BIPOC Owned Beauty Products You Need For Valentines Day

Written by: Lucy Dover (@lucy_dover_)

Valentine’s Day beauty always seems to fall into two extremes. Either a full glam routine that takes two hours, or the “no makeup makeup” that somehow still requires twelve products. Realistically, most of us want something in the middle. You want your skin to look good up close, your makeup to last through dinner, drinks and late trains home, and ideally nothing melting off the second a restaurant gets warm or the night becomes a little more… intimate.

So instead of a generic gift guide, here are some BIPOC-owned products The Sanxtuary staff have actually been reaching for!

Fenty Skin Dew n Plump Hydration Slushie Mask

This is the night-before product, which is great for us that don't like spending hours in the morning on a complex skin routine.

The cooling gel texture focuses on hydration and skin barrier support using hyaluronic acid, which is exactly what you want if you’re going to be wearing makeup for hours or sitting somewhere warm. It plumps the skin just enough that foundation sits better and concealer doesn’t cling. It’s especially helpful if you’re planning photos. Restaurant lighting is never kind and Valentine’s Day usually means pictures. This makes your skin look rested instead of shiny.

Our favourite part about this product, however, is the applicator. The lid slides open and works as the applicator, meaning you don’t have to scoop the mask out with your fingers. You apply it before going to sleep and let it sit overnight, so you wake up with your skin already prepped.

Kama Ayurveda Rose & Jasmine Shower Routine

The formula uses rose and jasmine essential oils, so the scent feels softer and more natural than typical body washes. When you step out of the shower you already feel a bit more put together before you’ve even picked an outfit. You notice it while you’re drying your hair, but it fades into the background once you’ve left the house, so it won’t clash with perfume. Rose and Jasmine are known to have calming and uplifting properties so a scent like this is perfect to ease those 'predate' nerves.

Kama Ayurveda Rose Hydrating Yoghurt Mask

As well as the Kama Ayurveda Rose & Jasmine products, we have been loving their Yoghurt Mask. It’s great for the morning of Valentine’s Day when your skin looks tired or dry and you don’t have time for a complicated routine.

It gives a natural glow rather than a glassy shine, so you can get away with lighter makeup. Ideal if you want to look like yourself, just slightly more awake, especially for daytime dates or coffee plans.

Haruharu Wonder Rose PDRN Serums

Valentine’s makeup always shows texture more because you’re closer to people than usual. This is where these have helped us.

The soothing serum (with azelaic acid) calms redness and evens tone, which makes skin look clearer without needing heavy foundation. The firming version (with retinol) smooths texture over time. They sit well under makeup and don’t pill, which matters when you’re layering skincare, SPF and base products before leaving the house.

Also worth mentioning: the packaging includes braille. It’s a small detail but it makes the brand feel thoughtful and accessible rather than just aesthetic-focused.

Fenty Beauty Trace’d Out Lip Liner

A smudge proof long lasting lip liner is possibly the most important Valentine’s Day product, for fairly obvious reasons. And Miss Rihanna has produced another staple product for us!

The formula is soft and pigmented so it glides on easily, but once it sets it doesn’t move. You can blur it into a full lip or use it to anchor lipstick, and it survives eating and drinking without leaving that harsh outline fade. The shade range is wide, with browns, reds, pinks and deeper tones designed to work for a variety of lip tones. It means you can find a nude that looks natural instead of grey.

Most importantly, it stays on when you’re talking, laughing, eating and generally making use of your lips throughout the night.

ONE/SIZE On ’Til Dawn Setting Spray

This is the viral “your makeup will still be there past 1am” product that has been doing the rounds on TikTok and for good reason!

The aerosol mist sprays evenly and dries almost instantly, so your foundation doesn’t separate or go patchy once you’ve been somewhere warm for a while. It gives a matte finish but not a flat one, and more importantly it locks everything in place. It's especially great for Valentine’s Day because it prevents transfer. Nobody wants foundation on collars, shoulders or anywhere else your face might end up resting. This keeps your base where you put it!

TIRTIR - Mood Glider Lip & Blush Stick

This is a roll-up balm you can use on both cheeks and lips, so you can fix your makeup in a bathroom mirror or on the way to a date without unpacking your entire bag. The texture is slightly waxy at first but blends out easily, and because of that it actually stays put instead of melting off. The pigment gives a natural flush rather than a full glam blush, which works better when someone is seeing you up close. You look warm and awake instead of heavily made up, which is great for that ‘no makeup’ makeup look.

It’s also very useful later in the evening. If your lipstick fades, you can tap this onto your lips and cheeks and immediately look put together again in about ten seconds, no mirror required.