The nights are getting darker earlier, yet London is sparkling - which can only mean one thing…… Christmas is just around the corner. Can't think what to get your mother for Xmas? Worry not, we've been digging around and done the hard work for you.
After all, it may be the most wonderful time of the year but gift-hunting can be particularly stressful - especially if the mum in your life is difficult to buy for or simply has everything she needs.
Whatever gift you had (or hadn’t) in mind - from home and kitchenware to beauty or a bit of culture - our edit of the best Christmas gifts for mum will have you wrapped up in no time at all. Featuring traditional seasonal presents to some serious, luxury, we've got you covered.
Show your gratitude for someone who has given you so much with something truly special from our carefully selected list... but don’t leave it until the last minute this year as many are bound to be a sell-out success. Here’s our edit of the most fabulous gift ideas for your favourite girl.
Gold waterproof Kindle Oasis
Lightweight and wonderfully slim, this is the Rolls Royce of Kindles. It’s certainly pricey but as an investment piece it will be, the gift that keeps on giving, especially if your mother is a bookworm. We loved the fact that it is so light you can barely feel it in your hands and the pages turn effortlessly with just a swipe of the finger. Also-being waterproof-there’s no need to worry about crying at a good book, reading it in the bath or even spilling your morning cuppa on it.
£259.99 | Amazon | Buy it now
Trellis Luxury Terracotta Throw by Anlaby
If you have the cash to splash this Christmas why not treat your mum in theme of home luxury? Made from single origin natural wool, this gorgeous throw is further embellished with a trellis design in an elegant silk embroidery.
Named after Anlaby Station, where the oldest Merino Stud once called home, the current 500 strong flock of south Australian sheep are direct decedents of the merino migration herds of the 19th century. The livelihood of the flock is paramount to the brand and exceptional care is taken to ensure they are healthy and happy - it's not surprising then that Analaby make some the finest quality wool worldwide.
If you're looking for something truly luxurious, rare and beautiful, you have certainly found it in an Anlaby throw.
£870 | Anlaby | Buy it now
British Library Membership
This is one of those gifts that your mum probably is unlikely to treat herself too, yet as a recipient of it there is something rather unique and original. As part of the annual membership, your mum will get access for herself and a guest to all exhibitions, four free events each year and priority for many others including talks, film screenings and other cultural events.
The membership also gives access to a daytime members’ room, with plenty of reading space and a superior view, overlooking the King’s Library. If you're looking for a membership gifts for mum this Christmas The National Gallery also have some excellent options.
£87 | British Library | Buy it now
Laboratory Perfumes Atlas Scented Candle
Candles are up there with flowers and chocolates when it comes to treating mum but this one is an exception. Created by the Laboratory perfumers-that create scents inspired by the flora of the Great British countryside-this candle smells utterly divine.
Not only will it counteract any Christmas cooking smell but its fragrance is so uplifting and mesmerising your mum will feel that all her Christmases have come at once! What’s more, the scent lingers in the air longer, after you have blown the candle out. Did we forget to mention, the glass bottle looks pretty funky too.
£45 | Trouva | Buy it now
Magnitone make-up blending brush
If your mum likes her makeup she's going to love this beauty-best. This electric make-up brush is an amazing invention that turned our foundation into a sleek and dewy look that lasted all day. No more streaky make-up mistakes; blending your make-up and massaging the skin at the same time. You simply tap your foundation onto your face as usual and then press the brush blending button and it creates a flawless finish.
It moves across the skin over 250 times a second to give the softest looking, most natural, airbrushed effect, that’s both healthier for the skin and leaves it free from clumping and clogged pores.
£49.99 | Argos | Buy it now
Price compare on Amazon here.
Morphy Richards Soup Maker
Cook up a real treat for your mum with this soup maker from Morphy Richards - by far one of the best cooking gadgets on the market. We were so impressed by its ease-of-use and speediness; just chuck in your soup ingredients, turn on the machine for 21 minutes and voilà…you are left with a deliciously smooth tasting soup without the mess and hassle of chopping, mixing or blending yourself. This appliance is a hot buy for the kitchen – even when not in use it looks cool on the kitchen top.
£99.99 | Morphy Richards | Buy it now
House of Sparkles small grey faux fur rug
This may be faux fur but it honestly feels like the real thing. In fact, it is one of the softest and most comfortable materials we have felt and is perfect for mums to snuggle up with when the weather is cold. Chic, cosy and warm the rug gives a timeless touch of luxury and unlike other faux fur products does not shred. Perfect for sinking cold feet into after being outside and the fact it looks like real fur but without the use of real animal skin is such a bonus. I give you my word, mums will absolutely love this!
£53.99 | HOS Home | Buy it now
Anya Hindmarch diffuser
When a smell is as good as this one your mum will finally thank you for bringing bubble gum into the house. Anya Hindmarch’s tongue-in-cheek homeware accessory not only smells divine but is enough to make you smile just by looking at it. The product comprises of pencil-shaped reeds that are formulated with notes of fresh mint and thyme and offset with wild raspberry for a vibrant touch. So cool in every way!
£99 | Selfridges | Buy it now
The Little Beauty Parcel: the skincare edit
This is a gift your mother will certainly not frown upon! In fact, she will be beaming once she has experienced this indulgent selection of skincare saviours. This gorgeous box includes a variety of go-to products for when our skin needs a little pick me up, including a This Works detox mask and a Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream.
£30 | Feel Unique | Buy it now
Pickle London sweatshirt
No Christmas is complete without a bright seasonal jumper and we, along with all sorts of famous faces, love the range from Pickle London so much that we know your mum will too. As well as being funky and bold - the colours of the clothes are of a vibrant theme, with each one adorned with a slogan in a stand-out colour. There is also another message behind the brand, £5 from every Happy sweatshirt is donated to the UK charity Mind – which raises awareness of mental health issues and offers support for those affected.
£40 | Pickle London | Buy it now
Revlon salon straight styler
Go straight…and pick up these amazing hair ironing straighteners and bring a smile to your mums face. The hair tool has been around for years, yet how to find the perfect one that will keep your hair super smooth and straight without burning or ruining your locks? This gadget ticks all the right boxes plus being so slim, is easy to hold, and the fact there was no hair singe in sight is of course a massive bonus!
£79.99 | Boots | Buy it now
Belgravia leather diary
Make a date to remember with your mum by presenting her with this gorgeous red lizard print leather diary. She may use a digital version but most of us mums like the old school way too, plus this is compact enough to fit in her handbag. There’s 365 days to fill with holidays, outings, deadlines and life goals. This diary screams luxury and practicality!
£48 | Organise Us | Buy it now
The National Gallery drinks bottle
If you have never checked out the online shop for the National Gallery you are in for a wonderful awakening. Beautiful, interesting and in a wide range of affordability. For mums on the go, a water bottle is one of life’s must-have essentials although, like an umbrella, is often overlooked and forgotten.
The days of single-use plastic are slowly but thankfully dwindling, with many people focusing instead on eco-friendly bottles. This one from the Katie range at the National Gallery collection is a must buy for any mum on the go, the red and white bold and striking bottle is super cute and designed in a way to be easily portable.
£6.95 | The National Gallery | Buy it now
Suzanne Kaufman advent calendar
No Christmas gift guide for mums can be complete without one of these….move over chocolate, 2018 is ALL about beauty advent calendars. While a definite highlight of December used to be waking up to a sweet treat from our calendar, imagine instead, having some dreamy beauty treat every day.
Suzanne Kaufman’s goodies include luxury bath oils, shampoo and body lotions each designed in a gorgeous reusable glass bottle. A treat within a treat and visually stunning!
£110 | Liberty | Buy it now
Sony gold wireless noise cancelling headphones
The past year has seen a huge rise in noise-cancelling headphones – not only are they great for travel but provide the perfect tool if you simply want to zone out and get a bit of peace and quiet. The reason we love these so much is that, unlike many others we tried, they fit so snug inside the ear that you can hardly feel they are there.
The smooth, compact and minimalistic design make it a perfect Christmas gift for your mum worth its weight in gold.
£180 | Sony | Buy it now
Show Beauty hair fragrance
Until we tried this out we had been rather sceptical about hair fragrances; the ones we had used in the past either made hair greasy or had none of the staying power when it came to longevity of smell. No hairy mistakes with this product though – the rich spray leaves your locks rejuvenated and sweetly scented with the most divine smell of white musk and vanilla for a floral yet fruity finish.
No need to respray as the scent lingered all day. The bottle is a beauty to look at too.
£55 | Net-a-porter | Buy it now
Homemedics Massage Pillow
There’s nothing not to love about this gift, apart from the fact your mum will have to get used to sharing it with the family! The massage pillow works a treat and is so convenient to use; no faff when it comes to wires or strapping it to a chair, you can just place it on your bed and lie right on it. The squidgy and super soft gel massage nodes give immediate relief to help with any aches, strains and tension.
£99.99 | Homedics | Buy it now
Mindful Chef food delivery box
As enjoyable as cooking up a Christmas dinner is, it goes without saying it is not a stress-free experience. So why not treat your mum to a recipe box subscription service that basically takes the hassle out of food preparation. Mindful Chef is excellent; customers choose from 16 well-balanced plant based, meat or fish recipes that change often. You receive a weekly box containing recipe cards, pre-portioned ingredients and fresh meat, fish and produce sourced from small award-winning British farms. Each recipe features just 10 ingredients and takes a maximum of 30 minutes to prepare.
From £4.50 per person | Mindful Chef | Buy it now
Scrawl board game
What better way to make mum smile by bringing the whole family (ok, adult aged kids only I’m afraid) together to play games! This one is by far the funniest we have played in a very long time. It involves you getting to doodle the phrase or object on a card but the worse the drawing, the more points you get –think something along the lines of Chinese whispers gone mad! Perfect fun for Christmas.
£25 | Amazon | Buy it now
Verdict:
Magnitone’s make-up blending brush really caught our eye as it totally transforms how your make-up sits on the skin and is extremely easy to use. Creating a flawless look seems to take years off our skin too! The Morphy Richards soup maker also stands out as making a fresh soup from scratch in just 21 minutes is revolutionary!
