WHETHER you are cuddling up on the sofa for a cosy night in or planning an indulgent night on the town, treat your beloved with a smouldering look and captivating scents he will find irresistible.
Re-create those first-date butterflies and lip-locking moments. We have all the beauty tactics you need to seduce your man all over again.
PAMPERED TO PERFECTION
Bring some romance to the bathroom. Put up the “do not disturb” sign and envelop your body in rose-scented products to get you in the mood for hearts and flowers with your beau. Layering complementary products on your skin will make your scent even more alluring.
“The appeal of roses dates back to Cleopatra’s time, when she was said to seduce Mark Anthony with her bedroom knee-deep in petals,” says Geraldine Howard, co-founder of Aromatherapy Associates.
“Rose essential oil is renowned for its euphoric feel-good factor, as well as its skin-enhancing properties.”
Lather up in the tub with Lush’s Love Heart soap, containing aphrodisiac oils, £2.50, and surround yourself with rose petals and candles. While you are soaking, give your face the glowing look of love with Montagne Jeunesse’s Passion Peel Off mask, 99p.
Keep skin touchably soft with Aromatherapy Associates’ Renew Rose Massage & Body Oil, £33.75, or slather on Philosophy’s Unconditional Love Firming Body Emulsion, £27.20, to keep love handles in check.
SEDUCTIVE SCENT
Get those attraction pheromones buzzing. With a quarter of men buying fragrance as a Valentine’s gift, a sensual scent is clearly a priority for the opposite sex.
“Choose a fragrance that you know will make him want to pounce. Woody, spicy and musky notes are very alluring. But whatever your choice of fragrance, remember not to be too overpowering – you want him to be seduced, not knocked out,” suggests perfumer Ruth Mastenbroek (www.ruthmastenbroek.com).
If you do everything together as Mr and Mrs and want your scents to harmonise with each other, try Oriflame’s Intense Embrace for him and her, from £11.95 for 50ml (www.oriflame.co.uk).
For a scent that’s romantic, yet feminine and playful, spritz on Lacoste’s Love of Pink, £34 for 50ml (available nationwide).
Want something special to spellbind him? Create your own signature scent especially for Valentine’s night with Jo Malone’s luxurious Red Rose Fragrance Chronicle, £64 (www.jomalone.co.uk).
KISS ’N’ MAKE-UP
Keep your date night make-up sultry but subtle.
“Think candlelight when it comes to skin,” advises make-up artist Victoria Bond (www.victoriabond.co.uk).
“Romantic make-up is all about dewy, gorgeous skin. Your eyes are the windows to a romantic’s soul, so keep them soft, but dramatic.
“Open them up with eyelash curlers and two coats of Max Factor Lash Extension Effect mascara in black (£10.99, available nationwide) – all the intensity of falsies without the hassle.”
Give your pout some attention with some conditioning treatment. Pucker up with Sealed With a Kiss cherry lip gloss, £3.95 from What’s About Town (www.whatsabouttown.com). For a lip product that withstands snogging marathons, try Clinique’s I Love Kisses Long Last Glosswear SPF15, £13 (available at House of Fraser stores throughout February).
Finally, don’t forget to tease your locks before you meet your man. Think bed-head hair and whip up some sexy backcombing techniques with Denman’s D3 Kiss Brush, £7.16 (www.denmanbrush.com).