5 Must-Haves in Your Valentine Intimacy Starter Pack?

February is here! As Sir Elton John once asked, “Can you feel the love tonight?”

Perhaps, it’s safe to say that we’re already feeling the warmth of roses and Cadillacs; chocolates and wines at this time of the month… after all, we’re a week away from the most anticipated romantic day of the year. And chances are, most of us will get lucky as early as within the few days to come up until the 14th arrives.

Question is are you ready for the day/night of pure romance and intimate moments with your partner – physically, emotionally and mentally?

Because it would be a shame if you’re not!

And by ready, we’re not just talking about dinner dates, bouquet of roses, box of chocolates, suiting/dressing up, gifts and all those common Valentine schemes. Sure, those are already a definite given and out of the question.

We’re talking about the “post-Valentine shenanigan”!

Aside from prepping up for the big hearts day, of course you need to have the essentials for you and your partner to “enjoy” the night away!

Heck, better get ready than be sorry, do you agree?

So, in line with this Valentine’s Day preparation, here are some items we think you should have in your Valentine Intimacy Starter Kit.

Yes, I just made that kit up!

FOR THE BOYS:

Cologne – Because nobody wants a date that smell more of a garbage bin rather than an actual handsome guy. Besides, smelling good and fresh adds up to your points. That’s why aside from scrubbing yourself clean before a hot date, it wouldn’t hurt to bring along your trusty cologne with you in case you need the occasional spray.

Mouthwash/mouth spray – Closely related to the first item. Kissing is very common especially during hearts day. Keep your mouth fresh before deciding to lip-lock with your partner because trust me, you wouldn’t want Miss vegetarian to get a taste of that medium-well garlic porterhouse steak you’ve had two hours ago. Nasty, right? Yeah, keep that mouthwash!

Condoms – Practice safe and responsible sex. And just so you know, this doesn’t apply solely during Valentine’s month. Make it a point to keep at least one in handy. Unless you want get lucky and get prematurely hitched, not to mention getting those dreaded sexually transmitted diseases.

Bottle of wine – A pitcher doesn’t simply enter the game and go straight to the mound without warming up in the bullpen. Same goes with bringing your partner over to your house. You can’t simply ask her to go straight to the bedroom. You need to set up the mood first by the fireplace or in the den. This is where the bottle of wine comes in! Pour in a glass or two, then have an interesting conversation before jumping onto her like a hungry wolf.

Music player with Marvin Gaye + Barry White-inspired playlist – And speaking of kickstarting the mood, what better way to do it than to have Marvin Gaye and Barry White serenading you in the background. That, enough said…

FOR THE GALS

Scented candles – Scented candles add a mixture of kinkiness and intimacy to the mood, mainly because of their rather soothing scent and tried-&-tested lighting effects. Bask in the ambiance, guys!

Massaging oil – If you want to intensify the mood more, there’s no better way to do it than to use your sense of touch. Add a bit of that therapeutic massaging oil to make your guy feel relaxed. Put some on your body and let your skin damp and glide through your partner’s. Rest assured, your partner will go crazy over you.

Sexy lingerie – Pretty much basic for occasions like this. For those first timers, just be confident with yourself when wearing one. Your partner will thank you for it.

Light perfume – Same goes with what those boys have. And just like them, they wouldn’t want to kiss a girl that smells like a rotten guava mixed with spoiled Indian food. Spray some occasionally during the date itself.

Cherry-flavored lip balm – Because wearing hot red lipstick is too overrated. Besides, men still find the “natural glossy red” effect of lip balm sexy, especially when they get to smell and somehow taste the seemingly sweet sensation of its cherry-flavor! Ugh! That hits the spot, I’m telling you!

As a bonus item for both men and women, slip a small packet or tea bag of Wisconsin Ginseng tea with you to make sure you’re all prep up and ready for Valentine’s day. This is also to ensure your endurance and overall well-being as well as to alleviate impending stress prior to the big hearts day.

Forget All Those Cosmetic Breakthroughs! Here are 9 Natural Anti-Aging Remedies for your Skin!

“Life begins at 40”, as they say. Apparently, so do frown lines and furrows.

This is one of those many dilemmas every woman (and even men) needs to deal with when they reach a certain age or even worse, having to let the old crow’s feet land on you... Premature wrinkle, that is.

With all those new age “fountain of youth” in the form cosmetic breakthroughs such as botox, radio frequency, and fractional CO2 laser, as well as those fortified anti-aging creams and promising medications, it seems like stopping skin-aging is conveniently closer to reach.

However, the sophistication of these anti-aging solutions doesn’t come in cheap price – which makes even much harder for us, women to avail and undergo such procedures and products. Luckily, there’s still hope, thanks to Mother Nature!

Here are 9 natural remedies against anti-aging.

Water Therapy – The universal remedy for everything. What can we say; almost all living organisms consist mostly of water… which means hydration plays a big role in keeping our overall well-being up and running – skin included. Skin hydration improves the tone and moisture level of your skin, giving you lighter and more radiant look.

Berry Good, Berries – It goes to show that berries such as blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, grapes and cranberry are more than just dessert toppings. These fleshy fruits are also a good source of antioxidants to shield your skin from free-radicals as well.

Citrus Fruits – Orange and lemon are just some of the fruits that are rich in Vitamin C. This particular vitamin helps combat collagen degeneration. Aside from this, ascorbic acid also helps in erasing off dark spots and other blemishes caused by the sun’s harmful rays, as well as maintaining its immune system, giving you and your skin resiliency against skin diseases.

Banana – Remember that old “Bananas are proven good for the skin because you won’t see a monkey having problems with acne” joke? Believe it or not, it’s true… at least the “banana is good for the skin” part because of high potassium content found in bananas. These electrolytes are responsible for keeping your skin hydrated and moisturized.

Ginger – bulby root plant contains anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, perfect for cleansing skin pores and shedding dead skin cells. Moreover it is also rich in antioxidants to prevent cellular damage caused by free-radicals.

Coconut – Coconut –particularly coconut oil – promotes the production of collagen to replace some of the lost protein in your skin as you age. Moreover, coconut is known for its anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties, which is vital for skin care to prevent contracting skin diseases and fungal infections.

Green tea – Green tea acts as a natural sunscreen to protect your skin against harmful UV rays of the sun. Moreover, the application of this leafy herbal drink onto your skin helps tighten the skin. More to that, it also acts as an efficient exfoliating scrub for a more lighter complexion as well as to scrape off dead cells.

Fish – Salmon, tuna, herring, sardines and mackerel are known good source of omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E    , which is important for improving skin cells and for moisturizing the skin’s inner and outer surface.

Wisconsin Ginseng – Most of the properties and benefits you’ve read here are also present in this perennial plant. It is notoriously known for its anti-aging properties, particularly antioxidants.  It is also a favorable source of phytonutrients for stimulating the regeneration of collagen in your skin as it triggers its metabolism.