Your loved ones deserve to be treated — especially after the year we’ve had. It pays to give an exquisite gift that will either stand the test of time as a treasured piece or provide a premium experience to someone who’s earned that special treatment.
Here are some timeless, enduring, quality, and luxurious gift ideas that are worth the splurge this holiday season.
LOA SKIN
Loa Skin. SuppliedLoa Skin offers a new approach to beauty.
Born out of the need to empower people from all walks of life to overcome their skin adversity and claim their natural beauty, Loa Skin created the Botanical Beauty Elixir, a product that simplifies skin care without sacrificing the rejuvenating experience of self care.
The Botanical Beauty Elixir is a daily multi-functional and multi-correctional serum and moisturizer in one.
Luxuriously lightweight, this hybrid elixir is both multi-correctional and multi-functional — replacing both your serum and your moisturizer in your daily beauty routine — for glowing, clear skin accompanied by long-lasting hydration.
The elixir is supercharged with Loa Skin’s in-house infusion of 15 powerful botanicals — including calendula and echinacea — which reduces irritation, breakouts, and redness. It’s also extremely rich in omega-3 and 6 essential fatty acids — critical for repairing the skin's moisture barrier, maintaining hydration, and preventing dry skin.
Hand-illustrated botanicals screen printed with white and gold inks add a sophisticated touch to the look of the UV-resistant matte bottle.
Loa Skin is all about clean, green, and vegan beauty, committing to being non-toxic, cruelty-free, and palm oil-free.
Treat your giftee to luxurious self-care through skin care. Visit loaskin.com for more info.
ANSCEL DESIGNS
Grande Mystique. Photo: Anscel Designs.
A handbag is a luxury piece that always stays in style, making them ideal investment pieces and wonderful gifts for your fashion-forward friends.
Independently designed in Canada and stitched with the highest standards, Anscel Designs specializes in timeless, functional, and high-quality leather and Terra-fabric handbags that are comparable to the high-end designer brands while at an affordable price point.
One of Anscel’s most popular designs is the Grande Mystique, a larger version of their original Mystique design. This messenger-style quilted black leather purse has a silvery-black chain on both the top handle and crossbody strap, as well as a magnetic enclosure on the flap. The horizontal stripe pattern was inspired by traditional Korean artistry, but with a modern and elegant twist. Classic and sturdy, Grande Mystique is large enough to hold an iPad, phone, wallet, and other essentials.
The Willow, a Terra-fabric, black canvas tote bag with leather straps and finished with gold-colour plated hardware, is THE bag for when you want to look good and be practical at the same time. Roomy and flexible on the inside, and pristine and professional on the outside, this versatile tote can be used at the office and during a night out on the town. As a leather alternative, Terra-fabric is made of a hemp-based, coated canvas from Italy, making it a light, durable material that rivals the look and longevity of leather.
For more info, visit anscel.com.
WEDGEWOOD HOTEL & SPA
Photo: Wedgewood Hotel & Spa.
As 2020 finally winds down, the most coveted gift to receive is a luxurious experience in which one can truly unwind, relax, and rejuvenate.
Give the gift of a winter staycation at the exquisite Wedgewood Hotel & Spa, a boutique property located right in the heart of downtown Vancouver. During their stay, locals can enjoy all of the perks of a getaway — from a blissful and relaxing massage at the Spa to penthouse views — without even leaving the city.
This season, Wedgewood is offering customizable gift certificates and gift cards for use for hotel stays, spa services and products, and fine dining at Bacchus Restaurant. Whether you want to treat your parents to a local retreat or reward your employees in lieu of your company holiday party, this present is perfect for anyone in your life who deserves to be pampered.
To order a gift certificate or gift card, visit wedgewoodhotel.com.
CLEAN ORIGIN
Photo: Clean Origin.
As a symbol of love and the jewelry lover’s best friend, diamonds are a timeless and gorgeous gemstone to give to that special someone in your life.
Clean Origin’s 100% lab grown diamonds make for classic gifts with ethical origins. With an environmentally-conscious approach, 100% of their diamonds are 100% ethical, giving shoppers peace of mind in purchasing diamonds with pure beginnings that can be worn with pride and love.
Their ready-to-ship diamond stud earrings are a tried-and-true choice for Christmas gifts that will dazzle and delight. Available in 14k white and yellow gold, with 3 or 4 prong settings in the most popular total weights — ¾ CT, 1 CT, 1 1/2 CT, and 2 CT — there is a size and style for everyone.
Not to mention, each pair comes with a certificate from the International Gemological Society with a minimum color grad of I/J and a minimum diamond clarity grade of SI1/VS2.
Now with expanded sales throughout Canada, these studs ship within one business day, and all orders are covered under their generous 100 day return policy for ultimate customer satisfaction.
For more info, visit cleanorigin.com.
TOMMASI AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO DOCG
Photo: International Cellars.
From Italy’s famed Tommasi family comes the godfather of all Italian wines: Amarone della Valpolicella Classico.
Produced through a unique process called appassimento, and aged a minimum of four years before release, the final product is one of Italy’s finest and most age-worthy wines — and also B.C.’s best-selling Amarone!
With rich black fruits, spices, and notes of mocha layered on a medium-bodied palate, this wine is elegant yet powerful with a long finish. Enjoy on its own or with rich, savory holiday meals such as roast beef and slow cooked meats.
The superb Tommasi Amarone is the perfect gift for the wine lover on your list — or you can treat yourself too and enjoy it with company over great conversation.
Pick up a bottle of Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico with $4 off at BC Liquor stores throughout December – retailing at $57.99.
Visit bcliquorstores.com for store availability and to learn more.
SPIRIT BEAR HERITAGE SWEATER
Photo: Vancouver Is Awesome x Granted Sweater Co.
Produced through a collaboration between Vancouver Is Awesome and Granted Sweater Co., the Spirit Bear Heritage Sweater celebrates a true B.C. icon — the Spirit Bear.
The yin and yang on the back of the sweater features B.C.’s official mammal — a white Kermode (Spirit) Bear, along with its Black Bear sibling. The rare Kermode was instrumental in saving the Great Bear Rainforest from logging in the early 1990s.
There are two versions of the heritage sweater, available in grey tones or earth tones. Made of 100% pure new wool sourced in Canada, these unique, high-quality garments are hand knitted by skilled Vancouver artisans and take anywhere from 20-25 hours to make — and will literally provide you with a lifetime of coziness.
There are currently only 200-400 Spirit bears alive today, and partial proceeds from the sale of this sweater will go towards ensuring their long-term survival. 10% of the profits will benefit Pacific Wild, a charity which works to protect wildlife and their habitat in the Great Bear Rainforest.
To order a sweater, visit bcisawesome.com.
