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The 14th of February has arrived and you have a hot date lined up. The restaurant is booked, your outfit is chosen and all that’s left to do is to get yourself ready. You want to look your best, but you have no idea where to start…
The best dates are usually the ones where you feel super comfortable in your skin, and a big part of that, comes from being (unapologetically!) yourself. A little bit of grooming and pampering before your date is sure to lift your spirits, and boost your confidence.
Here are our tips to help you look and feel your best this Valentine’s Day, without going over the top, and without breaking the bank.
Beauty tips for her
Makeup
Makeup is a great confidence booster, but try to keep it minimal, allowing your natural beauty to shine through. Soft, romantic makeup is always a hit for Valentine’s Day. We recommend a subtle smokey eye using shades of nude, bronze and dark brown, followed by lashings of a volume-boosting mascara. wet n wild 10 Pan Eyeshadow Palette in Nude Awakening (R169.95) features high-impact colours in matte, satin, shimmer and metallic finishes, making a smokey eye super easy. Follow with wet n wild Big Poppa Mascara (R154.95) for extra volume, length and lift. A dewy foundation (try wet n wild Photo Focus Foundation, R129.95) and a little bit of blush is all you need for your complexion. We love wet n wild’s Megaglo Blushlighter in Highlight Bling (R129.95) which instantly sculpts, defines, and highlights in one application.
Tip: To keep your foundation looking as natural as possible on your skin, we recommend blending it with a damp sponge rather than a brush. Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge (R157.00) allows you to blend your foundation seamlessly and the flat edge lets you get to difficult areas like around the eyes and nose.
Skin
Everyone can do with a healthy, glowing complexion come Valentine’s Day, and the easiest way to achieve this is to invest in some vitamin C skincare. Not only does vitamin C help reduce and prevent pigmentation, but it also fights off free radicals and brightens the skin, leaving it looking radiant. We recommend the Creightons Vitamin C Superfruits skincare range. Affordable and effective, the 2% Ultra Glow Serum (R139.95) is ideal for a dull complexion and uneven skin tone, releasing beneficial ingredients: Vitamin C, natural fruit acids and enzymes, to hydrate and enhance your natural glow, while the 2% Bright Eye Serum (R115.95) rejuvenates and replenishes the under-eye area as well as minimise the appearance of dark circles. Cult favourite NIP+FAB’s Vitamin C Fix Cleanser (R250.00) helps to protect skin from everyday environmental pollutants while revealing clearer brighter skin, while the Vitamin C Fix Scrub (R250.00) is infused with vitamin C, coffee seed extract and coconut oil to effectively cleanse, nourish and renew the skin.
Hair
Stiff, over-styled hairstyles are out, and loose, healthy, natural hair is in. Whether your hair is curly, wavy or straight, we recommend keeping it casual this Valentine’s Day by wearing it natural. Apply a hydrating hair mask the night before or morning of to ensure your hair is soft, manageable and – most importantly – touchable!
For straight hair, try OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Extra Strength Hair Mask (R220.00). Formulated with argan oil of Morocco and silk proteins, this hair mask detangles hair and provides added inner strength.
For wavy to curly hair, try Curls in Bloom Deep Penetrating Treatment (R129.95), a conditioning masque that replenishes moisture while strengthening the hair.
For curly hair, try The Perfect Hair Mango & Marula Detangling Deep Conditioner (R34.99), a creamy rich conditioner, enriched with mango butter and marula, coconut, and castor oil to condition and soften the hair with an intense moisture boost.
Fragrance
Looking for a scent that’s feminine, luxurious and sexy, while still being sophisticated? Mercedes Benz For Women Eau de Parfum (R1395.00 for 60ml) is an amber floral fragrance that boasts a beautiful array of feminine notes: think jasmine, orange blossom, pear, vanilla and musk. They say the best place to spray your fragrance is anywhere you want to be kissed! We recommend the neck and collarbones, and any pressure points like behind the knees or on wrists.
Grooming tips for him
Shaving
There are no rules when it comes to shaving versus having stubble or a beard – it all comes down to personal preference. Whatever style you choose, we recommend taking a few extra minutes to groom your facial hair or nourish your skin post-shave, so that it looks its best. If you’re going for a fresh shave, be sure to apply a post-shave product that’ll calm the skin and prevent redness and ingrown hair. Clubman Bump Repair Gel (R209.95) eases razor burn and shave bumps and helps prevent ingrown hair while leaving your skin soothed and nourished. If you’re rocking facial hair, be sure to moisturise it every day to keep it soft and manageable. Cantu Men Beard Oil(R139.95) has a unique blend of caffeine, hemp seed oil, and tea tree oil to seal in moisture to soften and nourish hair. If you prefer a creamier formula, try Clubman 2-In-1 Beard Conditioner (R209.95). Formulated with a special blend of coconut oil, soy protein and panthenol, it does double duty conditioning and soothing irritated skin while leaving the beard soft and moisturised.
Fragrance
Smelling good on a date is important, so it’s best to choose your fragrance wisely. You want something that’s memorable, but not overpowering, assertive, but not domineering. Mercedes Benz SIGN (R1795.00 for 100ml) is an intense fragrance that lingers for all the right reasons. The top notes reveal the effervescence of cardamom and pink peppercorn, the middle notes feature lavender, violet leaf absolute and orange blossom, while warm base notes of tonka beans and cashmere woods give the scent a sensual element.
Skin
Looking after your skin is a year-round commitment, but in the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day, you might want to pay a little bit of extra attention to keep spots at bay. Incorporating a spot-busting ingredient like salicylic acid into your regime will not just treat existing blemishes, but will also help prevent future ones from forming. Start your regime with a salicylic acid cleanser like Creightons Salicylic Acid Clay Cleanser (R75.95), which combines kaolin clay with salicylic and lactic acids to help absorb excess oil and maintain healthier, clearer looking skin. Follow with Creightons Salicylic Acid Soothing Lotion (R69.95), a moisturising, lightweight lotion to soothe and care for blemish-prone skin without clogging pores or being too heavy on the skin. If your skin is playing up, it might be time to bring out the big guns: NIP+FAB Salicylic Acid Fix Night Pads (R349.95) is formulated to reduce breakouts with potent salicylic acid and a skin protective complex to support the healing process of active breakouts, to speed up recovery time. To quickly heal an existing spot, try NIP+FAB Salicylic Acid Fix Spot Patches (R169.95). These targeted spot patches will help to effectively reduce and improve the appearance of blemishes.
Hair
If your hair is short, you’ll probably need to do very little styling for your big date. However, if you like to give your hair a bit of shape, then a wax or styling pomade will do the trick. Try:
Gatsby Slicked Back Style Styling Pomade (R109.99) for a trendy slicked back, retro style;
Gatsby Pompadour Styling Pomade (R109.99) to create the trendy roll-up pompadour style;
Gatsby Retro Matte Styling Pomade (R109.99) for a volumised finish and long-lasting hold.
Going in for that Valentine’s kiss
A bright smile is a date night essential, and if you’re hoping to lean in for a Valentine’s kiss, it’s time to up your oral hygiene game. White Glo’s Charcoal range whitens and detoxifies teeth, leaving your mouth fresher and healthier. Brush twice a day with White Glo Charcoal Sensitive Relief Toothpaste (R79.99). A deep whitening toothpaste that removes stubborn stains and discolouration, it also detoxifies your mouth and is effective at fighting unpleasant breath, giving you confidence for a brighter smile. If you haven’t already, now is the time to add a mouthwash to your oral care regime. White Glo Charcoal Deep Stain Remover Mouthwash (R75.99) not only freshens breath by eliminating the bacteria that causes it but also removes deep stains thanks to the adsorbent properties of activated charcoal. And finally, if you want to get rid of stains, try an at-home whitener. We recommend White Glo Activated Charcoal Teeth Whitening Powder (R160.00). Sweet mint-flavoured activated charcoal that adsorbs superficial stains left on teeth by food, and beverages like tea, coffee, and wine.