40 gift ideas for when she turns 40: A comprehensive Gift Guide

Any birthday where you turn a decade is a big one; and for a woman, her 40th is kind of a big deal. It sort of marks that sweet spot where she is well settled in life – sorted, so to speak, work-wise, family-wise, life-wise. Mature (but not old), wise(r) and roaring to take on the next decade.

As I just turned 40 myself, I thought of putting together a mega gift-guide of special, meaningful and above all useful gifts that you can gift to the special 40-year-old in your life – be it your wife, mum, sister or best friend.

Shereen Syed jewellery

Shereen Syed is an independent jewellery designer based in London who has launched a range of different collections from contemporary to tribal pieces. All her jewellery is handmade by her team of artisans in Jaipur, in pure silver and gold plated silver with enamel and stones. There’s something for every occasion from brunch to weddings, and of course, her jewellery makes for a stunning gift for that big birthday!

Check out Shereen’s designs on her website and Instagram.

What’s more, you can get a whopping 20% discount up until Jan 31st 2023 – just put in the code NICOLE20 at checkout.

Beauty

Beauty products and make-up have always been an integral part of a woman’s life, but as we turn 40, we need to think above and beyond. We need to prioritise healthy skin (think Vitamin C, deep moisturising, anti-oxidants) and also, sometimes, learn the art of ‘covering up’ blemishes, puffiness and those slight wrinkles. This selection of beauty and make-up products does all that…

Jane Iredale Skincare and Make-up

Jane Iredal is a brand I had never used before, but after trying out the Dream Tint Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 I became an instant fan, and am now keen to try out more of their skincare range. This tinted moisturizer is like a magic potion – it hydrates, provides natural-looking coverage and gives a soft-focus effect that helps minimize the appearance of fine lines, has SPF 15 sun protection and above all, is lightweight. It has become my daily go-to and rest assured you will find that perfect skincare gift with Jane Iredal.

Her make-up is also fab – I’m currently using the Triple Luxe Long Lasting Naturally Moist Lipstick in shade Gabby and I love the creamy matte finish owing to the unique blend of Moringa oil and waxes that soften and hydrate. Check out the website for a varied range of eye, lip and face make-up.

Tea and Tonic

Tea and Tonic is another brand I have been using off late, and am totally in love with. To begin with, I am all for their motto of Simplify. Stress Less. Live Well (my mantra for the 40s) and I love the brand’s combination of beauty and wellness. This Bright Awakening Halen Mon Body Scrub with the goodness of Halen Môn Salt is luxurious to say the least, leaving your skin refreshed, invigorated and youthful.

And if wellness from within is what you want to gift that special someone (and 40 is the age where we need to focus on inner wellbeing), then look no further than this warming blend of ginger, turmeric and lemon myrtle with superherbs to help balance stress and support a healthy immune system. The Ginger Turmeric Tonic Wellness Tea is a perfect accompaniment to a thoughtful gift.

Amare Vita Skincare

This vegan, ‘streamlined skincare’ brand was created with the busy woman in mind. Their skincare range is ‘stripped back’ aiming to eliminate the need for a multi-step step skincare routine, offering maximum benefits with minimum products and effort.

So I decided to give it a try and see if it worked, as, to be honest, who really has the time for a detailed daily skincare routine?! I’ve been using the Glow All Day Skincare Duo which, as the name suggests, keeps your skin glowing all day (and night). Comprising The One multi-tasking day cream that is a serum, moisturiser, primer and sunscreen all packed into one; and the Oil I Dream Of concentrated Night Oil, it really makes luxury skincare hassle-free!

For a brand that’s just a year old, Amare Vita (literally translating into ‘Love Life’) is fantastic, and definitely worth a gift for the busy woman.

Dermacare Direct – Revision Skincare and Jan Marini

Dermacare Direct has some of the top brands, expert advice as well as a chance to do a personalised skin test on their website. I chose two products from two different brands and I highly recommend both as perfect beauty gifts for someone turning 40.

Revision Skincare’s Vitamin C Lotion created with the most advanced form of Vitamin C provides antioxidant benefits, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and helps brighten and even skin tone – everything that is needed for a 40 year old’s skin. It is smooth, non-greasy, and makes a real difference to tired looking skin.

Jan Marini Physical Protectant – Tinted SPF 45 is a weightless sunscreen with a universal tint that lends a sheer, matte finish. With its microscopic oil absorbing particles, green tea extract and co-enzyme Q10 that help to improve overall skin quality; sun protection and a sheer tint, what’s not to love?

There’s also a special 10% off code for you till mid-November – just type in TFMGG at checkout!

Make your own gift hamper…

Sometimes, you don’t want to get that special someone just one gift; you want to give them a personally put-together hamper, or a number of small gifts. If that’s what you’re looking for, then here are some ideas…

Tangled Roots

Another newly born brand, also borne of the idea of presenting several varied ‘bits’ to make one big glorious gift! The name itself is based on a quote by Allie Condie: Growing apart doesn’t change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side. Our roots will always be tangled. I am glad for that…” Melanie, the creator of Tangled Roots, loved the idea of how friends – past and present – build and shape us; and all the gifts are designed to be given to friends.

All the products she stocks are from small British businesses and as eco-friendly as possible. my box had the Natural Rose Garden Body Oil aesthetically filled with real rose petals, the Luxurious Body Cream with Essential Oils in perfect travel-sized containers and the gorgeous smelling Neroli-infused body scrub (and a chocolate bar thrown in for good measure). If you’re looking for a variety of beauty-based gifts, then definitely check these out!

If you type in MAMAVILLE at checkout within the next 10 days, you’ll get 10% off your purchase.

Luma Skin

Another lovely brand I recently chanced upon, and one I’d definitely gift (or love to receive as a gift) – creating beautiful products with age-old tried-and-tested Amazonian ingredients.

I love a good face mask (believe me, they do absolute wonders for your skin) and Luma Skin’s Brazilian Clay face masks are fantastic and make for perfect additions to a personalised hamper. Best part is – there’s one for every type of skin!

Their Amazonian Protection Oil is also perfect for 40-year-old skin that needs some special TLC; its rich in powerful carotenoids that help protect skin against the sun’s UV rays while also releasing anti-oxidants that help capture free radicals in the skin. ANNATTO oil also promotes rapid skin absorption because of high content of unsaturated fatty acids.

Dolma cruelty-free perfumes

Dolma – vegan and cruelty-free perfumes and more – have a lovely selection of perfumes, body washes, creams and lotions and soy wax candles, and make the perfect gift for those who prefer products not tested on animals or animal-derived. And with so much choice available in terms of their various fragrances (citrus, floral, spicy and more), gifting their Discovery Set might be a good idea. It contains miniatures of all their 12 perfumes, so the birthday girl can get not one but 12 beautiful smelling gifts!

Don’t forget some self-care…

Soothing and relaxing Microwavable Body Wrap

At 40, self-care becomes even more important. And this microwavable body wrap from Hot Water Bottle Shop makes the perfect gift for the purpose. Available in a range of colours (some even with faux fur), they are microwavable and thus easy to use to relax, or to soothe sore muscles and aches and pains after a long day.

Additionally, they can also be chilled in the freezer and used as a cold pack, and are filled with flaxseed infused with lavender essential oils, making it a luxurious therapeutic wrap. A thoughtful gift indeed.

Let a plant say it all…

Plants by Post

Yes, you read that right, these gorgeous plants are delivered straight to your doorstep! Plants by Post have a great selection of indoor and outdoor plants, and plant accessories, and the best part is they are delivered to the recipient by post! The perfect surprise gift for a plant lover on her birthday!

I chose this calming Peace Lily Duo in this beautiful blue ceramic trough; hop across to their website and see what takes your fancy…

Sporty at Forty…

Amonax Home Fitness

If you’re looking for a gift for a gym enthusiast, then Amonax Home Fitness will have you covered. From dumbbells to weight plates to resistance bands to yoga mats (and more), all your home fitness gifts are under one weighty umbrella!

Since I’m focussing on my own health and fitness now that I’m 40 myself, I was kindly gifted some of their products to try out and give the brand a definite thumbs up! The Ab Roller Home Workout Set, Resistance Bands Set with Workout and Glute Training Set (in hot pink!!!) are great for convenient and effective home workouts.

Personalised gifts

Personalised gifts have something extra special about them. Personalised jewellery or homeware or even a personalised cake is sure to bring a smile to the recipient’s face… after all, there has been extra thought behind the gift.

Paint by Numbers and Cross Stitch

This one’s a tad different, but one that will last a lifetime. If you’re looking to gift something really memorable for someone’s 40th, consider a personalised Paint by Numbers kit – choose a photo of the birthday girl, or perhaps of her family or pet or anyone or anything that’s closest to her – and voila, not only can she re-create it herself but also frame up for posterity.

You can customise it to look delicate, lifelike or HD print, and choose your canvas size and orientation as well.

Likewise, you can reproduce your favourite photo or memory through a customised Cross-Stitch kit. Again, these can be customised to your choice of thread type (cotton or silk), thread count and size.

Homebound: Something for the home…

I’ve still to find a woman who doesn’t appreciate and enjoy pretty things around her house, so ‘something for the home’ is always a welcome gift. Here are some ideas…

Lifetime Brands

A woman might not always like being in the kitchen, but she certainly likes pretty things in her kitchen! Lifetime Brands have a large selection of beautiful cookware, bakeware, dining sets and drink accessories from a multitude of brands. From fancy cheese and serving boards to cocktail making sets to woks and stockpots and much, much more… it’s your one-stop-shop for all things kitchen pretty!

I love my hand-crafted, premium porcelain set of 4 Maxwell & Williams Caviar Granite Coupe Bowls – microwave-safe, oven-safe and dishwasher-safe and perfect for breakfast cereals, soups and desserts.

Oya Luxe Candles

No woman will say no a beautiful smelling candle – perfect for decorating, gifting and of course for those relaxing evenings. This Rose Gold Vogue candle from Oya Luxe is elegant and opulent at the same time, making a simple yet strong statement with it’s gorgeous rose gold holder. I chose the Empress scent (Velvet Rose and Oud) and it smells absolutely divine!

Made from pure scented beeswax, it comes in a lovely packaging (see pic below), provides 40-50 hours of exquisite home fragrance, looks chic and makes for the perfect 40th birthday gift!

Candles by Kristina

You ever see those candles that are so pretty, you prefer to just keep them for decoration rather than use them up? @candles_by-Kristina makes quaint and beautiful eco 100% soy candles (also vegan) in various scents, colours and designs, which you can mix n’ match (when ordering) to create your own.

See her Instagram for more details, but seriously, how cute is the Bubble candle and how pretty are the Angel and Moon/Sun candles (see pic below).

It’s the little things…

… That matter the most. As is often said, it’s not the gift that counts, but the thought behind it… So here are a few gifting ideas that are for a smaller budget, but still have heart and a lot more!!!

Bespoke for You UK – Popcorn Movie Night-In

Sometimes, all a mum needs is some quiet, alone time (especially after hectic birthday celebrations) with a good movie and some naughty snacks. This Movie Night Popcorn Tub from Bespoke For You UK hits the spot perfectly, with it’s mix of sweet and savoury treats!

There are also a range of other personalised gifts with a personalised touch for you to choose from, so go ahead and take your pick!

‘Fabulous at 40’ personalised letterbox gift

This cute ‘Fabulous at 40’ gift set is available on Etsy and contains a personalised gift box with the recipient’s name on it, along with a 40th birthday card, chocolate and a small bouquet of dried flowers. Perfect if you want to let someone know you are thinking of them on their special day…

Seed Madagascar: Unique Island gifts

These small gifts are a big deal! Find beautiful embroidered home decor gifts such as cushion covers and placemats; and accessories such as tote bags, purses, spectacle cases and patterned bracelets from Stitch Saint Luce. What’s special is that all the products are hand-crafted and sewn by rural artisan women in Madagascar, supported by a local NGO SEED Madagascar, bringing traditional craft skills and inspiration from the island to your gift.

Get enlightened at 40!

This book ‘Enlightened as Hell: How to be Spiritual and not be a D*ick‘ by Dr Tony Ortega is also a great gift for those who love to read. Because let’s face it, at 40, you really don’t want unnecessary baggage; on the contrary, you want to get ‘enlightened’ and shed what’s not needed. This book is a quick and smooth read – perfect to ring in the new decade!

39 Plus One

The perfect book to gift someone who’s embarking on their 4th decade. 39 Plus One by Ragh Bir is the story of singleton Rachel Collins who, on her 39th birthday, decides to embark on a quest in search of her perfect imperfect soulmate… and she must do this before she reaches 40. On the cusp of her turning the decade, she realises that the quest has been more of a journey of self discovery than anything else…

Based on real life events, this book is an enjoyable, soulful and relatable read and makes a great 40th birthday gift!

Disclosure: I was gifted some of the items listed in the gift guide to review; however, as always, all opinions are my own.