Va-Va-Voom Looks for Valentine's Day: Luscious Lipsticks & Nail Lacquers

Photo by Sture Jonasson

Cupid goes a little cra-cra today, so you know what that means? It's Valentine's Day! Not only do couples have a chance to express their love for one another, they also get to spend the evening under the glow of a full moon this year. 

It's been said that the lunar spectacle may prompt intense emotions and behaviors. This creates the ideal setting to take part in the most romantic day of the year and everything that the celebration typically yields--candlelight dinners, candies, cards, champagne, jewelry, flowers and heartfelt sentiments. 

Photo by Sean McClean

Since the evening sky will be filled with bright moonlight, you should glow too. Luckily, it doesn't take a lot of time or effort to design a dynamic duo effect with your lips and nails. Check out these luscious lipstick, gloss and lacquer looks. They're color coordinated to create the perfect pucker and mesmerizing manis.

Pouts and polish make a great team--just like you and your lover, and a full moon and Valentine's Day!   

SHINE: Alba Botanica Mineral Terragloss. BEAUTY: Make your pout stand out with this tantalizing trio of lip glosses--Garnet (pinot noir shimmer), Bloom (pink shimmer) and Blaze (red shimmer). BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, phthalates, artificial colors and silicones. Supports Farm Sanctuary.

SHINE: Zoya Nail Polish. BEAUTY: Create lots of memories and manis with Rekha (bold blood red with a glossy cream finish), Sweet (pale bubblegum pink cream) and Maura (electric crimson cream). BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Free of toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and dibutyl phthalate.

SHINE: Hemp Organics Lipsticks. BEAUTY: Sneak a smooch with your significant other in Pink Satin (shimmering pink) and Rose Petal (sheer light pinkish red). BEACON: No animal testing and USDA Organic certified. Free of gluten, artificial fragrances, parabens, SLS, phthalates and FD&C colors. Supports The Library Project.

SHINE: Zoya Nail Polish. BEAUTY: Love will conquer all with these captivating colors--Jolene (pink cream) and Zanna (light rose-mauve cream). BEACON: No animal testing. Free of toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and dibutyl phthalate.

SHINE: Pacifica Coconut Kiss Creamy Lip Butter. BEAUTY: Create a kissable moment wearing Stardust (silver nude). BEACON: Vegan and cruelty free. Free of parabens, petroleum, carmine and FD&C colors. 

SHINE: SpaRitual Lacquers. BEAUTY: Make a style statement with Silver (metallic shimmer) and Twig (light latte). BEACON: Vegan, and free of toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, dibutyl phthalate and camphor.  

SHINE: Sormé Treatment Cosmetics Perfect Performance Lip Color. BEAUTY: Make your lover's heart melt with this hot shade--Perhaps (light pink shimmer with hints of gold and silver). BEACON: No animal testing. Supports the Noreen Fraser Foundation and Look Good...Feel Better.

SHINE: Zoya Nail Polish. BEAUTY: The champagne will be sparkling and so will your mani with this chic shade of Shimmer (light pink with gold and silver glitter undertones). BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Free of toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and dibutyl phthalate.

SHINE: SpaRitual Lip Glosses. BEAUTY: Set the mood with these sultry and chic shades--Radiant (red shimmer), Glow (pink shimmer) and Clarity (nude shimmer). BEACON: Free of sulfates, fragrances, GMOs, gluten, petrochemicals, phthalates, triclosan and parabens.

SHINE: SpaRitual Lacquers. BEAUTY: Keep the romance alive with candles, candies and lots of color--Intention (red shimmer), Love Is In The Air (bright pink cream) and In The Buff (nude cream). BEACON: Vegan, and free of toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, dibutyl phthalate and camphor.  

SHINE: Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics Lipsticks and Mighty Shiny Lip Gel. BEAUTY: Put a little pop in your pout with Tangelo (orangey/red), Flaunt (brilliant pink with a hint of golden shimmer) and Blushing Nude (pink caramel beige). BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, petroleum, mineral oil, talc, alcohol, and artificial fragrances and colorants.

SHINE: Color Club Professional Nail Lacquer. BEAUTY: All you need is love and these lively lacquers--In Theory (bright coral), Warhol (expressive pink) and Nature's Way (light latte). BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Free of toluene, dibutyl phthalate and formaldehyde. 

Pucker Up: Pretty Pouts for Valentine's Day

Amor, amour, amore... No matter how you say it, love is in the air!

Valentine's Day allows Cupid's arrow to take precise aim. And as the son of Venus, the goddess of love, he's got a lot of street cred. So if you're lucky enough to get struck, be prepared to not only fall under a powerful spell but to pucker up as well.

This means it's time to have a heart-to-heart discussion about how to present a pretty pout. Today's lipsticks and glosses come in matte, shimmery, glossy and creamy varieties to help bring out your inner glam goddess--no relation to Cupid. Colors range from classic to contemporary and subtle to standout. Plus, ingredients such as fruit extracts, natural seed oils and vitamins benefit the overall health of your lips.

To achieve a fuller, flirty pout, take a look at the following love struck lipsticks and glosses. They might even make Cupid blush!

SHINE: Babor Ultra Performance Lip Colour. BEAUTY: Soften and smooth your smoochers with castor seed oil, sea fennel and vitamin E in Shiny Plum--which is a sparkling mauve shade. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Mirabella Colour Luxe Lip Gloss. BEAUTY: Step up shine and suppleness with pomegranate extract, jojoba oil and peptides in a shimmery shade of Beam, a pearlescent pink. BEACON: Free of lead and parabens.

SHINE: Purely Pro Cosmetics Hi Gloss Lipstick. BEAUTY: Out your pout with a pop of bright hot pink pigment called Saucy, which also contains a hint of a warm vanilla fragrance. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports Dress for Success. 

SHINE: Smashbox Limitless Long Wear Lip Gloss. BEAUTY: Nonstop, a soft raspberry shade, helps make lips feel super silky with vitamin E and a contoured wand. BEACON: Cruelty free. Packaging is made using Sustainable Forestry Initiative certified paper and soy ink.

SHINE: Sormé Treatment Cosmetics Perfect Performance Lip Color, and Mineral Botanicals Lip Color and Vitamin E Lip Conditioner. BEAUTY: Glamour Red, a classic crimson, and Confection, a pinky coral, provide pigment, protection and pizzazz. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports Look Good...Feel Better.

SHINE: Sue Devitt Balanced Sheer Lipstick and Balanced Matte Lipstick. BEAUTY: Villefranche, a sheer pink, and Phuket, a matte rust, maximize color, coverage and your kissability quotient. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports Africa Foundation and Blue Planet Network.

SHINE: Susan Posnick ColorEssential Lipstick. BEAUTY: Keep caps secure with a unique magnetic closure, and create a lush lip look with Rio, a bright berry shade, and Milan, a deep red. BEACON: Supports Big Thought.

SHINE: VMV Hypoallergenics Glitz Lipstick. BEAUTY: Moisturize your lips and mesmerize your significant other with World Peace, a glimmer coral tone. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of fragrances, phthalates, dyes and parabens. 

SHINE: Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics Lipstick. BEAUTY: Experience rich color and conditioning with Vixen, a matte red shade with blue undertones, and Spicy, a fiery golden red. BEACON: No animal testing. Contains no oils, chemicals, alcohol, artificial fragrances or dyes.

Summer Oranges: Gorgeous Glosses & Lipsticks

Photo by Rachael Ashe

I can't get enough of summer oranges. They're sweet, sumptuous and satisfying--especially when the mercury starts rising.  

I feel the same way about a hot makeup trend--orange lipsticks and glosses. Not only do they pay props to a citrus superstar, but they also allow you to perk up your pout for dramatic day or evening looks.

Orange lips scream sophistication and sass. They provide a pop of captivating color with undertones of red and gold, and make a bold style statement. Plus, a variety of shades can be utilized to complement all types of complexions:

SKIN TYPE                  SHADE OF ORANGE

Light                          Salmon

Medium light               Warm

Olive                          Neutral

Medium dark               Coral

Dark                          Bright 

Create your own summer sizzle. Check out the following pout-pleasing orange crushes.

SHINE: Milani Color Perfect Lipstick (Mandarina) and 3D Glitzy Glamour Gloss (Stylish). BEAUTY: The lipstick creates creamy smoothness, while the gloss provides the illusion of 3D depth for a fuller pout. BEACON: Cruelty free.

 SHINE: Mirabella Lip Colour (Missed Opportunity). BEAUTY: Castor, safflower and jojoba seed oils help pamper your pucker with high pigment and bleed-free benefits. BEACON: Contains no parabens or lead.

SHINE: Palladio Beauty Group Herbal Lipstick (Toasted Orange). BEAUTY: Take your lips to the next level with creamy, full-coverage color. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Sormé Treatment Cosmetics Glosse Lip Glosses (Spark; top) and (Fantasy; bottom). BEAUTY: Aloe vera, and vitamins A, D, and E keep lips looking luscious by adding moisture and fullness. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports the Noreen Fraser Foundation and Look Good...Feel Better. 

SHINE: Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics Mighty Shiny Gel (Displayed) and Lipstick (Tangelo). BEAUTY: For a sultry smile, the gel offers high shine with a light vanilla scent, while the lanolin-free lipstick is designed to stay fresh for longer periods. BEACON: No animal testing. Contains no synthetic oils, talc, parabens, artificial fragrances or dyes.

Photo by Jan Rehschuh