Tricky in-laws are hard to handle at the best of times, but at Christmas, with its frenetic family gatherings and sky-high stress levels, normal relations can go out the window. If you’re psyching yourself up to spend extended periods of time with your extended family, or any tricky acquaintances for that matter, we’ve curated an edit of essential items to see you through.
Counter with kindness
If you know your stay is likely to be fraught – laden with unwanted “advice” or backhanded compliments – then you’ll need to do a little damage control as soon as you arrive. Nothing sweetens the mood more than a lovely gift, and nothing tops Jo Malone London at this time of year. Its Ginger Biscuit scented candle smells as gorgeous as it looks and is suitably festive. If the situation calls for some serious sucking up, try a deluxe version of the brand’s iconic Pomegranate Noir scented candle, which is super cosy, and captivating enough to diffuse any tension.
Jo Malone London Gingerbread Biscuit Home Candle
£59
Jo Malone London
Jo Malone London Pomegranate Noir Luxury Candle
£370
Jo Malone London
Stress less
If the idea of spending the festive season with those you’d rather avoid is already taking its toll, consider some pre-emptive stress relief, especially as anxiety can show up on the skin in myriad ways, from breakouts and redness to dullness and dryness. Reduce the likelihood of unwelcome skin afflictions later by getting into a good skincare rhythm now. Implementing a thorough cleansing routine with something like Sarah Chapman’s Skinesis Ultimate Cleanse is a wise move (done thoroughly it will also extend your self-care routine by a few precious minutes), as is keeping your skin’s hydration levels topped up with a glow-giving mist like Tatcha’s Luminous Dewy Skin Mist. If you do experience discomfort and skin that needs instant soothing, a layer of Ren’s Evercalm Overnight Recovery Balm is a godsend.
Sarah Chapman Skinesis Ultimate Cleanse
£40.50
Look Fantastic
Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist
£48
Space NK
Ren Evercalm Overnight Recovery Balm
£20
Look Fantastic
Set yourself up for sleep
Sleeping in a strange bed can be discombobulating, and if you’re not getting good quality shut-eye you’re even less likely to be able to handle painful small talk. Negate any tossing and turning with a portable calm kit in the shape of Drowsy’s Deep Sleep Collection, which features a luxe padded sleep mask to block out any jarring light, as well as an SOS Sleep Spray to speed your journey towards restorative slumber.
Drowsy Deep Sleep Collection
£84
Drowsy
Power through
If the demands of in-law life are guaranteed to leave you feeling frazzled after day one, it’s wise to have a rescue remedy on hand. While a hip flask is a tempting tactic, a drop of a CBD tincture – like Oto’s Power Drops, which contain 7.5% CBD plus orange and cacao to deliver calm and a sense of control – is probably a safer bet.
Oto CBD Power Drops
£38
Oto
Extend your tub time
A long, hot soak in the bath always provides an excellent escape from a tense game of Trivial Pursuit should you need it, and the more products you use, the longer your much-needed period of alone time. Thank goodness, then, for Vieve’s gorgeous new neroli scented Bathleisure collection, which features everything you need to really string out a seasonal soak: bath salts, bath soak, bath oil and an accompanying candle.
Vieve Bath Salts
£27
Vieve
Busy yourself with hair health
If you need some time out, plead a hair emergency. Even if your hair isn’t in visible need of rescuing, a spot of strand and scalp TLC is only ever a good thing, so make the most of it and pull out your hardest-working products for the task. Not only is Olaplex’s Strong Start Hair Kit ideal for encouraging stronger, smoother and more resilient hair, the portable kit is the perfect size for travel, so it won’t take up too much space in your suitcase.
Olaplex Strong Start Hair Kit
£28
Look Fantastic