Your favorite market has personal care gifts that are as varied as the needs and preferences of those on your shopping list.

Gifts From Nature
Bath oils. Great for massage, in the tub, or as an all-over body softener, plant oils help keep skin soft and smooth. “Nutrient-rich oils such as macadamia nut, sesame seed, sunflower, extra-virgin olive, and avocado are rich in omega fatty acids and can easily penetrate the skin’s tissues and aid in prevention of moisture loss,” says esthetician Stephanie Tourles.

Oils work best when applied to damp skin, as they help seal in moisture and prevent water evaporation from the body. Tourles suggests using one to three teaspoons of oil per bath or smoothing it onto the skin immediately after showering.

Bath salts. “Soaking in mineral-rich waters has a long history of therapeutic use all around the world,” explains Tom Havran, aromatherapy specialist at Aura Cacia. “Adding bath salts to a tubful of warm water increases the mineral content in the bath, aiding in the detoxification process.” Bathing in warm water opens pores in the skin, while minerals from the salt help pull fluid and toxins from body tissue.

A soak with Epsom salts can help relieve muscle strain and tension. “Sea salt and Epsom salt alike help to draw out lactic acid buildup in your muscles following a strenuous workout,” adds Tourles. Soaking for 20 to 30 minutes in a baking soda bath can be useful. “Baking soda acts as a water softener, leaving the skin very soft and silky. It relieves itching from rashes and general dry skin,” she explains.

Soaps. These make great stocking stuffers—even those manly men need to get clean! Giving a rich, natural soap goes a long way in preventing dry skin. Look for products formulated with humectants like vegetable glycerin, which attract and hold moisture in the skin.

“Natural soaps made with ingredients like olive oil, glycerin, and shea butter are less drying than detergent-based conventional soaps because they do not strip skin of its natural protective oils,” notes Tourles. “Natural plant oils also have moisturizing properties that help to nourish skin and prevent dryness.”

Thoughtful Giving
To promote real indulgence, create or purchase gift bags that include everything to keep the body beautiful. Combining beauty products like bath salts, massage tools, body lotions, soaps, scrubs, and oils makes it easy to pamper the entire body.

You may choose to assemble a manicure or pedicure gift bag. Foot care kits with foot massagers, socks, pumice stones, soaks, files, scrubs, and creams make caring for feet a relaxing indulgence. Or put together a repair kit with everything needed to soothe damaged hands and nails: nail brushes, filing blocks, hand and cuticle creams, even soft cotton gloves to wear to bed at night.