Body Product Whore

Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser

2011-11-14T18:49:00.000-08:00

My latest go-to brand to try new things has been Kiehl’s. Their Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser is great! It makes your skin feel fabulous and fresh. I’m always interested in anything that’s supposed to deep clean and/or refine the look of pores. I definitely wasn’t disappointed with this cleanser.

Kiehl’s Deep Pore Daily Cleanser has Amazonian White clay that is there to help exfoliate and detoxify. The clay gives the cleanser a creamy quality that is very pleasant. But it also suds up a little bit too, and spreads easily. When I use it I take a little dollop of cleaner into my palm and rub my palms together to spread it equally. Once spread I apply to my (previously moistened) cheeks forehead and chin, then use my fingertips to smooth it around in little circles. This motion spreads it evenly, creating a little bit of suds and exfoliating gently. After about 30 seconds of this, I rinse with warm water. (It comes off very easily, which is good because sometimes I get annoyed at how much effort it takes to get a cleanser or a mask off your face, especially if it’s clay based.)

The exfoliation is pleasant and gentle, not too rough. I sometimes get a little sensitive if I use an exfoliator every day, but this one is definitely fine to use on a daily basis. It leaves your skin smooth and tingly and when you apply a toner or a pore refining product after using it you can feel it penetrating even deeper in your now more open pores than you would if you had just used a normal cleanser. It leaves skin soft, smooth, and helps refine pores. That’s definitely what I’m looking for in a cleanser. I thoroughly enjoy it.

Scent: 4.5 (Very neutral & non-offensive.)
Health: 4.5 (I don’t see any sulfates or parabens, and their website touts their natural ingredients.)
Ethics: 4.75 (They seem to be very involved with community charities.)
Price/Value: 4 (Well, it is $22.50 on http://www.kiehls.com/ but I’ve had my tube for at least 2 months and it’s still half full. I vote it’s worth it.)
Does what it says: 4.5 (It’s a great exfoliator and leaves your skin feeling great. I can’t tell for sure if my pores are smaller, but I sure feel like I’m actively fighting the issue.)

Overall: 4.5 (Makes your skin soft and smooth and makes your pores feel lovely.)

The Body Shop Spiced Pumpkin Bath & Shower Gel (Special Edition)

2011-10-13T18:25:00.000-07:00

Fall is my favorite season. I love the weather, the food, the family time, the holidays and the shopping… But mostly I love the smells of the season. Crispy leaves blowing in the wind, fresh baked goods, cinnamon, pumpkin, apples and cider Mmmmmmm. So naturally I was super excited to see a fall seasonal scent at The Body Shop!

Spiced Pumpkin Shower Bath & Shower Gel is an excellent example of fall in a bottle. It’s hard to describe the scent exactly; it’s not like blatantly pumpkin, despite its name. But it is blatantly delicious. It’s kind of like an appley, cinnamony, clovey, pumpkiny mash-up. The combo is very potent, almost to the point of being too strong, but not quite getting there. But its so delicious you don’t care about that. And because it’s a fall scent combo, it can stand to be strong. I almost want to heat it up in a mug and drink it.

Also Spiced Pumpkin is part of The Body Shop’s Originals collection (which is totally funny since it was just created this year and the rest of that collection is from when The Body Shop first started) which is cheaper than their regular shower gel line. I wonder if that means they’ll keep it around? Since it’s a fall scent I figured it might just be seasonal but I think it’ll do well so maybe they’ll keep it. Fingers crossed!

So, in conclusion, if you love fall, you’ve got to get your hands on some Spiced Pumpkin Bath & Shower Gel from The Body Shop. It’s a great way to incorporate the season into a part of your day where you can’t be outside in the awesomeness that is fall.

Scent: 4.75 (Delicious! But strong.)
Health: 3 (It does have sulfates and colorants….but it’s too yummy to care. Lol.)
Ethics: 4.75 (The Body Shop does a lot with Fair Trade, Eco-Friendly Products and Charity.)
Price/Value: 4.5 ($5.99 regular price at The body Shop, and TBS always has sales so it’s even cheaper!)
Does what it says: 5 (It’s kind of hard to mess up a shower gel. I’ve never tried it for a bath but I’m sure it’d be good.)

Overall: 4.5 (Overall it gets you clean while indulging the senses. Yum!)

The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost

2011-09-28T11:36:00.000-07:00

Lately I have had more and more interest in skin care products. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m starting to get a little older and slightly starting to worry a little bit about future things like wrinkles and sagging. Lol. Not that I’m there yet. I randomly get kind of a lot of compliments on my skin, so I thought I’d share some things that work for me. Vitamin C Skin Boost by the Body Shop is one of my favorite facial care products.

Vitamin C Skin Boost is great because it leaves your skin silky smooth and radiant. Sometimes when people come over my house I take the bottle, put a little squirt on the soft fleshy part of their hand between thumb and pointer finger, rub it in and then invite them to feel their skin after a minute. Everyone always wants to go out and buy this product afterwards. Or at least steal it from me. Lol. It’s one of those products that works well for many skin types. No matter what skin issues may be present, everyone can always benefit from a little having skin that’s a little smoother and a little more radiant.

Skin Boost is a serum and usually serums go underneath your regular moisturizer, because they can penetrate deeper than your (presumably) thicker moisturizer to hydrate lower lying skin cells. But Skin Boost goes over any regular moisturizer, and takes care of top layer cells, evening out and brightening the skin, making it look and feel better. This smoothing, mattifying quality makes it great to use in place of a make-up primer. When applying make up over it, it goes on silky smooth, much smoother than when just going over lotion and a million times smoother than over dry skin.

Skin Boost has antioxidant vitamin C which is supposed to fight free radicals and help brighten skin. It is also scented with a lovely light citrus that makes using it that much more soothing. I used to think that a serum might be a little too much for skin that’s not overly dry, but with skin boost I never feel like I have too many products on my skin. I simply moisturize, add this then smooth on make up and my skin feels and looks great. Overall, Skin Boost leaves you with silky soft luminous skin, which is what everyone who’s ever thought about that kind of stuff wishes for, right? It’s definitely worth a try.

Scent: 4 (Very nice light citrus. Not unpleasant at all, but not super dreamy or anything.)
Health: 4.25 (There are a lot of words I don’t know. But it does not appear to contain parabens.)
Ethics: 4.75 (The Body Shop does a lot with Fair Trade, Eco-Friendly Products and Charity.)
Price/Value: 4.5 (Okay, so it’s $26. But you’ll love it, and the bottle lasts a long time because you don’t need a lot.)
Does what it says: 5 (Absolutely. Silky smoothness with a lovely glow!)

Overall: 4.75 (Overall makes skin look and feel great! Get ready for some compliments!)

LUSH Curly Wurly Conditioning Shampoo

2011-09-25T07:46:00.000-07:00

Okay so this is my fifth LUSH product in a row, and after this I’ll go back into some other brands. Today I’m going for LUSH Curly Wurly Conditioning Shampoo. I love love love this shampoo. Now I don’t technically have curly hair, but my hair waves if I let it dry naturally, and without proper product, it’s a frizzy disaster in a muggy environment. So as a result, I often use products targeted at curly hair, because they often seem to control the frizz and actually make my hair sleeker. If you have any frizz issues, no matter what your hair texture, try out a curly hair shampoo and see what it can do for you.

Curly Wurly is coconutty goodness. The container says that it has 15% coconut for conditioning. And desiccated coconut is listed as the second ingredient. It’s kind of weird at first, because you can see a whole lot of coconut flakes right in it. You’re thinking, “Why would I rub coconut on my head, what’s that gonna do?” and “Is that stuff gonna get stuck in my hair?” Lol. But it’s fabulous. By the time I comb out my conditioner (which I always do just before rinsing it), all the flakes are gone.

It actually doesn’t look like shampoo at all really. It kind of looks like some sort of coconut goo dessert. And smells like one too. It smells absolutely delicious. Kind of like a coconut almond cookie or something. It’s supposed to be coconut vanilla, but I feel like it’s more of a coconut almond scent then vanilla. Also, it’s not liquid like a normal shampoo, but actually a thick, creamy goo. And when you grab that goo and rub it into your wet hair, and it starts getting all sudsy and creamy, it’s a scentual delight. Get it, scentual? Lol. But really, it’s quite an experience. And it helps make your hair smooth and frizz free. What more could you ask for?

Scent: 5 (Delicious. Calorie-free dessert!)
Health: 4 (Does contain sulfates.)
Ethics: 4 (LUSH is great, but not perfect.)
Price/Value: 4.25 ($21.95 per container, but it lasts a long time because you don’t need a lot and it’s a pretty big container.)
Does what it says: 5.25 (I give this one extra because it works for hair of all kinds of textures.)

Overall: 4.5 (A yummy smelling smoother!)

LUSH Dirty Toothy Tabs

2011-09-23T06:29:00.000-07:00

Okay, so here goes number four of five LUSH products in my review of five in a row. Like I said when I was talking about the massage bars, LUSH loves making anything that normally comes as a liquid into a solid. And why not? It’s fun. And travel friendly, since you don’t have to worry about how many ounces it is or if you should carry it on or check your bag. This time I’m going to review a product that’s relatively new, and of course, fabulous!

Dirty Toothy Tabs are actually toothpaste in solid form! What a fabulous idea! Lush has just come out with a bunch of new flavors, but Dirty was the original, and so far my favorite. (Yes as soon as the new ones came out I bought a box of each to try as well.) Maybe it’s because they are spearmint flavored, which is my favorite of all the mint type flavors. I was also interested in Dirty because it came out with a launch of a new men’s line from LUSH, also called Dirty, which I now think is also pretty much fabulous overall.

So anyway, how do you use these things exactly? Well, grab one, wet your toothbrush, and place the tab in your mouth. I keep it between my lips and front teeth to start, and then use my front teeth to chomp it up into crumbly bits. Once you’ve got it crumbled, stick your wet toothbrush in your mouth and start scrubbing. Brush as you normally would. The tab foams up into a delicious scrubby cleanser, and is a whole lot more fun than regular toothpaste! It leaves your mouth refreshed and your teeth shiny.

Do not mistake these for mints. When they first came out, I was explaining them to my boyfriend, who took one, put it in his mouth, started chewing thinking it was a mint and immediately was like, “What IS this?” I had literally just explained to him that it was toothpaste. LOL. But if you put it in your mouth knowing what to expect, it’s a lovely experience!

I find these great to take on trips because they are small and easy to carry around or shove in a bag without worrying about disaster. If anyone happens to observe you brushing your teeth, they are a great conversation starter. Lol. They’re also great if you’re flying because you don’t have to worry about being able to fit all your liquids into your carry-on. Overall, they are convenient and more interesting than any regular liquid toothpaste. Yay!

Scent/Taste: 4.75 (Yummy spearmint)
Health: 4.75 (No parabens! Ingredients mostly recognizable! But not all organic.)
Ethics: 4.75 (LUSH is fabulous, but not perfect.)
Price/Value: 4 ($3.95 for a box of 40 tabs, that’s 20 days of brushing! A little more then regular toothpaste, sure, but way more exciting!)
Does what it says: 4.5 (It’s a great toothpaste. Isn’t quite as overwhelming a clean as regular toothpaste, but I’ve been using Tom’s of Maine and this is similar in intensity.)

Overall: 4.5 (Minty fun for all!)

LUSH Hottie Massage Bar

2011-09-12T12:55:00.000-07:00

Here’s to my third LUSH product in my review of five in a row. This time I’m going for the Hottie Massage Bar. In general, LUSH’s massage bars are fabulous. Obviously, a massage bar can used essentially as you would use oil for massage. There’s just a different application technique. Instead of pouring it out of a bottle, you rub the bar in your hands or over skin to melt the oils. So really the massage bars are more like a regular moisturizer in solid form. LUSH likes to do that with a lot of things. Like if it’s normally liquid, wouldn’t it be fun to make it solid? Lol. So using their massage bars is like using a fabulous lotion.

If I were a masseuse, I would want to use all LUSH massage bars instead of oils, because they’re so luscious. But the Hottie Massage Bar is the only one that I actually use mostly for actual massage (i.e. begging my boyfriend to give me a massage when I’m feeling sore from the gym or whatever, he’s usually a good sport about it J). That’s why Hottie is special.

So the reason why Hottie is so great for a massage is because it contains black pepper and ginger oils to create warmth and help improve circulation and ease sore muscles. (I would just be careful to make sure no Hottie massage turns “frisky”, as pepper oil doesn’t sound like it’d be too pleasant to have in um, certain sensitive areas.) The bar is shaped with nubs I suppose to help in the massage aspect but essentially they are pointless. The bar melts too fast for them to really be used to knead sore muscles.

You only need to rub the bar over the massage area for 15-30 seconds to melt enough oils for a great lubricated massage. Then I recommend putting Hottie down so it can cool down to room temperature and re-solidify, keeping it mostly intact for your next use, and continuing on with your massage using the oils that you just melted. If you just kept rubbing the bar over skin, you’d get gobs and gobs of oil as it kept melting, making the whole mess super slippery and probably majorly greasing up any bedclothes nearby. You only need a little bit. So rub on a small amount, then keep it close (I keep mine in a little tin on the side of my bed), so you can grab it again if you feel you need more lubrication. And besides being a great lube for massage, Hottie also leaves your skin smooth, soft, moisturized, and dreamily scented.

It smells heavenly and is therefore soothing in that way too, adding to the massage experience. It contains vanilla absolute, which is probably why I like the smell so much. I remember the first time we used it I was like OH MY GOD this smells AWESOME. But it doesn’t really smell strictly of vanilla. I think I can detect hints of vanilla & ginger, but overall I’m not sure what to call the scent. Besides amazing. Overall, LOVE IT!

Scent: 5 (Delicious. Very soothing.)
Health: 4.75 (No parabens! Ingredients mostly recognizable! But not all organic.)
Ethics: 4.75 (LUSH is fabulous, but not perfect.)
Price/Value: 4.5 ($8.95 at LUSH, not too bad. It’s high quality, and lasts as long as you use it & store it properly.)
Does what it says: 4.75 (Definitely. Leaves you soothed and moisturized, no matter what the skill level of your masseuse!)

Overall: 4.75 (Overall makes everyone feel great! Grab a friend or lover and have some fun!)

LUSH Bubblegum Lip Scrub

2011-09-08T08:17:00.000-07:00

Okay so here’s my second review of a LUSH product. I’ve decided to do five, so here’s number two. I absolutely love LUSH Bubblegum Lip Scrub. Not only is it delicious, but it leaves your lips silky smooth for days.

I’m not really sure why the flavor is called bubblegum, but it is a tasty delight. It doesn’t really taste like classic bubblegum though. It tastes more like just a sweet sugary pink candy treat, more like one of those dots you that you have to pull off the paper to eat (usually with a good amount of paper still attached), and it’s the pink dots specifically that the bubblegum lip scrub makes me think of. Lol. It’s a great negligible calorie treat for when you’re craving a little something sugary, with the added bonus that it leaves you’re lips softly flake free!

So not to be gross or anything, but I always felt like my lips were a little flaky and definitely unsmooth on a regular basis before I found this product. I would apply lip balms like there was no tomorrow and while some of them softened the lips, they didn’t do anything to smooth the skin hanging around there. This does a wonderful job. To apply, I lick my finger (I’m allowed to do that, since I’m the only one who uses it), press it into the pot, and rub what I pick up onto my lips in a circular motion. I dip another time or two and scrub some more, and then lick my lips to remove the sugar. Delicious!

I’ve tried other lip scrubs but none seem to work nearly as well. And no others I’ve found are nearly as yummy. I get like excited to put this on my lips. And my boyfriend always says my lips feel so soft afterwards. J

Scent/Taste: 5 (Love it.)
Health: 3.5 (It does contain artificial colorants, but I’m willing to overlook it for this.)
Ethics: 4.75 (Lush is a pretty great company, as I’ve mentioned before, but they still do use parabens in some products.)
Price/Value: 4.5 ($8.95 on LUSH and the little tub seems to last forever.)
Does what it says: 4.75 (Fabulous exfoliator.)

Overall: 4.5 (The health brings it down a little bit, but it’s amazing!)

LUSH R&B - Revive & Balance Hair Moisturizer

2011-09-06T19:00:00.000-07:00

In honor of this past Sunday’s monthly trip to LUSH, I’ve decided to do a little run of LUSH products, starting with R&B. R&B is short for Revive & Balance Hair Moisturizer. It is a creamy product, applied to towel-dried hair before blow drying. Honestly I’m pretty lazy about blow drying these days and love to use this product even when I don’t blow dry. It still provides a measure of control without stiffness or heaviness.

The scent of R&B is absolutely lovely. I guess I would describe it as a lightly flowery citrusy orange blossom. (I could be wrong about this, but at any rate it’s seriously compelling.) I don’t usually like to wear citrus or floral scents but for some reason this combination is just the right balance and just the right amount of subtleness and permeation to be addictive. And it also seems to compliment whatever scents I already had in my hair from my shampoo, conditioner or any other products. It just adds a little bit of an overtone of delicious citrus to the whole salad of scents already going on.

No matter how delicious a hair product may smell, the most important thing is how well it works! I’ve definitely found R&B to improve my how my hair behaves on a daily basis. I can definitely tell if I’ve forgotten to use it. It provides moisture and smoothes strands to help combat frizz and dryness. And you only need a little tiny bit to make a difference. I usually swipe a fingertip in and grab less than half of a dime-sized amount. And I’ve had this tub for like 3 months now, and it’s still over a third full. And if you’re not aware my hair is down to my bar line on my back. I smooth the little dollop into my palms, flip my head over, and concentrate the application to my ends and then smooth my hands through the rest of my hair.

Overall, I love this product. Like I do most things I pick up from LUSH. It’s got a great scent, and works to help tame hair that would go a little wild if left to its own devices. I think everyone could use a little R&B.

Scent: 4.75 (The only thing I like better is a sweet but not too sweet vanilla.)
Health: 4.75 (I don’t believe it contains any parabens and some of the ingredients are organic.)
Ethics: 4.75 (Lush is a pretty great company, as I’ve mentioned before, but they still do use parabens in some products.)
Price/Value: 4.25 (It is a big chunk to drop on one product ($20.95 on http://www.lushusa.com/shop) but it’s totally worth it because it is fabulous and that little container will last you a long while.)
Does what it says: 4.5 (Pretty great moisturizer and smoother.)

Overall: 4.75 (Lovely product, totally worth the money!)

JASON Pure, Natural & Organic Hand & Body Therapy Lotion

2011-08-28T18:33:00.000-07:00

If you’re looking for a decently priced paraben, mineral oil and petroleum free vegan lotion, one of my favorites is JASON Pure, Natural and Organic Vanilla Hand and Body Therapy Lotion.

I like to change it up with lotion. I have at least twenty different kinds on my dresser. I’m not exaggerating. Yes I know that’s ridiculous. But I just get bored using the same thing every day. And I wear at least three different lotions on a daily basis. So I have lots. And I’ve tried lots. And I think I can pretty confidently say I know my lotion.

Anyway, I tend to think of organic or natural lotions as too expensive and not good enough to be worth it. By not good enough, I mean that I’ve found some of them to be runny instead of thick and/or creamy and they don’t often smell as yummy as I want them to. But I keep going back to JASON whenever I run out, because the quality is so high it’s like any chock-full of chemicals lotion. And you can feel way better about what you’re putting on your body.

The vanilla scent is delicious. It’s a good blend of “I would love to eat that” with just a right amount of floral thrown in so that you won’t actually try to. I haven’t tried any of the other scents, but I feel confident recommending them if vanilla is not your thing.

The lotion texture is not super thick, but relatively creamy and feels luxurious. It leaves your skin soft and quenched. Some lotions make you feel like you immediately need to reapply, but not this one. I love it.

-Scent: 4.5 (Very nice. Sweet but not too sweet. Somehow it’s not my favorite vanilla but it’s in the top 10.)
-Health: 4.75 (Natural products, but not completely organic.)
-Ethics: 4 (No animal cruelty in making their products, but they didn’t say anything about if they hold their suppliers to that on their website. Also, there was no mention about giving back on their website.)
-Price/Value: 4.25 (It’s not cheap, but it’s not too expensive either. It’s worth the price for the value!)
-Does what it says: 4.75 (Definitely. Very lovely.)

Overall: 4.5 (Great quality you can feel pretty good about using!)

LAVANILA Laboratories Vanilla Coconut The Healthy Body Wash 2-In-1 Shower & Shave

2011-08-26T12:55:00.000-07:00

I feel like I'm always talking about LAVANILA but I'm just more and more impressed with their products. I found myself with some time on my hands at the mall so I wandered into Sephora to see if my friend was working, and when I didn't find him I basically wandered around inviting products to lure me into buying them. For once I almost walked out without anything. But then I walked past the LAVANILA section, and of course I had to look, even though I was pretty sure I already had all the products that they made in my favorite scent, the Vanilla Coconut.

But alas, I was wrong! A new pretty white tube sat on the shelf, screaming that it was something new and different. (Most of their other packing is dark colored, so I immediately knew this was something different.)  I picked it up to see what it was, and my relationship with LAVANILA's Vanilla Coconut The Healthy Body Wash 2-In-1 Shower & Shave was born.

Now generally I don't use shave gel. Mostly I am too lazy. I also don't have time. The reason I don't have time is because I take too long doing everything else in the shower. (I have like a 7 product daily routine, without even adding in shave gel!)  Everyone is always saying I take these long-ass showers but it's not like I'm just puttering away in there; I work to make them as "short" as they are!

Anyway, I decided to give the 2-In-1 Shower & Shave a chance because it was LAVANILA and it was in that lovely Vanilla Coconut scent, and it wasn't very expensive.

I was not disappointed. It was absolutely lovely! The smell is great just like all their other products, the lather created on a loofah is lavish and creamy, and it also make your shave smooth and easy.

Now I don’t know about you, but when I actually do use shave cream or gel, I tend to pile it on and create a solid layer so that I can see that I’ve covered everywhere and my skin will all be protected. This product simplifies the whole shave process. Essentially you just squeeze some on a loofah, add some water, lather it up and scrub all over as you would with a normal shower gel. After your wash, you grab your razor, and have a silky ideal shave! It’s awesome! And way less work then actual shave cream or gel!

When I first started using it, my reaction was to lather up as much foam on my skin as possible, like I would with a normal shave cream or gel, and try to stay out of the spray so that it stayed on until I was actually shaving. It worked nicely, but after a few showers I would end up in the spray with most of it washed off, and to my surprise, my shave was just as silky and smooth as it was when I was covered in foam! So you don’t have to be particularly careful about that.

The only downside is that you can’t use your foam to follow your shave line and make sure you cover everywhere. But let’s be honest ladies, by my age you pretty much figure out how to not blatantly miss large patches, and don’t really need a guide anymore. So I say this product is fabulous! Love it!

Scent: 4.75 (So lovely! But may be a little too sweet for some.)
Health: 4.95 (LAVANILA is a naturals company, and knows their stuff, but it’s not completely organic.)
Ethics: 4 (Their product making ethics are great, but I didn’t easily find any philanthropy or charity work.)
Price/Value: 4.25 (It goes for the same price as a high-end shower gel.  But it does the work of two products!)
Does what it says: 4.75 (Gives a great wash & shave but people may feel weird without the whole dense foam aspect.)

Overall: 4.5 (Definitely a great daily use product!)

Hempz Pure Herbal Extracts Original Herbal Moisturizer

2011-06-29T11:05:00.000-07:00

Hempz Pure Herbal Extracts Original Herbal Moisturizer isn't going to make you high, but it is a lovely experience, non-the-less. People see the hemp leaf on hemp products and think automatically, "There's pot in this lotion!" That is not really the case. While hemp is in the same family of plants as marijuana, it is not the same plant. It says right on the back of the bottle in bold letters: THC-Drug Free.

This lotion was definitely a surprise. I've tried hemp moisturizers in the past and while they usually give great moisture, they tend to have a distinctly non-pleasant smell. Well, unless you're into really earthy, herbal scents. Which I definitely am not, as a general rule.

However, the scent of Hempz Pure Herbal Extracts Original Herbal Moisturizer is amazing! I can't really describe it that well. It’s sweet, but not overly so, and a little fruity in a non-specific way. I just looked up a little about the product and was shocked to find out that the original scent is actually floral and banana. Who knew? It definitely does not make me think of flowers or bananas from the start, but now that I know what it's supposed to be, I guess I can see what they mean. Whatever it is, it's yummy!

It is also a really great moisturizer. It's perfect for any dry spots or just all over moisturization. The scent lingers nicely. They make several other scents, but I prefer the original. It does its job, and it smells lovely. You can find it online for a decent price.

This lotion smells really great, it moisturizes well, and it does it all without parabens for a decent price. Overall, a fabulous find. I can't wait to explore more of their products.

Scent: 4.5 (Pretty delicious!)
Health: 4 (The ingredients seem reasonable; no parabens, but not organic.)
Ethics: 3 (I couldn't find essentially anything good or bad about the company.)
Price/Value: 4 (I found pricing online for between $15 and $20. Totally worth it.)
Does what it says: 4.75 (Excellent moisturizer.)

Overall: 4 (Definitely a great daily use product!)

Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo

2011-06-22T04:39:00.000-07:00

Dry shampoo is a little intimidating overall. I am a daily showerer, for the most part. I can't really stand to not shower. With my hair so long, I feel greasy almost immediately, even if others claim that I/my hair looks fine. However, it is not always possible to shower when I would like. That's why I love this little number I discovered a few years ago.

If you've never used dry shampoo before, it may be time to try it. Basically, it does what it sounds like it does. While it doesn't really "clean" your hair as regular shampoo would, it absorbs oil and creates volume, and makes hair look almost as if it is freshly washed. Your hair won't feel exactly as if you had washed it, but it will feel probably 75% better than it would have if you just didn't shower and didn't use anything. And it looks probably 90% better than it would have. Well it will as long as you use a good product.

Not all dry shampoos are created equal. Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo is the best I've tried, and I've probably tried at least four, maybe five brands. Most other ones leave you smelling very strongly and unpleasantly of whatever they've decided to scent it with. They can also leave a gummy or gritty residue, instead of absorbing properly. If the product isn't great, or if it's applied incorrectly, it can be a disaster.

Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo is definitely a life saver. I highly recommend adding it to your "in a pinch" collection of products. It doesn't have an overly strong smell like some of the other ones I've used, and it's got an excellent texture. It can be great if you use it right.

I have two application techniques. The first is for an all over fix. I take the bottle and squeeze out a few generous puffs onto my hairbrush, then brush it through my hair. I do this several times, concentrating on any greasy looking areas. It was a lifesaver last weekend when I was going from a massage to a birthday party and didn't have time to shower. If you apply it directly to your hair you might end up concentrating too much in one area, and getting white streaks or spots, so that's why I apply it via brush.

The other technique I use is for spot treatments. Sometimes I over-product my hair, or touch a strand too much with greasy fingers, or my skin is super oily that day. If that happens, squirt a little powder on your fingers and spot-apply by grabbing the hunk of strands and smoothing down towards the tips. Then brush to finish incorporating the product into your hair. If it looks a bit powdery after either technique, simply smooth a little water over the area with your hands or brush. Water has absorbed the powder after the powder has already absorbed any oil, so you still look great. Brilliant!

Scent: 3.75 (Lemony and not too strong, but I suppose could be better)
Health: 4 (The ingredients seem reasonable.)
Ethics: 4 (I snooped Oscar Blandi's site a bit and found out nothing. Product says no animal testing though.)
Price/Value: 3.75 (A bit less than $20 and it's a small bottle, but it's a great product and lasts a while.)
Does what it says: 4.75 (Excellent job for what it is, but it'll never be real shampoo.)

Overall: 4 (A great quick fix for day old hair!)

Secret Moments Island Escape Sheer Fragrance Mist by Victoria's Secret

2011-06-21T11:56:00.000-07:00

Get it while you can! I stopped by Victoria's Secret the other day when I heard that the semi-annual sale was on again and discovered one of my favorite scents in the clearance bin. That usually means that they are discontinuing it! I was so disappointed. It looks like the entire Secret Moments collection is going out. That's kind of sad, since I feel like it just came out pretty recently. Like, within the last two years. While I didn't like all the scents, the Island Escape scented items were fabulous. Anyway, you'd better go pick some up while you can!

The Secret Moments Island Escape scent is listed on the bottle as beachy coconut and sugarcane. I can smell more sugar than anything but there is a light coconut note as well. The Sheer Fragrance Mist is a burst of refreshing sweetness. It's uplifting and so delicious that it gets instant attention whenever you refresh it. I always get complimented when I wear it. It is a mist, which means it won't last as long as a perfume would, but its so yummy it's worth the re-apply just to remind yourself how delicious you are.

The Secret Moments collection also carries a body lotion, a body cream, a scrub and a shower gel in each scent. I didn't really like any of the other scents, but it's all personal, so check them out. And, they're super cheap right now so it's the time to do it! I don't mind paying for good quality products, but a deal is a deal. And I enjoyed all the other items in the collection as well. Sweet scent, sweet price. Do it up.

Scent: 5 (Totally delicious!)
Health: 4 (The ingredients seem decent, I don't see anything that I know of as unhealthy on the label.)
Ethics: 3 (VS doesn't have any obvious redeeming nor any really horrible qualities, that I'm aware of. )
Stay-ability: 3.5 (Lasts decently on skin and better on clothes)
Price: 5 (Right now it's a steal! Get it while you can!)

Overall: 4.25 (Sweet product, sweet deal.)

Rainforest Radiance Detangling Spray by The Body Shop

2011-06-20T12:58:00.000-07:00

I don't know about any other long-haired girls out there, but I cannot survive without detangling spray. It is essential for life. Lol. Or for convenience anyway.

When showering, I have a specific routine. I usually shampoo, rinse thoroughly, apply conditioner, and then when I'm done doing everyone else, I slightly wet my conditioned hair and comb the conditioner through it with a wide-toothed comb. After detangling this way, I rinse, and wrap up my hair to get out of the shower. Even though I take that extra step to help detangle, by the time my hair has towel dried a little bit in my wrap and I'm ready to comb out and style my hair, there is no way I can just easily glide a comb through it.

As a result, over the years I've tried many different detanglers. Most of the ones that you come across for instance in your local grocery store or "superstore" (i.e. Walmart or Target) are really designed for kids and do an okay job without anything fancy involved. They are pretty much interchangeable and I would usually end up just dumping one into the other as I went and hoping for the best. But four or five years ago I discovered the Rainforest Radiance Detangling Spray at The Body Shop.

It actually used to be "Bilberry Detangler" but was reformulated in the last year along with the products that now have become the Rainforest Hair Collection. The Body Shop has created its own Eco-Responsible, Eco-Conscious product label for items that it specially formats with health and the environment in mind. The Rainforest Hair Collection has no sulfates, no silicones, no colorants, and no parabens.

They created their own eco and health-conscious label because there is no set of universal international standards for beauty products. So they started their own label to put on new or reformulated items that they took special care with to reflect those values. They don't have many products with the label yet, but I feel that means they are respecting what they've created and aren't just throwing it on anything they feel might look or sound better with it.

So yeah, back to the Rainforest Radiance Detangling Spray. It was great when I had it and it was known as the Bilberry Detangler. I thought that with the reformulation and the elimination of sulfates, silicones, colorants, and/or parabens from that collection that it would probably not work nearly as good and might go back to being just like any other detangler.

I was honestly really impressed with the new formula. It definitely works extremely well, and it only takes a few spritzes to make a difference. Two sprays on top, two with my head flipped over to cover the underneath, and my wide-toothed comb slips right through. It's amazing. I highly recommend it for anyone who takes longer then thirty seconds to comb through their hair after towel drying it.

Scent: 4 (Good, but very faint. Can't really smell much.)
Health: 4.75 (The only thing it doesn't have going for it is organic ingredients.)
Ethics: 4.5 (The Body Shop is a pretty decent company as discussed in previous posts.)
Does what it says: 5 (An absolutely fabulous detangler & light conditioner.)

Overall: 4.75 (Does a terrific job!)

LAVANILA Laboratories - The Healthy Body Butter - Vanilla Coconut

2011-06-07T12:59:00.000-07:00

LAVANILA Laboratories has created a body butter that it deems "The Healthy Body Butter". Sounded great to me! I am a total vanilla person and always looking to be healthier, so I was obviously immediately interested in this product.

The funny thing is that I completely hated the Pure Vanilla scented products that they make. That scent is very very strong and floral. I am not into floral vanillas at all. I want like sweet, yummy, edible-smelling vanilla. I find that funny too because I find vanilla as a flavor to be really boring, but as a scent extremely pleasant. Makes no sense really, but there it is.

So anyway, after I was disappointed with the Pure Vanilla scent, I almost gave up on LAVANILA altogether. But then I noticed that there was a Vanilla Coconut scent! I clearly had to try it and when I smelled the deliciousness I clearly had to buy it. If you don't like sweet scents, they also make a Lavender Vanilla and a Grapefruit Vanilla and a few others as well.

The body butter is not nearly as thick as (what I think of as) a normal thickness for lotions deemed "butters", but it is still very pleasant. It is very rich, yet absorbs easily and is a great moisturizer. The scent is pretty light and not overwhelming. It's a great light butter for supple summer skin with a light beachy scent. Fabulous and yummy!

Ratings:

Scent: 4.5 (Delicious but not too sweet or overwhelming.)
Texture: 4.5 (Smooth and creamy and easily absorbed.)
Health: 4.5 (The company seems dedicated to Healthy products!)
Ethics: 4 (Haven't heard anything about good works, but they do healthy well.)
Does what it says: 4.75 (A great light moisturizer with a great light scent.)

Overall: 4.5 (Dreamy!)

Burt's Bees Garden Tomato Toner

2011-06-04T07:33:00.000-07:00

Burt's Bees is a great company to get natural products from. According to their website, all of their products are paraben, sulfate, petrochemical, and phthalate free. Sounds great to me! I love several of their skin care products.

The Garden Tomato Toner is one of my favorites. It's also one of my favorite toners out of all the toners I've tried. And I've tried a lot of toners. For example, I currently have five different toners on my dresser. I know, I'm ridiculous.

I've discovered that lots of people haven't even discovered the wonderful world of toners. They don't even realize how fabulous they are, and what they can do for your skin. If you don't know, the purpose of a toner is to re-balance the PH of your skin after washing. It also helps remove dirt and impurities (and soap residue) that you didn't even realize your cleanser had left behind. It's amazing what can still be left behind after what felt like a thorough washing of your face. The proof is on the cotton.

So now that I've touted the virtues of toner, let me explain why Burt's Bees Garden Tomato Toner is fabulous. It is formulated for oily and troubled skin, which those who know me wouldn't really say I have. What I do have is skin that gets finicky about a week before "that time of the month". The garden Tomato Toner plays an integral role in clearing up and/or preventing my little breakouts.

To use, place a cotton ball or pad over the open bottle and tip to moisten. Swipe over your face and neck (avoiding your eye area), concentrating on problem areas. Enjoy the soothing tingle. Then get a little grossed out by the residue left on your cotton. Repeat with another cotton or two until no visible dirt is left on the pad after swiping. Use morning and night after washing and before moisturizing.

The scent of this product is very different from what I usually like, but it's earthy and vegetable-y and actually very soothing. I really quite like it. It makes the whole experience more natural feeling.

Overall, Burt's Bees Garden Tomato Toner is a great product to add to your skin care routine. You can feel and see it doing great things for your skin!

Scent: 3.75 (Definitely not sweet & lovely, but still earthy and pleasant.)
Health: 4.75 (Everything is natural & great, but not certified organic.)
Ethics: 4.75 (Company seems very socially and ethically conscious.)
Does what it says: 4.5 (It's fab! Will not solve all problems, but no toner will on its own.)

Overall: 4.75 (Very soothing, a great toner!)

The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain - Shade 01

2011-06-03T13:16:00.000-07:00

The Lip & Cheek Stain from The Body Shop (shade 01) is a great yet subtle way to add lasting color to your lips. I can't even begin to tell you how many people I've convinced to try it by talking about all it's virtues. Because it's a stain, it works with any skin tone, by adding sheer color. It's a dark red/pink tint but is very subtle unless you apply several layers.

If you want just a little color, add one or two applications and go. If you want deeper, longer lasting color, reapply several layers until you get your preferred color. I recommend waiting for each layer to dry before adding another. I usually add a layer, continue getting ready and then add another, continue getting ready...you get it. The applicator holds a lot of liquid, so I usually scrape some off on the lip of the tube before applying.

It's supposed to be for both lips and cheeks, but I've never actually used it as a cheek color. Something about using liquid for blush weirds me out. I always just felt like it could never be even. Why I feel better about being able to make powder even is beyond me. But the color is great, so I'm sure if you're into liquid cheek colors, it would be great for you.

I always add a clear or slightly sparkly gloss for a lovely shimmer. Also, the stain has no scent or taste, so if you grab a flavored gloss, you get an extra treat.

Overall this is a really classic product. The color would be perfect for a 40's pin-up girl. I don't wear lip color very often. I usually save it for special dressy occasions. When I do wear color, this is my choice the majority of the time. I love it, and I bet if you try it you will too!

Taste/Smell: 4 (Decidedly neutral.)

Health: 2.5 (It contains parabens.)
Ethics: 4.5 (The Body Shop has some great values; check out more info here.)
Does what it says: 4.5 (Classic; can be subtle or more intense.)

Overall: 4 (Great for any occasion!)

BareMinerals Clear Radiance All Over Face Color

2011-05-30T16:23:00.000-07:00

If you haven't yet ventured into the world of mineral make up, I highly recommend it. BareMinerals as a brand is pretty good overall. There are some products that I would never use but that's true of any brand. A lot of my most frequently used make up is from them.

The BareMinerals All Over Face Color in Clear Radiance is one of my favorite BareMinerals products. The first time I wore it, I walked into work that night and my manager was like, "Oh my god, you're in LOVE!" Haha. I wasn't dating anyone at the time actually, but I was wearing Clear Radiance! When I told her that she was like, "I need to get me some of that!" Lol.

All over face color is just what it sounds like. Color that you put all over your face. It didn't actually particularly sound that good to me. I was like why would I want to be pink all over my face? But it's actually a very subtle effect. It really just provides a soft glow, while evening out your skin tone, and makes me look so much better than pale uneven-ness. Clear Radiance is a very very slight pink with a very very slight shimmer. And it's not at all obvious. I can't even really describe it. You have to try it for yourself!

The Clear Radiance shade is perfect for me (being super pale), but there is a whole range of shades in the All Over Face Color that might be better for your tone. You can walk into any Bare Escentuals store and have the professionals there help you choose and/or try out a shade that's perfect for your skin tone. Happy shopping! :)

Texture: 4.5 (Smooth and fabulous.)
Health: 4 (Mineral Make up is supposed to be better for you, but I don't remember why.)
Ethics: 4 (I've never heard anything bad or good about BareMinerals.)
Does what it says: 5 (Extremely lovely effect.)

Overall: 4.5 (Dreamy!)

LUSH Sugar Babe Shower Scrub

2011-05-26T13:14:00.000-07:00

LUSH is my new obsession. I love their stuff. My friend got me into it by talking about all their wonderful products, and of course I was not hard to attract to a company who hand makes their products, cares about where their supply is coming from, is conscious about packaging their products, and puts mostly fabulous ingredients into them. And their logo is bright and catchy too. Yay!

Anyway, so their stuff is fabulous, and my friend and I started a monthly trip to LUSH for supplies. This month is only the second trip, but we are excited. I expect the tradition will live on. It's definately a day out activity because there are only two stores in CT. One is at the Danbury Fair Mall, and the other is at Mohegan Sun. In bigger city areas, they are easier to come by. Or you can always order online.

So yes, about the Sugar Babe Shower Scrub. When I think shower or body scrub I always think liquid (well, cream or gel, really). This is a solid scrub. At first it weirds you out a little. But I've figured out how to use it, and I LOVE it.

What I do is break off a chunk to take into the shower or bath. Once the half ball is broken, the center is softer, and easier to use. I place the chunk on the side well away from any water spray (it will fall apart if you get it fully wet) until I am ready to use it. Once I am at that stage in my shower process, I step out of the spray, grab the chunk and use my fingers to take a little bit of it into my palm. I rub that small amount on one part of my body, (i.e. thigh) and smooth around to exfoliate. Then I continue using little bits on different body parts until I've covered all the body parts I wanted to. :)

The relatively small half sphere lasts longer then you'd expect. It really depends on how much you use, and how many body areas you cover. For me (and I cover most of my body when exfoliating) it lasts 5 or so showers. That's really pretty decent. It's less than $5, and though most scrubs may be bigger and last a little longer, they are also more expensive.

You do have to be careful with it, because it can crumble easily. That's why I don't attempt to break off small pieces, but use big chunks and then just pull a little crumble off with my fingers. And I also don't store it in the bath, but in the closet so it doesn't get wet and become mush. Also by bringing in only a chunk, if it does get wet by dropping it or something I don't lose the whole thing.

Sugar Babe is dreamy. The smell is delicious, and it has a core of coconut oil, so not only are you smooth from exfoliating, you are also given an extra dose of moisture as well. I exfoliate as my last step in the shower, and so I get that little boost of moisture at the end to prepare my skin for the day. So you feel totally smooth and wonderful all day. Who doesn't want that?

Ratings:

Scent: 4.5 (Delicious but not too strong)
Texture: 3.5 (A great exfoliator, but falls apart easily.)
Health: 4.5 (I recognize most of the ingredients. No parabens, but it does contain sulfates.)
Ethics: 4.5 (Lush uses fair trade and fresh ingredients, seems great as far as I can tell.)
Does what it says: 4 (A great exfoliator but it falls apart easily so it can be a little hard to use.)

Overall: 4.25 (Very lovely!)

Some other fav LUSH products:

Zoya Natural Nail Polish - Erika

2011-05-26T09:01:00.000-07:00

Zoya Natural Nail Polish was a great find. I've worn nail polish almost constantly for years and years. Senior year of High School I won a joke award, the "Sally Hansen" Award, because I was known for wearing polish at all times, usually at least 2 colors, and for changing frequently. In recent years I haven't had time or patience to change it every couple days like I used to, but I still prefer to be polished rather than not.

Anyway, as I've become more and more aware of what I'm putting into and onto my body I started to feel really guilty about the whole nail polish thing. They put so much junk into that crap its AWFUL. I decided to look for an organic alternative.

What I found out was that it's pretty much impossible to make a nail polish that is organic. LOL. Zoya, however, is formaldehyde, toulene, camphor and dibutyl phthalate free. And they also make items such as polish remover, anchor coat, top coat, and quick dry drops that are also free of these agents. I can feel pretty good about that.

My first Zoya purchase was a set of fall colors and a set that included a top coat, anchor coat and drying drops. They worked just as well as any other polish regimen. I was hooked. Why go back to using products that contain all kinds of horrible things when they can clearly be made a lot healthier, and work just as well? Some colors don't wear as long as others, but I find that's true with all polish brands. Nail polish always stays better you use a complete polish regimen, and Zoya is no exception. These are decent across the board. I've since enlarged my collection to about 20 colors.

The Erika color I picked out on a whim because I tend to stay away from girly colors. When I found out it was named Erika, I thought it was perfect! (Although I didn't understand why it wasn't yellow. I had a friend named Erika who loooooooved yellow.) It is really more peachy than pinky, I know the color swatch looks more pink (at least on my computer). I wanted something subtle and girly for when I feel like being a little bit pretty. Two coats is very nice: subtle, smooth, professional and decently long lasting. Love it!

Ratings:

Texture: 4.5 (Very smooth, with a backgroud subtle orange sparkle.)

Health: 4.25 (It's still nail polish even though it is better than regular polishes.)
Does what it says: 4 (It is a pretty good nail polish in terms of length of wear. Not the best, but good.)

Overall: 4.25 (Very nice!)

The Body Shop - Brazil Nut Body Scrub

2011-05-23T13:46:00.000-07:00

The Brazil Nut Body Scrub from the Body Shop is a delightful experience. I picked it up on a product smelling spree, and was very glad that I did so. I don't like to eat nuts, so I tend to stay away from nut-scented items (although I do enjoy the smell half the time it's just an automatic aversion based on taste). But I'm glad I didn't stay away from this one.

The scent is very sweet and lovely. I totally wanted to eat it. (even thought I don't eat nuts!) The texture is very creamy, with little dark flecks. Because the little flecks are not very concentrated I thought this may not be a good exfoliator, but it definately is. There must be a sugar base for it. No wonder it smells so sweet! Yum!

I use this (or another exfoliator) daily to keep my rough areas (feet, knees, elbows, etc) smooth. You can follow up with the Body Shop Brazil Nut Body Butter to lock in the scent and keep your skin smooth. Although it doesn't smell quite as yummy as the scrub, it is a very close match.

Overall it's fabulous! Get some for yourself! If you are allergic to nuts, the Body Shop has a whole line of Body Scrubs.

Ratings:

Scent: 5 (Delicious!)
Texture: 4.5 (Creamy and appealing, concentrated exfoliants.)
Health: 2.5 (The ingredients seem decent but it does contain parabens.)
Ethics: 4.5 (The Body Shop does not do animal testing and this product contains at least 3 fair trade ingredients)

Does what it says: 4 (It's an excellent exfoliator but it's not extremely rough, as may be needed on feet, etc.)

Overall: 4.25 (Pretty wonderful!)

Body Fantasies Signature Cotton Candy Body Spray

2011-05-22T08:37:00.000-07:00

I have to say I fell in love with this body spray a while ago. Several years ago (okay probably like 7 years ago) I found a mini one in the travel size section at my local Walmart and decided to try it for traveling. The smell is totally delicious. Who doesn't want to smell like sweet cotton candy? It is nice and sweet but not overwhelmingly so. I do like to mix and match scents (I wear at least 2 if not more different perfumes/body sprays daily) so especially when mixing it is not overwhelming.

The price is cheap and the scent is great. It lasts well on clothing, less well on skin. Those are the good aspects.

I've really started to re-evaluate many aspects of my life in the last few years and one area is the things that are in what I put into and on my body. I've been interested in naturals and organics for years but haven't yet taken the step towards exclusively using those types of products.

However, it may be time to at least give this product up. Not only is Walmart the main retailer, but also as I read the ingredients for the first time probably ever, I find out that it contains BHT. Which has been linked to cancer and also is in embalming fluid, among other things. It doesn't sounds too healthy to use something on my body that they also use to help preserve dead bodies. That's just creepy.

Too bad I have a full bottle left! At least it's not a lot of money wasted. I'll just have to go on a crusade to find something more natural that smells just as yummy.

Ratings:

Scent: 5 (Absolutely delicious!)
Health: 0 (Apparently not at all.)
Stay-ability: 3 (Lasts decently on skin and better on clothes)
Overall: 2.5 :(

Korres Guava Lip Butter

2011-05-21T15:33:00.000-07:00

The Guava Lip Butter by Korres is a great product. I bought it on a whim while standing in line at Sephora. I was wary of buying a guava flavored lip product, as I have an aversion to tropical flavors because of a childhood incident that I won't go into, but the texture is creamy and doesn't really have any strong taste or smell. That is actually one of it's only downsides. I really enjoy a yummy tasting or smelling product. The guava is very subtle and really quite nice if you're looking for something that will do it's job and not just something that will be yummy.

Korres is a "natural products company" which means I'll assume you can feel good about applying this product to your lips. A tag like that always makes me feel better, but sometimes if a product works well or is particularly yummy I'm willing to overlook it. Also, since there are no international standards, you can never really be sure what anyone ever means by that. Korres seems pretty legit though from what I've read about it.

The only other downside I've found is that it, like all lip butters I've ever tried, can leave your lips white if you use too much and don't rub it in fully. But that's easily fixable by applying with a mirror or just using a small amount. It does sink in well, and makes your lips soft and kissable. I apply it every night before bed.

I like this product because it actually seems to cure skin dryness, for at least 12-24 hours anyway. I've found most lip products that I use for dryness tend to feel good at first but don't really have any lasting effect and I have to re-apply frequently to feel relief.

It does come in other flavors that are supposed to provide a slight tint. Because I liked it so much I also bought the Jasmine one because I was curious about how that type of scent would translate into something I wanted to put on my lips. It is pink tinted in the tub but I haven't seen any tint on my lips. It's also very subtle and nice though.

Anyway, in conclusion, I really like this product, and its one of the only lip products I've ever used enough to see the bottom of the tub. (I usually have too many products to choose from to ever finish one!)

Ratings:

Texture: 5 (Creamy buttery loveliness.)
Taste/Smell: 4 (It's not strong and lovely, but its not repulsive either.)
Does What it Promises: 4.75 (Solves dryness wonderfully but I ain't seen no tint.)
Health: 5 (Korres is a natural products company. This product is paraben and sulfate free.)
Overall: 4.75 (Pretty wonderful product!)

By the way, if you'd like to purchase this product for yourself, it seems that Sephora may be the only retailer of this product. Learn more about it here.

Welcome!

2011-05-21T15:01:00.000-07:00

Hello kids! Welcome to my blog. I've decided that I'm going to essentially post item by item. I will describe the item, it's use, my opinion and then rate it on various factors that pertain to the item on a scale of one to five, five being the best. Hope you like!