Many of us have had to tighten the purse strings this year, and I know I’m not alone in wanting to make sure I don’t overspend on Christmas presents. I’ve never been one for buying gifts for a huge list of extended family, colleagues and their dogs; and for Christmas 2020 I’m keeping my gifting list extra short.
My mum, dad, brother, fiancé and in-laws are the only people I’m shopping for this year. On top of that, we often lay down strict spending budgets for Christmas presents. It makes sense, especially when a lot of us have lost work or been otherwise adversely affected by the events of 2020.
To help you keep to a budget this year while still pleasing everyone on your Christmas shopping list, I’ve teamed up with Boots to bring you the best Christmas presents under £30 this year.
Christmas gifts for him
Health and wellbeing gifts for him
A grooming kit from a brand you know and love never goes amiss – check out No 7‘s Men’s Grooming Kit, which will keep his nails and hair tidy. The Nivea Men Everyday Ready Kit makes a great little stocking filler, at just £5.
I don’t know many men who don’t enjoy a good soak in a hot bath, and if the man you’re buying for has a manual job, he’ll always be grateful for muscle soak salts. Paxton + Pepper do a lovely one in ‘manly’ packaging and the scent aids a restful night’s sleep.
It can be tricky to pick out cologne for someone else, so a Versace Mens Mini Set lets guys sample a few different scents before they give instructions to invest in a larger bottle. The tiny bottles are great for weekends away, too!
I love the look of these Batman Pore Strips as another £5 stocking filler – better than squeezing your partner’s blackheads and I promise you’ll both have a giggle when he rips it off!
Home and gadget gifts for him
Okay, so underwear is hardly a groundbreaking Christmas gift, but the men in your life will be expecting them and you wouldn’t want to disappoint! The Jack Wills Boxers Gift Set comes with a body spray in a cute box so it feels a bit more special than chucking a five pack of Asda’s finest at him. They also do a nice sock gift set.
Boots have loads of fun stocking fillers and gadgets that make great gifts for men who are hard to buy for. A Pocket Arcade Machine will give him something to stare at that isn’t his phone during ad breaks, while a Bluetooth Waterproof Speaker gives him something to sing along to in the shower.
My fiancé had to kiss his man cave goodbye when we built the extension, but I know he’d have loved this Make Your Own Neon Sign Kit, just £12.50. What a shame we had to knock through the garage, eh?
If he’s a cyclist, why not make his day with these LED Bike Wheel Lights? They’re only £8.50 and will keep him safe on the road this winter. Outdoorsy blokes (or ones that take a packed lunch to work) will also thank you for a Champneys Eco To Go Lunch Kit, which comes with a booklet that has 10 Champneys Health Spa recipes for breakfast & lunch
Christmas gifts for her
Health, beauty and wellbeing gifts for her
There’s an overwhelming number of beauty gift sets out there for women, so I’ve picked some of the best value sets from my go-to brands. These are all under £30 and contain products I’ve either personally tried or know have good reviews and are widely loved by women everywhere.
Liz Earle’s Hot Cloth Cleanser is a cult classic, so this Classic set (£22.50) is a brilliant way to gift a skincare staple along with a boujee cloth hook for the accompanying wash cloths to hang on. I use this cleanser in my seven-step evening skincare routine and buy it religiously. (Have a read of my guide to giving yourself an at-home facial for more skincare tips!)
Boots’ own No7 Skincare range is universally loved, and The Discovery Collection will introduce the woman you’re buying for to some of their most popular products. I like their Protect & Perfect range – check out this £30 gift set.
For makeup junkies, you can always rely on Benefit. This £13.50 Makeup Shakeup set is designed to look like a Christmas cracker and the contents are actually useful – a miniature of their best-selling mascara, Gimme Brow and Benetint lip and cheek tint. I use and love all three, and mini sizes fit in your cabin bag if you’re flying without check-in luggage.
The NARS Mini Afterglow Lip Balm Duo makes a lovely secret Santa gift and works if you’ve been given a £20 spending limit.
If you’re unsure about buying skincare or makeup for someone else, body care is a bit easier. Sanctuary Spa has been one of my favourite body care brands for pamper nights for years, and the £14 Body Beautiful Gift Set contains the three staples from the range. This stuff just smells heavenly!
If you’re playing it really safe, opt for a makeup brush kit – this No7 Wizard of Oz Ruby Slippers Brush Collection is super festive and at £14, looks more expensive than it is.
Home and accessory gifts for her
Gorgeous candles are a failsafe gift for women you aren’t super close to. This £25 Clarins Candle Trio feels super luxurious!
Laura Ashley has the perfect thing if you’re after something that isn’t cliche and will actually get used – their Luxury Umbrella is just £16 and stands out in a crowd.
If you’ve got an earth goddess on your Christmas shopping list, there are so many cool eco-friendly things you can buy her! Reusable beeswax wraps for food (£12.50), a set of containers holding pamper products that can be reused as lunch boxes (£14), and a cute spork (£5) will all make her day.
Still struggling? Go with slippers. Nobody can be mad at slippers, especially not these luxury massage slippers by Champneys. They’re £25 and just ooze comfort.
What’s on your Christmas list this year?
This post is sponsored by Boots but views are my own. Check out Boots’ Christmas Gift Guide for further information.
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