One of the many disadvantages of being a single mother is that there’s no one around to remind your children that this Sunday is Mother’s Day and perhaps a homemade card might be nice. Worse things happen, of course, but it does cause me to pay closer attention to the different experience of others, and enjoy vicarious pleasure through helping friends select gifts for their mums.
This year, several people have asked me about the Simplehuman sensor mirror (from £99.99), a product that’s received a lot of attention and almost unanimous praise. It’s a beauty mirror that’s automatically flooded, on your approach, with realistic “daylight”. It seems gimmicky, but in practice is rather life-changing. All those tiny brow and facial hairs that evaded even the most dogged plucking are now exposed and vulnerable. Eyeliner that seemed impossible for the shortsighted becomes a cinch, and contrary to fearful expectation, the overall reflection is not as brutal as, say, the fluorescent lights of a bad public loo. It’s a brilliant gadget but prohibitively expensive and not that pretty unless you’re into cold minimalism.
Instead, I’ve been using the BaByliss Reflections mirror, miles cheaper at £31.49. There’s no sensor, and the light isn’t quite as “true”, but I can still see every hair and blemish for tweezing and concealing, and it looks smart.
Hand cream is a classic Mother’s Day choice, which is timely, since I’ve recently become obsessed with Clarins Super Restorative Hand Cream (£37.50 but for a tube twice the size of most). I’m not usually one to get excited about hand cream, but honestly and truly, this one has allowed my nails to grow longer than they’ve been in well over a decade without being thwarted by splits and breakages. It’s extraordinary – as well as feeling velvety and smelling comforting. I cannot evangelise enough.
If fragrance is paramount, Molton Brown is always rewarding. I experienced a strong Proustian rush on opening its lovely new Dewy Lily of The Valley & Star Anise products (£43 for the gift set) – they smell exactly like those Floral Gums your nan kept in her handbag. Also nostalgic and deliciously grandmother-like are Bronnley Orange & Jasmine soaps, £4.50 each. I revere this 132-year-old brand, especially its fruit-shaped, triple-milled soaps. They’re a pleasure to use and endlessly cheering on the bathroom shelf.
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