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22 gifts for every mother-in-law, no matter your relationship
Score major brownie points with these unique presents
Whether you’re celebrating Mother’s Day, her birthday or any another gift-giving occasion, we’ve rounded up the most thoughtful gift ideas for your mother-in-law. Because we know they can sometimes be one of the trickiest people to buy for.
The White Company Classic Cotton Sateen Stripe Pyjamas
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We have picks to cater to every interest, such as a book journal for the avid reader, a cake stand for the baker or an indoor herb garden for the green-fingered MILs. Not sure what she’s into? We’ve also included plenty of crowd-pleasers that almost anyone would appreciate, from a heated mug to comfortable yet stylish sandals.
Our top picks
- The unique gift idea: Indoor Herb Garden Kit
- The luxury gift: Coach Essential Leather Card Holder
- The self-care gift: e.l.f Cleansing Balm
- The personalised gift: Personalised Velvet Travel Jewellery Box
How we chose
Our list has been carefully curated by our expert shopping editors, whose job it is to find the best products on the internet, whatever you're looking for. As well as including some of their favourite buys, we've pulled from the Good Housekeeping Institute's best in test lists, so you can be sure they won't be disappointed with their new gift.
No matter your relationship, you’re bound to find something your mother-in-law will adore.
This luxurious sleep mask is a firm favourite with Team GH. Made with silk so it won't break your hair, the wraparound design means no light seeps in, helping her get a great night's sleep.
This cleansing balm comes highly recommended by our senior beauty writer, Florence Reeves-White – she loved it so much when she 'borrowed' some from her friend, she ditched her usual cleanser, which costs nearly four times the price.
It melts away makeup without irritating your skin, and is a lovely treat to take your mother-in-law if you're visiting.
For the avid reader, gift her a journal where she can jot down everything from her official book rating to her favourite quotes and excerpts. The journal has space for up to 52 book entries and is available in several colour options.
The White Company Classic Cotton Sateen Stripe Pyjamas
The White Company Classic Cotton Sateen Stripe Pyjamas
Give the gift of comfort with these stylish pyjamas from The White Company. We reviewed them as part of the GHI's cooling pyjamas test and our panellists loved how lightweight and breathable they are. Perfect for a crisp, comfy night's sleep.
If her slippers could use an upgrade, gift her this pair of shearling clogs from Birkenstock. Available in two colours, the wool slip-on style with a hard rubber sole can be worn indoors or outdoors. A great shoe for pottering about in.
Clarins Multi-Active Day Cream SPF15 50ml
Anything from Clarins makes the perfect gift, in our mind. This day cream is a hardworking hydrator that she can use morning and night. Warning: she may expect top-ups every Christmas and birthday, though!
This luxury pick is perfect for treating your mother-in-law on a special birthday or celebration. The leather carrier features two card slots, an interior zip pocket and an exterior slip pocket – all accented by Coach’s signature ‘C’ logo.
An indoor herb garden is a great option for home cooks and green-fingered mothers-in-law. Choose from more than 50 pre-seeded plant pods to grow everything from lettuce and basil to strawberries and tomatoes.
VSITOO S3 Pro 16oz Smart Self Heating Coffee Mug With Temperature Control
Perfect for the mother-in-law who sips their coffee all morning long, this electronic mug keeps her drink warm for up to four hours on its own – or all day when placed on the charging pad. Using the companion app, she can choose her preferred temperature down to the exact degree.
Slip Embroidered Silk Queen Pillowcase
Slip Embroidered Silk Queen Pillowcase
This silk pillow scored an impressive 83/100 on our best silk pillow cases review, earning it a place as a joint winner on the list. Made from mulberry silk, it’s designed to help minimise hair damage while you sleep and prevent your skin creasing, which can lead to lines and wrinkles. Testers loved the quality, breathable feel.
Introduce her to FitFlop's cushioned soles and she'll never go back. Combining style with clever hidden tech to optimise your body's alignment and provide natural arch support, they make a chic but comfy gift.
This trio of hand creams arrives in a decorative box ready for gifting, making it the perfect last-minute present. Inside, they'll find three creams of varying scents: shea, almond and cherry blossom.
Neom Wellbeing Pod Mini+ Essential Oil Diffuser, White
Neom Wellbeing Pod Mini+ Essential Oil Diffuser, White
The mini version of Neom's bestselling diffuser, the mini pod is great for cars and smaller spaces. Add in an essential oil to help them create a mini spa at home. Scoring 87/100 in our testing, it impressed with its long battery life (up to 125 hours) and ability to fill rooms with scent, despite its smaller size.
Missoma is our go-to for elegant, modern jewellery. These gold hoops will look good with anything and everything and make a gorgeous, thoughtful gift (just check she has her ears pierced first!).
The latest AirPods are a great gift for anyone who loves listening to audiobooks and podcasts, as well as music. With great sound quality, good battery life and voice control, they're super intuitive to use and well designed, as you would expect from Apple.
Oliver Bonas Hazel Glitter Green Glass Vase
Oliver Bonas Hazel Glitter Green Glass Vase
This vase, with its shimmering green and gold design, would make an eye-catching addition to any home. We strongly recommend gifting it with a bouquet of flowers too – for bonus brownie points.
This velvet travel jewellery box has space for three necklaces, three pairs of earrings and six rings, plus an adjustable compartment, which makes it ideal for taking away a capsule jewellery wardrobe. Add a name, initial or short message to make it extra personal.
Rise & Fall Polyphenol Rich Extra Virgin Olive Oil - 500mL
Rise & Fall Polyphenol Rich Extra Virgin Olive Oil - 500mL
Extra virgin olive oil is the new red wine, so if you're going to visit your mother-in-law and want to take a gift along, we recommend this delicious bottle from Rise & Fall, which won our GHI Taste Test. It has the aroma of sun-ripened tomatoes and a peppery, rocket-like flavour. Perfect for the foodie MIL.
Transform her bathroom into a tranquil spa with this calming aromatherapy gift set from M&S. Just some of the treats inside include bath salts, body wash and a mini diffuser. Each one is infused with different calming scents, such as lavender, cedar wood and sweet orange. Pair it with a bottle of wine to give her the ultimate night in.
Majority Majority Little Shelford DAB/DAB+ Digital & FM Radio
Majority Majority Little Shelford DAB/DAB+ Digital & FM Radio
Treat her to this little portable digital radio, which she can take outside to listen to while gardening or pop on when she's cooking. It comes in a range of chic colourways and she can also stream her music through it via Bluetooth if she prefers.
Kate (she/her) is the associate editor of The Pioneer Woman Magazine. She writes features, commerce, and travel content. Kate brings nearly five years of home, food, and lifestyle experience to the role, including time as editorial assistant at Good Housekeeping. Her bylines have appeared in Woman’s Day, Food Network Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, Modern Farmhouse Style, Dream Kitchens & Baths, and more. When she’s not writing, Kate can be found lazing in the park with a sudoku in hand.
Madeleine is our Lifestyle Writer, specialising in expert-tested reviews and round-ups on the latest beauty Beauty and Health & Wellness products. From skincare to protein powders, Maddie is committed to providing honest and helpful reviews to help guide readers to the best product for them. Maddie has a BA in English Literature and Language, which stemmed from her lifelong interest in reading and writing. She started her post graduate life at Hearst UK within a marketing capacity, which quickly turned into a desire to fulfil a writing career.
When she is not writing about the latest expert reviewed products, you can find her rifling through vintage shops or car boots, reading a print magazine, or capturing portraits on her film camera.
