The Valentine Conundrum

I don’t hate Valentine’s day. I really for serious do not. I just don’t love it. It might be the fact that it is wholly contingent on other people. You have to have someone to share this holiday with.

This year, I’m doing a get together with some friends, both male and female, some of whom are single, and some that aren’t. I feel like we get caught up in this idea that you have to be alone with your special someone on Valentine’s, but that’s not really true. So what’s a girl to do? Well I’ll tell you what. You’re going to get fancy and have a good day.But what if you're not used to putting on makeup? What if it is a foreign concept to you? It's the day of love! You want to look nice, even if it's just for your cat. 

My friend Kathleen will be at said get together. This is the same Kathleen who took me to the hospital when I scratched my corneas, so you could say I owed her one. Also, I'm still sort-of in the closet as a blogger. Most of my friends either don't know I blog, or don't know the address to find me at. Kathleen not only knows about the blog, but she's a dedicated reader. It will warm the cockles of her heart to be on here.

Kathleen doesn't wear makeup. I wasn't confident that she owned makeup. She reached out to me for help getting dressed up for a presentation she had to give. While I was doing her makeup, it struck me that sometimes even people who do not wear makeup at any other time may want to dress up on a special occasion.

Here she is. It happened to work in our favour that she decked out in Valentine Red for me. It's important, whether it's that big presentation or a first date, to wear something you're going to feel confident in. Red is a striking colour, and if it's maybe not something you rock all the time, it's the perfect time to give it a try!


So here's a quick guide to the products I used for special occasion makeup that makes you look flawless without being incredibly overdone.


Products I can recommend:

Essence forget it! 3-in-1 Concealer - I love this little guy. Perfect for faking perfect complexion, and cheap. I talked about it a little more here.

Bare Minerals Stroke of Light - This is a liquid highlighter that makes you glowy without leaving those awkward streaks of shine on your face. It's excellent for that extra bit of polish for an occasion like this.

Bath and Body Works Bali Mango Body Lotion - Valentine's Day isn't just about look, it's about touch. This lotion is my favourite for giving you exquisitely soft, touchable skin. I use it on my hands nearly every day.

Almay Trio for Hazels Eyeshadow - I really just like the brown in this one. If you don't do a lot of eyeshadow normally, it's a great nutty colour that can be swept across the whole lid.

fresh Minerals Glamorous Lipgloss in Kissable - I searched through my collection for a nice soft pink. I happen to really like the consistency of this one, but any light pink should do.

Lancome Hypnose Star Mascara - this is a splurge of a product, but it is my favourite mascara, hands down. Huge, doll-like lashes that last all day without clumping. You can't ask for more in a mascara.

Cargo Blush in Mallorca - sticking with our soft pink theme, this is great on all kinds of skin tones due to it's buildable coverage. Tap on a little for a rosy smiley face.

What are your plans for Valentine's Day? Staying in? Hate it altogether? Let me know!