Body Care

One of my favorite things: Bath and Body Works Sensual Amber Body Butter

July 1, 2011

Who doesn’t love a beauty product that spoils them? A product that is so sinfully luxurious that you feel almost guilty for using it. A product so delectable that you want to use it even if you don’t need to. Well that barely describes my love affair with Bath and Body Works Sensual Amber Intense Moisture Body Butter.

bath and body works sensual amber body butter

Like many women, I’m no stranger to the Bath and Body Works brand. Practically every women that I know has used their body washes, lotions, fragrances etc so it should have been no surprise that I’d find a product or five to swoon over. However this time it was different, this time I could not stop talking about this body butter. For one the texture is so thick and creamy that you can literally turn the container upside down and not lose a drop. And the scent is in a word ‘sexy’, not sugary sweet sexy but slow sensual and romantic sexy.

bath and body works intense moisture sensual amber body butter review and swatch

The key fragrance notes are Pink Lotus, Amber, Succulent Plum and Sandalwood which make this exotic blend irresistible. The body butter is intensely hydrating and long-lasting so it’s excellent for rough elbows an other dry areas. I find myself applying this everyday even after I use my Argan oil just because it smells so incredible!

Bath and Body Works, Intense Moisture Body Butter,$15. For purchasing information, please visit BathandBodyWorks.com

What are some of your beauty indulgences?

Review: R.E.M. Spring is a Hair Removal Game Changer

June 7, 2011

REM Spring hair removal

If you’ve ever had laser hair removal before, you know that during the process you must shave areas being treated, but cannot wax, pluck or otherwise pull hair out by the root. Thusly, my daily shaving habit began. Seven years later, I am still stuck shaving. I can’t wait for stubble to grow out and wax, and plucking is not an efficient way of removing the hair. It’s been like a razor-lined prison, so I was piqued when I saw this highly rated and oft reviewed gadget on Amazon- called the R.E.M. Spring. Priced at about $19, the tool is very well made- for a spring.

The R.E.M. Spring kind of works like threading, and it doesn’t require a cream/powder/lotion mess or electricity to leave you hair-free. You bend the device into an inverted U-shape and twist the handles as you move it upward over your skin. A few caveats, though not necessarily cons- one is that it really takes about ten minutes of practice before you get the hang of the spring. It may seem ineffectual at first, but it does eventually become very effective.

That’s the other consideration- the R.E.M Spring doesn’t tickle. It pulls the hair out- several at once- quite effectively. It’s definitely not a pleasurable feeling, but eventually you get used to it and kind of welcome the minor discomfort. The spring is also super effective- it will remove the hair, even if it takes a few passes.

I have to admit, I really thought I’d seen it all when it came to the de-fuzzing game, and I lamented a possible future of daily shaving forevermore. And while I’ve got a few days of compulsive springing until I am hair-free, I forsee this little thing becoming an integral part of my beauty routine. (It comes in a velvet carry case, and is about 4″ wide, so it should fit in your makeup bag.

If you’ve been trying to break a razor addiction (a common secret among women who suffer from PCOS) or just don’t like to wait to wax, the R.E.M. Spring could break you free of both or either. Do you have a hair removal secret? What methods do you find work best?

Review: Yelo Spa in New York City

March 31, 2011

As part of my New Years resolutions I vowed to take better care of myself by indulging in spa treatments, meditation and basically anything that feeds my soul. One of my favorite ways to unwind is to get a great massage, a facial or other beauty treatment. So I decided to get a 50 minute Swedish massage and 20-minute nap at Yelo Spa in New York City. I’ve been under a lot of stress lately and this would certainly help to ease my tension. Yelo Spa considers itself to be a sanctuary in the urban jungle utilizing massage, reflexology and customized aromatherapy treatments to help restore physical and mental health.

When I arrived at the spa I was immediately drawn to the colorful modern setting. The staff was extremely friendly (even though I was 30 minutes early!) and I was offered a cup of tea from the assortment of herbal flavors and a warm towel for my hands. It was a nice treat to step in from the cold and enjoy a relaxing hot cup of tea (and to wash my hands, I am in NYC after all!). Since this was my first visit at the spa I needed to fill out their questionnaire to note any ailments or areas or concern and to select which aromatherapy combinations best suited my needs and my sound preferences for my massage/nap session. I chose Gregorian monks chanting (but there were several other options like the ocean, rainforest, nature etc.) and a essential oil combination designed to help me relax.

After enjoying my tea for a few minutes my masseuse arrived. She had really great energy, she was warm and engaging yet mellow. She asked a few questions to better assess my reasons for getting a massage and spoke in such a calm tone that it was impossible not to be relaxed. The massage was great, even though the reflexology as I’m a bit freaked by people touching my feet. Heh.

Now after the massage was the part that I was most curious about, the the Yelocab which was described a cocoon-like treatment room. I was wrapped in a snug blanket in the special zero gravity chair which leans back at an angle to lift your knees above your chest to allow the heart rate to slow down. The lights were dimmed the monks were chanting and I was relaxed but I just could not fall asleep. So I opted to meditate for a few minutes until the lights slowly (and colorfully) came back on. I really enjoyed my Yelo experience, the environment is built for relaxation, the staff did not try to push any products on me and the service was excellent. I can’t wait to try a facial at Yelo.

What was your most relaxing spa experience?

Review: LUSH Twilight Bath Bomb

January 17, 2011

The art of bathing has existed for centuries and has been essential to not only cleanliness but peace of mind and health. In fact ancient Greeks had bathing rituals for business, philosophical discussions and battles. In Egyptian and Roman cultures baths were known as temples of beauty where many therapies were developed – see even ancient cultures believed in the healing effects of spas! Today we embrace the healing powers of hydrotherapy by utilizing Spas, saunas, Jacuzzis, hot springs baths etc to heal us in many ways.

For me bathing is not only for cleanliness but a time for relaxation. Now enter LUSH bath bombs. I’ve been a fan of LUSH ever since I discovered their Coalface Cleanser and I’ve loved them ever since. If you’re not familiar with the LUSH brand they’re an eco-friendly brand that only uses only organic and vegetarian ingredients that are not tested on animals. And their products smell really, really good. The bath bombs are not the usual bubble bath products that you find in CVS, each bomb comes with a surprise inside which can be anything from sparkles to dried flowers. Each bath bomb contains a combination of baking soda, citric acid and essential oils. I chose the pink Twilight bath bomb which contains lavender, ylang ylang and ovaltine to soothe your mind and body.

As soon as the bath bomb hit the water it started fizzing, which lasted a surprising long time. The bath bomb is a very generous size so you may want to consider splitting it in half before use. I didn’t because I like a lot of bubbles. 🙂 The Twilight Bath Bomb turns the bath water a light shade of purple (the inner part is glittery blue) and the foam was glittery pink and blue. The scent is sweetly fragrant and not overpowering and my skin felt amazingly soft afterwards.

Overall, I loved the bath bomb even though I had a little bit of glitter on me afterward. The bath bomb was fragrant, relaxing and even has a little surprise in the middle. What’s not to love? Have you used any LUSH bath bombs?

LUSH Twilight bath bomb, $4.95 (6.3 oz)

Cult of Aveeno

August 28, 2010

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