Valentine's Day: Must Haves

So these may be slightly unconventional Valentine's Day gifts... but are primarily based on some of my current obsessions.

1. Barbour Classic Beadnell Jacket - I finally treated myself to a Barbour Coat. Kate Middleton wears tons of Barbour, and this coat is such a staple to any wardrobe. It runs around $379, but department stores often offer coupons. I got mine for 15% off through Bloomingdales. The olive/brown color will compliment anything and everything in your wardrobe. It's a perfect fall/spring/rain coat. If you live in the South like me, it functions as an excellent winter coat.

2. Smiths' Rosebud Salve - My lips are so chapped during the winter months. Smith's Rosebud Salve has petroleum in it but smells like roses (seriously). It's great for cracked hands, cuticles and lips. I have to carry it in my purse all the time... I am mildly obsessed. You can it buy at any Sephora or Amazon for like $6. So legit.

3. Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline - You all know how much I love scents. My friend Jeni and I went shopping a few weeks ago and she introduced me to Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline. It's AMAZING! For someone who wears a ton of lighter scents like Jo Malone, Chloe, Tory Burch, etc... this fits straight into that mold. It's a clean, light scent that won't give you a headache. Timeless! You can also purchase this at a steal at places like Perfumania.com.

4. Essie: Sand Tropez - I love a great neutral nail.... mainly because I am way to lazy to constantly change my nail color. Sand Tropez is a great nude color and looks great with any outfit! Spring is quickly approaching, and this is the color I want on my nails during trips to the beach and heading to work.

5. Triangl Swim Leather Bikini - I have raved about this brand before but their leather bikini is amazing! It's just so trendy, chic, and plain HOT! I have the poppy one in cobalt, but the leather one is next on my list! I don't have a reason to wear it right now, but I can't wait to get my hands on it when the weather warms up.

6. Nest Moroccan Amber - I refer to this more as a unisex candle. My boyfriend and I love it. Nest is reasonably priced ($34) and makes your whole home smell like a musky, woodsy amber. I think it's a perfect gift for those needing to buy their significant other something small, yet intimate for Valentine's Day.

7. Oribe Shampoo and Conditioner - Oribe is very popular amongst celebrity hairstylists. I normally use Moroccan Oil (which is a cheaper alternative, and absolutely AMAZING) but recently started using Oribe (for special occasions only... they run about $34-40 a bottle). Oribe makes your hair so soft and luscious. These days, a lot of people have/had put chemicals in their hair (myself included - hair color treatments and all). Oribe really helps bring my hair back to its natural feel (soft with moisture) I get why it's so highly revered! The price tag is steep, but worth it.

Brand Spotlight: Sally Hansen Big Matte Top Coat

My throat has been killing me lately. On my way to pick my prescription antibiotics at the pharmacy, I browsed around the nail polish section (naturally). I bought Essie Sand Tropez (literally the best nude polish EVER) and wanted to buy a new top coat.

Around the other end of the shelf, I noticed this Matte Finish top coat by Sally Hansen. Naturally, I was skeptical. I didn't think it was even possible to get a decent matte finish from an over the counter polish. Boy was I wrong! I tried it last night and despite the fact that I am impatient on painting nails and they look less than perfect (actually, pretty terrible) the matte coat did an excellent job.

For work, I really don't want to show off a bright, shiny polish. This matte finish makes my nails look part of my nails. It's so clean and muted that it doesn't draw extra attention to my nail.

Now don't get me wrong, I love a great shiny top coat, but every know and again, I think matte is something different and cool. This Sally Hansen product is on my highly recommend list :) It's only about $5.99 at the drugstore, which is a steal!

Here is a photo of my nails on the left and another photo I found from Globe & Nail on the right (it's a better finish and just looks much better than my amateur nails so I had to post it)

Photo: Globe & Nail