10th Annual Press Pass LA Holiday Gift Guide
We can hardly believe we have been bringing you all gift recommendations for ten years now. Ten! This has been a challanging year, which made us dig deeper to find products that bring a wide range of balance during this season of giving.
Whether you’re looking to freshing up your skincare routine, indulge your inner tech-geek or focus on your healthy mind and body, we’ve got it. 2020 has been a doozy and we made sure to take extra care in all categories that bring you options for self-care and pampering whether you’re a book worm or a squat champion.
We’re kicking off our Gift Guide with a flower delivery service named Floracracy. Their tagline is: “Made to be meaningful.” If that isn’t the beauty we all need in 2020 we don’t know what is. This female owned small business runs out of Illinois and is sure to put a smile on your face. The beautiful arrangements can come in a grand gesture, a centerpiece, or you can pair them off like we have. This also makes a great gift if you are having a dinner party with your small bubble, give everyone the gift of flowers. Being away from our loved ones also means that a thoughtfully arranged bouquet they can style to their heart’s content is a sure winner to bring holiday cheer into any home. You can check out Floracracy here. You’ll be surprised to see on the site you can pick your arrangement, and walk through a digital assortment guide to have your dream bouquet designed from petal to stem. Floracracy’s designs also make for gorgeous holiday decor.
Bookworms where art thou?! Though we prefer the term book dragon, these releases from Harper Collins are exactly what we’d love to find under the tree. A brand new edition of “The Night Before Christmas” has been released which is great, because this illustrated classic is sure to include a multitude of homes, and backgrounds. Letting everyone feel included on the magic of Christmas Eve, as little ones awat Santa’s arrival. The book is illustrated by Loren Long, her lush landscapes and charming scenes capture the wonder and magic of Christmas. Even if you don’t have little ones at home, this timeless classic is great for all ages, and adds a dash of Christmas decoration to any corner of your home.
We’re also thrilled to show you Harper Collins collaboration with Epic Reads, resulting in this gorgeously re-designed “Snow Like Ashes” cover. The Epic Reads collaboration has a series of YA titles that have been reworked for this holiday season (Snow Like Ashes is set to release December 15th). Re-visit your fantasy favorites with their brand new covers, and stories that might still surprise you. After-all a re-read can always illuminate something you may have missed the first time.
Even though many of us are still at home, there is every reason to be mindful of alcohol consumption when emotions during quarantines across the country could be running high. Enjoy all of the flavors with none of the effects, we suggest you try a Mindful Mule. They also have a wonderful non-alcoholic Margarita as well. Give your body a break, but enjoy the flavors of your favorite cocktails with Spirity Cocktail’s line of non-alcoholic mocktails.
Motorola has state of the art wireless/bluetooth headphones in stock for you. We can’t rave enough about their new Tech3’s. These headphones are a 3 in 1. These wireless earbuds come with a sport wire, audio plug-in-ipx5, built in microphone, and a cable storage system. These little earbuds pack a trunk full of perks and surprises. You can snag your own pair here.
Beauty lovers, your time is now. We scoped out the details on Fresh, and these holiday bundles are unbeatable for high end skincare. You can snag a 4 mask set for only at Sephora. Or if you’re looking to refresh your entire skincare routine, try their rose set on for size. Both of these options are offering skincare aficionados a jump start on glowing skin for an honest fraction of the cost. We can’t stress enough how impressed we are by the range and price of Fresh’s holiday skincare gift sets. Perfect for treating yourself ( you deserve it) or getting a friend or family member started on some serious skin tlc.
The absolute best part of our job is discvoering new brands, and having the opportunity to try them out. We were over the moon when we discovered CLE earlier this year (pre-covid) and knew we just had to include them in the gift guide. This LA based company makes their skincare in South Korea (so you know its legit), and is also run by a woman. There is also a great satisfaction to know your skincare and beauty products are supporting women in small business. The moonlighter cushion is an illuminating highlighter of complete decadence. We love how pigmented the sponge is when you push it. The highlighter applies to your face like butter. The pigmentation in the color is also expertly done. CLE does a great job if infusing a small business with the high end quality many flock to department store for. We say, look no further than CLE, the brand is worth it. The multi-cream has made it to our nightstand, and with its Palo Santo infusion we are over the moon obsessed with its quality. Be sure to visit CLE’s website to learn more about the brand, but crucially in their own words, CLE is a team of artists, designers, and professionals dedicated to and guided by the belief that beauty lies in embracing your natural self, in finding freedom in fluidity, and welcoming the truths hidden in imperfections. We are not beauty insiders, experts, or cosmetic industry veterans; we are real womxn.
Whether you’re a fitness and health enthusiast or looking to dive into that sphere for the first time, we have a range of products and workouts just for you!
Water, water, water! If you need to brush up on our piece about the importance of water to your health, check it out here. In the meantime, we want to put Mobot on your radar. Water bottles are an excellent reminder to drink your water everyday. But this water bottle also does double duty as a foam roller to help alleviate sore muscles. Mobot is another fantastic small business that is run by a woman! We’re all about being inclusive of small brands that are working hard to stay afloat during these crazy times, please think of purchasing with purpose this holiday season. Mind you health, and mind your purchases. When you first pop onto the site you’ll be prompted to sign up for their email list, do so an enjoy 15% off your purchase. The Mobot water bottles also come in an array of sizes. The new design pictured above is one of their latest to celebrate the changing of the season.
Next on our list for those of you hoping to make healthy, positive changes or just looking to find high end CBD, Altwell CBD is it. Right now you can purchase any 3 items and recieve 30% off. Altwell is very helpful for anyone new to CBD. They have an entire faq section, and another section which breaks down exactly where your CBD is sourced from. Every single ingredient from Altwell is verified. You’ll also find a glossary on their site to aid you in learning everything CBD. We’re big believers that you should know what you’re putting into your body. Alt Well knows that knowing what is in your body is just as important as what you put on its exterior. Another small business, that keeps their company at the forefront of their decisions is a great way to dive into the benefits of CBD. They have a wide array of CBD items from lotions to gummies to choose from.
We can’t talk health without speaking on the elephant in every room this holiday season. Which is why we were very excited to learn about Tru 47. This brand educates you about the benefits of silver, and have designed an entire line of silver masks and mists to keep you immune system in its best shape. Check out Tru 47 to learn all the ways silver isn an anti-microbial and aids in keeping dangerous contagians at bay.
Finally, being cooped up is really difficult. While we couldn’t drag her in for a photoshoot, we are recommending workout guru Emilie Perez’s Sequential Body online training. Sequential Body launched during the pandemic to help tone and and improve balance for users. With so many of us logging on and sitting down for hours at a time it has never been more important than now to take care of our physical wellbeing. Staying in shape physically is so important for our mental health as well. We believe in it so much we’re offering a FREE MONTH to one lucky reader who will be able to go into 2021 with a fitness routine to set them up for body and mind balance. All you have to do is share this article and TAG US so we can FIND YOU!! Someone will be reigning in 2021 with 30 days of free workouts. We believe in you, and we believe the gift and commitment of fitness is life changing. The whole team is rooting for you to win.
STOCKING STUFFER CORNER
Some of our favorite goodies come in the smallest packages. This year we’ve picked an array of products for your stocking.
Make your home smell like an Anthropologie store with Capri Blue’s new Volcano diffuser essential oil. This decadent essential oil is dreamy, and won’t break the bank. You can find it here. All the luxury for a quarter of the cost.
Sephora has a naughty little Nars pairing of their Mini Afterglow Lip Balm Duo that gives you double the color for the cost of one! Fuel your beauty guru love with Nars dual stocking stuffer here.
From the candle makers who brought you candle scents that bring your home state or country into your living room, Homesick has holiday minis. Why not treat yourself or a friend to a scent that envelops you in the pines and wintergreens of the holidays in a mini package that will burn its scented perfection for hours on end. Snatch a Homesick mini here.
Just CBD is exactly what the doctor ordered for your stocking. They have the best selection we’ve ever seen of CBD gummies with natural ingredients and flavors you’re sure to love. Tame your stay at home mood with their CBD gummies which are so helpful for a respite from anxiety. Just CBD also sells vape pens, and oils which would be a welcome addition to any stocking.
Happy Holidays from the entire staff of Press Pass LA. Thank you for coming on this journey with us for 10 years! Here’s to the next decade.
( ** Make sure to check with your doctor that you can consume CBD we are not medical professionals**)
