Tag: Lotion

Winter Weather Blues – Dry Skin Cures

I woke up to the coldest morning yet this season and my skin definitely knew it. Adjusting to a colder climate has set me on a search for what battles itchy, dry skin best and I have some leaders already lining my shelves. Here are my favorite lotion and potions to protect your skin from winter dryness:

CeraVe Moisturizing Skin Cream: This thick cream is like a little tub of drugstore heaven. The dermatologist-developed formula has no scent, focusing only on deep hydration. Its patented MVE formulation releases ceramides and other essential ingredients throughout the day. There is zero irritation, and anyone with sensitive or irritable skin should love this. On really dry days, I slather this on as soon as I get out of the shower. It absorbs quickly and leaves skin quenched all day long.

Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentrè: I can’t resist a good European import. Especially when I see it in makeup artist’s toolkits so frequently. Often used as a primer, this has a rich lotion consistency while providing cream-strength hydration. I love soothing my skin with this cream after retinol agitation. The formula contains emulsifying and softening agents with active moisturizers that are symbiotic with our skin’s natural balance and encouraging the rebuilding of the hydrolipidic layer.

Kiehl’s Limited Edition Kenny Scharf Creme de Corps: I’m frankly embarassed it took me so long to try this iconic lotion. But might as well try out the limited edition Kenny Scharf version for my first time. Again, this is an unscented lotion – I feel like the focus should be on hydration for serious dry skin. The classic formula absorbes quickly, plumps skin and heals. I like using this at night because there is no stickiness when you are under the sheets.

Caudalie Vinotherapie Divine Oil: This smells so similar to my old, impossible to find favorite – Tocca Body Oil – that I can’t help but go gaga. The spray dispenser is so much easier to use than a simple open top. This particular item is fragranced, but in the most soothing, spa-like way (“subtle, floral and sunkissed fragrance, punctuated with woody undertones”). Grape, hibiscus, sesame and argan oils are combined with anti-oxidant polythenols. My skin looks more luminous. And last night, I even used this on dry ends of hair. It absorbed quickly and left my hair shiny and bouncy. And confession, I even sprayed this on my face with results similar to my trusty Rodin Olio Lusso.

JR Watkins Body Oil Mist: This drugstore body oil also has a spray nozzle and drenches the skin in moisture. I’ve been using lavender, coconut and grapefruit and adore them all. Apricot kernel oil and vitamin E to nourish the skin while providing nutrients. And the oil is quickly absorbed.

And of course, my beloved bliss body butters work great on dry winter skin. See my review from yesterday here.

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Bliss Raspberry Champagne Body Butter

I had crowned Bliss Blood Orange and White Pepper as my favorite bliss fragrance (adore the Bliss Blood Orange and White Pepper Scrub). But there is a new scent in town. The limited edition, limited quantity Raspberry Champagne Body Butter is perfectly festive, fresh and cheerful.

I’m not sure what makes this champagne scented – but it definitely conjures daydreams of the bubbly. Perhaps it is a slightly grape flavor, but the leading lady is the rasbperry. Like bliss’ other body butters, this rich lotion is massively hydrating and leaves a subtle glow (there is no shimmer but I look more luminous). You can use this after a shower or bath, but I can stop slathering it on every time I walk by as it sits on my counter. This vividly scented body lotion definitely says “cheers!”

Shop here for Raspberry Champagne Body Butter and my other bliss favorites:

Victoria’s Secret Seduction Dark Orchid GIVEAWAY

Victoria’s Secret beauty isn’t the “frothy confection” it used to be (Revenge fans, see what I did there?). Back in the day, VS Beauty was a collection of sweet, pink and glitter. But today, they offer sophisticated fragrance and some real winners in the makeup department. I already have raved about their body oil (see post here). And now I am swooning over Victoria’s Secret Seduction Dark Orchid.

I’ve been using Dark Orchid perfume, body spray and lotion for a week. The chilly weather was a perfect excuse to test drive a sultry, richer fragrance. Dark Orchid is a blend of Midnight Orchid, Crushed Plum and Oud Wood – making it a kind of provocative, darker scent. Details on the fragrance notes:

Top notes: Crème de cassis, blood orange, crushed plum, pineapple blossom, bergamot, yuzu zest
Middle notes: Jasmine, red ginger orchid, dark red calla lilies, midnight orchid, muguet petals
Dry-down notes: Smooth warm amber, oud wood, tonka beans, amber crystals, cashmere woods, creamy musk

Because of the high drama, I love the option of the fragrance mist (aka body spray). It has a less intense feel. The lotion is hydrating and absorbs quickly, leaving behind just a hint of Dark Orchid. And the Eau de Parfume, in a beautiful square bottle, is intense but not heady. You better bet I will be hunting down the candle.

I’m so happy to share this collection with my readers. Three lucky winners will receive the entire fragrance set. Open to residents in US, Canada and London. Enter using the widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Shop the collection:

Laura Mercier Ambre Vanille Souffle Body Cream

Laura Mercier might be known for the flawless face, but I think her bath and body products are just as epic. I love her frothy, sweet but elegant scents. Almond, Coconut and Vanilla are featured prominently (which I love). But her latest scent, Ambre Vanillè, has a hint of musky woody flavor to make is the perfect cozy fall fragrance.

I have gravitated towards the actual Eau de Toilette in the past, but for this collection I am savoring the Souffle Body Cream. The upcoming dry months are the perfect excuse to indulge in a rich and hydrating lotion. Laura didn’t just make a pretty scent either. She really thought about skin care. The formula includes vitamin A, pro-vitamin B5, C and E. Grape seed, rice bran oil, vanilla extract and honey soothe and condition skin. Almond and rice protein provide moisture balance and protection.

The Body Cream doesn’t leave the skin sticky, but it is dewy. The fragrance persists and makes for great layering with your perfume. The consistency isn’t as stiff as other balms – the body cream applies slightly more like a lotion. After using this and Bliss High Intensity ’24-Heaven™’ Healing Body Balm for a couple weeks, my skin looks healthier and more radiant.

Bliss High Intensity ’24-Heaven™’ Healing Body Balm and GIVEAWAY

Like a momma bear getting ready for hibernation, I am preparing for these winter months when my skin is known to become a dry, itchy mess. And this year, I am stockpiling Bliss High Intensity ’24-Heaven™’ Healing Body Balm.

This insanely rich balm looks like icing or crisco in the tub but has the consistency closer to greek yogurt. And while it is very nourishing, the quickly absorbing balm doesn’t become greasy or sticky. Staying on the food trend, the scent is kind of like cake batter (but not in that teenybopper, nauseous way). It smells clean and maybe even a little vanilla on the skin.

That would probably sell me right there. But then bliss went a step further. They threw in exfoliating lactic acid and soothing, protective colloidal oatmeal. At the end of the day, my skin still feels super hydrated from my AM application.

Just because I love you readers (and in honor of Belle Belle Beauty’s second birthday), I willing to part with a ’24-Heaven’ from my own person stash. Just enter using the widget below. Open to anyone anywhere! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you don’t want to chance it, you can pick up your own at NeimanMarcus.com.

Scent Bar from Target

Scent Bar is a “must see” destination in LA. Adam Eastwood and Franco Wright have developed a reputation of delivering unique and exclusive scents, becoming true fragrance gurus. And all of this is available in their lux boutique with exquisite service. But should you be further than a hop, skip and a jump from LA, hold on…. Scent Bar is the latest company to offer a beauty exclusive at Target.

These scents are wearable, fresh and perfect for every day. Each of the four scents offer a body wash, body lotion, body mist and a shea intense body butter. Use the products together for a longer-lasting scent. Or mix and match! The fragrances are really fruity and feminine, but not unsophisticated.

Blush, girly and flirty, is fragranced with notes of sugared peony, cassis and pink champagne.
Cabana is the ultimate escape, fragranced with notes of coconut, Tahitian vanilla and papaya. I love keeping the Cabana body mist in my fridge to cool off after a day running around in the heat.
Forbidden is an ode to seduction, fragranced with notes of ruby pomegranate, blackberry and amber. Forbidden’s sweet berry will translate nicely into the fall.
Sunswept is citrusy and cheerful, fragranced with notes of Sicilian orange, sheer lemon and bergamot.

Keep your eye out for the products, starting at $8.99, this fall!