With the holidays right around the corner, it’s time to gather gifts to give your loved ones this Christmas. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list including some of our favourite gifts here at Verdant Alchemy and our seasonal favourites from our indie beauty brand friends!

The last year has been super tough for everyone, especially small independent businesses. So more than ever, your support for indie brands is as important as ever. Thank you for believing our passion behind our products and mission, the community itself, and the sustainability efforts. 

Here at Verdant Alchemy, we have created gift sets including collections of our favourite bath salts – because why just give t-shirt, socks, or a gift card? Plus some of our favourite independent brands and retailers. First up, our bath picks to help your friends and family relax and unwind during these winter months:

“Indulging in a luxurious bath is a proper treat, and it can't get better than our Ascent bath oil. This naturally uplifting and energising bath and shower oil will combat low energy and improve overall wellness. The Ascent oil has the ability to aid calm and was formulated to ease emotions; essential oils such as geranium are known to reduce the feeling of sadness and tension. Soaking in a bath with our botanical bath oils will lead to softer and more radiant skin. After a long, emotional day, this oil has the ability to calm you down and leave your body relaxed and rejuvenated.”

“Calming lavender, cedarwood & ylang-ylang essential oils combine effortlessly in both our Retreat Bath & Shower Oil and Deep Drift Herbal Bath Salts to help you find peace after a testing day. The powerfully potent bath set will soothe your mind and body to whisk you away to that stress-free place you have been dreaming about. The set includes 1 x 100ml Retreat Bath & Shower Oil; 1 x 100g Deep Drift Herbal Bath Salts; and 1 x Organic cotton travel/ gift bag. 

 

“This dream trio of bath salts for your loved ones or for yourself (you deserve it). Featuring three of our favourite potent bath salts – Breathe In Mineral Bath Salts, Ascent Himalayan Bath Salts, and Yoga Om Recovery Bath Salts – the mineral bath salts are specifically formulated to bring balance to busy lives and create a calm sanctuary at home. The perfect gift for your busy friends, mums, and partners.

While you’re at your holiday shopping, don’t forget about our other favourite local indie brands to add to your Christmas lists and gift ideas! We’ve gathered a few of the latest must-have products from brilliant brands to hit your shopping carts this month:

Based out of Leyton in East London, Neighbourhood Botanicals was founded by Micaela Nisbet, a musician who studied Organic Skincare Formulation while touring. The company aims to create its formulas with natural ingredients and cold-pressed plant oils whenever it can, with sustainability at the forefront of its work. The Face Off Oil-To-Milk Cleanser is the company’s bestseller which results in your skin feeling soft and clean quickly. The cleanser is both efficient and gentle – whether it's taking off your makeup from the day or night – and ultimately does not leave you with tight skin, what could be better!

Founded by Alexandra Jansons, Olixia values innovation, sustainability, and being ‘powered by plants’ when creating its products. Jansons desired to start a company after exploring the world and its numerous natural ingredients that people were often familiar with locally, but not worldwide. The Reusable Cotton Pads replace your single-use cotton swabs or makeup wipes in your nighttime skincare routine. Instead, this affordable pack of eight cotton pads and 1 wash bag serves as a more sustainable alternative. A perfect gift for your travel-loving friend or family member as an eco-friendly step to their makeup removal or facial cleanser routine! 

Inspired by the community, Form SE15 is one of our favourite local retailers. It opened at the core of Bellenden Road in Peckham, London. The company embraces young entrepreneurs and sustainability when choosing what products to bring its customers in fashion and lifestyle. While we love everything the store offers, our favorite from their Christmas Gift Guide is The Blasta Henriet Yellow Eye Pillow. It is a weighted eye pillow that can be used hot or cold to take your sleep at night to the next level by relieving dry eyes, migraines, or ear aches. 

Co-founded by fellow media folk, Niko Dafkos and Paul Firmin in London, Earl of East began as a passion project for the pair to sell home fragrance products. What started as offering three candles, has also grown into incense, home mists, and bath and body products. The Soy Wax Candle from the Greenhouse collection – one of our favorite scents, I gift it every Christmas – it smells of summer nights (what we miss so dearly right now), as it’s blended with vine tomato, parsley seed, and basil. 

Support local, independent bookshops this holiday season by purchasing your must-reads from Bookshop, an independent company whose goal is just that and who wants to connect passionate authors and readers. Our Christmas pick this year from Bookshop is "At The Table" by Claire Powell. When reading, I felt like I knew every single character and place, but that could be due to the fact it's based in SE London. It's a brilliant debut by Claire Powell and a super enjoyable gift for your favourite girlfriend or Londoner. Purchase your hardback or paperback copy while they’re on sale!

Founder Ericka Rodriguez began Axiology Beauty when she discovered that all her makeup was being tested on animals. The company focuses on creating buttery, smooth lipsticks that are all clean, vegan, and cruelty-free. Our holiday essential gift of the season is the Cotton Candy Skies, ‘Vegan Multi-Use Balmie Set.’ Complete with three delicate rosy nude tints, perfect for your everyday lip shade or to finish off a soft lip combo for a night out – I understand why it’s a hot item on the site! To top it off, Balmies packaging is completely zero-waste as they’re made from recycled materials.

Doctor A Cosmetics was recently launched by Dr. Anika Walia who combined her passion for science and skincare to create ethical and eco-friendly products, while also placing an emphasis on encouraging diversity and inclusion within the beauty industry. For a truly magnificent all-natural skincare experience this wintertime, gift your mum or favourite girl the Doctor A 24K Gold Royalty Treatment for a ‘glow of the stars!’  The treatment, containing anti-aging properties, will help your skin and complexion look healthier and younger – what more to ask for!