Best Health holiday gift guide

Cake “you deserve this” gift set

Canadian beauty company Cake specializes in the kinds of pampering products that make fabulous gifts and stocking stuffers: they’re yummy, they’re pretty and they work great. This gift set comes with both hand and foot cream to counteract the cold winter air.

$29, at cakebeauty.com and select retailers

Nintendo DS

This popular hand-held gaming system is a great pick for kids and adults alike. Games are available for everyone, young to old and male or female, and the device is light and easy to use (and even comes in pink!). Choose from games such as Brain Age, a training program for your brain, or classics like Super Mario Bros. and Tetris, or even pick up exercise-related games like My Weight Loss Coach (comes complete with pedometer) and Let’s Yoga!

$129.99 plus games, available at select retailers

Serengeti Vittoria sunglasses

These stylish shades combine pretty frames with highly functional lenses to keep her eyes healthy. They’re available in a wide range of options to suit every taste.

$190 to $250, at select retailers 

Microsoft Flight Simulator X

If pilot lessons aren’t in the cards, get your flying junkie the next best thing with the latest flight simulator game from Microsoft. With over 80 missions across the world and realistic "living world" conditions, they’ll have a hard time tearing themselves away from the computer.

$49.99, bestbuy.ca

Frog by Thomas Marent

Animal lovers and environmentalists alike will be enthralled by the more than 400 spectacular images in this book by world-renowned nature photographer Thomas Marent.

$33, at bookstores and amazon.ca

Second Cup Cuzco organic and fair trade coffee

A bag of gourmet coffee beans makes a welcome gift for any java lover, and by picking organic and fair trade, you’re making the gift healthier for the recipient and the coffee growers.

$17.50, at Second Cup locations across Canada 

Smashbox Rapture Holiday Lipgloss Set

This clutch of gorgeous hues will be a hit for the friend or sister on your list who can never get enough of lip gloss. Shimmery colours are a rosy nude (Ravishing), soft pink (Lovely), bright pink (Stunning), pink plum (Radiant) and a pink with golden shimmer (Candid). Plus, the set includes a pale nude shade with a touch of iridescence (Illume).

$33, at select retailers 

A subscription to Best Health

Magazine subscriptions are a wonderful gift because they last all year long. Give the gift of Best Health and you’ll be giving her everything she needs to live better and feel great all through 2009. (Browse through our October and November/December issues for a taste of what’s to come.)

Fruits & Passion Foaming Bath

This attractive, holiday-inspired bottle of bubble bath will please any bath-lovers on your list. And even better, a portion of the proceeds from sales of the Grapefruit-Guava Foaming Bath will benefit Habitat for Humanity Canada.

$8.50 with every purchase of $10, Fruits & Passion stores and fruits-passion.com

Breville Café Vénézia espresso machine

Just imagine: hot espresso drinks on a Saturday morning, without having to go out into the cold winter air. Splurge on this espresso maker for the coffee-lover on your gift list and they may even bring you a cappuccino in bed. (And think of all the money you’ll save in the end!)

$299.99, at department stores and select boutiques across Canada 

Life Brand Gourmet Tea Selection

This variety pack of teas—including perennial favourites peppermint and Earl Grey plus more up-to-date flavours like pomegranate blueberry and rooibos orange spice—will fit nicely in a stocking or make a thoughtful gift for a coworker.

$9.99, Shoppers Drug Mart 

The Body Shop Shower Cascade Gift

This collection of five popular skin cleansers plus reusable tray will let you pamper your giftee without overspending. The set includes 60 mL bottles of mango, satsuma and strawberry shower gels and coconut and shea shower cream—perfect for travelling or taking to the gym—and contains four community traded ingredients: organic soya oil from Brazil, shea butter from Ghana, sesame oil from Nicaragua and coconut oil from Samoa.

$20, at The Body Shop locations and thebodyshop.ca 

The Body Shop Shower Cascade Gift

This collection of five popular skin cleansers plus reusable tray will let you pamper your giftee without overspending. The set includes 60 mL bottles of mango, satsuma and strawberry shower gels and coconut and shea shower cream—perfect for travelling or taking to the gym—and contains four community traded ingredients: organic soya oil from Brazil, shea butter from Ghana, sesame oil from Nicaragua and coconut oil from Samoa.

$20, at The Body Shop locations and thebodyshop.ca 

Red Canoe Canada Field Patch Shoulder Bag

Help them show their national pride with this simple and practical shoulder bag, perfect for everyday use.

$30, at select stores and redcanoebrands.com