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Valentine’s Day is an opportune time to wear your heart on your sleeve — whether that’s setting up a romantic breakfast-in-bed situation for your spouse, tucking a package of Sweethearts into your kid’s lunch box, or presenting a floral bouquet to a friend. But if you’re struggling to choose a gift for the woman you love — especially if heart-shaped, more-frivolous-than-functional Valentine’s Day fare isn’t quite her style — we’re here to help. (Pity the poor giant teddy bear that gets cast aside once the holiday is over.) Here, we’ve rounded up dozens of ideas, from unfussy marzipan bonbons to a good-looking French press, all of which are delightful and Strategist-approved. Every item is available on Amazon, too, for speedy, fuss-free shipping. (And if you’re looking for inspiration for the guys in your life, check out our men’s version of this list.)
Under $25
For the woman who’s always doodling
Let her pretend she’s David Hockney with this digital paintbrush that will turn her phone into a blank canvas.
For the woman who slugs before bed
COSRX’s snail-mucin essence, which went viral on TikTok for its hydrating and brightening abilities, is now available in sheet-mask form.
For the woman who’s a chocoholic
Even fancier than Pocket Coffee, these “classic Austrian confections” are layered, bull’s-eye-style, with marzipan, nougat, pistachio, and chocolate. Jeremy Salamon, former executive chef of the Eddy, loves them for their “very 19th-century high-society vibe.”
For the woman who’s anti-chocolate but pro-sweets
Strategist senior editor Hilary Reid has never encountered anything else that manages to combine “kitsch (delightful), miniatures (equally delightful), and candy (delicious)” quite like marzipan.
For the woman whose vanity is out of control
This handy makeup organizer opens flat, so she can see all her products spread out at once.
For the woman who likes to play games
This charming card game involving “risk, deduction, and a sliver of luck” is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for a board-game fan.
For the woman who hosts happy hour
For the woman who always orders a cherry on top
More complex than American maraschinos, these syrupy cherries typically top gelato, but they can also be paired with creamy Brie or spooned over Greek yogurt, says Strategist contributor Ashley Mason.
For the woman who’s taking a break from gel manicures
Butter London’s nail-strengthening treatment will help nurture her nails back to health with a neat, barely-there manicure.
For the woman who would rather be forest bathing
These balsam-fir incense sticks made by a nearly century-old company in Maine smell like fire in a cabin in the New England woods, says Strategist contributor Belle Cushing.
For the woman who needs something stronger than incense
A longtime Strategist favorite, this lavender-scented stick is similar to Ambien — without the side effects, according to contributor Sara Gaynes Levy. “The smell was addictive at first waft — calming and just a little sweet,” she says.
For the woman who always buys fresh flowers
This handy little pruner is a fixture in the tool belt of Marc Hachadourian, the senior curator of orchids at the New York Botanical Garden. He says its precise, ergonomic shape helps him trim the stems on blooms.
For the woman who’s allergic to fresh flowers
Get her a fake (read: forever) bouquet. This is one of our favorite dried floral arrangements — just note that the flowers ship loose, so you’ll have to place them in a vase after they arrive.
For the woman who double-checks her measurements
Strategist kitchen-and-dining writer Emma Wartzman appreciates the straightforward simplicity of this food scale: “It does everything it needs to and nothing more.”
For the woman who counts fancy soap as a necessity
This beautifully packaged bar soap from fragrance-maker Claus Porto will make her bathroom smell like a fresh-cut bouquet.
For the woman who prefers analog
Designer Luke Edward Hall put this Fujifilm camera on his packing list for a trip to Rome. “It’s a cliché, but they do take lovely pictures with much more atmosphere than I’ll get with my iPhone,” he explains.
For the woman who needs some lip service
This lip mask has a dedicated celebrity following that includes Yuna Zarai, Ty Hunter, Ashley Benson, Storm Reid, Beverly Nguyen, and Keke Palmer. Strategist writer Tembe Denton-Hurst reports that once she put it on her peeling lips, her fraying skin almost “melted” back into place.
Under $50
For the woman whose lenses are smudged
This ultrasonic jewelry cleaner works just as well on specs. Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio uses it daily because it leaves her glasses “practically sparkling after a three-minute cycle.”
For the woman who loves affordable luxuries
Everyone should have a silk pillowcase. We were introduced to this one by Viera-Newton, who credits it with reducing her eczema and minimizing bedhead.
For the woman with a growing candle collection
Black-owned Harlem Candle Company has plenty of lovely scents that come in beautifully luxurious glass jars.
For the woman obsessed with K-beauty
K-beauty brand Kaja is known for its playful, cheeky packaging. This heart-shaped blush stamp is very Valentine’s-coded.
For the woman who screams for ice cream
S’well’s ice cream cooler offers endless dessert-on-the-go possibilities: “bringing apple pie and ice cream to a potluck dinner, sharing sorbet with friends in the park, or even enjoying it while reclining at the beach,” says Strategist writer Kat Gillespie.
For the woman who’s an AFOL
Adult Fans of Lego who are romantics at heart will appreciate this sweet wildflower bouquet they can assemble themselves.
For the woman who drizzles
Piro’s high-quality, antioxidant-packed olive oil enhances everything from soups to salads.
For the woman who likes to cuddle
Instead of the stereotypical teddy bear, get her this cuddly sloth (or any other stuffy from Jellycat’s extensive line, which features a wide range of animals, food, and even a cute aloe plant).
For the woman whose back hurts
This knobby massage tool allows you to attack different pressure points, with the round ones good for bigger muscles and the nubs helpful for easing the lower back. (Both Ottessa Moshfegh and Daniel Kwan are fans.)
For the woman who’d rather skip the salon
This Olaplex mask is a favorite among stylists for how it reduces split ends, minimizes breakage, and leaves hair nourished and lustrous.
For the woman who appreciates true grit
If she reserves time during every shower to exfoliate, this scrub is a favorite of Denton-Hurst, who says it gets rids of dead skin without overstripping and has a slightly floral scent that isn’t overpowering.
For the woman who can hear a pin drop
This white noise machine helped actress Eva Mendes sleep during a trip through Australia, where magpies, kookaburras, and cockatoos made her mornings sound like Disneyland’s Enchanted Tiki Room.
For the woman who’s in desperate need of a massage
Instead of a one-time-only spa-day certificate, get her a foam roller she can use every day. The TriggerPoint counts marathon runners and American Ballet Theatre dancers as devotees.
Under $100
For the woman with a busy social schedule
Strategist writer Lauren Ro likes the gridded daily pages of this planner for their “structured-but-not-too-structured layout.”
For the woman who doesn’t iron
The Conair Turbo is the steamer that Uma Thurman’s stylist uses. Zach Pozniak, a professional dry cleaner, describes it as surprisingly light, too.
For the woman who can’t start her day without a cuppa
This vibrant French press from Le Creuset makes strong, delicious coffee and is handsome enough to keep out on the counter when not in use.
For the woman who can’t start her day without a smoothie
In addition to her daily green juice, she can also use this personal-size blender to make small-batch sauces, emulsions, and salsas.
For the woman who scrapbooks
This Kodak wireless printer makes it easy to free her iPhone snapshots from the cloud.
For the woman who’s sober-curious
This set from herbal tincture brand Apothekary contains three all-natural alternatives to rosé, red, and white wine. They can be stirred into a liquid of choice or dropped directly on the tongue.
For the woman who loves a garnish
AeroGarden’s Sprout is our best-in-class indoor garden, scoring high marks for ease of use and “producing a prodigious quantity of herbs.”
For the woman whose passport is almost out of room
This neck-brace-esque travel pillow is the most practical neck pillow travel writer Sarah Khan has ever tried. “And I can sleep through an entire 15-hour flight, so clearly it’s working for me,” she adds.
For the woman who never has a hair out of place
Strategist writer Ambar Pardilla swears by this oil from True Botanicals, which makes her strands as glossy as you’d see in a shampoo commercial.
Under $150
For the woman who’s always on her toes
Pamper her with the best electric foot massager, which will give her a deep Shiatsu-style kneading.
For the woman whose PJs are full of holes
For the woman with cold feet
UGG’s ultra-fluffy Coquettes fully converted Strategist writer Arielle Avila into a slipper person. “There’s nothing like slipping these on on chilly mornings when I don’t want my feet to touch the cold hardwood floor,” she says.
For the woman with a sensitive nose
If strong scents give her a headache, Juliette Has a Gun’s Not a Perfume has a subtle, soft, ephemeral quality that Strategist contributor Natalie Toren is willing to wager “would never turn anyone off — ever.”
For the woman who needs inspiration to use up her PTO
Assouline’s collection of travel-themed coffee-table books covers every dream destination, from Tulum to Tuscany. (For bonus points, present alongside a pair of plane tickets.)
For the woman who wants to see herself clearly
This sleek, attractive makeup mirror has an elongated oval shape and comes with three dimmable light temperatures.
For the woman who likes her sandwiches hot
This Cuisinart topped our list of the best panini presses because it makes tantalizing grill marks and is easy to clean.
For the woman who likes to set the mood
Vitruvi’s sleek, minimal stone diffuser makes a room “feel fresh and gives it a vibe,” says actress Ellen Pompeo.
For the woman who wouldn’t be caught dead in heels
Danielle Corona, founder of accessories brand Hunting Season, told us about these Italian-made slippers, which have soles made from recycled bicycle tires and luxe uppers made from a range of colorful velvet, brocade, and embroidered fabrics.
$150 and up
For the woman who’s obsessive about thread counts
These luxurious bedsheets from Brooklinen have a supersoft feel that won’t disappear in the wash.
For the woman with a minimal makeup routine
Who needs makeup when you’re already radiant and fresh-faced? Strategist contributor Diksha Basu writes that after she uses her Solawave wand, her skin “glows and my eyes look much less tired than they feel.”
For the woman who swirls her wine
Riedel is king when it comes to wine decanters. Instead of a standard vase-shaped version, go with this charmer that has a heart-shaped handle.
For the woman who always has the chills
Bearaby’s cozy, chunky weighted blanket looks stylish and gets its comforting heft from large-scale “yarn” made of cotton and Tencel.
For the woman who always adds a side of rice
This “Lamborghini of rice cookers” plays a version of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” when your rice is ready.
For the woman who could use a (literal) wake-up call
This gentle-wake alarm clock will make her mornings easier — or at least more serene. It comes with a breathing-relaxation guide in addition to preprogrammed sounds of rainfall and bird calls.
For the woman whose preferred temp is ice cold
To make buckets of ice, this Frigidaire is your best bet. The ice machine can make about two pounds of ice per hour, and you can adjust the size of the cubes to your taste.
For the woman whose photo roll is overflowing
A digital picture frame preloaded with photos would make for a thoughtful gift. The Skylight Frame is one of the largest frames that Strategist tech writer Jordan McMahon has tried, making it easier to see across a room.
For the woman who can’t sleep with wet hair
If you really want to splash out, cut her blowout budget by gifting the Dyson Supersonic, the Rolls-Royce of hair dryers.
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