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If you’ve got a new boyfriend, a hot date, or a tried-and-true love, Valentine’s Day is almost like Christmas. You daydream about the sappy possibilities for this most romantic of holidays like a little kid anticipating the gifts waiting under the Christmas tree. Will your beloved send you flowers at work? Will you find one of those oversized teddy bears and a heart shaped box of assorted chocolates waiting on your doorstep? Will he take you to dinner? A concert? A romantic moonlit picnic? Will you get the kiss of your dreams at the end of the night?
Take a second to sit back and picture your fantasy Valentine’s day date, and don’t hold back all the cheesy details. Now, in your mind’s eye, how do you look when you greet your beau on Valentine’s Day? Maybe you’re a vision of classic beauty, all soft curls and glittery eyes. Or you’re edgy and vampy in dark lipstick and leather. Whatever the concept, we have some tips that will help you prep your desired look for the occasion and help your V-Day fantasies come true.
Skin
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As you probably know, a canvas of fresh, bump-free skin is the best way to achieve the makeup look of your dreams. Right now, we’re absolutely obsessing over the healing powers of ginger, which is a life saver for eradicating acne scars, reducing wrinkles, and even soothing untimely pimples. Guess what, you don’t have to break the bank for this fix. DIY masks might be a little extra effort, but you probably already have many of the ingredients in your kitchen. Besides, a little extra effort is worth it for the most romantic of holidays. Here’s the recipe for an at-home ginger face mask that will give you the skin you’ve always dreamed of, just in time for your Valentine’s date.
Perfume
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The perfect perfume is extra important on Valentine’s Day. It’s a fool proof way to entice your man to lean in just a bit closer, and linger next to you for just a bit longer. Maybe you already have a signature scent or maybe you’ve been thinking of trying out something new. Take Valentine’s Day as the excuse you’ve been waiting for to buy a new perfume or cologne. Mist your perfume (don’t douse it) just around your wrists and hair– you’ll give off little, tantalizing whiffs of the scent as you move, leaving him gasping for more.
Hair
While there’s really no wrong way to do your hair for Valentine’s Day, there are a few mistakes that could really ruin your evening. First off, if the style you’re planning relies heavily on hairspray, save that look for another day. Valentine’s is about romance, sure, but it’s also about touching, closeness and intimacy. No one wants to go in to stroke your hair only to run their hand through a crunchy lump of gunky, hair sprayed curls, no matter how visually appealing. In addition, any hair style that requires you to stay still for long periods of time to stay coiffed could really put a damper on your fun and should not be attempted on Valentine’s. For these reasons, we recommend simple sleek ponytails which can be easily fixed and retied if need be, or classic straightened hair for your date.
Nails
As with hair, nails that impede your ability to touch, move, and enjoy should be avoided like the plague on Valentine’s Day. Instead of gluing on long acrylics, which look glamorous but are not conducive to actually using your hands, go short and polished. But short and polished doesn’t mean boring! The color and design is where you can really have fun. You don’t have to adhere to the Valentine’s theme of reds and pinks, though you certainly can if you like. Dark blue or purple is unexpected and fun. How about flecks of glitter, dark, rich tones, matte or metallic nails? The choice is yours.
Teeth
For the all-important Valentine’s Day kiss, white teeth are not only recommended, they are a necessity. This step requires a bit of advance planning, depending on how dazzling you want your smile to be. You can either opt for some classic whitening strips, or try a professional home whitening kit to really show off those pearly whites.
Now you’re ready for that all important Valentine date, or you could choose to pamper yourself and stay in with your favorite movie crush! Ahh, bliss!
Images: Johnny Depp and Richard Gere