2025 Guide: Gifts for Yourself That Make Sense Right Now
Gift others. And here's why you should gift yourself this holiday season.
Thank you to everyone who came out to Studio Symoné’s LA gathering in over a year! Big thanks to why?! as our sole sponsor and With Creators for connecting big thinkers with forward-thinking brands. Download why?! and check out Studio Symoné’s “pack,” Beauty as Practice. And thanks to Yitty, Rare Beauty, Julie, and Varuni Studios in LA or contributing to our gift bags. And don’t forget to tune into Studio Supply. Big syngery!
There are a million things I want to talk about right now. I really need to start another podcast, this isn’t working for me. And yet – I don’t have all the right words, and in not forcing myself to conjure them up, it’s made me realize I don’t have very much business sending out an ode to Nikki or Lorraine. I need to go read some Nikki Giovanni. I need to take in more of Lorraine O’Grady’s work. I need to listen to more Doechii. Lately, I’ve been doing a lot more reading than speaking, and I need to be honest with myself about that. You have to know when you’re in that season. I’m in that season. Fine!
A quote from Natalie James, on her episode of the 2018 episode of my podcast, ‘am i allowed to like anything?’
(Although—I did write this piece recently on John David Washington and the new film adaption of The Piano on Netflix.).
So until the script flips, I’m here. Hi! Because in so many ways, I’m starting over in certain areas of my life. Not all. It’s not something I can elaborate on as I’m in the thick of it, but my mantra since Fall has been “I’m moving forward.”
Obviously, there are a lot of gift guides publishing right now. It’s nauseating. I’m not sure how many people are actually buying gifts for their loved ones this season. It’s been a tough year. Many are suffering in silence out of shame, while some people have had better years and are looking forward to a fresh 2025 start. At least, that’s the vibe in the honest one-on-one conversations I’m having with my friends. Thank god for friends.
Yes, we’re going into this year knowing we’ll have to fight like hell. And yet, I still believe we all deserve a little gift—just as much as there are people in our lives we’d gift if we could because they too deserve a little gift. But I also think about the “fill your cup before you fill others.” I don’t want to correlate mental health with gift giving, but I do think we should be able to gift ourselves so that we know what it feels like to appreciate a cherished object – and can pass on the same intention to others.
Here are my suggestions for a small gift to give yourself this season. This is more my yearly “self care” gift guide than a traditional gift guide (here is 2021 and 2022.) Over the past few years, I’ve worked on being comfortable no matter where I go so I can feel relaxed and fully myself the moment I walk into a room, instead of being swayed by others or the environment around me. How can I stand firm in who I am and remember what I bring to the table?! What tools help me feel confident wherever I am?
On this list, you’ll find some of those tools, mixed with other items that are worth refreshing. For example, when was the last time you bought yourself new towels? Exactly.
There are affiliate links in this post.
Lip Lube Love + Hand Solo, If I Say Yes by Y Cosmetics
I love dual-function items. This Lip Lube Love from the new brand If I Say Yes is safe for ALL lips. It has vegan, unscented squalane and meadowfoam seed base. Hand Solo is a self-pleasure skin serum with an extra slip formula. It’s 100% biodegradable and free of silicone and toxins.
Available online as a duo or separately; $29-$55
CODE: 10% off with STUDIOSYMONE, valid through 12/31
Fruit Hand Painted Cup and Saucer by Behnaia, Khanoom Collection
I saw this tea cup and saucer at Behnaia in Culver City and was drawn in by the vibrant detail. Buy one for a new daily ritual. Buy two for tea time with homies. Khanoom is a well-known pottery studio in Jaipur, India. Their ceramics stand out for their lush botanical motifs—think hand-painted fruits, flowers, and plants. Dishwasher and microwave safe (although I’d probably hand wash but that’s just me.)
$80, buy online or in-store at Behnaia; 8850 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
Room Mist Discovery Set by Sage + Salt
These are four energy-altering room mists in one set; Abundance Mist, Smokeless Smudge, Intuition Spray, and Mercury Retrograde Mist. I simply think this is something nice to experiment with based on your mood in any moment. Why not? And they’re in travel size. I like to bring mists and oils with me that help to make my environment feel familiar! I think the price is steep, but you’re paying for craftsmanship and I imagine they can last you a while based on use.
$200, available online or in-store at Behnaia; 8850 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
Vintage Tea Candle Holders on Etsy
I’m not going to sit here and suggest a $60+ candle to you. Brands love to sell ‘em, and I love to receive them. For free. Therefore, who am I to suggest a $150 candle I didn't buy and never would? Instead, I wanted to suggest some unique tea candle holders. Better to spend money on your holder than on the candle itself. They look beautiful scattered throughout the home. I like to buy beeswax tea candles from Beeswax Candles by Alysia Mazzella (when they aren’t sold out).
MadeInScandinaviaNet Royal Copenhagen Tealight Holder, $44. 14 | makuceramic Handmade Black Tea Candle holder: $278
Gua Sha Kit by SACHEU
This week, my friend Rembert read to me the things he likes more than smoking to stave off the desire to light a joint. I decided to make my own list, and one act is body scraping and massaging not only the face but the entire body. It’s self-soothing. My friend Devi Brown is the one who brought this practice to my attention and I’ve slowly integrated the practice into my self-care plan. I watch @beautyshamans (Shelly Marshall) to learn new techniques.
SACHEU guashas are stainless steel. They are non-porous, and more hygienic and self-cooling than jade and rose quartz guashas.
$42, buy online or find a local stockist
Pair with: Klur’s Body Oil, Elements of Comfort, $70
24K Gold Ear Seeds Refills by NAOWellness
I was introduced to ear seeds through acupuncturists; they're often used to prolong the benefits of acupuncture by stimulating specific points on the ear to promote healing and balance. Traditionally they are made of vaccaria seed. These 24K gold-plated ear seeds are designed for acupressure therapy, aiding in stress reduction, anxiety relief, and overall wellness. The refill pack is similar to WTHN’s ear seeds, which does not sell refills 😒 and each kit costs $45/each. You could also buy earseeds cheaply from professional acupuncture supplies and accessories websites such as AcuHouse.
$18, buy online or buy a kit, $32
Paper Lights
Going to keep it real off top: I don’t have original Isamu Noguchi Atari Light Scultpure funds right now. (Although his are sculptures that have been remade into everyday home decor.) Yes, you could replace your light bulbs with something warmer, but why does that feel more daunting than just buying a lamp? There’s been so much conversation around paper lamps over the past year. And for good reason. (Or maybe I’m just catching on.) A paper lanterns, or a chochin lanters, are beautiful and have a long history; Noguchi took it to the next level. I’m keeping it short but I love the history behind them and I love having them in my home.
If you’re still living under fluorescent lighting, I’m here to remind you that don’t have to live this way. Lighting affects my mood, and I’ve realized how much of a difference it makes to have light that’s easy on the eyes. It took me a while to figure this out. This is the year I leveled up.
In stores; Los Angeles; Bukandu Japanese Light Shop, 340 1st Street, 90012. Find a shop in your city.
Silk Pillow Sleeve by Silked
Now, this is a travel silk pillow. This open-ended pillow sleeve, made from silk charmeuse, fits over most standard, queen, and king pillows. It's designed to prevent bedhead, hair breakage, and skin creases while traveling and I love mine.
$69.50, buy online
3-Pack Women's Crew Socks by Pacas
Photo credit: Pacas
Paca socks are made from alpaca wool, making them incredibly soft and thick. The kind of socks you want to wear to bed or toss in your carry-on for every trip. They also offer a compression sock option, which is a game-changer for long flights. And loving compression socks makes me smart, not old. While the prints don’t really do it for me, the solid colors are a safe bet.
$52, buy online
☝🏾Pair with a game changer☝🏾 Prequel Skin; Foot Rescue Advanced Restorative Treatment, $18
Women's Rosa Silk-Lined Leather Gloves by Overland
I’ve been obsessed with the perfect pair of leather gloves lately. These are on my wishlist. At first glance, these gloves might not scream chic—the product styling is basic. But paired with the right coat, they become a standout accessory. The brown cuff adds a subtle color-block effect that looks especially striking with a well-chosen outer layer. Plus, silk-lined.
$149, buy online [price is a little steep, but I imagine these are gloves you’d have forever.]
Connect White Socks by dertbag
Now this one’s for my niche sock lovers. Clearly I love socks. Why are there two different types of sock on this list? I think warm feet are as essential as breathing. My dad came with me to the NYC launch of Renell Medrano’s ICE Magazine, which I wrote for (download the magazine). There, he met a scrawny white kid named Philip Post. Post has a brand called dertybag, which is to mean: DIVINE ENERGY RADIATES THROUGH BEAUTY AND GENIUS. I need no further details. Sign up me. I kept those socks. They are thick, soft, and serve as a sort of blessing, affirmation, and reminder of my beautiful existence. Designed in Connecticut, made in California.
$20, buy online
Classic Turkish Cotton Robe by Parachute
Photo credit: Parachute
This robe is plush-luxe. I just made that term up, and it’s so good. Parachute has been that brand the past few years and this robe lives up to the hype. It has two front pockets! Idk I just think everyone should have a robe they can slip on at home when clothes feel like a lot. (I don’t even really like wearing clothes but that’s another story for another day)
$149, buy online
Spa Plush Towel by Target
Again. Plush-luxe is what we go for. These towels are softer than the softest. Or, just buy yourselves some new towels!
$14, buy online