Photo-Illustration: Courtesy to the retailers
With Valentine’s Day approaching, you may be scouring the internet to find the right gift for your wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend, or another loved one. To help you find a special something that won’t break the bank — or can be a component of a multipart gift — we’ve rounded up 50 gifts for all types of valentines, from ultra-competitive board gamers to longtime partners who would rather just have a beer under a warm blanket — all of which are under $50. While most of the stuff is available on Amazon, we’ve found some gifts elsewhere, too, for those who like to shop around.
FinalStraw’s silicone-and-stainless-steel straws came in first in our roundup of the best reusable straws. “They thought of everything,” says content creator Deborah Shephard. “It can fit on my car keys (inside its case), it’s easy to clean (with boiling water or some good soap), and most importantly, the silicone is very comfortable to drink from.”The straw It’s lightweight and compact, and comes with an easy-to-carry case.
“Prismacolor colored pencils are soft and waxy and make drawing feel more like it did when I was a kid, but with a little more control,” explains Strategist writer (and resident illustrator) Liza Corsillo, who included a set from the brand in her beginner’s guide to drawing.
Take a pinch of this “bath tea”Their tub will smell like a hinoki rainforest.
Dominique Pariso, Strategist writer says the speaker’s palm-size size will allow them to play their carefully crafted songs anywhere, indoors or out. She believes the “small but mighty speaker is powerful enough that I can break it out during backyard gatherings”It even comes with a silicone strap that can be attached to your bike handlebars.
A pack of rolling papers in a Valentine’s Day–appropriate color palette.
Give them a set to serve their favorite cocktail. These elegant martini coupes by Strategist-favorite brand BormioliRocco are a great gift. (See our guide to cocktail glass here.
This makeup-artist–recommended lipstick top coat, which has a cult following for its compatibility with other lipstick brands, will seal their favorite color and keep it from budging under a face mask.
Stylist Sissy Chacon satisfies her “puzzle fever”This Hieronymus Bosch puzzle, also recommended by Strategist writer Erin Schwartz, is paired with the Boschbot Twitter account, which tweets sections of the artist’s paintings every few hours. “To be up close and personal with each piece gave me a new interpretation of it as being quite joyous and innocent,” Chacon says.
This tie-dye kit from Rit — a brand popular among experts who wrote our guides to tie-dyeing — feels a bit more sophisticated than your standard summer-camp–core colors.
Photo: Retailer
Bobby Doherty recommends this elegant blue bulb vase. “With these vases, the water goes in the sphere on the bottom and the bulb sits right on top, soaking it in and growing into a flower. You can buy a single bulb, watch the whole stem grow into a flower, and enjoy the circle of life asserting itself right before your very eyes,”Lauren Levy, a former Strategist writer, writes.
The right light can brighten the moments you share with your Valentineine, even if you are not there physically. This one is a favorite of Yeardley Smith (the voice of Lisa Simpson), who says it’s also easy to tote around.
We’ve been told by sophisticated people that Tyler Mitchell’s book is a must-have. He was the first Black photographer to cover Vogue. Strategist contributor Elisa John “Mitchell’s images depict young Black people with such intimacy and beauty, and the book’s theme of a ‘distinctive vision of a Black utopia’ could not be more necessary right now, when Black self-love, joy, and hope is essential.”
Try a copy of Chris Ware’s Rusty Brown, the classic graphic novel that painter and Cookies HoopsPodcaster Andrew Kuo reveals the best thing he purchased for himself in 2020
Photo by Publisher
“Reading this novel is like holding a live wire in your hand,” Hillary Kelly, Vulture book criticThe book was also described as being by, “populated like a Dickens village of the queer community.”
Photo by Retailer
This was recommended by Bianca Stone, poet “wonderfully assembled” Ashbery collection includes facsimiles of the poet’s drafts, notes, and annotations that will “lead down fun rabbit holes.”
This beechwood pasta-making tool from Italian brand Fante’s is good-looking enough to leave out on the counter when they’re not using it to make homemade gnocchi.
Any baker worth their salt would tell you that nothing beats baking from real vanilla pods.
“Dab it on before bed and some mornings to keep the dark circles and crow’s-feet at bay,” says Yowie founder Shannon Maldonado. “The applicator is so unique and, dare I say, fun.”
The base and each arm have three motors that make this vibrator versatile. You can control each motor separately, making it easy and fun to combine with your partner.
Photo by Retailer
This set of natural honey wax candlesticks creates a romantic atmosphere for a romantic night in. This particular set includes 16-inch candles. they’re also available in 12- and 8-inch heights.
These candlesticks emit colored wax as they burn, creating stalactites of rainbow-colored wax drips.
Kudzi Chikumbu’s favorite candle is the Harlem Candle Company candle, which is owned by Black.@sircandleman). The candle is scented with palo Santo, bourbon, and smoked incense. Chikumbu also says “it feels and looks luxury, even from the box. It’s the kind of candle you would want to have out.”
A silk sleep mask blocks out unwanted light, making inflight naps more glamorous.
Gift them a top rated weighted blanket, according to one review “soothes any sort of anxiety I feel when I’m trying to go to bed.” If they don’t have trouble falling asleep, it’s just as great for a valentine who’d prefer to spend a lazy day in bed.
Photo by retailer
“As someone with eczema, consistent hormonal breakouts, and severely bleached hair, I’ve long relied on silk pillowcases to ensure I’m not pissing off fragile locks and unpredictable pores as I sleep,”Rio Viera, Strategist’s beauty writer, writes. She says these silk pillowcases are a perfect dupe for her more expensive Parachute pillowcase — and at $24 each, buying a pair won’t break the bank.
These memory-foam slippers, which are worthy copies of the more expensive Glerups, have a wool blend upper, plush fleece lined and a rubber sole. They will keep feet warm and comfortable. They’re also machine-washable.
Recommended by gaming experts as one of the best two-player board games, this intermediate-level strategy game’s objective is to score more points than your opponent by winning more tricks. It is said to have the following features: “really lovely art”It has a touch fantasy.
These “teeny-tiny wands”The globes are filled with liquid. Rio Viera-Newton applied them to her cystic zits after popping them in the freezer. She also The magic globes are great for soothing headaches and de-puffing her eyes.
If they’re a candy fanatic, then they’ll appreciate this gigantic tub of sour belts that could theoretically last until the next Valentine’s Day.
As we reported a couple years ago, marzipan is cool again — Biagio Fortunato, the executive pastry chef of Fortunato Brothers bakeryAccording to, holiday sales saw a threefold increase. “an increase in the younger generation buying it.”This set in fruit shapes is a fun and unique alternative to a chocolate box.
If your valentine is cutting down on processed sugar but has always loved getting candy on Valentine’s Day, this one-pound The difference is made by raw honeycomb. It’s entirely edible and can be enjoyed with cheese, on yogurt or ice cream, or just straight out of the box.
You can’t go wrong with chocolate, especially if it’s this trio of bars from Raaka, the Brooklyn-based chocolatier we hailed as one of the next status chocolates. “Raaka stands out through their use of unroasted cocoa beans”Their emphasis on single origin chocolate was emphasized. Food52Louise de Verteuil is assistant buyer, which gives off a distinctive taste.
A bottle of highly rated white-truffle-and-coriander-infused hot sauce that they can drizzle on practically everything.
To make sure their beard is always moisturized, get them this expert-recommended beard oil that’s formulated with jojoba and tea-tree oil.
This neon rose looks cool in a teenager’s room or behind a makeshift living-room bar. And it won’t die on them.
This cold-brew coffee maker, praised by experts for its ease of use, is compact and versatile — it can You can also make iced coffee.
This matcha powder comes recommended by Japanese confectionery chef Justin IsoWhoever describes it as “balanced with just a touch of bitterness and medium body.”This can be added to complete the gift. Bamboo whisk that’ll get their matcha latte nice and frothy.
Expand their fermented food horizons with this book from Noma head chef René Redzepi and the restaurant’s former fermentation lab director Dave Zilber, recommended by chef Dave Park, which “digs deeper”In “major ferments, such as shoyu, vinegars, and miso.”
If all they want to do is kick back with their favorite saison or DIPA, get them this koozie that’ll keep their can ice cold.
This gingham-lined wicker basket includes dishes and flatware just for two — a nice break from wrangling all of your friends.
You can spend an afternoon in the hammock. It is small enough to fit in a backpack but big enough for two.
Keep their ears warm with a soft, simple, sophisticated, logo-less cashmere beanie.
Photo: Retailer
A cute sheep from Strategist-favorite stuffed-animal brand Jellycat that your valentine can cuddle with when you’re out of town.
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