Body

Hearts of Palm

| Loni

Earth Therapeutics Purest Palm Body Brush

$7.68

More info HERE

I bought this brush a while ago, and it sat sad in a corner, until this morning. I was in need of a shower pick me up, and this was exactly it. The brush itself can be used both in the shower and for dry brushing, but I use this for the shower, I have a separate one for dry brushing. More on dry brushing later.

Nevertheless, I really like to have a clean back, but its hard to find a good body brush that will reach there without having to contort yourself into a yoga pose. Saved by the Palm Brush. The Palm is my new favorite because all of my previous body brushes were so unsightly, bright pinks and aquas that seemed more at home in a communal dorm room shower, not in my mid-century furnished apartment.

Its also slightly smaller than other body brushes, which is nice too, because I don’t feel like I have a baton in my shower ready to be used to defend against intruders. Even though the Palm looks like it would hurt, and even though it looks like a torture device from 1347, once its wet its really nice and soft and feels super ‘massage-y.’

This is definitely something I am going to replace once is molds or dies in my shower by perhaps meeting the same fate at my last body brush, which was doused with Raid to kill a giant silver fish that made its home on my brand new super luxe bar of soap, sad. Anyway, I found mine at Whole Foods, but you can find it online at Amazon. If you struggle with Backne (worst word ever!), might I suggest pairing this with Neutrogena Clear Body Wash. Nothing works better, literally nothing. Except for this Clinique Body Spray that was discontinued, that worked like a charm and removed a step from my shower routine, saving me two minutes, which I would later use when I inevitably changed my mind about my outfit and put on the first thing I tried on.

*Above image used without permission from HERE

Channel you inner tween and bust out the Lisa Frank

| Loni

Gud Natural Body Mist in Vanilla Flame

$6.00

More info HERE

When I was 12, I wore Kiehl’s Vanilla Essence (which incidentally, I just found out they discontinued along with the ever so wonderful Coriander  oh le sigh). Back then, I wanted to smell like candy, now I want to smell like some exotic traveler with wonderlust. This desire for many years manifested in wearing a serious dose of patchouli, which my friend Zoe would constantly make fun of me for. Apparently smelling like 1971 is a bad thing.

Nevertheless, these two scents are forever hardwired in my brain as being both nostalgic and also what I was drawn to fragrance wise before I was lulled into other fragrances by packaging, excellent marketing, or my most favorite way to buy a fragrance smelling it on my high school BFF (Hey Rachael!).

I happen to live between two amazing Mom & Pop pharmacies that sell the greatest body products, making late night excursions with my friend Sophia, not only easy but practically encouraged. So when I saw this little bottle sitting among so many others I was curious, I had not seen this before. I was drawn in because it was a body mist in the deodorant section–something I have never understood product placement wise–and it was by Burt’s Bees. The other great thing is that this is free of parabens, phthalates or petrochemicals, which is great because fragrance is one of the most suspect aspects of beauty ingredients out there, and something that I find really turns me off to a lot of body products. So I sprayed some around me, much to the dismay of no one, as it was likely late at night on a Saturday, and I was totally transported to some far off rustic village where all I have is a beat up leather duffel and an impeccably well curated outfit.

It smells sweet and rough. The vanilla rounds out the rice milk notes for a scent that is woodsy, not overly complex and not like anything you might find in my middle school locker or my college dorm room, but something very at home in a rugged leather carry on. Despite the childish packaging, this body mist, is a welcome addition to my fragrance rotation and Zoe will be happy that I can finally retire the patchouli.

*Above image used without permission from HERE

Goldenseal-Myrrh

| Loni

Mountain Rose Herbs, Goldenseal-Myrrh Compound

$5.85 & $ 8.00

More info HERE

I love Mountain Rose Herbs for purchasing my bulk herbs, but an unknown gem is that they sell the greatest stripped down beauty products.This Goldenseal-Myrrh Compound, is no exception, and it reminds me of something one would get at a magical forest emporium, or a dusty old shop staffed by some super eclectic ladies. This compound, or essentially salve, is a pretty much an easy to carry first aid kit. The salve uses goldenseal for its “anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.” It has very little scent, but if you happen to use it on your cuticles like I do, and occasionally bite your nails, the taste is a little weird, it’s very achem, discouraging, thus preventing you from biting your nails.

Bam! Moisture fix and nail-biting problem solved.

*Above image used without permission from HERE

It might as well be winter, dry skin hits early, and other tales.

| Loni

Weleda Calendula Line

$12.50 to $16.50

More info HERE

One of my favorite sources for products is the aisle in the drug store devoted to babies. Not only because these products are generally cheaper but because they are typically more gentle, super moisturizing and have the cleanest scents.

Enter Weleda baby products.

This line is amazing and has the most relaxing, calming, soft scent ever. I use the Calendula Oil, Calendula Diaper Care and Calendula Shampoo/Body Wash. Each product has that irresistible light scent and all of them soften really well without leaving a residue behind.

The Oil, is amazing. I don’t really use body lotion because its really just an extra step that I am not willing to do, especially not in the winter because my bathroom is SO cold. Enter oils. I slather these on at the end of my shower, and I don’t have to moisturize when I get out. The soft, clean scent lingers, but does not compete with whatever perfume I am wearing that day. I have only used this oil during the warmer months, so I can’t vouch for its its moisturizing properties during the winter, but during the summer at least, I was never left greasy or sticky, just perfectly moisturized.

The stand out of this bunch though is the Diaper Care. OMG. This is the most perfect hand cream ever. Whenever I complain about my cuticles being ragged or dry, it is because I am not using this.  Diaper Care, is super thick, almost like frosting. While it does not sink in immediately, the greasy hands aspect goes away quicker than most other really thick hand creams.  Diaper Care also has that scent I can’t get enough of, making this the most perfect hand cream for colder weather.

If having Diaper Care in your bag is not something you can get down with, then you can do what I do and put it into a travel jar. I like the travel jars from Whole Foods, they sell them in the Beauty section. They are a dark indigo blue and super sleek. I use these for everything, from face cleanser to toner, which I put in their blue mini spray bottles. Not only do you not have to carry around the Diaper Care tube, but the jar is much smaller than the tube and it is way more user friendly.

The Shampoo/Body Wash is also super moisturizing. But its really not a product that stands out as a body wash. The best part is that its great for travel when you want to carry less stuff, because the Body Wash is also a Shampoo. As a shampoo I like it more, it moisturizing enough without weighing my baby fine hair down and I don’t have to use conditioner.  I also use this a lot when I am at home and I am feeling lazy and know I am just going to let my hair air dry, its a nice balance and generally less work on my part.

If for no other reason, the scent of these products is pretty much perfection and enough of a reason to try them out, but if I had to pick just one, it would  be the Diaper Care.

*Above image used without permission from HERE

Whats in my bag Wednesday?

| Loni

What’s in my bag Wednesday, just a few of the things currently on my ‘I can’t leave home with out’ list

Dickinson’s Original Which Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes:

These wipes are perfect, because they provide the right kind of clean without leaving a residue. With one swipe your face  feels super clean and never tight. If you have to at the end of a long day be somewhere else and need to freshen up these are great, the which hazel is a fantastic pick me up the effect on your face is super cooling. The best part is that they are individually wrapped so your not carrying around a huge pack of something, just one little wipe.

I also use these when I travel for the end of my flight to freshen up, because seriously what is with that gross post flight feeling? I have been traveling a lot lately and I just can’t handle it. Well these wipes take care of that. You can probably use them anywhere not just your face, so they double as hand an body wipes if you are really in a pinch. As an added bonus these wipes are 100% natural and contain no nasty stuff. Pretty awesome.

Burt’s Bees Ultra Moisturizing Lip Treatment with Kokum Butter:

This is one of the best balms I have ever used. That is quite a statement considering that I have about 100, no joke. But this one is so awesome, that I immediately purchased a new one, not even before it was out, but when it was running low. When I was studying for the bar, I compulsively put this on (being indoors, the AC really took its toll, that and well malnutrition. Sorry Mom!). Super moisturizing, and not addictive it really delivers just pure moisture and leaves a nice sheen on your lips perfect for a low maintenance look.

EO Hand Sanitizer Spray:

In my last ‘What’s in my bag Wednesday’ I posted about hand sanitizer. I really do go through a ton. I like this one because it so slim and takes up little room in my bag, I carry a lot so this is huge selling point. What gets me with this one is the scent though. Its lavender, I use L’Occitane hand crem sometimes, and the scent is pretty much a dead ringer for L’Occitane but without the huge price tag. The scent is great to use whenever a gross situation on the Subway is happening, one little spray, and whatever weird smell is happening is instantly forgotten and I am instantly calmed, or at least, all I smell is this, which sometimes is exactly what you need on a crowded rush hour train.

Maybelline New York Super Stay 10 Stain Gloss in Color 150:

So, while this is decidedly not so green, its the perfect color, the perfect red. Its super bright, and lasts a while and leaves no unsightly marks on your glass or a weird red ring on your lips. The color is great and makes me look instantly like I have put effort into my appearance which is not always the case, but nevertheless its nice to look pulled together. I always have a red lipstick or gloss in my purse, and right now this is my go to. I tried my friend’s Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lip Stick in Fiery, and this one by Maybelline is a very close match in color, texture and function, for a fraction of the Stila price, even more reason to love this super dope stain gloss.

Liquid Gold

| Loni

Desert Essence Jojoba Oil

$13.99

More Info

Jojoba oil is the haps. This stuff is amazing, I’ve been using it for years and I am always coming up with new ways to put it to use.

First, I keep a bottle in the shower and use this instead of moisturizer. It does not travel in your hand too much so you don’t end up with a slippery shower. This keeps winter dry skin at bay, and you save time by moisturizing in the shower.

Second, I put some of this on a cotton ball/pad and use it to remove eye makeup. Unlike so many other eye make up removers, this does not sting and takes off even waterproof mascara.

Third, I put this on the bottom portion of my hair, wrap it in a bun, sleep with it over night and wash it out in the morning and bam, awesome hair.

Fourth, I put this on my face as a spot treatment for dry patches. Yes, my face, oil on my face, everyone is doing it, no really they are, it seems like every company right now has their own magic oil. The molecular structure of jojoba oil is almost the same as your sebum, so it does not clog pores and does a great job of moisturizing in the dead of winter. You can even put this on as a mask, and wash it off, leaving your face super smooth.

Jojoba Oil, is so often used in fancy face oils, and its so basic, you can add other oils together with jojoba oil to make your own blend and save a ton of money. Jojoba oil though, on its own, is super rad, its basically liquid gold.

*Above image used without permission from HERE

Must Have Monday: Theraneem Nail & Cuticle Pen

| Loni

Must Have Monday

Theraneem Nail & Cuticle Pen

$11.99

More Info

This stuff is great and sits in my purse at all times. I carry it around just as much as I do my cell phone. Its great. Its in a easy to use, no spill click up pen. I brush it on before I use hand cream and my nails look and feel so much better. Continue reading →

Smell like the Ocean and Thank Me Later

| Loni

FIREBIRD: Saltwater Perfume Oil  and Lotion

$9.00 and  $8.00

More Info HERE

Saltwater Perfume Oil

I was immediately drawn to Firebird Bath & Beauty and their perfume oils because I love roll ons. I initially got some samples from their sample program, Saltwater, Honey and WoodsmokeVinilla. I was instantly in love with Saltwater. This scent described as, “a non-floral, non-tropical ocean scent consisting of marine notes, cedar and myrtle, that softens and mellows on the skin and becomes ethereal and almost haunting. Definitely unisex, definitely unusual.”

To me it smells like clean without that cloying clean scent that is often used in so much fragrance. Describing perfume is very hard, but this scent is amazing. I have shared it with numerous friends who have also fallen in love with it. It has universal appeal and smells great. I basically cannot stop sniffing my wrist.

Great price, great scent, perfect roll on for your purse. This is a no brainer gift for yourself or your best friend.

Saltwater Lotion

The lotion has a very subtle saltwater scent, which is great for layering and having the scent last all day, but what really stands out about this product is the lotion it self.

It absorbs quickly and leaves my skin super soft. I hate body lotion after the shower because its one more step, but this absorbs like a dream so I actually don’t avoid this step, and it leaves the best subtle scent behind. It has “avocado oil for a a luxurious feel, shea butter to protect and soothe, jojoba and grapeseed oils for weightless emollience without that greasy feeling. Aloe vera hydrates and nourishes and silk amino acids provide a silky smooth afterfeel. Loaded with antioxidant vitamins and 96% natural.”

I keep this on my desk too and slather it on all day. The clean scent is amazing and I really can’t get enough of it, but the way it leaves my hands so soft is worth going back for more. Now if only Firebird Bath and Beauty made a laundry soap, hand soap and counter top cleaner in this scent!