Valentine's Day Gifts: Roses, Citron, Sea Salts, Lavender, Spearmint for a beautiful body

By April MacIntyre Jan 25, 2011, 3:53 GMT

Quite possibly the most delicious refreshing and addictive body crème I have ever used. I am partial to Lemon and citrus scents, and this one hits just right. This botanically based crème has nourishing orchard fruits, refining AHAs, purifying herbs, as well as skin conditioning Shea butter and evening primrose oil.

This year Monsters and Critics went high and low and found the coolest gifts that you can buy your sweetie that reflects a bit more thought than the heart-shaped box of chocolates.

Here are some Valentine's Day ideas that won't break the bank or your pants' zipper, or wither and die like a dozen roses.  

Keeping in mind that we love finding American businesses who make cruelty-free items, here are some excellent organic and made in the USA (okay one line, Jurlique, was made in Australia but we love Australia, so it's all good) Valentine's gift ideas you can count on that are reasonable and chic. 

This round up focuses on bath and body, and fabulous gifts to show your love that cost very little, and can be found easily in many well-stocked drug stores, Whole Foods Grocery or online directly.

Crabtree & Evelyn’s Citron bath and body care: Body Bar, Body Soufflé, and Body Scrub

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Body Soufflé
Quite possibly the most delicious refreshing and addictive body crème I have ever used. I am partial to Lemon and citrus scents, and this one hits just right.   This botanically based crème has nourishing orchard fruits, refining AHAs, purifying herbs, as well as skin conditioning Shea butter and evening primrose oil. 

Lightly scented with the uplifting notes of Citron lemon, lemon rind and lemon leaf, sweet honey, juniper and cypress, along with a bite of peppery coriander seed.  Subtle too, it doesn't overpower if you decide to wear a fragrance on top of it.    This citron infused crème is luxe and creamy rich, and anyone who adores a truly dense and silken body crème will be in love with this item.

Body Bar
A beautiful and highly fragrant glycerine soap, sealed in wrap with a Crabtree & Evelyn emblem, I use bar soaps as linen closet and clothes closet natural fresheners, tucking them away in drawers and shelves. This soap fills a room with the clean and crisp citron notes, same as the Body Soufflé.

Body Scrub
A must for the bath, and a perfect complement to the entire line. Sunflower and jojoba wax beads polish the skin without scratching, and lemon, coriander and all the fabulous honey, pumpkin and peach oils in it make skin look refined and new again.

All Citron items are under $30. This refreshingly gentle range is ideal for all skin types and is free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates, nitrosamines, propylene glycol, and mineral oil.

Jason Glycerine & Rosewater Satin Soap for Hands and Face
http://www.jasoncosmetics.com/

Bang for the buck, nothing comes close: Under $5, it is equal to six bars of soap. Jason Rosewater Satin Soap is a moisturizing vegetable glycerin based soap that gently cleans with the benefits of Rosewater and the vitamin qualities of natural Wheat Germ. 250+ pumps.  pH Balanced Formula Soothing - Comforting Relief For Dry Rough Skin Gentle.  Delicate complexions and sensitive skins will love it; The fragrance is clean floral rose.

Jason Hand & Body Lotion Glycerine & Rosewater
http://www.jasoncosmetics.com/

Not very rose scented, but rich and based in Glycerine with Lavender, Calendula, Aloe, Marigold extract and Rosewater in a dense oil-free formula fortified with Vitamin B which rehydrates. It's super inexpensive ($3), paraben-free and loaded with natural ingredients. Cruelty free and 100% Vegetarian, zero petroleum products and waxes.

Jurlique Rose Hand Cream
http://www.jurlique.com

An ultra-rich protective hand cream, you literally use a dab on the back of your hands and rub the backs together first, then palms.   The real rose extracts smell clean, authentic and not at all like old-fashioned rose-scented items that are too strong.

This is luxe, effective hand cream that is rich and long-lasting.  Loaded with real rose extracts, calendula and viola, to deeply moisturize and restore smoothness, leaving hands feeling soft and supple. Super product, made in Australia.
Sizes: 125ml/4.3 oz and 40ml/1.4 oz. $25

Jurlique Love Balm
http://www.jurlique.com

A hockey puck of balmy love: The Love Balm can be used not only on your lips, but on areas of the body that are prone to developing dry skin as well, such as elbows and heels.

For chapped and chronically dry skin patches and lips, I found I used it mostly for my lips and cuticles here in super dry Southern California.
Made with Vitamin E, Olive, Soybean and Safflower Oil to help replenish dry skin. Naturally scented with Tangerine oil. Apply liberally to lips, elbows, hands - or anywhere that needs a little extra loving care. $15

Grapefruit & Geranium Refreshing Hand & Body Lotion, 12 oz, Avalon Organic
http://www.avalonorganics.com/?id=94&pid=662

Hands down one of the most reasonable and best new products for hydration, of all the botanical and natural skincare moisturizers.

The signature ingredient of Grapefruit essential oil has a refreshing and uplifting aroma that combines with the fresh scent of Geranium essential oil for a truly beautiful clean fragrance.  Avalon lotions have triple doses of rich lipids, certified organic Sunflower, Flaxseed and Coconut Oils, all of which restores the skins lipid balance for easily absorbed moisture that has legs, and it lasts. Also it is enriched with Beta Glucan for cellular rejuvenation. Features and benefits: Refreshing Grapefruit and Geranium, protective plant lipids and the rich, oat nutrition of Beta Glucan along with no parabens, cruelty-free, lack of harsh preservatives or petroleum-based ingredients, no artificial colors or fragrances.  Around $10. So worth it.
 
Rosa Mosqueta® Moisturizing Bath & Shower Gel 8oz
http://www.aubrey-organics.com/

Unusual and addicting aroma that combines rose and other botanicals to make it more herbal than floral, and not a super sudsy affair, but gentle and effective.  Enriched with organic Rosa Mosqueta, macadamia and almond oils and delicately spiced with organic geranium and lavender. 

This rich gel is both a non-sudsing shower wash or soothing soak for your bath. Enriched with organic Rosa Mosqueta oil, macadamia and almond oils, and delicately spiced with geranium and lavender to leave your skin baby soft and subtly fragrant. Good for the skin, aromatherapy to de-stress, not Mr. Bubble! Moisturizing formula, that is 100% natural ingredients, and Vegan

Natural Spa Sea Wonders Invigorating Bath Salts, 12 oz, Aubrey Organics
http://www.aubrey-organics.com/

Fabulous deep soak spa treatment that is certified organic by QAI, Inc.
Ingredients include aromatic rosemary and spearmint essential oils, together they are truly an eye-opener, and this is a fantastic clarifying aromatherapy to help with clearing the head too. The salts are formulated with 100% certified organic ingredients, including moisturizing organic jojoba oil, sea salt, organic Aloe Vera, organic Rosemary Oil, organic Spearmint Oil.

April MacIntyre is Monsters and Critics' smallscreen and people/celebrity editor who loves to snoop around in makeup trailers when she can. You can follow her on Twitter.