ProductWhores

Damn You, CLEAN!

There is no brand of fragrance that is my kryptonite more than CLEAN.  I want every single one of their scents.  And now they've come out with a whole bunch of new ones under the CLEAN Reserve name and I'm only allowing myself to buy one (AT MOST - I should really buy none because I have way, way too many perfumes, but I'm never gonna be able to do that so I feel like one is a good compromise).  If (okay, when) I do buy that one, I think it's going to be the Rain scent.  I picked up a sample of it yesterday and it's just so, so pretty.  It's fresh and clean (obviously!) and just exactly the kind of scent I love.  It's similar to the earlier Rain scent they released, but I think I actually like this one better.  It's a little stronger and seems longer lasting, which is great because it's $90 (but for a 3.4 ounce bottle, so that's definitely not terrible).  I also really like the Warm Cotton scent, but I still think I'd buy the Rain one first.  (But if anyone's offering to gift me one...)  Damn you, CLEAN!  

Layer For Summer

Okay, I know I write about Clean scents a lot, but I can't help it.  They're the best!  I love every single one of their scents and I don't care how silly that is.  So when this just popped up during my Sephora web surfing (you have to balance out watching "The Following" somehow!) I knew I had to write about it because PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW IT EXISTS.  The Summer Layering Trio is only $39 (but a $75 value) and contains three half ounce bottles of Eau de Toilette - Summer Sun, Summer Sailing and Summer Escape.  They're all perfect for the warmer weather and as much as I would like bigger bottles of all of them, the small size does make them easy to take with you or throw in your luggage for a trip.  I may have put a hold on buying any more Clean for the moment (stupid bills!) but I'm pretty sure if I see this one in person, I'm either going to whip out my credit card or distract the salespeople and run out with it.  (Just kidding, Sephora security!  I don't shoplift!)  

Clean Air

 

I love Clean scents so much that every single time I find out there's a new one, I get beyond excited until I can finally smell it and/or get my hands on it.  Which is a lot more annoying now that the closest Sephora to me that carries it is in Santa Monica and not at my local mall.  (Come on, people!  Think of my fragrance obsession!  Not cool.  Not cool at all).  Luckily I had an appointment close to there today so I swung by specifically for that and was rewarded by yet ANOTHER Clean scent that I'm going to have to add to my collection.  Clean Air is supposed to "evoke the expansive airiness of a hot air balloon ride over the Himalayas," which, quite frankly, sounds terrifying, but also kind of exhilarating, so I guess that's a good description?  It has notes of Mountain Air Accord, Bergamot Blossoms, Lush Green Accord, Sparkling Freesia, Powdered Aldehydes, Dewy Peony, Enveloping Musk, Cashmere Woods and White Amber and basically, it smells like a walk in crisp mountain air (hence the Mountain Air Accord note!)  It's yet another scent from them that I instantly loved and need to own - I'm such a sucker for the fresh fragrances that aren't too sweet or heavy.  Clean Air, you will be mine!       

Smooth Sailing

Dammit, Clean!  You've gotten me again!  Even though I need another fragrance LESS THAN ANYTHING, I have such a hard time not buying a new one from Clean whenever it comes out.  And I've been so proud of myself because I've stuck to my vow not to take one home with me for the past few new releases because at this point, my grandchildren will still be able to spritz on scents I currently own if I keep adding to my collection.  It's been slightly easier since my local Sephora stopped carrying the Clean line (it was one of those good news/bad news announcements), but the other day I was at the big flagship Sephora in Santa Monica and came across Summer Sailing and before I knew it, my debit card was out and I was walking out of the store, bag in hand.  But as someone who loves clean and beachy fragrances, this one was a home run the second I sniffed it. This is the official description - "(Summer Sailing) conjures the saltwater wind during an afternoon sail.  Perfumer Celine Barel was inspired by a sunset sail on the open ocean in summertime.  She wanted to capture the excitement of sailing to unknown places as the fresh, salty breeze caresses your face with a mist of sea water and the warmth of the sun gently kisses your skin."  I mean, amazing, right?  It's just so pretty, with its notes of Sicilian Bergamot, Cucumber Water, Crisp Aldehyde, Living After the Storm Accord, Calone, Violet Leaf, Sea Moss, Musks and White Woods.  (Although what on earth are Crisp Aldehyde and Living After the Storm Accord?  And I don't think I've heard of Calone either.  This scent is breaking new ground!) It's the perfect summer fragrance for me - great for the daytime, but also lovely for a night out because it isn't too heavy or overwhelming.  (My fear is always being one of those people in an elevator who's like, choking the other riders with their over-fragrancing.  Those people are the WORST).  I definitely didn't NEED this scent, but at $59, it was a nice little treat that I refuse to feel guilty about.  I'll save that for the Chanel palette I'm also coveting...    

Roll Away With CLEAN

By now I think we all know of my obsession with all things CLEAN.  I pretty much love every single one of their fragrances, so it was kind of a given that when I walked into Sephora and saw their new Rollerball Collection, it was coming home with me.  For only $18, you get five mini-rollerballs - CLEAN Skin, CLEAN Warm Cotton, CLEAN Fresh Laundry, CLEAN Shower Fresh, and CLEAN First Blush.  I love these because I can spritz on my actual bottle of the scent at home, then tuck one of the rollerballs into my bag and use it after work to refresh the scent if I'm going out.  It's the best use of a tiny product ever!  I think this might officially turn into the first set I buy multiples of in a long time, just to make sure I don't ever run out.  It might be a bad sign for my holiday buying budget that it's not even October yet and I'm already thinking about buying multiples of things, right?  Uh-oh...   

White Woods

It's always a fabulous day when I stumble upon the news that there's a new CLEAN fragrance out.  I need to be on their mailing list or something so I know the minute one hits the stores from now on.  White Woods is described as " a warm, luxurious scent that embodies the pure essence of natural light dancing along a quiet wooded path."  That sounds... interesting.  I kind of can't picture what that would be like so I might have to smell this one at Sephora before I commit to liking it or not.  Although the description makes it sound kind of amazing - "The fragrance weaves a cozy, comforting blanket with hints of crisp bergamot leaves, sparkling mandarin, creamy vanilla orchid, sandalwood, praline musks, and a dash of black pepper."  It sounds kind of wintry, right?  I need to go check this one out ASAP so I can have it in my possession and ready to go when it finally hits, uh, a chilly eighty degrees here in Los Angeles.  Done and done. 

CLEAN Rain

There is nothing more exciting than a new CLEAN fragrance. I've been obsessed with all of their scents since the very first one I tried (I seriously guard my stash with my life).  So I got ridiculously happy tonight when I was playing around on Sephora's website (as you do) and stumbled across a new scent they have for fall, Rain.  (It's kind of hilarious that that's its name because one of my other favorite scents is also Rain, the Marc Jacobs Splash version, and I just had to part with my very last bottle of it when my mom was visiting and fell in love with it.  I had to send it home with her because it made her so happy and she doesn't like a ton of scents!)  So Rain (the CLEAN version) has come into my life at just the right time.  With notes of Dewy Melon, Daffodil, Watermint, Spring Daisy, Water Lily, Violet Leaves, Fluid Musks and Sleek Woods, it sounds right up my alley. (Although... Sleek Woods kind of sounds like a hilariously bad cover bad or something).  The description says that it "brings to mind the bright scent of rain" and since I never get sick of fresh scents, I'm dying to try it.  I hope it's in stores this weekend because after finally getting over my lash tint debaucle, I'm so ready to treat myself to a bottle. (Also, since we're talking about rain, can the Los Angeles weather gods bring some of it here?  It hit 106 degrees today where I was and it's October.  October!  That's just wrong).  

Clean Up

I might've said this once (or twenty times) here, but I love CLEAN products.  Love, love, love.  I have almost every one of their scents and I wear them constantly.  If you're the same way, you'll definitely want to pick up this 4 Piece Fragrance Collection at Sephora.  For $65, you get four different 1 ounce Eau de Parfum sprays - one each of Cotton T-Shirt, Fresh Laundry, Warm Cotton and Shower Fresh.  The smaller sizes are great for traveling and the set's a fabulous value.  Even though I have way too many bottles of CLEAN already, I'm definitely taking this one home with me during the V.I.B sale later this week just to keep some backups on hand.  I have to be prepared in case there's a fragrance emergency, right?     

The Perfect Cotton T-Shirt

I'm totally obsessed with the CLEAN scents.  Pretty much all of them.  I know they're not everyone's cup of tea, but I adore them.  On me, they just smell so fresh and clean (duh) and they just remind me of getting out of the shower and being cozy in my robe.  They're not overpowering or overwhelming, they just make me smell good and I appreciate that.  Lucky for me, I just got my hands on one of their newest releases, Cotton T-Shirt.  (The other new scent for summer is called Summer Escape and I hope to try that one out soon, too). Cotton T-Shirt was inspired by the scent of a freshly laundered tee and it definitely reminds me of that - it has notes of Cotton Flower, Dewy Freesia, and Bergamot Fresh Laundry Accord (who knew that was even a thing?) and it all combines for yet another winner for me.  I usually end up showering again before I go to bed when it's hot here in L.A. and I swear, if money wasn't an object, I would spritz this on after I got into my pajamas so I could get into bed smelling like it every night.  (And speaking of that, it seems like CLEAN would be the perfect brand to come out with a linen spray - how has that not happened already?  Get on that, CLEAN!)  I just love its crisp, slightly soapy scent - now I need them to also come out with a matching shower gel and lotion (I'm very demanding today, apparently).  I also love that the CLEAN scents aren't super expensive - you can get 1 Fl. Oz. of this for $38 and a 2.14 Fl. Oz. size for $69, so it won't break your budget.  Ahh, CLEAN... I adore you!  

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

Clean Your Hands

 

As someone who loves everything CLEAN, I'm lusting after their new Anti-Bacterial Moisturizing Hand Cream.  I use a lot of hand cream, but I have to admit, I'm not always careful to make sure that it's anti-bacterial, which is stupid because I live in a major city and touch ton of things on a daily basis.  (Also, I have a touch of the hypochondriac in me.  Not a lot, but during the whole Swine Flu epidemic, I was convinced I was coming down with it every time I coughed).  I haven't seen this in person yet, so my only question is how I'm going to feel about an unscented CLEAN product (half of what I love about them is how great all their products smell!)  Here's some info from CLEAN:

CLEAN ANTI-BACTERIAL MOISTURIZING HAND CREAM uses Benzethonium Chloride suspended in a layer of white wax, which bonds to the skin to form a protective barrier to prevent bacteria from transferring to and from skin even after contact for up to 4 hours.  In addition to being a Triclosan and alcohol free, this hand sanitizer works double duty as a moisturizer, helping to keep skin healthy and hydrated for the ultimate fight against contamination.

I totally need a hand cream that keeps bacteria away for up to 4 hours after I put it on!  Especially on days I go to the gym because seriously, how gross are those people who sweat all over the machines and then just get up and walk away?  Party foul.  I am so putting this in my basket the next time I'm at Sephora.