When it comes to finding the best gift for her, the options really are endless, which can make the search for the perfect present decidedly difficult. It needn’t be, though. She’s sure to be over the moon with anything you give her (particularly if you’re taking our advice).
To help make the present-buying quest a little easier, this gift guide is filled with a range of showstopping ideas. All bases and budgets are covered. Whether you’re shopping for a small trinket, a gift that comes in at less than £50 or a grand gesture, it’s here where you’ll find all the inspiration you need.
On the lookout for something for a house-proud individual? An affordable print will brighten up their living room, while a diffuser is bound to be an instant hit. As for those with a sweet tooth, Crème cookies will go down a treat and Hotel Chocolat’s velvetiser will be the gift that keeps on giving. Jewellery is also an easy win, with Astrid & Miyu and Astley Clarke affordable brands to turn to. Even the notoriously difficult woman to buy for will be catered for. You’re welcome.
How we tested
Compiling a round-up of the best gifts for her is no mean feat, which is why we enlisted the help of the entire IndyBest team, asking them to put forward their ideas for what they think makes a great gift. For each item to make the cut, we considered price, quality and how we’d feel if we unwrapped each one. Keep scrolling for our treasure trove of gifts, each one is as special as the last.
The best gifts for her for 2024 are:
- Best gift for her overall – Astrid & Miyu rope chain bracelet: £60, Johnlewis.com
- Best blow-the-budget gift – Dyson airwrap multi-styler complete long: £479.99, Boots.com
- Best foodie gift – Crème London cookies: £24, Cremelondon.com
- Best fragrance – Jo Malone wood sage and sea salt cologne, 50ml: £82, Lookfantastic.com
Astrid & Miyu rope chain bracelet
If the woman in your life has asked for jewellery, the options really are endless. If they’ve given you little guidance, when it comes to choosing something, we’d recommend opting for a simple piece that they will wear every day. And you really can’t go wrong with Astrid & Miyu’s rope bracelet. It’s got a nice thickness to it, yet still feels dainty and looks lovely when worn alone, but equally as nice when stacked with other bracelets – particularly the brand’s bold tennis bracelet (£85, Astridandmiyu.com). Despite coming in at just £60, it looks far more expensive and will be a piece that she will cherish. When ordering, don’t forget to bear in mind whether they’re a gold or silver wearer.
Buy now £60.00, Johnlewis.com
Tatiana Alida champagne please print
Artwork makes a wonderful gift. And Tatiana Alida is one of our favourite illustrators right now. Known best for her bold and joyful prints, each one is sure to brighten up the home of your giftee. The cocktail collection is wonderful and has something for every type of drinker – whether they’re partial to an espresso martini or picante, Tatiana Alida has you covered. But if the girl in your life is partial to a glass (or two) of champagne, this print is the perfect pick for them. The quality is apparent when it arrives, and it’s made extra special because it’s limited edition, so will hang on her wall in pride.
Buy now £110.00, Tatianaalida.co.uk
Dyson airwrap multi-styler complete long
Needing little introduction, Dyson’s hair tools are some of the most coveted beauty buys around. Yes, it’s expensive, but the airwrap multi-styler is a cult classic for good reason, and any beauty buff would delight in receiving one.
Drying, smoothing, curling and styling simultaneously, the airwrap will streamline their haircare regime by recreating the salon experience at home. The company’s focus on reducing heat damage means the airwrap uses Dyson’s signature coanda airflow.
Nifty features make the airwrap a breeze to use. Firstly, there’s the ability to change the airflow of the barrels for each side of your hair with the flick of a switch, while the coanda smoothing dryer attachment is excellent at taming frizz and flyaways. The dryer (which can easily replace an existing hair dryer) is joined by two different size barrels for tight or looser curls, and a soft and firm smoothing brush (the former is best for thinner hair while the latter is designed for thicker hair). There’s also a round volumising brush that dries and adds volume to hair. With a sleek soft fabric storage case, it feels truly luxe. It is a real investment, but this gift will blow all others out of the water.
Buy now £479.99, Boots.com
Rhode skincare set
Hailey Bieber’s skincare brand rhode made its UK debut in May, and it has gone down a storm. With a focus on well-formulated products that help to achieve glowy skin, it’s become so popular that it keeps selling out. If the woman in your life has been keen to give the skincare staples a try, this full rhode kit is a great gift. It includes the barrier cream and the peptide glazing fluid, both of which helped us to achieve a glowy, glazed skin finish. The hugely popular peptide lip treatment is included, too. The hype is real, and it’s justified, so this gift set is bound to win you serious brownie points.
Buy now £95.00, Rhodeskin.com
ESPA home Oxford edge silk pillowcase
Not only does ESPA’s silk pillowcase encourage a sounder night’s sleep, but both skin and hair reap the benefits of the luxurious design. Made from 100 per cent 22 momme silk, the breathable, durable and soft case keeps you cool while being hydrating against the skin. Silk pillowcases are said to be great at improving the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, while the silky outer also keeps your hair in place and protects against breakage (goodbye, flyaways). Better still, natural silk is antibacterial and hypoallergenic, making this pillowcase a stellar gift for someone with sensitive skin. The glossy finish of ESPA’s pillowcase is elevated by the minimalist logo in the right-hand corner, with the envelope-style design slipping easily over pillows.
Buy now £60.00, Cultbeauty.co.uk
Stanley quencher H2.0 flowstate tumbler
Stanley quencher cups are the unlikely product to have the internet in a furore. Selling out more than four times since launching in the UK earlier this year, the reusable water bottles boast a 1.2l capacity, an array of pastel-hued finishes and can keep water chilled for up to 11 hours (or two days when iced). Boosting our daily water intake while working from home, and complete with a handy car cup, ergonomic handle and straw for easy sipping, the Stanley only falls short in its portability, as it’s not fully leakproof. Whether you opt for the rose quartz, chambray or sage green colourway, just make sure you’ve signed up for restock notifications, as these cups sell out fast.
Buy now £44.99, Stanley1913.com
Hello Klean hard water shampoo and conditioner
Dragons’ Den fans might already be familiar with Hello Klean after it won the backing of Steven Bartlett in the latest season of the show. The beauty brand is devoted entirely to combatting the effects of hard water with high mineral content on our hair and skin, a persistent problem in Southeast England. With Hello Klean’s shampoo and conditioner set, our hair went from straw dry to bouncy, soft and looking healthy.
There is significantly less breakage, and it makes our hair smell fresh and minty, too. The shampoo has a black consistency but lathers into foamy white bubbles when we scrub it in, with a second pump of the hard water conditioner ensuring our hair stayed soft. A big game-changer for those with dry hair and skin.
Buy now £30.00, Helloklean.com
Apple AirPods pro 2
Apple’s AirPods need no introduction. Once the butt of numerous jokes, now you can’t walk a few metres without seeing the white stems hanging out of someone’s ears. And for good reason – they’re some of the best wireless earbuds we’ve ever tested. With excellent active noise cancellation and transparency modes, these offer a super simplistic way of increasing and decreasing the volume on the earbud itself, and a wireless charging case. The current generation model even has a speaker on the underside, so you can find it if it ever gets lost.
In the autumn, Apple is updating the AirPods again, making them even more worthwhile. Listeners will get adaptive noise cancellation, so the level of sound filtering through the earbuds will shift depending on your environment. Apple will roll out a new feature called personal listening as well, which will lower the volume when you’re having a conversation and boost the sound of the person you’re chatting to.
Buy now £239.00, Amazon.co.uk
Chilly’s water bottle series 2, 500ml
Chilly’s water bottles are a cult favourite for a reason. They’re stylish, keep our drinks cool (or hot) for hours on end, and never leak. Featuring a loop handle in a range of wicked designs, with a comfortable textured steel material, Chilly’s bottle is easy to grip and looks the part in the office and at the gym. Plus, the lip is just the right size for sipping. We did find that sometimes the anti-microbial neck came off when we just wanted to unscrew the lid, but that’s just a slight niggle, considering it kept our water fresh and clean for longer. The rubber grip on the bottom is a handy little design feature, too.
Buy now £30.00, Chillys.com
Dock & Bay towel
This is an excellent – and incredibly practical – gift for anyone who travels frequently or spends time swimming and at the beach. Dock & Bay towels not only come in a range of fun and stylish stripy designs, but they also pack away into an impressively small bag, so are ideal for popping in your suitcase or backpack. Compared with bulky, heavy towels that need to be hung over balconies or bathroom racks for hours, these have been designed to dry quickly and don’t harbour any damp or musty smells. The option for personalisation is a nice touch, too. Even better, Dock & Bay is committed to helping the planet – and has taken meaningful steps to these ends. All products are made from 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles, the shipping packaging is fully biodegradable, and the brand supports charities such as Stonewall and The Red Cross.
Buy now £25.00, Dockandbay.com
Our Place perfect pot
Our Place’s practical yet aesthetically pleasing range of pans, pots and dinnerware make stellar gifts for foodies. New to the family, the brand’s perfect pot features an eight-in-one design, 5.2l capacity and non-stick ceramic coating for all your culinary needs. From boiling, baking and frying to roasting, braising, straining, serving and storing, the lucky giftee will be able to rustle up everything from pasta dishes and stews to casseroles and roasted vegetables. There’s a colour to suit everyone, from pink-hued spice and baby blue to sage green and bold rosa. Just as good for display as it is for dinnertime, home cooks would be charmed to receive a perfect pot.
Buy now £105.00, Fromourplace.co.uk
Nephthys Illustrated le homard print
You’ve likely seen Nephthys Foster’s unique prints all over your Instagram feeds, and the designs are sure to bring joy to someone unwrapping them. The independent illustrator has a distinctive style that favours colour, bold motifs and typography, from a “pasta party” range to cocktail designs. This print features a lobster and lemons set on a blue checkerboard background with blue typography. It’s sure to add character to your giftee’s walls. It’s available in A4, A3, A2 and A1 sizes, and the crisp print really pops in a matching red frame (find one from £9.95, Amazon.co.uk). If you’re after an affordable gift for the interior lover in your life, Nephthys Foster’s website has a print for every taste.
Buy now £14.99, Nephthysillustrated.co.uk
The White Company Seychelles diffuser
Scents can be quite personal, so picking a candle, diffuser or perfume is often a little tricky. But it’s hard to go wrong with The White Company’s popular Seychelles scent. It’s light, fresh and subtle, with notes of bergamot, amber and vanilla, so a good choice if you’re not sure of your recipient’s exact personal taste. The diffuser is strong enough to fill a room, without being overpowering, and should last for around three months, although, we found this to be a conservative estimate. The White Company’s Seychelles collection also includes a hand wash, lip balm, a luxurious-looking hamper and some beautifully packaged candles, all of which make gorgeous gifts.
Buy now £30.00, Thewhitecompany.com
Hoka sky quilt jacket
Better known for its super-springy shoes, Hoka’s apparel is often overlooked, but the running gear makes great gifts for fitness fanatics as the products are both attractive and technical. The sky quilt jacket comes in an attractive green colour and is lightweight yet toasty warm, making it an excellent choice for running in the elements or just popping out to the pub. Although it’s stylish enough for casual wear, the jacket doesn’t scrimp on technical features. The brand’s signature insulation traps heat while allowing freedom of movement, which makes it excellent for hiking or working out. It also tucks away conveniently into a compact bag, so is ideal for travelling.
Buy now £125.00, Hoka.com
Crème London cookies
Edible treats always go down a storm. If your recipient has a sweet tooth, these New York-inspired cookies are a must. Made by London-based dessert shop Crème, these aren’t your bog-standard bakes. Oh no, these ones are seriously thick, come packed with chocolate chunks and have a soft, gooey centre that makes it near impossible not to finish the whole box in one sitting. Plus, there are four delicious flavours to choose from: milk chocolate, white chocolate miso, banana dark chocolate (our personal favourite) and vegan double chocolate.
Ideal for those who live near and far, you can order online and choose to either collect the cookies from the brand’s Soho store or get them delivered direct to your loved one’s door, where they’ll arrive housed in a lovely pink box. For a personal touch, you can also include a note with your order, ensuring you get full credit for sending such a delicious present.
Buy now £24.00, Cremelondon.com
Escentric Molecules molecule 01
A new fragrance is always well received, especially when it smells as good as this. Courtesy of German perfumery Escentric Molecules, molecule 01 is unlike any other scent, as it works in sync with each individual wearer’s natural pheromones to create a totally unique aroma, making it ideal for gifting. Subtle yet instantly identifiable, it’s guaranteed to attract compliments (we’re often collared by passers-by wanting to know what perfume we’ve got on) and, while the fragrance is hard to define, our best description would be a fresh, light and sultry musk. Long-lasting and timeless, there’s a reason this perfume has cult appeal.
Buy now £50.00, Escentric.com
The North Face glacier fleece
We love The North Face fleeces in pretty much all their styles, but the classic glacier is our top choice for gifting, as it’s simple, super soft and surprisingly affordable for the brand. At its full price of £60, it is already very decently priced, but currently reduced by half to £30 in most colours, it’s a real bargain. We’re fans of the lupine and light grey heather shades, but the fleece is also on sale in the classic black, white, navy and khaki stone. It’s ideal for hiking and wintry days out (you can throw a shell jacket over the top when it rains), or for simply snuggling up at home on cold evenings.
Buy now £30.00, Thenorthface.co.uk
Astley Clarke silver celestial linia small hoop earrings
The ultimate staple accessory, hoop earrings are a great addition to any woman’s jewellery box and, while we own several sets, this pair from Astley Clarke is one of our favourites. Measuring 18mm, they’re the perfect size for everyday wear but, thanks to the luxurious ridged textural detailing, they work just as well for special occasions, too. Crafted from solid sterling silver, the dainty design makes a subtle statement and we really like how secure they feel, thanks to the sturdy click closure. If silver isn’t your recipient’s metal of choice, fear not, as the linia earrings also come in yellow and rose gold.
Buy now £65.00, Astleyclarke.com
Whistles Bibi crossbody bag
It is nigh on impossible to go wrong with a black crossbody bag, particularly when it’s from Whistles – a brand you’re guaranteed to find in any well-dressed woman’s wardrobe. An easy-to-wear style, the Bibi lends a polished finish to practically any look, thanks to its soft leather outer, and we love the flash of shiny silver hardware detailing. An ideal size, it doesn’t feel too cumbersome, yet there’s plenty of room for all your essentials – we managed to fit a mobile, cardholder, small make-up bag, keys and perfume inside with room to spare. Plus, there’s a handy second compartment that flaps over the front, which is great for keeping your things separate and easy to find. If the black colourway doesn’t appeal, there are 11 others to choose from – we’ll take the lot, please.
Buy now £129.00, Whistles.com
No7 future renew eye serum
Who wouldn’t want the gift of youthful-looking skin? The delicate area around our eyes is one of the first giveaways of age, and it’s never too early – or too late – to start taking care of it. The No7 eye serum is a powerful way for 20-somethings to protect their peepers from the environmental aggressors that cause lines and wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and niacinamide will infuse the skin with moisture and protect the skin’s barrier.
What makes this serum stand out from most is its ability to repair damaged skin. During testing, we found laughter lines looked less noticeable within a week of daily use, while skin looked brighter and more radiant. Boots says this is down to pepticology, No7’s new and exclusive peptide technology developed by world-leading scientists. We say thank you to Boots for bringing us an eye serum that works better than most for less than £25.
Buy now £24.95, Boots.com
Molton Brown jasmine and sun rose eau de toilette gift set
Warm, fruity and luxurious, the exotic jasmine flower is used in some of the fragrance world’s sexiest scents. The flower thrives in warm, tropical destinations, radiating a serene, sensual aroma beneath the sun’s rays. Here, tropical holidays and floral bloom have been bottled up in the form of this body wash and eau de toilette. The bath and body wash made our bathroom smell beautiful long after we’d left the shower, and it lingered for ages on the skin. But it was the eau de toilette that really made us feel like a goddess. The set comes packaged in an elegant gift box, so you wouldn’t need to waste time or effort wrapping it up.
Buy now £110.00, Moltonbrown.co.uk
Hotel Chocolat the velvetiser
Curling up with a hot chocolate on the sofa while it’s too cold and dark to go outside is an instant mood booster. If you want to make the woman in your life smile, the velvetiser is a gift that keeps on giving. It’s a compact, space-saving appliance that makes rich, luxurious and velvety smooth hot chocolate in less than three minutes, all at the touch of a button.
By simultaneously heating and whisking the milk and hot chocolate together, it creates a homogenous, silky-smooth mixture with a frothy top. All we had to do to make the best hot chocolate we’ve ever tasted in our life was pop the whisk inside, add milk up to the line indicated, and add a sachet of chocolate. Then, it’s just a case of placing it on the included mains-powered base and pressing the large power button on the side. It’s available in copper, white and black, and will suit all kitchen schemes.
Buy now £99.95, Hotelchocolat.com
Headspace subscription
The leading mindfulness app is a great tool for guided meditation and managing stress. Narrated by a team of caramel-voiced hosts – whose soft-spoken delivery is fine-tuned to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up – Headspace offers a range of expert-led programmes around improving health and happiness. A particularly great gift for someone who leads a busy life.
We particularly enjoy the “sleep casts”, short audiobooks designed to help you fall asleep. It includes one story about being a passenger in a car on a rainy night, driving into a forest. We don’t know how it ends.
Buy now £49.99, Headspace.com
Fitbit luxe fitness tracker
If you’re buying a gift for someone you know wants to track their fitness and activity levels throughout the day but doesn’t want to mess around with a full-blown smartwatch, the thin and lightweight Fitbit luxe can do just that. It’s a touch more fashionable than the usual sporty fitness trackers, and it counts steps, heart rate, workout intensity, sleep and more.
The Fitbit app is our favourite of the health apps, and, while you do need to pay to unlock some of the cooler features such as personalised insights, the tracker comes with a free six-month trial included.
Buy now £89.00, Amazon.co.uk
Oodie avocado wearable hooded blanket
When it comes to sartorial choices providing comfort, cosiness and warmth, it’s fair to say hooded blankets are unmatched. Hailing from one of the leading brands is the oodie, a vegan and cruelty-free throw characterised by its super oversized fit and thick, blanket-like design that comes lined with impossibly sumptuous sherpa fleece.
The addition of the hood offers that extra level of cosiness while the sleeves are far more practical (and far less annoying) than wearing an actual blanket around the house to keep warm.
A brilliant present for anyone who loves to hunker down or especially feels the cold, there are also ample designs to make the present feel more personal to them, from avocado-covered options to bright pink Barbie prints and plain colourways.
Buy now £64.00, Theoodie.co.uk
Clinique almost lipstick black honey
We were tempted to try Clinique’s almost lipstick black honey when it started doing the rounds on TikTok, despite the fact it had already been a cult classic long before the social media hype, with the colour first launched by Clinique in 1971.
It’s designed for all skin tones and has a sheer, buildable finish with a subtle gloss to it that has easily made it our tester’s favourite low-maintenance lip colour. Looking slightly different depending on the wearer, owing to the pigment marrying with the colour of their lips, we also found it a less drying alternative to lipstick for everyday use, applied over lip balm and even used to create a cream blush-effect flush on our cheeks.
Buy now £24.00, Clinique.co.uk
Stripe & Stare long pyjama set
These pyjamas are so soft, breathable and lightweight, they feel as though they’re hardly there. There is a range of different colours and patterns to choose from – think floral and a midnight blue – should you think the stripy pink pair we tried won’t float your giftee’s boat, while the stretchy material and (very) stretchy waistband made these supremely comfortable. What’s more, the brand says it will plant one tree for every order made, so you can feel even more pleased about your purchase.
Buy now £95.00, Stripeandstare.com
The Flat Lay Co London velvet make-up bag
Where many other make-up bags fall short, this cleverly designed pouch presents you with all your make-up simultaneously, so your giftee won’t need to waste any time combing through their bag for that one elusive eyeliner when they’re in a rush. It does this by opening up completely and then laying down flat, so products can fan out, doubling up as a make-up mat in the process, for touching up on the go.
There are eight bands inside the bag, to hold brushes in place; a zipped pocket on the inside, and two larger pockets on the outside, so there’s room for smaller products, and we liked how Velcro can be used to hold the bag in a more upright position. Practicality aside, it also looks lovely in the sage green colour we chose, and it boasts a luxe feel, thanks to the smooth velvet finish.
Buy now £24.99, Lookfantastic.com
e.l.f. O face satin lipstick
We’ve raved about the e.l.f. O face satin lipstick before, as our beauty writer dubbed it their best bargain beauty buy. Coming in at less than £10, it’s cheap, cheerful and will work really well as a lower-priced pick. We’re confident it will really wow even the hardest-to-please make-up fans, thanks to a strong pigment and long-lasting shade. Plus, there are more than 20 different colours to choose from, to suit every skin tone, type and style.
Buy now £9.00, Elfcosmetics.co.uk
Self(ish) Company mango mantra soy candle
When gift shopping it’s worthwhile looking to small local sellers, such as this Hertfordshire-based company. With the candles being hand-poured, vegan and made from as many UK-sourced ingredients as possible, every order makes a big difference to founder Charlie and his team, which certainly leans into the festive spirit.
This mango-scented candle is one of the strongest (yet not overpowering) ones we’ve tried, and it really brightens up the room with both its smell and appearance. While this one may be a little summery for wintertime, there are other scents such as mystic oud and lazy rhubarb that are sure to work wonders at lifting spirits when it’s cold and dark outside.
Buy now £18.00, Selfishcompany.com
Simba hybrid pillow
A good pillow will change your life, and the Simba hybrid is among the best pillows on which you could ever hope to lay your sleepy head. It’s packed with lots and lots of tiny foam nanocubes, which you can remove or add more of, to adjust the pillow’s height and firmness, so you can get it just right. For fans of extra-firm pillows, Simba also makes a firm version of the hybrid (£159, Simbasleep.com).
Buy now £81.75, Simbasleep.com
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