(ARA) - Before you know it, the gift giving season will be back in full swing. Soon malls will be packed with people searching high and low for that perfect present to give to a friend, family member, co-worker or neighbor.
Instead of picking up some trinket that will quickly be forgotten, why not get a gift the recipient will treasure -- the gift of pampering. The holidays are a stressful time of year for a lot of people and they forget to take time for themselves. Remind them of how important they are to you by giving a gift that shows you care.
It has been said that there's no better way to get away from life's daily stresses than to escape to the spa. Treat your friend or loved one to a luxurious indulgence that focuses on them and only them. Among the most popular services to choose from, a mud or seaweed wrap, a papaya bath scrub, a chocolate dip manicure, or perhaps a Swedish or hot stone massage.
If you can't decide which service to choose, it may be a good idea to get a gift certificate that allows the recipient to decide. This time of year they come cleverly gift wrapped especially for the holidays. Typical spa services range in price from $50 for a facial all the way into the thousands of dollars for packages that include multiple services.
If the gift of a spa visit is too pricey for you, you may want to pick up a gift more appropriate for a home spa. Bath brushes, hand-held massagers, and bath oils make popular gifts. So do scented soaps, bubble bath, and candles.
"Taking a long warm bath is one of the most luxurious ways you can pamper yourself," says Ali Fillmore, brand manager of Lush Cosmetics, a company that specializes in hand-made bath and body products. "Adding oils and aromas to the mix is just heavenly."
Among the luxurious treats Lush sells --- bath bombs, handmade soaps, and bubble bar slices. Bath bombs are circular-shaped mixtures of oil and fragrance that dissolve in the bath water when they get wet. Fillmore says they are popular in Hollywood. "Jude Law, Darryl Hannah and Russell Crowe all buy them regularly," she says.
You also should be sure to check out the staff. They should be friendly and inviting each and every time you visit and make your experience pleasant and enjoyable. And, ensure that the class instructors and personal trainers are certified by recognized fitness organizations.
Especially popular this time of the year are Kisseltoes -- a snow-white bath bomb made with orange oil, cinnamon, and clove that is intended to stimulate circulation; Lush Pud -- a mixture of aloe vera, rose, clove powder, benzoin to treat dry skin, and lemon peel to boost sluggish circulation; and Christmas Party -- a mixture of cognac oil, orange oil, fragrant gardenia, stars, glitter and confetti, a combination sure to lift your spirits.
A great compliment to Lush's bath bomb is its collection of fragrant hand-made soaps. Spice Mountain contains orange juice, orange oil, cinnamon, cloves and lemon in a combination that eliminates toxins and gives the body a well-needed burst of energy. If you want to treat a friend to a vacation without leaving home, you may want to get them some Noriko soap. It's a smooth, creamy soap that will take them away to the orient with its combination of lavender, ylang ylang, rice, organic tofu, and sake or Japanese rice wine. Your friends will be in good company when they use these soaps. Celebrities Halle Berry, Tyra Banks, and Jane Fonda are all regular lush soap customers.
If you can't decide which indulgence to treat your gift recipient to, you may want to pick up one of the 16 different holiday gift packs Lush offers. They have all the bells and whistles of Santa's sleigh -- they will make the recipient feel good, smell good and look good too. The Santa Baby basket contains 8 different bath bombs, 3 hand-made soaps, a bubble bath bar, lip balm and glitter than can be worn in the hair and on the face. There's also Snow Wonder -- a collection of holiday-themed bath bombs, shower gel, soap, bubble bath and glitter.
And for after the shower, how about throwing in a luxurious robe. They are available in a variety of fabrics and textures, everything from terrycloth and cotton to satin and silk, and since they make such great holiday gifts they are plentiful in the department stores right now.
If the gift is for your significant other, you may also want to throw in some holiday-themed lingerŽ for the women or boxer shorts for the guys, scented candles, plus a hand-made gift certificate that really shows you care . It could be a ticket good for a night on the town without the kids, an intimate back rub, or a surprise to be announced later.
"Our lives are so busy these days, people rarely take the time to spoil themselves, but they need to and the holidays are a great time to do it," says Fillmore.
Lush Cosmetics has stores in New York, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., Florida, Oregon, California, and Hawaii, but does most of its business through mail order. Log on to www.lush.com to shop online or request a paper catalog.
Courtesy of ARA Content