Finding the perfect holiday gift can be maddening — is this the color they’d want? Is it something they already have? Is it so last year? — but really, once you have a sense of a person’s taste, it’s not impossible. This season, we’ll be talking to members of various tribes (we’re calling them the Hard-to-Shop-Fors) to find out exactly what to get that serious home cook, skin-care Redditor, or gamer in your life. Think of it as a window into their brain trust — or at least a very helpful starting point.
You may have experienced autonomous sensory meridian response, or ASMR, the feeling of “tingles” that starts from your head and moves down your spine, usually triggered by a calming sensation like a scalp massage or a satisfying sound like crinkling paper. On YouTube, there are hundreds of ASMR artists (a.k.a. “ASMRtists”) who create videos to help viewers bask in the sensation. For those interested in creating the experience at home, we spoke with two ASMR YouTubers about the gifts that would help achieve maximum tingling (plus their recommendations for what to get someone who’s looking to become an ASMRtist themselves). Don’t miss all of the Strategist’s holiday gift coverage right here, too.
For ASMR fanatics
Corinna Rachel, a licensed massage therapist and the ASMRtist behind ASMR Massage Psychetruth, recommends starting off with this scalp massager, a classic ASMR tool. “It’s fabulous for working on a friend or on yourself,” she says. “The scalp is covered with nerve endings, and this multi-contact massage tool is marvelous for relaxing those commonly tight muscles.”
Kinetic sand is great for the budding ASMRrtist, because, according to Rachel, “It makes amazing sounds and caters to the ‘oddly satisfying’ style of visual [ASMR] triggers.” She recommends them for everyone because “tangible textures can help us be more ‘in the moment’ and more engaged with our environment so we can be less ‘in our heads.’”
Rach loves slime-making kits for the same reason: “These toys are relaxing to play with due to the delightful textures and the creative release we get from playing with them.”
Makeup brushes are another classic ASMR tool, according to Rachel. “They are typically used on a microphone to create brushing sounds, but they are also a perfect way to relax the tense muscles of the face and jaw with delicate face brushing,” she says. Rachel prefers EcoTools. Try this kit, which includes ten brushes.
“A jade roller would be another great tool for relaxing your face and reducing tension,” says Rachel. It’s also great for de-puffing your face, and, as attested to by Strategist beauty writer Rio, a better alternative to picking at your zits.
“Activate your olfactory senses for even deeper relaxation,” Rachel recommends. “Our emotions are strongly linked to the olfactory nerve, so using calming scents like lavender can be especially effective at reducing stress and inviting sleep. In the same way that auditory or visual triggers can induce deep relaxation, adding in additional sensations can have even more profound effects.” She likes the Sztrokia diffuser for its variable color settings, light effects, and timer feature.
For those who want to fall asleep to ASMR videos, Rachel recommends using headphones specifically designed for that purpose: “Earbuds can hurt your ears after wearing them for too long and most headphones are not comfy enough to sleep in. These headphones are designed for your comfort.” SleepPhones, which call themselves “pajamas for your ears,” wrap around your head like a headband.
For the friend who wants to make his own ASMR videos
This gift might seem a bit of an outlier, but unboxing videos are a big part of the ASMR repertoire; items with elaborate packaging and zippers are ideal. “I have been obsessed with this wallet for years,” says Tony Bomboni, an ASMRtist on YouTube. “I love watching unboxing videos where the item is small and the camera is zoomed-in enough to show close-ups of all the stitching, patterns, and etched designs. I used to binge-watch designer purse videos and I would love it when the YouTuber would explain the size and length of the bags, and make rustling sounds with the pouches and zippers.”
For ASMRtists, sound is one of the most important aspects of a successful video. “This microphone is one of the latest and best binaural microphones out there for ASMR,” says Bomboni. “I love the crisp, detailed sound and the silicone ears provide the most realistic stereo recording out there. If anyone wants to start filming ASMR, I highly recommend this mic.”
Here’s a cheaper alternative and a staple of the ASMR community. It’s a perfect introductory mic for those just dipping their toes into making ASMR videos.
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