My Favorite Beauty-Full Ways to Celebrate Valentine's Day

I'm not gonna lie. Valentine's Day is one of if not my most favorite holidays of the year. For me, it doesn't all just have to be about romance but, rather, about love on the whole, beauty, and all forms of indulgent celebration. So whether you are planning for a fancy date with your special someone, having a girls' night out, or a self-pampering night in, here are some beauty-related, Valentiney things that you can add for the occasion.

Put on a Makeup Look You've NEVER Done Before: Experimenting with makeup is a great way to make a holiday, or any other day a special one. Going out for Valentine's Day is a perfect occasion to get dolled up, but to the opposite, an evening at home can be a great time to also revel in playing dress-up with your makeup. You can play with anything from sparkly glitters, rainbow-colored eyeshadows, to the quintessential Valentine's classic, a bold red lip. The idea here is simply to have fun and to make the day memorable by doing something unique. Of course, if you try something you don't like, you can easily wash it off and start over. There are no rules, and nothing is set in stone. It is all about having fun.

Try a Chocolate Face Mask: As yummy as it is to eat, chocolate also is really good at treating our skin. Rich in antioxidants, chocolate is known for brightening the skin and helping diffuse discolorations as well as to increase firmness and add hydration. There are many pre-made masks and other chocolate (or cacao)-infused skincare products out there, but fortunately, chocolate masks are also easy to make at home and to tailor to your skin's needs/ For example, a chocolate and honey mask will be both clarifying and well-hydrating while a coffee and chocolate mask, for example, will be extra firming and glowboosting. Check out this article here for three DIY face mask ideas.

Soak in Sensual Scent: I have written at length on La Petite Rose about my deep love for all things fragrance, but it always spikes to a new level around Valentine's Day, especially in bath and bodycare items. Be it the main event of the day or the precursor to a fancy evening, a long, steamy bath is one of the best things to make Valentine's Day, especially when a beautiful or cozy scent is involved. I myself most often go for the classic rose scent this time of year or else for a smoky, sexy patchouli, but scent is very personal. Whatever aroma makes you feel the most sublime, confident, and delicious is the right one and will be uniquely yours, and whether you soak for just a few minutes or for many hours with a book or a favorite beverage, by and large you will feel totally indulged.

Valentine's Day is the day of love both for all of those around us and for ourselves. However you celebrate this year, love it, and yourself to the fullest, and be sure to enjoy a piece of chocolate too!