It’s that time of the year where we celebrate our mothers or motherly figures and the huge contribution they make to our lives.
While we can’t pay them back in the time they’ve spent on us, what we can do is appreciate them with a thoughtful gift (or two) on May 12.
Gone are the days where just a candle and card will suffice.
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Now it’s best to put some serious thought into hard-hitting pressies, like a pizza oven from Gozney, or sleepwear from Simone Pérèle and skincare from Par Kie.
Best Picks has delved into the offerings across the board and come up with our nine favourite Mother’s Day appropriate gifts, plus a few extras that caught our eye.
So if you’re struggling to come up with a strategy for the second Sunday in May, let this be your guide.
1. Glow Lab Water Gel Hydrating Cream, $30 from Chemist Warehouse
Mum in the market for a new moisturiser?
She can’t go past Glow Lab’s refreshing and lightweight formulation that you can pick up from your closest chemist or supermarket.
It rapidly hydrates and soothes parched skin because the formula is boosted with the super-quenching power of hyaluronic acid, betaine and aloe vera which intensely hydrates the skin.
What’s more, it’s free from parabens, phthalates, silicones, synthetic dyes and mineral oil so you’re getting a clean ingredient list as well.
Want more beauty favourites for mum to dabble in?
- Davines Oi Shampoo and Conditioner, $45.95 each: I often fall back on using this faithful combination when I want softness, shine and body in my hair fast. Easier said than done when you dye it as often as I do!
- CurrentBody’s LED Light Therapy Face Mask, $585: This face mask is the gold standard when it comes to at-home LED. I often take it travelling with me to maintain a glow and it’s clinically proven to reduce wrinkles by 35 per cent in four weeks.
- INNISFREE Matte Mineral Pressed Setting Powder, $13: A dupe for the Laura Mercier Setting Powder but an absolute fraction of the price. The best gift for mums who love makeup.
- Beysis Makeup Bag, $28.90: A clear pouch for her products and it can be personalised too? Absolute win-win.
- Breakfast in Bed set from James Cosmetics, $49: This selection of eye masks will perfectly pair with Mother’s Day morning.
- fresh Smooth Glowing Skin Favourites, $61: A limited edition set of fresh favourites if you’re new to the brand.
- OPI Treatment Gift Set, $49.95: Strengthen, nourish and give your nails some TLC with the ultimate treatment duo. Containing Nail Envy Pink to Envy and the ProSpa Nail & Cuticle Oil, these goodies will protect against chipping, peeling and splitting for stronger, healthier nails.
- Jurlique Softening Body Duo, $76: Rose-infused ritual for mums looking to nurture themselves with a little self care.
- ORI Lab Crescent Comb, $24.95: Move over Tangle Teezer, there is a new hair detangler on the market.
2. 18k Gold Vermeil Blessed Lotus Necklace, $239 from By Charlotte
The Lotus Necklace is Aussie jewellery brand By Charlotte’s best-selling piece.
So this reimagined version of the classic would be top of my list for that something special.
It’s incredibly dainty so could be worn daily or dressed up for a special occasion.
Everything I have purchased from the brand has been of the highest quality and I’ve never worried about it tarnishing.
Want more jewellery to buy for that special someone?
3. Ember Smart Drinkware Range, between $130 and $220 on Amazon Australia
All mums deserve their drink of tea or coffee to be at the right temperature, never too hot and never too cold.
Ember’s smart drinkware range utilises patented temperature-control technology, maintaining coffee or tea at the preferred drinking temperature, ranging from 50C to 62.5C.
Your mum can set her desired temperature to be absorbed and rehydrated for optimum time, and track the beverage’s current temperature through the user-friendly Ember app.
Featuring the latest in battery technology, Ember offers up to 1.5 hours of enjoyment with the Ember Mug 2 and Ember Cup, or 80 minutes with the larger Ember Mug 2 (14 oz).
Placing it on the supplied charging coaster also ensures that the Ember remains charged and delivers a hot beverage at the perfect warmth all day long.
This is a gift she’ll both love and get plenty of use from.
4. 100% Cashmere Crew Neck Sweater, $169.90 from UNIQLO
I almost can’t believe you can purchase a product so soft for this price.
But you better believe it’s true because I have physically walked into a UNIQLO store just to touch this cashmere sweater.
They’re every bit as cosy as they sound and they even come in a full range of colours and sizes, so just about everyone can dip into the fashion trend.
I’d go so far as to say this is a winter essential, so why not gift it to someone you care about?
Other fashion pieces you should take note of:
5. No.22 Mother’s Day Paris Hamper, $250
Spoil your mum with a bespoke hamper featuring No. 22 Home’s best-selling Paris products.
Valued at over $400, this hamper is the ultimate luxe gift to say “I love you” without simply placing a candle in a gift bag.
Every hamper contains No. 22 Home Paris Bistro Plates ($139), No. 22 Home Oui Oui Napkins ($139), a Jac Cadeaux French Basket Bag ($98), Holme Beauty Embodiment Blush ($55), Pax Polish Nail Colour & Treatment Polish ($31) and Stories To Gather Joy Drops ($30).
Our favourite hamper-style gifts for mum:
- Funday Natural Sweets: Once you try these lollies you won’t be able to stop buying them. They are crafted with gut-loving ingredients like chicory root fibre and have natural flavours from beetroot, pumpkin and apple.
- O COSMEDICS Skin Smarts Duo, $199: Skincare packs that come with the brand’s signature Smart Serum and sheet masks.
6. Golden Goose Super-Star Trainers, $840
Golden Goose footwear are some of the most stylish sneakers on the market.
They’re lived in from the moment you purchase them but that’s what makes them unlike anything else I own.
So if you really want to get your mum something individual — and a little bit crafty — I can’t recommend ducking into Golden Goose more.
Let’s lean into comfortable shoes…
7. Dyson Airwrap multi-styler and dryer in ceramic pink, $849
Who can say no to being gifted with the perfect blowout? And in such an exciting new shade too.
The Airwrap is worth its weight in gold for how quickly it transforms the hair, and I often use mine before attending a wedding or special occasion.
In case you’ve forgotten, it harnesses an aerodynamic phenomenon called the Coanda effect, styling with air, not extreme heat, achieving versatility from voluminous curls, natural waves and smooth blow-dry finishes at home.
Our favourite tech pieces on the market for mum:
8. Evity Maya Leather Buckle Tote Bag, $199 from Strand
If there is something my mother is always looking to update around this time of the year it’s her handbag.
Our mums are usually looking for something practical that they don’t have to swap out too often but that will last the test of time.
The Maya Leather Buckle Tote Bag fits the bill in this case, particularly in the shade “Night”, because you can pair a navy blue bag with neutral and brighter accessories.
It looks like the most buttery soft leather and it’s fairly simple, so unlikely to go out of style quickly.
9. Call Me Venus perfume, $119 from Recreation Beauty
It’s one of my favourite perfume brands for a reason and this scent just about spells out why.
Natural to its core, I feel safe and looked after when I spritz a bit of Call Me Venus on my wrists, and I know my mum would feel the just the same about it.
The bottles are chic to look at on your dressing table and perfume is simply a classic gift for Mother’s Day.
Looking for lovely scents? This is the way to go: