Every year, we run through a frustratingly familiar line of questioning with our moms: “What do you want for [insert holiday/birthday/gift-giving occasion] this year?” And, every 365 days, the answer is the same: "Oh, I don’t really need anything.”
Mo-om! Why are you so
difficult to shop for ? As a person who’s spent her life doing things for other people, she may not have her
personal wish list at the ready. Plus,
her taste is so specific — you’ve discovered many a previous year’s present collecting dust in a basement cabinet or stashed, still shrink-wrapped, in a dresser drawer. When it comes to the hard-to-crack giftees in your life, we will happily rise to the challenge — and Mother’s Day is one of our qualifying Olympian events.
Using our vast knowledge of the present-scape, we put on our “ungiftable” hats and combed the internet for inventive and
useful Mother’s Day tokens that have your impossible-to-shop-for mom’s name written all over them. Whether it’s an organic cotton summer-weight coatigan, a fancy face covering from a heritage knitwear brand, or a bestselling rose-scented body butter, there’s a crowd-pleasing present ahead that will pass muster with your tough mother.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Vihannesmaa Tarhuri Oven Mitt
Are her cabinets filled with stained, charred polyester heat-proof gloves that have been kicking around since you were in short pants? Upgrade her stash of kitchen essentials with this vintage-inspired oven mitt from Marimekko — one of our most favorite mom-approved brands.
Shop Marimekko at Nordstrom
Marimekko Vihannesmaa Tarhuri Oven Mitt, $, available at Nordstrom
Dona Chai Tea & Turmeric Concentrate
Your mom has always been tea-curious, and has been known to enjoy many a steaming mug of wellness elixirs over the years. This set of concentrates will bring some new flavors to her 4 PM snack break or after-dinner brew.
Shop pantry gifts at Food52
Dona Chai Tea & Turmeric Concentrate, $, available at Food52
Cee Cee’s Closet Eniola Storage Basket
We — okay, I — are/am obsessed with these colorful catch-all baskets from this New York-based retailer of African-inspired fashion. In addition to the headscarves and apparel that Cee Cee’s Closet creates in collaboration with tailors in Nigeria, the brand also boasts an impressive assortment of colorful and lifestyle goods, including selection of one-of-a-kind storage baskets handmade by Ghanian weavers . Good luck deciding which one your mom will like the most! (Hint: they’re all pretty amazing.)
Cee Cee's Closet Eniola Storage Basket, $, available at Cee Cee's Closet
The Teardrop Tote in ReKnit
She’s the original toter of the “mom” bag — only now she wants to know where your chic, streamlined carryalls are coming from. Introduce her to the world of minimal baggage with the gift of Everlane’s fuss-free, recycled-polyester “teardrop” tote.
Shop accessories at Everlane
Everlane The Teardrop Tote in ReKnit, $, available at Everlane
Lunya Organic Pima Cotton Dress
This much-nicer-than-it-needs-to-be sleep tunic is a major upgrade from the oversized Garfield tee that your mom has been rocking since the 90s. It’s made from super-breathable, GOTS-certified organic Pima cotton, for a luxe wardrobe staple that’s sure to please your picky mom.
Lunya Organic Pima Dress, $, available at Lunya
Terrain Swiss Cheese Plant in Copper Pot
Not only is she your mom — she’s also a top-notch plant mom, and is always happy to take another moment of greenery under her wing. This trailing swiss cheese plant is just kooky enough for her — and the ever-so-slightly patina-ed copper pot will fit right in with her eclectic decor. (The luxe planter makes this gift a pricey one, but Terrain has plenty of more affordable options — like a darling prayer plant for $28 .)
Shop houseplants and succulents at Terrain
Terrain Swiss Cheese Plant in Copper Pot, $, available at Terrain
Margaux Cotton-Cashmere Sock
The gift of foot coverings need not be a snooze-fest — especially when the sock in question is rendered in a luxe, super-soft fabric blend and a cheerful mustard hue.
Shop Margaux
Margaux The Sock, $, available at Margaux
Casablanca Market Morccan Harissa
GlobeIn is one of our favorite resources for thoughtful gifting — the e-tailer sources artisan products from all around the world, and offers both a-la-carte shopping and monthly subscription boxes containing the best of their global, handmade finds. We know your mom will love integrating this smoky, spicy harissa into all of her meals — and you probably won’t mind finding this in the pantry the next time you pay your ’rents a visit.
Shop GlobeIn
Casablanca Market Moroccan Harissa, $, available at GlobeIn
Sudara Anju Long Robe
Not only is this Orgeon-based brand responsible for some distinctly mom-approved loungewear — they also employ women in India who are at high risk for sex-trafficking due to a lack of education and resources, and support this population through their Sudara Freedom Fund non-profit. Mom will appreciate this picture-pretty robe and the social-good aspect of the gift.
Shop Sudara
Sudara Anju Long Robe, $, available at Sudara
Cuddledown Down Wedge Pillow
This beloved bedding brand originated in Maine — where residents are known experts at staving off the cold — and their USA-made down comforters quickly achieved legendary status. Your mom will definitely appreciate the oddly-shaped but undeniably useful wedge pillow, which makes reading and laptopping in bed all the more ergonomic and comfy.
Shop Cuddledown
Cuddledown 95/5 Feather/Down Wedge Pillow (Large), $, available at Cuddledown
St. John Milano Knit Mask
Sure, your mom has all the handmade cotton face masks that a gal could need — but does she have a super-luxe, ultra-chic face covering from this throwback luxury knitwear brand? Treat her to some PPE that she can wear on the most special occasions.
Shop face coverings at St. John
St. John Milano Knit Mask, $, available at St. John
Pact Airplane Cardigan
No one rocks a comfy longline cardigan like your mom, and Pact’s organic cotton, summerweight iteration will definitely pass muster in her tightly edited rotation.
Shop Pact
PACT Airplane Cardigan, $, available at PACT
Beautiful Kitchenware by Drew Barrymore Set of Three Nesting Bowls
You’re obsessed with everything in the actress-turned-lifestyle mogul’s collection of kitchen and cookware — we bet your mom will be, too. The fact that this useful and very pretty set of nesting bowls came from Walmart will warm her bargain-hunting heart, too.
Shop Beautiful Kitchenware by Drew Barrymore at Walmart
Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Set of Three Nesting Bowls, $, available at Walmart
Fulton Insoles
Sure, padding for the inside of your shoe isn’t the most glamorous gift — but for years, your mom has sworn by drugstore-bought insoles to ease her foot pain. Why not treat her to a high-end, sustainably made pair that she’d never buy for herself? Fulton’s spine-aligning insoles are sustainably made from cactus leather, natural latex, and cork, and offer the gift of engineered arch support every day.
Shop Fulton
Fulton Classic Insoles, $, available at Fulton
Mother’s Shea Rose Body Butter
A top-rated moisturizer in her favorite scent is a perfect — and, at $10, perfectly affordable — way to gift some self-care.
Shop Mother’s Shea at Target
Mother’s Shea Rose Body Butter, $, available at Target
Lululemon Scuba Oversized 1/2 Zip Hoodie
Nab your mom one of these top-rated, best-selling half-zip pullovers before they sell out for good — if the reviews and general online fervor surrounding this beloved Lululemon style are any indication, then this perfect layering piece won’t stick around for long.
Shop Lululemon
Lululemon Scuba Oversized 1/2 Zip Hoodie, $, available at Lululemon
Anthropologie Concha Capiz Lantern
For your mom, only the most rare tchotchkes are allowed to live on the hallowed grounds of the living room mantle or curio cabinet — and we daresay that these restrained-yet-charming capiz lanterns might make the cut.
Shop gifts at Anthropologie
Anthropologie Concha Capiz Lantern, $, available at Anthropologie
Olivia Wendel Cheetahs Blanket
Every couch in your mom’s house boasts one of these woven cotton blankets — but has she ever seen a print like one of Olivia Wendel’s organic illustrated cheetahs?
Shop gifts at Free People
Olivia Wendel Cheetahs Blanket, $, available at Free People
Stacy Michelson Mushroom Print
This hand-drawn illustration is both groovy and informative (also two words you’d use to describe your mom). If ’shrooms aren’t your mother’s speed, illustrator Stacy Michelson has a host of original prints that make cheerful infographics out of culinary staples like salt , mole , and Sriracha .
Shop Stacy Michelson on Etsy
Stacy Michelson Mushrooms Art Print, $, available at Etsy
Brooklinen Turkish Cotton Waffle Robe
If you haven’t already gifted your mom one of Brooklinen’s top-rated Turkish cotton robes, the time is now.
Shop Brooklinen
Brooklinen Waffle Robe, $, available at Brooklinen
The Bashful Baker DIY Scone Baking Kit
While we hope you’re going to be seeing your mom IRL on May 9th, some distance may be keeping you separated — that’s where this top-rated DIY scone-baking kit comes in. You can send it to her if she’s far-flung this year — or, just nab it to bake together in person as a Mother’s Day activity.
Shop The Bashful Baker on Etsy
The Bashful Baker DIY Scone Baking Kit, $, available at Etsy
Tracksmith Harrier Merino Long-Sleeve
For the mom who swears by daily exercise — and can kind of kick your ass on the track, although she is kind enough to keep pace with you when you do go running together — this super-high performing, sweat-wicking merino wool layer is the ultimate in active luxury.
Shop Tracksmith
Tracksmith Harrier Long Sleeve, $, available at Tracksmith
Mox Muscle Roller with CBD
And, for her post-workout recovery, your mom will definitely appreciate Mox’s CBD-infused pain serum, endorsed by Kohl’s reviewer Pete: “I was a little skeptical buying the Muscle Roller but my foot pain is terrible and how many Advil can a person take? The product has a lot of CBD in it and an herbal mixture that smells great and feels cooling. But the best part is that it works! It's like it turns the pain off. A truly great product. Worth every penny.”
Shop Mox at Kohl’s
Mox Muscle Roller + CBD, $, available at Kohl's
Urban Outfitters Brass Bag Clips
Add this charming little gewgaw to a goody bag of useful little trinkets for your mom this year — it will brighten up her pantry in an unexpected way.
Shop home goods at Urban Outfitters
Urban Outfitters Brass Bag Clip, $, available at Urban Outfitters
Nustad Family Ranch Freshly Harvested Dried Lavender Bundle
Bouquet of roses? Sorry, not for your alterna-mom — while she’ll tell you that the classic floral arrangement is lovely, she’s more into the foraged vibe. Gift her with an un-precious, heavenly-scented a bundle of dried lavender that’s much more her speed.
Shop Nustad Family Ranch on Amazon Handmade
Nustad Family Ranch Freshly Harvested Dried Lavender Bundle, $, available at Amazon
Nadaam Ultra Fine Cashmere T-Shirt
It took Nadaam years to develop their signature ultra, ultra -fine knit — and it clocks in at a fraction of the traditional retail cost, thanks to a unique supply chain that connects the brand directly with Mongolian goatherds. The super-soft staple is a splurge, but one your mom definitely deserves. The best part? It’s available in an inclusive size range of XXS through 3X.
Shop Nadaam
Naadam Ultra Fine Cashmere T-Shirt, $, available at Naadam
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