Valentine’s Day Beauty Essentials & Gift Ideas

It’s that time of year again. An abundance of red, pink, hearts and candy are everywhere and soon couples all over the world will be gazing starry-eyed at each other over candlelight dinners while confessing love and exchanging gifts. Since I’m not the type of girl whose heart skips a beat over wilting flowers, cheap chocolate and teddy bears (or as I call them - dust collectors) today I’ll share a few trendy gift ideas and pampering products to help get you ready for date night.

The Mark Love bath and body collection has a sweet, intoxicating fragrance that tantalizes the senses and puts you in the mood for romance. Add the bubble bath to warm water and indulge in a relaxing oasis (solo or with your love) and finish with the rich body butter infused with coconut oil, cocoa seed, aloe, soybean oil and shea. The Mark body butters are my favorite for nourishing dry, rough skin and they help undo the effects of winter. The hand cream has a cute heart motif and the lush formula locks in moisture so you can show off that chic mani with confidence. These products also make great gifts and you get them at avon.ca or through independent consultants.

No one wants to deal with poofy, wild hair on Valentines or any other day of the week so Kerastase has put together a few fabulous collections to help tame your tresses with cute pouches for gifting. The Fluidealiste range is formulated for unruly hair and once your man gets a whiff of your beautiful locks he’ll be hooked! The shampoo smells fantastic and cleanses thoroughly to remove build-up, product residue, perspiration and oil from root to tip. The formula produces a wonderful lather with hydrolyzed protein for strength and breakage protection. The Smooth-in motion care rinse-out is a light conditioner that prevents frizz, softens and hydrates so hair is shiny and sleek with fewer flyaways. The instructions recommend a 1-2 minute treatment time but I usually leave it in for 20-30 since my hair is long and thick. Click HERE to find a list of salons and retailers.

Chapped lips are never cute which is why you should slather on some of the juicy cherry Lypsyl after exfoliating. The creamy formula contains coconut oil for long lasting protecting against dryness and the creamy textures glides on smooth and alleviates instantly. The red packaging is perfect for a Valentines gift basket and the sweet cherry flavor is delicious! The conditioning agents leave my pout kissably soft and I also use it to prep my lips for color by applying a generous amount, leaving it on for a few minutes and then blotting off the excess. Lypsyl is available in drugstores nationwide.

When Avon released the Little Black Dress fragrance I took it with me on all my trips and just in time for Valentine’s Day, Little Red Dress has made its debut. The notes include juicy raspberry, sexy Bulgarian rose and red sandalwood for a vivacious intermingling of warm and spicy. The perfume is sophisticated, alluring and robust which is perfect for special occasions and romantic rendezvous. It retails for just $26.00.

The scent is also available in a shower gel ($12.00) and body lotion ($12.00) which makes a decadent gift. Head to avon.ca for more great ideas.

A sultry red lip is perfect for date night which is why I love Arbonne’s Smoothed Over Lipstick in the shade Currant. The cushiony formula glides on buttery smooth and lightweight for a radiant wash of satiny red. The pigmentation goes from sheer to medium coverage with great buildability and the moisturizing fruit extracts make lips appear full and enticing. This is a shade every woman can pull off and it looks ravishing with a sexy outfit.

If you prefer even more shine and radiance the Glossed Over Lip Gloss in Cardinal provides sheer, lustrous color infused with flecks of red glitter for subtle brilliance. The particles blend into the smooth formula discretely so you don’t feel them and the gloss is hydrating without being too sticky. When the lipstick fades (usually after eating or drinking) I like to top it up with the gloss to revive the color. These products are available at arbonne.ca or through independent consultants.

If you prefer light, fresh scents Avon’s Limited Edition Ultra Sexy Body Mists are sweet, decadent and beautifully packaged. Scintillating notes of juicy raspberry, peony, chiffon and silky chocolate set the mood for a night of fun and you can get all three as a gift set for just $20.00.

If diamonds are a girl's best friend then she is sure to love this exquisite piece from Bulova featuring 30 handset diamonds that sparkle beautifully. The brand is known for their high standard of excellence and this elegant statement piece is the epitome of style and femininity. It retails for $525.00.