February 14th is just about here — do you know what gift you’re buying your Valentine? Sure, you could embrace the holiday crowd pleasers and go the chocolate box, rose bouquet, or DIY-massage route…But for some of us, having picky recipients makes the task of finding that perfect present (especially on a budget) a tad more challenging. And crumbling under gift-pleasing pressure makes even the most romantic day of the year feel quite the opposite of warm and fuzzy.
But don’t panic about what presents to purchase just yet, because we swept the internet and rounded up 20 genius gift ideas to please the pickiest of Valentines — from forgetful friends to stressed-out SOs, chronic complainers, eco-obsessives, and more. Scroll on for the shoppable solutions to your most difficult Valentine’s Day giftees.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
French Girl Organics Rose Lip Polish
The Difficult Giftee: The clean beauty Valentine.
The Gift: An all-natural rose & mint-infused sugar scrub formulated with nourishing butters to keep lips supple and hydrated. Vegan, no animal testing, and super sleek packaging.
French Girl Organics Rose Lip Polish, $, available at Verishop
Oliver Bonas Heart Metal Keyring
The Difficult Giftee: The scatterbrained Valentine.
The Gift: A sweet heart-shaped key ring that she can securely attach to bags, belts, and wrists.
Wild One Dog Toy Gift Set
The Difficult Giftee: The Valentine who cherishes fido more than you, hmph.
The Gift: A pet-friendly flower bouquet that’s better than the real thing.
Wild One Dog Toy Gift Set, $, available at Wild One
Perky Bird Journals The Airing Of The Grievances Journal
The Difficult Giftee: The Valentine (or Seinfeld mega-fan) who’s always complaining.
The Gift: A complaint pad, for airing and working through grievances.
Perky Bird Journals The Airing Of The Grievances (6×9 Journal), $, available at Amazon
Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Mini Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 3
The Difficult Giftee: The YouTube beauty tutorial-obsessed Valentine who’s extremely meticulous about her products.
The Gift: A limited-edition ABH eyeshadow palette with party-ready glitters and highly-pigmented bold hues.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Mini Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 3, $, available at Sephora
AcousticSheep RunPhones Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
The Difficult Giftee: The Valentine who just lost another set of earbuds while running.
The Gift: A stylish sweatband with built-in bluetooth-enabled headphones that filter out ambient noise for ultimate workout security.
AcousticSheep RunPhones Wireless, $, available at The Grommet
BZY Cute Cat Tea Mug & Steeper
The Difficult Giftee: The wanna-be cat lady Valentine who’s (regrettably) allergic to cats.
The Gift: A cute tea mug and infuser that makes her cat-lady dreams come true (sneeze-free).
BZY Cute Cat Tea Mug & Steeper, $, available at Amazon
This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray
The Difficult Giftee: The always-busy Valentine who needs some serious TLC.
The Gift: An aromatherapeutic pillow spray infused with lavender, vetiver and chamomile to wind down before getting some shut-eye.
This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray, $, available at Nordstrom
Vans Fruit Bowl Canoodle No-Show Liner Sock 3-Pack
The Difficult Giftee: The Valentine (ahem, roommate) who never has enough clean socks (and constantly steals yours).
The Gift: A three-pack of no-show, fine-gauge cotton pairs with a honeycomb arch-supporting weave and a vibrant design — a.k.a. socks she won’t want take off.
Vans Fruit Bowl Canoodle No-Show Liner Sock 3-Pack, $, available at Urban Outfitters
Bathing Culture Mind & Body Wash
The Difficult Giftee: The Valentine who lives in the city but dreams about Big Sky Country.
The Gift: An earthy-scented body wash made with wild-harvested and natural ingredients inspired by the great outdoors.
Bathing Culture Mind & Body Wash, $, available at Free People
Anthropologie Block Letter Monogram Necklace
The Difficult Giftee: The statement-making Valentine.
The Gift: A personalized necklace that makes an oversized (yet delicate) name statement.
The Gift: Anything delicious is a good choice, but extra points for the scene-stealing grandeur of an edible bouquet.
Comme des Garçons Play Black & Red Double Hearts T-Shirt
The Difficult Giftee: The low-key label snob Valentine.
The Gift: A trendy tee that’s suited to the dual-hearted holiday occasion.
Comme Des Garçons Play Black & Red Double Hearts T-Shirt, $, available at SSENSE
Veegoal 18 Oz Borosilicate Glass Water Bottle with Bamboo Lid
The Difficult Giftee: The wellness Valentine who is always hydrating on the go.
The Gift: A fruit-infuser bottle for ultimate hydration with a touch of sweetness.
Veegoal 18 Oz Borosilicate Glass Water Bottle with Bamboo Lid, $, available at Amazon
That’s What She Said: The Party Game of Twisted Innuendos
The Difficult Giftee: The Valentine who values experiences over material things.
The Gift: An involved game of the hilarious party game, “That’s What She Said.”
That’s What She Said The Party Game of Twisted Innuendos, $, available at Amazon
Four Roses Single Barrel
The Difficult Giftee: The Valentine who has better taste than you.
The Gift: You can’t go wrong with booze. This one’s got light notes of vanilla and caramel, and it’s soft on the palette with no burn. And they won’t be mad you chose the bottle based on the rose-engraved glass.
Four Roses Bourbon Single Barrel, $, available at Drizly
Norte Group Ceramic Cactus Ring Holder
The Difficult Giftee: The, “I can’t find my ring,” Valentine who has a few misplacement issues.
The Gift: A thoughtful place to store (and remember) her treasures.
Norte Group Ceramic Cactus Ring Holder, $, available at Amazon
Flint Retractable Lint Roller
The Difficult Giftee: The no-nonsense Valentine who you suspect might be running the @fashionassistants Instagram account.
The Gift: A chic and portable lint-roller.
Flint Retractable Lint Roller, Refillable, 30 Sheets, $, available at Amazon
Ban.do Write On! Pen Set
The Difficult Giftee: The Valentines you spend at least 40 hours a week with.
The Gift: Matching pens so everyone can identify your work crew.
ban.do Write On! Pen Set – How Are You Feeling?, $, available at ban.do
Knock Knock Why You’re So Awesome Fill-in-the-Blank Gift Journal
The Difficult Giftee: The single Valentine who hates this day more than most.
The Gift: A book that reminds them just how awesome and loved they are, single or not.
Knock Knock Why You’re So Awesome Book Fill-in-the-Blank, $, available at Amazon
Interior Illusions Plus Royal Blue Mini Balloon Dog Bank
The Difficult Giftee: The Valentine who needs to save money.
The Gift: An impossible-to-ignore piggy bank.
Interior Illusions Plus Royal Blue Mini Balloon Dog Bank, $, available at Nordstrom Rack
The Gift: A bold red notebook for writing down VIP reminders (oh, the shade!).
The Gift: A soft rubber and stylish matte wristwatch.
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