We have less than a month to go before Christmas! We know the holidays (and holiday shopping) will be a little different this year with social distancing and lots of safety protocols to follow, but whichever way you choose to celebrate the season, we know gifts will always be a great way to cheer up your loved ones especially since we’ve been staying home for most of the year.

Here are a few gift ideas for your best friends that are thoughtful, practical, and an absolute joy to receive.

For the Recently Heartbroken: Monthly Subscriptions

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If you have a friend who’s currently nursing a broken heart (whether it’s from a breakup or the loss of a job or loved one), you can help cheer them up by giving them some kind of distraction from the harsh realities we’re facing right now. After a good chat to check up on them, why not give them a subscription to Netflix or Amazon Prime Video so they can binge on their favorite shows or find new ones to enjoy? You may also consider giving them a few months of subscription boxes to munch on while watching, like Cheese of the Month or a surprise box of Japanese snacks.

For the Workaholic: BelofEYE Kit

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We all have that one friend who’s incredibly dedicated to work, especially now that most of us have transformed our homes into offices. For your workaholic friend, make sure to get the BelofEYE Kit to help them stay looking fresh during those seemingly endless Zoom meetings (most of which could’ve probably been emails).

This newly launched kit curated by Dr. Vicki Belo herself contains two best-sellers from the Belo Shop that will surely get rid of tired eyes and dark circles: FillMed®️ HXR-Eye Cream is dual-action. It addresses and prevents all signs of aging around the eye area using Arg-lys peptides to smoothen fine lines, Hexylresorcinol to lighten dark circles, and Escin to reduce puffiness and eyebags; while the FillMed®️ Eye-Recover Mask uses its signature hydrogel mask to deliver 3-Peptides and Collagen to the eye area, which gives the skin a radiant glow almost instantly.

Each kit contains one (1) FillMed®️ HXR-Eye Cream and two (2) FillMed®️ Eye-Recover Masks for P6,560. 

For the Mom of the Group: Artisan Plates

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We’re pretty sure someone in your group of friends (and even you!) have turned into platitas during the lockdown. Giving them artisanal plates made by renowned local artists like Lanelle Abueva-Fernando and Ugu Bigyan will not just give them gorgeous tableware which they can use every day, but it’s also a great way to support our local artists during the pandemic. It’s a nice way of joining them for a meal (even just in spirit). 

You can purchase online or visit their workshops where some pieces are even on sale.

For the Fit and Fab: ZO® Calming Toner pH Balancer

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If you have that friend who couldn’t go a day without working out, this dual-action toner will be a fantastic addition to their self-care regimen! Formerly known as Balatone, the ZO® Calming Toner works two ways: it uses Witch Hazel extract to reduce pore size and give the skin a smoother look and feel; and it uses their signature blend of Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Allantoin, and Sodium PCA to soothe and hydrate the skin.

Get the ZO® Calming Toner (180ml) for P2,925. (Sweet bonus: Enjoy 10% off on all ZO® products at the Belo Shop until December 29, 2020!)

For the Travel Junkie: Bamboo Face Shield

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If you have that one friend who’s having major travel sepanx, give them the freedom to roam around safely with a locally made bamboo face shield that’s not only protective, but also quite stylish. 

Several groups of farmers from provinces like Cotabato and Nueva Ecija have been working together with a few organizations and cooperatives to bring their handmade bamboo face shields to Metro Manila for as low as P150 each. It’s beautiful and low-waste (since there’s less plastic needed to make it), and your purchase will directly help communities by giving them additional income during the pandemic.

Check out some bamboo face shields here and here. 

Enjoy your holiday season, Belo Beauties. And remember, it’s always better to give than to receive!