Roses wilt and chocolates never last (at least in my house…I have no willpower!), but beauty products can leave you feeling pretty long after Valentine's Day!
In my quest to concoct a romantic recipe of glittery gloss, glowing skin, and starry eyes, I've been dabbing, swirling, and smoothing every product I can get my hands on. Here are some beauty treats that make me weak in the knees for Valentine’s Day:
*PixiGlow: Pixi Beauty and Disney have teamed up to “re-imagine” Tinker Bell. Basically, if Tink was a beauty junkie (And let’s be serious, why wouldn’t she be? We already know this chick loves sparkle!), chances are these products would be on her vanity. The sweet, girly packaging brings me back to my Bonne Bell days, but the actual products are oh-so-grown up. Right now, I’m crushing on:
Magic Tink Lip Tint in Happy Thoughts Pink ($16): This twisty-crayon of color reacts to your lips’ pH level, delivering a pretty, personalized pink tint. What I love about this product is that it feels like a moisturizing lip balm. One swipe around your kisser and you’re left with a natural, pinky hue…almost as if you just had a middle-school style makeout session!
Related: Favorite Lipsticks, Glosses, and Stains
Straight on till Morning Liner in 2nd Star Twinkle ($14): This jet black liner is infused with gold glitter, which can be a slippery slope. Too many “flecks” and you risk ending up in disco diva territory. The good news? This sparkle infused creation is “just right.” The gel-like formula glides on like butter, and when you “wing” it the results are just magical.
Catching Shadows Crayon in Beaming Reflection ($18): This cream-to-powder crayon is a lovely, luminous gold. When used alone as eyeshadow, it can be a bit chalky. Use it as a highlighter, and it’s a completely different fairytale! I’ve been layering it over colorful liner, dabbing it on the inner corners of my eyes, and using it to highlight my brow bones and cheek bones. I even “draw” some down the bridge of my nose. Blending is a snap and the resulting shimmer makes me feel like a princess.
Related: Double Duty Beauty Products
*PixiGlow will launch on February 5th at Target.com, and February 15th on PixiBeauty.com.
*Lancome Color Fever Gloss in Green Petal ($26): This lip-tastic creation is part of the Lancome Spring 2012 collection, inspired by the shades of a beautiful rose garden. Minty shades like this one are definitely having their moment in the sun. While the color in this particular tube is bright and intense (almost neon), what deposits on your lips is sheer, barely-there, green shimmer. The unique LipSculpt applicator has a bit of spring to it and really hugs the curves of your lips, leaving you with a voluminous pucker coated in mirror shine…minus the stickiness. It also has a strangely addicting garden-fresh taste. If green isn’t your cup of tea, you can also find this gloss in Tangerine Petal and Rose Petal.
*Stila Love At First Blush ($14): This sweetheart of a compact is embossed with three hearts in three shades of pink. Swirl them together for a bright, cheeky pop! Or, swirl your brush in your favorite hue, and build intensity from there! The micro-fine powder also makes it easy to apply with your fingers. (A little trick that can come in handy when you’re sans makeup brushes.) Think of yourself as an artist, and this compact as your pretty palette. You’ll be a blushing beauty in no time!
Related: HOW and WHEN to Wear Cream Blush
*Urban Decay Pocket Rocket ($19): I have a new boyfriend. His name is Rashad. He makes me feel beautiful, and my husband is totally cool with it. Before you judge, Rashad is the name of my Urban Decay Pocket Rocket Lip Gloss! Each of the 10 available shades is named after a lust-worthy guy. There’s James the Emo Hipster, Max the Surfer, and David, who is All Business, just to name a few. And here’s the scandalous part: Simply tilt the slim tube to strip the man of your choice to his skivvies. (Just in case you were wondering, there are front and rear photos.) As for the actual, high-pigment gloss, it’s definitely more “full coverage” than sheer. It fills in any lip creases, creating the illusion of a plumper pout. It’s goopier than other glosses in my bag, but it stays put longer…which means Rashad and I won’t be breaking up anytime soon!
Clinique Age Defense BB Cream SPF 30 ($37): If you aren’t familiar with BB creams, get ready! They’ve reached cult status in Asia, and are now making waves right here in the U.S. BB stands for beauty balm, and to say these products are multi-purpose is a total understatement! BB creams aim to moisturize, treat, protect, prime, conceal and cover imperfections. (Whew…That was a mouthful!) Clinique’s version has got me all hot and bothered! Don't be scared away by the dense texture. It gave me just the right amount of coverage, masking redness and tiny imperfections in the blink of an eye. (Read: I don’t always have to use my beloved Make Up For Ever HD concealer!) Another plus? I have super sensitive skin, but it hasn’t caused any breakouts. All-in-all...this all-in-one is a winner!
Related: Anti-Aging in Your 20s, 30s, 40s... and Beyond!
Dior Diorshow New Look Mascara ($28.50): This mascara is an homage to Christian Dior's "New Look," his groundbreaking collection for Spring-Summer 1947. I haven't tried it yet, but I plan to make my move any day now. (Basically, I'm stalking it.) Dior mascaras are notorious for their super spidey-lash powers, and this one features a brand new "nana brush" that promises to coat every lash with precision. Reviews so far have been stellar.
*Disclaimer: The product(s) reviewed in this article was provided to GalTime by the public relations firm that represents the manufacturer. All opinions are those of the author.
More from GalTime:
- 7 Beauty MUSTS for a Dazzling Valentine's Day
- Nail Polish: The Good, The Bad, & The Absolute Awful
- Sexy Valentine Hairstyle Ideas
- Valentine Day Looks for $100 and Less!
Kerri Winick is the Style and Beauty Editor for GalTime.com. She got her start in the world of journalism as a television news producer, working at stations in Boston, Washington, D.C., and New York City. In doing so, she developed close relationships with countless fashion and beauty magazines, stylists, makeup artists, publicists, shopping Web sites, eco-experts and consumer experts. A self-proclaimed beauty junkie, she soon had her fingers on the pulse of the latest trends, and wanted to share her knowledge with the world!
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