If your skin is winter worn, try a homemade scrub before splurging on expensive salts and lousy loofahs:

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup grapeseed or olive oil
A splash of vanilla extract (or your favourite essential oil)
Stir and slough away.

Wouldn’t it be nice if period pains – like braces and training bras – got left behind with adolescence?

If Corey Haim can’t cure cramps (License to Drive worked every time) we suggest massaging Comforté cream into your achy shoulders, back and belly.

This wonderful natural ointment combines Calatropis Procera (pain relief), Carapa Procera (swelling and bloating), Menthol (soothing and warming), Shea butter (hydrating), and Soya Bean extract (hydrating).

And if that doesn’t work, have your mother write a note and stay in bed.

At www.pms4pms.com

Eve may have pulled off au naturel, but we gals rely on the powers of product to keep us pretty.

At Green Lavender we were thrilled to stumble upon an eden of fabulous face and body care items low on harsh chemicals and high on all natural ingredients. This adorable eco store (and yoga studio) carries bath and body products, natural cleaning supplies and enough soaps, salves and skin-saving items to satisfy any beauty junkie.

We love the aromatic bath salts ($7.99) and handmade soaps ($4.99) from eco-brand KIBO (based in Aurora) and the Face Cakes ($4.99) make a soothing alternative to commercial facial cleansers and use no packaging.

If given a choice, most girls would pick product over apples.

Green Lavender, 2842 Dundas St. W, Toronto, 416 792 2447, www.greenlavender.ca

We took an scent census around the office and came up with six lovely pairs of perfumes for him and her. Herewith, our staff picks.

Marianne Wisenthal, Montreal editor, English edition
Couples who spray together, stay together. When we’re not stealing spritzs of our man’s woody Grey Vetivert by Tom Ford ($100), he’s dipping into our bottle of Private Blend Italian Cypress (from $210). Both at Holt Renfrew.

Tara Parker Tait, Publisher
Opposites attract with Parisian cult favourite Annick Goutal's Petite  Chérie (finally, she divulges her secret scent!) for her ($110 at the Bay) and the luxe Hermès Poivre Samarcande ($250 at Hermès) for him.

Joy Pecknold, Vancouver editor
For a date night, spritz  Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb ($120 at Holt Renfrew), a bouquet of sweet, fruity florals. If the boy shows up smelling of John Varvatos’ Artisan ($70 at Sephora), this relationship may have serious potentional.

Malwina Gudowska, Calgary editor
French girl meets American boy: YSL’s Parisienne ($65) is a match with the masculine John Varvatos Classic ($78). Both at Sephora.

Tonya Albulet, Western Sales Manager
Lalique's Amethyst ($110), with top notes of blackcurrant and blackberry, comes in a bold purple bottle worthy of your nightstand. If your BF wears Lacoste Pour Homme Grey ($75), it's meant to be. Both at Holt Renfrew.

Elsa Vecchi, Montreal editor, French edition
A spritz for you, a dab for him. A summery scent that is fresh and classic, Vétiver by Guerlain is made for a man, but also smells lovely on a lady. $95 at Holt Renfrew.

It takes a lot of muscular co-ordination to kiss properly – 34 facial muscles and 112 postural muscles – to be exact. Add a silky smooth pout, and you’ve got a great kiss.

Get Valentine ready with daily facial gymnastics and Lucas Papaw Ointment lip treatment. We discovered the balm on a surfing trip in Oz have been faithful to it ever since. It’s great for daily use as a lip balm but works just as well on burns and bug bites. Australian beauties Naomi Watts and Cate Blanchett are both fans.

Mwa mwa, darlings!

The best place to buy Lucas Papaw Ointment is on eBay.

Macarons might be the new cupcakes in the land of confection, but when it comes to skin care, we’re still faithful to the delicious cupcake soaps ($6) at Tval.

Made with a blend of vegetable oils and cocoa butter, the soaps are gentle on the skin and come in a variety of flavours like blueberry, chocolate-almond and banana cherry pie.

Bring a bunch to your next girlie gathering – just make sure no one takes a bite.

Tval, 1-799 Queen St. W., Toronto, 416-815-7627, www.tvalskincare.com

Tattoos used to be for convicts and sailors – now they’re as ubiquitous as a white shirt.

Wimps can opt for a Chanel tattoo transfer (chain bracelets complete with logo pendants) but anyone with seafaring blood should contact David Glantz. He’s one of Toronto’s best tat artists, and has left his mark on many a local celeb. He also dazzled crowds with the multi-hued graphics he created for a Damzels in this Dress runway show at fashion week.

Tip: Glantz (from $80 minimum) has a waitlist from here to Polynesia, so if you’re in a hurry contact his apprentice, Angela, who will be taking on small custom-projects in mid-spring.

Archive Tattoo, 928A Dundas St. W.,Toronto, 647-342-8494, www.archivetattoo.com

With a sleek modern decor and a mix of 90s pop on the stereo, The Ten Spot beauty bar in Leslieville is as cool as its west-end sister.

Watch old movies, chick flicks and Sex and the City on the plasma as your nails get buffed and polished ($30) or get a whole gang of girls together for a gab session and a pedicure ($50). 

Verdict: Our hands felt butter soft and the polish lasted a week. Now that’s what we call staying power.

The Ten Spot Leslieville, 1402 Queen St. E., Toronto, 416-915-1010, www.the10spot.com

Kate Hudson, Elle Macpherson and Cameron Diaz might look dewy and gorgeous on the slopes, but for the rest of us, the harsh reality is a red nose, chapped lips and flattened tresses.

Protect your face from the elements with a daily-dollop of Green Beaver Après-ski Cheek Balm ($9.99). The shea and cupuacu butter make this wonder balm oh-so-rich. It’s smooth to apply and works well on elbows, knees and heels too.

Now all we need is to perfect our piste style.

Available to buy online at http://well.ca/

We bickered with our mothers over wearing winter hats, but the nagging was true—you do lose lots of heat through your head.

These days, we’re staying toasty in a vintage fox beret. Plucked from a selection of previously loved fur toppers at Paper Bag Princess, this beauty has opened our season in glamorous '60s style.

Pick from pill-boxes, cloches and berets in mink, rabbit and uber-soft chinchilla. Sourced locally, (mainly from Eatons and Simpsons), the hats were no doubt worn by the chic social darlings of that time.

Far better than a silly bobble hat, mum.

At Paper Bag Princess, 287 Davenport Rd., Toronto, 416-925-2603, www.thepaperbagprincess.com