ProductWhores

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.

Wash In Style

I have a ton of body washes, but they all seem to be either the fruity kind (Pink Grapefruit is a favorite) or the sweet kind (Red Velvet Cake is fantastic).  So Liz Earle's Energising Body Wash (it's British, so it's spelled with an "S"!) is kind of a departure for me.  I should try to bust out more often because I'm totally loving it.  The scent is really hard to describe - it's fresh, but it has also this sort of zing to it (for lack of a better word - I don't think I've ever used the word "zing" before, but it just seems perfect in this instance).  The formula has Vitamin E and Damask Rose Water in it, plus a ton of essential oils - Eucalyptus, Geranium, Grapefruit, Peppermint, Petitgrain, Pine, Rosemary, Sweet Orange, and Patchouli.  (And as a side note, Patchouli always reminds me of being in high school and going to Grateful Dead concerts, but the Energising Body Wash won't make you smell anything like a hippie who hasn't bathed in a week).  It lathers up nicely and leaves my skin soft and smelling great, plus I really like that it doesn't dry my skin out at all, so I can skip the moisturizer if I'm feeling lazy (which happens a lot).  All in all, just a great body wash that's currently perched in a place of honor in my (way) overcrowded shower.

For more info, visit LizEarle.com.

Olive Oil isn't just good on pasta

I'm already such a huge fan of L'Occitane so really it's no surprise that the very second their new line of skin care came out, I had to stop by and give it a good once over.  Creme Scintillante (say that three times fast) is a luxurious body cream that has a very light, fresh scent to it and moisturizes better than I even expected.  The creme sinks right in, so there's no waiting, and it leaves a glamorous slight sheen on the skin.  Containing olive butter, olive oil, olive leaf extract (are you seeing the pattern here?) this creme is also paraben-free.  While I do love the scent and its ability to make my skin feel soft, I am a bit panicked because it's limited edition (gasp!) which means that as soon as I get obsessed, it'll be discontinued and I'll have to scour the pages of eBay trying to buy a container that is supposedly new in box.  The entire line contains a lovely hand cream, a body lotion (without sheen), shower cream and bar of soap.  But don't just take my word for it, get to the mall and test it for yourself.  At $34.00, it could make a nice Christmas present for Mom... or yourself.  I'm just saying.

Photo courtesy of L'Occitane

Cool as a Cucumber!

With the summer heat in full swing out here on the west coast, I have been so thankful to have my Soothing Aloe Relief lotion by Jergens to slather on at night.  Not only does this lotion smell amazing (cucumber and eucalyptus) but it really softens and cools down skin on contact (even without having to store in the fridge).  The lotion contains glycerin, which we all know helps to seal in moisture, but it also contains aloe (well, no duh since it's in the name) which helps to heal sunburned skin.  If I even spend a minute in the sun without sunscreen (which I never do, Mom!) I burn ridiculously fast, so having a great lotion like this one on hand would make the healing so much less painful.  I find it especially useful at night when I can't seem to cool myself down.  I just put some of this on my feet and neck (or anywhere feeling particularly hot) and I instantly feel more relaxed.  Breathing in the sweet smell of cucumber never hurts either!  At $5.99 for a 10 oz bottle, it's a mistake not to own it during the summer.

Photo courtesy of Jergens 

Honey Bee Mine

In the interest of full disclosure, as much as I like Laura Mercier's Crème Brulee Honey Bath, I've only used it twice - both times when I was visiting my parents - because they have a fabulous whirlpool tub that just begs to be used, especially when compared to my apartment bathtub that, well, doesn't. Since I'm a sucker for the sweet smells, it seems obvious that I would love the crème brulee scent, and I really did. It immediately made me wish I'd thought ahead and brought some sort of dessert into the tub with me to go along with my glass of wine. And as far as a bath product, it did everything it promised - there was a good amount of bubbles and my skin felt soft when I got out (for another glass of wine, naturally). Also, there is nothing cuter than the little wooden honey dipper that comes with it. It reminded me of something that Winnie the Pooh would carry around with him. Of course, since the honey bath is $40, Winnie probably couldn't afford it, which is kind of sad because that's its one drawback - the price. $40 is a lot of money and considering how infrequently I take baths, it's not really worth it to me. (I used a sample to test it out - thanks, nice lady at Bloomingdales for hooking me up - hope you don't get in trouble if anyone reads this). So I guess I've finally found the place where I draw the line and that place is $40 bubble bath. My mom will be so proud...