5 Valentine's Day Gifts You Can Enjoy as a Couple

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Valentine's Day gifts can really burn a hole in our wallets.  Don't get me wrong, I don't think relationships need to be built on gifts, but I'd be lying if I say I don't love little surprises, especially on the most romantic day of the year!  So when my boyfriend and I made a recent purchase that we were both able to use, I had a "light bulb over my head" moment and came up with this unisex version of the Valentine's Day gift guide.

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1. HoMedics® Percussion Action Handheld Massager with Heat  I got this device for my boyfriend's back problem, but I ended up loving it as well!  This helps release muscle tension on his back.  As for me, I use this handheld massager to help alleviate soreness, especially on my legs, from my workout sessions.

$39.99 bedbathandbeyond.com

2. Shaveworks™ Pearl Soufflé Luxurious Shave Cream  Even though this is marketed toward women, it is such a good moisturizing shaving cream that it will work for both sex.  And who wouldn't want your partner to have nicely-shaven smooth skin to blow kisses on?  P.S. Read about my 7 shaving tips to get you date-ready.

$22.00 sephora.com  

3. Kiehl's Bath & Shower Liquid Body Cleanser in Grapefruit  I am addicted to this body wash thanks to my gym here in Boston.  I shamelessly slather myself in this after every workout and simply take my time in the shower.  What I love about this moisturizing body wash is how light the grapefruit scent is - Precisely why I think this works for both sex as the smell won't be deemed too "girly".  And we're talking about Kiehl's here - It's the best of the best when it comes to body care!

$25.00 (16.9 oz bottle) kiehls.com 

4. L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream  I am a hoarder of hand cream and L'Occitane is one of my obsessions.  Given the snow storms we've had in the past days (and with more coming), this hand cream will come in handy!  This is the brand's best-selling hand cream ("1 is sold every 3 seconds around the world"), and it will leave you with silky smooth hands.  The scent is very light and works well as a unisex hand cream.  Also, get the 1 0z which is perfect to throw in your and your partner's purse, tote, messenger bag, whatever your travel style is. 

$12.00 (1 oz tube) loccitane.com

5. Hadatuko Daily Protector SFP 30 PA+++  I am passionate about daily, year-round sun protection.  My past work in the sun care category has given me deep understanding of the danger our skin faces when not using sun protection (even on a cloudy day).  So naturally and with love, I enforce a daily sunscreen rule, which my boyfriend happily oblige.  This made-in-Japan sunscreen is great for its non-greasy formula ("too oily" often is the complaint I hear about using facial sunscreen).  A Valentine's Day gift picked with love for your partner's health.  Enough said! 

$36.90 sasa.com

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Thanks for stopping by and hope you find this unisex gift guide helpful!

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Shaving Tips: 7 Things You Should Do To Protect Your Skin

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My Shaving Essentials: 80 Acres Lotion // Gillette razor // Shaveworks™ Get Smooth Duo

My philosophy, when it comes to skin care, is that we should take care of not only our facial skin but also our body skin because skin damage, whether it's from natural or unnatural causes, doesn't discriminate.  My body from the neck down gets the same royal treatment as my face.  And when it comes to shaving, I pay close attention to my entire process.  Unfortunately, I often get reaction from waxing (even the gentle kind), so shaving has become a must-do for me.  And bad shaving habits can do some bad things to our precious skin, so let's be kind to our skin and do shaving the right way!

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Here are 7 things I do consistently to protect my skin when I shave

1. Shave in a warm-water shower and as the very last step  Steam and heat from warm water helps soften hairs and open up follicles.  Since it takes a while for the surrounding to warm up, you may want to wait and shave at the end of your shower.  If you take cold shower, I'd recommend at least running your shaving areas under warm water before shaving.

2. Use shaving cream  Shaving cream helps prep your skin as it moisturizes your skin and softens hair.  Imagine running your razor on dry skin...not only does it damage your skin, you're also increasing the chance of getting nicks and cuts because of a rough shave.  Conditioner will work as well since it has moisturizing benefits.  Soap or body wash (even the moisturizing kind) is intended to deep cleanse, meaning they work hard to strip dirt and oil from your skin, so it's best not to use it for shaving.

3. Switch out razors or razor blades regularly  Not only does over-used razor or razor blade get dull, it can also be a breading ground for bacteria since it is often stored in places with lots of moisture.  I use a combination of disposable and refillable razors and replace each one after 4-5 uses. 

4. Store razor away from the shower head area Placing razors near the shower head maybe convenient, but with water constantly being splashed onto the razor blade, you're increasing the chance of the blade getting rusty.  And shaving with a rusty blade is never a good thing.  

5. Take care of those razor burn Use an extra moisturizing body lotion or special post-shave treatment to care for razor burn.  They may look harmless, but leaving them untreated can potentially leave you with a scar. 

6. Treat the ingrown hair Those darn ingrown hairs! Instead of pushing your razor hard against your skin to get to the ingrown hairs (which could lead to a cut), try to exfoliate the area that you'd typically get them or do a warm-compress over it.  Both tricks will help expose the hair a little more, making it easier to shave them off.

7. Moisturize after each shave Even if you don't have a razor burn, moisturize your newly shaven skin.  Even better, make this an everyday post-shower ritual as soap or body wash tends to strip your body of moisture.  Just be sure to use an alcohol-free lotion as not to irritate the skin.

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products i love - steal vs splurge

SHAVING CREAM

Steal // Aveeno Positively Smooth Shave Gel // This shave gel not only moisturizes your skin, it also helps soften hairs, making it easier to shave // $4.20 for 7 oz

Splurge // Shaveworks Pearl Soufflé Luxurious Shave Cream // This shave cream contains ingredients that exfoliate and moisturize your skin while reducing ingrown hairs // $22.00 for 5.3 oz (Get the "Get Smooth Duo" set to try for only $10)

RAZOR BURN TREATMENT

Steal // Good old aloe vera // Aloe vera is known to help soothe irritated skin, but it doesn't help with ingrown hair //

Splurge // Shaveworks The Cool Fix // This post-shave gel provides relief from razor burn and exfoliates skin to help release trapped hair from underneath the skin // $26.00 for 5.3 oz (Get the "Get Smooth Duo" set to try for only $10)

POST-SHAVE LOTION

Steal // J.R. Watkins Lavender Hand & Body Lotion // A lavender-scented lotion with ingredients such as essential oils and shea butter to keep your skin moisturized for an extended period of time // $9.99 for 11 oz

Splurge // 80 Acres Hand & Body Lotion // This lotion is rich in anti-oxidants (think olive oil) and keeps your skin hydrated // $25.00 for 10 oz

 

Thanks for letting me share my shaving ritual with you!

What are some of your shaving tips and tricks?

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