10 Self-Care Gifts Under $50 That We All Deserve After This Insane Year

This is Obsessed: my weekly column devoted to sharing all the things I'm loving right now—from unique food and gift ideas to travel destinations and beauty products—plus some tips and tricks for living your best life.

It's no secret that 2020 has been an absolute dumpster fire of a year. Between the coronavirus pandemic, a hostile political climate, natural disasters and more, it's safe to say that we're all a little more on edge than usual. And since the holidays should be a joyous time, we thought that everyone could use a self-care gift or two. Whether you're buying for your mom, partner, friend or yourself (we won't judge!), these self-care gift ideas will help bring a little zen to the end of your year. 

Slough off dry winter skin with this delicious scrub that comes in flavors like sugar cookie, coconut and peppermint. Each scrub has only a handful of ingredients (like sugar, coconut oil and vitamin E) that leave your skin exfoliated and silky-smooth, not greasy. Plus, it's a small, family-owned business, which we love to support!

If you can't be with a loved one for the holidays this year and want to send them a piece of home, these candles are absolutely perfect. Whether you're looking for a specific country, state or city, Homesick Candles has you covered. I also love their cheeky "memory" candles (I snagged a Book Club one this year, and it smells just like a cozy library!). 

These affirmation cards are such a fun way to start your morning with a little self-love. The deck comes with 50 cards—pull one each morning for powerful messages and fun illustrations of dinosaurs, unicorns and woodland creatures that keep things from feeling too serious. 

This set is the perfect gift to ship to a loved one who desperately needs a trip to the spa, but doesn't want to leave home. It comes with aromatherapy shower steamers and a calming candle for a truly relaxing break.

While wine won't solve your problems, sometimes it's nice to sit down after a long day with a comforting meal and a delicious glass of wine. Two of my favorites I've tried this year are Georges Deboeuf's Pouilly-Fuissé ($30.99 at grapeswine.com) and Martin Ray's pinot noir ($20, Wine.com)

Exercising at home during quarantine can get a little stale, so why not switch things up by giving your recipient some exercise dice? Just roll the dice for a different combo each time. The best part? It comes with a booklet to help with form, and your giftee can choose how many reps they want to do that day.

Taking time each day for self-care is so important—even if it's just a few minutes when you first wake up or before you switch off the lights at night. That's why we love this journal. Each day, you take five minutes to fill out the prompts like your daily affirmations, what you're grateful for and how you could have made the day even better. It'll leave your gift recipient feeling recharged and ready to take on the rest of their day.

Dry skin is no match for soothing honey and shea butter. This fair trade organic, sustainably sourced and hand-made body bar melts all over your skin to lock in moisture. And, as a sweet bonus, 20% of their profits go towards saving the bees! 

Doing laundry is pretty much inevitable, but it doesn't have to feel like a chore. I know it's a bit untraditional, but high-quality laundry detergent is one of my favorite gifts to give and receive—especially when it smells as good as this one! This detergent has no scary chemicals and uses aromatherapy oils for a scent that's woodsy, sweet and a little spicy (aka perfect for winter!).  

Drinking enough water is important for self-care and there are tons of health benefits to staying hydrated! While I'm obsessed with the Hidrate Spark water bottle that glows to remind you when you need to drink more water, it's a little pricey at $60. I was super excited to find this dupe on Amazon that does the exact same thing—except it's half the price. For the exercise enthusiast or chronically dehydrated friend in your life, this is a must-have self-care gift.

Jaime Milan is EatingWell's digital editor for all things newsy and trending. She's always on the hunt for the latest and greatest things to share with EatingWell's readers. In her spare time, you can find her experimenting in the kitchen, tackling home projects with her husband or taking pics of her very photogenic American Eskimo Dog, Grits. Follow her on Instagram at @jaimemmilan.