Hostess gifts can be tough.  I always look for something special, something that someone wouldn’t necessarily purchase for themselves.  The packaging must be beautiful, and I honestly prefer to pick up brands and products that are a little more obscure.  And, obviously, I prefer to give nontoxic goodies that I’ve tried myself and have loved.

Sangre de Fruta is a new product line, but it immediately brings to mind ancient apothecary of full of sacred preparations, similar to Santa Maria Novella, but better – it’s Clean!   Inspired by ancient beauty regimens of the Egyptians and Greeks, and made in small batches with the seeds of fruit, butter of nuts, the essence of flowers and resin of trees, Sangre de Fruta’s formulas look, feel and smell old-world and truly special.  I’ve been loving the Egyptian Chamomile Botanical Tonic and Chamomile & Anise Botanical Body Cream before bed.  I spray the tonic on my face, neck and chest – and even on my pillow, and immediately feel the relaxation set in.  (Egyptian Blue Chamomile calms and relaxes the nervous system and soothes dry, irritated skin).  Then I apply the Botanical Body Cream, which has a whipped-butter-consistency that is to die for.  In the jar, it is light and fluffy, but it turns into a light, easily absorbed oil on the skin.  It’s pure luxury.  I love the Chamomile & Anise at bedtime, but during the day, I’ve been wearing Rose No. 1.  I’m not sure I’ve ever smelled a “truer” rose fragrance; it’s unbelievable.  Another product that has impressed me is the Persephone Flower Nectar Face Oil (and most of you know that I’m hard to impress when it comes to face oils).  Persephone, the goddess of Spring, Flowers and Vegetation inspired this rejuvenating, cleansing blend. It was made for those with sensitive skin who react badly to heavier oils, and works great for those who have oily, acne-prone skin, like me.  Sage Dalmation, Petitgrain, English Lavender, Frankincense, Carrot Seed, Blue Chamomile have cleansing and balancing properties, and the oil absorbs on contact.  Save 15% on all of Sangre de Fruta’s sacred goodness with code BAREYOURBEAUTY.

I love the luxe, androgynous minimalism of J.M. Generals X Ayla Gift Set.    Jeffrey Monteiro, former design director for Mayle, Derek Lam, Tod’s, and Bill Blass, wanted to try something a little different.  He developed a goat’s milk-based body care collection that’s not even close to hippie-dippy.  In fact, it’s downright sophisticated.  The scent was was custom-developed for Ayla Beauty, and it’s both gorgeous and relaxing (Orange, Cardamom, Petitgrain and Bergamot).  However, it won’t linger or interfere with your favorite perfume, which also makes it perfectly unisex.  The Castile Organic Goat’s Milk Soap is made of just three ingredients: raw, organic goat’s milk from a family-run dairy farm in Pennsylvania, olive oil and lye.  This hand-crafted bar takes 6-8 weeks to make, and it is positively the creamiest, most moisturizing lather you will ever get out of a bar soap.  The Goat’s Milk Liquid Soap & Shower Gel is made of goat’s milk, olive oil, castor seed oil, coconut oil, and vegetable glycerin, so it’s great for sensitive skin.  The Organic Goat’s Milk Body Cream is packed with deeply nourishing ingredients, including raw, organic fresh goat’s milk; organic aloe juice; organic shea and cocoa butters; organic hemp seed and jojoba oils; and extracts of olive leaf, African red bush, ginkgo biloba and green and white teas, which provide antioxidant and anti-aging benefits.  The texture is rich, but it leaves skin silky smooth, (not greasy) and it’s incredibly soothing.

Ellis Brooklyn is pure, indulgent luxury.  When New York Times beauty columnist Bee Shapiro became pregnant with her first child, she was frustrated with the lack of nontoxic luxury fragrance available.  She set out to create complex, sophisticated fragrances with renowned perfumer Jerome Epinette, and she nailed it.  My favorite is The Body Milk in Fable; as Bee puts it, “Set in the forests of Arcadia, this elegant orange blossom scent is roused by the first meeting of Androcles and the Lion. The gorgeous initial bloom plays with dewy violet, petitgrain and honeysuckle before being rounded by the warmth of crisp amber and cedarwood. The moral of the famous Aesop fable is kindness—Androcles removes a thorn from the lion’s paw—a notion as lovely as the fragrance.”  It’s really that good…  Fable is a chic, spicy, complex floral; I can’t stop smelling my arms when I wear it.  The paraben and phthalate-free formula is blended with rosehip, meadowfoam, and camellia oils, and it sinks right into skin, leaving it soft, but not at all oily.  An added bonus: The fragrance in these body milks last much longer than most natural fragrance oils or sprays.   The Fable Scented Candle is also phthalate-free, of course, and the natural fragrance is mixed into soy wax with a hemp wick.  When this scent wafts through the air, life is beautiful.  Ellis Brooklyn’s packaging is also sustainable, chic and unique.  (I’m so tired of Diptyque and its knock-offs, aren’t you?).

On another note, today was the first day of school for Annabel, (it starts so much earlier in the South!) and I just cannot believe how grown-up she seems.  I’m so proud of her; she doesn’t even look back when running off to school, and she comes home so happy….  Although, it would be nice if she was maybe even a little sad to leave my side….  Tear…..

What is your favorite hostess gift to give?

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