It’s *giving* season, so that means it’s time to celebrate the healthcare worker in your life. (That totally could include yourself. We support self-care!) Healthcare Brew rounded up some of our favorite buys for under $100, and we’d love to hear what you think (or what you’re buying for yourself, your primary care provider, or your team).
Loop earplugs: Ear health is going to be the hottest trend in 2024, so get ahead of the curve with a pair of earplugs that look super sleek. Loop earplugs (retailing at $24.95–$59.95) come in an assortment of colors, from matte neutrals to neons reminiscent of jelly shoes from the ’90s, and have a variety of uses. Maybe a chaotic hospital environment can be tamped down with the Quiet plugs, or the Switch model, which offers up to 26-decibel (signal-to-noise ratio) noise reduction, can help with focus during documentation hours. (Loop has a quiz to help you pick out the right model for you.) The brand also offers a 20% discount for medical workers and first responders.
Hotel Lobby candles: Although healthcare workers can’t often wear perfume to work, that doesn’t mean they don’t want their home or office to smell great. Hotel Lobby makes the best-looking candle around with the strongest cold throw, which means you can smell it even when the wick isn’t lit. The 9.75-ounce candles ($56–59) have a 65-hour burn time, making one of these the ultimate relaxation gift. And if you can’t decide on a scent, we recommend Paris Nuit, Linen, and Lodge.
Pickleball kit: Are your residents obsessed with pickleball? This $28 pickleball kit will be a hit with the athletes in your inner work circle. The emergency kit includes all the accessories you’d need to stay safe in the sun, like SPF 30, pain relievers, a hair tie, and some electrolytes, among other essentials. Our dermatologist readers will approve—and may recommend a cool hat, too.
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Chillhouse bath soak: An easy stocking stuffer or gift for the first night of Hanukkah, the bath lover in your life will go wild for Chillhouse bath soaks. For $16, the magnesium-infused bath soaks will melt away tension or let them chill tf out—and better yet, the purchase will support a woman-owned business.
Bala Hot Girl Walk Kit: For the girlie who needs to keep up her strength both inside and outside the hospital. Bala’s Hot Girl Walk Kit ($70–$80) comes with cute scrunchies and a set of one- or two-pound weights (ergo the price difference) to help get her sweat on.
Curaprox Travel Toothbrush Set: Another solid stocking stuffer—or maybe a personal gift for your healthcare worker’s long nights at the hospital. We love the vibrant colors and the peach and apricot-flavored toothpaste. The set ($12.95) will put a smile on any healthcare pro’s face.
Hill House cashmere socks: The best gifts are usually the things someone wouldn’t splurge on for themselves, and these cashmere socks ($78) are the ultimate luxury. Available in light blue and pale pink, they can also be monogrammed in 13 different thread colors for an extra $15.
Fellow Staff [XF] Pour-Over Set: Doctors run on coffee (along with every other medical worker—those long shifts can be brutal!) so consider gifting a sleek pour-over set. It’ll taste a heck of a lot better than that burnt convenience store coffee they get on the way to work. At $99, we’re still a dollar under budget.