Gifts for a female friend

A closer look: First to 200 points wins, but each extra card risks flipping a number already in front of you, which busts you out of the round. The deck holds twelve 12s but far fewer low cards, so big numbers score well yet bust players more often. Freeze, Flip Three and Second Chance cards add twists, and the box says ages 8 and up.

Why we picked it: A fast push-your-luck game that gets louder with every round. Teenagers and adults get equally hooked.

• 3+ players
• Quick rounds
• Easy rules
• Pocket size

What owners say: Brilliant fun for all ages, easy to learn and perfect for trips and holidays.

A closer look: Taste them in order of strength: the 55% sea salt bar first, then the 60% coffee bar, the 70% Peruvian and finally the 85% Ecuadorian, the one for true dark fans. Let a square melt slowly on the tongue rather than chewing it to pick up more of the flavour. At 86g each, there’s plenty to share over the Christmas break.

Why we picked it: Four dark bars, from a gentle 55% sea salt to an intense 85%, made by a British craft chocolate maker. A tasting session in a box.

• 4 dark chocolate bars
• 55% to 85% cocoa
• British craft chocolate
• Gift ready

What owners say: Smooth, not bitter and some of the best chocolate they’ve had. A great gift for dark chocolate fans.

A closer look: Keep it on the kitchen shelf rather than the bookcase, as it earns its place when there’s a lone ingredient in the fridge and no plan for it. Look that flavour up, read what sits well alongside it, and dinner often follows. A lovely present for someone who already owns plenty of recipe books and fancies cooking more freely.

Why we picked it: The modern classic on what goes with what: a book to dip into for ideas rather than follow step by step.

• Hardback
• 99 flavours, paired
• Ideas and mini recipes
• Great for confident cooks

What owners say: A go-to reference that sparks new ideas and unexpected combinations in the kitchen.

A closer look: Pump as soon as the last glass is poured rather than at the end of the evening, as the less time the wine spends open, the better it keeps. Only one stopper comes with it, but extra Vacu Vin stoppers work with the same pump, which helps with a red and a white on the go. Skip it for fizz: a vacuum draws the bubbles out.

Why we picked it: The original wine saver: it pumps the air out so an open bottle stays fresh for days. For those rare occasions a bottle isn’t finished.

• Vacuum pump + stopper
• Clicks when sealed
• No batteries
• Fits most bottles

What owners say: Easy to use and keeps wine fresh for several days.

A closer look: Rather than a box of ready-made shades, the ten tubes form a proper mixing palette: one yellow, a warm and a cool red, a blue, a green, three earth colours, black and white. The buttery paint holds brush marks and dries to a satin finish, and it sits happily alongside artist-grade tubes if they move up later.

• 10 × 60ml tubes
• Artist-grade pigments at a lower strength
• Easy to mix
• Good coverage

What owners say: Very pigmented and easy to mix, great value, and suitable for beginners and experienced painters alike.

A closer look: Elasticated cuffs hold the big sleeves in place, so typing, reading or holding a mug of tea doesn’t mean wrestling with loose fabric. Because it reaches the ankles, hitch it up a little on the stairs. Wash it on its own the first time and tumble dry on low to keep the fleece soft and fluffy.

Why we picked it: Extra long, so it keeps legs warm too: basically a duvet you can walk around in.

• Extra long, to the ankles
• Fluffy fleece lining
• Big front pocket
• Machine washable

What owners say: Wonderfully warm and soft. Owners say it goes right down to the ankles and is well worth the money.

A closer look: Amber is the setting for reading in bed, with the softest glow, while the crisp white helps with small print in a crossword or a dim armchair corner. Charging is by USB-C, so the same lead as most modern phones will do, and at about 71g it sits lightly on a paperback.

Why we picked it: Clips to a book and throws a wide, even light, with a warm amber setting that won’t disturb whoever’s sleeping next to them.

• 19 LEDs, wide beam
• 3 colour modes
• Stepless dimming
• Rechargeable
• Remembers your setting

What owners say: Brilliant light with lots of brightness choices, and the battery lasts a good while.

Heads up: Gritin has just launched a Gen 2. This one is the proven version and usually costs less.

A closer look: Open one just before settling down, since the warmth starts as soon as the pack is unsealed, and it holds at around 40°C: cosy rather than hot. Twenty masks go a fair way, so a few can be slipped into a washbag for a long flight or a hotel stay, where they make a calming way to wind down.

Why we picked it: Self-heating masks that warm gently for half an hour: a mini spa break for tired eyes after a long day of screens.

• Self-heating, no microwave
• Stays warm 30–40 mins
• Lavender scent
• 20 masks

What owners say: Warms up quickly, lasts a good while, and the lavender is really calming.

A closer look: Its zipped back pocket has a waterproof lining, so a damp flannel or toothbrush can go in on the last morning without soaking everything else. Padded sides help it keep its shape in a packed suitcase, and the carry handle lets it hang from a hook in a small hotel bathroom with no shelf space.

Why we picked it: Opens wide like a doctor’s bag, so nothing hides at the bottom, with elastic loops for bottles and brushes.

• Opens wide
• Mesh pockets
• Elastic bottle holders
• Lightweight
• Several colours

What owners say: Spacious, with lots of compartments. Perfect for weekends away.

A closer look: Worth knowing: the one size covers roughly UK 3 to 8, so they suit smaller and medium feet best. Washing them inside out on a cool cycle helps the fluffy pile stay soft for longer, and pairing the box with a hot water bottle or a new mug makes a cosy winter bundle.

Why we picked it: Five pairs of super-soft fluffy socks in a gift box, so they’re ready to give straight away.

• 5 pairs
• Super soft and fluffy
• Gift box
• One size

What owners say: Soft, warm and good quality. They don’t look cheap and make a perfect gift.