Recently in Body Category

I've never been very into body oils. They've always kind of eecked me! I know that as soon as all the Christmas/New Years/Holiday stuff dies down everything will be all about Valentine's Day. These Sundari body oils in fact were brought to my attention in light of Valentine's Day, but to me there couldn't be anything less sexy -- though nothing against the Sundari Body Oils which I haven't tried. So, if you happen to be into these sorts of body oils Sundari has two: One is their Gotu Kola and Lotus Body Oil ($34.00) which they say calms the senses with its infused Ayrurvedic herbs. Gotu Kola helps to firm and tone skin while Lotus Oils promote intense hydration and soft tranquil fragrances and then they have their Neem and Triphala Body Oil ($34.00). The second one Sundari says provides repairing essentials, including Sunflower and Neem Oil, which helps to sooth, clarify and soften, as well as Triphala Oil to revitalize. That said, when it comes to things like body oils you always want to go with a brand you trust (for me that would be Clarins and they actually make their own Body Oil), and I would test it out first on a small area to avoid any possible bad reactions!

Almost everyone is getting Beauty Gift Sets from me this year-- who can't use more products!?!? My young nieces will get Elemis Gift Sets-- I discovered Elemis initially through a PR rep, it is a British spa brand that is starting to make waves across the pond Stateside at high end spas. I especially love the Blissful Body set for $48. It has the yummiest milk bath (I prefer it to bubble baths in the winter, it's less drying on my skin), exotic Frangipani Monoi Moisture Melt and a hand and nail cream that will extend your manicures (I've gone about 2 and half weeks now but cuticles are still in good shape!). Get Elemis here at timetospa.com

I'm very tempted by the Philip B Limited-Edition White Truffle Collection Gift Set ($125)! I have a friend in culinary school and I think getting her this set would be a cute treat for the Holidays:) I haven't tried this set myself, but I've used Philip B products before and they're wonderful. This particular set has Philip B's best selling product -- their White Truffle Nourishing & Conditioning Crème which is an intensive reconditioning crème made with Italian White Truffle Oil which apparently has moisturizing properties, along with Lavender, Comfrey, Hops, Nettle, strengthening amino acids, and soothing Vitamin E - lots of interesting ingredients! The set also includes the matching White Truffle Ultra-Rich Moisturizing Shampoo which is made with Soy Proteins for moisture and elasticity, Hops and Nettle to provide body, and nineteen botanical essences (including Extracts of Thyme, Chamomile, Lavender and Comfrey), for silky hair. Philip B says that this set is ideal for all hair types, but especially color-treated or chemically-processed hair that's dry, porous and ultra-fragile:)

"Pumpkin, spice, and everything nice collide..."

Its that time of year again...The time when you already feel guilty for the food you haven't even eaten yet!! Not very long ago, I was watching a show on the discovery channel about courtship practices around the world. The specific episode that has remained fresh in my memory was about a family in Africa that was getting the eldest daughter ready for marriage, by feeding her AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!! Seriously, they weighed her when she began, and then monitored her weight gain for the next few weeks- literally feeding her cream and butter to increase her 'value'!! ...I'm a little jealous. In America weight is a controversial topic. Regardless of what side of the scale you weigh in on, here are two holiday treats we can all enjoy- Guilt Free!! If you haven't tried Philosophy products yet, you either need to. Ever delicious product that comes out of the Philosophy Kitchen ...err, Lab, smells exactly like what it claims to be. Many times I have had to stop myself from dipping a finger into my Cinnamon Buns Shampoo and taking a big lick! I digress- Pumpkin Spice Muffin Lip Shine is a great way to enjoy everyones favorite holiday dessert, zero calories! And what better way to get you into the holiday spirit then lathering up with Pumpkin Spice Muffin Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath?

Tocca has three Bagno da Viaggio gift sets for the holidays. They all look great, but the one that stands-out (and the one I tried-out!), is the Cleopatra ($48) one. It's an almond oil-enriched bath and body collection infused with grapefruit and cucumber and packaged in a Tocca signature box. The set includes -- 4 oz Bagno Profumato (foaming bath gel that's fairly hydrating and can be used on all skin types), 4 oz Crema Da Corpo (a nourishing all-over body cream that can be used on those with sensitive skin), and 2.85 oz Candelina (a travel-sized candle with a 20 hour burn time). This is one of those gift sets that doesn't need any wrapping. It comes in a super-chic cream-colored box with a gold rim (it reminds me of those fab dessert boxes they have at La Duree in Paris!). My absolute favorite thing about this set is that when you open the box it says "love yourself" in beautiful cursive letters -- could there be a better message!? With all the stress going on these days this set is a nice way to give someone a little something clean, refreshing, and light to help them relax this holiday season!

I've written about Yes to Carrots before. I think it's such a fun line of eco-friendly products and best of all it's affordable so no matter your income level there's no guilt involved. Yes to Carrots is aimed at the those with Dry to Normal skin, but they recently came out with two new lines -- Yes to Cucumbers and Yes to Tomatoes which are aimed at those with Normal to Sensitive skin (Cucumbers), and those with Oily/Combination skin (Tomatoes). All of the lines offer a variety of skin, face, body, and hair care products all of which are formulated with organic fruits and vegetables along with 26 minerals and they're all Paraben-free. I've used a bunch of products from their line and there are a few that stand-out for me. I love the Yes To Cucumbers Eye Love Cucumbers Soothing Eye Gel ($14.99), for when my eyes are puffy and red from a bad reaction to makeup or a lack of sleep, and the Yes To Carrots Hair and Scalp Mud Mask ($12.99), is amazing -- way better than the much pricier one from Ojon ($55) that I was using before! Also I love the smell of the Yes To Carrots Pampering Hair Mud Conditioner ($7.99) and it takes very little for it to be effective, though since my hair is highlighted, when I use it I always follow it with a spritz of Fluide Chroma Riche from Kerastase (leave-in conditioner, $34). For a list of places where you can check-out the "Yes" line for yourself click here!

There has been this whole scare of antiperspirant / deodorants that cause breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease because of the aluminum content. Well, I think we can all agree that we would rather smell than risk those dangers. And as it is, my memory sucks. There are conflicting studies but the one thing that got me to switch is the fact that the effectiveness is caused by little pieces of aluminum lodged into your pores to stop the sweat from coming out. I kind of gave more credence to medical technology in thinking that there was some special ingredient in antiperspirants that stopped your body from making sweat. But that is not the case, you still sweat - it is just being clogged inside of you and that does not sound like a good thing. I was disturbed enough to give non-aluminum alternatives a try, Tom's of Maine Natural Deodorant, being that it is my favorite brand for organic, natural products. OK, I know I talked a lot about sweat so I need to clarify immediately by pointing out loud and clear that this is a deodorant, not antiperspirant, so you will still sweat, it just keeps you from smelling. See, for me, my problem is mainly odor. I kind of sweat but that isn't what's keeping me from flailing my arms at will. It has been 3 weeks and I have to say, this is working for me. I like the Unscented, although it still has a slight lemongrass scent to it, and I have tried the Lavender, which I like but I prefer unscented just so it doesn't compete with my perfume. My husband tried it and he was like a leaky faucet so he had to stop. If you are a sweater, don't even bother. But if you're like me and just need odor control, why not go with a natural product? Tom's of Maine Natural Long-Lasting Deodorant Stick, Lavender and Tom's of Maine Natural Long-Lasting Deodorant Stick, Unscented are $5.49 each at Drugstore.com.

Just because it's winter it doesn't mean you should neglect your skin. I scrub, exfoliate, and moisturize all year round-- 24/7. And yes, my hubby is the only who notices but he is the only who matters! I have a plethora of body scrubs in my shower, I use different scents according to my mood and sensitivity of my skin (during the time of the month when I'm bloated I use a green tea scrub).

My latest body scrub obsession is Fresh Sugar Bath Brown Sugar Body Polish. Not only does it smell and feel good while applying it, it leaves my skin so soft and buttery with a hint of glow from the natural oils. $68 at Sephora. I met the founder of Fresh, Lev Glazman, at an event recently and found his unnaturally pale and perfect skin kind of scary. He was very nice though and told me that he and his wife were inspired to create a line of fresh and simple products that combine ancient rituals and modern technology. Their goal was to have products that both perform and pamper. I'd say mission accomplished! Jump to see the photo!

I've been noticing that Lavender products are getting prominent displays these days and I can only attribute this to the anxiety surrounding the economy and the presidential elections since people often use Lavender as a sleep-aid and for relaxation purposes. So, in light of this, I thought I'd highlight some that I've been using in response to mild stress..mostly they're products that let you take a deep breath and enjoy a comfortable moment to yourself which is all we need sometimes!! Clarins' Santal ($46), is fab for those comfortable with using a face treatment oil -- I'm all for mixing luxury with drugstore, but when it comes to splashing oil on your face stick with a trustworthy brand like Clarins or risk unfortunate breakouts (and that will reeeally get you stressed!). Santal is formulated with lavender oil so it helps sooth and calm while moisturizing your face. More after the Jump!

   
In 1999, Betsey Johnson was diagnosed with breast cancer. After surgery and 33 radiation treatments, she became an advocate in the fight against the disease, making public appearances, participating in numerous fund raising events and creating one-of-a-kind items that have been auctioned-off to raise funds for various charities.

One of my favorite brands actively helping the fight against breast cancer is Verikira Naturals. Unlike so many other brands that only do something special in the month of October, Verikira does their part all year round donating 10% of each sale of the Pink Grapefruit Collection to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation no matter what month you purchase it in. The Pink Grapefruit Collection consists of a sulfate and paraben-free shampoo ($28), certified organic conditioner ($28), and certified organic lotion ($22). All are available in $10, 2oz travel sizes as well. Love the smell - very refreshing and just the right amount of citrus in the scent. The best part is that both men and women can use it :-) Check the line out here!