Holiday gift guide: 6 presents that give back

When you can give a gift that the recipient will love while also benefiting a great charity, well, that’s twice as nice! From perfectly pink lip glosses to hand-knit, cozy beanies, we’ve rounded up a list of gifts that “give back”—meaning a portion of the proceeds benefit charities.

Here are some gift ideas that will serve a double purpose this holiday season and add extra meaning to your presents.

Pucker up!

The gift: The Pretty Pink Ribbon Lip Gloss Collection by Bobbi Brown, $54 at Nordstrom, is gloss with a cause. The beauty guru on your list can perfect the pink pouty lip with these four shades ranging from a soft sheer to a bright lilac. Wear them alone or top a fave lipstick for a glossy shine. We love the Bobbi Brown line of glosses because they’re enriched with emollients and vitamins C and E to condition and moisturize lips. (Read: No sticky lip glosses).

The charity: With every purchase of the Pretty Pink Ribbon Lip Gloss Collection, Bobbi Brown will donate $12 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Enlighten us

The gift: If you’re still on the hunt for something special for the women in your life, your search is over. The Stella & Dot Enlighten Bracelet, $39 at stelladot.com, is a simple, chic buckle-clasp bracelet in bright leather poppy and gold-plated brass with the words mere, soeur, fille, mother, sister, daughter, mama, schwester, tochter embossed on the inside. (That’s mother, sister and daughter in French, English and German). Perfect for your own little girl or mom, your sister, aunt grandmother or best friend, we suggest buying this beauty in bulk.

The charity: All net proceeds of the bracelet benefit Every Mother Counts, nonprofit dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safe for all mothers. To date, the Stella & Dot Foundation has raised more than $1.6 million towards causes important to our community.

A truly visionary gift

The gift: The future is so bright, you gotta wear shades, right? If you’ve got an outdoors lover or somebody with daring fashion senses, these beatnik-inspired Lobamba sunglasses at TOMS.com, $139, pay homage to the swinging ’60s. This style looks great on those with square or oval face shapes. (TOMS has a great guide that shows which glasses pair best with face shapes).

The charity: TOMS has made a name for itself with it’s One for One program that has given more than 35 million shoes to children in need. With each shoe purchased, a shoe is given. Now, the social entrepreneurs have expanded their One for One program to give the gift of sight. Your TOMS Eyewear purchase helps restore sight to an individual through sight-saving surgery, prescription glasses or medical treatment. The folks at TOMS say that with that restored vision, individuals can return to school or work. So far, TOMS has helped restore sight to more than 250,000 people.

Oh, wine not?

The gift: A chic wine holder, $25 at TOMS.com, dipped in a rich gold paint makes a perfect gift for the holiday host or hostess. The holder is made using solid Mugavu wood sanded down for a seamless finish with a shimmery gold pop of color. Trust us, a good bottle of pinot noir is the best type of tabletop decoration.

The charity: The wine holder is among the gifts in the TOMS Marketplace, a collaboration between TOMS shoes and other social entrepreneurs who believe businesses can be about more than just profits. This wine holder is from Rose & Fitzgerald, which is based in Kampala, Uganda, and collaborates with local artisans to preserve artistic tradition and provide economic opportunities.

Watch this!

The gift: With bright colors and pattern pops, the Quest & Quality watches, $40 at Nordstrom, make for fun accessories. But they also have a hidden superpower: The SmileSolar collection transforms natural light into energy to keep the watch ticking. No batteries needed. These watches make great gifts for eco-conscious individuals on your list since the watches are made entirely out of recycled materials and rely on natural, solar energy.

The charity: Quest & Quality will donate a portion of the proceeds from each sale to Table for Two, an organization that delivers school meals to children in Africa and Asia.

Hats off to this beanie

The gift: This adorable, hand-knit beanie, $29.95 at Nordstrom, comes in blush or indigo blue and is a stylish gift for the mini-fashionistas on your shopping list.

The charity: The beanie from Krochet Kids includes a personally signed label by the woman who made it. The company’s proceeds empower women in Uganda and Peru to rise out of poverty through jobs, education and mentorship.