You’ll Get That Loving Feeling With These Great Gift Ideas for Valentine’s — And Galentine’s — Day!
With Valentine’s Day approaching, most of us have love on the brain. Whether you have a long-time romantic partner, a budding love interest, or you’re single and living your best life, Valentine’s Day offers the opportunity to remind those you hold near and dear of how much you appreciate them. And it doesn’t have to be a romantic gesture either! You can always celebrate your parents, siblings, co-workers, kids, or besties… The goal is simple to make a gesture that conveys love and affection.
On that note, I visited my second family (via video, of course) at CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin” to chat about some gift ideas that are sure to make hearts smile. You can check out the segment by clicking here. And keep on reading for the scoop on all the products seen on air!
OLAY REGENERIST RETINOL24 + PEPTIDE NIGHT MOISTURIZER
Here’s something you’re bound to love to the moon and back! February 11th marks International Day of Women and Girls in Science so, to celebrate all the women working in STEM, Olay created a limited-edition galactic jar of its stellar Retinol 24 + Peptide Night Face Moisturizer.
The nighttime moisturizer is Olay’s best-selling retinol product, and it’s formulated with Olay’s most transformative Retinoid Complex, which combines retinol (a form of vitamin A) and retinyl proprionate (an ester of retinoid acid that’s known for causing minimal to no irritation. Together these two retinoids work to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, pores, and dark spots — all while you sleep. The formula also incorporates dermatologist-recommended ingredients like niacinamide (otherwise known as vitamin B3), which helps to fortify the skin’s moisture barrier and enable long-lasting hydration and which also helps to stimulate surface cell turnover and to minimize dark spots. Another key ingredient is amino peptides, which help to give skin a smoother and firmer appearance.
This limited-edition jar retails for under $35 and is available exclusively on Olay.com while supplies last.
ALAFFIA WHIPPED SHEA BUTTER & COCONUT OIL
This winter has been brutal — even here in Central Texas — so, if you’re skin is starting to look as dull and ashy as one of White Walker on GoT, it’s time to give it some special attention. Harsh body cleansers, indoor heating systems, and steamy showers can all exacerbate winter skin dryness and cause further irritation, so it’s important to moisturize regularly and to do so using a truly soothing, gentle, tender product. My knight in shining armor is the Alaffia Whipped Shea Butter & Coconut Oil, a deliciously airy whip that’s designed to nourish, soften, smooth and protect even the most sensitive skin.
The unscented treatment is produced in West Africa using sustainably grown ingredients from the region such as fair trade, unrefined shea butter and ethically sourced coconut oil. Moreover, it’s produced using traditional handcrafting methods that preserve the integrity of the fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals naturally found in the aforementioned ingredients. This, in turn, ensures that the formula meet its full as nourishing potential.
Need more reasons to love this skin svaior? Well, here are a few: the formula is cruelty-free and contains no sulfates, parabens, mineral oil, synthetic fragrances or artificial colors. And because it’s unscented, you can wear your fragrance of choice without worrying about any aromatic chaos!
It’s $14 at select Target locations and on Target.com
SMILEDIRECTCLUB FAST-DISSOLVING WHITENING STRIPS
Make a smile your signature accessory — and wear it proudly and emphatically! — with a little help from SmileDirectClub’s brand new Fast-Dissolving Whitening Strips ($30 at SmileDirectClub.com). If you find yourself pressing your lips together when you smile, consciously avoiding opening your mouth in an attempt to conceal stained or yellowish teeth, you’ll want to pick these up on the ASAP tip. After all, you deserve a smile you love completely! Not only do these at-home whitening strips deliver quick results, but they’re the epitome of ease and convenience. Why? Well, these clear strips adhere to teeth quickly and they dissolve in your mouth in about 15 minutes, so you can just set ‘em and forget ‘em. That means none of the messiness associated with traditional teeth whitening strips, no sticky residue on teeth, no need to set timers… literally no muss and no fuss! You can wear them any time and any place – even while sleeping!
Another plus: these whitening strips require a shorter wear time — 15 minutes per daily session as opposed to the 30 minutes required by traditional whitening strips. And get this: over the course of a 7-day treatment, your teeth can whiten up to 9 shades. Get ready for a smile that melts hearts!
PERSNICKETY BOX
Photos help us preserve memories of our most beloved people, places, and experiences. And while many of us share images on various social media platforms, the best way to visually narrate our stories is through photograph prints that are tangible, that we can frame in our homes, add to personalized albums or store in keepsake boxes. Moreover, there’s nothing like real-life photo prints to preserve our legacies. After all, future generations will not have access to our social media accounts (most of which will likely be obsolete by then!), but they will perhaps stumble upon boxes of real-life photos that will help them better remember us.
With Persnickety Box, you can organize your most treasured photos in a classy and convenient way. The subscription plan and user-friendly app enables each customer to easily swipe photos from his/her phone’s camera roll directly onto his/her app’s photo box. These digital photos will then be transformed into real-life, high-quality 4″ x 4″ prints and shipped in a sleek, modern, eco-friendly keepsake box. Each box holds 30 photo prints, plus it features labeling prompts so you can jot down the places, people, and dates corresponding to the photos. Subscribers can pay a monthly or yearly fee for this service, and they can cancel any time, plus they can gift a subscription to one of their loved ones or even gift them a box filled with carefully curated photos.
For Galentine’s Day, you can swipe photos from your latest girls’ trip and send a box filled with great prints to your BFF. Or, as a Valentine’s Day surprise, you can create a photo heart collage for your significant other.
A Persnickety Box subscription is $19.99/month or $199 a year. Right now, you can visit PersnickityBox.com and use the code Austin for 50% off your first Persnickety Box!
CLYDE MAY’S SPECIAL RESERVE STRAIGHT BOURBON
Shopping for someone with a bourbon and boots kind of lifestyle? Then pick up a bottle of Clyde May’s Special Reserve Straight Bourbon ($59.99 at Total Wine & More stores). It’s part of Clyde May’s special stock that’s been aged for 6 years in American oak barrels. This 110-proof bourbon offers a smooth and harmonious tasting experience, with layers and layers of flavor that linger long after that first sip — including notes of clove and wood spices. The aromatics, meanwhile, are distinguished by the scent of caramelized orchard and citrus fruits.
Even the powerful crimson red label itself practically beckons you to gift this bottle on Valentine’s Day!
For more info, visit ClydeMays.com
GRAN CENTENARIO LEYENDA TEQUILA
Flowers are nice, but there’s no better way to say “te quiero” than with tequila!
Handcrafted in the highlands of Jalisco, Gran Centenario is Mexico’s #1 tequila — a traditional, family-owned product that has faithfully guarded Mexican traditions for generations, making tequila in an age-old manner by selecting and harvesting only the finest agaves, roasting them in traditional brick ovens, and conducting a slow distillation process in small batches. By honoring these traditions, Gran Centenario has successfully transcended time and, in the process, garnered constant recognition for its exceptional taste and quality.
Founded in 1857 by Lazaro Gallardo, the first Tequila Master Distiller in history, Gran Centenario uses a 150-year-old proprietary process called “Selección Suave” that blends newly rested tequilas with the smoothest aged reserves. The result is a smooth yet delightfully complex profile with a multitude of aromas and flavors.
Gran Centenario Leyenda ($160 at ReserveBar.com) is a unique and rare Extra Añejo tequila first created by founder Lazaro Gallardo for his most distinguished guests and closest family members. The top-notch tequila features aromatic notes of apple, pear, quince, and raisin, and its flavor profile is characterized by sweet notes of wood with hints of maple, eucalyptus, clove, and thyme.
This Valentine’s Day, you can follow Gallardo’s lead and treat your nearest and dearest to a bottle of Gran Centenario Leyenda.
CAMPO VIEJO RESERVA
This Valentine’s Day, Campo Viejo is playing Cupid and helping single wine lovers find the person that best “riojas” their world. How so? Well, now through Feb. 28th, singles can visit CampoRiejoBeWine.com and submit a funny dating story inspired by Campo Viejo’s vivacious blends. One hundred lucky winners will receive a $50 gift card to fund one month of their favorite dating app subscriptions.Winners will be selected at random and announced weekly throughout the month of February. Sip sip hooray, right? Consider this Campo Viejo’s way of raising a glass to future love matches!
Hailing from the heart of Spain, Campo Viejo’s wines are the perfect way to celebrate love, passion, and spontaneity this Valentine’s Day. Try Campo Viejo Reserva ($14.99 at Shop.CampoViejo.us), an elegant expression of premium Rioja vines hailing from Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo. This 4-year-old blend balances a fruity palate with hints of clove, pepper, vanilla and coconut for a tasting experience that’s pleasant and full of surprises.
CHOCOLATE COVERED LOVE OREOS FROM GIFTTREE.COM
The perfect Valentine’s Day gift is just one click away. At GiftTree.com, you’ll find an amazing assortment of giftable treats for family and friends – like these adorable and delicious Chocolate Covered Love Oreo Cookies ($59.99 at GiftTree.com).
Each elegant gift box contains 12 cookies covered in smooth Belgian chocolate. Four of the cookies are decorated with white Belgian chocolate letters that spell out the word “love,” while the remaining cookies feature charming decorations like red, pink, and white sprinkles and drizzled confectioner’s glaze.
And here’s some fab news for last-minute shoppers: if you order by Feb. 9th, your order will arrive by Valentine’s Day!
