Often during this wonderful time of year, wellness is less of a priority and heightened consumption upstages efforts to go green. To practice conscious consumerism, consider the eco-friendliness of a potential gift item—what it’s made of, where it came from and how it’s packaged—but remember that gifts that acknowledge the recipient’s needs and interests are the most meaningful and fun to give. For this year’s gift-giving season, Natural Awakenings has gathered thoughtful and practical gift ideas from local businesses to ease the stress of holiday shopping. 


 

For every sale of Lotus Love Beauty products—a line of 100 percent vegan body oils, bath salts and soy candles, handcrafted in small batches—a portion goes to The Shanti Project, a grassroots cooperative that helps support schools, orphanages and health clinics around the world. Giving back to the global community by sharing part of the profits offers customers the opportunity to feel good about their purchase.

$14.95 to $29.95 at the Dreaming Goddess, in Poughkeepsie, NY. For more info, call 845.473.2206 or visit DreamingGoddess.com.

 

Rainbow Consciousness: Meditate Like A Double Rainbow, written and illustrated by Jennifer Llewellyn of Majestic Hudson Lifestyle Boutique, is a personal guide to meditation, energy, chakras and finding your center. The author includes all the suggested sensory enhancements for synchronizing crystal, sound and aromatherapies to heighten the chakra meditation experience and create a template for your individual journey. She also includes an extra bonus: coloring and journal pages. In addition to books on spirituality, Majestic Hudson Lifestyle Boutique carries various wellness items crafted in the Hudson Valley as well as fair-trade imports, including unique gifts, healing crystals, and yoga and meditation tools.

$22.90 at Majestic Hudson Lifestyle Boutique, in Katonah, NY, and online at MajesticHudson.com. For more info, call 845.581.0955.

 

For truly personalized giving, create a holiday gift bag from Angel Aura Spiritual Boutique. Every bag contains clearing sage, palo santo and an abalone shell for smudging. Then the bags can be filled with a choice of sprays (for protection) and crystals (for energy) to suit the giver’s intention and budget. The crystals pictured here are amethyst, to enhance divine connection and release addictions; selenite, to clear negative energies, expand awareness and connect with personal guides and angels; and aventurine, for spiritual healing and good luck, especially with money. Items can be mixed and matched or purchased separately.

$20 and up at Angel Aura Spiritual Boutique, in Pawling, NY. For more info, visit AngelAuraBoutique.com.

 

Make sustainability a holiday centerpiece by using and giving locally made, all-natural soy Recycled Bottle Candles. These striking and innovative candles are hand crafted from liquor, champagne, wine and beer bottles and high-quality soy, which burns long and clean.

$15-$85 at Custom Candle Co in Bedford Hills, NY, and online at CustomCandleCo.com.

 

With product lines including skin care, personal care, hair care, nutrition and makeup, Arbonne International is a green company offering a holistic approach to healthy living, inside and out. Arbonne formulates its products without toxic chemicals so they are pure, safe and beneficial. Its plant-based products are certified vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, non-GMO and kosher. Its trademarked Not Allowed List includes more than 2,000 ingredients that are banned from its formulas. Jill Kay, executive regional vice president and independent consultant for Arbonne, offers a preferred client discount of 20 to 40 percent off for a year, with no monthly minimums or requirements. All products have 45-day money-back guarantee. 

Available at JillKay.Arbonne.com or by email at [email protected].

 

The perfect pillow contains no harmful chemicals and keeps the head aligned with the spine during sleep. The Healthy Choice Pillow does both. Made with an organic cotton pillow cover and organic wool stuffing (and no harmful chemicals), the Healthy Choice Pillow can be adjusted by adding or subtracting the uniquely processed eco-wool stuffing to make it just the right height. Customers will also sleep better knowing their pillows were sourced and handmade in the USA.

$169.99 (queen) or $199.99 (king), at Healthy Choice Organic Mattress stores in Beacon and Mt. Kisco, NY, or online at HCMattress.com. All Healthy Choice Pillows come with free ground shipping. For more info, call 845.440.6019 (Beacon) or 914.241.2467 (Mt. Kisco).

 

Packed with antioxidants, SkinGlow Facial Serum, from OilivingLife, is a must for any anti-aging regimen. Active organic ingredients like prickly pear oil, sea buckthorn oil and chia seed oil fight the effects of free radicals and dehydration by repairing and maintaining healthy skin cells. This serum contains no fillers, just natural and organic ingredients, including essential oils that have been cold pressed or steam distilled. OilivingLife’s artisan products are designed to simplify a daily skincare routine with high-performance ingredients. All products are made in small batches in the USA and certified vegan and cruelty-free by PETA.

$41.99 at OilivingLife.com. E-gift option available at checkout. Free shipping on all orders over $50. For more info, email [email protected] or follow the company on social media @oilivinglife.

 

Synchronicity carries gifts for the mind, body and spirit—anything that has to do with nurturing your soul or enhancing your spiritual journey. The store is especially well known for its large selection of healing gemstone jewelry, designed to balance energy and manifest wellness in the physical and metaphysical energies of the body. Among its most popular items for gift-givers are its mini gemstone bracelets, which pack a lot of power without a big price tag.  

$6 at Synchronicity Healing Center, Brewster, NY. For more info, call 845.363.1765 visit SynchronicityNY.com.