ProductWhores

Almond Milk and Honey

I have fairly sensitive skin, so I'm always on the lookout for products that'll do their job without irritating it even further. It seems like that would be easy (or at least easy-ish) but it's actually a lot harder than you'd think.  Products either aren't that great, smell terrible, or somehow make me break out in hives.  (Thank God for Tide's Sensitive Skin laundry detergent. Highly recommend!)  And then I got introduced to The Body Shop's new Almond Milk & Honey collection and little birdies sang, clouds parted and I suddenly started skipping everywhere I went (just kidding, but how awesome would that be?)  The collection consists of seven different products - a Shower Cream, Body Butter, Body Lotion, Body Scrub, Hand Cream, Bath Milk and soap.  I love when brands do this because it means you can layer the scent.  (Much like how I insist on my bra and underwear matching every morning, I refuse to use competing scents in the shower.  Who are these people that can use a floral body wash and follow it up with a fruity scrub?  MONSTERS!  Monsters, I tell you!)  I love the scent - it's warm and comforting, a little sweet, a little nutty... super pretty.  I'm especially digging the Shower Cream/Body Scrub duo.  The Shower Cream cuts through all the grime I accumulate walking around Los Angeles (L.A., I love you, but you're now known for your clean air) and the Body Scrub is strong enough to get rid of dead skin without being irritating.  I'm also really into the hand cream - it's super moisturizing, but not greasy, and when I use it, I get the bonus of getting a whiff of the delicious scent every time my hands are near my nose (which happens a lot more than you'd think). Even better, right now if you use the code SENSITIVESKIN on their website (just click here to shop) you'll get 20% off the collection.  I'm not sure how long the offer lasts though, so get your credit card out and start shopping!  

(Side note for all you L.A. people - the event to introduce this collection was held at Gracias Madre in West Hollywood.  I've been DYING to try that place forever and was super happy to finally get the chance (nice work, Body Shop!)  I highly, highly recommend checking it out.  Great food, great drinks, great atmosphere... a must try!

Note: Samples of this collection were sent to me by a PR representative working with The Body Shop

Concentrate On Ahava

Ah, Ahava.  I love their products so much because they're so great for my sensitive skin.  And now they have something even better than regular ol' body products - Dead Sea Osmoter Body Concentrate.  It's basically a serum for your body, which is really cool because let's face it, we can all use all the help we can get.  The serum gives you light hydration (I usually follow it up with an actual body lotion afterwards) and it refreshes and recharges your skin, helping to correct uneven tone and texture.  I haven't been using it long enough to see a difference in that, but it's definitely soothing and it's making my dull "winter" (because "winter" in Los Angeles is still pretty damn mild) skin more glowy than usual.  I put SO many damn products on my face to keep it looking good that I really appreciate having something for my body too.  (Side note - the one for your face is amazing as well).  I pretty much use every Ahava Dead Sea product that I can get my hands on, so I'm really happy to have another one to add to the repertoire.  Now if only I could get an actual trip there, I'd be all set...

Note: A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Ahava

This groundbreaking body serum adds light hydration, luminosity and clarity to skin from head-to-toe. Dead Sea Osmoter Body Concentrate transforms rough skin by adding a youthful, radiant glow. - See more at: http://www.ahavaus.com/dead-sea-osmoter-body-concentrate#sthash.GOEu9uUw.dpuf

A triple-charged superserum that refreshes, illuminates and recharges dull body skin, correcting uneven tone and texture. - See more at: http://www.ahavaus.com/dead-sea-osmoter-body-concentrate#sthash.GOEu9uUw.dpuf

A triple-charged superserum that refreshes, illuminates and recharges dull body skin, correcting uneven tone and texture. - See more at: http://www.ahavaus.com/dead-sea-osmoter-body-concentrate#sthash.GOEu9uUw.dpuf

Airbrush Your Legs

Don't you hate it when you've been meaning to buy a product for like, a year and you just keep forgetting and then when you do, it turns out to be awesome and you could've been using it ALL ALONG?!  That happened to me this weekend with Sally Hansen's Airbrush Legs.  I've been hearing about how awesome it is for what seems like years, but for some reason, I've just never gotten around to buying it.  And then I had a big event on Saturday night and I was planning on wearing a short dress, so when I randomly stumbled upon a big display of them at Rite-Aid, I decided it was time to finally try it.  And you guys, it is AWESOME.  I bought the Light Glow (the lightest one they have) because I am pasty white and figured that was the safe choice, and it definitely was.  (It also comes in Medium Glow, Tan Glow and Deep Glow).  Applying it is super simple.  I bought the spray version, so basically, I just sprayed it onto my hand, then rubbed it onto my legs, blending as I went.  Unlike self-tanner, which I am terrible at, this formula doesn't leave streaks and it was quick and easy to put on.  The only places I had a little trouble with were my ankles/feet, but that's just because it's harder to cover those areas with anything that has any color to it, and even those didn't take me that long to do completely.  Once it was on, it only took a few minutes to dry (and that was with being extra cautious - I probably could've gotten dressed a little earlier).  And it looks so, so great.  I like it WAY better than self-tanner because it basically just gave my legs a... natural glow.  They weren't super tan, which is good because that would've looked crazy with the rest of my paleness, but they really did look airbrushed.  People at the event I went to even commented on it, and that never happens.  It's even easy to remove!  As long as you use soap and water, it comes right off.  (I accidentally got it on a white towel in my bathroom and I panicked a little, but it came right out in the wash.  Fabulous!)  At only around $14 or so, I seriously cannot believe this is the first time I've used it.  I want to retroactively go back and have put it on every time I wore a skirt or dress since it was invented!  I'm not often like, BUY THIS IMMEDIATELY, but seriously, BUY THIS IMMEDIATELY.  It's so, so worth it.        

Tint Yourself

Even though I'm super pale and usually totally fine with that, every once in awhile I want to be tan.  Super, super tan. Because I love the look of tan skin, I just don't want the skin cancer and/or age spots that could possibly come with it later on.  Whenever I start to feel like that, I know it's time to bust out the self-tanner and go to town.  This time, I tried one that was new to me - Vita Liberata's Untinted Self Tan Lotion in Warm.  It's an untinted (hence the name!) lotion that you apply wherever you want some color that will develop gradually (in about 8-10 hours).  One of the things I loved about it is that it's almost completely odor-less.  Remember how self-tanners used to smell really awful and the smell would linger forever?  No more of that!  There's a little bit of a scent to it, but it's very slight and it doesn't bother me at all.  Definitely a big plus.  As far as application, it's easy to smooth on and it dries quickly - I would say in about 5-10 minutes or so, so as long as you don't put any clothes on before then, you're going to be fine. (Sometimes I give it 20 minutes or so, just to be sure).  On me, it takes a few applications to get the deeper tan that I prefer if I'm self-tanning, which I like because it means that you can do it gradually and get exactly the kind of color that you prefer.  (One application means lighter, more applications will get you a darker shade...)  The color itself looks really natural on me and doesn't irritate my sensitive skin at all, plus it lasts about 4 or 5 days until it starts fading so I usually get almost a full work week out of it.  Perfect!  At $33, it's a little bit of a splurge, but if you're looking for a self-tanner that does the job,it's definitely worth it.  (Especially if you don't use it a ton - it'll last you a long time if you're a sporadic self-tanner, like me.  

Side note - this is a totally ridiculous and shallow observation, but I'm so happy to be living in 2013, where you can get a healthy, tan glow without all the bad things that come with doing it naturally.  Suck it, 1950's!  (Although I would take their hilariously low gas prices!) 

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Vita Liberata  

Get Dirty

Normally, when I hear the word "unisex," I run quickly in the other direction, but when I saw it applied to LUSH's new Dirty collection, I overrode that urge because I love LUSH so much.  There are four products in the collection:

• Dirty Spring Wash Shower Gel - Don’t be a dirty rotten scoundrel.  Recreate your very own mountain spring and wash with this tingly, softening, minty shower gel that contains spearmint, thyme, and sea salt. 
• Dirty Shaving Cream - Shave it all off using our ultra-softening oats and benzoin shaving cream.  There’s also lavender and sandalwood in there to soothe any irritations.
• Dirty Hair Gel - Refresh your coif with our conditioning and softening, firm hold styling product.  Made with fair trade coconut oil, linseed gel and balm herb infusion for the perfect just-got-out-of bed style.
• Dirty Body Spray - If you don’t have the time for a full-on Dirty routine in the morning, take a quickie instead and spritz yourself liberally with this body spray before you head out the door.  No one will ever know.

I tried two of the products - the Dirty Spring Wash Shower Gel and the Dirty Body Spray.  I'm totally in love with the shower gel.  Like, first date, head over heels in love.  It's a great product for the mornings because it kind of kicks your ass a little.  (It's also great post-workout).  It's sort of zingy and uplifting and I can definitely smell the spearmint when I use it.  I have such good luck with LUSH shower gels.  They're like the MVP's of my shower.  Seriously.

The Dirty Body Spray definitely smells more manly on me though.  I would love to smell it on my boyfriend, but on me... not so much.  It's just a little too masculine for my tastes (although like I said, I tend not to like unisex products, so it definitely might just be a personal thing).  I do think the packaging is genius though for a body spray.  It's in a bottle that looks like it would be some kind of cleaning product for the bathroom, but it definitely makes spritzing it on easier and it also makes it easily portable since there's a tab that makes it unable to spray unless you take it off.  I want to try the Shaving Cream next, since I'm always on the hunt for a good one of those. 

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with LUSH

Who Needs Expensive Body Mists?!

It may sound hard to believe but Degree (yes, the deodorant people) make the best and most affordable body mists on the market!  Their Natureffects collection is so awesome that when I wear it (which is just about every day) I consistently get compliments and people asking me what I'm wearing.  When I tell them I spent only a few bucks to smell this damn good, they are stunned.  Seriously, if you haven't perused the deodorant aisle you are really missing out (never thought I'd put that in a blog post).  I usually wear their Orange Flower and Cranberry, but was recently introduced to Honeysuckle and Tea Tree Oil (well, hello there new mist) and it's fabulous.  Honeysuckle and Tea Tree Oil smells refreshingly light and floral and lasts the better part of the day.  It is the perfect scent for anyone who loves floral.  If you like a more deeper scent, check out the Orange Flower and Cranberry for sure.  Natureffects body sprays are a fantastic option for those of us who don't want to have to take out a loan to buy a body mist. Also, Degree always offers coupons on its site ($1.00 off right now) and Target is having a promotion this week - buy a Natureffects deodorant and get the body mist free (sweeeeet)!

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Degree

Have Your Cake

Oh, I so want this.  Cake Beauty has introduced a new set called Have Your Cake ($45).  There's a whopping 11 products in this deluxe sample set.  Here's what you'll get:

• 2.2 ounce satin sugar revitalizing shampoo
• 2.2 ounce sating sugar replenishing 3 in 1 conditioner
• 1 ounce satin sugar refreshing mist
• 2.2 ounce desserted island bath & shower froth
• 2.2 ounce desserted island supreme body mousse
• 2.2 ounce it's a slice bath & shower froth
• 2.2 ounce it's a slice supreme body mousse
• 2 ounce hi-light luminous body lotion
• 2 ounce glow-rious glistening body lotion
• 2.2 ounce milk made velveteen hand creme
• 1 X single use milk made hand & cuticle buffer

How perfect would this set be to tuck in your suitcase for a weekend away?  Or to give to your best friend right before she goes on vacation or her honeymoon?  I love sample sets and I love Cake, so this is pretty much my perfect purchase.  I can't find it online yet, but it will be available on Sephora.com, UrbanOutfitters.com, and Cakebeauty.com, so keep your eyes peeled.  

Exfoliate Away...

 

I love a good exfoliator, but sometimes you can buy one that's perfect in a lot of ways, but doesn't actually exfoliate so well.  (Which always makes me wonder - who approved the product?  Shouldn't an exfoliator, you know, exfoliate?)  You won't have that problem with LUSH's new Brimstone Shower Scrub.  In fact, I kept having to remind myself to go easier when I was using it - it's that powerful.  For $4.95, you get a "block" of the product to take into the shower with you.  Then all you have to do is rub it over your wet skin to let the exfoliation magic begin.  Because it has sulphur (which normally smells... not great) they've used jasmine absolute in it as well to mask the scent, which works wonders because I thought it smelled delightful and not at all sulphury.  After I got out of the shower, my skin was so soft - you can definitely tell it works if you compare it to other, non-Brimstoned skin.  The only thing to take note of - much like a gremlin, you really shouldn't get your Brimstone wet because it seems to dissolve if it gets water poured directly on it (using it on wet skin is fine though).  I stupidly left mine under my dripping showerhead and it dissolved into a puddle of scrub overnight.  Although come to think of it, didn't gremlins actually multiply when they got wet?  How cool would it be if Brimstone could do that, too?  You could wake up to an entire shower full of Brimstones!  Who wouldn't love that?

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with LUSH 

SuperSkin!

I've been slightly obsessed with Liz Earle's products since the first time I used them.  I've been using the Superskin Moisturizer for awhile now and I really like it, so when I heard that she was introducing three new products into the Superskin line, I had to get my hands on them.  The three products combine to cover pretty much every spot on your body with Superskin - there's a Superskin Body Cream, a Superskin Bust Treatment, and a Superskin Eye & Lip Treatment.  It's a tight race, but I think my favorite is the Body Cream.  My skin has been really dry lately, but I'm really bad about remembering to moisturize, so it usually takes a great product to get me into a regular groove and that's happened with this.  It's a thick, rich cream that's full of soothing natural ingredients.  It contains East African Shea Butter, organic rosehip oil, and cranberry seed oil that help prevent your skin from losing moisture and improves its elasticity to leave it smoother and softer.  The signature Liz Earle scent is present here too - it's a blend of neroli, lavender and chamomile pure essential oils that's just really soothing.  It totally chills me out, so I've been putting it on before I go to bed and letting it work its magic overnight.  (It's the lazy person's way to moisturize, which I appreciate).

The Superskin Bust Treatment is a light serum that's meant to be applied to your bust and decolletage (I love that word - it's such an exotic way to say, uhm, boobs).  It's an area that not a lot of people usually think about, but especially in L.A. where we spend most of the year in sleeveless tops, it's so important to take care of it.  The Bust Treatment is filled with omega 3, GLA and antioxidants, and it's meant to be used on skin that's lost elasticity, tone and firmness (from things like pregnancy, weight change, menopause, sun exposure or age).  I'm determined to make myself use this at least every few days so that I can help fight off saggy, senior citizen chest as long as possible.  (I'm picturing that old woman from "There's Something About Mary" as I type this and shuddering).

The final new product is the Superskin Eye & Lip Treatment.  I've been using it almost exclusively on my eyes because I feel like they could use more help than my lips.  It's a serum designed to plump and smooth fine lines and wrinkles.  I actually (knock on wood) don't really have any noticeable lines or wrinkles yet (thank God!) but I like knowing that I'm doing everything I can to prevent them from rearing their ugly little heads.  Like the other Superskin products, the cream is light and soothing and sinks into my skin easily.  Love it!

To read more about the Superskin line, visit lizearle.com.

Be My BFF

Jaqua Beauty was one of my first beauty obsessions.  I'm such a fan of the dessert scents in body products (I had a sad obsession with Jessica Simpson's Dessert line when it first came out) and Jaqua does those flavors better than anyone.  Over the years, I've tried others, but I always find myself picking up Jaqua when the opportunity presents itself.  So when they introduced a new line of products called BFF: Buttercream Frosting Forever, I knew they had to come home with me.  The collection includes products in three different scents - the previously released Pink Buttercream Frosting (yum!) and two new fragrances, Orange Buttercream Frosting and Lemon Buttercream Frosting.  Each scent comes in four different products.  Here's how Jaqua describes them:

• BFF Body Wash ($14) – a sweet indulgence that leaves skin soft and nourished with aloe vera, evening primrose and jasmine extract
• BFF Body Scrub ($12) – an ever-so-gentle scrub for hands, feet and body that exfoliates refreshes the skin leaving it nourished with vitamins and aloe
• BFF Body Crème ($14) – a rich creamy way to indulge and renew your skin with aloe and avocado oil
• BFF Shimmer Lotion ($10) – nourish and illuminate at the same time with this decadent formula that includes aloe and jojoba oil

The formulas are great - rich and full of fragrance, but none of the products dry out my skin like some of the stronger scents tend to do.  I think I'm most in love with the scrub - it's exfoliating, but not harsh at all, so my skin doesn't sting when I use it.  The Body Wash is great too - it lathers up nicely and lingers on my skin after my shower.  And they all layer very well together, which makes me very happy.  There's nothing that annoys me more than when I have to use a body wash that doesn't match the scrub I use after it.  It might be a little OCD, but I like it when my products match, dammit!  (Although the nice thing about these products is that you can mix and match them because they're all in the same Buttercream family.  I don't mind using the Orange Scrub with the Lemon Crème - it just makes me smell even more citrusy).  Another great thing about the collection is that it's very affordable.  You could buy all four products in a scent for only $50.  (That would make a great gift for someone, by the way.  You'll look very generous!)  It's hard for me to pick a favorite scent out of the three, but if I was forced to, I'd probably go with the Orange Buttercream Frosting.  It's got a little bit of an energizing kick to it that I love.  But really, if you love frosting (and who doesn't?) you can't wrong with any of them.

For more info about Jaqua products and to order some of your own, visit jaquabeauty.com.