ProductWhores

Spiced Pumpkin Makes Me Happy

So I finally got my hands on The Body Shop's new Spiced Pumpkin Shower Gel and oh boy, this is really not going to help with my pumpkin obsession.  It smells delightful, all warm and cozy and, uh, spicy (obviously!)  It's still far too hot in Los Angeles for it to feel like fall, so using products like this in my morning shower (when it's at least a little cooler) makes me feel like I'm not living in an alternate universe where October is 95 degrees.  Also, it's only $5.99 for an 8.4 ounce container, which I love because I'm putting myself on a serious shopping budget until after the holidays and that means I don't have to live without this.  (Anything under $10, okay... $15, is fair game!)  You can get it in stores or on their website now, but it's a special edition so it'll be gone before you know it.  Plan for backups! 

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

The Body Shop Gets Creative

Okay, I'm dying to try The Body Shop's new Limited Edition Spiced Pumpkin Bath & Shower Gel.  I LOVE anything that smells like pumpkin at this time of year, plus it's got a really cool story behind it.  It was developed by a California native, Stephie Wilhelm, who was the winner of The Body Shop's global "Originals" competition that encouraged consumers to create their own Limited Edition fragrance.  (How did I not know about this?  I could've kicked some serious ass!)  The shower gel is made with all organic and natural ingredients including Community Fair Trade Aloe Vera and Pumpkin Seed Extract AND it's only $5.99 for an 8.4 ounce bottle.  How soon can I get to the mall after work?

Soft Hands, Kind Heart

I was walking past the Body Shop the other day when a display of hand cream caught my eye (hand cream always catches my eye).  Their newest cream, Soft Hands Kind Heart, is a great cream that benefits organizations who are putting an end to sex trafficking.  If you've seen any of the "after school" specials, like I have, you would be horrified to know that sex trafficking is still very prevalent (to the tune of 1.8 million children currently estimated to be in this disgustingly awful situation).  The Body Shop is helping the organizations (ECPAT USA and Somaly Mam Foundation) by donating $6.00 for every $10.00 tube of handcream purchased.  Pretty amazing, if you ask me.  And, the best part, the hand cream is great - sinks in immediately, really moisturizes and has a sweet floral scent. 

Photo courtesy of The Body Shop

Go Brazilian

Some people pray for peace, some to end world hunger. All valid (and selfless) thoughts. But when I'm asking for things, inevitably, my wishes turn to something beauty related. And one of my most frequent wishes is that a scent I like will come out with multiple products so I can layer the smell. It may sound silly, but I hate it when I'm forced to use a shower gel with no matching lotion or vice versa. It throws my whole day into chaos. And for years, I've been using The Body Shop's Brazil Nut Body Scrub with no matching lotion in sight. But finally (finally!) my prayers have been answered and they've introduced the new Brazil Nut Whip Body Lotion. I love this scent. It's nutty and warm and comforting all at the same time, which isn't easy to achieve. The lotion is great - moisturizing, but not greasy, which would be a deal breaker, and at only $12, it's a bargain. Especially now, with The Body Shop's buy one, get one half off offer. Now if they could just come out with a Brazil Nut shower gel so the trifecta would be complete, I would really be a happy woman. I guess I'm just never satisfied, huh?

my very own gingerbread house

Now that the holidays are fast approaching I am reminded of all my childhood delights – the creepy Santa at the mall, overabundance of candy canes, fresh scent of pine trees and gingerbread cookies!  What better way to bring in the season two months too early than burning The Body Shop’s Gingerbread home fragrance oil.  Nothing says “We are not the generation of bakers and home-makers” than lighting up the tealight to scent my house with gingerbread-y goodness.  It’s a really great scent and it definitely fills the room and lasts for hours.  Plus, why stop with just the limited edition Gingerbread when they have numerous other holiday scents hitting the shelves as we speak.  Also, at the price of 3 for $16.00, you can’t pass up buying three of your favorite scents (for you math-a-phobes, it’s like getting one fragrance oil for FREE).  But you better get your butts to The Body Shop soon while this promotion is happening and before that creepy Santa sets up shop nearby.  If they hired a cute Santa I would stand in the ridiculous long line of crying children just to sit in his lap for a minute.  Does that make me pathetic?  Yes, I believe it does.

Nuts About It

I love The Body Shop.  Before Bath and Body Works, it was my go to store for shower products, but after I fell in love with BBW, I found myself going into The Body Shop less and less, which is kind of sad.  It was like a break up where you've slowly drifted apart, the kind where you cry and swear that you're always going to be friends, but then never talk again until you randomly run into each other at the mall and have an awkward conversation in front of Hot Dog on a Stick.

Lucky for me, when I found myself in one of their stores recently, it made me remember all the things I loved about it when we first started going out.  They have some really great products and they're very environmentally conscious, which makes me feel a lot less guilty about spending money there because after all, I'm helping the rainforest.  And if the rainforest wants me to have a yummy shower scrub, who am I to argue?

One of my favorite purchases was the Brazil Nut Body Scrub.  It smells ridiculously good, like toasted nuts, which is perfect for me because I'm a sucker for products that smell like food.  The scrub is thick but not abrasive, so you can use it on your legs even after shaving and not irritate your skin.  And because it's thick, it doesn't fall all over your shower floor and make it slippery, a big consideration when you're as much of a klutz as I am.  (I have an irrational fear of falling in the tub and knocking myself unconscious.  It sounds stupid, but I've come close a few times.  There are some really hazardous products out there).  I also like that it left my skin soft when I got out of the shower - I could've gone without moisturizer if I'd wanted to.  Plus, it's only $16.50, a bargain compared to some of the scrubs that are out there.

I'm so glad  we've found our way back to each other, Body Shop.  I can't promise I'll stop seeing other stores though...