ThisNext Blog

For a Valentine’s Day gift that’s both health-conscious and heavenly, pair that box of organic bonbons with a massage treat that will make your sweetheart go all blissfully melty. In his recently released book Lovers Massage: Soothing Touch for Two, Darrin Zeer presents 65 massage techniques that couples can use to each other’s stress and muscles aches. And what could be more divine than having your own personal massage therapist for whenever you need some major unwinding?

To set the mood for a Lovers Massage-guided at-home rubdown, light up the Ember - Massage Oil Candle recommended by KiraGould, szlea, JenniferohJenny, cogg, and Lyta5. Though the idea of dripping hot candle wax onto a special friend tends to conjure up images of that Madonna/Willem Dafoe disaster Body of Evidence, the Ember candle isn’t quite so scary: “The melted wax from this Ember candle is scented massage oil that is at a skin-safe temperature,” explains cogg. Adds Kira: “There is a handy pour spout in the ceramic container, so there’s no messy spill. And if nothing else, these are just nice candles with a sublte aroma, nothing too overpowering.” I’ve actually got a Creative Nature Massage Oil Candle, another soywax-based product that’s proven quite adept at soothing the skin - and giving off a sublime scent while it burns.

Massage bars can also work wonders when kneading away at your darling one’s tensed-up muscles, so select a gorgeously fragranced, all-natural product handcrafted by those lovely people at Lush. “This is my favorite massage bar from Lush,” says debegray of the Therapy Massage Bar. “Smells wonderful, with soothing lavender and neroli, and does a nice job moisturizing your skin. Just the act of smoothing it over your body is soothing.” Both mugirl and Squeeker burn up for the Fever Massage Bar, a jasmine-, sandalwood-, and rose-scented delight that Squeeker promises “does not smell Grandma-ie.” Mugirl also digs Lush’s It’s A Pleasure Treasure Massage Bar, since it “melts on contact and…smells (and tastes) so divine.”

If you’re super-serious about massage, a real honey of a Valentine’s gift would be the Therma Top Heated Massage Table selected by szlea. “The patented Therma-Top on Frontgate’s heated massage table warms the entire surface, soothing and relaxing the body’s muscles with gentle head-to-toe warmth,” says szlea, who cautions: “Masseuse not included.”

And if you and your favorite girl or boy are into the sci-fi thing - and, hey, that’s totally cool with us - go for the GadgetGuy-approved Electronic Eyezone Massager. “You’ll be able to look like a superhero and have your eyes massaged at the same time with this mask,” says GadgetGuy. “Stop crime, and soothe yourself a little bit, aren’t you worth it? Unfortunately it only seems to come in white, thereby making it a bit hard to be an avenger of the night, but least your eyes will be rested and alert.”