The Shitter's Guide To Mother's Day Gifts
We went straight to the source to hear exactly what the moms want this year!
Today’s letter was written in partnership with OSEA Malibu—they’re forever one of my favorite clean beauty and body care brands, and VERY popular among the moms I’ve spoken to over the years! If you’d like to partner on a future newsletter, drop me a note.
Shitters! Mother’s Day isn’t until May 10th (mark your calendars!), but if there’s one person who’s always prepared, it’s mom, so why not take a page out of her book and get ahead on your gift ideas!
This year I went straight to the source and talked to a bunch of mom friends to bring you the things at the top of their wishlists. Moms aren’t a monolith, but there were a few common threads: Most of the expecting moms were primarily interested in things for the baby. The new moms loved gifts that involved pampering, but they emphasized being mindful of the logistical and childcare burdens that come along with enjoying those things. The moms of school age kids… most of them just wanted a break! Think staycation, girls trip, time that they could safely turn their brains off without having to worry about everything at home. And when in doubt, know that you can’t go wrong with jewelry—it was mentioned by almost every person I spoke to. Diamonds are a mom’s best friend!
Plenty of ideas that cover all of the above and more follow—I hope you find something fun to treat a special mom in your life!
Starting strong with OSEA’s Body Glow Trio (PRIYANKA10). This specific body oil has been mentioned by name by several new mom friends over the years! Most told me that they savored nice skin and body care products, especially in the early postpartum days. I had always assumed that new moms would be too busy to really enjoy that stuff, but so many said that they appreciated little things that elevated the few minutes they have to themselves. This trio from OSEA does exactly that—their hero Undaria Algae body oil is deeply hydrating and nourishing, the citrus-y body wash is gentle with a bright, uplifting scent, and I love to layer their lightweight body lotion first and then lock in the moisture with the oil. The price is a steal ($68 for two full size products, plus the travel size lotion), and our discount works on top of it! It’s worth grabbing a few to treat all the moms in your life!
To that same end, ROZ’s sets have gotten rave reviews from new mom friends (it’s what I’ve sent a couple of them!), Glamsquad (SIBAL for $25 off) is a great way to gift an at-home mani/pedi or a blowout (why not both?!), and this Mane brush helps style otherwise lifeless hair in five minutes or less!
You know we love diamonds, and this list has plenty of options! This solitaire is simple, stunning, and $500ish (an astonishingly good price for real gold and a natural diamond—I’m not a mom but I might have to grab for myself…). These lab diamond tennis bracelets are beautiful in person, and easier to wear on the playground than the real thing. Sophie Bille Brahe’s initial necklace is cooler than most for the mom who wants to keep her baby’s name close. And if she’s wearing a giant diamond pendant, she’s my kind of mom!
Judging by how many times my own mom has not so subtly hinted that I should bring my sauna blanket home for her, I think I know what she wants this year! I imagine it would also be a hit with other moms of adult children (just don’t forget the towel inserts!). My mom is also obsessed with manuka honey—I just know she would finish this face mask in a week and a half or less.
This chic gathering basket was made for the moms who love to garden, and this packable visor pairs perfectly. Plus it rolls up and fits right into diaper bags for trips to the playground! Le Prunier (SIBAL15) makes a luxe mineral SPF and a fabulous set for the moms who are into clean beauty—their gentle exfoliating mask is one of my favorites! And for the mom who’s never sacrificing style, try these snakeskin slingbacks (I love these sandals by them too!).
Other ideas that didn’t make the collage cut: Audiobook credits, the ultimate travel companion (PRIYANKA20), massage gift certificates, a solo night at a nice hotel, and class packs to her favorite workout studio.
Flowers? For Mother’s Day? Groundbreaking. But if you know she really loves them, spice up her life with a cool girl florist! I did that one year, and my mom couldn’t stop talking about how amazing they were! For the same scent without any of the upkeep, the XL version of this candle is a showstopper.
Most washable silk PJs are not so great IRL, but these ones are an exception! They’re SO soft, lightweight, and insanely luxurious, and I love the stripes! For the mom who prefers a bolder look, these fun bath robes are another favorite (currently on sale, and available in a summer-ready length too!), and this brand makes another very popular mom bag option (seriously—it was mentioned three separate times by various friends!).
Most moms could use a martini, but that doesn’t feel like enough on its own, so pair it with Goop’s Martini Bath Soak and let her enjoy it in the bath while you handle dinner/bedtime. Throw in some Naked Beauty eye masks (PRIYANKA15) for good measure. At $50ish, Furtuna’s lip balm (PRIYANKA15), Chanel’s lip & cheek, and Hermes’s rosy lip oil also make for sweet little treats for the mom with luxurious taste.
Splurgier: A full red light panel (when the Venn Diagram between almond mom and biohacker overlap), this red light helmet (for the mom who misses her hair pre-kids and doesn’t mind looking a little insane to get it back), and a calendar charm (for the sentimental mom who’s decidedly less newfangled!).
A good night’s sleep and motherhood don’t always go hand-in-hand, but OSEA’s Bio-Retinol Body Serum (PRIYANKA10) can help with that! The bio-retinol works to firm and smooth, while lavender and magnesium promote relaxation and better sleep. The texture feels like a lightweight moisturizer and I love it after a hot shower right before bed.
If you want to know what’s at the top of every mom’s list this year, it’s this perfect tote (paging my friend Margaret’s husband—this one’s for you!!). She also mentioned these Petite Plume PJs…! Other popular pairs: These from Negative (splurgy, so they make a good gift) and this breast feeding-friendly pair by Lake Pajamas (a new mom favorite).
Fewer Finer’s jewelry box is always a good idea—even better if you plan to fill it over the years! Some ideas: Cutout charms of your kids’ or family’s zodiac signs (these are petite, so you can wear multiple together), these stunning birthstone charms, or the ultimate mom watch (don’t shoot the messenger!).
For the moms who love tea, Forgrave does sweet customizable canisters and tea sets (PRIYANKA15). For the ones who like a little whimsy, why not wear a Loewe watering can?! On the more practical side, this fun pearl cord was made for the mom who’s always losing her phone. And my friend Juliet says this is the only hair clip that has survived her two young daughters—she keeps one in every bag.
And last but never least, Venus et Fleur’s forever flowers are a forever favorite for moms at every stage! Whether she’s an empty nester who spends half the year traveling or a brand new mom celebrating a new arrival, go the extra mile and make sure the flowers will still be beautiful when she has a minute to enjoy them!
As a mom, I endorse all this messaging!