Words by Emily Regan
As we find ourselves in a time where our retail habits, needs and wants are severely restricted, to say the least, all the while the traditional calendar is just whizzing by around us. I mean can you believe today is the 94th of March, who knew ? Go figure that? Now in all honesty, our social lives might be duller than a mid November day, but we all know someone, friend, relative or partner that have had to “celebrate” a birthday in lockdown. With this in mind let us present to you our guide to smart gifts for HE and SHE’ that you can order online this quarantine.
THE MAKE – UP LOVER...
GLOSSY BEAUTY BOX SUBSCRIPTION
This is the perfect birthday gift for any make-up fanatic. The service allows you to choose from a 1, 3, 6 or 12 month subscription package.
Each month, 5 new beauty products are delivered to the doorstep in gorgeous iconic pink boxes. This is the ideal gift during quarantine, especially if you can’t colour match shades right now.
GlossyBox is one of the only beauty box services that allows you to purchase a one-month subscription online.
A gift that keeps on giving, with new cosmetic products and classic old favourites too, pay as little as £10 and then leave the hard work to GlossyBox.
The fashion obsessed…
Personalised gift card
The high-street is closed and online fashion purchases are increasing day by day.
Guessing sizes and returning retail gifts can be a struggle at the best of times so gift a fashion fix with a zara gift card.
At a time like this personalisation can lift spirits and a physical zara gift card can be purchased online to be sent to the recipients’ doorstep. The site allows you to type a message which is great for those spending their birthday’s isolating!
The gift card is delivered in a luxury embossed silver box. The service allows you to choose a delivery date in advance and top-up starts at £20.
Zara also offer E-Giftcards but who doesn’t get excited when they receive a parcel at the door
THE GYM GOER…
NIKE SKIPPING ROPE
The gym is closed and home workouts are becoming the new it-thing to do.
Introduce the ‘Nike training skipping rope’ into their routine. Great for upper body strength, reps and repeats. This product is the quintessential addition to a morning workout!
The handles are cushioned for comfort and the rope comes with an Allen key to enable length adjustments. Available for £17.00 from ASOS.
Sleep, eat, rep and repeat your way through a lockdown birthday.
THE TECH WIZZ…
JOHN LEWIS CABLE TIDY BAG
Ever ask yourself… What don’t they have?!
Do you buy them chocolates and socks every single year because you know they already own every gadget under the sun?
Switch it up with this smart and sophisticated cable tidy bag. This travel-friendly zip-up case makes transporting cables easy and organised.
This practical product comes in black or brown and a Tech-Wizz can never have too many of these cases.
The case is available to buy online from John Lewis and retails at just £30, maybe it will persuade them to sort out their cable collection during the lockdown.
THE GARDENER...
‘HOW TO HOUSE PLANT’ BOOK
During lockdown most garden centres have closed their doors, so for this gift, it was all about thinking outside the box.
This read will be educated on how to start and nurture inside plants. With beautiful illustrations and a light-hearted approach, this book is a gorgeous gift for any garden- lover, male or female.
Priced at £14.99, ‘how to house plant’ is available to purchase online at Oliver Bonas, who offer gift-wrapping services to make quarantine presents feel a little more special
THE SKIN – CARE ENTHUSIAST…
GLOSSIER SUPER DUO
Let’s face it … they already have their ride or die products so spending your coins on a new cleanser or moisturiser can be risky, right?
Glossier is a back to basics brand which really hit the mark with their crisp aesthetic and attention to detail.
‘The super duo’ is the perfect fix, serums can be swapped in and out of religious skincare routines and this pair layer to keep the skin hydrated and glowing.
Ingredients include hyaluronic acid, vitamin b5 serum, vitamin c and magnesium serum. Buying the pair saves you 20% at a reasonable price of £38.
Quarantine skin is real, so this is the perfect ‘pick me up’ product
HE FOOTBALL DEVOTEE…
ARGOS FOOTBALL FLICK URBAN CORNER SHOT TOP BINS GOAL SKILLS SET
There’s already a goal in the garden and every-time the football gets close to the windows you shiver inside. Let’s get their aim game on…
The ‘football flick urban corner shot top bins goal skills set’ from Argos will do just the job, made from durable plastic this pack of 2 is designed to withstand heavy impact, allowing for hours of practice during the quarantine period.
The set is priced at £29,99 and various credit plans are available. Have your order delivered to your door or pick it up in your local Sainsburys at the Argos collection point whilst doing your weekly quarantine food shop!
THE SWEET – TREAT BAKER…
HONEYWELL BISCUIT CO SUBSCRIPTIONS
It is so important to support small –businesses with the current situation and Honeywell Biscuit Co have some of the most talented and experienced bakers in the UK.
The company is famously known for its personalised biscuits which include hand-illustrated intricate icing designs.
Although they do provide bespoke services, these are currently delayed due to Covid-19 safety precautions, however, they offer a huge range of ‘off the shelf’ birthday designs.
To top it all off, Honeywell Biscuits offer ‘bake it yourself’ subscription services, ranges include ‘family baking’, ‘freak-shake making’ and ‘perfectly iced’.
This is the perfect gift for any budding – baker looking to learn new techniques during isolation. Subscription boxes complete with ingredients and instructions are delivered monthly and where possible gorgeous, top quality letter-box packaging is used.
Prices range from £19.99 a month to £190 annual subscriptions.
