Truly helpful, thoughtful and inexpensive Mother's Day gifts

The Recessionista is all about giving her mom gifts she'll actually use for Mother's Day. I'm old enough to remember the countless Mother's Day gifts that remained unused and tucked away in the corner over the years, so for the past decade or so I have vowed to get my mom practical and affordable presents that I know, with 100% certainty, she will use.

Now if your mom is like mine, she will actually praise you for not spending an arm and a leg for her gifts. Is there a mom on the planet who actually wants her child to spend gobs of money on her? Well...maybe there is, but certainly not in my family.

After much thoughtful consideration, planning and scouting, I present to you a list of gifts that my own mother has received from me on Mother's Day, and I can tell you that she loved each one and actually uses them all (and on a regular basis!).

1) Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat (retails for around $8 at most drugstores and beauty supplies but it's currently on sale at Sally for $4.99). Even if your mom only gives herself the occasional mani or pedi, she will appreciate the performance of this top coat and may even be shocked at its awesomeness. Plus, it will extend the life of her mani/peni by more days that she can imagine.

2) Powder Foundation. Rescue your mom from her dated liquid foundation (or give her skintone some evenness if she doesn't currently use a foundation)! Seriously, a lot of older women don't even know that powder foundation exists. This is the fastest way to give your skin an even color and your mom will be amazed that it only takes about 5 seconds to achieve excellent, natural results! My top pick for drugstore powder foundation for mature women is Cover Girl Simply Powder Foundation (about $7 at the drugstore). It's inexpensive and comes in a very good array of shades. I guessed at my mom's shade and I hit the bullseye on the very first try.

3) Bath & Body Works Anti-Bac Gentle Foaming Hand Soap (retail $5 but currently 3 for $10 online and in-store) To you, this may not be an extravagance but to your mom, it just might. B&BW's foaming hand soaps have the richest foam of any foaming soap out there. Get your mom three bottles in scents you think she'd like, and let her enjoy the simple pleasure of a nice, luxurious hand wash every day :)

4) Swedish Fot Fil (around $8 at Sally Beauty). This is a wonder tool that I've already written about here. Your mom might think this is just another boring foot file, but she'll be delighted and amazed at how it performs from the very first time she uses it. If your mom likes to soak her feet, she can use it there, and if she likes to take baths, she can use it there. (I use it in the shower every day and my mom uses it when she soaks her feet.)

5) MAC "O" Lipstick ($14) or a drugstore dupe of MAC "O" such as Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Copperglow Berry (retail $8). Honestly, my mom was stuck in a serious lipstick rut for years until I coerced her to change her ways. If your mom loves to wear a medium pinkish shimmer like my mom, help get her into 2009 and introduce her to a shade that is more natural and warm, yet still gives her the shimmer she loves. MAC "O" is a perfectly stylish color that works for EVERYONE at any age. But if you don't want to break the bank, get your mom the drugstore dupe of Mac "O": Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Copperglow Berry. Since there's no doubt she's familiar with Revlon lipsticks, she probably won't be resistent to give it a try. And when she puts it on, she'll be amazed at how it lights up her entire face. I literally uttered, "You're glowing, Mom! You're glowing!" when I gave this to my mom a few years ago. And she still wears it today.

6) Here's the splurge item: Ahava Dead Sea Minerals Body Lotion (or hand lotion or foot lotion). Ahava ROCKS and older women just adore the scent. Something about the floral fragrance seems to always be a hit with the more mature woman, and the performance of this lotion is utterly awesome. It leaves the skin so smooth and velvety. I've yet to meet a lady in her 50s, 60s or beyond who doesn't love this stuff. It can be pricey (about 20 bucks for an 8.5 oz bottle) but you can find it on Ebay (and sometimes Costco) for less. If your mom doesn't love it, I'll buy it off her (OK, I can't really afford to buy it off her, but I'm pretty certain she'll love it).

Now, I geared this list toward more "mature" mothers but, quiet honestly, they'll work for any mother, in any age range (with the exception of the Ahava--some younger women might find the fragrance a bit much although it personally doesn't bother me in the slightest).

Have any other neat ideas for Mother's Day beauty gifts? Leave me a comment!