Getting Ready

Perhaps a bath, laden with Aura Cacia’s Tranquility Aromatherapy Mineral Bath (auracacia.com) to start the unwinding process? The spring flowers scent will transport you to a land far away from quotidian concerns.

Elemis Balancing Lime Blossom Cleanser invigorates and deep cleans, with just a hint of a citrusy scent, leaving behind a well-scrubbed visage.

Another terrific facial wash, REN’s Hydra-Calm Cleansing Milk (renskincare.com) is ultra gentle for even the most sensitive skin and comes in a futuristic, cool dispenser that men and women alike can love. Artic black currant seed, fennel and sea buckthorn berry oils give it a tinge of the exotic.

Lux enough to pamper yet neutral enough to serve for either gender, Collective Wellbeing’s Charcoal Body Wash (collectivewellbeing.com) has the added bonus of being environmentally friendly, while still providing a squeaky clean result.

ShaKai’s Color Reflect Daily Moisturizing Conditioner works double duty as a leave-in styling cream as well. This natural product works gently yet effectively, leaving all hair types soft and shiny.

Pulling It Together

Bobbi Brown’s line of cosmetics (bobbibrowncosmetics.com) anticipates problems and provides solutions. The Spot Treatment Corrector, a case in point, brightens the under-eye area, eliminating unfortunate traces of exhaustion, leaving behind a bright-eyed face.

Erasing sun damage, a must for California girls, just got easier with Specific Beauty’s Skin Brightening Serum (specificbeauty.com). Little brown spots fade quickly and evenly, leaving behind the skin you were meant to have.

A great secret for curly-haired girls, Kérastase’s products (kerastase.com) are worth every penny for the simple fact that they deliver. The Oleo-Curl Intense “definition masque” helps tame and soothe problem hair into a more manageable coiffure.

A sheer miracle, Living proof.’s styling treatments (livingproof.com), invented by actual scientists, de-frizzes even the most unruly locks while leaving no smell, residue or greasiness behind. A true wunderkind.

For the Fun of It

Unexpected and bold yet surprisingly elegant, Illamasqua’s nail lacquer (illamasqua.com) in Rampage stands out in an increasingly crowded arena. A unique shade of green – lighter than pine, deeper than kelly – this polish provides all the oomph you need no matter how basic your little black dress.

The perfect red lipstick turns even the most basic dress into something vroom-y. Ellis Faas’ version (ellisfaas.com), in three different textures – creamy, milky and glazed – pack the perfect punch, while giving a stylish nod to classic screen sirens, like Marilyn Monroe and Ava Gardner. The silver bullet-like casing just adds to the allure.

Le Labo’s Fleur D’Oranger 27 (lelabofragrances.com), flirty and floral with a strong citrus bouquet, provides just the right amount of seduction for a romantic Valentine’s evening.



Gifts

TokyoMilk’s Honey & The Moon Bon Bon Shea Butter Lotion (tokyo-milk.com) smells as good as it sounds with sugared violet, jasmine and sandalwood, as well as honey, scents. With the charming packaging and sumptuous feel, this moisturizer makes a great present.

Simpatico’s mildly fragrant and sensual No. 35 bubble bath (simpatico-home.com) makes a perfect gift if you’re looking to set a serene atmosphere. Simple and elegant, the all-natural ingredients take relaxation to a whole other level. The not-too-sweet but still sexy scents of magnolia, coriander, juniper, clove and cardamom make it appealing to either gender.

The adult version of the perfect box of crayons, Urban Decay’s 15-year anniversary collection of glide-on eye pencils (urbandecay.com) offers a tantalizing color for every year of the company’s existence. From classics like “zero” (black) to wild cards like “electric” (near fluorescent turquoise), you will find an eyeliner to suit every occasion.

The Bumble Bee Studio (thebumblebeestudio.blogspot.com) makes beauty products so charming and delicious looking that it’s hard not to take a bite – particularly, the Lavender Sugar Scrub, which combines turbinado sugar, blueberry seeds, macadamia nut and coconut into a scrumptious and pampering revitalizer for the skin. Don’t miss the floral bath salts as well for a fantastic and thoughtful basket of treasure.

Tocca (tocca.com) creates products evocative of another era, and their pink tulip and green apple body cream is no exception. The box alone, substantial and tipped in gold, conjures up the elegance of the ’30s when women sat in front of vanities and powdered their noses. Your girlfriend will be transported.