Mother's Day Gift Giving Ideas (for women who don't need another coffee cup or scarf)
The two guys who make my Mother’s Day!
Has your phone calendar pinged yet to remind you that Mother’s Day is, like, tomorrow (...ok, not tomorrow, tomorrow, depending on when you’re reading this. But pretty darn close.) And you’ve got major gift giving anxiety. You spent all your best gift ideas on Christmas. And Valentine’s Day. And your anniversary. And her birthday. And because you messed up that one time and had to say you were sorry -- REALLY SORRY. And because she needed a little boost (best reason ever to give a gift, btw). The thing is, you’re fresh out of ideas.
But Mother’s Day is a biggie on the calendar. Whether it’s for your own mother who carried you for an interminable 9 months, nurtured you in the person you are now and still loves you from your toes to your top, just because you’re her baby. Or she’s the mother of your children, and without her you would have to do all the nappy changing; nose wiping; apologising at the grocery store for the ill-timed, deafening tantruming; school uniform washing, folding, putting away and hunting down for the moment your little blighters, I mean angels, actually need it; head teacher meetings when they ‘just need a word’; dance lesson/ football practice/ playdate/ maths tutor taxiing service. Or she’s the world’s best goal-model Aunty, BFF, adopted-nan.
Whoever she is, she’s special. She is important. And you want to honour her with a small token of your appreciation for a female power house in your life. And this year a card (that may or may not arrive on time, because you did or did not have stamps) just won’t do.
I get it. I feel you. So you’ve made the decision to brave the shops or the internet for this year’s Mother’s Day offering. Before being bombarded by pink banner adverts or overly keen fragrance-spraying traffic stoppers, I have a few thoughts on gifts that pretty much all mamas will love.
Laura Mercier Bath & Body Collection in Creme Brulee - image from LauraMercier.com
Patisserie Inspired Pampering
Laura Mercier is internationally renowned as a makeup artist, with some of her products reaching cult favourite status, but did you know that she has an entire bath and body collection inspired by her favourite Parisienne delectables? There a few different fragrances in the range, each featuring a foaming Honey Bath, Sugar Scrub and Body Soufflé Personally. I’m a sucker for the classic Ambre Vanilla range because I can layer my regular perfume with it and simply enhances the fragrance, rather than competing with it. The packaging is equal to the product itself in luxury and looks stunning in any bathroom, so you won’t find it hidden away in the recesses of a bathroom cabinet.
Cream Eyeshadow Sticks
Every brand from Bobbi to Charlotte is jumping on this makeup bandwagon, but in all honesty, this is definitely a case of the more the merrier! For busy mums (moms, mamas, nans, grans, aunties, femaletcetera) anything that gets us out the door faster and feeling more polished is a good thing in my book. You can get these from loads of different brands and for different budgets. I do love the luxurious option of the Ombre Black Star collection from By Terry -- they go on like a dream, don’t budge and don’t dry the lid, but if you’re looking for another option that’s less of an investment you could try the new one from Marks & Spencer in their By Rosie collection.
A few snaps of eye look tutorial using Laura Mercier Caviar sticks. Click link for his instagram with full tutorial in highlights.
To really treat her, maybe create a little personalised eye makeup bundle. Add an eye base (loving vegan and cruelty free choice in a universal shade from Arbonne) and a mascara. Mascara needs to be replaced every 3 to 6 months so chances are she needs a new one. It needn’t break the bank to be a great mascara, but my makeup kit go-to is Eyeko Black Magic.
Lip Service
One of the most frequently requested products I get asked for as a makeup artist has to be a perfect nude lipstick. Looking for a perfect nude that is universally flattering is a labour of love. Everyone’s “nude” is fairly individualised, depending on how much pigment you carry in your lips naturally, how light or dark you prefer to wear your lip colour, matte versus glossy finish and if nude to you means flesh toned, pink, peach or brown. See? It’s complicated. But I have a pinky-nude suggestion that has flattered every face I’ve ever put it on. Charlotte Tilbury originally launched the colour Pillow Talk as a lip liner, but her fans loved the colour and matte finish so much that they started wearing it all over their lips. Listening to her customers, Charlotte went on to recreate Pillow Talk as a lipstick. The two make the perfect, long lasting, nude lip pairing.
Want to go one better? Add the cheek colour and eye palette also in Pillow Talk for a fresh- faced, not overly done look. Great for magnificent mams, glam grans and awesome aunties alike.
Skincare
Now ONLY venture to skin care if you are REALLY confident that giving this gift won’t be misconstrued as an opinion on the maturity of her skin (ahem!). To avoid this potential pitfall, opt for a cleanser. Believe me when I say, EVERYONE NEEDS A GOOD CLEANSER. In my humble opinion, investing in a great cleanser and using it consistently is the best first step to improving a person’s beauty routine. I’ve tried so many, but I always seem to come back to Emma Hardie’s classic Moringa Cleansing Balm. There is a reason this has cult following status. Top tip, the balm comes with one cleansing cloth, but treat her to an extra box of three.
Image from Google Shopping
Image from Hotel Du Vin, Birmingham
Self Care Time
Ok, so this may be just my wishful thinking this Mother’s Day (and a subtle hint to my other half), but there’s literally no gift I enjoy receiving more than enforced self care time. I love getting a voucher from my favourite hair salon, but this year I’m hoping to find a voucher for my local Hotel du Vin Spa hiding in my Mother’s Day card. I’ve enjoyed a body scrub and massage at the HdV in Harrogate shortly after a very painful bereavement and the standard was absolutely incredible. It also gave me precious time and space to be quiet, be looked after and recharge.
Oh, and if the spa experience also included a Champagne Afternoon Tea, I certainly wouldn’t complain. Just sayin.
To all you amazing, inspirational and deserving mothers out there, Happy Mothers Day!