Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
Valentine’s Day isn’t far away, but if the usual chocolates and flowers just won’t cut the mustard with your partner this year, don’t fret. We’ve got a range of Valentine’s gift suggestions for every budget and personality type – from athletic wear to home goods and plenty of gadgets, you’re bound to find something for your amore. If you’re enjoying the single life, consider celebrating Galentine’s and showing your love for your friends with a gift from this selection.
Set up a romantic atmosphere with the ESPA Soothing Aromatherapy candle. The RRP is £55 but it is currently on sale for £41.25 at time of writing. The soy wax candle is infused with aromatherapy oils with scents of rose geranium, myrrh, and frankincense. The classic styling of the serene white glass candle holder will match any decor style, too.
For the budding chef in any relationship, the Barbary and Oak denim apron has stylish leather accents, making it a smart option for every kitchen. The four front pockets make it easy to hold kitchen essentials close to hand while cooking, and the adjustable straps mean it fits anyone. When you’vemade a mess, the leather elements are removable so you can throw it in the washing machine with ease.
The Night Lark Coverless Duvet is perfect for snuggling and keeping warm, either while you’re away from your partner or to cosy up underneath together! It’s washable and dries fast, while there are a wide range of patterns to suit any interior design style. Available in single, double, king or super-king, the Coverless Duvet is light and fluffy, feeling warm and comforting without being too stifling.
This is a gift for both you and your partner and one that will last a lifetime! Standen Mattresses are custom handmade for an ultimate luxury sleeping experience. Artisans hand-tie and nest all 1400 calico pocket springs, hand-sew the edge stitching, and use a combination of cotton, cashmere, silk and British wool make up the soft sleep surface on top of hypoallergenic and temperature-regulating wool. Sleeping on one of these is good for the environment too: they last for years, use sustainable and ethically sourced wool, and the origins of the top-layer wool is 100% traceable.
A beautiful and fun ceramic table lamp, this red and pink striped base is topped by a stripy glass orb for an ambient light that brings whimsy to any living room. If red and pink isn’t quite your partner’s colour preference, there are plenty of other bright and fun lamps and home accessories in the Eleanor Bowmer range to check out, too!
Make sure your partner has a sweet treat always available with this Cocoatiser Hot Chocolate Maker from Dualit. Choose from copper or stainless steel tosuit your loved one’s kitchen style. The Cocoatiser works with all kinds of hot chocolate, including chocolate chunks, flakes, and powder, and all types of milk (you can even mix with water instead, if you prefer). A smooth hot chocolate available at the touch of a button is the perfect Valentine’s gift that keeps on giving.
For the serious chef in your life, Staub cast iron cookware is long-lasting and reliable, producing amazing results every time it is used. Starting from £54.95, the range includes skillets, oven dishes, casserole dishes and more. As well as the usual black, you can also choose from colours such as green, red, pink and navy for some items to bring a stylish splash of colour to any kitchen.
If you want to go all out this Valentine’s day for your loved one (or yourself!), the Ultra 5 Motor Heat and Massage Recliner Chair by Fenetic Wellbeing is a luxury that will last for years. For those whose partners are constantly asking for a back rub after a long day, this chair does it for you at the touch of a button. It’s a rise and recliner chair too, so suitable for people with a wide range of mobility needs, and a lie-flat option (or beyond-flat for the feeling of weightlessness) for the serial napper. Three heating pads across the shoulder, seat, and lumbar area make it a toasty place to sit, while the hidden wireless charger and cup holder make it easy to keep the essentials close. It comes in three sizes, too – so you can find the best fit for your partner.
Treat your partner to a classic Valentine’s themed gift with this set of comfortable heart print pyjamas. Stylish, warm, and cute, they’re perfect for having a lazy day in together. Available in ecru for a timeless look, the long sleeves and PJ bottoms provide warmth and comfort for a cosy night in. Sizes 6-22 available.
Brighten any room with a romantic setting with this felt heart garland from Flying Tiger. Affordable and pretty, it’s perfect for anyone celebrating Valentine’s, Galentine’s or Singletine’s! Spruce up a space such as around your living room mirror or wrapped around the bed headboard for a cute touch.
Another cute beauty from Flying Tiger, this pretty heart-print ceramic mug is perfect for using all year around. The heart-shaped handle is comfortable to hold and brings a whimsical feel to it. If this style isn’t quite your (or your significant other’s) thing, check out their other Valentine’s inspired mugs instead!
A beautiful set from Laura Ashley, this 4-in-1 hand mixer in blue and white floral print livens up any country-feel kitchen. The stick comes with several attachments, including whisk, blender, and mini chopper, as well as a mixing beaker, making it an incredibly versatile kitchen gadget without compromising on style.
Lidl is launching a limited-edition Premium Home & Beauty Set, just in time for Valentine’s Day. The set is packed to the brim with home & beauty must-haves including luxury candles, decadent diffusers and heavenly handwashes, worth almost £60, but yours for only £5
Whether purchased as a gift for a loved one or a self-care session, it’s the perfect way to give a Lidl love without spending a (bath) bomb.
All shoppers need to do tobe in with a chance to get their hands on one of the 1,000 Premium Home & Beauty Sets dropping, is head to www.lidlhomeandbeautyset.co.uk at 10am Thursday 6th February.
The Merrell Moab Speed 2 Hiking Shoe is perfect for those who enjoy trail walking as much as city life. Comfortable, supportive, and stylish these are perfect shoes for anyone who loves walking. They come in three colour-ways and sizes 2.5 to 8.5 UK.
For the men who enjoy a weekend hike or a city stroll in all weathers, the Tog24 3-in-1 jacket covers most winter weather eventualities. It has a detachable outer waterproof layer for those rainy days, and a quilted inner jacket and hood for windy treks. Wear either individually (and both have a hood), or together for a snug-as-a-bug experience.
An ideal treat for every makeup lover, this Bio-Retinol Glossy Lip Oil has a subtle watermelon pink tint that suits all skin tones and types. Sustainable ingredients include Kalahari Melon seed oil, an oil-soluble hyaluronic acid (for lip plumping), raspberry seed oil, macadamia oil, apricot, and scents of peppermint and lime, this smells divine as well as providing a luscious look on every lip.
A real treat for your face and body, the Paint and Peel Face and Body Kit ‘helps you glow from head to toe’. A luxury treatment to spoil your loved one, this kit offers intensive exfoliation to smooth their skin all over. The kit comes with a Body Roller and Tray, 400ml Peel Solution, Face Brush, 100ml Body Oil and 25ml Skin Repair Moisturiser. As well as a real treat for your partner, you could have fun helping them use it – after all, there are probably places they need your help to reach!
Grab a great bargain while the Hydration Heaven kit from Evolve Beauty is on sale. Containing hyaluronic acid serum and moisturiser, this is the perfect shortcut to hydrated, soft, and dewy skin. With organic natural ingredients, this kit is perfect for someone who is careful about their skincare routine.
The WAVE styler from ND London is fantastic for getting that professional look in minutes at home. The retractable bristles mean it’s easy to glide through hair and remove the barrel without tangles, while the heated ceramic barrel is kind to hair to give fantastic results.
Elizabeth Scarlet has released a new range of velvet pouches – the stunning Zodiac pouch range comes in midnight blue velvet with embroidered zodiac signs, so you can choose one that’s perfect for your partner. Ideal to keep at home as a stylish storage pouch on a dressing table or to take out and about as a clutch bag, they’re the perfect gift for someone with a whimsical and mystical nature (and a love of quality style, too).
A big-ticket present that will be loved and used for many years (and by you too, if your partner is willing to share!). Infrared saunas claim to reduce stress, improve skin and sleep, aid recovery and reduce aches and pains – but it’s hard to find one near you and it costs each visit. Now, you can have one at home in the form of the Bon Charge Infrared Sauna Blanket, a toasty restorative blanket that can be used anywhere. Results from our product tester include a ‘fantastic nap’, ‘good workout recovery’, and ‘just the right amount of heat to feel relaxed not cooked’.
House of Amor’s Lip Thirst lip oils are a great go-to for keeping lips hydrated. Each oil is infused with a fruity flavour enriched with Argan oil, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. We tried Strawberry which was fab, but there’s also cherry, raspberry and watermelon to choose from. And at such a great price, why not treat yourself and a loved one.
Another great product from House of Amor – Press-On Nails in Rubywoo. Unlike typical press-on nails, House of Amor’s provide a professional ‘gel-like’ finish, made from premium materials that are gentle on the nail bed. Choose to apply using nail glue or jelly tabs that can be reused without any damage to your natural nails. Kit also includes a double-sided mini nail file, cuticle sick and prep pad. What’s not to love.
Achieve salon worthy hair without the salon price with the Beurer Ocean 2-in-1 Volumising Hair Dryer Brush. The oval-shaped brush head helps to create volume from the root, while the bristle combination gently detangles the hair as you style to prevent frizz and breakages. Light and easy to handle, we were able to create beautiful soft curls, even on long hair.
For those who love to snuggle up and watch a film together, the Epson CO-W01 projector provides a stunning home cinema experience. A 3000 lumen output with up to 18 years’ life in the bulb means it’s easy to see the screen in darkness or ambient light for a REALLY long time! The plug-and-play setup makes it super easy to connect to your entertainment system such as a Roku or Fire stick to access all of your streaming apps in one place – or connect to your DVD player if you’re someone who prefers physical media.
If a large projector isn’t right for your home (or budget), consider the Elfin Flip Projector for your Valentine’s gift instead. The integrated stand makes it easy to fold away whennot in use and set up in seconds when you want to watch a film. With integrated Netflix, it also supports most streaming apps like Amazon Prime and YouTube too, so there’s no need for an external Fire Stick or other HDMI-connected streaming device.
If you’re always disturbing your partner with your snoring, this could be an ideal present this Valentine’s day for them! Designed to be worn during sleep, the Philips Sleep Headphones with KoKoon are comfortable and will drown out external noise. They’re compatible with major audio apps such as Calm, Audible, Spotify, Headspace and Apple Music, allowing the wearer to listen to their favourite music, podcast or audiobook as they drift off to sleep.
The reMarkable Paper Pro is a paper tablet perfect for avid notetakers and sketchers, giving distraction-free working while also allowing a seamless way to connect documents to your phone and desktop. You can handwrite on the screen and transform it to text, or use the keyboard folio to type directly into documents. Check out our honest and in-depth review of the reMarkable Paper Pro. This model is a colour paper ink tablet, while the reMarkable 2 starts at £349 and is greyscale.
For a loved one that tends to lost things Tile’s everything tracker with built-in keyring makes a perfect gift. The Mate Keep track of anything from keys and backpacks to bags and purses and its free app works with Android and Apple devices. It’s also the only item tracker with Anti-Theft Mode – which increases the likelihood of regaining stolen property. As an added bonus Tile is also part of the Life360 family, the number one family locator app so you’re able to link accounts to see everyone and everything that matters in one place.
A stylish fitness watch that doesn’t cost the earth, the Tozo S5 is a perfect smart watch for the athletic person in your life. It’s suitable for men and women, has a classic-style watch face, and over 100 modes plus a sleep tracker and heart monitor. On top of all that, it also lets you make and take calls from your wrist thanks to its built-in microphone, as well as read messages on the go. It’s stylish for all outfits which makes it perfect to wear at all times, unlike many other smart watches which scream ‘I’m wearing a fitness tracker’!
A gorgeous addition to any kitchen or living room, this VQ Monty DAB digital radio has a vintage style and floral pattern (other styles are available, too). This rechargeable bluetooth radio is perfect for sitting in the garden on summer days to listen to your favourite music or radio programme, or use it to stream your favourite podcast or audiobook from your phone. The sound is crystal clear without being too bass- or treble- driven, and the portability means it’s a brilliant gift for any audiophile.
For those who enjoy a hot tea but PG Tips just isn’t cutting it, Bird and Blend has a huge range of herbal and black teas of exciting flavours. From Strawberry Lemonade to Gingerbread Chai to Chocolate Digestives Tea to a classic English Breakfast, there is something for every tea lover. And if you’re not sure which to try, you can make your own tea sampler box from £16.50!
A little bit of chocolate is always nice to receive on Valentine’s day, even if it’s a bit of a cliche. Lily O’Briens produces luxury chocolates at an affordable price – and with the Honeycomb Crispy Heart single starting at just 35p, there’s something for every budget. Choose from boxes like the Chocolate Desserts Collection (£9.50), Milk Chocolate Truffles (£6.25) or the Exquisite Edition (£10). Or go all-out with a hamper or large box, like the Shoe Box Hamper containing 7 collections for over a kilo of chocolate (£55) or the personalised Keepsake Photo Box (£40) with custom choices.
Monty Bojangles is a London-based UK confectionery brand famous for its deliciously moreish award-winning cocoa dusted truffles. Their Choccy Scoffy Cat Tin is filled with 14 of their award-winning truffles, coated with a generous dusting of bitter-sweet cocoa powder. And whilst these rich and chocolatey delights will soon be devoured, you definitely won’t be able to stop at just one, the keepsake tin will last forever – a great gift for your Valentine, or as a treat for yourself. Available from Waitrose
Made for Valentine’s, rustle up a wallet-friendly romantic meal with PECK! Chicken Italia Hearts. The limited edition twin-pack of gluten-free patties are made marrying lean British chicken with tomato, basil, mozzarella and garlic. Pop them into buns (preferably heart shaped!) and add favourite fillings, sauces and sides for a sizzling stacked burger meal for two.
British beekeeper collective Black Bee Honey’s 4 Seasons Gift Box is the perfect gift for your sweet Valentine. Produced throughout the year, each ‘flower to jar’ honey reflects the flavours of its season, with a creamy taste for spring, a summer honey bursting with floral notes, a bold treacle flavour for autumn and a winter honey with hints of cool menthol. Utterly delicious.
Ready to fall in love with hydration? Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and we all know the usual gifts that leave us all unfulfilled. With 18 million people already loving their reusable water bottle more than any other accessory, air up® is here to take hydration to the next level. Using scent-based technology to make plain water taste like your favourite flavours, it’s the perfect way to treat your partner (or yourself) to something refreshingly unexpected.
This year, air up® is making it even easier to spread the love with exclusive Valentine’s bundles with discounts of up to 29%.
If traditional flowers aren’t your thing, or you want to find an activity that you can do with your loved one for a fun date night, consider LEGO flowers. Yes, really! LEGO has a range of options for flowers, from single red roses to entire bouquets or mini succulent plants. Perfect for a forever-flower gift!
Vendula specialise in quirky, vintage-inspired vegan leather handbags, purses and accessories that make people smile. Look effortlessly stylish not just for Valentine’s but all year round with The Traveling Library Scarf, a bookworm’s best friend with its gorgeous vibrant colours and artwork depicting books we would love to read.
This must-have New Season scarf from Daniel is exceptionally soft and stylish. Crafted from premium faux fur featuring integrated tie-through chain link fastening for easy wear. Signature Daniel branding is sewn into the seam. The perfect scarf to wear on these cold days and nights.
The ‘Dejavu Relove Recycle’ curved shoulder bag is part of the New Season collection from Valentino. This carry all every day style is crafted from premium PU and features a secure magnetic snap top strap, top zip fastening and Valentino branding throughout. The internal zip and slot pockets removes any need to go searching around the bottom of your bag trying to find keys or phone. A fab bag that can be carried from day to evening making it the ideal gift for you or a loved one.
For the avid reader in your life, a Cath Kidston Kindle Case will protect their eReader so they can take it anywhere with them. Available in two sizes, it fits most eReaders (not just Kindles), with pretty patterns making every reading session even more aesthetic. The slim design means it fits in almost any bag, while the sleep-wake feature of the cover means the Kindle will always switch back on when it’s opened, allowing the reader to pick up right where they left off.
Alright, we couldn’t have a Valentine’s gift guide without some classic suggestions, could we? Vianne Jewellery is high quality and beautifully crafted, small but perfect tokens of your love. The Valentine collection starts from just £99 with stunning gem-laden pieces. Vianne is a small independent business based in Manchester using only ethically-sourced materials and gemstones, with artisans handcrafting each piece.
And finally, it wouldn’t be Valentine’s without a hint of red lingerie – just make sure it’s classy, like Pour Moi’s Valentine’s offerings. From soft lace to stockings to comfortable yet sexy padded bras, there’s something for everyone to feel sexy in.