Sex, Dating & Relationships

Best Valentine's Day gifts for her: Thoughtful picks to up the romance

We're picking the bar up off the floor.
By Leah Stodart  on 
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best valentine's day gifts for her
Credit: mashable photo composite

Happy Valentine's Day season, lovebirds. Here's how to impress your wife, fiancé, girlfriend, or that cute girl in your building you've been flirting with for months:

1. Don't get her that gaudy chocolate diamond necklace that jewelry stores are shoving down your throat.

That's it, that's the whole gift guide.

OK, maybe it's not that easy, but finding a romantic Valentine's Day gift that's not a complete cliché doesn't have to be hard. Why give her jewelry every year when she's been complaining about how crappy her tablet is?

Real romance isn't about the amount of money you spend or picking out the biggest bouquet of roses. It's about showing that you pay attention to her complaints, know what she likes, and appreciate what she does for you by gifting her something that makes her life easier. If you're doing long distance, for example, a gift that keeps communication a priority is a no-brainer. You know, that healthy relationship stuff.

From wine and beauty subscriptions to smart home devices to thoughtful personalized items, there's an option for whatever type of lady you've got on your hands — even if that type is Picky as Hell.

Here are the best gift ideas for her this Valentine's Day:

star map in frame
Credit: MODERN MAP ART

A personalized star map (opens in a new tab)

Best for an extra sentimental person

If you're looking for a gift that no one else has, a personalized star map of a special day from your relationship is a safe, super romantic (albeit corny) bet. The artist will create a canvas of how the stars in the night sky were positioned on that specific day.
two heart shaped succulents in pots
Credit: THE SILL

A heart-shaped succulent (opens in a new tab)

Best for the plant mom

You love her. She loves her plant collection. It works out. This hip gift is the Hoya Kerrii Plant, nicknamed the Hoya Heart due to its heart-shaped leaves. The waxy plant feels like a succulent and is potted in a tiny, precious two-inch pot. It only needs to be watered every three to four weeks and is pet-friendly.
family wearing adidas track suits
Credit: Adidas

SPONSORED | An Adidas tracksuit (opens in a new tab)

Best for ladies of leisure

Nothing says love quite like athleisure. Enter: Adidas tracksuits. A highly-coveted wardrobe staple, these pants and coordinating jackets come in various colors and will look just as at home on the field as they do on the couch.
opened up case with bracelets, earrings, and rings inside
Credit: MEJURI

A travel jewelry box (opens in a new tab)

Best for the jewelry hoarder

As a society, we've accepted that necklaces conspire to tie themselves in knots when we're not looking. It's even worse when traveling — unless they're organized with Mejuri's travel jewelry box. Inside, you'll find hooks for necklaces, holes for earrings, and a pocket for rings. The leather exterior can be monogrammed for free.
hyperice hypervolt 2 black massage gun
Credit: HYPERICE

A massage gun (opens in a new tab)

Best for the lady who needs to relax

Whether she's sore from leg day or has an achy back due to chronic pain, introducing her to a percussion therapy gun is the next best thing to taking her for a daily deep-tissue massage. These devices beat deep into muscles to repair fibers and enhance blood flow, both of which are crucial in relieving pain and for post-workout recovery. The Hyperice Hypervolt is currently one of the best and quietest on the market.
two people smiling at each other while woman holds jewelry box
Credit: KAY JEWELERS

Valentine's Day gifts from Kay Jewelers (opens in a new tab)

Best for a classic gift

Decided that you do want to go the jewelry route? Better make it perfect. Thankfully, Kay Jewelers has plenty of beautiful picks for you to choose from, including pink/red gems, 14K pieces, watches, couples' styles personalized with your names or initials, and much more.
open skincare fridge filled with products
Credit: COOLULI

A refrigerator for skincare (opens in a new tab)

Best for skincare aficionados

Not only is it just refreshing to apply moisturizer that's been chilled, but it also turns out that facial products have a much longer shelf life when kept between 45 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit. A mini-fridge is also an easy overflow space for a cabinet that's already full.
hand with three rings on it
Credit: AURATE

A contemporary diamond ring (opens in a new tab)

Best for the lady with dainty style

How to do diamonds without it looking like a gaudy engagement ring 101: Aurate. This millennial brand has gotten love for its fair prices and minimalistic take on fine jewelry. All of the gold is 100% recycled and sustainably handmade in NYC, and all of the gemstones are sourced from family-run establishments around the globe.
person looking at incoming call from apple watch on their wrist
Credit: Apple

The Apple Watch Series 8 (opens in a new tab)

Best for the lady who appreciates tech

Even people who "don't want an Apple Watch" still kind of want an Apple Watch. She can stay in touch 24/7 with iMessage and social media notifications on its always-on display, sync it with AirPods for streaming, and use it as a fitness tracker.

A silk pillowcase (opens in a new tab)

Best for feeling pampered

Slip pillowcases are 100% pure silk, which is often recommended by dermatologists and hairdressers for its breathability and softness on skin and hair. Your lady can enjoy anti-aging skin benefits, longer-lasting blowouts, and fewer split ends when she lays her head on this cloud — it's so dreamy, you'll want to steal it for yourself.
echo show 8 with three pictures of a family on screen
Credit: AMAZON

The Amazon Echo Show 8 (opens in a new tab)

Best for the ultra-busy lady

With the help of Alexa and the eight-inch screen (a happy medium between the five-inch and 10-inch), she can make hands-free calls, get recipe videos, watch Hulu while cooking, set alarms, control smart lights or thermostats, and more.

A weighted blanket (opens in a new tab)

Best for the cuddler

Having someone to sleep next to is great, but it makes the nights of sleeping alone exceptionally torturous. She'll appreciate the company of a weighted blanket to help her sleep and keep her anxiety at bay, as people have found they mimic the oxytocin-releasing sensation of being cuddled.

A Winc wine subscription (opens in a new tab)

Best for the wine lover

Wine isn't only for special occasions. If she’s the “don’t talk to me before I’ve had my wine” type, gifting a delivery of wine every month is a no-brainer. Winc Wine subscriptions are super customizable, catering to casual and refined palettes based on the wines you like (or don't like) in every box. Monthly boxes start at just $13 per vino.
two ipad pros
Credit: APPLE

The newest iPad Pro (opens in a new tab)

Best for the creative lady

Working ladies need a badass sidekick that can keep up with their lifestyle. She’ll be psyched to have the new edge-to-edge 11-inch iPad Pro and Apple's most advanced tech accompanying her, especially if her projects involve drawing or graphic design (just throw in the Apple Pencil). It weighs one pound and lasts for 10 hours on one charge, so working on the train is a go.
rose covered in gold in front of a gold box
Credit: THE FOREVER ROSE

A gold-dipped rose (opens in a new tab)

Best for the mushy lady

Generic gold jewelry or flowers are expected gifts, but combined? Mind blown. The Forever Rose is a real rose dipped in 24K gold that won't wilt like a real bouquet. It's the rose that will stay with her forever, just like your love. Low-key mushy, high-key sweet. (It's also available in silver and platinum.)
person using dyson supersonic hair dryer
Credit: DYSON

Dyson's Supersonic Hair Dryer (opens in a new tab)

Best for the lady with long locks

If it seems like she cares about her hair more than she cares about you sometimes, Dyson's high-tech hair dryer will have her on cloud nine. Its magnet technology and temperature sensors help prevent burning and allegedly dry hair twice as fast as traditional dryers.

Bath bombs from Lush (opens in a new tab)

Best for the self-care enthusiast

Aesthetically pleasing bath art? Hypnotizing smells? Soft skin? She'll love these. The fizzing balls of soap offer relaxing, anxiety reducing fruity or floral scents, and ones from Lush have an extra hint of brand clout. There's even has a curated section for sexy V-Day products — this one is "Sex Bomb."

A luxury vibrator (opens in a new tab)

Best for the sensual lady

Bae deserves to feel good even when you're not around. Lelo is known for futuristic luxury sex toys, and the best-selling Gigi 2 and its curves are ideal for targeting the G-spot. It's designed for solo pleasure, but you can totally use it when you're together, too.

An MVMT watch (opens in a new tab)

Best for the minimalistic lady

These classy watches are guaranteed to be all over her Instagram feed, as well at the top of her "need" list. MVMT's multiple affordable collections allow you to really home in on a style she could wear every day: Choose from several different faces and an assortment of metal finishes.

An Ipsy subscription (opens in a new tab)

Best for the lady new to glam

When she's a selfless queen, indulging in makeup for herself is probably her last priority. Ipsy can act as her personal shopper and stock her collection with monthly boxes of makeup, skin, and hair products. She'll also have the option to reserve a spot for Ipsy's Glam Bag Plus, which gives $120 worth of products for $25/month.
two glowing purple long distance touch lamps
Credit: FRIENDSHIPLAMPS

Long distance touch lamps (opens in a new tab)

Best for a long distance relationship

Let her know you're thinking of her in real time with long distance touch lamps. After each person connects their lamp to WiFi, they'll sync up, and a quick tap sends a message to the other. A touch to one lamp will make the other light up, adding a warm, cozy glow to her room and her heart.
person wearing a gold 'julia' necklace
Credit: MYNAMENECKLACE

A nameplate necklace (opens in a new tab)

Best for girly girls

The iconic name necklaces made popular in the '90s by Carrie in Sex and the City are hot again. A must-have for any jewelry obsessive, it'll become her go-to piece that goes with everything. Choose from silver, gold, or rose gold, as well as countless style options. You could even get both of your names to kick up the thoughtful factor.
box filled with mini love letters
Credit: SUGARFINA

Sugarfina love letter candy tasting box (opens in a new tab)

Best for the sweet tooth

Forget the box of chocolates from the drugstore and get your honey this fancy candies tasting box instead. Each little love letter has a cute message, followed by a corresponding treat. From “You’re a Peach" with peach Bellini gummies to “Love You a Latte” iced vanilla latte candies, there's a sweet treat here for every candy lover (and if you're lucky, maybe she'll share). 
gray and green lululemon reversible yoga mat
Credit: LULULEMON

The Lululemon Reversible Mat (opens in a new tab)

Best for yogis

If your girl is better at downward-facing dog than most other things, she definitely deserves a high-quality yoga mat. This Lululemon one is a dream for every pose, and is non-slip for sweaty classes. It comes in a few different colors, too, so match it to her favorite leggings.
pink cake with red heart decals with a slice cut out of it
Credit: DUFF GOLDMAN CAKES

A special meal or dessert from Goldbelly (opens in a new tab)

Best for foodies

Does your girl want to travel the country to eat all the best food? Goldbelly has meals and desserts from tons of famous bakeries and restaurants and they'll be delivered right to your door. The Valentine's Day-specific dessert collection starts at $10.95, so you won't have to splurge too much to get your lady a fun foodie gift.
bottle of chanel chance
Credit: CHANEL

A signature scent (opens in a new tab)

Best for classy chicks

There's nothing more romantic than picking out a signature scent for your partner to show that you're thinking of them. This Chanel perfume has notes of grapefruit, quince, rose accord, and white musk. If the lady in your life loves a fruity-floral scent, it's a great go-to.
pink brush
Credit: TANGLE TEEZER

A magic brush (opens in a new tab)

Best for the follically challenged

If you live with your girlfriend, or if you've traveled together, or even if she's just stayed over, you probably know that her presence in your life comes with quite a bit of hair shed. Enter the Tangle Teezer, a wet hair detangler that will minimize breakage so she has thicker, healthier hair and you have an unclogged shower drain.
person chopping greens next to their indoor garden full of herbs and lettuce
Credit: AEROGARDEN

An indoor garden (opens in a new tab)

Best for those with green thumbs

An AeroGarden makes for a fun, fairly easy gardening project, even if her place doesn't get a ton of natural sunlight. She'll also get delicious homegrown herbs and veggie all year — a real "gift that keeps on giving" scenario.

A fuzzy pair of slippers (opens in a new tab)

Best for those who like comfort

No more crawling into bed and sticking your cold feet under your partner's legs. With the UGG Fluff Yeah Slide, you'll be toasty, warm, and cozy as fluff from top to toe.
heart shaped cocette with chocolate cake in it on a kitchen counter with strawberries
Credit: Beautiful by Drew Barrymore

Seasonally appropriate cookware (opens in a new tab)

Best for the cook

Name one thing more adorable than a heart-shaped dutch oven — you can't. While you may have seen the Le Creuset version on your FYP, this pick from Drew Barrymore's line is much more affordable, and is still great for your sweetie to cook and bake with to their heart's content.
person with strawberry baggu on their arm
Credit: BAGGU

Something cute and useful (opens in a new tab)

Best for the person you started dating two weeks ago

No one has ever been disappointed to receive a Baggu bag (fact check pending). These reusable bags are adorable with tons of design options, functional and washable, won't cost you too much, and are easy to tote around literally anywhere.

Leah is a shopping reporter at Mashable, where she covers shopping trends, gift ideas, and products that make life easier. She graduated from Penn State University in 2012 and is watching horror movies or "The Office" when she’s not shopping online herself. You can follow her on Twitter at @notleah(opens in a new tab).


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