My apartment is as cold as death. I have heat, but it’s not very well insulated, and I spend many days typing away on my computer while my fingers freeze to the bone.

My one refuge? The bathroom, where I can take super hot showers and for a few brief moments, feel the circulation return to my limbs. And thus, for Valentine’s Day, I have found what I really, truly want: an opportunity to up my salvage of a bathroom into an at-home spa to providing relief during tough times and cold weather.

Please, someone, get me Mr.Steam’s towel warmers…please? Imagine coming out of the shower all the time to towels that feel like they are fresh out of the dryer??? I am beside myself.

I’ll let you come over for a shower…

Image: Mr Steam

Want to chill out AND feel sexy for Cupid? We can create a unique at-home spa experience with the intoxicating aroma of chocolate without breaking the bank or leaving the comforts of home!

Here are four simple recipes using a combination of chocolate and Epsom Salt guaranteed to satisfy your chocolate craving this Valentine’s Day. These recipes are easy to make, easy to afford and contain easy to find ingredients that you probably already have at home. Plus, it’s the perfect way to set the mood for a romantic evening at home with your loved one.

Coco Loco Bath Salts
1 cup Epsom Salt
1 cup sea salt
3 tsp. cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. oil (almond, olive, sunflower or other good quality oil)

Combine dry ingredients and mix. Add the vanilla extract and oil. Mix until oil is completely blended in. Store in an airtight container.

Mint Chocolate Bath Salts
1 cup Epsom Salt
2-3 tsp. cocoa powder

½ cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves, rough chopped

5 drops of peppermint essential oil (optional)

Add together the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Add the peppermint oil if desired and mix again.

Chocolate Almond Truffle Bath Salts
1 cup Epsom Salt

1 cup powdered milk
2 tbs. of almond oil
2-3 tsp. cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. almond extract (optional for extra fragrance)

In a clean, dry bowl, add together the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Add the almond oil and almond extract (if desired) and mix very well again. Store in an airtight container.

Chocolate Body Polish

2 cups Epsom Salt

¼ cup petroleum jelly

1 tsp. cocoa powder

3-4 drops of pure chocolate extract

Mix together Epsom Salt and petroleum jelly. Add cocoa powder and extract. Use the mixture to gently scrub away dry skin patches. Rinse in the shower with warm water.

Image: Epsom Salt Council

Are you doing the Valentine’s countdown yet? It’s only a few days away! Here’s some tips on turning up the heat, one spritz at a time (whether you are having a quiet night at home with your man or a girls night out!)

Give your hair some sexy style with Mizani Shimmer Reflects Spritz. It is uniquely formulated with Gold Mica for luster and shine, and Panthenol, which conditions the hair. Surface coating Silicone helps seal the hair cuticle and Meadowfoam Oil helps to enhance shine. Available at salons nationwide for $17.96

Susan Posnick Cosmetics rings heats up Valentine’s Day with a Limited Edition COLORME Champagne Shimmer. With hints of pink and gold sparkle, it illuminates the skin and enhances a warm flushed look—from cheeks and eyes to décolleté—with a hint of color combined with a light-reflecting shimmer. Sweep the puff anywhere on the skin using gentle strokes. Reapply for a more intense glow. Available nationwide at fine apothecaries, spas and at www.susanposnick.com for $22.00.

The Body Shops’ Luxurious Moroccan Rose Bath & Massage Oil ($16.00) is ideal for bathing bliss and can also be used for a relaxing, sensual massage. This massage oil is imbued with rose oil, perfect for softening skin, this gloriously fragrant oil also contains rosehip oil, which is renowned for its moisturizing properties. Community Trade organically-grown soya oil from Brazil is also included, which is rich in essential fatty acids to help restore the skin’s natural moisture barrier.

Image: The Body Shop, Colorme, Mizani

Robert Moulton, creative director of DEX New York and makeup artist to stars including Tina Fey, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Amy Poehler and Elizabeth Banks suggests three essential looks to make your man melt this Valentine’s Day.

SWEETHEART

Eyes- Sweep a soft shimmer beige brown shadow on entire lid extending up to the crease.

Next- use a soft chocolate brown eye pencil on top and wedging between lashes, making a thicker line on outer corner, then blend top line with a soft brush.

Cheeks- Use a blush in a red or pink color and apply softly with finger tips on the apple’s of cheeks.

Lips- apply any color in the pink or red family in a tinted sparkly shinny gloss.

SEXY AND SEDUCTIVE

Eyes-apply a chocolate shimmer or mat color on lid extending up to the crease, next apply a shade darker in a metallic metal or dark brown on lid only

Next- take a black eye liner pencil and rim inside entire eye top and bottom, then with the same eye pencil apply on top lash line extending thicker on outer corners.

Next- apply false eye lashes on top lashes in a edgy style depending on personal taste. Note make sure you measure and cut the lashes accordingly to your eye shape

Cheeks-using a cream blush with finger tips apply in a pink or red tone on apple’s of cheeks, then follow with the same color in a powder blush and apply on top of cream blush for a hot sexy blushing cheek
Lips- use a hot pink or vibrant red lip pencil and fill in entire lip, follow with a lip stick color to match, last apply a sparkly shinny lip gloss over entire lip, don’t be shy about the gloss.

NATURAL

Eyes- apply a neutral brown color on lid extending to the crease, use a chocolate eye pencil and apply softly and tight to upper lash line, than blend to a soft natural look.

Next- apply 2 coats of mascara to top lashes only, bottom lashes should be clean of mascara

Cheeks- apply a soft rosy or pink color to apples of cheeks.

Lips- Use a tinted lip gloss in any sparkly shade of pink. With tinted lip gloss, you can never get to much gloss…the glossier and wet better.

Image: DEX New York

* KISS PLAQUE AWAY… “Lucky for you, locking lips helps maintain a healthy smile by increasing saliva production. Saliva acts as a natural lubricant, slipping under plaque and washing it away,” says celebrity cosmetic dentist Dr. Jeff Golub-Evans.

 * KISS AWAY CALORIES… “Kissing burns 12 calories every 5 seconds, and 3 passionate kisses a day will lead to losing 1 lb. a month. In fact, kissing gets 30 facial muscles working,” offers Dr. Layliev, the New York Center for Cosmetic Dentistry.

 * CAVITIES ARE CONTAGIOUS… “That’s right; cavities are no different than a common cold. Yes, natural causes of cavities include bacteria, sugar, and not brushing, but you can increase risk of cavities by kissing someone who has no history of cavities based on the level of bacteria in their saliva. And the good news? You can also build up immunities to cavities by kissing someone who is more cavity-prone,” explains Dr. Golub-Evans.

* CHOCOLATE MAY KEEP THE DOC AWAY… “While chocolate does contain sugar, researchers have concluded the cocoa bean in chocolate will inhibit tooth decay. Having your teeth cleaned just before Valentine’s Day will set the stage for romance,” offers Dr. Mickey Bernstein, President of the AACD

* SHARING A TOOTHBRUSH… “If you’re locking lips with someone, then you’re swapping no more germs by sharing a toothbrush, so consider it safe,” says Dr. Mickey Bernstein.

Valentine’s Day is only two weeks away, and Kiehl’s Since 1851 just introduced a number of alternatives to the traditional flowers/chocolates scenario.

Why not a box of nourishing lip glosses, or sweetly flavored lip balm?

Lip Gloss/Lip Balm Sets

For soothing color, choose between a Bright & Warm Set or a Neutral & Cool Set of Lip Glosses, each featuring one brand-new shade. For nourishing moisture without the color, try Scented Lip Balm #1 Trio of the three newest Lip Balm #1 scents: Mango, Coconut, and Vanilla. Each set is packaged in a special Kiehl’s heart box, just for the holiday.

LIP GLOSS SET #1

$29.00

Bright & Warm Set includes:

• NEW SHADE!!! Lights on Broadway

• French Rose

• Downtown Peach

LIP GLOSS SET #2

$29.00

Neutral & Cool Set includes:

• NEW SHADE!!! Mahvelous Mauve

• Icy Everest

• Pink Rider

SCENTED LIP BALM TRIO

$25.50

• Lip Balm #1 Mango

• Lip Balm #1 Coconut

• Lip Balm #1 Vanilla

Image: Kiehl’s

Our eyes tell a story, and the story we want them to tell Valentine’s Day is pure romance. Check out some hot lash styling tips from Michele Alexander, celebrity make-up artist. Then get ready to try them yourself at home, they really do work!

Create Romantic & Sexy Eyes

Attract attention and apply 2-3 coats of mascara all around the eyes. Let the mascara dry between applications. Try a deep colored mascara on the outer corners to create intensity. Close Set Eyes Concentrate the majority of mascara on the outer half of the lashes with a second application to help visually widen the eyes.

Help Tired & Puffy Eyes

Prep the lashes with a light application all around the eyes. Focus the second application of mascara on middle lashes to recede the eye lid area that may be protruding. Shimmering mascara will help to brighten tired eyes.

Lighten Heavy Lids

Utilities an eye lash curler to create an upward illusion then apply an even application of mascara all around the eyes.

Wide Set Eyes

Apply the majority of the mascara towards the inner half of the eye to visually narrow the eye space.

Reduce The Width Of A Round Facial Shape

Curl and use mascara on the top lashes only. This will help to create an elongated appearance to the face.

Soften A Square Facial Shape

Create a round and soft lash look by applying one even application of mascara around the eyes. Emphasize the corners of the eyes for an evening look by using the excess mascara on the tip of the wand.

Even Up A Heart Shape Face

Begin with a single application of mascara to the lashes on top and bottom. Focus a second application of mascara to center lower lashes to soften balance the facial shape.

Glasses

Curl the lashes. Keep the mascara soft and light all around the eyes. Use a shimmering mascara to accent the eye color.

Detract from the Forehead

Create fringed lashes by applying a second application of mascara using the tip of the mascara wand. Keep the focus on the lower lashes will draw attention to the lower half of the face.

Detract Attention from the Nose

Focus the mascara application on the outer half of the eyes with minimal product on the inner corners. Use colored or shimmering mascara during the second application to keep the attention on the eyes.

I am somewhat ashamed, as a blogger, to admit that I did my Valentine’s Day shopping at Target, but I did.  Today.  Yes, we all know that Target has the grooviest cheap merchandise around - sad, but true - the classy (wo)man’s WalMart.  I wish it weren’t so.  But what Target also has, that perhaps they shouldn’t, is an account with Boots, a fabulous line of cosmetics, skin and body care which has fairly recently made their way to the United States.  I have used many products from Boots in the past (their Mediterranean Wonderbalm is my wintertime savior!) , and I am sure I’ll buy many more, but I sure won’t be buying them from Target.  They seem to not care anything about aesthetics or hygiene, as the whole Boots wall in the College Station Target is disgusting.   Really, disgusting.  Products are all switched around, not in their proper spots, packaging is smooshed, things are spilled on the floor making it slippery.  And the testers, OMG.  Product is smeared all over them like a pack of 2 year olds were unleashed for a day.  Most of them are mostly empty, foundation is running down the sides of all of the bottles.  A bacterial nightmare, I’m sure.  There is no way that the mess that is the Boots wall was made in one morning.  No way.  I hope people from Boots are watching them - or more correctly I hope they are not, because I hope they wouldn’t approve of the way their counters are being tended.  I would have thought, and did think, that Target was a wonderful place for Boots to set up shop in the US, but it sure doesn’t seem to be.  Target’s lack of caring about their community and their shoppers is becoming more blatant every day. 

I pledge to find another place with cute inexpensive goodies for holiday gift giving, even in my small town, there are plenty of other options.  And btw, Boots is also available at CVS.  Might I suggest you give them a try.

  We need a new name for our channel - Beauty & Style is sounding rather dull these days.  Good thing we have one on the horizon, eh?

In the meantime, we have been thinking (dreaming?) about Valentines Day over here, and have a round up of everything over at Teen Style Lounge.  Are you ready for Valentine’s Day?  I’m sure not.  I live behind these days.  Are you talking about Valentine’s Day somewhere?  Let me know in the comments - I don’t want to miss any great ideas!