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32 Best Mother's Day Gifts to Spoil Mom in 2023

More than two dozen gift ideas for the queen of the castle.

Updated on May 6, 2023

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Written by  David Watsky
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement
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David Watsky Senior Editor / Home and Kitchen
David lives in Brooklyn where he's logged more than a decade writing about all things edible, including meal kits and meal delivery subscriptions, cooking, kitchen gear and commerce. Since earning a BA in English from Northeastern in Boston, he's toiled in nearly every aspect of the eats business from slicing and dicing as a sous-chef in Rhode Island to leading complex marketing campaigns for major food brands in Manhattan. These days, he's likely somewhere trying the latest this or tasting the latest that - and reporting back, of course. Anything with sesame is his all-time favorite food this week.
Expertise Kitchen tech, cookware, small appliances, food innovation, meal delivery and meal kits.
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$130 at Walmart
electric foot massager
Because everything hurts
Renpho foot massager
View details
View details
$125 at Food52
cheese grotto on table
A personal cheese cave. No, really.
Cheese Grotto
View details
View details
$100 at Criterion Channel
dylsxdtxqaaezx4
The gift of film
The Criterion Collection
View details
$25 at Amazon
planter box on railing
Flowers without the work
Self-watering planter box
View details
View details
$17 at Amazon
fluicer juicing lemon into bowl
The best citrus juicer ever
Fluicer juicer
View details
View details
$25 at Amazon
tile tracker on keys
For sanity's sake
Tile trackers
View details
View details
See at Fellow
bags of coffee
Better beans for Mom
Fellow coffee subscription
View details
View details
$395 at Amazon
tiki-brand-fire-pit-1
Get the most out of spring evenings
Tiki fire pit
View details
View details
$299 at Therabody
theragun-prime-2.png
Send those body aches packin'
Theragun Prime
View details
View details
$180 at Amazon
apple-watch-screen-faces-activity-circles-3-de-4
Way more helpful than a Rolex
Apple Watch SE
View details
View details
$159 at Ingarden
header-ingarden
A simple smart garden that fits anywhere
Ingarden microgreens garden
View details
View details
See at Mosaic Foods
mosaic foods.png
Delicious and healthy meals for those busy days
Mosaic Foods plant-based meals
View details
$100 at Williams-sonoma
All-Clad covered frying pan
A superior skillet
All-Clad 10-inch covered frying pan
View details
$100 at Google
google nest hub 2nd gen
A little help around the home
Google Nest Hub
View details
View details
$214 at Amazon
aarke
Make it sparkle
Aarke water carbonator
View details
View details
$348 at Amazon
Sony WH-1000XM4
Quiet, please!
Noise-canceling headphones
View details
View details
$99 at Apple
Apple HomePod Mini 99$ 2021 New Colors
A smarter speaker
Apple HomePod Mini
View details
View details
$31 at Sage & Sill
propagation vase
A charming place for seedlings to grow
Sage & Sill propagation vase
View details
$429 at Sephora
Dyson hair dryer
A hair dryer with serious smarts
Dyson Supersonic hair dryer
View details
View details
$30 at Uncommon Goods
60-hr candle
A slower burn
60-hour candle
View details
$180 at MasterClass
Ron Finley, gardening
A chance to learn from the pros on her time
MasterClass subscription
View details
$200 at Kammok
wearable blanket
For the mom who runs cold
Kammok Bobcat wearable blanket
View details
View details
$154 at Amazon
nixplay.png
All her favorites in one place
Nixplay smart digital photo frame
View details
View details
$129 at Walmart
beats-powerbeats-pro-yellow
A bit of boom and bass
Powerbeats Pro wireless earbuds
View details
View details
See at BloomsyBox
bloomsybox.png
Beautiful blooms that keep on comin'
Flower delivery from BloomsyBox
View details
View details
$199 at Amazon
ode-coffee-grinder
To make truly perfect pots
Ode coffee grinder
View details
View details
$85 at Uncommon Goods
mouth-blown glasses
An ombre design to hold the wine
Mouth-blown glasses
View details
See at Everpresent
everypresent
Digitally scan all of Mom's photos
Everpresent
View details
$50 at Amazon
The Bokksu subscription box and a lot of snacks are displayed against a colorful background.
For a mom prone to snack attacks
Bokksu Japanese snack box
View details
View details
$29 at Amazon
double-walled glasses
For a cappuccino queen
De'Longhi double-walled glasses
View details
View details
$35 at Rei
matador-nanodry-towel
A futuristic towel
Matador NanoDry Towel
View details
View details
$20 at Amazon
face-sprays.png
Mmmmm, that's refreshing
Mario Badescu face spray set
View details
View details

Nobody deserves to be acknowledged and appreciated more than Mom, and Mother's Day is just one of the many days and ways to let her know. This year get the mom or mother figure in your life something extra special she'd never buy herself. We've been heads-down testing the best kitchenware, gear, gadgets and subscriptions to make sure Mom feels properly spoiled this year. 

If you're not yet aware, Mother's Day is May 14 and CNET is the official headquarters for all your gifting glory. For bunches of blooms, we've scoured the web to find the best flower delivery services and surfaced a heap of Mother's Day cards that don't suck

For a great Mother's Day gift, we dug deep into our sprawling hand-tested lists of just about everything to find perfect presents in any category. Whether your mom is a film buff, tech type, culinary queen, gardening gal or fitness fan, we've got Mother's Day gifts that'll definitely make her smile. And if she's flush with physical "stuff," we've got gift ideas that take up exactly zero space, too. 

So be a good kid and read on, will ya? And lay a little love on Mom this May. 

Read more: 15 Mother's Day Cards That Aren't Lame

electric foot massager
$1 at Walmart

Because everything hurts

Renpho foot massager

Mom is walking here, she's walking there, and sometimes back here because she forgot her dang keys (more on that later). She could use a good foot massage or seven, and this compact electric shiatsu massager with heat will do exactly that -- whenever she wants. Ahhh.

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cheese grotto on table
$125 at Food52

A personal cheese cave. No, really.

Cheese Grotto

Novice cheese nerds may find a personal cheese cave overkill. But if Mom considers herself a camembert connoisseur, this device will not only keep those blocks fresh for longer but allow them to age for more robust flavors. It imitates the conditions of a real cheese cave -- proper moisture and temperature -- all within the confines of your fridge.

If you're feeling particularly generous, you can add Cheese Grotto's excellent cheese subscription which starts at $59 per month. 

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dylsxdtxqaaezx4
$100 at Criterion Channel

The gift of film

The Criterion Collection

My Mom told me that at a certain point, getting "stuff" as gifts is more of a chore than a pleasure. If your Mommy Dearest might have a similar feeling about material things piling up, give the gift of the world's greatest movies with a yearlong subscription to The Criterion Collection. 

There are simply too many movies to start naming them (you can browse here), but if Mom digs the classics, from Paul Newman to Pixar, this gift will have her popping popcorn and smiling all year. You can gift a year's subscription for $100 or e-gift cards for individual movie purchases.

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planter box on railing
$0 at Amazon

Flowers without the work

Self-watering planter box

Plants are only as good as the gardener who tends them. If Mom could use a day off from weeding and watering, these self-watering planters will free her up for a margarita or two.

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fluicer juicing lemon into bowl
$0 at Amazon

The best citrus juicer ever

Fluicer juicer

Speaking of margaritas, this amazing juicer is a marg lover's best friend. The genius Fluicer bends and squeezes limes and lemons to get a full juice. It even catches the pulp and seeds in a built-in grate. 

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tile tracker on keys
$0 at Amazon

For sanity's sake

Tile trackers

Tile GPS trackers aren't new but they still make excellent gifts for the Mom who might misplace the occasional beach bag, purse or set of keys.

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bags of coffee
See at Fellow

Better beans for Mom

Fellow coffee subscription

A monthly serving of exceptional coffee is definitely not going unappreciated. Each delivery of unique beans will remind Mom of her favorite kid (that's you). While there are dozens of excellent coffee clubs to choose from, we love Fellow for its quality selections and simple ordering interface. Be it for yourself or a gift, you'll choose light or dark roast and have it sent every two or four weeks, depending on how much java your mom downs.

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tiki-brand-fire-pit-1
$4 at Amazon

Get the most out of spring evenings

Tiki fire pit

If your mom runs as cold as mine, she'll love a fire pit to enjoy time outdoors during the spring, fall or cooler summer nights. CNET tested several fire pits and this model was our favorite overall with its clever airflow system that recycles hot smoke back into the fire chamber. It's also super easy to ignite, firing up in about 5 minutes and fully burning in just 15. Even better, this model generated far less smoke than the other fire pits that were tested.

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theragun-prime-2.png
$299 at Therabody

Send those body aches packin'

Theragun Prime

If you can't hire a personal on-call massage therapist for Mom, this may be the next best thing. The Theragun Prime is our top-rated model with five speeds, impressive power, smart features and a quieter motor than others. Read our full Theragun Prime review here.

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apple-watch-screen-faces-activity-circles-3-de-4
$2 at Amazon

Way more helpful than a Rolex

Apple Watch SE

CNET editor and mom Bridget Carey says, "I never cared about an Apple Watch until I had to do everything at home. Now it's the only way I stay sane." With this multifaceted device, Mom can be with the kids and away from the laptop without worrying about missing a call or big email. 

Working from home while also running a home can lead to some serious scatterbrain and an Apple Watch will help Mom locate her phone if lost, schedule her day, make playlists for running and 1,000 other things.

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header-ingarden
$159 at Ingarden

A simple smart garden that fits anywhere

Ingarden microgreens garden

This might be the most attractive smart garden we've come across and it's impossibly easy to use. Microgreens are best known in their role as entree garnish but these baby vegetable greens are positively packed with vitamins and antioxidants. 

Ingarden has LED grow lights and a reservoir for water that is wicked up into the soilless seed pads. In about seven days, you'll have bushy microgreens to use for salads, sandwiches and a host of other applications. The sleek, simple and clean indoor grower is made from ceramic and steel and fits on basically any windowsill or bookshelf for a welcomed pop of green. See our full review of the Ingarden here

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mosaic foods.png
See at Mosaic Foods

Delicious and healthy meals for those busy days

Mosaic Foods plant-based meals

Everyone could use a few extra meals lying around for those busy days and weeks. Mosaic Foods sends freshly prepared meat-free meals that are as good as any other we tried. You can send a delivery of about eight meals for $70 without committing to any subscriptions. Most are good to pop into the freezer if she's not planning to eat them right away. 

Some of my personal favorites were the chili with jackfruit that had a texture eerily similar to tender pulled pork and the Mediterranean tomato ragout with olives, beans and feta. Read our full review of Mosaic Foods here.

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All-Clad covered frying pan
$100 at Williams-sonoma

A superior skillet

All-Clad 10-inch covered frying pan

In a rigorous test of 10 top skillets, the All-Clad D3 came out on top. If Mom likes to sauté and sizzle, she'll appreciate the even heating and sleek design this high-end frying pan delivers. It'll be her new favorite pan courtesy of her new favorite kid. 

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google nest hub 2nd gen
$100 at Google

A little help around the home

Google Nest Hub

Give Mom a helper of the smart home variety -- this is our favorite overall smart display. Thanks to the built-in Google Assistant, the Nest Hub responds to all of the same voice command options as the Google Home Mini smart speaker. You can also control your smart home devices, like a smart doorbell, with an intuitively designed control panel. The second-generation smart home hub model also includes Sleep Sensing and Quick Gestures thanks to Google's Soli mini radar

The colorful fabric design on this Google assistant smart display allows the device to blend in anywhere, though the tablet touchscreen comes in particularly handy if you want step-by-step help through a recipe in the kitchen. Read our Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) review.

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aarke
$2 at Amazon

Make it sparkle

Aarke water carbonator

Hauling heavy (and pricey) cans of seltzer home from the store can be a thing of the past with an eco-friendly water carbonator. SodaStream is a good option but the Swedish Aarke carbonator is big on style and more giftable if you ask me. It's available in five great finishes to match her kitchen motif. Read our Aarke carbonator review.

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$3 at Amazon

Quiet, please!

Noise-canceling headphones

Sony WH-1000XM4
Pros
  • Excellent sound and top-notch noise canceling
  • Slightly more comfortable
  • Improved voice calling
  • Pairs with two devices at the same time
  • Speak-to-Chat mode
  • Upgraded Bluetooth system-on-chip
  • Good battery life
Cons
  • It's expensive
  • Looks virtually the same as the previous model
Battery Life Rated up to 30 hours
Noise Canceling Yes
Multipoint Yes
Headphone Type Over-ear wireless headphones
Water-Resistant No IP rating

If there's one thing moms put up with way too much of, it's noise. Help her drown out the clamor with a pair of noise-canceling headphones so she can listen to music, podcasts or the soothing sounds of waves crashing on a far-off shore. New moms with small children in sleep training will appreciate them doubly -- triply, even.

Because nothing's too good for Mom, we'd go straight to our top recommendation, the Sony WH-1000XM4. CNET's David Carnoy called it a "nearly flawless noise-canceling headphone." Not only are they more comfortable than the previous iteration, Sony upgraded the voice-calling capabilities, too.

These often sell for as low as $278, but if that's still too pricey we have plenty of other recommended noise-canceling headphones, including earbud models, that start at $100 or less.

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Apple HomePod Mini 99$ 2021 New Colors
$99 at Apple

A smarter speaker

Apple HomePod Mini

This compact Wi-Fi speaker is affordable at $99 and plays bigger than you'd expect for its small size. Yes, it's more appealing to those invested in Apple's ecosystem and comfortable with Apple's voice assistant Siri, which drives the speaker. But the price is right and Mom can pair two HomePod Minis to create stereo sound or combine several to create a multiroom audio system.

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propagation vase
$31 at Sage & Sill

A charming place for seedlings to grow

Sage & Sill propagation vase

A more analog indoor grower is this simple propagation station with a chic rustic look. Plants can live in there, giving your home a fresh pop of green. And Mom can cultivate clippings from existing plants to be potted or planted and make the most of the ones she has. 

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Dyson hair dryer
$429 at Sephora

A hair dryer with serious smarts

Dyson Supersonic hair dryer

If Mom uses a hair dryer regularly, she will almost certainly consider this Dyson an upgrade. The admittedly pricey Dyson Supersonic hair dryer measures air temperature over 40 times a second and regulates heat accordingly. This is all to prevent heat damage to hair that's blow-dried often.

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60-hr candle
$30 at Uncommon Goods

A slower burn

60-hour candle

This unique candle burns for as long as 60 hours and the copper-finished holder is giving off some seriously cool antique energy. This would definitely make a nice centerpiece on the dining table during a relaxing meal. Refills for the candle are $18 so bag one or two for when this long-lasting candle finally does burn out.

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Ron Finley, gardening
$180 at MasterClass

A chance to learn from the pros on her time

MasterClass subscription

Here's another great gift idea that won't need storage. With all the time mom spends keeping the ship from sinking, there's not always time to spend on personal interests and endeavors. MasterClass makes it easy to learn about a plethora of subjects from the folks who know them best. There are cooking classes from icons like Thomas Keller and Alice Waters but also lessons on subjects you might not realize you need help with. 

A MasterClass subscription is $180 for an annual membership and includes more than 100 classes taught by luminaries in fields from fiction writing to poker, there's something here for everyone. With credible teachers, solid production values and a vast catalog of subject matter, MasterClass is like Netflix for the overly ambitious.

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wearable blanket
$200 at Kammok

For the mom who runs cold

Kammok Bobcat wearable blanket

Surely you remember the Snuggie. Well, definitely don't get Mom a Snuggie for Mother's Day. I repeat, don't get your mom a Snuggie for Mother's Day. The wearable blanket has grown up, however, in the form of this stylish and giftable Kammok Bobcat 45. CNET editors like this cozy number so much we stuck it in the master list of best gifts under $250 back in 2021

The 600-fill duck down insulated blanket is plenty warm and, weighing a mere 20 ounces, light enough for camping or wearing around the house (no judgment here). But it's the quilt's poncho mode that makes it the ideal accessory for hanging outside by the fire pit. If the mom you're shopping for tends to run a little cold, this might be an ideal Mother's Day gift as we roll through spring.

Kammok has a slightly more budget-friendly model, the Field Blanket, for $95 as well.

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nixplay.png
$154 at Amazon

All her favorites in one place

Nixplay smart digital photo frame

If you've ever heard mom complain about all those photos sitting in her phone collecting proverbial dust, now is the time to do something about it and a digital photo frame is the thing to do. The Nixplay smart digital picture frame stores thousands of images and will help you display either one or a running slide show of your favorite people and moments so you can actually enjoy them for once. The frame is available in various sizes -- up to 15 inches -- and a motion sensor will turn the frame on and off automatically.

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$1 at Walmart

A bit of boom and bass

Powerbeats Pro wireless earbuds

beats-powerbeats-pro-yellow
Pros
  • The Powerbeats Pro have better sound and battery life than the AirPods and will stay on your ears securely. They offer all the same basic conveniences of the 2019 AirPods, including fast pairing, rock-solid wireless connectivity and always-on Siri voice-recognition for iOS users. Phone call quality is excellent. Physical buttons for music playback control will appeal to Android users.
Cons
  • The Powerbeats Pro are more expensive than AirPods. The charging case isn't pocket-friendly, nor does it offer wireless charging. The headphones deliver some treble push, and may not fit all ears perfectly.
Battery Life Rated up to 9 hours
Noise Canceling No
Multipoint No
Headphone Type Wireless earbuds
Water-Resistant Yes (IPX4 -- splash-proof)

While the Sony noise-canceling earphones are great, not everyone is into that over-the-ear style. Mom can keep one ear on a Zoom call and the other on the kids with these popular and versatile earbuds. Long battery life comes via a case that recharges them throughout the week. The handy ear hook means Mom can wear them anywhere and while doing pretty much anything. Plus, the Powerbeats come in a range of flashy and fun colors.

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bloomsybox.png
See at BloomsyBox

Beautiful blooms that keep on comin'

Flower delivery from BloomsyBox

Flowers for Mother's Day may not be a new concept but with a subscription to BloomsyBox, the bouquets keep coming. You can choose weekly, bimonthly or monthly deliveries of fresh flowers to lift mom in the way only fresh flowers can. You can also choose the bouquet size, priced accordingly, from the Bloomsy Original (18 to 24 stems) all the way up to BloomsyBox's Premium bouquet (27 to 32 stems). 

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ode-coffee-grinder
$2 at Amazon

To make truly perfect pots

Ode coffee grinder

The Ode is one of those luxury gifts that fits squarely in the splurge category, and it should probably be reserved for a true coffee nerd of a mom. I tested the Ode and it grinds faster, more consistently and more quietly than any other I've used. It also aims to please even the most finicky coffee drinkin' mom with 31 (yes, 31) grind settings. 

Important to note that the Ode is engineered specifically for drip coffee and not espresso. The claim is that too many grinders attempt to do both and fail to do either well. It's also not meant to grind large amounts of beans at once, making it ideal for Chemex and pour-over systems.

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mouth-blown glasses
$85 at Uncommon Goods

An ombre design to hold the wine

Mouth-blown glasses

These stemless wine glasses are handmade by Mexican artists, blown from recycled glass to create six elegant vessels for wine, cocktails or water. Because each set is handmade they'll look a little bit different but you can bet they'll draw some attention and compliments every time they're set out on the table.

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everypresent
See at Everpresent

Digitally scan all of Mom's photos

Everpresent

Speaking of memories of the photographic sort. If mom has a pile or piles of old-fashioned paper photos that are susceptible to damage, floods and fires, there's an easy fix: professional photo scanning. Plus, you can use the files to make a sweet digital album or slideshow that mom can share on social media.

Everpresent is a master of photo scanning and will digitally organize any images no matter where they are -- scrapbooks, photo albums or piled up in a shoebox. In fact, the company is especially well-suited to handle photos in all forms, shapes and sizes, turning them into a neatly organized, digitized collection that is completely safe from the elements.

Prefer to curate some photos and give Mom a photo book instead? We've pulled together the best photo book options.

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The Bokksu subscription box and a lot of snacks are displayed against a colorful background.
$1 at Amazon

For a mom prone to snack attacks

Bokksu Japanese snack box

The Japanese have been hiding some seriously good snacks from the rest of us. Bokksu collects the best snacks and treats from the east and sends them west in a tasty, curated monthly snack subscription. A perfect gift for the mom who's prone to a snack attack. It's also a unique gift for the new mom or expecting mom who needs those extra calories.

The best part about Bokksu is that almost none of these Japanese snacks are similar to snacks we already have here in the US, so she'll likely come across some munchies she's never tried before. Snacks run the gamut from sweet to savory with favorites such as seaweed tempura, puffed rice with ramen seasoning, green tea and lemon cakes, Japanese candy including yuzu gummies and creamy matcha Kit-Kats.

You can send as few as three months' worth of snack boxes ($45 each) or as many as a full year ($40 each) and no two snack sends will ever be the same.

Read more: Best Snack Boxes to Gift in 2023

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double-walled glasses
$29 at Amazon

For a cappuccino queen

De'Longhi double-walled glasses

After my Mom treated herself to an espresso machine last year, I followed up with these double-walled cappuccino glasses. It was perhaps the best 15 bucks I've ever spent and they're now the only glasses she'll use for hot beverages. 

This set of two sleek glass coffee mugs are great for coffee but also tea, chai and matcha (see above). If you'd like to really amp the gift up, pair the set with one of these great coffee clubs and subscription services that'll ship the best beans -- espresso and otherwise -- to Mom's door.

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matador-nanodry-towel
$35 at Rei

A futuristic towel

Matador NanoDry Towel

When the opportunity to swim arises, you must always be prepared to take the plunge. This lightweight towel is small enough to throw into a bike bag, backpack or back pocket. According to Matador, it absorbs more than twice its weight (81 grams) in water. It's machine washable and comes in a mesh bag with a sturdy handle and hang loop.

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face-sprays.png
$0 at Amazon

Mmmmm, that's refreshing

Mario Badescu face spray set

Another small luxury for Mom. These bright and refreshing herbal spritzes transport her somewhere much more peaceful than the place she probably is with just a few pumps. The three-pack from Ulta includes an aloe, cucumber and green tea spritz, another with herbs and rosewater and a third with lavender and chamomile to calm and comfort her skin. 

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