Alexis Jones's Health Editor Black-Owned Gift Ideas
I'm a Health Editor. These Are the Black-Owned Self-Care Products I Love Gifting.
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As a Black woman, finding health and wellness products that are made specifically for you can be a pretty tall order. That's not much of a surprise, though, considering Black-owned businesses in the United States make up just 11.3 percent of all businesses, and only 2.7 percent are employer firms, meaning they employ at least one other person in addition to the owner.
Still, as a health editor, I take note of the founders, brands, products, and authors that are putting the health and wellness of Black folks first. This holiday gift guide is filled with items rooted in intentionality and representation. Here, you'll find products that allow Black women to pour back into themselves and promote better health.
For some of us, that means lighting a candle and throwing a bath bomb in the tub — for which I'd recommend Harlem Candle Co. and Homebody. For others, self-care is scheduling a postpartum support session with Poppy Seed Health. Or maybe it's doing some introspection with the internet's favorite therapist, Nedra Glover Tawwab.
Well, you can shop all of the above with my health-editor approved gift guide. Ahead, find the perfect gift for yourself or a friend for a happier, healthier life.
Best New Mom Gift
The Motherhood Set from Eadem ($153, originally $176)
If you want to gift a mom-to-be something special, shop this set of skin-care products from Eadem. The company was created when the founders, Marie Kouadio Amouzame and Alice Lin Glover, were pregnant or nursing. The two came together, consulting lactation experts to create these melanin-safe products to help treat dark spots, breakouts, and dullness during pregnancy and postpartum. The products are also vegan and cruelty-free, and the set comes with a beautiful hand-woven towel for an added layer of luxury.
Best Gift For the Home
Harlem Candle Co.'s Langston Luxury Candle ($48)
Creating a relaxing space to come home to can be a crucial part of nourishing your mental well-being. And scented candles can be a big part of that. In fact, a Cleveland Clinic and Parade survey of over 2,000 Americans found that 48 percent of respondents felt an improvement in mental health after lighting a candle.
This Langston Hughes-inspired candle from Harlem Candle Co. is a favorite of mine, evoking the creative vision of the Harlem Renaissance legend. Top notes of nutmeg, clove, and leather offer up a bold and alluring scent, while base notes of vanilla and amber feel like a warm hug. This candle will fill your whole house with calm.
Best Mental Health Gift
Poppy Seed Health Membership Gift ($29 and up)
It's takes a village isn't just a saying that applies to childcare, but maternal care, too. Poppy Seed Health gets that. Founder and CEO Simmone Taitt experienced the emotional and mental support gaps in maternal healthcare firsthand after suffering multiple miscarriages, leading her to create Poppy Seed Health.
The resource is designed to connect birthing people to doulas, midwives, and nurses for pregnancy, postpartum, and loss support. You can gift a Poppy Seed Health membership to a friend starting at a one-month subscription ($29) up to a nine-month subscription ($209).
Best Gift For Self-Improvement
Nedra Glover Tawwab is your therapist's favorite therapist. Unafraid to ask the tough questions, the relationship and boundaries expert has gone viral time and time again for offering up nuggets of advice that just hit home.
If you know someone (yourself included!) who needs a little life reset, considering gifting Tawwab's bestseller, "Set Boundaries, Find Peace." In it, Tawwab offers empowering guidance on how to establish healthy boundaries (with partners, friends, family) and express needs clearly without apology — because we all deserve to feel safe, respected, and fulfilled in life.
Best Mood-Boosting Gift
Grounded's 10-in Sansevieria Laurentii ($60)
Don't underestimate the power of a plant. Grounded co-founders Mignon Hemsley and Danuelle Doswell sure don't. These two Washington, D.C., friends and plant moms created an all-in-one plant shop, wellness studio, and cafe to promote mental health amongst the Black community. Grounded is a space, both virtual and IRL, where greenery and self-care go hand in hand. It's a natural fit, considering that research has shown that houseplants can reduce psychological stress.
If you're not sure where to start with plant gifting, this Sansevieria Laurentii, or snake plant, is a great option for newbies. It's adaptable to a variety of light levels, is drought tolerant, and thrives in average indoor settings. "Snake plants represent luck, strength, and resilience. Their adaptability is a reflection of their natural will to survive, despite tough conditions," per Grounded. "More than a symbol of luck, sharing space with a Snake Plant serves as a reminder of our own perseverance."
Best Self-Care Gift
Homebody's Mini Self-Care Kit ($56)
Give your loved one the gift of relaxation with this quartet of comforting CBD bath-bomb powders from Homebody. The company was founded by Rebecca Grammer-Ybarra, a former artisan baker and an accomplished pastry chef whose life was upended following the close of her business, a failed engagement, and a car accident. As she puts it: "Every night while bathing I would ask the Universe to heal me and rebuild me stronger than ever before and I promised in return I would dedicate my life in helping to rebuild others in any way I can." From there, Homebody was created.
This particular brand box offers four powders to promote energy, stress relief, rest, sleep, and improved moods. Plus, the powders are vibrant in color, making bath time both relaxing and fun for adults. Why should the kids have all the fun?
Best Gift For Daily Care
Black Girl Vitamins Vitamin D3 ($25)
This gift is all about necessity. Black people have the highest rates of vitamin D deficiency in the United States. So what better way to improve your bestie's health than by gifting them Black Girl Vitamins? Their vitamin D gummies (peach, mango, and strawberry) have gotten over 4,000 five-star reviews, with users raving about everything from the taste and after effects to the packaging — which is not only recyclable, but features the outline of a Black woman with the cutest afro. Vitamins with a side of style? Yes, please.
Best Gift For Healing
From the founder of Therapy for Black Girls, "Sisterhood Heals" is another transformative book to add to your loved one's collection. In it, Joy Harden Bradford, PhD, explores the power of sisterhood and how to create, nourish, and heal together. Tawwab herself called it "a roadmap for personal growth and improved connections with others, ultimate leading to a more fulfilling and joyful life." This one's perfect for your next book club read.
Best Retail Therapy Gift
BLK + GRN Gift Card ($5 and up)
If you want to get a wellness-focused gift but aren't exactly sure what to buy, opt for a BLK + GRN gift card. Founded by professor of public health Kristian Edwards, DrPH, the Black-owned, all-natural marketplace offers a catalog of products from Black artisans who create natural and toxic-free goods. From skin and hair care to menstrual care and home products, your loved one is sure to find something they need.
Alexis Jones (she/her) is the senior health and fitness editor at PS. In her six years of editorial experience, Alexis has developed passions and areas of expertise around mental health, women's health and fitness, racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare, and chronic conditions. Prior to joining PS, she was the senior editor at Health magazine. Her other bylines can be found at Women's Health, Prevention, Marie Claire, and more.
