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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Valentine's Day Gift Guide with Etude House - Part II

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Continuing from Sunday post and sharing more of my Etude House favorites for some Valentine's Day gift inspirations...

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JUICY LIPS TALKING

Dear My Lips-Talk

The "Dear My" collection has many spinoff's - Enamel, Wish, Blooming, and Jelly.  They all have their signature bling on the tube with either a bow or pink beads.  I was being good and only bought Enamel and Wish. 

Left to Right:  1) Enamel PK004 "Puzzling Pink"   2) Wish OR202 "Celebrity Wannabe"     3) Wish BE101 "Charming Lady Force".

Color  The Enamel is more sheer than Wish.  Both collections offer a great degree of shine.  You can see the two swatch photos below for comparisons.  Under direct sunlight - PK004 shows up as more sheer;  OR202 is a neon pink upon application;  BE101 looks very dark in the tube and on my arm, but once applied on my lips, it's a nice rose pink.  I think BE101 is my favorite.

Texture  As I apply these lipsticks , it feels as if they melt onto my lips.  PK004 and BE101 go on smoothly and the colors blend into my lips effortlessly.  OR202 requires some extra work - The neon pink color stands out against my natural lip color, so in order to make it look nice and smooth, I prep my lips with Vaseline lip first and I use my fingers to even out the color.  For a more precise look, I'd recommend using a lip brush. 

Staying Power  The colors transfer quite a bit to the rim of my coffee mug.  However, there is enough color stain that even after a full meal, there's still color on my lips.

Price & Where to Buy  I paid 9,500 won/USD $7.94.  Etude House U.S. website carries both Enamel and Wish at $12.40 per tube.  For other Dear My's, go here. 

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LOVE ME SOME LIP SHINE

Color In Liquid Lips

Korean beauty brands are just so good at creating interesting package design and that makes using their products so much fun.  When the saleswoman showed me these tubes, I shook my head because I thought these were lipsticks and I already had the three Dear My in my basket.  But then she opened these up and, whoa-la, these are actually liquid lips! 

Color  These liquid lips have very vibrant colors.  PK006 "Always In Pink" (left) looks normal pink in the tube and on the applicator, but once applied onto the lips, it looks more neon pink.  As for BE101 "Beige in Caramel" (right), it looks very beige in the tube and on the applicator, and once applied, it looks more like mauve pink.  See the two swatch photos below showing the colors on my arm and on my lips.

Texture  The liquid lips add a great deal of shine and feel good on my lips for the first 20 minutes or so.  After a while, my lips start to feel dry.  It's not terribly dry, but I can definitely feel them tightening a bit and resort to applying some lip balm.  I think it will be a good idea to prep your lips with Vaseline Lip and then apply these babies.  I find the drying effect to be pretty common among liquid lip products, so it's not just isolated to Etude House. 

Application  I soon realize the applicator picks up too much product and keeps pushing the excess product beyond my lip line.  For everyday causal use, I recommend using your fingers to continue spreading and also gently pressing the product onto your lips.  For more precise application, it's best to use a lip brush.  

Staying Power  The colors transfer quite a bit to the rim of my coffee mug.  As a result, expect the initial shine to be gone as soon as you starting eating and drinking.  However, there is enough color stain that, despite this transferring, the color stays on for a long time.

Price & Where to Buy  I paid 9,500 won/USD $7.94.  Etude House U.S. website sells them for $12.40 each.   

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ETUDE HOUSE OF HAND CREAM

My Castle Hand Cream

Admittedly, this was an impulse purchase.  I was at the cash register and found out I was just one item shy of hitting the minimum needed to get two of their gifts with purchase.  I looked within close proximity and these hand creams were within my reach.

Scent I bought "Pink Wish", which is described on Etude House website as "fruity floral" scent.  What I am smelling is indeed some floral fragrance, but surprisingly, I'm also smelling something that reminds me of men's cologne.  I'd say this hand cream scent is not my favorite because of that, but I still love this cute castle design. 

Texture I dip my fingers into the small opening and was surprised to feel the super thick consistency.  I turn the castle upside down and the cream stays in place.  That's how thick this is.  It does absorbs quickly on my skin.

Little Etti  I almost missed this part, but on the side of the packaging, in really small print, there is the backstory on My Little Castle series.  It's about a cat named Etti who lives in the Pink Castle.  Etti the cat grants beauty wishes to girls with warm and kind hearts, and they know their wishes are coming true when Etti's soft white fur turns pink.  I know I'm a grown woman and all, but this little story just adds even more cuteness to the pink castle!

Price & Where to Buy  I can't remember how much I paid in won.  Etude House U.S. website carries this collection at $7.80 per scent.  However, they are currently out of stock.

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And the free samples are just as exciting as the actual purchases themselves.  The Etude House crew is super generous this time!  But I am the most excited about that Magic Any Cushion in the middle - It's actually a power bank!

Hope you've enjoyed this Valentine's Day gift guide! 

What's on your V-Day wishlist?

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Dreaming of Summer

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Thank you Phil the Groundhog!  With Phil not seeing his shadow, that means warmer weather is right around the corner!  And that means my Mar Y Sol caracas tote can re-emerge very soon.  Happy day!

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