Last updated on March 21st, 2021 at 12:05 am
As husbands, we often struggle when it comes to what to get our spouses for Valentine’s Day. We tend to go to flowers, chocolate and cards, but what if there was a company that could let us get a little more inventive with the gifts we get for the people we love? Arbonne wants to challenge us to think differently.
A New Way of Valentine’s, Brought to You by Arbonne.
When I was younger, I was totally anti-Valentine’s Day. All it represented to me was yet another commercialized holiday that had stores doing whatever they had to do to get into our wallets.
Being a little older and a little wiser now, I can say there’s something here more important than the price tag you associate with the gifts you buy on special occasions…
…it’s what those gifts MEAN to the people you’re buying them FOR.
Bemoan the cost of roses and their short lifespans if you want, but the flowers, the chocolate, the cards and the fancy dinners—they all add up to building a memorable experience that you’ll be remembered for. It’s not how much you spend on something. Or how long you spend doing something. It’s whether it comes from the heart and whether that shows when you give the gift.
The actions you take that stand out from the norm is what forms someone’s distinct memories of you. If you don’t cook, learn how to whip up a memorable meal. If you’re not outdoorsy, going on a romantic hike should do the trick. Scared of heights? Hot air balloon ride. The unexpected is what’s key here, and what earns you extra points.
How Arbonne Got My Groove Back
Keeping all that in mind and paying homage to my Mansformation project (“transforming men from hateable to dateable”), Basia Downs from Arbonne sent me a few products that’d help me do something memorable for Sarah—give a kick-ass massage!
- Arbonne Essentials Energy Fizz Tabs Citrus,
- Arbonne Seasource Detox Spa 5-in-1 Essential Massage Oil,
- and Arbonne Seasource Detox Spa Renewing Body Gelée
It might seem like a whole bunch of stuff for a simple massage, but each product plays its part! Lend me your ear and let me explain…
Arbonne Essentials Energy Fizz Tabs Citrus
First off, giving massages involves a lot of rigorous work, and you can’t keep up if you don’t have the energy to do it!
The energy fizz tabs are a great source of electrolytes—you’re gonna want to dissolve the tabs for 5-10 minutes instead of the 4-5 minutes suggested in the directions so that everything dissolves evenly.
The tablets are a tasty citrus, and for someone who pushes themselves as hard as I do, it was good to not feel too fatigued to do anything.
The taste is basically that of water with a hint of citrus fruits and tastes just fine. I found it was good for after church, so I was able to get some things done and not lapse into my usual post-church nap!
Arbonne Seasource Detox Spa 5-in-1 Essential Massage Oil
One way to win brownie points is through a good massage, and if you’re a novice in the art of “doing things that make your partner go crazy”, don’t worry—the box has instructions on it!
Called 5-in-1 Essential Massage Oil because it supplies 5 different therapies (body massage, facial massage, facial steam, bath soak and aromatherapy), it has a musky scent of sunflower oil to it, but not in a bad way. Just really fragrant—likely to soothe the soul and getting one in the mood… if they’re looking for a happy ending with said massage!
(If you think I’m going to write a massage oil review and not refer to “happy endings” at least once, you’ve got the wrong guy!)
The good things about this oil are:
- It’s not too greasy or sticky—it washes off pretty easily
- Up here in the Canadian winters, it tends to stay at room temperature rather than other liquids that’re cold to the touch straight out of the bottle
- The fact that it comes in a pump bottle rather than a squeeze one means you’ll have a lot less mess!
Arbonne Seasource Detox Spa Renewing Body Gelée
Arbonne Seasource Detox Spa Renewing Body Gelée Ingredients
Aqua/Water/Eau, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Carbomer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Juniperus Communis Fruit Oil, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Oil, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Taraxacum Officinale (Dandelion) Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Extract, Plankton Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Copper Gluconate, Malachite Extract, Squalane, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Phytic Acid, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Menthyl Lactate, Limonene, Linalool.
The first thing I did when I took the gelée out of the box was wonder how it would be any different from lotion — as a Black man, I always need to make sure that my skin game is on point and not looking ashy. So I put it on (despite a slightly peculiar odour), expecting it to be a cooling feeling like just about every other lotion I’ve tried in the history of lotions.
So why did it tingle when I put it on???
Without fully going into its ingredients, I’d take a guess and say that this gelée has similar ingredients to what you’d find in muscle relaxant creams and gels like Icy Hot.
Woke up feeling fine after putting it on the night before, but I’m sure that it’d be more beneficial had I used it after one of my various intramural sports. Good that it can be combined with the massage oil for maximum effect, though I don’t know how they’d smell together. Probably only one way to find out, though!
The Final Verdict
If you’re looking for an unforgettable gift, let Basia hook you up! There’re more products from the Seasource Detox Spa line including scrubs, washes and body masks that’re good gifts for any season—go to arbonne.ca and check it out!
Notes:
- It takes a few days for delivery; order before Feb 8th to make sure it’s delivered by Valentine’s Day
- If you want to order online, use Basia’s ID number: 115801580 (can’t make an order without an ID number!)
- You can also contact Basia at any of the following avenues: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
So that’s one more Valentine’s Day down and many, many, many more to go. I wish everyone out there tons of luck this Valentine’s season—may you find exactly what you’re looking for!
[Disclosure: I wrote this post in exchange for products from Arbonne’s Basia Downs. But I’m honest and will never write a dishonest review for the sake of money—without integrity, we have nothing.]
