Love must be in the air- we’re almost half way through February and whether you’re a lover or a hater; V-Day cheese will arrive this week, along with puppy-dog eyes, endless bouquets and bad rhyming.
It’s a mixed bag of feelings for me, although I have someone to ‘celebrate’ with, I also don’t like the idea of love and it’s accoutrements being forced upon anyone. No, thank you- I shan’t be going out for dinner to be over charged for sitting in the corner, nor do I expect a delivery of 100 roses. The one thing I will be doing, is looking forward to being able to flit between girlie pink and vixen red lipsticks and wearing perhaps a tad too much blush and perfume and knowing that someone still loves me for it. It’s Valentine’s!
In the name of lipstick, go bold. I love the new lipstick shades from the YSL Spring look- especially 32 in Jealous Coral- just don’t go acting jealous on Valentine’s Day. Illamasqua have their new I’m the One collection, with a lipstick in V-day appropriate ManEater, £16.50.
You’ll be the envy of any other lipstick wearers if you choose Estee Lauder’s Envious, £24 from the Pure Color Envy collection. If you fancy something less dramatic grab Bourjois’s Rouge Edition Lipstick, £8 or a Par Minerals Lip Gloss Stick, which you can layer up according to how deep you want the colour, £16.
Flush those cheeks with the Blush from NARS in Love, £21.50 and highlight the apple of your cheeks with Illamasqua’s Gleam, £18.
You can also use it to add light to parts of your face. For example, apply Gleam to your cupids bow to make it impossible to look away. I like pairing a lipstick with a blush or powder in advance, that way I know the colours work well even if I’m in a rush.
Gleam works well with Rimmel by Kate in 20, whilst NARS blush bring out the tones of YSL Rouge Volupte.
Glow from the inside out. Rather than layering up your foundation and wearing too much foundation, it’s best to have a good skincare regime in place that allows you to be lighter on the make up. ByTerry have recently launched Cellularose Nutri-Baume which, apart from actually being pink, is perfect for Valentine’s Day skin due to it’s non greasy formula that calms the skin for long lasting comfort, letting you say goodbye to red and uneven skintone. £68.
Elemis have broached the pink theme with the Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules, £62 which will be available in a special 10th Anniversary Limited Edition collection come March.
Onto smell. We all know what a big part scent can play in love and memories- so start on the right foot with Estee Lauder’s Modern Muse, £44 which we’re a big fan of already, and seems like the perfect option if you’re wanting to become the apple of a certain someone’s eye.
If you don’t want to branch out on scent then I totally understand (I always wear the exact same perfume, and only rarely combine it with another). A rich, creamy body wash is the answer to giving yourelf a little extra je ne sais quoi for the special night. Weleda’s Wild Rose Creamy Body Wash just that for a lovely £8.95
If you’re looking for a gift that bound to please all, then the Aura by Swarovski gift set is your guy (or girl). The iconic perfume comes with a Swarovski Crystal Touch make-up jewel and Aura by Swarovski body lotion, all wrapped up in a rose endowed pouch. £44.
Words and Photography – Emma Hoareau
