Return gifts are more than just tokens, they’re reflections of your values. If you’re someone who believes in conscious living, wellness, and empowering others through thoughtful gestures, this curated list of sustainable return gifts is for you. Each item is budget-friendly (MRP under ₹200), promotes good health or skincare, and is genuinely useful in daily life. I went through an extensive search to make my goodie bag for Navratri sustainable and useful for those who receive it.
🧘♀️ Wellness & Health Boosters
1. Tulsi Seed Balls in Potli Bags 🌱 Eco-friendly and spiritual Helps purify air and boost immunity MRP: ₹270 for 10 pieces (₹27 each) Perfect for nature lovers and home gardeners.
2. Herbal Teas (Single-Serve Packs) 🍵 Detoxifying and calming Choose blends like chamomile, tulsi, or lemongrass MRP: ₹150–₹200 for assorted packs Ideal for self-care routines or morning rituals.
3. Reusable Wheat Straw Cutlery Set 🍴 Lightweight, travel-friendly, and biodegradable Includes fork, spoon, and case MRP: ₹244 Great for office-goers and eco-conscious eaters.
💆♀️ Skincare & Self-Care Treats
4. Mini Aloe Vera Gel Tub 🌿 Hydrating, soothing, and multipurpose Works for face, hair, and sunburn relief MRP: ₹120–₹180 A skincare staple for all seasons.
5. Charcoal Face Wash or Ubtan Combo 🧼 Deep cleansing and gentle exfoliation Combos available under ₹200.
Thoughtful gift for skincare enthusiasts.
6. Lip Care Scrub or Balm (Natural Ingredients) 💋 Coffee, coconut, or strawberry variants Repairs and nourishes dry lips MRP: ₹150–₹200 Compact, cute, and universally loved.
🛍️ Everyday Utility with a Sustainable Twist
7.Plantable Seed Paper Pens ✍️ Write and then grow, how cool is that? Made from recycled paper and embedded with seeds MRP: ₹22–₹25 per pen Great for kids, creatives, and eco-warriors.
8. Jute or Cotton Tote Bags (Mini Size) 👜 Reusable, washable, and stylish Ideal for groceries, books, or lunch MRP: ₹150–₹200 A fashionable nod to sustainability.
9. Rice Husk Coffee Mug (Single Piece) ☕ Durable, microwave-safe, and biodegradable MRP: ₹150–₹200 Perfect for tea lovers and desk dwellers.
🎁 Wrap It Right: Presentation Matters Use recycled kraft paper, fabric wraps, or newspaper with twine for a rustic, eco-chic look. Add a handwritten note or a mini affirmation card to make it personal and empowering. If you have kids, let them show their artistic and calligraphic talents by making notes.
Summer in the Indian subcontinent is synonymous with scorching heat, humidity, and the dire need for breezy, comfortable outfits. In the coming months, we would welcome more sultry weather that we would be drenched in sweat and I cannot even imagine how it is going to be because February and March were so bad. I have already taken out co-ord shorts and kaftans which usually make their entry only in April.
But worry not! Here are five fashion hacks to keep those sweaty bodies cool, chic, and culturally inspired during the sweltry months.
Light layers
Layering might raise eyebrows in this heat or to put it clear it can be counterintuitive, but it is a game-changer. What you can do is opt for linen, cotton, and rayon as they are lighter and can keep you feeling breezy.
Try a cotton tank top under a sheer blouse or a linen shirt over a cotton sundress. The result is a breezy stylist look I bet you will keep repeating.
Swap heavy denim for lighter alternatives
Denim is a wardrobe staple I agree with, but then in sultry weather, I’d trade them for some things like parachute pants, denim shorts or skirts, or lightweight jackets. Because jeans can be suffocating.
Chambray and linen are equally good alternatives.
Breathe easy with breathable footwear
This is a great opportunity to bid goodbye to boots and close-toe shoes and trade them for sandals, flip-flops, and espadrilles.
I gifted myself two pairs for this summer and I can’t wait to wear them out.
And you will be surprised to see that your feet will thank you and it’s time to show off your pedicure.
Shade and style with hats
Hats are not just accessories but most wanted weapons because they are sun shields. You can opt for wide-brimmed ones which will protect your face and neck.
Baseball caps add a vibe whereas if you go in for straw hats, they scream elegance.
Scarves: The versatile summer essential
Scarves are not just for winter. They add a pop of color to your summer outfits.
Just tie them around your neck or make them a headband or even around your handbag for instant styling.
Always keep in mind summer fashion isn’t just thriving in heat but also keeping it stylish. Make sure to embrace these Indian hacks and make your wardrobe sizzle.
In the empire of beauty, luxury transcends mere products because it’s an experience in itself, and let’s term it immersive. From the luxurious packaging to the sensorial textures, these beauty products evoke emotions, elevate your routines, and leave an indelible mark. Here are a few reasons why experiencing luxury beauty products is more than skin deep.
THE ART OF UNBOXING:
Unwrapping the product: I’d compare unboxing a luxury beauty product to opening a treasure chest. The packaging, the layers, and the anticipation are a ritual that heightens the senses.
The intricate details- The embossed logos, and the golden accents transform the unboxing experience into an art form.
SENSORIAL DELIGHTS
Texture: Luxury skincare engages tactile senses. Every touch is a moment of pleasure, from velvety creams to silky serums.
Fragrance: The scent of a luxury product is a journey to the olfactory senses. It lingers on the skin and keeps reminding you of it.
Luxury beauty invites you to slow down, savor the moment and celebrate yourself. Whether it’s a serum or a mask or It could be a perfume, luxury beauty transcends the physical and becomes etched as a memory. So the next time you open the bottle or swatch the lipstick, remember that luxury beauty is an experience and a touch of magic.
The last time you visited the restaurant and your salad has tiny plants on the top , made you wonder what this is?
After taking a small bite, did you feel that you tasted the vegetable or the grain? If yes, you had yourselves a serving of microgreens. Haven’t heard ?
What are microgreens?
Microgreens are vegetable greens which are bigger than sprouts but tiny than baby plants.
Their tiny size can noway be compared to the amazing nutritional benefits they have to offer. Would you believe that they offer more nine times higher nutrients than mature vegetable greens? That’s indeed true. So the next time your given a choice for microgreens or vegetable greens make sure you choose microgreens. But if you can have them both together that’s even better. Microgreens are great addition to any diet.
They are about 1-3 inches tall, but rich in nutrients, aromatic and available in variety of colours and textures.
You needn’t confuse them with sprouts. Sprouts do not have leaves whereas microgreens do. 2-7 days is the grow cycle for sprouts whereas it’s 7-21 days post germination the microgreens are harvested. This is after their first leaves appear.
Microgreens are rich in potassium,zinc, iron , magnesium and copper. They’re also a great source of antioxidants.
They could also help in reducing risk to a number of diseases if included in diets.
Heart diseases – Microgreens contain polyphenols a type of antioxidant that helps reduce risk of heart disease. Studies also prove that they help in lowering LDL or bad cholesterol.
Diabetes – Microgreens help in reducing stress which help in preventing sugar from entering cells . This is in particular study pertaining to fenugreek microgreens.
Types of cancer – microgreens which contains certain type of polyphenols also help in reducing cancer risks.
Alzheimer’s disease – Foods rich in antioxidants which are forms of polyphenols helps in reducing risk to Alzheimer’s disease.
Incorporating into diets
Microgreens can be incorporated into diets by a number of ways. Most common would be to include them with salads to give the crunch and texture. They could also be added to sandwiches, pizza toppings and soups.
They could also be included to juices and smoothies. Wheatgrass is one such example.
Microgreens and sustainability
Crops grown to maturity on large farms use pesticides and chemicals because they need to stay fresh to be transported to long distances. Compared to these crop grown to maturity, microgreens are more sustainable. That degree of sustainability would increase if you use organic seeds to grow them.
Microgreens are not an expensive way of lifestyle or something that needs to be consumed at high end restaurants. People often resort that crops that feed us like rice and corn need to be cultivated rather than microgreens that only is for high end lifestyle. The answer is a simple no. My response for that would be below.
Food production on our planet is happening in abundance. But the problem we face is it’s not at the right place. We seem to lose more of it while harvesting, transporting and processing.
One such industry that brings in a lot of waste would be the food industry as per what I had mentioned above. We do not need more staples we need to make food available from what exists.
They’re space saving compared to their conventionally grown peers which are raised to maturity. Microgreens can be grown indoors or in controlled environments where in the mature crops cannot be grown.
They enable you to increase the amount of space that you put into food production.
Most often when you pick up a salad outside all the ingredients like the vegetables,greens are sourced from long distances. They’re bulkier, heavier and could also lose nutrients on their way to the destination. However, microgreens on the other hand can be just transported as seeds to a local farm and cultivated. They can be consumed fresh immediately after harvest compared to matured grown crops that are transported from long distances. In this way, microgreens help in sustainability.
Mature grown crops are sometimes grown with pesticides, chemicals and there are also those which are grown from GMO . These types grow to give yeh perfect yield but only with the use of specific chemicals or fertilisers that were produced by the companies which created the genetically modified seeds in the first place. Imagine the amount of harm they do to the soil.
You don’t use more of peat containing compost that is non-renewable while cultivating microgreens. They can also be grown hydroponically. So, microgreens don’t harm the soil.
Usage of water is very minimal when it comes to microgreens. On fields or farms you end up watering larger areas where water is lost due to evaporation. Water used to nutrient ratio for the microgreens is very much high.
So if you’re wondering to grow your own produce I’d suggest you start with microgreens.
Why growing microgreens at home is easy ?
They don’t require much of equipment or dependent on time. They can be grown indoors or outdoors. This makes it very easy and convenient.
What do you need to grow microgreens?
High-quality seeds.
Growing medium. This could be a container with soil or growing mats specifically designed for growing microgreens.
Good lighting that could be sunlight or 12-16 hours of UV light.
How to grow?
Fill your container with soil and lightly water it.
Evenly sprinkle seeds on top.
Mist the seeds not generously watering them. Cover with lid.
Keep a check on them daily and mist the seeds. The seeds need to be moist.
After they germinate in a couple of days, remove the lids and expose to light.
Given that they’re easy to grow at home, stating convenience and the ease, they’re an especially cost-effective way to boost nutrient intake without having to purchase large quantities of vegetables.
I’d started including microgreens into my diet thanks to Indian Organiko from Chennai. I enjoyed varieties of microgreens that were freshly harvested and made me indulge in nutrient rich food.
‘This post is part of #CauseAChatter with Blogchatter’.
Some people when you look at them, the immediate thought that strikes up your mind is “my my, how clear is the skin?” . Sit down and think if you have asked this question at least once.
For some people, they are blessed with genes who have clear luminous skin. But if you still want to have that beautiful skin that would make eyeballs roll, you need to make sure the below pointers are what you follow. You need to religiously take good care and simple steps to maintain skin. Glowing skin doesn’t appear in a jiffy. It needs your dedication to keep you devoted to follow that regimen.
Here are five most common habits which people who have good skin follow.
1. Hydration
Drinking enough water to keep hydrated
The key and the foremost habit that you need to cultivate if you aren’t doing. At least two liters of water a day. Drinking plain water is the natural way to flush out toxins. If you still don’t drink enough water, you would probably making way for the toxins to pile up and result in clogged pores. Your skin needs to have proper elasticity, be supple enough and free of any wrinkles. For this, drinking water is the first and easiest habit that you can cultivate. Not only good for your skin and great for your body too. Not drinking enough water makes skin dry and lose its shine. The skin deserves its dose of nutrition every day and no better simple food that giving it enough water.
Therefore hydration is the most easiest and first step to good skin.
2. A goodnight’s sleep
A good sleep
Have you ever wondered why the term is coined as ‘beauty sleep’. The repair process of the body needs sleep to be a most important factor. An essential routine that boosts blood circulation and takes care of skin repair. So make sure you have a goodnight’s sleep and sleep like a baby.
3. Sunscreen or SPFs for the rescue
Applying sunscreen
Photo aging refers to skin damage caused to longer exposure to sunlight and UVA /UVB rays. Invest in a good sunscreen and your skin will thank you later. Fine lines, pigmentation showing up as blemishes are often result of sun exposure leading to premature ageing. So make sure before you take your wallet next time you step out, apply a generous amount of sunscreen on face, neck and other exposed parts of body.
4. CTM- Cleanse, Tone and moisturize
CTM routine
Cleanse– Washing off impurities and thereby unclogging the pores.
Tone – Toner removes last trace of dirt or impurities from skin post face wash. When done regularly you could see a visible difference in skin tightening due to lesser pores.
Moisturize– A gentle way to keep your skin hydrated and not becoming dry. You could avoid using soaps often and go on to opt for a humidifier.
Above in short in known as CTM routine and is predominantly carries out before bedtime. Doing this religiously helps skin heal of any skin related problems and provides a routine for it to run the repair and regeneration process during the night time.
Also one important point to keep in mind is to choose products for CTM according to your skin type. This will not only prove beneficial but also prevent any side effects by using products which don’t suit your skin type.
5. Eating a healthy and a balanced meal
Balanced diet
A proper meal that has all vital nutrients aids a lot of benefits to your body. So when your body feels good, it immediately shows up on your skin. Not only eating nutrient food, eating right food in the right way is what I’d want to suggest. Foods rich in anti-oxidants like oranges, tomatoes and berries provide a lot of skin benefits. These foods help delay skin ageing and improve collagen building. Avoid foods having excess oil, sugar, preservatives and foods that are processed to flaunt that healthy skin.
As mentioned above, these are five most common habits that are followed by people around the world to maintain good skin. The priority or importance is not strictly based on the order that I have mentioned.
Make sure you do a patch test every time you try out a new product. Do not go by blind recommendations. Make sure to check the ingredients and suitability to skin type before purchasing a new skincare product.
If you experience or suffer from a skin problem do not hesitate to reach out to a dermatologist. Do not go by following everyone’s advice. Until and unless they have experience in the field, do not reach out to random people on social media asking for skincare advice.
Not all highly priced products give you good results and those which are priced less result in failures. Keep that in mind and start taking care of your skin.
That Madras Mom 