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Can you feel it? The gentleness and sensitivity in the air? Cancer season is here. I’m privy to this Water sign: if you’re lucky enough to have a Cancer in your life, you know just how deserving they are of pampering and gifting for their birthday month. Cancers are natural-born (cosmically-ordained) caregivers – often to their own detriment. Give them the love they so freely give to others for their birthday with the help of this expertly curated gift guide (if I do say so myself).
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Sprinkle Their Home With Sugar, Spice, And Everything Nice
Cancers are known homemakers of the Zodiac. Indulge their hygge inclinations with all of the trappings of a cozy and serene home year-round. Here’s a smattering of my picks, tailor-made for a Cancer’s taste: a candle (or two) from Le Feu De L’Eau’s Garden Collection, made in partnership with Edible Gardens LA – go with the Cardamom or Citrus Geranium ($60) and thank me later. A throw from LA-based Bien Mal (they’re all perfect, you can’t go wrong). A vase, pitcher, or color-blocked martini glasses from glass artist Sophie Lou Jacobsen, all of which double as permanent pieces of art to liven up any tablescape and countertop (from $100). Tekla’s 100% linen kitchen towels ($38) crafted in Portugal that wield the power to make doing the dishes feel like a luxury. Lastly, Comme Si’s trio of Cashmere Socks ($230), because you should give the gift you most want to receive (Karmic logic).
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Prescribe Some Mandatory Self-Care With At-Home Spa Essentials
Because they’re almost always the caregivers in any social circle or relationship, Cancers need (and deserve) some TLC for their special day. Gift them selfmade’s multi-purpose Self Disclosure Intimacy Serum ($28), designed to be used both as a personal lubricant and entire-body moisturizer. Yes, really. Formulated with safflower seed oil, vitamin E, grapefruit peel oil, schisandra berry, and arnica, the Serum is full of nourishing ingredients that soothe and calm the skin, while simultaneously promoting a radiant glow. selfmade describes this as a “no shame permission slip for personal pleasure” – the perfect prescription for the Cancer you adore.
Why stop at an all-purpose moisturizer? Let’s make that bathroom a spa, right? Hit them with OSEA’s Vagus Nerve Trio ($110), a super-set of Bath Oil, therapeutic Nerve Oil, and Pillow Mist engineered to activate the calming response of the Vagus Nerve. The Cancer in your life likely doesn’t accumulate products senselessly, and instead considers the quality and necessity of every purchase. Gift them Soft Services’ Smoothing Set ($102), complete with the brand’s best-selling physical exfoliant, chemical exfoliant, and daily maintenance lotion, for a gift that pampers with a palpable effect. The gifts of a balanced nervous system and their smoothest skin yet? Priceless…
For The Culinary Cancer, from $26
In addition to being natural homemakers, Cancers are usually excellent cooks. Whether they’re throwing a party or dinner for two, they’re experts at whipping up nourishing meals to express affection and care for the people they love. Upgrade their pantry with ingredients and materials that will make every moment in the kitchen feel like a treat. west~bourne’s House Pie Set ($50) for the baker and Better Together bundle ($26) for the snacker (featuring the brand’s totally addictive Togarashi Crunch). Brightland’s Luminous Capsule – because what better way to celebrate their birthday and welcome in light, bright Summer cuisine? Ghia’s delicious Aperitif for all varietals of cocktails and spritzes, boozy or not. A kit from The Caker – good luck picking just one flavor – because it’s their birthday. Duh.
Radiant Health From The Inside Out, from $76
Go the extra self-care mile with some tools from WTHN and Elix, two brands dedicated to bringing Traditional Chinese Medicine into your daily life, for a wellness routine that can actually tend to your Cancer’s everyday health and well-being. To ease long work days in front of a screen, send them The Acupressure Bundle ($100), complete with a mat that can target full body aches and tension, and an Ear Seed kit to treat everything from PMS to digestive troubles. For the Cancer who gets more excited about a facial than an acupuncture treatment, send the luxurious Glow Boost Bundle ($100), which includes an herbal supplement for radiant skin, a facial cupping kit, and a botanical oil from Indie Lee. Lastly, Elix Healing’s TCM Self Love Bundle ($76) combines Mount Lai’s Jade Gua Sha tools with the brand’s Daily Harmony Tincture to reduce stress and anxiety, supporting whole-body healing on a daily basis.
And if your Cancer is based in New York, get them hooked with a gift card to book an in-person acupuncture and cupping session.
Adorn Them With The Finest Jewels, from $85
My mother and best friend are both Cancers; by process of trial-and-error, I’m very familiar with the jewelry preferences of these wonderful, intuitive water signs. Pick out something elegant, timeless, and one-of-a-kind, and they’ll never take it off:
- Splurge on a White Sapphire necklace from Dorsey for the Cancer you really love ($550).
- Eliou’s delicate freshwater pearl pieces, handmade in Miami ($200).
- A custom charm necklace, bracelet, or pair of earrings from Susan Alexandra – for the gifter who plans two weeks ahead of the birthday (from $68).
Get to gifting – and I’ll meet you back here next month to coach you through the process of pleasing a Leo.