Valentine’s Day Gift Guide 2021

Valentine’s Day won’t be the same this year but we can still find new ways to celebrate. A cozy night in can be very romantic and there is still time to find the perfect gift.

Makeup, candy and skincare is always a good idea so today I’m sharing some of my V-Day faves. 

Lancome’s L’Absolu Rouge Intimatte Lipsticks ($42.00) are gorgeous! There are 16 stylish shades to compliment a variety of skin tones and the soft, powdery formula is outstanding. The lightweight color glides on smooth, buttery and matte with sheer to medium coverage and a supple, hydrating finish. 

 Left to right: 888 Kind of Sexy, 274 Killing Me Softly and 196 Pleasure First

Lancome is available at department stores and online at lancome.ca 

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Juicy Couture has released Viva La Juicy Bubbly ($119.00 /100 ml) – inspired by pink champagne and glamorous parties. The composition includes fizzy notes of pink berry, sweet jasmine, gardenia, vanilla, golden amber, praline and creamy woods.

If you’re a fan of Juicy Couture this fragrance will smell very familiar. It is fresh, trendy, light and youthful – perfect for everyday wear. Juice Couture is available at department store counters including Hudson’s Bay, London Drugs, Jean Coutu, Ulta Beauty and juicycouturebeauty.com. 

Elizabeth Arden’s Beautiful Color Moisturizing Lipstick ($33.50) in the shade Red Door is a classic Valentines red that makes a great gift for you or someone you love. The formula is clinically proven to keep lips hydrated all day (even during winter) and the vibrant satin color makes your pout appear soft and voluptuous.

If you want your eyes to pop (even while wearing a mask), Elizabeth Arden’s Grand Entrance Mascara ($33.00) provides dramatic volume, length and lift. The pigment is water resistant so it doesn’t smudge, run or clump and the vitamin-rich formula is infused with olive oil to nourish and protect your lashes. 

Elizabeth Arden is available at department stores including Hudson’s Bay, London Drugs, Shoppers Drug Mart and elizabetharden.com. 

I’ve been wearing a lot of neutral eye shadow recently and Vasanti’s Kajal x Kolors Palette ($39.00) has everything I need to create beautiful daytime looks. There are a variety of wearable mattes and shimmers that compliment all complexions and I love the smooth, creamy pigment. The brand also sells beautiful lipstick and fabulous skincare for women of color so check them out at vasanticosmetics.ca.

Visiting a nail salon is not really an option during the pandemic which means it might be time to update your polish collection. When it comes to cruelty-free, vegan, non-toxic nail lacquer, Bio Sculpture has a range of beautiful colors and finishes. For Valentine’s Day my favorite shades are 215 More is Definitely Better (a stunning shimmery pink) and 2025 Vibrant Violet. For more info visit biosculpturenails.com.

Also featured in the photo above are The Face Shop’s Rouge Satin Moisture Lipsticks ($26.00) available at avon.ca. If you’re getting dressed up for date night, Fever Red or Midnight Rose are perfect for the occasion. The rich colors are lightweight, easy to apply and comfortable with a moisturizing satin finish. 

This winter has been incredibly dry so nothing beats the gift of soft, healthy skin. I recommend Avon’s new Moisture Therapy Balance + Sooth Body Lotion ($35.00) and Body Wash ($33.00). This line was designed to support the skin’s invisible microbiome – a layer of beneficial micro-flora that balances and protects. The collection is infused with shea butter, macadamia oil, prebiotics and plant extracts to cleanse, deeply hydrate, soften, and strengthen. The products are formulated for extra dry, damaged skin. You can find them at avon.ca.

Sugar Mommy Chocolates has over 30 years of candy making experience and their huge Valentine’s Day platter is delicious! It includes a variety of chocolate covered goodies – Oreos, potato chips, toffee, pretzels, gram crackers, marshmallows, cereal clusters and more! This is a treat the whole family will enjoy. For more information visit sugarmommy.ca.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s Day Essentials and Date Night Makeup

Valentine’s Day may be commercialized but it is a great excuse to dress up, buy new makeup and eat lots of chocolate. Take a break from your hectic work week and plan a fun date to rekindle the romance.

Today I’m sharing a few beauty essentials that are perfect for a night of passion.

Recently I discovered a collection of vibrant red polish from Bio Sculpture. The Nourishing Nail Care range is formulated with multivitamins and plant hardening agents derived from Aloe, Lemon and Ginseng. Instead of leaving your nails brittle, yellow and damaged, the pigment hydrates, hardens and protects them with a built-in UV filter for long lasting manis and pedis.

Bio Sculpture holds a 5-star safety rating and their products are “ten-free” - meaning they are vegan, cruelty-free and do not contain 10 of the most common toxic chemicals found in nail polish.

The thick brush delivers the perfect amount of color in neat even strokes and I love the high-shine finish. For more information visit biosculpturenails.com

A bold red lip looks great with this manicure and Laura Mercier has some sexy options. The Rouge Essentiel Silky Creme Lipsticks ($42.00 ea) are infused with Mediterranean Sea Algae to moisturize dry skin and smooth fine lines. The curved bullet tip is designed to hug the lip contour and deliver intense, vibrant color in a single swipe.

I like the slick buttery texture and semi-opaque satin finish. You might need a couple coats to achieve consistent coverage but the buildable color keeps lips soft and supple. Laura Mercier is available at Sephora, Saks, Nordstrom and lauramercier.com.

Rouge Electrique (orange-red) and Rouge Muse (classic red)

Sultry red lipstick looks amazing with glitter eye shadow and for a night on the town, Urban Decay’s Party Favor Palette ($38.00) is a great choice. Each shade is laced with micro-fine sparkle for a diamond-like 3D effect.

The shadows are semi-sheer so you can layer generously or apply them over solid colors to fill in the background. Use a good base or glitter primer to keep the particles in place and enhance vividness. My favorite shade is Power Trip – a gorgeous coppery gold with flecks of pink.

Urban Decay is available at Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Shoppers Drug Mart, freestanding UD Stores and urbandecya.ca.

If you prefer soft, romantic makeup, Shiseido’s Essentialist Palette ($48.00) in Jizoh Street Red is lovely. The silky spherical powders create a smooth second-skin effect that lasts 12 hours with no creasing or fading and the pigmentation is quite good. The deep rose pairs beautifully with the radiant gold or elegant champagne and the compact is great for travel. Shiseido is available at Hudson’s Bay, Rexall, Sears, Shoppers Drug Mart and shiseido.ca.

Enhance these feminine shadows with Estee Lauder’s bestselling shade – Rebellious Rose. The Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick (32.00) has a creamy satin finish with a hint of moisturizing shine for effortless application and luxurious comfort. I can see why this shade is so popular. The saturated pigment looks flattering on all skin tones and lasts up to 6 hours.

Rebellious Rose is also available as a Paint-On Liquid Lip ($40.00) with an intense full-coverage matte finish. The rich velvety texture is hydrating and flexible with no flaking or transfer. I prefer this formula because the color lasts longer and has a deep mauve undertone.

Swatches

Estee Lauder is available department store counters including Hudson’s Bay and esteelauder.ca.