May’s editor-favorite gifts for her, from beauty to polished accessories

Chatelaine’s May buys are the rare gift list I trust because the editors were clearly reaching for things they would use immediately, not admire from afar. The series is also a recurring one, with May editions published in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026, which gives it the feel of a real monthly shopping ritual, not a one-off roundup.

1. Monos Minaret Cat Eye Sunglasses, $185

If you want one gift that reads polished the second she opens it, start here. Monos says the collection has six frame shapes and uses Italian Mazzucchelli acetate with ZEISS lenses, so this is the kind of present for the woman who wants her sunglasses to look good and hold up to actual daily wear, not just one brunch.

2. Elate LipStick Pencil in Fierce, $24

This is the one for the friend who loves a strong lip but hates fussy makeup. Elate describes itself as a sustainable cosmetics brand, says more than 75 percent of its packaging is reusable, recyclable or plantable, and plants a tree for every order, which makes this a thoughtful little luxury for the woman who wants her beauty buys to feel as responsible as they are fun.

3. Huda Beauty Mini #FauxFilter Color Corrector, $21

Consider this the smartest under-eye fix in the edit. Huda Beauty calls it a lightweight, creamy color corrector that helps visibly correct and brighten the under-eye area, and it’s infused with vitamin C and niacinamide, so it suits the person who wants to look awake fast without piling on a full face of makeup.

4. Kaweco Classic Sport Fountain Pen, $38

This is the gift for the woman who still gets excited by a good pen. Kaweco says it has been making fountain pens since 1883 and continues to manufacture nibs in Germany, which gives this compact, collectible little writer a lot more pedigree than the price suggests, especially for someone who likes stationery with a bit of personality.

5. Wonder Pens, Toronto

If the recipient is the type who likes to choose her own ink, nib, and notebook, this is the better gift than a random office-supply run. Wonder Pens is a Toronto-based Canadian fountain pen, ink, and paper store, the kind of independently owned shop that makes even a simple stationery present feel considered and a little bit romantic.

6. M.A.C Cosmetics Lipglazer Glossy Lip Liner, $32

This is the practical lip product that still feels chic in a makeup bag. M.A.C describes Lipglazer as a soft shiny liner that lines, fills, and visibly volumizes, which is exactly why it works as a gift for the friend who wants one product to do more than one job.

7. M.A.C Cosmetics Lipglass Air Non-Sticky Gloss, $34

Pair it with the liner, or give it on its own to the woman who likes gloss but refuses anything tacky. M.A.C says Lipglass Air is a high-shine, non-sticky gloss that hydrates lips all day, so it lands in that sweet spot between everyday polish and something she’ll actually keep using.