40th birthday present for stylish lady for around £30 ?? please help!

[sparkle1977]

I think the title says it all really. Trying to find something "nice" for a 40th birthday pressie in a few days time.

Was thinking of a gift set or something like that from a beauty counter but it was either a £20 set from Clarins that had bugger all in it or a £40 Lancome one that was a touch more than I wanted to spend.

Any ideas ? I'm in Bristol if that makes any difference.

Urban Decay do some lovely eyeshadow boxes for around 20 pounds.

A Chanel nail varnish and a lovely pair of silk knickers in the same colour? :)

Lancome mascaras are v good and they sometimes do them in a box with an eyeliner and mini make up remover.

How about a posh candle? Diptyque, Cowshed, etc, usually about £25-£30.

QVC do some bargainous kits - they have decleor, bobbi brown, smashbox, elemis etc etc

A Jo Malone shower gel/bath oil is about £30 I think. Beautifully packaged too, and the bath oils come in a lovely glass bottle.

I'd think about a Space NK token, but I guess you want to give a 'real' present.

PS I'd also be rather disappointed if someone gave me Jo Malone - OK when it started 10+ years ago but a bit hackneyed and dull now, IMO. But we all like different things and you presumably know her tastes.

Id go for Chanel Nail varnish (their colours are always the best) and Lip gloss (stick with a neutral) , their packaging is so luxe.

Could you get her a subscription to a glossy magazine, perhaps Vogue or Vanity Fair; or a magazine from the States such as the New Yorker?

For 'big' birthdays I also like charms for bracelets or necklaces which symbolise something meaningful to both of you. You can certainly get a silver charm for £30-£40. It doesn't have to come from Links/Pandora/Sabo - some of the nicest I've seen come from antique shops.

i would be very disappointed with a neutral lipstick .Whats the point? Maybe i am weird but id love a gift token (and a bunch of wild flowers) then i could buy what i really wanted

Nougat do a really nice Tuberose and Jasmine moisturising soap set that tends to be popular with people your mum's age.

Charms are always a meaninful gift. Do you have any nice shells or anything from holidays together, or does your mum have a plant or tree that has some sentimental value attached? I coated a small shell with pure silver to make a charm for my mum's birthday and made her a pendant with a flower from the bush in my nan's garden that my grandad used to tell her fairies lived under ... she loved them both because they were so unique and meaningful to her.

Still favour the Space NK token or the mag. subscription.

Thought I had it sussed the other day and went into Molton Brown for a gifty type set, again nothing under £40 and what you got for that price was verging on criminal!!

Had a moment of genius last night and am going to get friend a voucher for either a massage, facial, manicure etc etc. Should go down well.

Thanks for all your suggestions tho.

There is a beautiful new perfume out calle 'radiantly romantic' by Daniel Vaudd, it's very Dior-esque. You can get a free sample from his website? I think it's lovely to havea perfume that not many people are wearing, makes it more unique. Great bottle too. Hope that helps.