Welcome to Part 3 of the Evenstar Wellbeing Good Gift Guide your go to for ethical gift ideas!  Gifts that are gorgeous for people and great for planet.
If you missed Part 1 - which covered Toys, Pampering, Candles & Aromatherapy and Pyjamas & Accessories - check it out here!
If you missed Part 2 - which covered Perfume & Cologne, Chocolate & Wine, Socks & Jocks and BYO Accessories (eg. lunchboxes) - check it out here!
On 12 days (of Christmas) during this Festive Season I am sharing with you, on each of my social media channels, my top gift ideas that are gorgeous for people and great for planet - a holistically GOOD gift guide!
I have tried to capture the things that seem to be 'go to' gifts for people that you want to buy something fairly generic for.  Look out for the posts on your favourite social media platform.  The details of what each of my suggestions are, where you can get these products, and most importantly how to access a discount (where available) are here on the Blog.  
Please note, that other than my recommendation for an Evenstar Wellbeing voucher (in #12 Vouchers), I do not have any affiliation with the products or companies I am recommending and get no financial reward for my recommendation.  Where I have personally used a product myself I will give that as my first recommendation, otherwise I am passing on recommendations from other sources in whom I have complete trust and respect. I'd like to acknowledge the wonderful Alexx at Low Tox Life for providing access to the discount codes.

I capture 4 posts of gift ideas per Good Gift Guide Blog.  Part 3 includes: #9 Kitcheny stuff, #10 Soapy stuff, #11 Beauty stuff, and #12 Vouchers

#9 Kitcheny Stuff

Yes of course you can buy these kinds of gifts absolutely everywhere, including your local supermaket.  However, when you think about what you want to have in your own kitchen and that of your loved ones (who presumably cook for you occasionally!) it really isn't cheaply made plastic goods.  The problem with super cheap stuff is that there is ALWAYs a cost somewhere along the production line - in the way the workers are treated, what they are paid, the raw ingredients used, the level of thought put into what the production process is doing to the environment...the list goes on.  Then there are considerations about your own health in regards to what your kitchen and cookware is made from, with scientific research showing health issues stemming from plastics  and heavy metals commonly used. There is some more information specifically about the dangers of plastics on my recent Blog.

My top gift ideas here are:

Solid Teknics

Australian owned and operated, Solid Teknics were the first to produce a one piece, restaurant quality, completely non toxic saucepan and fry pan range.  I recently purchased my first couple of pieces and they are absolutely beautiful to cook with in terms of the even heat and speed.  Plus I am really pleased to know that no longer am I potentially harming myself and my family by cooking with heavy metals such as aluminium, copper and nickel or the super toxic teflon which off-gases all sorts of nasties into our food and the air.  These pieces will become family heirlooms and they are priced accordingly, but what value can you put on your health, really? Receive a complimentary 22cm AUS-ION™ Sauteuse pan valued at $119.95 when you place an order of $499 or more in total value using the code LTLSK2019 before 19th December.

Biome

Biome will become your favourite online (or in store if you're lucky enough to be near a store) ethical and environmentally friendly place for Christmas shopping! Amongst all their other goodies they have a beautiful range of kitchen stuff. Go to Biome online or in store and get 15% off with the code GOLOWTOX15 before 19th December.

Chasseur

Enamelled or plain cast iron is wonderful to cook with and I have invested in a couple of Chasseur pieces in the last couple of years too.  I love the bright colours! The other thing I would say about these products is beware the cheap knock offs on eBay and the like!  Purchase only from the manufacturer or a quality kitchenware retail store or online, such as Peter's of Kensington. If you go to the Chasseur online store they have a range of utensils and stainless steel pots as well:  www.chasseur.com.au

#10 Soapy stuff

Let’s face it a gorgeous gift of something that is going to smell delicious and make your loved one look and feel amazing is always an easy pressie.  The problem is that so many of the skin cleansing products that are on the market these days – yes even the really expensive ones – are packed with chemicals that are hormone disruptive, neurotoxic and/ or petroleum based.  For some more information check out my Blog: On the Nose. There is a lot of 'fake news' out there about antibacterial products especially and many contain chemical that cause irritation to eyes, skin, lungs and the nervous system, not to mention their toxicity to the environment!

So what do I recommend?

Weleda

This Swiss based company, founded by Rudolf Steiner, has been around for almost 100 years and their ethos is based on natural products that do no harm to the earth, remunerating everyone properly – staff, suppliers and partners – and economic sustainability.  Even their packaging is recycled plastic!  I haven’t personally used all their products but what I have used are all amazing.  Shop online at www.weleda.com.au You have access to 15% off before 19th December with the code LOWTOX15 and free shipping over $29.95.

Nourished Life

If Weleda sounds good but you’d like to know what else is around go to Nourished Life online and check out all the amazing brands available, including Weleda.  On Nourished Life you will receive 10% off your first order when you join their club, and it is NOT a spammy 100 emails a week type of club at all, rest assured!!

Dr Bronner

For more than 50 years this US based company, has been producing soapy stuff using traditional methods that are non toxic to people and with great care for the planet.  Even their packaging is recycled plastic!  Their products are widely available in retail stores and you can also shop online at www.drbronner.com.au You have access to 15% off before 19th December with the code GOLOWTOX.

Biome

You can also purchase Dr Bronner through  Biome, and they also have a wide range of other brands of delicious soapy stuff that is all safe for your loved one and the planet.  Shop online or in store. On Biome you can get 15% off with the code GOLOWTOX15 before 19th December.

thankyou.

This Australian based company set out to end world poverty by giving all their profits to those in need.  Their soapy stuff is beautiful to use and is only made with natural plant based ingredients, including their fragrances.  It is widely available everywhere including most supermarkets, but they have some gorgeous gift packs for the festive season if you shop online at: www.thankyou.co/shop

#11 Beauty stuff

Make up, hair products or nail polish are probably a gift for someone that you know at least a little bit, but these smaller items can make wonderful stocking fillers or kris cringes.  The problem with a many cosmetics on the market, especially the cheaper ones, is that they are made with many chemicals that are hormone disruptive, carcinogenic, or petroleum derived and generally dangerous to people and planet. For more information on synthetic fragrances, which are used in many cosmetics, check out my Blog On the Nose. So what can you gift instead?

Weleda

This Swiss based company, founded by Rudolf Steiner, has been around for almost 100 years and their ethos is based on natural products that do no harm to the earth, remunerating everyone properly – staff, suppliers and partners – and economic sustainability.  Even their packaging is recycled plastic!  I absolutely love their coloured lip balms (and the uncoloured ones!) - these are really the only thing I wear on my lips these days.  Shop online at www.weleda.com.au You have access to 15% off before 19th December with the code LOWTOX15 and free shipping over $29.95.

Nourished Life

If Weleda sounds good but you’d like to know what else is around go to Nourished Life online and check out all the amazing brands available, including Weleda.  Some of my favourites are Eye of Horus, Ere Perez, and  Inika. And for the most low tox nail polish you can buy I adore Butter London - the colours are gorgeous and it lasts really well! On Nourished Life you will receive 10% off your first order when you join their club, and it is NOT a spammy 100 emails a week type of club at all, rest assured!!

Dirty Hippie Cosmetics

I recently discovered Dirty Hippie because mascara is something I wear pretty much every day and I was really bothered by the fact that the tubes that it comes in are very difficult to recycle.  Although there are some great organisations like TerraCycle that help out with this problem.  Anyway I found Dirty Hippie mascara, which is in a glass vial with a wooden brush!  I am using it and loving it - very unlikely to ever go back to another brand!  They also have a full range of products that are all handmade, completely ethical and toxin free, to meet all the other beauty needs of your loved ones, and gift vouchers if you can't decide! Shop online at www.dirtyhippiecosmetics.com.au.

Biome

Like Nourished Life,  Biome also have a wide range of gorgeous beauty products that are all safe for your loved one and the planet.  Shop online or in store. On Biome you can get 15% off with the code GOLOWTOX15 before 19th December.

#12 Vouchers

This is it, Day 12!  Saved the easiest to last because a voucher can be seen as a bit of a cop out!  However, I think most people would agree that they'd rather get a voucher and choose something they want or need, instead of something that is really not them!  Don't forget that where there is a discount available it's only until midnight 19th December, so buy now!!  Other than my own vouchers I'm reminding you of the two wonderful 'people and planet friendly' sites where the person you're gifting will have a huge range of types of presents to buy themselves!  Many of the other brands that I have recommended through the last 12 posts would also have vouchers available so feel free to check them out!

Evenstar Wellbeing

I have just released a NEW gift voucher just in time for the festive season!!
This is a voucher for an Express Energy Treatment!  It is an affordable option to give your loved one an energy healing (reiki healing) taster session!  They will get an immersive 30 minute session to enjoy and appreciate the benefits of energy healing.  Perfect for those people who you know would really benefit from this kind of treatment but may be hesitant to give it a go without some nudging!
Sessions are available at any of my studios - Canterbury, Newport or Ocean Grove - or remotely of course.
I also have vouchers available for Aromatherapy Massage and full Relax & Heal sessions.  All my vouchers come as downloadable PDFs and are valid for more than 3 months. Purchase online: www.evenstarwellbeing.com or feel free to contact me directly!

Biome

Biome is surely by now your favourite online (or in store if you're lucky enough to be near a store) ethical and environmentally friendly place for Christmas shopping!  Go to Biome online or in store and get 15% off with the code GOLOWTOX15 before 19th December.

Nourished Life

On Nourished Life you will receive 10% off your first order when you join their club, and it is NOT a spammy 100 emails a week type of club at all, rest assured!!  The 10% off is available any time so you're not limited to pre 19th December on this one!

That's it for the Evenstar Wellbeing Good Gift Guide.  I hope that it has been useful to you!  If it has I'd love to hear from you!  Also if there are other things you'd like me to cover in future please let me know.  Be well, happy and safe this festive season!