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The big V day is upon us again. Ya know that one day of the year where we have to tell our death-do-us-part that we love them etc. Valentine’s day….whether you are into it or not, it’s a’ coming and if you are a a little stuck for some gift inspo this year, then I have you covered at all angles with my Valentine’s Day gift guide 2021.
Even though we may not be going out for a ‘romantic’ meal for two at the local Italian (I’ve literally never been out with my husband, Tom ONCE to celebrate Valentine’s FYI it’s a no from me!), or whatever the ‘norm’ is for you then we can still celebrate and do something if you want to lift spirits, treat yo’self and get romantic. Valentine’s day for me isn’t always about the flowers and showering someone with gifts….it’s more about the little things, a little self-care, pampering and having a bit of me time.
Fragrance is always a classic Valentine’s present. It can be something that’s a real treat and sometimes *that* thing that we don’t think of to treat ourselves to. It’s a little indulgent, it can be evocative, memory-provoking and emotional. I always think fragrances are so special and I have a huge collection and some can really take me back to a moment or memory in seconds.
Fragrance is quite a personal thing, so make sure you know a bit about what the receiver likes in terms of scents, notes and brands. If I am gifting fragrance, I make sure it’s either one I know they like OR I opt for something that is quite soft, elegant and one that most people will like to wear. Step up the Jimmy Choo ‘I Want Choo’ Eau de Parfum (£65). This is a really pretty and sparkling floral scent with notes of mandarin, peach, vanilla, jasmine and red spider lily. It’s not overpowering but it’s definitely *there* and I find this kind of scent is one I reach for day-to-day when I just want something that’ll be easy and go with anything.
If you are buying for a perfume junkie, or you yourself are a little obsessed then you will know ALL about Roja Dove Parfums. These are THE ultimate in luxury fragrances and anyone who loves perfumes will want a Roja in their collection. I had been eyeing them up for YEARS and got my first one just last year and I can confirm it’s one of the most stunning and special scents I own.
The Roja Dove Parfums bottles themselves are decadent, pure luxury and they feel as expensive and as special as they are. The box they come in is like nothing you will ever see for a perfume and you just know you are onto something special when you have one in your hands. I love and have the Roja Dove A Midsummer Dream (£295) which is just magical and beautiful. It has notes of Bergamot, Rose, Orange Blossom, Moss, Patchouli, Orris, Musk and Vanilla. It’s exquisite, heady, romantic and a true special occasion kind of fragrance.
We are taking our skincare more seriously than ever right now amirite?! It’s no longer about a quick cleanse and moisturise…..it’s a BIG DEAL and quite rightly so. I think we have become more skincare obsessed than ever and any beauty junkie/lover will absolutely love some fancy skincare as a Valentine’s gift. Again, like fragrance, skincare can be really personal so do your research before you splurge on anything too expensive but I also have some suggestions here that’ll work for pretty much anyone and everyone.
Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm (£44). This is one of *those* skincare items that’ll work for pretty much anyone and is a great gift idea. Elemis do 3 cleansing balms now : the original Neroli (yellow), the Rose (pink) and the new fragrance free one (clear) so you have choice for all skin types and preferences but I think I love the Rose Cleansing Balm the most. Another Rose-infused skincare treat, and another that anyone can use in their regime is the Herbivore Rose Coconut Hydrating Face Mist (£14). This is a really soothing and hydrating face mist that gives the skin that burst of hydration, skin prep and glow. This vegan formula can be used under or over makeup!
We all love a pamper and a treat and a great multi-mask is the Emma Hardie Purifying Detox Pink Clay Mask (£40). This is a really effective 1-2 times a week face mask that contains Australian pink clay and Moringa Oil (*that* signature Emma Hardie scent!) to give the skin a really good, but gentle, deep cleanse. It will detox the skin, draw out impurities, balance the skin and leave you feeling super clean, smooth and bright.
Let’s get a little luxey and fancy with the La Mer The Regenerating Serum(£275) : one of the ‘the big gun’ serums. Infamous, instantly recognisable and *most* girls and guys wouldn’t mind a bit of that La Mer goodness on their vanity table. This is one of their most famous treatment serums that rejuvenates, smooths and brightens the complexion. It contains the brands’ signature ‘Miracle Broth’, supercharged antioxidants and skin-firming ingredients to give the skin a real boost. A treat for any skin!
Get those lips looking smooth, plump and kissable with these fun lip masks from Vitamasques : The Vitamasque Lip Mask Plump and Repair(£4.99). I had never used a lip mask before and can confirm that they are actually really very good! They contain hyaluronic acid to infuse the lips with a burst of hydration and the vegan collagen booster gives you that bit of plump and smoothness we all year for! Perfect for this time of year and even if you aren’t puckering up, they are a BRILL lip colour prep.
Looking for that perfect shade of seductive red? Look no further my friends….Emolyne have you covered and then some. They do gorgeous lipstick formulas, in the most stunning packaging, and what’s more they do matching lipliners and nail polish to go with! The shade Cape Town is absolutely the most stunning red you can imagine and honestly the set (£40) is an absolute winner for the ultimate put-together look. The lipliner formulas are smooth and creamy and they stay on really well.
The Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil-Infused Lip Glosses (£19) are some of the best around and I have raved about them for a long ol’ while now. I managed to get my hands on one of the newer limited edition shades called ‘Pink Sunset’ which is a really pretty pale petal nudey-pink. If this isn’t quite right for you, they do a load of other shades…and there’s a perfect one for everyone. I actually have the full range of swatches right here if you want to check ’em out.
Crabtree & Evelyn Evelyn Rose Velvet Body Melt is the ultimate luxury and super pampering body butter. It’s a cream to oil melting formula and leaves the skin super soft and nourished with a beautiful sheen. Great for winter skin, and a lovely treat straight after the bath to lock in the moisture. This balm has Italian Lemon, Rose and Vetiver so smells divine too!
You KNOW it’s actually impossibly for me to do any form of gift guide and NOT include Aromatherapy Associates right?! The ultimate gift! One I would be SO happy with any time of the year, any scent and just anything from the brand tbh. They are one of my favourite brands and I’ve shouted about them for many, many years. All their bath oils are fabulous, maybe the newest one to launch, the Aromatherapy Associates Rose Bath & Shower Oil (£49) is quite fitting for Valentine’s day? This is my latest addition to my collection anyway and it’s as good as the rest.
Essie Nail polishes(£7.99) You don’t have to be all about the red on Valentine’s. I’m loving a clean, nudey nail colour at the moment and have been switching between the Essie Ballet Pink and Blanc. Great for when you don’t want to keep re-applying or freshening colour on your nails as the nude shades don’t show up those chips and wear quite as much! You get fresh and clean looking nails without the hassle or upkeep.
A candle is a great gift and I have a great collection of so many different brands. One of my favourites ever EVER is the stunning Byredo ‘Burning Rose’ (£59) which is such a pretty and unusual scent. Rose petals, rose absolute, and smoky leather make for a perfection heady combination to make any room of the house smell incredible.
All the rage at the moment it seems….silk eye masks! Not for naughtiness, literally just to get some good shut eye my friends. Mulberry silk is the best and softest silk so try and opt for one made from that. I love my Slip Silk sleep Mask (£50) which is made from the highest grade mulberry silk to ensure ultimate softness and durability for the best night’s sleep!
Saucy Underwear?! Cease and desist. Dressing gown….YES. There’s nothing better than a lovely, thick, warm and cosy dressing gown to see you through these colder times. The humble house coat. I’m here for it and I pretty much live in mine at the moment. I have a few but you can’t go wrong with the good old Marks & Spencers Dressing Gown to keep you going for a good few years. The quality is always really good, they aren’t too pricey and they do lots of styles and colours.
Bloom + Wild Flowers.….even better…..a subscription! I’ve made no secret that flowers have bought me so much happiness this last year or so and I honestly would recommend them to all and any! Treat yourself to a lovely bunch….they brighten up your home and just give you BIT OF JOY. I’m currently loving ‘The Caroline’ from Bloom & Wild which are lovely, bright and giving me all the spring vibes. They also do a Valentine’s collection too with so many pretty bunches to choose from and NOT just the classic bunch of red roses. You can get £10 off ANY bunch with my referral code so CLICK here to take advantage of that (I get £10 off too = win win!).
So I hope that give you some ideas and inspiration for some Valentine’s day gift ideas for this year. Even if you aren’t celebrating or doing anything exciting, it can be a perfect time to treat yourself to something indulgent, have a bit of a pamper, a moment of self-care and self-love!
