Some Body To Love

Posted by Canadian Gift Guide on November 16, 2013 · 171 Comments

If scent ties us to our memories, then The Body Shop has long been ingrained in my holiday gift-giving memories. For as long as I can remember, I’ve either gifted, received, or seen someone else unwrap an item from The Body Shop come Christmastime. And why not? It’s hella reasonably priced, relatively safe, festively scented, and generally quite suited to the season (trust me, your skin will love you after lavishing it in Body Butter during January). Of course, the brand is also constantly reinventing what they’ve got on the shelves, so whether you’re looking for a new gifting option in mom’s favourite scent, replenishing your sister’s stockade of limited-edition holiday goodies, or seeking out an affordable present for a small thank you or hostess, look no further: The Body Shop has you covered, for now and apparently, for always.

The Sparkler – $24
As someone addicted to sparkle, I love the holidays because it means I can happily pull out my most sequinned, sparkly items and people don’t (really) bat an eye. The same goes for my nails, hair and makeup, which is where this fab atomizer comes in. Each glass bottle is filled with a fine microshimmer powder that gives your skin and hair a soft glittery shine and a subtle Japanese cherry blossom scent. It’s a subtle effect, but a dazzling one when applied appropriately – like say, for that New Year’s Eve bash you’re going to. And at this price point, it’s a fun gift for a close friend or sibling.

White Musk Smoky Rose Spritz Duo Set – $25
The Body Shop’s White Musk fragrance is, quite possibly, their longest-standing scent. This year however, the ol’ gal’s been given new life with White Musk Smoky Rose – which features the two titular ingredients alongside sweet tobacco flower for a scent that’s familiar and fresh all at the same time. If mom is a diehard White Musk user, give her something to switch up her routine – this two-pack includes a body mist for apres shower care and an eau de toilette for when she wants to layer it on a little more thickly (but never overwhelmingly).

Festive Medium Hemp Set – $45
So I know The Body Shop is hawking this four-piece set as an ideal gift for the man in your life…but I am sincerely addicted to their Hemp line-up of goodies and always will be. Something about that earthy scent just soothes my soul (and my skin) while also making me feel tough and protected. Sorta like how a gal ought to feel about her man, I suppose. Regardless of whether you splurge on this set for your hubby (and steal a few swipes for yourself) or put it on your own wish list, you will be well-preserved this winter: hemp is an ultra-nourishing ingredient, especially when rendered in this gift collection that protects your lips, body, hands, and feet. For the record, this style of ‘Medium’ gift set exists for virtually all of The Body Shop’s key scents, with a slightly different line-up and look for each fragrance.

Festive Gift Cubes – $9-$10 each or 2 for $12
When I’m talking about affordable gift options, this is what I’m referring to. With all of their scents handily represented, each of these prepackaged gifts includes two miniature versions of their products – typically a shower gel and body lotion – along with a little body pouf to scrub up and slough off dead skin. The price point is kind of insane. You can (and should) stock up on these little wonders for easy go-to gifts for everything from Secret Santas to Hostess Gifts to gift exchanges with friends on a tight budget and so on. Seriously, just having a stockpile of these petite presents will make your gift-giving blissfully easy this year.

Butter Up Duos – $12 each
Poor Frosty. Whilst he can only subsist in frozen climates, he’s clearly got more tropical destinations on the brain, if these cutely packaged duos from The Body Shop are to be trusted. Completely stocking stuffer worthy (amongst dozens of other options) each set includes a body butter and lip butter in either Mango or Shea, for a hint of warmer weather with every use while letting your skin soak up some much-needed moisture. Also works great as a thank you gift for your kid’s long-suffering babysitter / music teacher / carpool parent, and so on.

Shimmer Cubes – $22 each
While obviously The Body Shop holds a certain level of scented nostalgia for me, they’ve also long been regarded as one of the best in the biz for makeup that’s free from animal byproducts (as with all of their products). I’ve never highlighted their ever-changing line-up of Shimmer Cubes on here before but I’m doing it now. They’re lovely, ready-to-go gifts for gals of all ages and provide pretty intense pigmentation that can be altered by using a wet brush as opposed to a dry one. This year they’ve got new two palettes out just in time for the holidays – a soft quad of pale pinks and grey, and a collection of mermaid-inspired teals and greens. Buy them for a makeup maven that hasn’t given The Body Shop a whirl yet, or gift the latest and greatest to an already addicted fan.

It feels repetitive for me to say this as I have for a few other gift ideas, but I really could go on and on. Your best bet is to really peruse The Body Shop website to get some insight and ideas as to how you can fill some holes on your shipping list. For the record, at the time of writing this post several of the items I featured were actually on sale, but I only highlighted promotional pricing that I anticipate will last throughout the season – the rest are the full prices of the items. Long story short, there may very well be some killer deals to make this great, worry-free line of gifts that much more thrifty. Oh yeah, and while I’ve got your attention, I’m giving away a gift package of $150 worth of goodies from The Body Shop. Want to get spoiled? Read on:

1) Check out The Body Shop’s line of holiday gifts for yourself and tell me in the comments below by December 2nd what your #1 gift pick would be (with a link back to the item).

2) Entries are limited to one per person / per email address / per household (or more if you score bonus entries). A random draw will be conducted on or around December 3rd to select the winners, who will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in their place.

3) Entries are limited to Canadians that have reached the age of majority in their province. Quebec is not eligible for this promotion.

4) Bonus Entries: The Body Shop Canada is spreading the love on Facebook and Twitter. Become a fan of each of their presences and leave a comment / tag them in a Tweet respectively, plus leave links back to your activities in the comments below, to earn up to two bonus entries.