Yet again it’s the most romantic night of the year. Whether you have a special date with your Valentine, or you’re single and headed out on the town with your girls, obvi you will want to look as hot as possible! Here are a few places/products/ways to prep before the special night that will have you looking and feeling fabulous, confident, and oh-so glam!

HOT COCOA MANI PEDI AT HAVEN SPA
Enjoy the benefits of chocolate without the calories by indulging in this luxurious treatment. Hands and feet are soaked in a warm milk bath, rubbed with a cocoa scrub, and then massaged with super rich cocoa butter. Yummmm.
75 min/$60 at Haven Spa in SoHo 212-343-3515.

 AVEDA MASQUERADE
A FREE makeover— is it Christmas or Valentines Day? On February 13th and 14th Aveda Experience Centers across the country are offering complimentary 20 minute, 5-step skin makeovers that come with a sample of a masque tailored to your skin type. Could Cupid be any better to us?
Log on to aveda.com to find a location near you.

PIROUETTE BAMBOO MICRODERM
Slough off any dry skin on your face with this derm developed microdermabrasion scrub. Ingredients like bamboo and sugar exfoliate gently, so it’s good for even sensitive skin types. Plus the bottle is pink and oh-so-girly. Love that.
Available at EmpowerYourSkin.com for $45.

 PANGEA BODY OIL
Rub on this luxurious oil post shower. Not only will it leave your skin silky and touchable, but the three different aroma therapeutic blends will leave you feeling clarified, grounded, or invigorated. Bonus—it also works great as a massage oil for later in the evening!
Available at Whole Foods and Wild Oats stores for $23.99

 eos SHAVE CREAM
I am definitely guilty of rocking the mid-winter leg fuzz. But if any night is a good one to finally shave, this is it. This non-foaming cream formula is so moisturizing that you can shave wet or dry. I like the pomegranate raspberry flavor–mostly because the bottle is pink, how appropriate!
Available at evolutionofsmooth.com for $4.99.

xx, Melanie Rud

Technorati Tags: Glam Media, Glam.com, Glam Blush, GlamBlush, Beauty, blogs, Valentine’s Day, prep, Haven spa, aveda, pangea, eos, pirouette

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Wouldn’t it be so much better to spend February 14th relaxing with your special someone than sitting in an over-crowded restaurant? Nix the typical dinner out and spend some private time this weekend with the Valentine’s Day Passion Love Ritual at Jeunesse Spa. Indulge in a side-by-side couples massage with soothing and seductive scents such as ylang-ylang and patchouli. As an added bonus, receive a 50% discount on any hair service at the Fabio Scalia Salon with the purchase of the spa package… a nice, prettifying perk for you!

The package costs $250 for 60 minutes. To book your appointment, call Jeunesse Spa at 212-245-4606, or visit them online at JeunesseSpa.com for more information.

xx, Melanie Rud

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Everyone knows that V-Day can evoke stress for numerous reasons. But gift-giving shouldn’t be one of them. Below are the perfect pressies, no matter whom you’ll be spending February 14th with!

MEN
I personally am totally supportive of buying men products; we all know they secretly love it. Since not all males are created equal, here’s what to get your guy whether he has more products than you, only uses bar soap, or falls somewhere in between.

The Manly Man—JACK BLACK THE NEW CORE COLLECTION
Simple and straightforward, this set of three products will make his skin clean and healthy. Facial cleanser,  beard lube conditioning shave, and an SPF moisturizer come in a sleek and very manly black pouch.
Available at sephora.com for $52.

The Traveler-ANTHONY LOGISTICS FACE OFF KIT
This travel-size kit is perfect if your guy is always on the go or doesn’t want to commit (to one product). Small and portable, it contains a cleanser, scrub, shave cream and after shave balm.
Available at Bath and Body Works for $40.

The Earthy Type-KORRES ASBINTHE SHAVE CREAM
If your man has gone green, he’ll love this product from Korres. Absinthe and jojoba oil will protect his skin for irritation and leave it silky smooth.
Available at sephora.com for $22.

The Product Lover-ALFORD & HOFF EYE CREAM
A man who doesn’t balk at the idea of using eye cream will love the sleek packaging and innovative formula of this one. Made to reduce the appearance of dark circles and wrinkles, it will keep him looking young and fresh.
Available at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman for $48.

The Product-Phobe: CUPID’S KISS PACKAGE AT THE CHOPRA CENTER & SPA
Some guys just don’t do products, so treat him (and yourself) to this blissful series of treatments based on Ayurvedic principles that restore mind-body harmony. Enjoy their Navina Sensory Bath for two, several massage therapies, and a hand massage workshop. Being pampered with your man, what could be better?
130 minutes/$220 per person at the Chopra Center & Spa 212-246-7600

LADIES
If you’re single on Valentine’s Day, please don’t do what I did last year and sit at home alone eating an entire blueberry pie (sad but true). Get your girls together and do a Secret Santa type gift swap!! You all get to reap the benefits of getting cute presents while showing each other how much you care. After all, it should always be chicks first!

PHILOSOPHY CANDY HEARTS LIP DUO
A total flashback to the conversation hearts from elementary school, this lip gloss duo comes in shades called Smooch and Luv U. They smell and taste yummy!
Available at Sephora for $20.

SOAP AND PAPER FACTORY BAR SOAP
These soaps are almost too pretty to use. The antique packaging is so girly and feminine, and each one is full of moisturizing shea butter. The only problem is choosing between the six scrumptious scents!
Available at soapandpaperfactory.com for $14.

CAROL’S DAUGHTER SWEETHONEYDIPCHOCOLATEBROWNSUGAH
BATH BOMB
Each fizzy bomb contains essential oils that turn a normal bath into a totally delectable experience. Plus, they look like little cupcakes. Could bathtime get any cuter?
Available at carolsdaughter.com for $7.50.

TWEEZERMAN RED HEART SLANT TWEEZER
A perfectly appropriate version of the classic, these tweezers are adorable and practical. As with all Tweezerman products, you can send them away to be sharpened for FREE forever. (Um, score!)
Available at tweezerman.com for $25.

DIVINE MILK & DARK CHOCOLATE HEARTS
I know this technically isn’t beauty related, but what girl doesn’t want chocolate? These nutritious and delicious chocolate hearts have less than 30 calories each. And they’re fair trade, made by cocoa farmers in Ghana.
Available at Whole Foods and Borders stores for $4.99

xx, Melanie Rud

Technorati Tags: Glam Media, Glam.com, Glam Blush, GlamBlush, Beauty, blogs, Valentine’s Day, gifts, friends, men’s products, jack black, anthony, korres, alford and hoch, philosophy, soap and paper factory, carols daughter, divine chocolates, tweezerman

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Chanel Nail Polish, Chanel.com, $20-30

Zensual Italian Bergamot & Mimosa Travel Tin Candle, Zensual.com, $8

Oscar Blandi Luce Sheer Hair Gloss, OscarBlandi.com, $25

Patricia Field Breakfast at Tiffany’s Snooze Mask, PatriciaField.com, $34

Bond No. 9 New York Nuits De NoHo Perfume Token, SaksFifthAvenue.com, $85

Chanel Limited-Edition Ultimate in Rejuvenation Gift Set, BergdorfGoodman.com, $ 735

~ Maria Denardo

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You’re never too old to get into the holiday spirit and don a costume for Halloween. If you don’t feel like getting all gussied up for the festivities, and would rather indulge in sweet treats, try Philosophy’s Haunted House gift set. This fun boxed set contains a trio of 3-in-1 shower gel, bubble bath, and shampoo in the following flavors: Caramel Apple, Black Licorice, and Pumpkin Spice Muffin. You can have all the sweets you want without the sinful calories! We will totally understand if you lock yourself in the bathroom and ignore us real trick-or-treaters at your door. Enjoy!

Available at Philosophy.com for $30

xx, Ivana Cepeda

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Dylan’s Candy Bar, the famous candy wonderland from Ralph Lauren’s daughter, has branched out into bath and body products. Lip Saver Stackables are deliciously decadent lip moisturizers that come in four flavors: Coconut Bon Bon, Birthday Cake Batter, Chocolate Cupcake, and Strawberry Licorice. Try them together or apart depending on which tasty treat you deem your fave.

Available at Sephora.com for $30.

xx, Ivana Cepeda

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These are a few of my favorite things…

GHD Holiday Giftbox

Shopping for a G.L.A.M.O.R.O.U.S. girl? If she takes more time styling her hair then she does getting dressed, she probably adores the finer things hair care. Enter this GHD kit; comes complete with heat styler for curling and flat-ironing, a heat thermal protector, a curl creation spray, plus a cute clutch and a matching coin purse. $270, available at GhdHair.com.

Conair Hair Designer Tourmaline Ionic Hairdryer

Shopping for time-obsessed? Whether she’s a student or an investment banker, if time is of the essence each morning, this multi-tasking dryer will shave plenty of minutes off of her daily routine, as it will dry, straighten, and virtually style her hair for her (if she’s a fan of the ultra-sleek look!). $60, available at Ulta.com.

Frederic Fekkai Hi-Lights Hair Mascara

Shopping for a consistent chameleon? If she likes to (temporarily) switch things up, changing her hair color probably isn’t foreign to her. With this hair mascara, she can add brilliant gold or bronze highlights in mere moments, and wash out whenever she’s ready to move on to the next look. $20, available at Sephora.com.

Technorati Tags: Glam Media, Glam.com, Glam Blush, GlamBlush, Beauty, haircare, hair care, hair, fekkai, conair, ghd

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These are a few of my favorite things…

SK-II Signs Up-Lifter

Shopping for the wrinkle wary? This phenomenal Japanese brand has developed an anti-aging serum that specifically targets the eye and mouth area (where wrinkles are most prone to form). $225, available for purchase at Saks.com.

Aveda Five Paths to Peace

Perfect for the gal who desperately needs to relax (in a good way of course!)… Turn her nightly bath into a tranquil sanctuary. This set comes complete with a soothing bath salt, calming cleanser, replenishing moisturizer, and an organic cotton neck wrap + lavender oil. BONUS: It comes already gift-wrapped in Nepalese-inspired packaging! Less work for you! $88, available for purchase at Aveda.com.

Biotherm Anti-Cellulite Value Set

Shopping for the cellulite-conscious? If those dimples put a damper on her day, let Biotherm’s cellulite kit come to her rescue! Comes with a cocoa-concentrated smoothing gel, an exfoliating/tightening shower gel, and an intense gel specifically for the tummy. (Yes, you can get cellulite there, too!) $50, available at Biotherm.com. 

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These are a few of my favorite things…

e.l.f. Cosmetics Holiday Beauty Grab Box

Shopping for a tween/teen who is dying to build her own beauty kit? Start her off with this must-have set - it comes with everything imaginable she will possibly want, from eyeshadow to nail polish, an eyelash curler to plumping lip gloss, and much, much more. And don’t worry, colors are mostly neutral, perfect for newbies and those who adore that au naturel look. $25, available at Eyeslipsface.com.

Bourjois French Art of Flirting

Shopping for an incessant eye-batter? This set will totally play up her peepers. Comes with three waterproof metallic eyeliners (black, green, bronze) and the BLACKEST mascara ever that lengthens and fattens lashes. $30, available at Sephora.com.

Pop Beauty Day to Play Palette

Shopping for the out-all-day kind of gal? If she likes to take her look from uptown to downtown in no time at all, then she’s fully aware that changing her eyeshadow is the best (not to mention quickest) way to dramatically alter her look. This sleek mock-croc wallet comes equipped with 24 shades and a foolproof application brush. $42, available at Sephora.com.

Technorati Tags: Glam Media, Glam.com, Glam Blush, GlamBlush, Beauty, makeup

**Photos Courtesy of PR**

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