A New York City Health and Beauty Blog

Review: Molton Brown Relaxing Yuan Zhi Bath and Shower Wash

molton brown relaxing yuan zhi bath and shower wash

After a long day at the office, running errands or the sheer exhaustion of watching reality TV you just want to relax. Whatever the occasion you should always be prepared with a well-equipped bathroom arsenal of body cleansing products.

Water is cleansing and rejuvenating but it still needs a little help to get the job done. So why not get creative? I like to add an element of aromatherapy, light a candle or use a fragrant shower wash.

Well while at Barney’s I received a deluxe sample of Molton Brown’s Relaxing Yuan Zhi Bath and Shower Wash and I just had to try it out. This body wash has an interesting blend of Yuan Zhi, ylang ylang, mango oil and vitamin E which are combined to help de-stress the mind and moisturize the body. Most shower washes smell great, that’s really a given but this wash smells fantastic. If you like soft relaxing scents then you will appreciate the Vanilla and ylang ylang and with a hint of rose. The wash is fragrantly beautiful without being overly perfume-y, it’s a fine line and Molton Brown gets it right.

Using this body wash felt so luxurious! I really cannot get over the scent it’s really perfect for a relaxing evening. The body wash lathered lightly and rinsed clean leaving my skin soft and smooth. It’s not overly moisturizing but it provides a noticeable amount, but not enough to skip your lotion! Overall I loved it and would absolutely but this shower wash.

Molton Brown Relaxing Yuan Zhi Bath and Shower Wash ($28) at Barneys.com

Six Products For a Beauty Junkie’s Easter Basket

Spring is finally here, and Easter, which is late this year, rapidly approaches. Pre-fab Easter baskets are crowding makeup off the shelves in drugstores, full of inexpensive toys and questionable quality chocolate bunnies with a single, staring sugar eye. Sometimes big girls get a decent quality box of chocolates or pretty flowers, but what would go in a beauty junkie’s ideal basket? Here are six things the Easter Bunny should consider in lieu of marshmallow chicks.

1.) Bubblegum pink Tarte TEN Natural Cheek Stain: Nothing is springier than bright pink blush, and this limited edition stain comes in an attractive, jeweled package. The saturated, wearable shade within is subtle enough to wear to work but adds a noticeable amount of cheek color in a creamy, blendable formula. A proprietary “super fruit complex” on the ingredient list contains goji, açaí and pomegranate.

2.) Super Chocolatey Angel by Thierry Mugler: I’ll admit that I’m pretty much a lifetime wearer of this controversial yet perennially popular fragrance. The unique blend of patchouli, honey, bergamot, vanilla, caramel- and yes, chocolate- certainly isn’t for everyone. Fans of subtle or clean-wearing fragrances generally don’t take to Angel, but if you want a sophisticated, foodie scent and like getting compliments on your perfume, this is possibly the most refined, grown-up and intoxicating chocolate perfume in fragrance history.

3.) Sweet Urban Decay Sparkling Lickable Body Powder in Marshmallow: It’s not bunny-shaped or chocolate covered and being “lickable” and flavored, it’s probably a product that’s really only for grownups. But Urban Decay’s Sparkling Lickable Body Powder in Marshmallow lasts way past when their Easter counterparts would have become stale and inedible, and leaves skin with a surprisingly subtle, sweet scented shimmer on exposed decolletage. The packaging, with a zebra print and tassled lid, is adorable, too.

4.) Grass-infused Bobbi Brown Hydrating Gel Cream: This hydrophilic, skin-plumping moisturizer has the added bonus of not getting strewn through every corner of the room and stuck to your jellybeans. In addition to nourishing tropical grass extract, it also contains reparative Vitamin E. But the high concentration of water-binding properties is really where this moisturizing gel shines.

5. and 6.) Adorably sweet Philosophy Sugar Chick and Philosophy Orange Jelly Bean Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath: Philosophy’s famously multi-tasking bath products come in a massive range of limited edition and standard options, but these two would be absolutely perfect for a skincare and makeup themed easter basket. Who would have thought skincare and Peeps could converge so perfectly?

A pastel tinted pedi and mint-green facial mask would be cute additions to a beauty basket, too. What beauty products would you like the Easter Bunny to hide in your eggs this year?