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13 Thoughtful Gifts to Make Mom's Holiday Special

Not sure what to get your mom this year? We've got plenty of options for you to check out.

5 min read
$50 at Kohl's
sephora mask set
Holy Sheet holiday skin care set
A variety pack for the mom who loves skin care
$60 at Gorjana
gorjana initial necklace
Gorjana Wilder alphabet necklace
A meaningful piece of jewelry she'll treasure
$75 at Clare V.
clare v clutch with lips
Clare V. coin clutch
An adorable little bag from the coveted California brand
$150 at Amazon
beats-studio-buds-new-colors.png
Beats Studio Buds
So mom can listen to her podcasts in peace
$150 at Amazon
$19 at Amazon
gratitude journal
You Already Have the Answers gratitude journal
A year of prompts for the introspective mom
$19 at Amazon
$200 at Amazon
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Sheets & Giggles premium sheet set
Impossibly soft and silky
$200 at Amazon
$180 at Amazon
shun-knife
Shun Classic hollow-ground chef's knives
One of the classiest knives you could buy
$180 at Amazon
$149 at Amazon
illy-y3-3.png
Illy Y3.3 espresso and coffee machine
A sleek machine for the coffee-loving mama
$149 at Amazon
$89 at L.L. Bean
llbean-slippers.png
L.L. Bean Wicked Good slippers
For the mom who needs to rest her feet
$198 at Lunya
lunya.png
Lunya pajamas
Washable silk sleepwear is a sought-after gift
$36 at United by Form
united-by-form.png
United by Form candle
Fancy candles are a mom staple
$35 at Amazon
vahdam tea sampler
Vahdam tea sampler
A comforting holiday collection
$35 at Amazon
$55 at Plants.com
fiddle-leaf-plant.png
A fiddle leaf fig
The houseplant trend is going strong

Your mom deserves something special this holiday season, and to help you find the perfect gift, we've rounded up some of our favorite picks on the market right now. There's something for every kind of maternal figure in your life, whether she prefers something flashy and stylish, or something practical that she'll use every day and think of you. So no matter what kind of mom you're shopping for, you're sure to find the right gift (or at least some great ideas) on this list. 

Any of these picks will score you major points with Mom this holiday season, whatever your budget. At the lower end of the scale, we have an insightful gratitude journal for $20, or you could go all the way up to a washable silk pajama set for closer to $200. By the end of this roundup, you may have added a few things to your own wish list. Don't say we didn't warn you.

sephora mask set
Sephora

Eighteen different masks and two packs of cleansing wipes are included in this limited-edition holiday set from Sephora -- a $92 value. Moms who chill out with skin care will treasure this box of refreshing products. Among the bounty: charcoal nose strips, caffeine eye mask, mango face mask, cactus foot mask and more.

gorjana initial necklace
Gorjana

Initial necklaces have become a motherhood staple. Gorjana's gold Wilder necklace is a classic piece that Mom will wear for years to come. Customize a necklace with an initial -- probably yours, since you are her favorite child. Or order one for a new mom and create a special holiday memory.

clare v clutch with lips
Clare V.

Clare V. bags are in-demand, and if you can't splash out on a larger purse, why not opt for a coin clutch? This little Italian leather zip holds change, cash, lipstick and whatever else mom doesn't want floating around loose in her purse. There are 16 great designs to choose from; we think the lips are a fun choice.

beats-studio-buds-new-colors.png
Beats
Product details

You know mom needs peace and quiet to listen to her music and pods, and the Beats Studio Buds are just the ticket. These popular earbuds feature excellent audio quality, active noise cancellation and water resistance. There's also a built-in microphone for calls. They're available in six colors, and we think mom might love the new hue, sunset pink.

Read our Beats Studio Buds review.

gratitude journal
Amazon

Designed to delve into mom's own wisdom, this new journal features 365 insightful prompts from writer Amanda Deibert, described as "part-Mr. Rogers, part-foul-mouthed, cool aunt." Each month has questions that revolve around a theme, so mom can take some time to enjoy self-discovery, cultivate gratitude and have some laughs along the way. It's being released Dec. 6, but you can preorder it now, and it will still get there well ahead of Hanukkah or Christmas.

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Sheets & Giggles

Made from eucalyptus, these ultrasoft sheets from Sheets & Giggles let you sleep cool and comfortably, without building up body heat overnight, slipping off the bed or coming up short under the chin. 

"I could live in these sheets," said CNET How-To Editorial Director Jessica Dolcourt, who bought and tested three other sheet sets before finding this lyocell set. Sheets & Giggles sheets come in eight solid colors and three striped patterns, ranging from gray and blue shades to deep purple.

shun-knife
Shun

If your mom loves to cook -- or anyone in your family, really -- a gorgeous Shun knife makes a fantastic and memorable gift. The traditional Japanese knife, available in a 6- or 8-inch blade, is practical enough for everyday use and also incredibly beautiful, with a decorated blade that stands apart from typical workhorse knives. This splurge gift is a good deal, and a knife we know your mom will reach for again and again.

illy-y3-3.png
Illy

If the mom on your list craves quality caffeine, but you don't have the budget for a Delonghi Dinamica espresso machine (those will run you $1,000), we love the slim Illy Y3.3 IperEspresso. Pop in a pod and brew a single cup of coffee or espresso. The Y3.3 IperEspresso is great for a pick-me-up throughout the day -- no more sad, cold coffee cups left in the microwave.

llbean-slippers.png
L.L. Bean

The ultimate cozy gift: slippers. We love L.L. Bean's classic styles because they really hold up. And shoppers agree, year after year: A rep for the company tells us that last season it sold a pair every minute. The Squam Lake style features a plush Australian lambswool interior and a rubber outsole for durability. They're also water- and stain-resistant and available in six colors.

lunya.png
Lunya

Lunya's Washable Silk Tee Set is the ultimate sleepwear for the mama who's a little extra. Or the mama who deserves a little luxury in her routine! She'll love how easy this set is; it's silk but you can still toss it in the wash. It's available in seven on-trend colors, so all you need to do is pick her favorite hue. We love the deep blue and the limited edition Ground Cinnamon color.

united-by-form.png
United by Form

How can Mom resist the chic packaging and lovely scent of a really nice candle? We love United by Form for its sophisticated scents, including meadow (a combination of rainwater, honey, fig and cypress) and spirit (leather, smoke, sandalwood, cardamom and papyrus). Cabin is also a great winter choice; it smells like campfire, cedar and amber. Each hand-poured 8-ounce candle has a 50-hour burn time.

vahdam tea sampler
Amazon

What a cozy gift! If the mom on your list is a tea drinker, we think she'll love the Vahdam Holiday Breakfast tea set. The set includes nine loose-leaf teas (apple cinnamon herbal, vanilla spiced masala chai, chocolate vanilla herbal, Earl Grey and more) packed in a beautiful box. You know who else loves Vahdam? Oprah. Enough said.

fiddle-leaf-plant.png
Plants.com

If mom has a green thumb, or at least is trying to have one, help her create a green haven in the home. The fiddle leaf fig is a popular choice and makes a unique holiday gift. Opt for a medium (16- to 18-inch) or large (30- to 36-inch) plant. Prices start at $55 and go all the way up to $153, depending on the size and style of planter you choose. It arrives ready to gift in a sandstone planter.

More holiday gift recommendations