Photo-Illustration: courtesy of retailers
Most of us fall back on the classics when it comes time to buy Mother’s Day gifts: flowers, fancy tea, a card, or a framed piece of kid art. But if you really want to show off this year, you might want to dig a little deeper. That’s why we created this helpful list of Mother’s Day gifts for every kind of mom, from artsy moms to fitness moms to moms who love to cook, curated from things we’ve tried and loved ourselves, as well as recommendations from cool people and celebs (many of whom are moms themselves). Heck, we’ve even found something for the mom who (maybe) loves her dog more than her kids. At the time publication, all of the gifts below will arrive at your door before May 14.
Under $25
For the mom who is always running a bath
Earth Rotennyumeguri Shiri-Zupakku
$15
These bath powders will make her feel like she’s in a Japanese onsen.
For the mom who talks to her plants
Ebristar Glass Plant Mister Spray Bottle
$15
This handsome mister will help her keep her flora fresh.
For the mom who keeps the fridge stocked
New York Shuk Preserved Lemon Paste
$17$18
now 6% off
This preserved-lemon paste is great in everything from marinades to cocktails.
For the indoorsy mom who wants to get outside more
Juniper Ridge White Sage Solid Perfume
$18
This solid perfume might help: It smells like white sage, a woodsy aroma that may inspire Mom to finally take that hike through the actual woods.
For the mom who plans movie nights
$25 for 2
According to author Jenny Han, “This is the secret to movie-theater popcorn at home.” All Mom needs to do is add a three-quarter teaspoon of the flavored salt to her popcorn of choice. “You’ll swear that you’re at the movies,” Han promises.
For the mom who plans hiking trips
LifeStraw Personal Water Filter
$17$20
now 15% off
If she’s been hitting the trail without one, Mom will surely appreciate having a LifeStraw in her kit, especially on longer treks. The lightweight doodad filters waterborne bacteria, parasites, dirt, and other contaminants from any water source, making it a must for outdoor adventures.
For the mom who likes her tea hot
S’well Stainless Steel Traveler, 12 ounces
$23
A tea-sommelier-approved tumbler that will keep her favorite blend piping hot for hours and is made a hair cooler by its foliage pattern. Needless to say, it’s just as good for the coffee-drinking mom, too.
For the mom who likes her tea with (tapioca) bubbles
WuFuYuan Tapioca Pearls, Black Sugar Flavor
$6
According to one Strategist staffer who has been drinking bubble tea since she was in elementary school, these tapioca pearls are the best for making bubble tea at home. “The pearls by themselves aren’t sweet, but you can soak them in a brown-sugar mixture or simple syrup to get the desired sweetness,” she explains. “Or, if you’re feeling lazy (as I often am), just add sugar to your milk tea and your taste buds will be none the wiser.”
For the mom who prefers the taste of coffee (but quit caffeine)
Organic Dandy Blend Instant Herbal Beverage
$13
This herbal dandelion-root blend, which counts barley among its handful of natural ingredients, helped Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo cut coffee out of her diet completely. “The texture and taste are surprisingly similar to coffee, but without the acidity or bitterness that would often mess with my stomach,” she says.
For the mom who wears a (very old) bonnet
$17
Perhaps it’s time for an upgrade? Strategist beauty writer Tembe Denton-Hurst swears by sleeping in this “unassuming, comfy,” charmeuse satin–lined Slap Cap from Grace Eleyae, which she says is stylish enough to wear on Zoom calls, too. “Being a Grace Eleyae fan is sort of like being part of a stylish bonnet-wearing sisterhood, and I always know I’m in good company whenever I see its familiar black tab: the woman at Dig Inn who wears hers in place of a hair net, my sister’s mother, Viola Davis on set,” says Denton-Hurst.
For the mom you’re trying to wean off potpourri
Le Papier d’Armenie – Set of 3 Booklets
$20
Introduce her to the joys of French incense papers, which she can either fold, accordion style, and light in this burner, or stow in her underwear drawer.
For the mom who could use a different kind of burning paper
$14
Fifty pink prewrapped cones that she’ll know just what to stuff with.
For the mom who journals
Kaweco Sport Classic Fountain Pen Black M
$19$25
now 24% off
This stylish fountain pen will make even her pettiest thoughts look like poetry.
For the mom who colors
‘The Real Housewives of New York City Coloring Book,’ by @drunkdrawn
$10
Filled with iconic scenes and characters from Real Housewives of New York, this coloring book will de-stress her in no time.
For the mom who watches The Last of Us
Back to the Roots Organic Mushroom Growing Kit
$20
This kit will let her grow her own mushrooms indoors.
For the mom who blathers on about never drinking enough water
BuildLife 1-Gallon Water Bottle
From $25
Give her a (celebrity-approved) water bottle that gently threatens her to keep sipping.
For the mom experimenting with fermentation
Crazy Korean Cooking Fermentation Container
$17
Strategist writer Lauren Ro says a container like this, from one of her favorite kitchen brands sold at Korean supermarkets, can help. As she notes, the containers have “an inner vacuum lid to prevent air from getting in,” which is helpful for making kimchee, sauerkraut, and pickles, according to the brand.
For the expecting mom
Bio-Oil Skincare Oil – 4.2 Oz.
$18$23
now 22% off
A dermatologist-approved oil that is good for preventing stretch marks.
For the new mom with sore nipples
Bamboobies Soothing Nursing Pillows
$25
These pillows can be warmed up or tossed in the freezer to act as hot or cold compresses for breastfeeding moms. Doree Shafrir, author of Thanks for Waiting: The Joy (and Weirdness) of Being a Late Bloomer, who “got clogged my entire seven-month breastfeeding journey and was alway sore,” says these gave her sweet, sweet relief.
For the mom with a sweet tooth
Joolies Organic Medjool Dates — Pitted$32
now 9% off
$29 for 2
Sure, you could always pick her up a box of chocolates. Or you could bring Mom a box of sweet Medjool dates from Joolies, which New York Magazine features editor Katy Schneider, a self-described “date fiend,” has been eating like candy since discovering them in quarantine. For the price, Mom will get two boxes. So if you’re lucky, she might share.
Under $50
For the mom who never misses a blowout appointment
Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer
$50
This viral hair gadget combines a hair dryer and a round brush into one simple, easy-to-use tool (and costs a fraction of the price).
