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We are stepping up our photo game with hand-embroidered photo pillows! These are the perfect gift for the mom who has everything, because we are sure she doesn’t have this. Choose a funny phrase that only you and your Ma would laugh at and hand-stitch it into an accent pillow. And here is a secret between you and me: This project will take you about 30 minutes to make. Shhh… she doesn’t have to know.
Materials + Tools:
Trader Joe's
Retinol can be a bit daunting when it comes to skincare, especially if you're a first-time user. This TJ's formula only contains 0.3% retinol, so it's fairly gentle. One expert Redditor swears by this $10 bottle:
“After working in a dermatology office, I swear by their retinol serum," they wrote. "It’s very similar to the $70 0.3% serum we sold. Also their triple antioxidant serum looks exactly like the one we sold for over $100. Luxury really is an illusion.”
Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's tapped their "favorite" high-end skincare producer to create this $9 pot of gel moisturizer. It's "packed" with aloe leaf juice as well as green tea, birch leaf, and milk thistle extracts to help soothe the skin, while "holy grail" ingredients like sodium hyaluronate help to truly lock in moisture.
Several Redditors compared this affordable TJ's formula to expensive alternatives like the Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Moisturizer ($58) and the Biossance Balancing Gel Moisturizer ($54). 👀
Trader Joe's
This SPF got endless praise on Reddit. Its formula is far from "thick" and "sticky" – that is, according to Trader Joe's. It's translucent, oil-free, fragrance-free (sensitive skin-havers rejoice!), absorbs quickly, and leaves a silky matte finish. Oh, and it's only $9. Sounds perfect, right? Here's what shoppers have to say:
"I love it and I have gone two very hot summers without getting a sunburn!” one person said.
“A lot of sunscreen leaves a weird white cast on my (darker) skin but this one is perfect,” another noted.
“I've been using this for like a decade," one more user wrote. "The SPF 15 isn't enough if I'm going to be in the sun all day, but for office days it's perfect. I have sensitive skin and it doesn't break me out.”
Amazon
Someone noted that this jojoba oil "takes off waterproof mascara like nobody's business.” I love to hear it!
Trader Joe's jojoba oil is super versatile, too. You can easily use it as both a cleanser and moisturizer: cleanse clogged pores, remove makeup, and moisturize your hair and scalp with just a few drops! Since a little goes a long way, I'd say $15 a bottle is well worth it.
Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream is notorious for being a dupe of L’Occitane's Shea Butter Hand Cream. One Redditor noted that it easily compares in terms of the formula: TJ's version also boasts 20% pure shea butter and coconut oil to nourish dry skin. They also highlighted the fact that "the scent for the basic versions is identical.”
While L’Occitane's hand cream costs $30, TJ's tube is only $5. A steal!
“The hand cream is so good!" another user said. "I have a tube in my car, in my bag, at my office, etc.”
Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's sells eye cream?! Okay, now I need to go. TJ's notes that this $6 tube contains many "sought-after" ingredients like hydrolyzed marine collagen, coenzyme Q10, Manuka honey, hibiscus extract, and almond, argan, rosehip, and marula seed oils to soften and soothe the under eye area. It's also supposed to be extra-rich and creamy without weighing your skin down!
A couple Redditors couldn't say enough good things about it:
“I can’t praise the eye cream enough. It’s very moisturizing and does a fantastic job keeping my eye area hydrated in the dry air," one person said. "I’m 35 and I have very little wrinkles, I use it twice a day. I’ve used very high end eye creams before and while yes they were nice, I feel like TJ’s one does the job for me at this age.”
“My skin is so dry that my eyelids get flaky often, this helps more than anything else by far," another commented. "Sometimes I use it on my whole face when it’s really sensitive.”
Trader Joe's
“The Cleansing + Conditioning Hair Wash is the GOAT for my hair!" one Reddit user wrote. "I used to buy expensive cleansing conditioners and the TJ’s one is honestly way better (at least for my hair!)... it makes my hair super soft and healthy feeling but I don’t get super greasy!”
This $5 product replaces the need for a two-step hair care routine (AKA shampoo and conditioner) by combining both of 'em. It's made without detergents, sulfates, parabens, or silicones, so your hair's natural oils and moisture are not lost. It's essentially a co-wash, which can help you cut down on how often you need to wash your hair, all while hydrating dry strands and taming frizz!
Trader Joe's
I am a ride-or-die fan of The Ordinary's hyaluronic acid serum – it always adds that extra boost of hydration to my dry winter skin and never irritates it, either. Based on Trader Joe's shopper's recommendations, I'm gonna have to try their similar $9 serum out ASAP.
One shopper said it's "light and hydrating. I have dry skin and it really makes a difference.”
Another user shared that they "use it every morning and night after [they've] washed [their] face.”
TJ's says this formula is water-based, unscented, never tested on animals, and non-comedogenic. In addition to moisturizing hyaluronic acid, it includes 1% sodium hyaluronate, which can penetrate the skin even deeper to provide much-needed moisture.
Trader Joe's
Fan of the Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream's scent and nourishing effect, but not the nearly-$50 price tag? Trader Joe's famed Brazil Nut Body Butter seems to measure up pretty well for a mere fraction of the price. The tub of body butter itself is typically a seasonal item, but you can still snag it now in this delicious-smelling body care trio for $13.
TJ's fans are nuts for this product (pun fully intended):
“Brazil Nut body butter is one of the best body lotions I’ve ever used,” someone said.
“Brazil nut body wash and butter body are amazing!" one person wrote. "I bought like 4 tubs of the body butter.”
“Yes. It smells amazing and the texture is fantastic,” another user agreed.
“I still have two full tubs in my stash to hold me over until whenever the next seasonal body butter is available :),” one more Redditor shared. Yep, I'm grabbin' this one ASAP.
Trader Joe's
Marula oil offers insane hydration to dry skin. It also has antioxidant properties that can help even out your skin's tone and texture! While brands like Credo Beauty and Drunk Elephant sell similar marula oil formulas for $55+, TJ's version goes for $7 a pop.
The grocer says it's "light-textured and not greasy," which can definitely be hard to find in a skincare oil.
“The $7 marula oil is SO AMAZING I will never buy the Drunk Elephant stuff again even though I love that brand," one user offered.
“Recently started using the marula oil after using my (non TJ, don't love theirs) retinol and I feel like it has been a huge game changer and has given me a great glow," another person said.
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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
If you're ditching traditional V-Day plans in favor of something that centers your relationship with your friends, you need something that's not obviously associated with romantic love. Why strawberries? Besides being one of the sweetest fruits you can put in any dessert, they have a cutesy vibe that looks amazing on nails.
P.S. Add a pink bow decal to one of your nails for a bit of contrast!
This one's for the girl who loves wearing shiny, red, and oval nails because it's her version of the 'Superwoman pose.' We haven't figured out why this color makes us feel so powerful, but we know it's a must for anyone who's not afraid to plan her date on Valentine's Day.
Does a little minimalism mixed with a touch of brashness sum up your personality? Great! You'll love these cherry 8-ball nails that have the unmistakable sign of both.
Are you aching to show off your new engagement ring à la Zendaya? Then you need the perfect Valentine's Day nails to complement it like this queen of hearts design. We can't stop staring at the cute red designs that remind us of scones.
(Great, now we're hungry...)
Nail Reformation
These nails remind us of strawberry milk for some reason, but in a totally cutesy and not school lunch-y way. They feel similar to the queen of hearts nails, but the light pink base and different sized hearts creates a slight, sweet difference.
KISS
Okay, okay...so these aren't pink or red, but some people love the idea of wearing hearts without all those "traditional" Valentine's Day colors. Seriously, uou'll love wearing these black and white press-on nails! They almost remind us of cow print nails — which we kind of miss wearing, if we're being honest.
Amazon
Don't sleep on gel strip nails because they're a great alternative to press-ons! These semi-cured designs make a great fit for Valentine's Day because they blend simplicity with optimism.
Nail Reformation
Let the whole world know you're in love with these press-on nails! You'll have different heart designs on three fingers, so can wear your heart on your nails, not your sleeve. 😉
Olive & June
Similar to the gel strip nails, these cute red heart designs are for the girl who loves to keep things low-key in love. Whether you're single, dating, or secretly engaged (we won't tell), you'll love hiding your heart in plain sight.
Amazon
Skip the strawberries and go straight for cherries with these nails. You can still wear them to your Galentine's brunch, but you'll also catch your date smiling at them when you're alone.
Ulta
These nails are the perfect match for anyone who's a fan of yummy sweet treats! If you're baking all morning for your at-home Valentine's Day plans, make sure your nails are included in the cute pics you'll be adding to Instagram!
Ulta
Take your shiny, red, and oval nails to greater heights — er, lengths — with these OPI x Wicked nails. Since they're press-ons, you can wear them during date night and soak them off later if they feel like a hassle.
KISS
Take a break from all things red, pink, and white by wearing these lilac jelly nails! They have silver hearts on them, giving your nails a shiny glow!
Olive & June
Designs aren't always needed for memorable nails! Rock this velvet set and watch everyone at your table feel tempted to order a nice glass of red wine...or three.
Follow us on Pinterest for more nail art ideas!
Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
Trader Joe's
Anything that involves chocolate and cookies is always gonna be a good bet for Valentine's Day. These TJ's cookie tiles feature a "crunchy, almost caramelized" texture and a sweet, but salty flavor.
Trader Joe's
Oh, yes! These bake-and-eat cookies with pink hearts on 'em are an immediate 'add to cart.'
Trader Joe's
With a rich strawberry ice cream filling and a magnificent chocolate layer, these tiny cones taste just like chocolate-covered strawberries – without all the work of actually having to make them.
Trader Joe's
When you can get flaky, fluffy donuts filled with a "captivatingly creamy and remarkably rich" chocolate-hazelnut filling in one simple grocery run, you don't pass them up. Especially when they're a perfect fit for this year's V-Day dessert lineup.
Trader Joe's
This gorgeous box of dark chocolate-covered cookies will make an excellent gift for your Valentine alongside some fresh TJ's flowers and a bottle of wine. Thank me later!
Trader Joe's
Equal parts sweet and savory, these Thai-inspired bites are first dipped in light layers of soy sauce and honey, then sprinkled with coarse sugar crystals that make them entirely too addictive. Plus, they're adorably heart-shaped!
Trader Joe's
I stocked up with literally 3 bags of these sprinkles last year because they're so cute. I'm elated to see they've returned for V-Day this year, too! Use this medley of heart-shaped sprinks to top cookies, cakes, cupcakes, brownies, and more with Valentine's flair.
Trader Joe's
Filled with 'chewy, buttery-sweet caramel," these candies come in the perfect personal size so you can tack a package onto Valentine's Day cards with ease.
Trader Joe's
Trail mix can be real boring, but once you spice it up with plenty of sweetness (AKA chocolate), it gets way better. This choc-packed bag features almonds, cashews, cocoa-dusted almonds, mini peanut butter cups, pretzel sticks, and tiny chocolate chip cookies. I fear I'd eat the whole bag myself!
Trader Joe's
More chocolate goodness is coming your way – in the form of these lush cheesecake bites that'll store so well in the freezer until it's time to bust 'em out after your extravagant Valentine's Day dinner.
Trader Joe's
These joy-inspiring cake bites are undeniably "rich and moist," and their small size definitely calls for a snack sesh any time during the V-Day season. Breakfast, post-lunch, or for a late-night snack, you're gonna love them no matter what.
Trader Joe's
This last (and limited!) TJ's Valentine's Day product is surprisingly not centered around food. Instead, behold their "extra-moisturizing" lip masks! This duo comes with one Chocolate and one Berry scent that work great on their own, but even more wonderfully together.
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