It’s that time of year when gift exchanges are essential at every gathering, whether with family, friends or colleagues. This cherished tradition symbolises love, generosity, and community.
The gift exchange showcases the thoughtfulness of the giver as choosing a gift can be a heartfelt expression of appreciation and affection. To simplify your decision-making, we offer a wide selection of gifts for you to choose from, making it easier than ever to find the perfect present. Be sure to read on to the end; we've got something for those of you looking to go beyond gifting, with something to really make a difference.
Get ready to party the night away
This Christmas, give a beauty-loving friend a gift from Biossance’s exclusive limited-edition holiday sets. Each gift set is packed with skin-loving products enriched with squalane, offering essential skincare that nourishes, hydrates and brightens. Perfect for both skincare aficionados and those new to clean beauty, these gifts promise radiant skin and celebrate the holiday spirit with products that truly care.
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Dreaming of a crystal Christmas
Whether it is a decoration or a bauble for the tree, Swarovski embraces the spirit of the holiday season with a selection of hanging ornaments and festive figurines. Classic favourites are reimagined in refreshing colours while new motifs dazzle with bold and luxurious accents. Crafted from light-reflecting crystals, each collectible is intricately faceted to brighten your holiday celebrations.
Joyful holiday motifs and characters come alive in vivid colour combinations, including lush greens, striking reds, warm golds and a rich blue. The Holiday Cheers collection captures thoughtful details and nostalgic shapes. Charming candy canes and lollipops blend lacquered metal with colourful crystals while gingerbread cookies shaped like stockings and bells are adorned with shimmering flatback crystals.
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Scented treats
Penhaligon’s Bakery Festive specials are mixed, kneaded, stirred and bottled, ready to tantalise the senses. A dozen or more gift sets are filled with rich fragrances such as Halfeti’s Rose Pleasures along with Luna’s Moon Delights, offering sweet and spicy notes in every spritz. Check out The Baker’s Box of Delights that is packed with 24 luxurious treats, each packed with your favourite perfume.
HUGO x Disney collaboration
Just in time for the holiday season, HUGO launches the HUGO x Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas — a bold capsule that honours Tim Burton and Disney’s beloved stop-motion classic, a must-watch for fans of Burton.
The collection features the instantly recognisable Jack Skellington on a range of comfortable jersey and knit pieces, including relaxed sweatshirts, T-shirts, hoodies and versatile day-to-night pajamas. Additional offerings include socks, sneakers, a beanie, a scarf and a tie. This collection embodies HUGO’s core mantra “HUGO Your Way”, celebrating self-discovery and authenticity. Jack Skellington’s fantastical journey inspires viewers to appreciate their individuality and commitment to personal values.
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Clarins Cosmic Christmas
The Clarins Cosmic Universe is a delightful selection of holiday gift sets featuring iconic products, including the newest Double Serum Generation 9 and the beloved Clarins Lip Comfort Oil, all beautifully wrapped and ready to be gifted.
Clarins has thoughtfully curated a range of special gift sets to cater to diverse needs and preferences. For fans of timeless favourites, the Double Serum & Double Serum Eye Holiday Duo ($222) from the Iconic Bestsellers category includes both the 30ml Double Serum and the 20ml Double Serum Eye — an ideal duo for radiant skin.
The Extra-Firming Holiday Partners ($275) in the Timeless Icons category offer a complete skincare routine with both the 50ml Extra-Firming Day Cream (AST) and the 50ml Extra-Firming Night Cream (AST).
For those seeking a vibrant glow, the Glow Getter category features the Bright Plus Holiday Set ($228), which includes a 30ml Bright Plus Serum and a 50ml Bright Plus Cream for achieving luminous skin.
A gift that keeps on giving
“Christmas with a Cause” features a creative collaboration between renowned chefs Kenjiro “Hatch” Hashida of Hashida Singapore and Hashida Tokyo, and Rishi Naleendra, the chef-owner of the two-Michelin-starred Cloudstreet, Sri Lankan restaurant Kotuwa, and FOOL Wine Bar.
Titled “Tomorrow”, this project focuses on mental health awareness, emphasising resilience and hope. The two chefs have come together to create an art piece symbolising the fluidity of life and the duality of darkness and light, underlining the importance of mental well-being.
The creative journey began with a poem by Hashida, reflecting on life’s uncertainties and the consuming nature of hopes and dreams. Accompanied by surreal imagery — such as deepsea jellyfish learning to fly — this poem delves into the thin veils between dreams and reality, conveying that even in doubt, connection and continuity can be found.
Building on Hashida's vision, Rishi drew inspiration from his Sri Lankan heritage, incorporating “Liyawel” art, which features ornamental carvings of vine-like flora, symbolising life’s endless cycles. He also illustrated the mythical two-headed “Bherunda”, representing resilience and unity.
This collaboration not only showcases the artistic talents of both chefs but also serves as a crucial reminder for greater mental health awareness, particularly in light of the challenges faced by the F&B industry. As Rishi notes, mental health challenges can arise in any season, underscoring the need for self-checks and support.
The items include t-shirts ($40), tote bags ($30), and stickers ($8), with all net sales proceeds benefiting local non-profit organisation, The Tapestry Project. The Tapestry Project utilises storytelling to foster mental health awareness and social inclusion. Their initiatives, including the Re:Story programme that promotes journaling, empower individuals to share their experiences and build connections.
Nicole K, founder of The Tapestry Project, emphasises the power of stories in forging connections and healing. “When we share our experiences, we heal from our wounds within,” she notes.
Items are available for purchase at gastrosense.com/e-shop.
