Holiday Gift Guide For Your Bestie ft. Yves Rocher + GIVEAWAY!

With Christmas being just a few short weeks away (seriously, where has the time gone?), now comes the time to figure out what to gift the special people in your life. I personally enjoy gifting more than receiving, so this time of the year always gets me super excited to shop for my loved ones. Of course, you can go the good old (and easy) route of asking your friends and family what is on their Christmas wish list, but sometimes you have no other choice than to go the extra mile and come up with ideas yourself (because who doesn't love being surprised?). Well, I'm saving you the trouble this year as I have compiled a bunch of gift ideas for your bestie, but really many of these can be applied to the women in your life, whether for your mom, aunt, sister, grandmother, co-worker, and the list goes on! But wait - it gets better! I have partnered with Yves Rocher* to bring you a Holiday giveaway, so keep reading to find out how you can enter to win a fabulous prize!

For the beauty enthusiast:

My best friend just so happens to be into all things beauty, especially when it comes to nail polish and makeup. Yves Rocher has come out with a stunning Holiday Collection this year, with products being available for purchase individually or in Holiday Sets. There are lots to choose from when it comes to their Holiday Makeup for starters. For the eyeshadow wearer, you can gift single pans of their Botanical Color Eyeshadow range in Sparkling Cranberry, Sparkling Silver and Sparkling White Gold. They also carry the same shades in their Radiant Lip Crayons and Botanical Color Nail Polish lines as well, and their Grand Rouge Lipstick Palette is the ultimate lippy lover's gift, featuring five deep and punchy shades.

If your giftee isn't so much into makeup, you cannot go wrong with bath and body products, because everyone uses those! Again, Yves Rocher has pre-made Holiday Sets in this category too, or you can pick and choose individual products from their limited edition Holiday scents for this year, namely: Clementine & Spices, Cranberry & Almond and Pear & Cocoa. Trust me when I say that these are what Christmas scented dreams are made of! Each collection includes a hand cream, bath & shower gel (available in various sizes), liquid hand soap, perfumed body lotion, exfoliating shower gel, nourishing lip balm and even a candle! *hint: the giveaway might include some of these* keep reading to find out what the prize is ;)

For the fashionista:

Your BFF is all about shopping the latest and greatest fashion trends? Buying clothing can be a bit tricky if you don't know her size, but if you know there is an item she's been coveting, you can always ask the sales associate for a gift receipt just in case your friend's new cozy sweater and flashy kicks don't fit. Other accessories that are good for gifting are scarves, toques, earmuffs and gloves if you too face chilly winter weather, or robes, fuzzy socks and slippers for indoor warmth. To be on the safe side, I like opting for jewelry (specifically watches, earrings, a necklace or a bracelet) or a wallet and handbag from one of her favourite designers. A few jewelry brands I would recommend are Jord Wood Watches, Happiness Boutique, Soufeel Jewelry and Majestical Jewelry. You can buy them online, without worrying about them not fitting!

For the bookworm/planner:

I always end up gifting books to someone each year - what can I say I'm surrounded by bookworms! If your best friend enjoys reading, you can opt for a book you think she would enjoy, such as the latest release by her favourite author. If your bestie is into cooking and baking, for instance, you can purchase a recipe book, or if she's into crafting, get her a scrapbook with some craft supplies for fun. Here are some of my personal recommendations: Beauty by Lauren Conrad, The Compassionate Chick's Guide to DIY Beauty, The Complete Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness and 350 Best Vegan Recipes. Alternatively, you can get her a subscription to a digital bookstore, such as Audible if you would rather she pick books herself. If your friend is a planner addict or just likes staying on top of things and making lists, you can get her a planner or notebook, and include stationery such as colourful sticky notes, cute pens, highlighters, etc.

For the fit girl:

My bestie really got into fitness a couple of years ago, so I decided to gift her workout DVDs that same year which she still uses to this day! There are so many to choose from, but since she's really into cardio and HIIT, I opted for ones from her favourite trainer, Jillian Michaels. You can also get her equipment she's missing or even gift her an upgrade, whether it's a new yoga mat or heavier dumbbells. You can really customize gifts in this category depending on sports she plays or fitness activities she enjoys, whether it's cycling, running, soccer, yoga, kickboxing, etc. If you know she's been meaning to get a gym subscription, that's a great gift too - you can find pretty good deals this time of the year.

For the techie:

I feel like in today's day and age, we all appreciate discovering the latest and greatest from the tech industry. Something I came across this year which I thought was a super neat Holiday gift idea is hands-free earphones, specifically the Sudio Sweden Wireless Headphones. They connect to your smartphone by Bluetooth and work with both iPhones and Android phones. Sudio Sweden offers them in a few colours, and I think the Vasa Blå Rose Gold White Headphones* (C$140) are super sleek and modern looking. They are equipped with studio quality sound, with a single charge lasting up to 8 hours. They also come with a protective carrying case so you don't have to worry about them getting twisted in your handbag. A feature worth mentioning is that these headphones have a remote and built-in microphone, allowing you to answer calls without having to take them off. Make sure to use my exclusive discount code 'natalielovesbeauty' to get 15% off your Sudio Sweden purchase!

For the minimalist:

If your friend isn't that much into 'stuff', there are also many gift options to choose from! One example would be to offer her an experience, whether it's a gift certificate to the spa, a ticket to see a singer she fangirls over live in concert, or a weekend road trip to a city she's never been to before (you can even make a girl's trip out of it)! Something I've done for a few years now with my cousin and her husband is making a donation to a charity on their behalf, which can for sure be applied to your friend with a heart of gold. My favourite organization is Operation Christmas Child - you can build a Christmas gift box for a child in need by filling it up with school supplies, toys and other necessities and dropping it off at the nearest collection point in your area, or buy a pre-made gift box online which will be directly shipped to the child in need, saving you the hassle. You can read more about how Operation Christmas Child works in my dedicated blog post.

The no brainer:

If you're really stuck on what to gift your BFF this year, you can't go wrong with a gift card to her favourite store. I'll squeeze subscription services in here too, because who doesn't want a year's worth of Netflix or Spotify Premium? From Best Buy to IKEA to a gift card to the mall, the possibilities are endless!

AND NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY!

Yves Rocher is offering one of my followers the change to win a selection of Holiday Bath & Body collection in the scent of their choice (Clementine & Spices, Cranberry & Almond or Pear & Cocoa).

The five Yves Rocher products that will be part of the prize are:

1 x Perfumed Body Lotion
1 x Bath and Shower Gel
1 x Exfoliating Shower Gel
1 x Hand Cream
1 x Nourishing Lip Balm

To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter box below. The first few entries are mandatory and once completed, more entry options will be unlocked. *Please note that this giveaway is open to Canadian residents only - if you don't fall into this category, don't fret as I have another awesome Holiday giveaway coming up VERY soon that will be open worldwide, so be sure to follow me on Instagram not to miss it!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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*Disclaimer: This post and giveaway have been sponsored by Yves Rocher. Some affiliate links are provided. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.