Valentine’s Day Beauty

Polished Presents for Givers & Giftees

by Sharon Shervington

Did you know that florists make as much as 40% of their profits from Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day?

But while they profit, you pay—up to double the usual price of roses. So help florists by going to them often the rest of the year, but spend your Valentine’s Day funds on a gift that lasts. Giving beauty promotes health and self-care as well as a sense of well-being.

Lush always comes up with special beauty treats for holidays like Easter, Mother’s Day and, of course, Valentine’s Day. This year, a top choice is the Lots of Love Box. It is packed with all kinds of shower and bath treats such as the limited edition Prince Charming bath gel, with a delicious pomegranate and grapefruit scent.

Also inside are assorted bath melts, bath bombs, and body bars, rich with moisturizers in lovely shades of pink. You will fall in love with Ro’s Argon, a one-of-a-kind product that you smooth on the skin and then rinse off. Imbued with rose oils, there is a sense of rose petals having been rubbed on the skin.

If you’re already a Lush fan, here’s some big news. Lush is set to open a store in Charlotte, in the South Park Mall, in early summer of 2014. And their fresh hand-made masks, which are not unavailable online, will now be available in Western North Carolina.

For a really big splurge, give your honey La Prairie’s Skin Caviar Luxe Soufflé Body Cream, an instantly yet deeply penetrating after-bath moisturizer. Reminiscent of the loveliest scents of earth and ocean, this product is especially good after exfoliating. The Skin Caviar Luxe Sleep Mask can be used in concert with the body soufflé at bedtime, or by itself. With a delicate pink color and a similar fragrance to many of La Prairie’s products including the soufflé, this is a luxurious final step for a regular beauty routine.

Perhaps my favorite La Prairie product this year is the Anti-Aging Eye and Lip Perfection. Packaged in an elegant two-level silver compact, the top-quality lip balm and eye gel then go inside a round white leatherette case—which solves the problem of these two go-to products getting lost in the handbag.

At this time of year, skin is tired from the drying effects of the winter. An excellent remedy is Clinique’s Moisture Surge, Extended Thirst Relief. This delicate, fragrance-free shell pink gel-cream is light enough for daytime and sturdy enough for night. As the name implies, its deeply moisturizing effects last for many hours and can improve moisture levels overall when used consistently.

If that doesn’t take care of the dry spots, try it with the Moisture Surge overnight mask, used as a final step. This new category of deep moisturizers, intended for occasional use overnight, is part of a trend that will continue to grow.

As soon as the Moisture Surge is applied there is a sense of head-to-toe relaxation, a reminder that self-care is a daily practice that must be taken seriously.

A category that has exploded over the last five years is that of facial serums which enhance the work of creams and lotions and come in many formulas for all skin types. A silky one that sinks right in is Clinique’s Repairwear Laser Focus serum, which is perfect for use under Moisture Surge or under any favorite moisturizer.

So there you have it, a blueprint for a happy Valentine’s Day, whether you are the giver, the giftee, or whether it is simply time to treat yourself. Of course you deserve it!