The best self-care gifts for 2024

An at-home hair removal device is an incredibly personal gift, but if you know someone that’s had their eye on one of these or struggles with unwanted bodily hair, it could be very well-received. I have nothing against body hair, but every now and then I find myself follicularly frustrated. Hair traps dirt and odors and just generally makes me feel messy, and I have mostly relied on tweezing to get rid of unwanted strands. Compared to alternatives like waxing or threading, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy is a relatively painless and somewhat permanent method that I’ve undergone professionally in the past. Being able to do so at home is both cheaper and more convenient. There are many handheld IPL devices out there, including models from Braun, Ulike and Philips, but I chose Nood because of its relatively low price. And, frankly, its Instagram ads finally got me.

It’s important to note that, due to the way it works, IPL is best for people who are fair-skinned and have dark hair, so if your giftee has light hair or a darker complexion, you should consider something else. I’ve been using my Nood for about 10 weeks as of mid-October, and I can finally say it does seem to work. A high-end machine for salon use is obviously going to be more effective than one that costs $200 that you use at home, so your loved one will need to be patient and consistent with their Nood use to see results. Like my experience with IPL treatments about a dozen years ago, regrowth tends to happen without regular touch ups, so even after the hair has mostly gone, your giftee will still need to flash their areas every once in a while. Compared to having to endure hot wax, ingrown hairs or other skin irritation, though, that might be a small tradeoff. — C.L.