valentines day 2022

52 Valentine's Day Gifts (Under $50) for Every Type of Person

Photo-Illustration: Courtesy of the retailers

With Valentine's Day less than a week a way, you may be scouring the internet to find the right gift for your wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend, or other loved one. To help you find a special something that won't break the bank — or can be a component of a multipart gift — we've rounded up 52 gifts for all types of valentines, from ultra-competitive board gamers to longtime partners who would rather just have a beer under a warm blanket — all of which are under $50. While most of the stuff is available on Amazon, we've found some gifts elsewhere, too, for those who like to shop around.

Beauty and self-care Home Warm and cozy Food and drink Books Wild card

Evenprime Hypernova Eye Serum

"Dab it on before bed and some mornings to keep the dark circles and crow's-feet at bay," says Yowie founder Shannon Maldonado. "The applicator is so unique and, dare I say, fun."

Hinoki Spa Bath Tea Sachet

A pinch of this "bath tea" will make their tub smell like a hinoki forest.

Grave Before Shave Beard Oil
Allegra M. France Baby Magic Globes (Set of 2)

These "teeny-tiny wands" have liquid-filled globes at one end; after popping them in the freezer and applying them to her cystic zits, our beauty writer Rio Viera-Newton found they visibly reduced the size of the pimples in minutes. She also said that the magic globes are great for de-puffing her face and eyes and for soothing headaches.

Blazy Susan Puff Pack

A pack of rolling papers in a Valentine's Day–appropriate color palette.

Covergirl Outlast All Day Top Coat

Very Good Deal

This makeup-artist–recommended lipstick top coat, which has a cult following for its compatibility with other lipstick brands, will seal their favorite color and keep it from budging under a face mask.

Caswell-Massey Beatrix Rose Bath Soap
Harlem Candle Company Speakeasy Luxury Candle

This candle from Black-owned brand Harlem Candle Company is a favorite of Kudzi Chikumbu (@sircandleman). The candle has notes of bourbon, palo santo, and smoked incense, and Chikumbu says "it feels and looks luxury, even from the box. It's the kind of candle you would want to have out."

Slip Silk Eye Mask

A silk sleep mask helps to block out unwanted light, making in-flight naps a little more glamorous.

Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum
YnM Weighted Blanket 15lbs

Gift them a top-rated weighted blanket that one reviewer says "soothes any sort of anxiety I feel when I'm trying to go to bed." If they don't have trouble falling asleep, it's just as great for a valentine who'd prefer to spend a lazy day in bed.

Zimasilk 100 Percent Mulberry Silk Pillowcase

Very Good Deal

Photo: retailer

"As someone with eczema, consistent hormonal breakouts, and severely bleached hair, I've long relied on silk pillowcases to ensure I'm not pissing off fragile locks and unpredictable pores as I sleep," writes Strategist beauty writer Rio Viera-Newton. She says these silk pillowcases are a perfect dupe for her more expensive Parachute pillowcase — and at $24 each, buying a pair won't break the bank.

Kinto Aquaculture Vase (Gray)

Photo: Retailer

Consider this graceful blue bulb vase, a style recommended by photographer Bobby Doherty. "With these vases, the water goes in the sphere on the bottom and the bulb sits right on top, soaking it in and growing into a flower. You can buy a single bulb, watch the whole stem grow into a flower, and enjoy the circle of life asserting itself right before your very eyes," writes former Strategist writer Lauren Levy.

Milton Glaser, 'Big Nudes' Poster

If you're looking for artistic, sexy décor, this cheeky Milton Glaser print was designed for the 1967 exhibition "Big Nudes" and represents "a nude so large it couldn't fit on the page."

California Tropicals Birkin Variegated Philodendron With 6-Inch Pot
Isaac Jacobs LED Neon Pink Rose Flower

This neon rose looks cool in a teenager's room or behind a makeshift living-room bar. And it won't die on them.

Bluecorn Beeswax 100 Percent Pure 16-Inch Wax Tapers

Photo: Retailer

This set of natural beeswax candlesticks create an elegant vibe for that romantic night in. While this particular set comes with 16-inch candles, they're also available in 12- and 8-inch heights.

General Wax & Candle Color Drip Candles

These candlesticks drip colored wax as they burn, giving them a trippy, psychedelic effect and creating stalactites of rainbow wax drips.

Fishers Finery Men's Cashmere Ribbed Beanie

A soft, simple, sophisticated, and logo-less cashmere beanie will keep their ears warmer.

Ultraideas Women's Cozy Memory-Foam Slippers With Warm Fleece Lining

A worthy dupe of the more expensive Glerups, these memory-foam slippers have a wool-blend upper, plush fleece lining, and a rubber sole that will keep feet toasty and comfortable. They're also machine washable.

Glenmearl Merino-Wool Crew Socks

Very Good Deal

Jellycat Cyril Sloth

Photo: Retailer

A cute sloth from Strategist-favorite stuffed-animal brand Jellycat that your valentine can cuddle with when you're out of town.

Sour Power Quattro (150 Count)

If they're a candy fanatic, they'll appreciate this gigantic tub of sour belts that could theoretically last until the next Valentine's Day.

Bergen Marzipan Assorted Fruit

As we reported a couple years ago, marzipan is cool again — Biagio Fortunato, the executive pastry chef of Fortunato Brothers bakery, reported a threefold increase in holiday sales and "an increase in the younger generation buying it." This fruit-shaped set is a fun alternative to a box of chocolate.

Raaka Chocolate Best-Sellers Trio Gift Box

You can't go wrong with chocolate, especially if it's this trio of bars from Raaka, the Brooklyn-based chocolatier we hailed as one of the next status chocolates. "Raaka stands out through their use of unroasted cocoa beans" and their emphasis on single-origin chocolate, said Food52 assistant buyer Louise de Verteuil, which imparts a distinctive flavor.

Vanilla Bean Kings Madagascar Vanilla Bean Pods (10 Count)

Any baker worth their Maldon sea salt will tell you nothing beats baking with real vanilla pods.

FinalStraw

Very Good Deal

FinalStraw's silicone-and-stainless-steel straws came in first in our roundup of the best reusable straws. "They thought of everything," says content creator Deborah Shephard. "It can fit on my car keys (inside its case), it's easy to clean (with boiling water or some good soap), and most importantly, the silicone is very comfortable to drink from." The straw is collapsible and comes with a carrying case, making it easy to bring on the go.

SB Organics Honeycomb (1Pound)

If your valentine is cutting down on processed sugar but has always loved getting candy on Valentine's Day, this one-pound raw honeycomb splits the difference. It's entirely edible and can be enjoyed with cheese, on yogurt or ice cream, or just straight out of the box.

Truff White Truffle Hot Sauce

A bottle of highly rated white-truffle-and-coriander-infused hot sauce that they can drizzle on practically everything.

Presto Ceramic FlipSide Belgian Waffle Maker
Ovalware RJ3 Cold Brew Maker and Tea Infuser (1.5 Liter)

This cold-brew coffee maker, praised by experts for its ease of use, is compact and versatile — it can also be used to make iced tea.

Ippodo Sayaka Matcha

This matcha powder comes recommended by Japanese confectionery chef Justin Iso, who describes it as "balanced with just a touch of bitterness and medium body." To complete the gift, you can throw in this bamboo whisk that'll get their matcha latte nice and frothy.

YETI Rambler Stainless-Steel Beer Colster

If all they want to do is kick back with their favorite saison or DIPA, get them this koozie that'll keep their can ice cold.

Bitters Triple Play Variety 3-Pack
Bormioli Rocco Novecento Coupe (Set of 4)

Very Good Deal

Gift them a set of glasses for their favorite cocktail, like these elegant coupes from Strategist-favorite Italian glassware brand Bormioli Rocco. (And check out our guide to cocktail glasses here.)

Fante's Gnocchi Board

This beechwood pasta-making tool from Italian brand Fante's is good-looking enough to leave out on the counter when they're not using it to make homemade gnocchi.

'I Can Make You Feel Good,' by Tyler Mitchell

Very Good Deal

Stylish folks have told us that this book by Tyler Mitchell, the first Black photographer to shoot a cover of Vogue, is a must-have for any collector. According to Strategist contributor Elisa Johnson, "Mitchell's images depict young Black people with such intimacy and beauty, and the book's theme of a 'distinctive vision of a Black utopia' could not be more necessary right now, when Black self-love, joy, and hope is essential."

Very Good Deal

Try a copy of Chris Ware'sRusty Brown, the classic graphic novel that painter and Cookies Hoops podcaster Andrew Kuo called the best thing he bought for himself in 2020.

'Detransition, Baby' by Torrey Peters

Photo: Publisher

"Reading this novel is like holding a live wire in your hand," writes Vulture book critic Hillary Kelly, who also describes the book as being "populated like a Dickens village of the queer community."

'Parallel Movement of the Hands, Five Unfinished Longer Works' by John Ashbery

Photo: Retailer

Recommended by poet Bianca Stone, this "wonderfully assembled" Ashbery collection includes facsimiles of the poet's drafts, notes, and annotations that will "lead down fun rabbit holes."

'All About Love: New Visions,' by bell hooks

Very Good Deal

The Noma Guide to Fermentation, by René Redzepi and David Zilber

Very Good Deal

Expand their fermented food horizons with this book from Noma head chef René Redzepi and the restaurant's former fermentation lab director Dave Zilber, recommended by chef Dave Park, which "digs deeper" into "major ferments, such as shoyu, vinegars, and miso."

Rit Indigo Shibori Tie-dye Kit

This tie-dye kit from Rit — a brand popular among experts who wrote our guides to tie-dyeing — feels a bit more sophisticated than your standard summer-camp–core colors.

Satisfyer MultiFun 2

This versatile vibrator has three different motors located in the base and each arm. All can be controlled separately, making it easy to incorporate into couples play.

Mushroom Night Light With Dusk-to-Dawn Sensor (2 Pack)
The Fox in the Forest

Very Good Deal

Recommended by gaming experts as one of the best two-player board games, this intermediate-level strategy game's objective is to score more points than your opponent by winning more tricks. According to one expert, it features "really lovely art" that has a touch of fantasy.

Tribit StormBox Micro Bluetooth Speaker

Very Good Deal

According to Strategist writer Dominique Pariso, this palm-size speaker will make their carefully curated songs sound good anywhere, indoors or outside. She says the "small but mighty speaker is powerful enough that I can break it out during backyard gatherings" and even has a handy silicone strap that makes it easy to attach to bike handlebars.

California Kitchen 2-Person Picnic Hamper Set

This gingham-lined wicker basket includes dishes and flatware just for two — a nice break from wrangling all of your friends.

Bear Butt Double Parachute Camping Hammock

They can take an afternoon snooze in this camping hammock, which is light enough to pack in a backpack and wide enough for a couple.

'The Garden of Earthly Delights' 1,000-Piece Puzzle

Stylist Sissy Chacon satisfies her "puzzle fever" with this Hieronymus Bosch puzzle, which Strategist writer Erin Schwartz also recommends, paired with the Boschbot Twitter account, which tweets sections of the artist's paintings every few hours. "To be up close and personal with each piece gave me a new interpretation of it as being quite joyous and innocent," Chacon says.

Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils (48 Pack)

"Prismacolor colored pencils are soft and waxy and make drawing feel more like it did when I was a kid, but with a little more control," explains Strategist writer (and resident illustrator) Liza Corsillo, who included a set from the brand in her beginner's guide to drawing.

Sensyne Ring Light With Tripod

Very Good Deal

If you and your valentine are celebrating remotely, the right light can (literally) brighten their moments spent with you. This one is a favorite of Yeardley Smith (the voice of Lisa Simpson), who says it's easy to tote around.

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Valentine's Day Gifts (Under $50) for Every Type of Person