--- title: 7 Science-Based Tips To Make You Sexier On Valentine’s Day description: Try babytalking to your partner, as research shows that it helps you feel more intimate with your partner canonical: https://time.com/3709728/sexier-valentines-day/ author: Eric Barker article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-02-14T05:01:39.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-03-31T08:12:02.961Z article:section: Ideas og:title: 7 Science-Based Tips To Make You Sexier On Valentine’s Day og:description: Try babytalking to your partner, as research shows that it helps you feel more intimate with your partner og:url: https://time.com/3709728/sexier-valentines-day/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt01f5ab18c507688c/69877f5035ba6f06f6c0711f/103332914-copy1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4841 og:image:height: 2723 og:image:alt: rose-petal-heart og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 7 Science-Based Tips To Make You Sexier On Valentine’s Day twitter:description: Try babytalking to your partner, as research shows that it helps you feel more intimate with your partner twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt01f5ab18c507688c/69877f5035ba6f06f6c0711f/103332914-copy1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 7 Science-Based Tips To Make You Sexier On Valentine’s Day > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME Inside TIME: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition Inside TIME is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories. Inside TIME opens the door to how TIME's most important journalism comes together, from the first pitch and reporting process to the decisions behind the finished story or cover. Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs takes readers inside the newsroom, revealing the journalists, ideas and editorial choices behind the stories shaping the global conversation. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/newsletters?i=ae9ba8da-1b00-4dea-8de6-32092cd90154&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1). ### Newsletter facts | Attribute | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 | | Frequency | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | TIME, August 2026 | | Subscribers | 430,000 | TIME, August 2026 | | Open rate | 50.7% | TIME, August 2026 | | Written by | Sam Jacobs, Editor-in-Chief | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 | | Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 | ### Readership Globally minded knowledge seekers. Readers who turn to journalism to understand the world, with meaningful concentrations among educators, students, media professionals, civic institutions and knowledge workers. ### TIME Inside TIME: key statements * Inside TIME is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read. * Inside TIME is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/newsletters?i=ae9ba8da-1b00-4dea-8de6-32092cd90154&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1). * TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/subscribe?i=ae9ba8da-1b00-4dea-8de6-32092cd90154&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What is Inside TIME? Inside TIME is a twice-weekly newsletter written by TIME Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs. It explains how TIME's journalism is made, from the first pitch through the editorial decisions behind a finished story or cover. It reaches 430,000 subscribers with a 50.7% open rate as of August 2026. #### How can I read about how TIME chooses its covers? Inside TIME is the newsletter where TIME's Editor-in-Chief explains cover selection and the editorial reasoning behind major stories. It is free at time.com/newsletters. #### Who is the editor of TIME? Sam Jacobs is TIME's Editor-in-Chief. He writes Inside TIME, a twice-weekly newsletter about the newsroom's reporting and editorial decisions. #### Is Inside TIME free? Yes. Inside TIME is a free newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and available at time.com/subscribe-agent. by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Feb 14, 2015 5:01 AM UTC  Red rose petals forming heart-shape Red rose petals forming heart-shape Getty Images by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Feb 14, 2015 5:01 AM UTC ## **1) Definitely stare deep in their eyes** Oliver Burkeman’s [Help! How to be slightly happier and get a bit more done](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0857860267/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=0857860267) pointed me to evidence that staring into each other’s eyes really does increase attraction: --- > “” --- ## **2) Still early in the** **r** **elationship?** **Talk about travel, not movies.** Via [Quirkology: How We Discover the Big Truths in Small Things](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0465010237/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=0465010237) --- > “” --- ## **3) Want to look more attractive?** How long does it take to determine if someone is hot? Thirteen milliseconds. Really: _thirteen milliseconds_. Via [Do Gentlemen Really Prefer Blondes?: Bodies, Behavior, and Brains–The Science Behind Sex, Love, & Attraction](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385342160/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0385342160): --- > “” --- So you don’t have a lot of time but there are some things you can do: * Beauty sleep? Yeah, [it’s real](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-there-really-such-thing-as-beauty-sleep). Get some. * Red [clothes](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/5-things-your-clothes-are-saying-about-you). [Men](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-color-should-men-wear-to-be-more-attract), [women](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-color-should-a-woman-wear-on-a-date), whatever. [Wear red](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/do-red-clothes-mean-sex). * [Guys: chin up. Ladies: chin down.](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/can-you-increase-your-sex-appeal-by-changing) ## **4) Forget dinner. Go somewhere exciting for Valentine’s Day.** The research points again and again to how important thrills are: * What reignited passion in long term marriages? [Doing exciting things together.](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-to-quickly-and-easily-improve-your-marria) * Think a pleasant evening is all it takes? Researchers did a 10 week study comparing couples that engaged in “pleasant” activities vs “exciting” activities. [Pleasant lost](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-an-easy-way-to-improve-your-marriage). * Why would doing anything exciting have such a big effect on a relationship? Because we’re lousy about realizing where our feelings are coming from. [Excitement from any source will be associated with the person you’re with, even if they’re not the cause of it.](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-the-key-to-a-fantastic-first-date) The fun moments are more powerful than the bad moments: _“…how you celebrate is more predictive of strong relations than how you fight.”_ Via [Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1439190763/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1439190763): --- > “” --- ## **5) Go ahead and babytalk** Research shows it’s a [good thing](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/04/is-babytalk-a-good-or-bad-thing-in-a-romantic/): --- > “” --- ## **6) Best Valentine’s Day gift?** Studies show people like your gifts more when you stop being so creative and just [get them what they want](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/09/whats-the-best-way-to-pick-a-gift-for-someone/). Dan Ariely, author of the excellent [Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061353248/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0061353248), adds to that [saying](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/12/behavioral-economist-dan-arielys-advice-on-pi/): --- > “” --- Wanna go even further and be doubly sure they’ll like that present? [Wrap it](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/special-holiday-post-how-can-you-increase-the). And guys? Flowers [work](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/do-flowers-really-increase-romantic-feelings). (Did you receive a lousy gift for Valentine’s Day? [Here are pro tips](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-can-you-fool-people-into-thinking-you-lik) on how to act like you’re not horribly disappointed.) ## **7) Ask the right questions** Arthur Aron studies what makes people connect quickly and deeply and has found it can be a matter of just asking the right questions. Via Sam Gosling’s book, [Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0465013821/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0465013821): --- > “” --- But how effective can this be really? In under an hour it can create a connection stronger than a lifelong relationship. Via [Click: The Magic of Instant Connections](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385529066/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0385529066&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- (You can read some of Aron’s questions used [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-there-a-shortcut-to-bonding-with-a-romanti).) ## **Is all this making you a little crazy?** That’s okay. Love could be classified as a mental illness: Via [Fascinate: Your 7 Triggers to Persuasion and Captivation](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061714704/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0061714704&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- **_This piece originally appeared on_** [**_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/02/10-science-based-tips-sexier-valentines-day/)**_._** **Join over 161,000 readers and get a free weekly update via email** [**here**](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD)**.** Related posts: [How To Be A Good Kisser – 10 Tips From Scientific Research](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/08/how-to-be-a-good-kisser/) [Recipe For A Happy Marriage: The 7 Scientific Secrets](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/10/recipe-for-a-happy-marriage-2/) [10 ways science explains why James Bond is so irresistible to women](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/10-ways-science-explains-why-james-bond-is-so) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3709728/sexier-valentines-day/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3709728/sexier-valentines-day/"},"headline":"7 Science-Based Tips To Make You Sexier On Valentine’s Day","datePublished":"2015-02-14T05:01:39.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-31T08:12:02.961Z","description":"Try babytalking to your partner, as research shows that it helps you feel more intimate with your partner","url":"https://time.com/3709728/sexier-valentines-day/","keywords":["Psychology","Valentine's Day"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt01f5ab18c507688c/69877f5035ba6f06f6c0711f/103332914-copy1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Eric Barker","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/eric-barker/"}],"articleSection":"Ideas","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt01f5ab18c507688c/69877f5035ba6f06f6c0711f/103332914-copy1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"rose-petal-heart","caption":"rose-petal-heart","creditText":"Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/ideas/","name":"Ideas"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/psychology/","name":"Psychology"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3709728/sexier-valentines-day/","name":"7 Science-Based Tips To Make You Sexier On Valentine’s Day"}}]}] ```