Category: bath and body

Illume Eternal Nomad Bath & Body Collection

This spring, Illume and Sephora are expanding their Eternal Nomad collection – I hadn’t come across Illume goodies at Sephora so I was anxious to try out the product lineup. Not only does the name “Eternal Nomad” speak to my heart – I have a traveller’s soul – but the fresh, tropical scents are perfect for this time of year.

First, a little about Illume: the company is infused with the culture of travelers and seekers, reflecting on culture and color. I’ve known Illume mostly for their home fragrance. Made in the USA, Illume candles are made with either food-grade paraffin or an all-natural blend of coconut wax, beeswax and essential oils. I’m hooked on Gardenia, Tahitian and Amber Dunes (although I can’t say there isn’t a fragrance of theirs I don’t like).

The Eternal Nomad collection comes in three signature fragrances:

Cactus Verde: A bright blend of cassis, pink sea salt, aloe vera and wild geranium with a hint of avocado.
Thai Lily: A sensory ritual of Bali mango, blood orange and white nectarine – with Brazilian teak, Asiatic lily and a hint of musk.
Coconut Mango: A tropical fusion of mango and coconut milk, infused with orange and eucalyptus oils.

The Coconut Mango collection has been warming me up for spring. I’ve been layering the products for a gentle, but long-lasting fragrance. The whole product lineup includes:

Intensive Moisture Body Wash: this jumbo-sized body wash has a special formula that leaves skin hydrated. The water-soluble oils allow for lather but also strengthens skin’s natural protection barrier.
Cocoa-Illipe Body Butter: this rich and thick butter is a champ against my dry skin, absorbing quickly but also adding a wallop of moisture.
Lathering Body Scrub: Not much I love more than a foaming scrub – the tiny beads work to leave skin ultra ultra soft.
Gold Lustre Shimmer Mist: This light-weight mist is going to be perfect once I get a little color going, having just a touch of glimmer and luxury.
Sunlit Bronzing Lotion: Speaking of color, I am loving this bronzer for arms, legs and decolletage – it adds a luminous glow with moisture, adding just a touch of micro-fine gold mica pigments for sun-kissed look.
A Nomad Journey Gift Set with 2-ounce tubes of Intensive Moisture Body Wash and Cocoa-Illipe Body Butter are stocked away for my upcoming beach vacation – could there be a more perfect scent for time by the sea?

The capsule collection is available online and launched in 63 stores (including Times Square, Union Square, Soho, Short Hills, Santa Monica, Topanga and South Beach) yesterday. I love everything I tried, but please please don’t miss out of the Sunlit Bronzing Lotion – it is too good!

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE WAS PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

Five Favorite Scrubs for Spring

I can rattle all sorts of reasons for scrubbing it up this time of year: self-tanning, time of renewal, glow-y skin, silky legs, and on and on. Yesterday was the first day of spring after all. Down with strep throat this week, I’ve being playing spa at home while I recover. All in the name of research, right? Before you run out and stock up your shower for a new exfoliator or body polish, I wanted to share my five favorite scrubs I am reaching for right now.

Elemis Spa Home Tranquil Body Polish takes me back to an amazing spa (now long gone – RIP) I used to visit that featured Elemis products. The line is elegant and exotic all at the same time. This polish has fine granuals made of natural rice that actually have a pretty active exfoliating effect. There is no greasy residue but the formula does contain Cupuacu butter to smooth and condition. Essential oils of patchouli, mandarin and ginger add to the spa-like effect – absolutely love this fragrance. This scrub is great for prepping legs for a self-tan. Available at here.

AHAVA Smoothing Body Exfoliator also has a to die for fragrance but the formula is slightly different with a gommage texture. I actually like how this prevents the scrub from sliding around while you work it into the skin. The Dead Sea plant extracts and granules, actually quite large, but very gentle, clear skin and improve circulation. I particularly like this for those stubborn bumps on the back of my arms. Available at AHAVAUS.com and Nordstrom.com.

Avalon Organics Lavender Luminosity Exfoliating Enzyme Scrub is what I’m turning to for my mug these days. This enzyme scrub is super gentle but still sloughs away flakey and dull skin. Both fruit enzymes and walnut shells work as exfoliants while botanical extracts calms skin. The formula is made with at least 70% organic ingredients. Available at natural food stores, Whole Foods Market and www.avalonorganics.com.

Alba Botanica Natural Hawaiian Exfoliating Body Wash will send you straight to the South Pacific. We are having a little seasonal cool down this week, so I am counting on this body wash to keep me in the spring mood. As an exfoliating body wash, this is slightly more gentle while still using Pacific seas salts to detoxify and exfoliate. The citrus scent is great for a little boost in the AM. My skin is super soft post-sudsing up thanks to Jojoba, Macadamia, Avocado and Sweet Almond Oils. Available at natural food stores, Whole Foods Market and www.albabotanica.com.

bliss fatgirlscrub provides a little slim down – who wouldn’t want that? While the Himalayan pink salt exfoliates, the peppermint-scented formula tightens skin. The action promotes circulation, reducing fluids that cause lumps and bumps under the skin. And the removal of dead skin preps skin for any other slimming products that you use post-shower. Available here.

What’s In My Shower These Days

You probably aren’t shocked to find out my shower is full to the brim with beauty goodies. Every day, I grab for something different. But there are those favorites that I keep buying again and again, using every bit to the very last drop. Here’s my current shower MVP list:

H2O Plus Sparkling Currant Shower & Bath Gel is doing a darn good job getting me ready for spring time. The fruity, invigorating scent reminds me of being at the beach in high school without any of the cloying sweetness. The Black Currant Extract and Fruit Enzymes improve skin tone and texture. The best part? The Vitamin E capsules – tiny, jelly like balls that burst with just a bit of pressure that add crazy softness to my skin.

Tokyo Milk Eiffel Tower Soap from Neiman Marcus are almost too pretty to use. But eventually, I couldn’t resist and ripped that pretty paper to reveal a heafty bar of delicious smelling soap. The triple milled soap is made from a pure vegetable base and scented with the finest perfume. I get great lather while Shea Butter provide moisture. The Eiffel Tower scent is a blend of Linden, Honeyed rose, Wisteria petals and White musk.

Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel is my new go-to shower face cleanser. While it doesn’t have my beloved foaming action, I love the way it can remove every bit of makeup and dirt. It has a fairly strong floral, cucumber-like scent – sounds odd, but it is actually delightful. Papaya and Grapefruit Extracts are provide exfoliating Alpha Hydroxy Acids to deep clean pores. Love using this with my Clarisonic.

Neutrogena Shampoo, Anti-Residue Formula is a relatively new addition and I constantly scratch my head why the classic formula didn’t make its way into my shower sooner. My hair was looking a little dull – no excuse for that – I never color it and always use this heat defense serum. Well, the problem was residue. Used once a week, this shampoo and remove all that gunk from shampoos, conditioners and styling products.

St. Ives Revitalizing Pear & Soy Body Wash, another bargain hit from St. Ives that really works. Soy and Pear not only make this formula smell great, but also moisturize skin. Like H2O Plus Sparkling Currant Shower & Bath Gel, the fragrance is getting me in the Spring mood. The soap lathers but without leaving that dry, tight feeling. And around $3, you can beat the price.

Kate Somerville ‘Body Glow’ Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 20

I savored every bit of winter. I loved the cozy weather and the tiny bit of snow we got. But, by next weekend, we are supposed to be in the 80s here. So I relent and welcome Spring with open arms. Time to stock up on shorts, tees, skirts and sandals!

But you know what that also means, right? Not to mention the handful of cocktail dresses I’ve donned lately, legs are in full view. Kate Somerville ‘Body Glow’ Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 20 not only adds that crucial sun protection but has the prettiest golden shimmer.

Not just that, it can improve the appearance of skin over time. The formula smoothes, protects and firms all at once. The SPF is powered by a new innovative SolarX Complex with broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection. Caffeine helps refine texture, improve tone, contour and firm the appearance of skin. Rosemary extract and other antioxidants help fight free radicals. And Mango butter packs a moisture punch.

The lotion has a subtle SPF scent. The thin texture leaves my skin soft and supple. I will certainly be keeping this stuff on hand while the weather heats up. It does everything and more you could ask of an everyday SPF.

Shop for it here.

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE WAS PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

Orla Kiely Now at Neiman Marcus

Have you noticed Neiman Marcus has brought in some new brands to their beauty department. I am particularly excited about this one for color cosmetics. But the home fragrance and bath & body brand that has me paying attention is Orla Kiely. The British designer inspired by vivid color, pattern, graphic control, texture, and rhythm makes clothes, accessories, and paper goods. But Neiman Marcus is focused on the fragrance line.

For the home, there are candles and diffusers in these delicious scents: Bluebell & Rosemary, Fig Tree, Sage & Cassis, Basil & Mint, Primrose & Bergamot and Geranium & Myrrh. These savory scents paired with whimsical packaging are perfect for spring, right? Neiman Marcus is also carrying a Geranium bath and body line with hand cream, soap bar, body lotion, shower gel and hand wash.

The candles are made of 100% vegetable wax, in a cream glass holder and come with a heat protection mat. This candle will burn up to 50 hours. I love diffusers because they are so low maintenance – just leave them and allow the scent to diffuse into the room. For a stronger scent, sticks can be turned around every two to three weeks. The Geranium bath and body line uses essential oils, including geranium, eucalyptus, and clary sage to refresh the mind and body. I can’t quit the hand lotion which has a permanent place at my desk.

Shop the collection:

Latest and Greatest from Xen-Tan

Here’s another little idea for your Neiman Marcus Beauty Event shopping bag. In anticipation of spring, I’ve been test driving the newest Xen-Tan products. I was frankly already hooked (see here and here), but these guys made me fall even harder. What’s best, is you can really get a formula that best suits you with these two very different approaches to self-tanner.

First up, the Moroccan Weekly Medium Self-Tan is most like a traditional self-tanner in that the formula is pigmented. I mean really really pigmented. It comes out of the tube in a deep, rich chocolate. The consistency is thin and silky. While it takes some time to evenly apply the pigment, the immediate result is a beautiful bronze. The upside to the coloring is you can tell where you’ve applied the tanner.

After eight hours, I get a brown-based, rich but still medium color on my light skin. While it did dry quickly, I’d be very hesitant to wear light clothing until you shower just due to the coloring. As with all Xen-Tan products, the smell is completely pleasant with a tropical touch. Bonus points for the collagen building peptides to improve the look of skin.

Secondly (and probably my favorite) is Luminous Gold Gel Sparkle Weekly Medium Self-Tan. This totally clear, thin gel is a breeze to apply. While you don’t have the advantage of seeing where you’ve already applied product, I feel a little more carefree using the gel. It seems to work its way onto the skin a little easier. And you can absolutely put on any white or light clothing worry-free.

While you don’t get that immediate bronze glow, there is an iridescent gold shimmer that gives a dewy, glam look. This might be ideal for maintaining a tan – the gold accents existing bronze and you don’t need that immediate golden effect. Or you can add this to Moroccan Weekly Medium Self-Tan for a both shimmer and bronze look. Like Moroccan Weekly Medium Self-Tan, the final result was a brown-based, rich but still medium color.

Disclaimer: weird leg photo ahead (I do this for you, dear readers). On the left, Moroccan Weekly Medium Self-Tan and the right Luminous Gold Gel Sparkle Weekly Medium Self-Tan immediately after applying. After eight hours, they look exactly the same (same pigment as left). Second disclaimer, I am so so so so pale.

Pale Legs on Xen-Tan // Belle Belle Beauty