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Unconditional Love

 

Anytime I hear that Philosophy has released a new product, I get instantly happy.  It's kind of a neat trick.  I wish I could harness that power and use it for other things, like say when my credit card bill shows up.  ("It's the Visa bill!  Yay!  I thought it was never going to get here!")  Philosophy's new scent, Unconditional Love, is so pretty - it's light and fresh and perfect for summer.  It's a mixture of fruity and sweet (for those of you Trish McEvoy fans, it reminds me a lot of her Blackberry & Vanilla Musk scent, which I adore).  You can definitely detect a hint of vanilla, but the fruity notes stand out as well, which is what makes the scent so interesting to me.  And as a huge fan of layering my scent, I'm loving the fact that there's three new products in the fragrance.  You can use the Shampoo, Bath and Shower Gel when you're in the tub (like all their bath products, it lathers up nicely and leaves your skin so clean), then moisturize with the Firming Body Emulsion (it makes my skin soooo soft), finishing with a few spritzes of the Unconditional Love fragrance.  Layering is so key to me because it makes everything last that much longer.  (And let's be honest, no matter what magazines and beauty editors say, how many people are going to reapply their fragrance during the day?  The last thing I need to drag around in my already overstuffed bag is a bottle of perfume, no matter how small it might be).  You know what else I love about Philosophy?  They're totally not stingy with their products at all - the bottles are a whopping 16 ounces each, so you won't have to re-buy them every two weeks.  Who doesn't love that? 

It Gives Me Hope

If you're looking for a good daytime moisturizer, I suggest checking out Philosophy's Hope In A Jar SPF 20.  I've been using it for a couple weeks now and so far, so good.  It sinks in quickly, hydrates my skin nicely, and best of all, it's loaded with antioxidants.  Most importantly, it has an SPF 20, which is important no matter where you live, but really important here in Los Angeles (where we're finally having nice weather again).  I put this on under my foundation every morning and feel like I'm starting out my day right and protecting it as much as possible.  (You know, without becoming a hermit and never leaving my apartment).  The only thing I did notice is that my skin gets a little shiny when I first apply it, but the oily feeling fades once I dust a little bronzer on, and doesn't seem to linger all day, so I'm fine with it.  I hope you will be too.  (See what I did there?  Puns are fun!)

Photo courtesy of Sephora

The Holiday Cookbook

I am such a big fan of Philosophy's 3-in-1 scents.  Even though I generally only use them as body washes (Ha!  I just typed that as "boy washes," which is a whole different kind of product...) I can't get enough of their scents.  There are so many different ones and new scents coming out all the time that I'm always kind of surprised when I hear that someone has never tried them.  If you know one of those people too, I suggest picking up The Holiday Cookbook as a gift for them.  There are six different two ounce bottles in the set that comes in packaging meant to look like an adorable little book.  For only $35, you get Red Velvet Cake, Cinnamon Buns, Spicy Pear Cobbler, Pumpkin Spice Muffin, Gingerbread and Double Rich Hot Cocoa.  It's a perfect sampler scent to introduce someone to the glory that is taking a shower and getting to use flavors that smell like the most delicious bakery you've ever walked into.  (I honestly think out of the entire line, there isn't a scent I wouldn't be excited to lather up with.  They're that good).  I think I'll bring this as a hostess gift to the next holiday party I go to.  It's fun and different and I can't imagine anyone not being happy when they open this instead of another bottle of wine.  I kind of wish I had one right now for myself actually. Now that's the sign of a really good gift...

Photo courtesy of Sephora

The Haunted House

I haven't really been in the Halloween spirit this year.  Mainly because I'll be on a plane for almost the entire day, so it's kind of going to pass me by anyway.  (But on the plus side, I won't have to buy candy to give to trick or treaters and then end up eating half of it while I'm waiting).  I am, however, into Philosophy's The Haunted House set.  The three shower gels (which can also be used as shampoo or bubble bath) come in the cutest little haunted house packaging and the scents are fantastic.  I'm torn between loving the Caramel Apple and the Pumpkin Spice Muffin the most.  (I have a ridiculous love for the caramel apple cider at Starbucks, but who can resist a pumpkin spice muffin?  No one I know).  I'm not a huge black licorice fan, but there's definitely something interesting about the scent - it's different from any other shower gel I have, so that makes me want to use it.  (There's only so many fruity scents you can go through, after all...)  Hurry up and order yours though - The Haunted House is a limited edition and much like Halloween candy, it'll be gone soon!

The Haunted House set is $30.  Get yours at Sephora.com or Philosophy.com.

Photo courtesy of Sephora

Have A Slice Of Cake

I have a ridiculous love for the Red Velvet cupcakes at Yummy Cupcakes.  (For those of you in the L.A. area, if you haven't been there, you don't know what you're missing).  So it was like destiny when I wandered into Sephora and saw Philosophy's Red Velvet Cake lip shine.  I bought the Shower Gel version of this scent last year, but as much as I like it, I think I prefer the lip shine for one simple reason - it's portable and therefore, I can carry it with me and enjoy the smell of Red Velvet Cake any time I want.  The lip shine smells amazingly similar to the real thing - rich and chocolatey, and like all their lip shines, it's moisturizing and super shiny.  It looks really red in the tube, but  goes on almost sheer, so you can slick it on over pretty much any lipstick and it'll still look great.  For the holiday season, you can buy it in adorable packaging meant to look like a Christmas tree ornament.  It would make a great stocking stuffer, and it's the perfect gift to buy for the grab bag at work (because inevitably, I  end up drawing the name of a woman who I've spoken a total of three words to).  Or you could just do what I did and pick one up for yourself.  What?  It still counts as giving if you give it to yourself...

The Red Velvet Cake Lip Shine Ornament is at Sephora stores and Philosophy.com.  It retails for $12.

Photo courtesy of Sephora

Visit The Coffee House

Ah, coffee.  These days, it's pretty much the main thing getting me through the week and if I could inject it directly into my veins, I would.  There's nothing better than that first step into a Starbucks or a Coffee Bean when you take a deep breath of the beans brewing and know that the first sip is only moments away.  With Philosophy's new The Coffee House Coffee Gel Set, I get to smell that scent in the shower every morning before I'm even wide awake enough to think about getting in my car.  Part of Philosophy's popular shower gel line, this limited edition set has three different scents in it - cafe au lait, eggnog latte and (my favorite) caramel mocha latte.  All three scents in the trio are sweet and delicious and can be used as a shampoo, shower gel, or bubble bath (I seriously cannot wait to take a long soak in the tub surrounded by caramel mocha latte suds).  It comes in the cutest packaging that looks like a little house, making it perfect to give as a gift (what hostess wouldn't want to get this instead of another bottle of wine?)  And if you really like the hostess, you can also pick up The Coffee House Lip Trio for her.  The glosses come in the same three creamy flavors and go on super glossy and shiny, so they're perfect to wear alone or over your favorite lipstick.  (I'll definitely be throwing the cafe au lait one in my bag the next time I take the red eye to the east coast for a quick pick me up at 6am).  Now if Los Angeles could only manage to convince Dunkin' Donuts to start opening stores here, I'd be all set... Of course, I'd probably also gain 10 pounds from all of the donuts I'd be inhaling on a daily basis, but whatever.  It'd totally be worth it.

The Gel Set retails for $30 and the Lip Trio for $28.  You can find them on Philosophy.com and Sephora.com.

Photo courtesy of Sephora

Soda Fountain Treats!

Philosophy has just released its new limited edition (ugh, those dreaded words meaning if I don't get to the mall immediately, I will risk missing it altogether!) The Soda Fountain 3-in-1 shampoo, bubble bath and shower gel and The Soda Fountain lip sets. Available in Root Beer Float, Not the Pits Cherry Cola or Fruit Punch, they have captured the wonderful scents of an old-fashioned diner (without the grease!)  In the formula already loved by all, these three new scents are surely going to go fast!  Also, if you're like me and feel it necessary to layer scents and flavors, you can give your pucker a little pop with all new The Soda Fountain lip set. These three tasty lip shines will give you a smooth and glossy pout with a hint of Root Beer Float, Cherry Cola or Fruit Punch flavored goodness. 

Philosophy’s The Soda Fountain 3-in-1 shampoo, bubble bath and shower gel trio ($30) and Philosophy’s The Soda Fountain lip set ($28), are limited edition and are available at Sephora, Sephora.com and philsophy.com only.

Photos courtesy of Philosophy

Get A Head Start on Mother's Day

My mom is seriously the hardest person ever to buy gifts for.  I don't know why, but she really is.  So even though she usually ends up liking whatever I get her (or so she says), I'm always looking for something different that will really make her gifts stand out.  That's why I'm loving the idea of Philosophy's new Mother's Day website, yourmomsphilosophy.com.  It's an interactive site where you can share stories, pictures and videos all about your mom and also read what other people have posted about the special mothers in their lives.  (I admit it, some of them made me cry.  That's so embarrassing).  Plus, anyone who creates a page will have the chance to win a $1,200 shopping spree on Philosophy.com.  (And wouldn't that be a great present for mom?  Or, uhm, you and your mom).  Every visitor to yourmomsphilosophy.com can rate every page they read, and on Mother’s Day, Philosophy will reveal the top 20 rated pages.  Everyone who visits the site that day will be able to vote for their favorite page to receive the grand prize, and all 20 finalists will receive a Philosophy gift basket, valued at $250 each.   Pretty cool, right?  I love the idea of sharing stories online - what woman wouldn't be completely touched to see her words of wisdom immortalized for everyone to read?  Now I just have to figure out which one of my mom's many pep talks to submit.  What can I say?  She's a smart woman.

To get started, go to yourmomsphilosophy.com and click on "Post Mom's philosophy."

Kiss Me Anytime

Yes, people, I'm back on the lipglosses. I know I should be ashamed, but let's be honest, I'm just not. Life is rough and if a little tube of flavored color can make me feel better about things, then dammit, I'm throwing good sense out the window and piling them in my shopping cart. My newest obsession is the delightful Kiss Me Lip Trio of glosses from Philosophy. I like the Cranberry flavor and also enjoy the Cinnamon Buns gloss, but my clear winner out of the three is Melting Chocolate. It tastes exactly like a Hershey's Kiss does when you accidentally leave it in your car in the sun and then get all excited when you come back and find it sitting there. (That happens to everyone, right? It's not just me...) I keep it in my purse and find myself using it constantly, even when I don't need more gloss, just to taste it again. (Sad, but true). For those of you on a diet, it's kind of like a free treat because you get the taste of dessert without the calories. (At least, I assume there aren't any calories. Huh. I never really thought about the calories in lip gloss before and now I'm curious. Anyone know the answer to that?) I do wish the glosses had a bit more color to them, but it's not a dealbreaker for me because they all moisturize so well. And also, did I mention that one of them tastes like melting chocolate? If you don't need three new glosses, you can always buy the trio for only $25, keep the Melting Chocolate, and give the other two away as stocking stuffers. Not that I'm, uh, doing that for anyone on my list. Nope. Wouldn't dream of it...

Cranberry Queen

I love cranberries. Enough even to eat them over chocolate sometimes, which is just crazy talk, because normally people who say they'd rather eat fruit than a Snickers bar freak me out. I mean, fruit is good and all, but it's no peanuts, caramel and chocolate. But for some reason, I just love everything about cranberries - the smell, the taste, the way they look... I think NJ is known for its cranberry bogs, so maybe it's just in my blood. Although I've never seen these bogs, so maybe that's just a urban legend, like the Jersey Devil. Or the fact that we all have high hair (Seriously, we're very stylish people. Well, most of us...). Either way, I pretty much love everything cranberry. (On a related side note, if anyone else likes cranberries, you have to try Trader Joe's Sparkling Cranberry Juice. It's amazing. The best drink ever, not containing alcohol). So imagine my delight when I walked into Sephora and saw Philosophy's new Memory Cranberry gift set. (Do you think I should be worried that so far, all of the Christmas gift sets I've bought have been presents to, uhm, myself?) It's a duo of their popular 3-in-1 Shampoo, Body Wash and Bubble Bath and a matching lotion, both in Cranberry. Awesome. They smell just like I imagine the alleged cranberry bogs would - sweet and tart. And I like that it's a matching set because it allows for the layering that I enjoy so much. Still, as much as I love it, I think this sentence in the Sephora description might be just a tad bit of overkill: "The sweet, tangy scent of cranberry will help you unwind and remember times of love, laughter and joy." Really? It does get me clean and make my shower smell pretty, but sadly, that's the extent of its power. But I have to say, cranberry is a nice change from the other fruity shower gels and lotions that I have and I like that Philosophy is thinking outside the box a little. (Or outside the gift set, as it were). Now, who wants to start placing bets on how long it'll be before I own the Memory Cranberry Candle too? I'll start the bidding at an even two days...