T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial by Drunk Elephant, £67
Here at WLL we’re seriously partial to active-ingredient-packed Drunk Elephant beauty products, our shelves groaning with almost as many of its iconic neon colour-pop bottles as the Westbourne Grove branch of Space NK. Any pampered Notting Hill princess denied her regular in-salon treatments should be delighted to receive Babyfacial, only recently available in the UK and described as ‘the closest thing to a facial that you can get in the comfort of your home.’
With an impressive 25% AHA and 2% BHA blend of glycolic, tartaric, lactic, citric and salicylic acid, this elixir promises to smooth skin texture, diminishing pores, fine lines and wrinkles – as well as, with any luck, wiping the scowl off her pretty face and putting an end to the not-terribly-maternal words, ‘bloody pandemic’s playing havoc with my skin.’
Available from: www.spacenk.com
Gifts from Merci Maman, from £39 for engraved flat bangle
This Paris and London based jewellery brand is the no-brainer gift choice for chic mothers young and old. Its gorgeous wares, all available in gold, silver or rose gold, and ready to be engraved in that pretty curly handwriting they don’t teach in English schools, are bound to bring a smile to her face – be charmingly creative with your message to make it an extra wide one. Pictured: flat bangle (£39) and Duchess necklace (£129), named after the Duchess of Cambridge, who was given hers after Prince George was born (this detail probably best avoided in the unlikely scenario that mummy is a raging republican).
Available from: www.mercimamanboutique.com
Holy Grail Daily Skincare Selection, £12.99 – £29.99
The clever young people have already discovered this remarkably lovely brand, for its cruelty-free, vegan, organic, natural and paraben-free credentials, as well as its bathroom shelf-enhancing minimalist white bottles. Those of us who are slightly older – and indeed our mothers, who used to torture animals for fun – have found that the products are extremely effective. A great choice for all generations of motherhood.
Available from: www.holygrail-beauty.com
Sleepyhead Natural Care Package, £34.99
If your mum, like mine (and indeed all but the thickest-skinned of insensitive souls) has been plagued by sleepless nights and batshit crazy dreams of late, she’s bound to appreciate the sentiment behind the Sleepyhead Natural Care Package – an inspired collection of slumber-inducing goodies in soothing shades of lavender. Poor compensation perhaps for the hours you kept her awake as a squalling infant, but as good a start as any.
Available from: www.buyagift.co.uk
The Cherry Tree Afternoon Tea Gift Box for two, £24.50
A yummy-looking selection for some afternoon bonding in mummy’s garden (as the sun will be shining on March 15th – it will, it will). Scones (with and without sultanas – good call), strawberry jam and clotted cream, followed by artisan cheddar with chutney and crackers, should render you both pleasingly, slightly revoltingly, stuffed – unless she’s dairy-free, sugar-free and gluten-free, in which case mummy’s trying to reinvent herself and is clearly a lost cause.
Available from: www.cherrytreepreserves.co.uk
Bottle Bar & Shop Elderflower Gin Martini, £17
For those evenings when nothing will do but a tete a tete with mum. Whether your heart is broken or filled with joy, you’re seeking reassurance, advice as only she knows how, or just some shared, laugh-out-loud humour, this well balanced and deliciously refreshing blend will make a welcome change for both of you from the unlimited dry white wine tap. Top tip: one bottle might not be enough.
Available from: www.bottlebarandshop.com
McKinley & Paget Scented Candles, £18 – £69
This rainbow-coloured collection, the brainchild of two dapper designer chaps from the other side of London (the achingly cool bit) is plant-based, sustainable and – well – stunning. One whiff of these evocatively named beauties – think Daydreaming at the Saltram Orangery, Rambling around the Ruins of Knossos and our favourite, Midnight Down in Oliver’s Bar – will transport Mama to a different time and place. Because every mother worth her salt has A Past.
Available from: www.mckinleyandpaget.com
Cult 51 London Immediate Effect Serum, £95
We realise there’s a plethora of skincare in this guide, but let’s face it there has been far too much time for introspection of late – and yes that does include borderline-narcissistic mirror-gazing. This reassuringly expensive miracle-worker was initially created for a World-Renowned-Celebrity (who? the suspense is killing us) who wanted to look photo and studio ready in just 15 minutes. It worked, and who better to reap the rewards than your own mother?
Available from: www.cult51.com
Gibie Personal Bath Set, £44.90
Gibie bath linen is made from bamboo and organic cotton, using an innovative weaving technique that results in anti-bacterial, odour-resistant, quick-drying fabric; what’s more, no bleach is used in the sustainable Ayurvedic dying process. Yadda yadda, all well and good – but what concerns us more is the towels’ lush softness and cream-in-my-coffee colour range – a little bit of personal luxury for mothers who have spent far too much of their lives in the drudgery that is family laundry.
Available from: www.gibie.co
Reduit spa, £179 and Reduit skincare pods, £37
I know, I know, but this really is the last word in innovative at-home skincare and even the highest-maintenance, smoothest skinned of West London yummy mummies might by now have fallen foul of the dreaded maskne. Help her pretend her bathroom is a Swiss spa with this gratifyingly technical beauty innovation, which disperses droplets 50 times smaller than traditional mist applications, creating a super-fine film able to be absorbed by your hair or skin without leaving a residue, while magnetic misting reduces the surface tension of the product and maximizes fine-film creation and better delivery of actives (whatever that means). Probably best not to use the word maskne when handing it over.
Available from: www.reduit.com
Ladies’ Indulgence Gift Basket, Red Letter Days, £53.99
Oooh just look at it. Prosecco, truffles, West Country clotted cream fudge, chocolate slab with gold dusted almonds & hazelnuts. I mean really, what’s not to love? We don’t know about you, but we’re rather shamefully aware of the untold worry we’ve caused our long-suffering mothers over the years – this luxurious basket of pure self-indulgence is frankly the very least we can do by way of acknowledgement/thanks/apology.
Available from: www.redletterdays.co.uk
The delectable wine is delicate pink in appearance, with soft summer berries and floral notes on the nose. Made from a blend of estate-grown Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, Gusbourne’s Rosé has a crisp freshness and is presented in a special gift box, making this the ideal gift this Mother’s Day.
Available from: www.gusbourne.com
Afternoon Tea Gift Box, £13.95
A Much loved collection of traditional preserves for a special Mother’s Day tea time treat. It contains: 1 x Strawberry Jam, 1 x Blackcurrant Jam and 1 x Raspberry Jam.
Available from: www.rosebudpreserves.co.uk
Montezuma’s: ‘Mum’s The Word’ Truffle Collection, £14.99
The Extraordinary chocolate company, Montezuma’s, has launched the perfect gift for Mums this Mother’s Day; a mouth-watering collection of 16 milk chocolate hearts with salted caramel and dark chocolate hearts with hazelnut praline in an eye-catching pink box. Montezuma’s delicious chocolate truffles are handcrafted to bring you the very best of luxury truffles, carefully packaged in 100% recyclable packaging.
