Ahhh, Valentine’s Day. As the day of romance and love nears, consumers are making a dash to pick up bouquets of long-stem roses and heart-shaped lacey chocolate boxes for their beloved accompanied by a lovey-dovey Hallmark card. It being 2022, however, the day has morphed into more than just a surprise delivery of flowers and candy. According to research from GlobalData, a recent survey by the leading data and analytics company, 56% and 55% of people prefer hair and skincare gifts, respectively—that's almost as much as they prefer medium- to high-priced confectionary (58%). 

“In the run up to Valentine’s Day, we are likely to see sales in the makeup and perfume categories boom—both as the perfect gift for loved ones, and as a special treat for yourself,” said Carmen Bryan, consumer analyst at GlobalData. “In recent years, beauty subscriptions have made ground, particularly in terms of fragrances, such as Scentbird or The Fragrance Club.”

Grooming products also make useful gifts for men and women given the rise in self-care routines during the pandemic.

We’re not saying to ditch the sweet stuff (it’s tradition, and who doesn’t love a decadent array of chewy candies on a Monday?) But Happi found beauty brands that have pointed their bows and arrows directly at consumers with special products and gift sets. From floral-centric perfume to moisturizing creams, here’s a look at some of the premium beauty finds created for Valentine’s Day. 

Heat It Up With Home Fragrance

Consumers can dim the lights and turn up the romantic vibes with Brooklyn Candle Studio’s Love Potion Limited Edition Boxed Candle ($30). Exotic notes of jasmine blossoms, calming lavender and bright mandarin delivers the scent of freshly-picked wildflowers. Ten percent of sales will be donated to Harboring Hearts, a nonprofit providing financial and emotional support for pediatric and adult cardiac surgery and transplant patients and their families. 

Facial Color Cosmetics Reign Supreme for 2022

Alleyoop played matchmaker this year, pairing some of its favorite products for Valentine’s Day. Among them is Double Team + Smooth Operator ($26). An ultra-hydrating body moisturizer formulated with nourishing ingredients to hydrate skin and soften stubble, Smooth Operator will leave skin soft and smooth with every application. Its companion, Double Team, is a lip balm, mask, tint, gloss and plumper in one. An instant pout quencher, lips will feel natural and look fuller with any chosen shade. Its dome-shaped applicator allows for precise, easy application at home or freshening up while on that date. 

Nothing says Valentine’s Day more like a little seduction. Osmosis Beauty created two special Valentine Seduction Kits ($82). Kiss Me Velvet Seduction includes a lip intensive in Kiss Me, a curling and defining black mascara, primer, infuse nutrient activating mist and cosmetic bag. The Love Me Illuminating Seduction Kit includes lip intensive in Love Me, plus the mascara, a primer and highlighter, the nutrient activating mist and a cosmetic bag.

 

To pamper skin on Valentine’s Day, Ahava offers gift sets. Take Me By the Hand ($20) consists of travel-sized hand creams in three uplifting scents; Hydration Obsession Hand Trio ($28) is comprised of highly moisturizing hand creams to rejuvenate dry, tired hands; and Love Yourself ($44) comes with a mineral body lotion, hand cream and shower gel. 

 

Inspired by a secret love affair expressed through handwritten letters, Essie’s limited edition Valentine’s Day 2022 Collection ($9 each) showcases an array of six noteworthy shades: Lips are Sealed; Pretty in Ink; Under Locket & Key; Love Note-Worthy; Respond With a Kiss; and Quill You Be Mine. The polishes feature an exclusive easy glide brush for quick, even application. 

SpoiledChild, Oddity’s second indie beauty brand, debuted just in time for Valentine’s Day. The brand says its The Rapid Recovery Hair Mask ($45), which fuses a multi-mineral complex with shea butter and amino acids, that shows locks some love as it restores shine and vibrancy to limp tresses.

 

Love is in the eyes with Glamnetic’s Sweet Talk collection of half lashes. The invisible magnet fits on eyes without scratching the eyelids an is more customizable if trimming is needed, according to the company. Flexible and lightweight, the magnetic lashes— Darling, Precious, Sugar and Sweetheart—contain magnetic properties such as iron oxide (both infused and on the surface), which assists with the adhesion of the lash band to the magnetic eyeliner.