I’m Hard to Impress—But These 10 Valentine’s Day Beauty Gifts Would Woo Me
I’m swooning.
I am super single this Valentine’s Day, but I don’t plan on letting that get in the way of a perfectly good excuse to treat myself to a little luxury. It’s a national holiday after all, which, if you ask me, is the ideal opportunity to buy myself (and my friends!) a beauty gift that supports self-care. And hey, if some mystery man wants to come out of the woodwork with a Valentine’s Day beauty gift, I certainly won’t object.
My current wish list includes body care that makes me feel like the sexiest version of myself (i.e., soft skin and glowing legs/ and décolletage), seductive fragrances with gourmand notes, and set-the-mood candles that pair very nicely with my new silk sheets.
Whether you landed here as a significant other unsure of proper gifting protocol, are planning a Galentine’s Day soirée and need cute party favors, or just have the shoppies and need an excuse to check out, read ahead for my go-to Valentine’s Day gift ideas.
Sexy Skin
This winter is, candidly, destroying my skin. My legs, arms, and chest are looking and feeling all kinds of dry, ashy, and eczema-ridden. But I refuse to let that be my status quo on Valentine’s Day, so I plan to restock my favorite body oil duo. Because why save sexy skin for the summer?
For Marie Claire's 2025 Fragrance Awards party, I whipped out this magic duo of body oils.
Silky Sheets
There is no better feeling than climbing into a bed with clean sheets. And when they’re silky? Even better. Plus, sleeping on a silk pillowcase means a better hair day with fewer knots, breakage, and frizz.
I’d like to formally thank Beauty Director Hannah Baxter for putting these sheets on my radar. They’re 480 thread count (ok, luxury) and she swears that the pillowcases are responsible for her good wavy hair days.
Kissable Lips
Whether you’re kissing someone on the 14th or not, having super soft lips is a win. Winter, and the chapped lips that come with it, achieving that end fairly difficult. But by regularly applying these hydrating, barrier-protecting balms, my lips have stayed in good shape.
I've waxed poetic about this lip balm before, but here's the gist: it's plumping, tastes delicious, and locks in hydration so my lips feel supple 24/7.
Flirty Fragrances
If you want to share your intentions for Valentine’s Day night without actually verbalizing anything, a seductive fragrance is the way to go. I typically gravitate toward skin scents with edible notes like vanilla, marshmallow, or cinnamon. I shouldn’t have to say it, but don’t actually eat the fragrance.
My date-night fragrances are exclusively skin scents. They work with my natural scent—and I’m a big believer in pheromones—while providing a little hint of vanilla, musk, and amber. It’s intoxicating in the best way.
If you want to smell rich on a budget, I highly recommend this incredibly affordable body mist. I always put a few sprays on my sweater for a longer-lasting scent.
Mood-Setting Candles
Whether you’re having a romantic dinner at home or a rom-com night with friends, a delicious candle deserves to be burning. It’s also the best gift to give your host, romantic or platonic.
Burning my five-wick Homecourt candle brings me such tremendous joy. I’m partial to the CoCo scent, but if you’re not sure which is your vibe, this discovery kit is the way to go.
Nothing is sexier than a night out in Paris. Bring the City of Love to you by lighting this candle, inspired by a dimly lit hotel lobby bar.
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Samantha Holender is the Senior Beauty Editor at Marie Claire, where she reports on the best new launches, dives into the science behind skincare, and shares the breakdown on the latest and greatest trends in the beauty space. She's studied up on every ingredient you'll find on INCI list and is constantly in search of the world's glowiest makeup products. She's constantly tracking the biggest nail and hair trends to pop up in the beauty space, going backstage during fashion weeks, tracking celebrity looks, and constantly talking to celebrity hair stylists, nail artists, and makeup artists. Prior to joining the team, she worked as Us Weekly’s Beauty and Style Editor, where she stayed on the pulse of pop culture and broke down celebrity beauty routines, hair transformations, and red carpet looks. Her words have also appeared on Popsugar, Makeup.com, Skincare.com, Delish.com, and Philadelphia Wedding. Samantha also serves as a board member for the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME). She first joined the organization in 2018, when she worked as an editorial intern at Food Network Magazine and Pioneer Woman Magazine. Samantha has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from The George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs. While at GWU, she was a founding member of the school’s HerCampus chapter and served as its President for four years. When she’s not deep in the beauty closet or swatching eyeshadows, you can find her obsessing over Real Housewives and all things Bravo. Keep up with her on Instagram @samholender.