Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Do you like receiving toiletries as Christmas presents?

136 replies

katykuns · 23/11/2012 13:00

I am not a fan, but I don't really do the pampering thing...

Anything to avoid?

I am buying for SIL, who has a month old newborn

OP posts:
Startail · 23/11/2012 13:47

Body lotion?

What is it for?

Who has the time?

Bubble bath, Yes
Shower gell Yes
Posh shampoo and Conditioner Yes, I have longish hair, I use loads of conditioner.

Expensive make up, yes and facial moisturiser,

But body lotion Why!

olgaga · 23/11/2012 13:49

Personally I love stuff like this. My sister bought me a lovely Champneys set a few years back and the body lotion was fantastic.

I'd steer clear of bath stuff - I don't ever remember having time for a long luxurious bath until DD was about 7 - years not months! OK slight exaggeration but if she's on her own a lot with the baby there's little chance.

I'd stick to shower, hair, body and definitely some really nice expensive hand cream.

However, I'd point out that charity shops always seem to have lots of toiletry sets that people have obviously received as gifts and discarded.

My thanks to all those who get rid of their unwanted sets to charity shops - my bathroom cupboard is fit to burst with them!

Startail · 23/11/2012 13:49

Hand cream, yes.

But body lotion, you can't put it on your face and it doesn't work as hand cream. It serves no useful purpose what so ever.

Gettheetoanunnery · 23/11/2012 13:50

Body lotion is fab. I started moisturising my body every other day about 6 months ago and have really noticed a difference in my skin now.

olgaga · 23/11/2012 13:50

Maybe it depends how old you are - I don't remember using body lotion much when I was young but now I'm afraid it's essential!

WilsonFrickett · 23/11/2012 13:51

I have a friend who is also very anti-body lotion Startail. Direct quote: its only purpose is to make your skin feel dry when you don't put it on. It's addictive. It's like crack. Crack for skin. Grin

quoteunquote · 23/11/2012 13:52

No, it goes straight to school, for the next fair or to the charity shop.

FireOverBabylon · 23/11/2012 13:53

Are you sure she likes smellies or would you be better getting her a nice dressing gown, to upgrade into when baby's stopped being sick down her current one?

Jins · 23/11/2012 13:53

I'm old and I don't use body lotion. The only time I use moisturiser on my body is when I've been in the sun

Quenelle · 23/11/2012 13:53

If it's one tube of really nice moisturiser or similar, yes please. If it's an overpackaged gift set of bogstandard stuff in miniature bottles, no thank you.

Earthymama · 23/11/2012 13:54

My heart sinks as both DP and I have really sensitive skin. I have psoriasis and my skin erupts just from looking at the packaging!!

I love jams. chutneys, olives, liquers, really nice chocolate.....if the gift set had those I would be delighted!! Wink

AlexanderS · 23/11/2012 13:54

No, as a general rule I end up with things I don't like the smell of.

Jins · 23/11/2012 13:57

How much love goes into the purchase of a three for two gift set from Boots?

Is it a really personal thing? Do you look at it and think 'Oh X would just love that!'?

No is the answer. It's stuff you buy because you have to buy someone a present and you can't think of anything personal.

bondigidum · 23/11/2012 13:59

Depends what it is.

I've been bought horrible floral cheap stuff that basically just went in the bin I may act 85 but I don't wish to smell it. Sounds ungrateful but gosh it was ming.. I've also had 'bath salts' and 'bath bombs' which also go in the bin.. They're useless!

On the other hand I like a nice set like Soap and Glory or a fruity bath set or some nice body butter. Its a tough one though unless you know whether she's more of a fruity or floral person.

They're a practical gift as long as its a fragrance you like.

willyoulistentome · 23/11/2012 14:00

Nah - I'm not a pamperer! Hate stupid smellies. I give them away to the school tombola usually.

MerylStrop · 23/11/2012 14:01

only if it is the brands or fragrances I like
don't like stupid gift sets with bath mits etc and loads of packaging
can you find out what kind of thing she likes first

StaceeJaxx · 23/11/2012 14:03

I used to hate getting toiletries for CHristmas and birthdays. But that was back in the days when I was working and I can afford to buy myself little luxuries like that. Hmm Nowadays I love getting them for CHristmas and birthdays in fact I specifically ask for them (if people ask). I've still got 4 huge tubs of body butter from my birthday in July. Grin

Kundry · 23/11/2012 14:07

Yes - if someone bought me a lovely set of the brands where I'm not allergic to the fragrance and are soap and SLS free so I don't get ezcema from them.

But why would someone know that about me? It took me years to figure out what I could and couldn't use and you wouldn't know i had ezcema but now I use the right stuff, it's really well controlled.

So for me, they are an automatic regift. Which I try to do without the giver knowing but has led to disappointment.

RooneyMara · 23/11/2012 14:08

If it's cheaper things like M&S gift sets or whatever (yes to the ubiquitous pink sponge/fluffy netting thing...why?) then I hate it. I hate the product and the packaging.
Always goes to charity immediately.

If it's something really posh and expensive, I feel bad because it seems to good to use to wash with. My sister sent me some Dr Hauschka a few years ago which is still in its little tin, I don't understand what to do with all these little tubes.

And my lovely friend sent me some Neals Yard bottles a while before that, too - but I couldn't bring myself to use them. It felt so wrongly self indulgent. I gve one to another friend who wasn't well, and eventually used one of them up, but I felt guilty every time. I kept the bottle though as it was pretty.

Soap is soap is soap, really. I buy my own.

nickelbabeuntiladvent · 23/11/2012 14:09

do you not know anything about her?

can you not be a little bit more personal?

if my SIL gave me toiletries, i'd think "gee, thanks, nice to see you think about me" and think that we really need to spend more time together to get to know each other.

spend a bit of time with her now and listen to her!

nickelbabeuntiladvent · 23/11/2012 14:10

I don't like getting toiletries, because i don't use soap/shower gel much. DH ends up using it all.
i would use shampoo and conditioner, but no one ever buys that, do they!

and i use moisturizer, but only nice stuff Wink

MarianForrester · 23/11/2012 14:10

I hate toiletries as gifts as I know what I kind and what I am allergic to, etc.

Jins · 23/11/2012 14:19

It's good to see that Soap and Glory is popular because I always get one of the gift sets and I hate the stuff. I've always felt guilty about regifting it.

I'm liking the benefit/soap and glory confusion upthread Grin

Original poster
katykuns · 23/11/2012 14:29

I am thinking of avoiding buying them for her... mainly because I can see them sitting in a cupboard not getting used while she has rushed showers to look after her lovely little girl. Also, everyone else might get her toiletries and then she will get a complex about her body odour Grin

It's partly why I wish my family would stop buying them for me... it's all I get... including some sets that have actually been used Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
katykuns · 23/11/2012 14:32

This is what I am getting my niece though :)

www.johnlewis.com/Shopping/Product.aspx?Type=SKU&Id=230414744

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread