Valentine's Day gift guide for her - tried and tested
Looking for the perfect gift this Valentine's Day?
With a wide range of present ideas, ranging from cosmetics, to food, booze, tech, fragrances and more - we've got you covered.
We've even tried each one out and reviewed them, so you know what to expect before buying.
Sipsmith SIP Book & London Dry Gin bundle (over 18s only) - £40
Available here
5 out of 5
Treat your special lady to this stunning giftset from Sipsmith this Valentine’s Day.
The SIP book offers 100 different gin cocktail recipes, using just three ingredients for each - including Sipsmith London Dry Gin, of course.
The book itself is beautiful - boasting an attractive green cover, similar to the always stunning trademark green label on the gin bottle.
The book offers a wide range of cocktail recipes, to be enjoyed all year round - from the Earl Grey Sour, to a gin-take on the Espresso Martini.
The Sipsmith London Dry Gin is itself absolutely guaranteed to thrill too; coming in at a whopping 41.6 per cent ABV, this gin is strong yet smooth, boasting a citrus freshness, with flavours of dry juniper, lemon and orange.
A stunning gift for the gin aficionado in your life.
Doll Beauty Let’s Get Twisted cosmetics set - £60
Available here
5 out of 5
Delight make-up lovers this Valentine’s Day with this exceptional cosmetics set from Doll Beauty.
Packaged in a stunning pink and gold patterned box, this set includes a lovely Eye Candy Brush Set, a super Push Poppin’ liquid eyeliner, and a gorgeous Sweet Treats Eyeshadow Palette.
The liquid eyeliner is by far the best we’ve ever tried - super easy to use, long lasting and boasting an incredibly thin tip for extra accurate application, which can be built up depending on the desired result.
The eyeshadows, meanwhile, are absolutely beautiful - highly pigmented, they are easily applied and built up, providing bright, wonderful colours. The shades in this set range from sweet, feminine pinks, to warm, bright yellows and oranges, to brown and black. The shadow palette also comes in a lovely pink and white tin, perfect for make-up bags.
Finally, the set also includes six brushes with pink and white swirled handles; with each brush boasting a different size and firmness.
An absolutely outstanding make-up set, ideal for make-up lovers of all ages.
Longchamp LO 636S Women's Sunglasses - £129
Available here
5 out of 5
Delight your Valentine with these stunning shades from Vision Express.
These cat eye-shaped black frames boast flashes of emerald green and thin, lightweight gold arms - making them both comfortable and attractive.
Though the lenses are not polarised, they provide 100 per cent UV protection and give a light view. They are also prescription compatible.
Not too large in size, these highly feminine shades would be excellent for a range of face shapes and sizes, and suitable for women of any age.
Beautiful.
Moschino Toy 2 Eau De Parfum - £44.50 (30ml)
Available here
4 out of 5
Treat your someone special to this lovely, sweet yet fresh and subtle fragrance from Moschino.
Contained in a sweet teddy bear-shaped glass bottle, complete with a gold collar and gold lettering, this perfume is soft and feminine, without being overly sweet or sickly.
It boasts top notes of mandarin, apple and magnolia, with base notes of amber wood, sandalwood and crystalline musk, and heart notes of jasmine petals, peony and white currant.
Crisp, yet delicate, and lively yet sensual, this perfume is ideal for women of any age - and lovely for day or night time wear.
Our only complaint with this stunning scent is that we would have it liked it be a little stronger. Truly lovely nonetheless, however.
Sculpted by Aimee Connolly Lip Duo Liner & Lipstick Blush Blend - £17
Available here
5 out of 5
Delight make-up lovers this Valentine's Day with this beautiful lip duo.
Packaged in a stunning, slim gold pen, this double-ended lip tool is absolutely superb - and available in a range of different shades, Double Trouble (a gorgeous red shade we tried), as well as Pink Pair, Mauve Match, Tan Twin and Coffee Combo.
One end of the pen is a soft, creamy, high-pigment lipstick, while the other is a high-pigment, beautiful liner of the same colour. Each side is twisted to be revealed, making them easy and convenient for use.
The liner is very thin and super simple to use, giving perfect results from the first try - it is also very slightly darker than the lipstick, giving a full lip effect.
The lipstick and liner are each absolutely lovely, give superb, bright coverage, and leave lips feeling moisturised, while also boasting great staying power.
Say goodbye to losing matching liners, or struggling to find complementing liners for your lipsticks - and hello to this gorgeous new tool, that not only looks great on the lips, but also makes for an attractive addition to the make-up bag.
Sous Chef French Salted Butter Caramels in Gift Tin - £8.50 (150g)
Available here
4 out of 5
These French salted butter caramels from Sous Chef are so moreish you’ll be wishing you ordered more tins.
Ultra buttery, they are made with sea salt and fleur de sel from Guérande, a medieval town in Brittany, which is famous for its salt marshes.
The sweet sheer buttery-ness is almost overwhelming, we tried to make each soft sweet last as long as possible in the mouth... it's quite a challenge!
Added to that is the charm of the lovely old-fashioned metal gift tin, which you can of course re-use time and again.
Finishing Touch Flawless Brows - £19.99
Available here
4 out of 5
Treat your loved one to gorgeous eyebrows this Valentine's with this lovely tool from JML.
The eyebrow shaper and hair remover is easy to use with a slim and attractive lightweight design, which can be held like a pen while in use.
Boasting an 18 karat gold-plated head, it is kind to sensitive skin, and a micro-precision trimming blade and built-in LED spotlight make it fuss-free.
It uses batteries too, so thanks to it small size can be carried in a handbag or make-up case with ease.
Transformulas Marine Skin Miracles Limited Edition Red - £49
Available here
5 out of 5
Treat the special lady in your life to this gorgeous set of creams from Transformulas.
The stunning red limited edition set includes a 50ml pot of Marine Miracle Crème and a 10ml pot of Marine Miracle EyeZone - both of which come contained in a clear, zipped, waterproof travel bag.
The Marine Miracle Crème is luscious, yet lightweight facial cream. Nourishing and anti-ageing, this lovely cream is great for even very dry skin, yet kind to sensitive skin too. It contains marine algae, giant sea kelp and sea salt extracts.
The Marine Miracle EyeZone is a superb eye cream, which goes very far with just a small amount. It is very hydrating and is great for reducing puffiness and giving smooth, nourished results. Transformulas says the cream is infused with nutrient rich marine algae and Aldavine 5x ™ clinically proven to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles by up to 45 per cent.
An absolutely wonderful treat for ladies of all ages, presented in beautiful red pots.
Million Dollar Facial Dare to Bare Box - RRP £90
Available here
5 out of 5
Thrill cosmetic lovers this Valentine's Day with this stunning set from Million Dollar Facial.
The super set comes packaged in a beautiful black and white striped sleeve, containing a black box. Inside there is the i-Tx Eye Cream, the Lip Plumper lip enhancer, Nourishing Balm, an eye mask and a cleansing pad.
And they're absolutely incredible.
The lip enhancer professes to give wearers plumper lips, which many products promise - and it really works. Admittedly, immediately after being applied to the skin, the product does sting a little - but there are visible results almost right away. It is also super easy to apply, being the size of a lip gloss, with a twist action pump. It then gives a pearlescent appearance, but can be covered with the lipstick of your choice. Superb.
Next up is the excellent eye cream, which instantly makes the eye area appear brighter and visibly reduces puffiness. A little goes a long way with this too. It also promises to reduce dark circles around the eyes, though perhaps this takes a little more time.
The nourishing balm is great too; highly-nourishing and absolutely perfect for those with dry skin. The firm does not recommend that this product be used by those with oily skin, for obvious reasons.
The set also includes a high quality cleansing pad and a well-made eye mask, for a little extra pampering.
A gorgeous gift for the special lady in your life.
Taittinger Prestige Rosé NV gift box (over 18s only) - RRP £52.15
Available here
5 out of 5
Give a little sparkle to your special one this Valentine's Day with this exquisite Taittinger gift box.
This French champagne blend bubbly boasts fine bubbles, with subtle flavours of fresh fruit and aromas of raspberry, cherry and blackcurrant, complete with a brilliant pink appearance.
This gorgeous award-winning champagne comes in at 12 per cent ABV and is suitable for vegans.
To top it off, the bottle is packaged in a try beautiful pink box complete with shimmering bubbles.
An absolutely wonderful for that special lady in your life.
Fire TV Stick 4K Ultra HD with Alexa Voice Remote - £49.99
Available here
5 out of 5
Enjoy a romantic flick with your Valentine - or give them the gift of endless boxsets - with the new Amazon Fire TV Stick.
It boasts 4K Ultra HD clarity and supports popular HDR types such as HDR 10+ and Dolby Vision, giving viewers stunning 4K picture quality. And if you've got a Dolby Atmos sound bar, you can enjoy enhanced sound too.
The Fire Stick is built with a super fast processor, reducing buffering and allowing viewers to watch TV uninterrupted.
The TV Stick can be controlled with easy voice commands using the Alexa Voice Remote, allowing you to simply request what you wish to watch - or, indeed, ask it daft questions too.
You can also sync the remote to your smart home devices such as Philips Hue lights or Hive thermostat, for convenient control of home devices.
Angela Langford Bloom & Glow facial oil - £20.50
Available here
5 out of 5
Give your loved one a boost with this unique, nourishing facial oil from Angela Langford this Valentine's Day.
Created using chia seed and sea buckthorn, this wonderful little treat is an absolute feast for the skin, giving a glowing appearance and hydrating the face.
Despite being an oil, this product is lightweight and easily absorbed, leaving skin feeling nourished and cared for, with a beautiful glow.
It is suitable for all skin types, but especially effective for dry or sensitive skin - and it even smells great.
Packaged in a small glass bottle with a pipette applicator, this product is also easy to use and a little goes a long way.
A real treat.
Toff London Watch - RRP £89
Available here
3 out of 5
Ever fancied the idea of designing a watch for your beloved? Well with Toff of London you get close with a dizzying choice of more than 790 watch face designs aligned to a myriad selection of case and strap colour combinations, along with a choice of the size of the face with some models.
You can also have them engraved - some inclusive of the price of the watch.
We went with the simple elegance of the Traditional White Numerals 38mm Watch, with a clear white background and gold-coloured strap presenting a clear sharp look.
But we really could have gone to town with designs including love hearts, bouquets of flowers, dogs (you can get really specific with breeds) cats, rabbits and ever more esoteric looks.
The strap on ours is easily adjustable to give a comfortable fit and it looks really smart on. Nice big face and clear figures make it super easy to read.
A lovely gift for men and women of all ages.
Cutter and Squidge Passionfruit and Pistachio Cake - £29.90
Available here
5 out of 5
A delicious handmade cake in a beautiful embossed gift tin that came in the post straight to our door.
This is a beautiful, moist, sweet flavour-packed six-inch sponge cake that is alive with the sharpness of passionfruit and is topped off with pistachio icing, pistachios, freeze-dried raspberries, white chocolate pearls and 24 carat gold leaf.
To add to the passion of the passionfruit there are also gift packs that include a choice of prosecco or alcohol-tree sparkling white wine.
The cake is very sweet, but oddly was loved most by the most savoury-toothed member of the test team.
Best before enjoyed five days after dispatch, we froze and then defrosted a few slices and they were none the worse for it.
All-new Amazon Echo (4th Generation) - £89.99
Available here
5 out of 5
Delight your Valentine with this super duper new Amazon Echo speaker.
Available in a range of four colours, the new Echo delivers clear highs, dynamic mids and deep bass for rich, detailed sound that automatically adapts to any room.
The Echo can be used for a huge range of things, but for us it's all about the music - and with this, you can stream songs from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer and more.
You can also ask Alexa (using voice command) to answer questions, play the news, check the weather, set alarms, control compatible smart home devices and more.
The Echo can also be paired with Fire TV and can be set up to play synchronised music across Echo devices in different rooms, filling your house with music.
It can also be used to make hands-free calls - and make announcements throughout the home if using other Echos.
It also allow users to turn the microphone off when not in use.
An attractive, extremely high quality speaker - and sure to impress.
Mermaid Pink Gin (over 18s only) - £35.80
Available here
5 out of 5
You're sure to impress your Valentine with this stunning gin from The Isle of White Distillery this February.
Presented in a stunning pink ombre glass bottle decorated with scales, this gorgeous gin is fruity and refreshing, boasting flavours of strawberry and lemon zest.
It is a true stand-out drink, delicious both on its own or with tonic water - the distillery company also recommends trying it with ginger ale.
Coming in at 38 per cent ABV, this is not as sweet as some other pink gins, as it has no added sugar, but absolutely 100 per cent delivers on flavour, with a well-rounded, smooth, yet sweet and slightly bitter taste.
A truly fantastic gift.
Noveltea The Tale of Earl Grey (over 18s only) - £24.95
Available here
4 out of 5
If your Valentine is a tea or gin lover - this is absolutely the gift for them.
Gone are the days of failing to get the mix of tea and spirits right for hot toddies - this comes ready-made and can be enjoyed cold or hot.
Smooth, sweet, and unique, this beverage is ideal for drinking all through the year and is sure to impress.
The award-winning cold-brewed tipple boasts deep, rich flavours of black tea, zesty notes of bergamot oil, and the subtle botanical flavours of London dry gin.
An unusual present sure to delight - and light too, at just 11 per cent ABV. It is also suitable for vegans and gluten free.
Cartergore Scarab Beetle pendant and chain - £50 - £95 (dependant on size)
Available here
4 out of 5
Looking for something a little unusual for your Valentine this February? Cartergore offers a huge range of jewellery designs, suitable for a range of tastes and ages.
We opted for the stunningly unique and intricate scarab beetle pendant, made from sterling silver, and available in a variety of sizes.
Bearing two hearts within the design, this pendant is both eye catching and lightweight, with great detail on the image itself, which catches the light when worn.
The pedant also comes with a ball chain which can be adjusted, depending on how long your Valentine wishes to wear it.
Other designs on offer include trees, dogs, leaves, marine life, flowers, and various animals and cultural icons.
Really lovely.
KitSound Diggit 55 speaker - £39.99
Available here
4 out of 5
Treat that special someone in your life to this great speaker from KitSound, which allows your loved one to enjoy music outdoors.
Simply attach the removable stake to the speaker and then place it in the grass, sand, or even snow. The stake keeps the Diggit 55 elevated, so the music can flow without being lost in the ground, while its Outdoor EQ Mode optimises the audio for wherever it is placed.
The speaker boasts 15 hours of battery life too, so it can be enjoyed all day without needing to be charged.
It is also water and dust resistant, making it resilient in a range of situations.
A great gift at a fair price, with good quality sound and innovative design.
Paco Rabanne Lady Million Eau De Parfum - £39.99 (30ml)
Available here
5 out of 5
Show the lady in your life she is one in a million with this gorgeous eau de parfum from Paco Rabanne.
Opulent and strong, the seductive floral fragrance is suitable for women of all ages - and particularly nice for evening wear.
Fresh, yet warm, fruity and floral - without being too sweet or overbearing - this perfume is long-lasting and stand-out.
It boasts top notes of bitter orange and raspberry, with base notes of honey (which really comes through), patchouli and amber. It also carries heart notes of jasmine, orange flower and neroli.
A gorgeous gift, packaged in a gold box and a beautiful diamond-shaped bottle with a gold-coloured top.
Bloom Raspberry and Rose Gin (over 18s only) - £24.50
Available here
4 out of 5
Treat your Valentine to this lovely new release from Bloom Gin.
Boasting flavours of sweet raspberries with rose petals, this gin is excellent with tonic water - though perhaps not sweet enough to sip on its own.
Bloom Gin's creators says it was born out of a vision to create a lighter tasting gin for all to enjoy, which it certainly achieves. It is ideal for those who enjoy something slightly fruity and floral but wish to stay away from the sweeter, richer gins on the market.
It comes packaged beautifully too - with a stunning patterned bottle and lovely purple and pink box.
A great offering from Bloom.
Olverum Restful Sleep Pillow Mist - £25
Available here
3 out of 5
A luxurious fine mist spray which is said to use a combination of bergamot, lavender and geranium essential oils to work with each stage of the nighttime sleep cycle to improve sleep quality.
Two spritzes applied to linens are said to ease you into a trouble-free slumber, enhance the health benefits of deep sleep, and boost your daytime energy levels.
The idea is you pump a couple of sprays on your pillow just before lights out, imbibing your linens and spaces with a calming, refreshing fragrance.
This was tried out by the most sleep-deprived member of the test team, who reported that it had a pleasant fragrance but they didn’t know know if it worked as suggested as their sleeping patterns remained wilfully uneven.
However, they did twice sleep in past 10am, which is unheard of - luckily on days off! It has now become part of their bedtime ritual, preparing, hopefully, for a good night’s sleep.
Cherry Tree Breakfast in Bed giftbox - £35
Available here
5 out of 5
Oh my goodness, here's one for the foodie in your life, and we’ve just found our go-to supplier for jams, conserves and chutneys. Beautifully packed, you get a generous selection in a blue gift-box, along with a hand-made Valentines greetings card and even a handwritten message of your choice if you wish.
The Breakfast in Bed Gift Box contains eight jars to suit every palette, from a lovely sharp lemon and lime curd, to a spicy tomato and caramelised onion chutney and our favourite, the cherry with amaretto extra jam.
There’s also strawberry jam with Marc de Champagne, Seville orange breakfast marmalade, raspberry extra jam, blackcurrant with sloe gin extra jam and delicious smokey tomato and garlic chutney.
Also check out the Valentine's chutneys and preserves tubes.
Rita Farhi Luxury Belgian Chocolate Fruit Selection - £49.95 for 880g
Available here
3 out of 5
If you like to get dark and fruity at Valentines then this Belgian chocolate fruit selection in a nine-way gift box cuts a luxurious dash - it’s sold in Harrods and Selfridges.
It looks stunning when you unwrap it, and at 880g it’s a weighty and generous selection.
This is definitely a gift for someone who likes their chocolate on the dark side.
We particularly liked the juicy dark chocolate amarena cherries, dark chocolate covered figs and sweet dark chocolate pears.
The gift box also includes sweet milk chocolate candied orange sticks, candied orange and lemon slices dipped in dark chocolate, pate de fruit raspberries, dark chocolate crystallised ginger sticks and dark chocolate candied orange sticks.
