Self-care gifts for friends, all under £30
Proper treats for a friend who needs a night off, without spending more than £30.
More ideas: Gifts for a female friendGifts for a male friendThank-you gift ideas
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 are the budget and best-value picks from our top lists, so each one has been compared against pricier rivals. Follow the link on any of them to see the full shortlist.
Hair straighteners
££ Mid-range
Ten heat settings and coconut-oil plates for a small price, and the pouch makes them easy to take away for the weekend.
Our pick
8.8/10
Revlon Smoothstay Coconut Oil-Infused Hair Straightener
£29.99 RRP
Narrow 25mm plates with rounded edges, good for fringes and shorter hair, and they curl as well as straighten.
- 10 settings up to 235°C
- 25mm ceramic plates with coconut oil
- Rounded floating plates
- Dual voltage
- Storage pouch
What owners say: Owners call it salon quality, say it heats quickly and leaves hair soft and shiny, and like the travel pouch. It works well on curly hair too.
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A closer look: The narrow 25mm plates are good for fringes and shorter hair, and the rounded edges mean no crease lines. Ten settings let fine hair stay at the gentle end. Dual voltage and the pouch make it an easy holiday straightener.
A hot air brush
££ Mid-range
An easy first hot brush for a friend who usually air-dries: light, quick and gentle, with a long swivel cord.
Our pick
8.6/10
BaByliss Flawless Volume Hot Air Brush (38mm)
££ £15–£40
A 38mm titanium-ceramic barrel with two heat settings plus cool, and a three-year guarantee.
- 38mm titanium-ceramic barrel
- 2 heat settings plus cool
- Ionic frizz control
- 2.2m swivel cord
- 3-year guarantee
What owners say: Owners find it light and easy, with smooth results in minutes and good volume at the roots. They think it’s great value.
Heads up: Some find the barrel too big for shorter hair.
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A closer look: The 2.2m swivel cord means it reaches from a bedroom socket to the mirror without stretching. It adds most lift when held under a section at the roots for a few seconds. A good first hot brush for someone who usually air-dries.
A neck and shoulder massager
££ Mid-range
A heated shiatsu massager at a friendly price: a proper treat for a friend who carries all their stress in their shoulders.
Our pick
8.2/10
AERLANG Shiatsu Neck and Shoulder Massager with Heat
££ £15–£40
Three speeds in two directions, gentle heat and a 15-minute auto-off, with a car adapter too.
- Heat
- 3 speeds, two directions
- 15-minute auto-off
- Flexible strap
- Home and car adapters
What owners say: Owners find it good quality and effective on the neck, shoulders and back after a long day, and like the heat.
Heads up: It has to stay plugged in (there’s no battery).
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A closer look: The adjustable strap holds it in place on the lower back or shoulders without needing hands. Two directions give a change of feel. It suits someone who wants to try a shiatsu massager without spending much.
A massage gun
££ Mid-range
For the friend who runs, climbs or sits at a desk all day. There’s a setting for tired calves and a gentler one for sore shoulders.
Our pick
9.0/10
Zerolia Massage Gun with LCD Touch Screen
££ £15–£40
A touch screen, 30 speeds and 10 heads, and up to six hours per charge.
- 30 speeds
- 10 heads
- LCD touch screen
- Up to 6 hours per charge
- Under 35dB
What owners say: Owners find it good for tight necks, backs and waists. They like the range of speeds and heads, the battery life and the value for money.
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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. The screen shows both the speed and the battery level, so there’s no guessing. A good first massage gun for someone who wants to try one without spending much.
A fold-flat foot spa
££ Mid-range
A warm, bubbly foot soak that folds down to about 9cm, so it suits a small flat or a house share.
Our pick
8.6/10
Beinilai Collapsible Foot Spa with Heater and Bubbles
££ £15–£40
Heats to 42°C and holds it there, with bubbles, massage rollers and a pumice stone.
- Folds to about 9cm
- Heats to 42°C and keeps warm
- Bubbles and vibration
- Rollers and massage bumps
- Pumice stone
What owners say: Owners find it relaxing and love that it folds away to save space. They like the bubbles too.
Heads up: The heater is slow (about 20 minutes to 42°C), so start with warm water.
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A closer look: Filling it with warm water from the tap and letting the heater keep it there works better than waiting for it to heat up. The dust cover keeps it clean when folded. Ideal for a small flat or a student house.
A mulberry silk pillowcase
££ Mid-range
Real mulberry silk at a small price: the kind of little luxury a friend would never buy for themselves.
Our pick
8.8/10
Ravmix 100% Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
£19.99 RRP
Genuine mulberry silk with a zip, in plenty of colours, and it copes with the washing machine.
- 100% mulberry silk
- Standard 50 × 75cm
- Lots of colours
What owners say: Soft and silky, lovely against the face, and helps stop frizz. Colours survive washing.
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A closer look: Arriving in a gift box, it needs little more than a ribbon, though a second one is worth adding so there’s always a fresh case while the other is in the wash. Silk soaks up less than cotton, so night creams stay on the skin rather than in the pillow, and the hidden zip at one end holds the pillow snugly in place.
A beard trimmer
££ Mid-range
For a bearded friend: a self-sharpening trimmer that makes the weekly tidy-up quick, at a sensible price.
Our pick
8.9/10
Philips Beard Trimmer 3000 Series
££ £15–£40
Twenty lengths from stubble to short beard, blades that never need oiling, and a comb that lifts hair into the blade.
- 20 lengths, 0.5–10mm
- Self-sharpening, no oiling
- Lift&Trim comb
- 100% waterproof
- Soft pouch
What owners say: Owners say it’s great quality, easy to use and clean, and worth the money, and like being able to set it anywhere from 0.5 to 10mm.
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A closer look: The rounded blade tips make it gentle on the neck, which is where cheap trimmers usually nick. It charges by USB-A, so it needs a phone plug rather than its own adaptor (none in the box). Ten millimetres is the longest setting, so it suits short beards and stubble.
A heated throw
££ Mid-range
Warmth on demand for cold evenings on the sofa, without anyone touching the thermostat.
Our pick
8.5/10
Seeksoon Heated Throw (130 × 160cm)
£25.26 RRP
Four heat settings and an extra-long cable, so it reaches the chair that’s nowhere near a socket.
- 130 × 160cm
- 4 heat settings
- Extra-long power cord
What owners say: Beautifully soft, heats quickly and great value. Owners say it helps save on heating bills.
Heads up: Only four heat settings, and reliability reviews are more mixed than the top picks.
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A closer look: Drape it over you rather than lying on it, as it’s designed to go on top, not underneath. Unplugged, it still works as an ordinary flannel-and-sherpa blanket, and when it needs washing, detach the controller and cable and use a gentle cycle below 30°C. The digital display stays readable with the lights off, which helps when choosing one of the four timer settings.
Self-heating steam eye masks
££ Mid-range
A box of twenty little spa moments. They warm up by themselves, so they’re perfect for winding down before bed.
Our pick
9.2/10
ProCIV Lavender Steam Eye Masks (20 pack)
£19.99 RRP
Lavender-scented and self-heating, with around half an hour of gentle warmth from each one.
- Self-heating, no microwave
- Stays warm 30–40 mins
- Lavender scent
- 20 masks
What owners say: Warms up quickly, lasts a good while, and the lavender is really calming.
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A closer look: Open one just before settling down, since the warmth starts as soon as the pack is unsealed, and it holds at around 40°C: cosy rather than hot. Twenty masks go a fair way, so a few can be slipped into a washbag for a long flight or a hotel stay, where they make a calming way to wind down.
A hand cream trio
£ Budget
Small, cheerful and always used up. Pop it in with a card, or add it to a bigger present.
Our pick
9.1/10
Cath Kidston Orange Blossom Hand Cream Trio
£8 RRP
Three handbag-size tubes with shea and cocoa butter in a fresh orange blossom scent.
- 3 × 30ml
- Orange blossom scent
- Shea and cocoa butter
- Vegan
What owners say: A lovely scent, soft non-greasy feel and great value.
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A closer look: At 30ml, each tube is small enough to go straight into the clear liquids bag for a flight. The orange blossom scent is fresh rather than heavy, and the tubes come in a mix of leopard and rose prints, made with half recycled plastic and packed in a card box.
A yoga mat
£ Budget
For a friend who keeps meaning to start yoga or stretching at home. A good mat makes that first session more inviting.
Our pick
9.1/10
Core Balance TPE Yoga Mat with Alignment Lines
£ Under £15
Grippy on both sides and 6mm thick, with alignment lines that help beginners place hands and feet.
- 183 × 65cm, 6mm thick
- Closed-cell TPE foam
- Non-slip on both sides
- Alignment lines
What owners say: Good quality with a grippy surface that stays put, and not so thick that balancing gets hard. Owners say it takes the hardness out of the floor.
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A closer look: At 65cm it’s a little wider than most, handy for bigger movements, and 6mm is a good middle ground between cushioning and a steady base for balance poses. Closed-cell foam doesn’t soak up sweat, so a wipe with a damp cloth and time to air-dry is all it needs.
A guided journal
££ Mid-range
A few minutes each morning and evening for gratitude and small wins: self-care that costs nothing to keep up.
Our pick
9.2/10
The 6-Minute Diary
£24.99 RRP
Undated pages with simple daily prompts and weekly questions, in a linen hardback.
- Daily gratitude prompts
- Weekly reflection questions
- Undated, start any time
What owners say: Easy to keep up and genuinely makes a difference. One of the best habits they’ve started.
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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. The A5 linen-covered hardback feels substantial in the hand, and because the pages are undated, a missed week just means carrying on from the next page with no blank days staring back.
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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Try the gift finderBudget guide: £ roughly under £15 · ££ roughly £15–£40 · £££ over £40. Prices vary between retailers and over time.
