Gift guide · 12 ideas
Self-care gifts for friends under £30
Proper treats for a friend who needs a night off, without spending more than £30.
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A birthday, a thank-you, or a friend who’s had a rough few months: a self-care present says ‘look after yourself’ without being too personal. The trick at this price is finding versions that still work well, rather than gimmicks that break by February.
Most of these come from our top lists, where each was compared with the best of its kind. Follow the link on any of them to see the full shortlist.
Hair straighteners
For the friend who straightens before every night out, with a pouch that makes them easy to take away for the weekend.
Revlon Smoothstay Coconut Oil-Infused Hair Straightener
£20–£30
- Rounded edges for curls
- Dual voltage for travel
- Travel pouch in the box
Ten precise heat settings and coconut-oil ceramic plates with rounded edges, so it curls too, plus a travel pouch. The ceramic is triple-coated and the plates float, so they keep an even grip on each section.
What owners say: Owners like the ten heat choices, how quickly it warms up and the soft, shiny finish, though a few found the plate coating peeling early on.
A closer look: The narrow 25mm plates are good for fringes and shorter hair, and the rounded edges mean no crease lines. Let it cool before it goes in the pouch, and keep it apart from clips and combs in a bag, to look after the coated plates. Dual voltage and the pouch make it an easy holiday straightener.
A hot air brush
Ten minutes of doing her hair properly is a small way to feel more put together, on the mornings a friend needs it most.
BaByliss Flawless Volume Hot Air Brush (38mm)
£20–£30
- Light at 384g
- Three-year guarantee
- Lower-powered 500W motor
Lightweight and easy to handle, with a 38mm titanium-ceramic barrel that smooths and adds volume, two heat settings plus cool, ionic frizz control and a 2.2m swivel cord, all backed by a three-year guarantee.
What owners say: Owners find it light and quick, with smooth results and lift at the roots, but the barrel is too big for some short cuts and a few had one stop working within weeks.
A closer look: It adds most lift when held under a section at the roots for a few seconds, then rolled out to the ends to smooth them. Work from the back of the head forwards, saving the parting and fringe for last, and it makes a good first hot brush for someone who usually air-dries.
A neck and shoulder massager
A proper treat for a friend who carries all their stress in their shoulders.
AERLANG Shiatsu Neck and Shoulder Massager with Heat
£10–£20
- Adjustable hands-free strap
- Overheat protection
A plain, simple shiatsu massager with heat, three speeds and a one-button switch between two directions: the easiest way to find out whether shiatsu suits you. It works on the back, waist and legs as well as the neck, and the cover mixes faux leather with breathable mesh.
What owners say: Owners find it gives welcome relief to tired necks and shoulders, and like the heat, though some call it mild. Reliability, comfort and weight split opinion, with a few units stopping and some finding it a little heavy.
A closer look: Its adjustable strap holds it in place on the lower back or shoulders without needing hands, and two directions give a change of feel. It has to stay plugged in, so it lives by the sofa or comes along in the car on its adapter rather than going cordless.
A massage gun
Whether a friend runs, climbs or sits at a desk all day, something always aches by evening, and this lets them work on it from the sofa.
Zerolia Massage Gun with LCD Touch Screen
£20–£30
- Shows battery left while running
- Quiet, under 35dB
- No carry case
Thirty speeds, ten heads and a touch screen that shows both the speed and the battery left, so it’s simple to work out which heads and speeds suit you. A charge lasts up to six hours.
What owners say: Owners find it eases pain and tension after exercise, with plenty of power, a sturdy build and lots of speed settings, and it isn’t too heavy. Battery life divides them: some get long sessions, others find it drains quickly.
A closer look: Ten heads is more than most people need, so it’s worth starting with the round ball and the flat head and saving the pointed ones for knots. A full charge takes 1.5 to 2 hours, so it can go on the charger after one session and be ready well before the next.
A bubbling foot spa with a pedicure kit
A night in with their feet in a warm soak, then heels and nails tidied: the kind of hour a busy friend rarely gives themselves.
Revlon Pediprep Foot Spa
£20–£30
- Pedicure kit in the box
- Light at 0.86kg
- Splash guard and foot rest
- No heater, so water cools
A bubble spa and pedicure set in one: fill it with hot water, soak on the Accunode massage pad, then swap in the pumice attachment for rough heels or the rolling massager for tired soles. A pedicure kit comes in the box for tidying nails afterwards.
What owners say: Owners say it revives aching feet and is easy and pleasant to use. Water that cools quickly is the common complaint, along with units that stop after a few minutes or overheat after about 20 minutes of use, and bubbles that disappoint some.
A closer look: Soak first so the skin softens, then use the pumice on the heels and do the nails last, as they trim more easily after a soak. The splash guard keeps the water in the bowl while you shift your feet about, and at well under a kilo empty it’s easy to carry to the sink.
A mulberry silk pillowcase
Going to bed on cool, smooth silk turns the end of every day into a small treat, even on the days nothing else goes right.
Ravmix 100% Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
£10–£20
- Heavier 21 momme silk
- Silk on both sides
- Hidden zip keeps pillow in
The silk is 21 momme on both sides, grade 6A mulberry, with a hidden zip at one end so the pillow stays put. The care label allows machine washing, which suits anyone who won’t hand wash.
What owners say: Owners like the colour and the softness against the face, and say it helps stop frizz. A few question whether it’s pure silk, and the size doesn’t suit every pillow.
A closer look: Silk soaks up less than cotton, so night creams stay on the skin rather than in the pillow. Ravmix also says silk keeps you cool in summer and cosy in winter, so there’s no need to swap it for a cotton case when the seasons change.
A beard trimmer
Self-care for a bearded friend mostly means keeping it neat, and this turns the tidy-up into a quick part of the morning.
Panasonic ER-GB37 Wet & Dry Beard Trimmer
£20–£30
- Trims wet or dry
- Slow 8-hour charge
Twenty lengths from 0.5 to 10mm sit on one turn dial, and stainless blades with a 45-degree edge get through thick, coarse hair. It trims wet or dry, at the sink or in the shower, and charges from an ordinary three-pin plug.
What owners say: Owners like how it’s made and how easily the dial changes length. Battery reports are mixed, with some saying it stopped charging after four months. Cutting and durability split owners too: some say it doesn’t cut close enough or broke within a few months.
A closer look: A drain in the head lets water run straight through, so a rinse under the tap after each trim keeps cut hair from building up in the blades. Ten millimetres is the longest setting, which covers stubble and short beards but not a fuller one. Running it over every few days keeps a stubble look even.
A heated throw
At the end of a long week, a friend can curl up under it with a film and properly switch off.
Mia&Coco Heated Throw (120 × 160cm)
£20–£30
- Warms up in 3 minutes
- Ten heat settings
- Long 263cm cord
Dual heating wires warm it in about three minutes and hold it at any of ten levels from about 25°C to 53°C, on a 263cm cord.
What owners say: Owners say it warms in five to ten minutes and stays warm for hours, and like that it’s soft, fleecy and big enough to wrap round you or share.
A closer look: The controller shows the heat level in red and the timer in green, with larger digits, so both can be read at a glance in a dim room. Its buttons sit slightly recessed, which stops a knee or elbow changing the setting while you’re wrapped up.
Self-heating steam eye masks
Each one buys a friend who’s been working too hard a quiet half hour before bed.
ProCIV Lavender Steam Eye Masks (20 pack)
£10–£20
Twenty eye masks that warm up by themselves once unwrapped and hold about 40°C for 30 to 40 minutes, with a light lavender scent. Soft fabric and stretchy ear loops keep each one in place while lying back.
What owners say: Owners say they warm up quickly and stay warm a good while, find the lavender calming and like that the mask stays in place.
A closer look: Open one just before settling down, since the warmth starts as soon as the pack is unsealed. Lying back for the full half hour after a day at a screen gets the most from it, and a few slipped into a washbag make a calming end to a long flight or a hotel stay.
- 20 self-warming masks
- Warm for 30–40 minutes
- Lavender scent
A hand cream trio
A small thank-you that still feels like looking after them: a minute of hand cream is the easiest self-care there is.
Cath Kidston Orange Blossom Hand Cream Trio
Under £10
Three 30ml hand creams in leopard and rose print tubes, with shea butter, cocoa seed butter and vitamin E, and a fresh, fruity orange blossom scent. They’re vegan and come in a printed card box.
What owners say: Owners love the scent and the soft, non-greasy finish and think the set good value, though some find the tubes much smaller than expected.
A closer look: At 30ml, each tube is small enough to go straight into the clear liquids bag for a flight. The scent is fresh rather than heavy, so it suits daytime use at a desk, and the cream sinks in quickly enough to carry on typing or driving. The tubes are made with half recycled plastic.
- 3 × 30ml tubes
- Orange blossom scent
- Vegan and cruelty-free
A yoga mat
For a friend who’d love somewhere comfy for stretching out after a long day. A good mat makes that first session more inviting.
Core Balance TPE Yoga Mat with Alignment Lines
£10–£20
- Non-slip underside grips floors
- Alignment lines marked on top
- Wide at 65cm
Closed-cell TPE that grips on both sides, with laser-etched alignment lines that help place hands and feet, and a 65cm width with room to move. At 6mm it cushions the knees without wobbling in balance poses.
What owners say: Owners find it good quality and grippy on the floor, comfortable, and not so thick that balancing gets hard; they like the size and the colours too.
A closer look: The wave pattern on the underside stops it creeping on wooden and tiled floors, so it doesn’t need a rug beneath it. Rolled up and fastened with its hook-and-loop strap, it makes a tube 65cm long, small enough to stand upright in the corner of a wardrobe between sessions.
A guided journal
After a hard year, a few minutes each night writing down what went right is a gentle habit a friend can keep.
The 6-Minute Diary
£10–£20
A gratitude journal with a few short guided prompts for each day, based on the ideas of positive psychology. It’s an undated A5 hardback with a linen cover, so it can be started on any day of the year, and it’s printed and bound in Germany.
What owners say: Owners find it a simple, easy way to refocus and feel more grateful, and like the starry cover, though some feel it’s expensive for what it is.
A closer look: Leaving it on the bedside table with a pen tucked inside makes the habit far easier to keep than stashing it in a drawer. A missed week just means carrying on from the next page, with no blank dated pages staring back. At 288 pages, it keeps going well past the first few months.
- 288 pages
- Linen-covered A5 hardback
- Undated, start any day
Tips for self-care gifts
- Keep it about rest rather than self-improvement: a foot spa says ‘put your feet up’, while a fitness tracker can feel like a hint.
- Group presents go further: three friends clubbing together could turn £10 each into a heated throw or a foot spa.
- A card saying when to use it, like ‘for Sunday nights’, makes a small present feel planned.
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