I love a nice relaxing shower after a long day at work, it helps me unwind and sleep at night. As you can imagine I like to stock my bathroom with lots of shower gels, scrubs and body washes. So when I saw Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Nourishing Hydrating body wash in Duane Reade, I took a whiff and decided to give it a try. Aveeno is a regular beauty staple in my home because it’s great for sensitive skin and my family loves it. In fact, my family always has several Aveeno products in our home on any given day:

So what makes this body wash so special? Well I’m glad that you asked. This body wash contains shea butter which  is a natural ingredient know for it’s moisturizing properties and fig for healthier-looking skin (and a great scent).

First I must mention that this body wash smells divine. The scent is light (you can definitely smell the fig) and deliciously fruity. The fragrance is amplified by the shower steam creating an aromatherapy experience for your senses. Yes bath time can be an amazing, relaxing, transcendental experience! The body wash lathers well, rinses clean and doesn’t leave my skin dry. If you have a preference for products with a delicately feminine scent then look no further. This Positively Nourishing formula is available in three other options/scents: Calming with ylang-ylang, chamomile, lavender, Energizing with lemongrass, grapefruit, rosemary and Smoothing with pomegranate. Hey, it’s all about options, right?

Aveeno Active Naturals positively nourishing body wash is $6.99/16 Oz

More than 3,000 readers, SHAPE editors, and beauty experts across the country named these good-for-you skin, makeup, and hair products the top picks of 2010.  Here are some of the top picks that made the cut:

Facial Cleansers
• Kinerase PhotoFacials Daily Exfoliating Cleanser ($40; sephora.com)
Improvements in skin texture come from a mix of antioxidant-rich superfoods—including kiwi, pineapple, and     pomegranate—in combination with jojoba and silica beads.

Anti-Aging
• Olay Regenerist Anti-Aging Eye Roller ($23; at drugstores)
The three rollers massage away swelling and “deliver a potent dose of anti-agers like pentapeptides, which build collagen.

Body Firming
• Bliss FatGirlScrub ($38; blissworld.com)
No scrub will wash away your cellulite, but this one leaves skin “smoother and tighter.” Red algae reduces water retention, Himalayan salt exfoliates, and peppermint extract makes it feel cool and refreshing in the shower.

Lip color
• MAC Cremesheen Glass Lip Gloss ($18; maccosmetics.com)
This gloss is “shiny but somehow not sticky,” said a tester. (The secret is in the formula, a mix of soybean oil and aloe.)

Foundation
• Revlon PhotoReady Makeup SPF 20 ($14; at drugstores)
Photographers know that flattering lighting makes models look gorgeous. This new foundation uses similar logic; it has light-reflecting pigments that create the optical illusion of better skin.  It covers pores, redness, and scars, all without caking.

Shampoo and Conditioner
• Aveda Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair ($24; aveda.com)
Rich in repairing proteins and hydrating essential oils, this leave-in treatment helps negate any damage from hot tools or UV rays.

Mood-Boosting Fragrance
• Kim Kardashian Eau de Parfum ($35 for 1 oz.; sephora.com)
You’d expect a bold, sultry blend from reality TV star and SHAPE cover model Kim Kardashian, and her new fragrance does not disappoint. It’s a heady mix of florals—like jasmine, tuberose, and gardenia—anchored by earthy jacaranda wood.

Nails
• Best color Essie Nail Polish in Angora Cardi ($8; essie.com)
This deep, dusty rose was the testers’ fave: It felt trendy, but not too ‘out there’ to wear to work.

The complete list of beauty winners can be found in the September issue of SHAPE magazine. Did any of your favorite products make the cut?

Beecology is an all natural brand that gets it’s good stuff from…you guessed it Bees. Honey is the foundation of Beecology products because of it’s antiseptic, healing and moisturizing properties. This paired with essential oils makes these bath and shower gels a a healthy treat for your body. I really enjoyed the Peppermint body wash, it lathered well, smelled great and left my skin tingly. The grapefruit and lemongrass has a beautiful frangrance to it but certainly not overwhelming. Out of the two, I would say that I preferred the peppermint body wash because it was absolutely refreshing.

Take a look at the yummy and healthy ingredients:

Beecology prides itself on using natural, healthy and safe ingredients which are never test on animals. There are no sulfates, chemical preservatives or artificial colors in their products. The company handcrafts all of their products, will not compromise on using natural ingredients and even donates 10% of their earnings to charity – how cool is that! I’m pretty impressed with the quality of the product as well as the integrity of the brand. You can order their body wash as well as many other natural products from www.beecology.com . Their body wash retails for $7.99 for an 8oz bottle – well worth the price for the amazing quality of the product.

Disclaimer: Products mentioned in this review were provided for editorial consideration by the company.

This year summer has proven to be extremely brutal even on the most pampered skin so when I came across Avène Thermal Spring Water I decided to try it. With the weather reaching into the 100 degree mark I thought that this Spring water spray would be the perfect pick me up and cool me down spray. This Spring water has been proven to soothe and soften within 3 minutes of application. I can’t lie I was pretty impressed when I read that the spring water is directly connect to the Hydrotherapy center and manufacturing plant so the first time that it sees light is when the product is dispensed.

Clinically proven by over 300 studies to calm, soothe and soften the skin.  Used since 1743 in the Hydrotherapy Center to treat serious dermatological conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema.

When I sprayed the Thermal Spring Water on it was a very light hydrating mist that did not disturb my makeup at all. It applies smoothly, refreshes my face and leaves my skin feeling soft. I would say that this is a must have for your purse especially during the summer and the winter when temperatures can be extreme and your skin needs to little more refreshment and softening. I am so glad that I tried it, I’ve been spraying it ever since I got it.

Avène Thermal Spring Water retails for $16 for 10.58 oz spray can.

Summer is a time for enjoying the outdoors, vacationing and spending long days seaside or at the pool. I must admit that summer is my favorite season by far. I live for the long days where the sun doesn’t set until 8pm and the weekdays are filled with happy thoughts of the weekend to come at the beach. I can spend days at Fire Island sipping something cold and watching the waves crash against the shore. Yes, for me summer is my favorite season and being near the ocean is one of my favorite places to be. The scent of summer is the smell of the ocean and the sand and that just what On Holiday Moisturizing Body Spray by Votre Vu gives us.

This was my very first time trying a product by French owned company Votre Vu and I was enticed by not only the scent but the ingredients. On Holiday contains grape seed oil, sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil, jojoba oil and wheat germ. Had I tried this product sooner, it would have surely made the cut in my Just another day at the beach! post. This spray is PERFECT for your dry skin needs, just spray on right after you step out of the shower (no need to towel off!) and be instantly transported to your happy place.

I love that this oil comes in a spray bottle so it’s easy to use without all of the mess. The oil absorbed into my skin quickly and the scent left behind was intoxicating, I couldn’t stop smelling it! I would say easily that this is one of the nicest smelling body sprays that I’ve tried and since it reminds me of one of my favorite summer activities it’s on my must have list.

Disclaimer: The product mentioned in this review was provided by the company for consideration.

While browsing my local drug store I came across a line called 100% Pure and their enormous selection of moisturizers, hand creams, hair products, bath products and even makeup. I spoke with the company representative and she shared quite a bit of information about the company. This product line was formerly only available through QVC but can now be purchased on the company website and select stores. 100% Pure truly lives up to it’s name, their products do not contain synthetic fragrances, emulsifiers or thickeners. 100% Pure’s products are vegan, made with real fruits, pure essential oils, antioxidants and pure absolutes. This brand also does not test on animals and even uses cruelty free honey in their formulas.

After browsing their selection of products I decided to try the Organic Pineapple Nourishing Body Cream. I must say that this is one of the best smelling lotions that I have ever tried.  This lotion also has 15%  Vitamin C and 15% Vitamin E which is great for the skin. This lotion is certified organic and since the company does not use preservatives there is a number listed on every product indicating how long you can use it. If you enjoy fruity fragrances like Peach, Tangerine, Strawberry Lemonade, Blood Orange, Dark Chocolate, Coconut, Mango, Pomegranate etc. then you will probably love this line of products. I really love the fact that this line uses natural fruit and essential oil extracts and is organic.

Ingredients: Organic White Tea1 , Organic Rose Hydroso12, Organic Cocoa Butter3, Organic Avocado Butter2, Organic Cabernet Wine Grapeseed Oil2, Organic Rose Hip Seed Oil4, Organic Lavender Honey5 and Organic Chamomile Wax5, Organic Pineapple Flavor3, Extracts of Organic Cherry3, Organic Pomegranate3, Organic Raspberry3, Organic Blackberry3, Organic Grapefruit Seed2, Blackcurrant Oil, Vitamin E (a-tocopherol), Vitamin C (ascorbyl palmitate), Natural Food Preservatives ( less then 0.1 % of Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate from Salt and Cranberries)

This Organic Pineapple Nourishing Body Cream retails for $17 for a 7.5 oz bottle

Summer has arrived and there are plenty of days filled with fun in the sun up ahead. We all would love to spend our days basking in the cool ocean waters, playing volleyball on the beach or relaxing on a beach towel but unfortunately life may get in the way. So just because you cannot spend your day at the beach doesn’t mean that you can’t take a bit of the beach with you. Below are some of my favorite picks that we bring you to that enchanted place from your childhood.

MAC To the Beach Bronze Body Oil will add a shimmering glean to your body while moisturizing with botanical oils. This beach in a body glow can be yours for $22. This limited edition product is only available through July so get yours before it’s gone!

Bobbi Brown literally brings the beach to you with their best selling Beach Fragrance. This exotic scent is infused with sand jasmine, sea spray, and mandarin and will remind of a breezy summer day at the beach. This sexy scent even has a slight scent of sunscreen, I can practically hear the seagulls calling. This fragrance retails for $55 and it smells delish!

Guerlain’s Terracotta Light Summer Bronzing Powder will give you a sun kissed glow without risking exposure to the suns damaging rays. What makes this bronzer different is that there is a mix of five iridescent shades of copper, pink, pearl and 2 bronze shades. This beauty is also limited edition and available in two hues: Blondes and Brunettes. Don’t miss this opportunity to be a golden goddess! This little gem is available at Sephora for $50.

Philosophy Beach Girl Shampoo, Shower Gel and Body Bath is a triple duty beauty product reminiscent of a day of sun and surfing followed by a cool orange crush slush. At $16 a bottle this is the perfect grab and go for any multi-tasking mama.

Pacifica Malibu Lemon Blossom Spray is inspired by lemony Litsea Cubeba, Flowering Angel’s Trumpets and fresh herbs gives a hint of California Wildflowers mixed with a hint of an ocean breeze. This is an enchanting light and fresh beachy summer scents available at Sephora for $22.

So go ahead and indulge in some luxurious summer treats even when you cannot get away for a day of summer fun at least you can bring a day at the beach with you wherever you go!

Image: Spaweek.com

Everyday we work hard to pay our bills, put food on our tables and accomplish the goals that we’ve set for ourselves. This is one of the main reasons why I feel that Everyone deserves a little bit of luxury”. Every once in a while we need to reward ourselves for the hard work and sacrifices that we make on a day to day basis. So whether you treat yourself to an expensive (but worthy) makeup bag, a new makeup palette or a Chanel tote – I say hey you are truly worth it. Why work hard if you cannot reap the rewards? Treating yourself well is not just about the material luxuries of life but also taking care of your bodies. If you do not take care of yourself how can you take care of the kids, your hubby, your wife or even your goldfish?

I frequently get manicures, make trips to the salon and get facials whenever I can. Sure sometimes these treatments can be expensive and may not always fit into your budget, after all these are tough economic times. Well ladies (and gents) this is where Spa Week comes it. Spa Week is the glorious week of April 12-18, 2010 where you can get $50 spa treatments at approximately 800 spas throughout the US (and Canada) including (but not limited to) New York, Virginia, Florida, California, Nevada, New Jersey and several other states. Ladies you can treat yourself to everything from Botox to ear candling to laser hair removal to vajazzing. I was quite happily surprised at the extensive list of participating spas and services available. I plan on partaking in a 60 minute hot stone massage since I’m always in need of some relaxation after a long day at work. A trip to the spa is not just a luxury as there are many healthful benefits such as stress relief, detox and healthy skin (depending on the treatment). When you feel good you look good and this is important to your overall mental well being. When a person takes care of themselves it helps to improve their body image and their self esteem. So take a moment or an hour out of your busy life to do something fabulous for yourself, you deserve it.

To check out the participating spas go to http://www.spaweek.com/ and then book your appointment.