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Here's what's in Oscar nominees' $100K+ gift bags this year — including things you can actually afford
Awards season is coming to an end with the 96th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 10. If you're planning to watch the Oscars for all the glamorous celebrity outfits, awkward moments and over-the-top speeches, same here — but you may also want the juicy details about the six-figure swag bags select nominees will receive.
This year's swag, aptly called the "Everyone Wins" nominee gift bag, is provided by a Los Angeles-based entertainment marketing company, Distinctive Assets. The company gifts the bags to acting and directing nominees only. That means celebs including Carey Mulligan, Lily Gladstone, Sterling K. Brown, Mark Ruffalo, Jeffrey Wright and Christopher Nolan will get to take home one of these babies even if they don't go home with a golden statuette at the end of the night.
"While our gifts may be famous for being fun, fabulous and unique, they also serve to elevate small businesses, minority-owned brands, female entrepreneurs and companies who give back," said Lash Fary, founder of Distinctive Assets, in a press release.
What will stars receive this year? Some of the highest-ticket items include:
An all-inclusive getaway from Chalet Zermatt Peak in Switzerland.
A seven-day holistic wellness retreat from the Golden Door near San Diego.
A three-night stay in a private villa from Saint-Barth Paradise in the Caribbean.
Luxury kitchen appliances from Thor Kitchen.
10,000 donated meals from plant-based pet brand V-dog in support of PETA's Global Compassion Fund.
The full line of Miage luxury skin-care products.
Fary said the goal isn't to just give away free stuff — it's to elevate products and brands that embrace diversity, inclusion and philanthropy in the beauty, food and entertainment categories.
"Just as any A-list actor doesn't 'need' millions of dollars to walk onto a film set, these gifts are given based on the invaluable stardust these nominees can bestow upon a brand," Fary said. "Of course they can afford to buy these things; they are also in a uniquely favorable marketing position. This is a straightforward win-win transaction."
Still, not all of the swag is out of reach for those of us who have yet to grace the silver screen. Below, you'll find items under $150 from the "Everyone Wins" nominee gift bag, from a portable blender and comfy boxers to affordable skin care. You can even snack on some of the items while you catch up on all the Best Picture nominations from your couch.
This mason-jar-style portable blender can help you make smoothies and protein shakes on the go. Take it to the office for an afternoon pick-me-up or the gym for a post-sweat recovery drink. Fill it with your ingredients, snap the lid on, flip it upside down and hit the blending button. When you're done, take the lid off and drink straight from the stylish cup.
Eatable's gourmet popcorn offers flavors inspired by happy hour. Take its Pop the Champagne kettle corn — it's covered in white chocolate and champagne-infused popping sugar crystals. Or check out Whisky on the Pops, a whiskey-infused caramel popcorn. In collaboration with the Academy Museum Store, the brand also created its Black Truffle Pops kettle corn, infused with real truffles, charcoal salt and a sprinkling of edible gold dust.
Goodal's eye patches are infused with vitamin C and green tangerine extract to brighten and firm skin in five minutes. Use one whenever you want to fake a good night's sleep or feel more refreshed, like after a long plane ride or a hard day's work. The patches are textured like a real tangerine peel to help your skin better absorb the serum.
This NASA-inspired red-light therapy device is designed to help you fall asleep faster, stay asleep and sleep deeper. It uses red-light therapy and a patented 28-minute protocol that mirrors the natural cycle of light at the end of the day — the goal is to help your body wind down naturally. It's portable, so you can take it along when you travel to help beat jet lag.
HeyDude shoes are known for comfort — and they were acquired by another comfy-shoe brand, Crocs, in 2022. The brand makes slip-on styles and sneakers for men, women and kids including its signature Wally Shoes, shown here for men in beige.
Jambys makes what it calls "performance inactivewear." These are the comfy clothes you put on the second you get home from work. The brand's signature product is its namesake relaxed-fit, super-soft boxers with pockets. They're for men and women and come in 12 colors and patterns. The brand also sells T-shirts, hoodies, long pants, robes and more.
Karma Nuts' air-roasted cashews are non-GMO, vegan and gluten-free, and they retain their natural skins for two times the fiber content. Celebs will get a variety pack of bestselling flavors including Sea Salt, Cocoa Dusted, Golden Turmeric, Cinnamon, Peri Peri and Toasted Coconut. (Note: I've tried the Toasted Coconut — it tastes like dessert!)
You may have seen Poppi on Shark Tank. The bestselling brand's sodas combine fruit juices and prebiotics, so not only are they tasty, but they're good for your gut. Each can contains 25 calories or less and no more than 5 grams of sugar. This 12-pack includes orange, watermelon, ginger lime, raspberry rose, cherry limeade and strawberry lemon.
Rose Box NYC's flowers are preserved to last for an entire year — no maintenance required. You can get bigger arrangements for over $200, but this set of four roses comes in an acrylic jewelry box. Yes, you can use the bottom drawer to stash rings, earrings, bracelets and more.
Shinery's Radiance Wash is a plant-based hand soap that also cleans your jewelry. It removes dirt, oil, lotion and product buildup to leave your jewelry sparkling and your hands soft and moisturized. Leave your rings and bracelets on, lather up with three pumps of the wash, then rinse and pat dry. You can also use the included brush to gently scrub any extra-dirty items.
