Eco Collective Gift Guide
This time of year holds some of the sweetest chances to spread love and cheer and tradition. One thing that has been so fun to watch is the growing number of green gift guides and mindful shopping trends going around. People are doing holiday gifting on a smaller scale, with more intentionality and giving experiences instead of things. We’ve even seen some friends do secondhand Christmas. We love to see the love and light that spreads from these wonderful ways of simplifying and reducing waste over the holidays.
The one thing I hear the most from zero wasters around the holidays is that if they’re going to receive a gift, they wish it was something already on their list. I’ve gotten into the habit of asking my friends and family what they want and if I’m being honest, I thought the lack of surprise would take away some of the joy, but it’s actually been the opposite. People have told me that the anticipation of is so much sweeter since it’s something they already know they’ll love.
If you’ve got a friend who loves earth friendly stuff, skincare, making art or living the wellness lifestyle, we want to match you with the perfect present. In our 2021 Gift Guide, you can browse our ideas below for everyone on your list – from the artist and the goal setter to the skincare guru and the zero-waste-curious.
If you’ve got an artist in your life, one of the best gifts is something to fuel their creativity. Whether it’s creative art tools, a sketchbook for their latest medium, or a book full of recipes, we think these picks are sure to delight.
Pen inks – these romantic ink colors take your writing to a whole new level. Emerald for letter writing, deep umber for journaling, pink for your planner.
Sketchbook – pages and pages of possibility. Perfect for painting, sketching, collage or watercolor.
Nail polish – our go-to gift for the on-trend friend. Pair it with our top coat and soy based polish remover to complete the set.
The Plant Based Beauty book – chock full of skincare recipes and wellness elixirs to get that glow from the inside out.
Spice lids – Get crafty! These can be paired with a spice or tea blend, a mason jar full of hot cocoa mix, or used to dispense beads, plant glitter or other craft items.
Washi tape – because everything in life could use a little more whimsy.
The goal setter
For the friend who thinks big, plans all the outings and loves to get up and seize the day, these gifts are meant to organize, inspire and lift them up to chase their dreams.
Planner – nothing rings in the New Year better than a blank planner ready to organize all their plans and goals for 2022. This one is open dated and limited edition…
Highlighter – That’s right, a refillable highlighter! Whether they’re studying for something big, researching something new, or just love to annotate their books and notes, this fountain pen highlighter will bring their work to life.
To do lists – we’ve curated some super cute notepads so they can keep track of their goals and priorities for the day. The to do lists come with an inspiring message and lots of satisfying little checkboxes.
Sleep gummies – the best way to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to go? A subtle sleep supplement that brings you deeper REM sleep and more restorative sleep cycles. Non-dependent and each gummy is one half dose so you can ease into new habits.
Coconut bowls – the perfect minimalist dish for breakfast bowls or overnight oats – quick meals that are easy to prep in advance, pop into a bowl and start the morning strong.
The skincare guru
Is your bestie big into skincare? Here’s some low waste bath and body rituals they’re sure to love – with some big health benefits on the side.
Dry brush – let us turn you onto something. This exfoliating skincare tool is an absolute game changer. Use once a week to boost circulation and bring out clear and radiant skin for a healthy glow.
After Cry – our signature plumping eye cream with hyaluronic acid. Cooling and soothing after a travel day, a late night, or… a good cry 😉 Pump, apply gently, and watch the clouds part.
Face soap in a bar – it is so hard to find facial cleanser zero waste, so a few years ago we worked with a local soap maker to distill it down to some powerful plant based ingredients in a solid bar form. There’s one formulated for every skin type and they’ve always been a staple in our routine.
Shower Thoughts – Don’t you have your best ideas in the shower? Get lost in the fields with this lavender scented shower gel meant to offer a moment of relaxation and inspiration.
Micellar water – so, so rare to find micellar water in anything other than a plastic bottle. That’s why we bottled this classic refreshing makeup remover in a recyclable aluminum bottle with a misting spray top.
Rosehip seed oil – we swear by this rich golden oil as a blemish treatment. Good for dry, oily, or acne prone skin, it increases cell turnover, stimulates collagen and has a brightening effect.
Face mask – we still have some of these limited edition clay masks made from gentle, nourishing and powerful clay masks that draw out impurities and offer a fresh start. One for each skin type!
The zero waster
Shopping for the environmentalist is a breeze here at Eco, but we made a list of our top picks to surprise and intrigue. Especially if they’ve already made their first few zero waste swaps.
Shampoo bar – it’s notoriously hard to find a good one, and we went through a ton of testing to find these creamy shampoo and conditioner bars filled with hair oils and seed butters to condition and add shine and volume. We offer a clarifying set for straight and wavy locks and a conditioning set for curly hair.
Dew Mighty – a solid serum! This award winning formula is activated by the warmth of your skin, this serum glides on and gives you clear, hydrated, glowing skin. Sure to wow your friends.
Fountain pen – a classic and versatile gift, these fountain pens come in cheeky fruit inspired colors. Make it a set with a colorful inkwell and a converter to render it refillable for pages to come.
Alum stone – this crystal deodorant has a bit of a cult following. It’s basically a salt dome that works by creating a layer of mineral salt to ward off odor. A super fun gift for someone who’s into zero waste.
Safety razor – Old fashioned and sleek, this gift is totally gender neutral and reusable for years and years. Ours comes with a QR code on the box that will show them the ropes of how to use it for the first time!
Nut milk filter – A cotton nut milk filter that can be used to make juices, coffee creamer or nut milk. Simply blend, squeeze through the filter and enjoy!
Curls queen
The gift of a good hair day! Here’s a few of our favorite hair accessories and treatments your curly friend will adore.
Conditioner bar – the absolute jackpot of conditioner bars, this one is rich in conditioning oils that do wonders for curls. The reviews speak for themselves!
Argan oil – liquid gold for curly hair. Can be used as a hair mask, a leave-in conditioner or to de-frizz the ends. Mix and match this with other hair treatments to make a set.
Biodegradable hair ties – we only have a few of these left, but they are all organic material (100% biodegradable) and super durable. For the friend who loves to style their hair. Also good for doing protective hair styles at night.
Dry shampoo – a quick refresh on a lazy day. Pair this with a mason jar spice lid for a cute gift. Add a few essential oils to customize!
Protein hair mask – this is one of my personal favorites. It refreshes dull and flat hair days and brings out lively curls with shape and volume.