Oil Diffuser
Do they come home frazzled after a long day? If so, an essential oil diffuser will make a great gift to help them unwind after a stressful day. The Saje Aroma Om is our favorite essential oil diffuser thanks to its high quality materials and cool design. It can run a relaxing scent like Serenity or a cheerful scent like Liquid Sunshine for up to six hours, so there's plenty of time to exhale.
9. Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat
Give the gift of "namaste" with the best value yoga mat we've ever tested. The premium, extra thick non-slip mat gives the perfect amount of cushion, and the textured surface makes for a good grip. A few things to love about this yoga mat are that it's lightweight, PVC free and comes in so many colors and pretty prints to choose from. It's also great quality for the price. I've had my Gaiam mat for years and it's still in great shape. (To be honest, I rarely do yoga, but it's also used by my kids as a gymnastics mat.)
10. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is a cult-favorite product that makes for a sweet little self-care gift, especially for a beauty lover. The nourishing formula made with shea butter, coconut oil and vitamin C hydrates lips overnight so they wake up with soft and luscious lips every morning.
11. Murad Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial
It’s hard to think of a better self-care gift than a luxurious spa facial, but what if you could get similar results, right from home? Feel and look fresh from the spa in less than 10 minutes with the Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial from Murad. The formula contains Vitamin C (known to brighten skin), exfoliators to scrub away dead skin cells and it works on all skin types. It has a delightful scent, can be used up to three times per week and leaves skin feeling smooth and looking radiant.
12. Anthropologie candle
Give a whiff of relaxation with the Capri Blue Volcano Jar Candle, which we love at Reviewed. Not only does the scent smell amazing, but the chic jars double as pretty home décor. Anthropologie sells tons of styles for Capri Blue candles to fit any aesthetic. They'll look and smell perfect in any room of the house.
13. Jo Malone Cologne
To feel good, you need to smell good, right? If you agree, then Jo Malone's Nectarine Blossom and Honey Cologne is the perfect perfume choice. It's a light fragrance that smells like a fresh, citrusy and slightly sweet summer breeze. I've been wearing it for years and always receive compliments on the scent, which is not overpowering and only takes a spritz here and a dab there to smell lovely all day. Fair warning if the person you're gifting is shy: People will want to sniff them.
14. Beekman 1802 gift set
Beekman 1802 is best known for its use of a unique ingredient that's been hailed as a holy-grail beauty secret for centuries: goat’s milk. We tested out this buzz-worthy brand and found that it totally lived up to the hype—each product we tested had an amazing scent and felt nourishing and calming on the skin. We love a good gift basket and this gift set from 1-800-Baskets includes goat milk hand cream, cuticle cream and two bar soaps, perfect for anyone who's skin could use a little extra TLC.
15. Nuzzie Knit Weighted Blanket
When you're alone and need a warm hug, a weighted blanket might be the best alternative. For a fantastic budget option you could gift the YnM Weighted Blanket, but if you're looking to splurge a bit, the Nuzzie Full Knit Weighted Blanket is one of our favorite weighted blankets for how it's knit texture makes it a bit cooler and more appealing than most other weighted blankets. It is a bit bulkier than others we tested, but it is machine-washable, comes in 15-, 20-, and 25-pound options in addition to an 8-pound version for kids, plus with eight colors to choose from it's easy to find the perfect match.
16. Olive & June Mani System
People are busy and don’t always have time to schedule an appointment at a nail salon. The At Home Mani System from Olive & June includes everything needed to feel like you just got your nails done by a pro. The set includes clippers, a file, buffer, polish remover, cuticle serum and my personal favorite, the “poppy,” which is a silicone accessory for the nail polish bottle, making it easier to paint with your less dominant hand. The nail polish, which comes in so many beautiful shades, is free from the seven major toxins found in most nail polishes—and in my experience, the polish lasts longer with less chipping than other popular brands.
17. Mysa wine subscription
If you or your giftee like to occasionally wind down with a glass (or two, don't judge) of wine, then a wine subscription gift is going to score you major points. You'll feel even better about gifting a wine subscription from Mysa, because they only sell high quality natural wines, which means organic grapes and less additives. We tried out the wine club and found Mysa to be the best natural wine service with a fantastic selection to choose from and excellent customer service. Red, white or rosé, wine delivered to your door is a winning gift.
18. Nespresso VertuoPlus
For many of us, self-care starts first thing in the morning with the help of a little, or a lot, of coffee. Say bye-bye to the barista and hello to the Nespresso VertuoPlus to make the perfect, frothy cup of coffee that can only be described (by me) as "heaven in a mug". This versatile machine, which topped our list of best single-serve coffee makers also comes with a starter set of capsules in a variety of flavors (my personal favorites are Vanilla Custard Pie and Melozio), and if your giftee needs an extra caffeine kick, it also makes single and double espresso. Add a top-rated coffee mug like this marbled ceramic mug and your giftee will have a full cup as well as a full heart.
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
This article originally appeared on Reviewed: 18 best self-care, calming and relaxation gifts
