Bath and Body Works Mad About You

Valentine's Day is in the air and nearly every beauty product line is releasing something special to celebrate this time of the year and I can't even be too much of a Grumpy Cat this year.  My personal mission is to find a great new fragrance to match the dress that I have picked out for the big day and I am starting right now with testing and searching out new blends.  I still have more than a week to find a new perfume but it has been snowing almost every week since the beginning of December and more than shopping trip has been cancelled due to weather over the past two months.  Let's see if this trend continues for the rest of the month...at the rate that the snow is coming down, we might be able to celebrate Valentine's Day by the beginning of March.

Last month, Bath and Body Works releases three new fragrances for the beginning of spring and I am eagerly looking forward to pulling out my Sky body products once the snow begins to melt.  This isn't what I had in mind for Valentine's Day though so I will be keeping it in the bag for the next few weeks.  I want a pretty, girly floral scent for Valentine's Day and maybe something with roses or peonies as a heart note.  I do see that Bath and Body Works released a new scent at the beginning of this week and this is one that I considered for my Valentine's Day fragrance.  Mad About You even sounds like the perfect date night perfume...

I was first attracted to this fragrance because of the beautiful bottle of the Eau de Toilette but the fragrance inside just wasn't for me.  "A love-struck pairing of soft peonies & black currant kissed with creamy vanilla musk.", states the Bath and Body Works website.  The top notes of the perfume are:  Black Currant, Luscious Strawberry, Sparkling Cassis.  The middle notes are: Ginger Lily, Bright Peony, Pink Jasmine.  The base notes are: Amber Wood, White Patchouli, Vanilla Musk.

This fragrance starts out all berry on me, its too sweet and berry notes often do not work well with my skin chemistry.  I tried to get through this phase of the fragrance and hope that it works better once the floral notes start to come out.  The peony note is too faint for me, the Black Currant and Cassis overpower all of the floral notes and keep this fragrance more berry than floral.  Berry notes sour on me and this one quickly follows that same path, the sweet notes quickly go sour and the whole fragrance is then just bad.  It reminds me of exactly the way that the Juicy fragrances react on me and why I tend to stay away from them. 

The EDT was very strong and lasted through a shower on me so I would give this fragrance full marks for staying power.  I tried the Lotion on my hand but this form was no better on me.  It had too much berry for me and soured within a few minutes of application.  This fragrance was a dud in all forms for me.  Such a shame since the bottle of just so pretty...

Mad About You is available in all the traditional Signature Collection forms along with the new Diamond Shimmer and a Whipped Shimmer Mousse that debuted sometime in the last holiday season.  The following forms can be found in this fragrance: Fine Fragrance Mist, Shower Gel, Body Lotion, Triple Moisture Body Cream, Body Scrub, Luxury Bubble Bath, and EDT.  The two shimmer forms are relatively newer and would be great choices for going out.

The Diamond Shimmer Mist is the newest version of a shimmer mist from this company.  I do not believe that any of the old ones are available so I assume that this is the new shimmer line.  "Dazzle with Diamonds! Infused with real diamond dust, our luxurious Diamond Shimmer Mist kisses skin with irresistible fragrance and gorgeous sparkle.", is the product description available on the company's website.  I wonder how much diamond dust is actually found in this product...

This is a nice fragrance for those for those who can wear berry notes, I can't and this ruins the whole fragrance for me.  I was hoping for something more floral and I know that I am going to have to keep searching for a new fragrance for the holiday or wear a current favorite in my collection (if the snow keeps me home the way that it has been).

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Bath and Body Works Sky, Air, Sun

Bath and Body Works has just began to bring out the beginning of their spring line and I can say that everyone that lives in this area is ready for something bright and pretty, the snow has been piling up for the past month and there seems to be no end in sight to the cold and ice.  The Polar Vortex has been the big trend for this winter and I want to smell something that will remind me that spring does really exist even though I will not be able to wear any type of fragrance like these for at least two or three more months. 

Bath and Body Works has brought out their spring candles, hand soaps, and a line of limited edition fragrances called Sky, Air, Sun.  These are three new fragrances that are bright florals and will be perfect for the very beginning of spring and I first smelled these scents at the very beginning of January when the company previewed the small lotions during their Semi Annual Sale.  Now all three fragrances are out in the store and I am deciding what scents I will be adding to my collection.  Sky, Air, Sun consists of three fragrances: Sky (Violet Lily), Air (Pear Blossom), and Sun (Golden Magnolia).  Pear Blossom was a fragrance that I loved from this company when I was in college and I have nothing left of it, I got so excited when I first saw these names because I hoped that this Pear Blossom was the same as that one.  Sadly it isn't but it is a pretty fragrance all the same.

We will start with the Pear Blossom Air since I have already began talking about the old version of this perfume.  "Pear Blossom Air is an invigorating blend of crisp green pear, fresh gardenia and narcissus leaf, with whispers of crisp mandarin vapor and white musk."  The top notes of this fragrance are: Crisp Mandarin Vapor, Grapefruit, Red Apple, Crisp Greens.  The heart notes are: Crisp Green Pear, Narcissus, Gardenia.  The base notes are: Heliotrope, Cedar wood, Driftwood, White Musk.  This fragrance is more of a light white floral and less of the great pear and floral mix that the first fragrance was, this one is pretty but it is a bit too light for me to wear.  I prefer the Annick Goutal Petite Cherie when I want to wear a pear fragrance in the early spring.  I would consider the body products in this fragrance but I would not wear the Fine Fragrance Mist.

The next fragrance is the Violet Lily Sky, my favorite of the three and one of the most unique fragrances that I have ever smelled from this company.  "A heavenly blend of fresh violet blooms, sparkling bergamot and pink pepper, floating on a cloud of whipped lily petals and sheer sandalwood."  I do not remember ever smelling a combination of violet and lily flowers and I love this combination.  The top notes are:  Pomelo, Pink Pepper, Sparkling Bergamot Juice.  The middle notes are: Honeysuckle, Fresh Violet Blooms, Gardenia Water, Whipped Lily Petals.  The bottom notes of the fragrance are: Sheer Sandalwood, White Amber, Sensual Musks.  I know that I will want the body products in this fragrance but am currently deciding on purchasing the fragrance itself.

The last fragrance is the warmest of the three and would be better later spring or summer, it reminds me very much of the old fragrance Forever Sunshine.  "Golden Magnolia Sun is a luminous blend of pink magnolia, golden apricot and sun kissed peony, blooming with a touch of sensual vanilla and cassis nectar."  This is a mix of magnolia and apricot and I like it but I don't know that I love it, there is just something in it that turns me off when I tried the lotion on for the first time.  The top notes are:  Cassis Nectar, Mandarin, Apricot, Lotus flower, Leaves.  The middle notes are:  Jasmine, Peony, Water Orchid, Sheer Freesia, Pink Magnolia.  The bottom notes are: Caramel, Vanilla, Amber.  I just don't know what I don't like in this fragrance when I put it on, it smells pretty in the bottle but this isn't the fragrance for me.

I love the Violet Lily Sky, this one will be mine in the body products but I don't know that I would use the Fine Fragrance Mist in this scent.  The Golden Magnolia Sun is pretty in the bottle but I will need to skip over it since one or more of these notes just doesn't work when I try to wear it, this one will not be a choice for me.  The Pear Blossom Air is one that I am on the fence about, I don't know that I will be picking it up.  I like the pear note but I don't like how the florals were mixed into it, I doubt that I would buy anything in this fragrance since I certainly don't need any new body products.

The fragrances come in the typical Signature Collection products; Fine Fragrance Mist, Shower Gel, Body Lotion, Triple Moisture Body Cream, Foaming Scrub, and a newer product called the Diamond Shimmer Mist.  The Diamond Shimmer Mist is a product that was just introduced and replaces all the old shimmer products.  I saw the old shimmer products on a Sale table so I would guess that this is the only shimmer product that will be carried by this company.  "Dazzle with Diamonds! Infused with real diamond dust, our luxurious Diamond Shimmer Mist kisses skin with irresistible fragrance and gorgeous sparkle."  I am not shimmer lady so this will not be a product that will be added to my collection...

Spring is a still a very long way away and the prediction for next month is even more snow so I will be picking up some of the Violet Lily Sky products to put away for a few months.  At least spring fragrances get closer each day...

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Bath and Body Works Velvet Sugar

The holidays are less than three weeks away and I am done with my Christmas shopping and am trying my hardest to stay away from the mall.  I did have to run over the other day and was able to try out the new fragrance that Bath and Body Works has just brought out to finish the holiday season up and I know that I will not need it for either myself or anyone on my shopping list.  Bath and Body Works fragrances aren't really doing much for me lately, the only one that has worked for me since the beginning of last fall was Forever Midnight and I haven't even been using this one on a regular basis.  I have been loving all the candles and other Home Fragrance items that have come out this holiday season but the fragrances just aren't winners for me.  Maybe next spring will bring some new ones for me...

Velvet Sugar is the Bath and Body Works version of Pink Sugar, a fragrance that I wore in college and got over as soon as I finished up my bottles of the perfume and the matching body products.  I wanted to like this fragrance for the same reason that I love the Vanilla Bean Noel fragrance, I love sweet cupcake fragrances around the holidays and then will use them all the way through Valentine's Day.  It's a good thing that I buy Vanilla Bean Noel body products every single year and have a good stock pile of them to use once the stores are sold out of the fragrance.  I wanted to like this fragrance and add the body products to my line up but this one just isn't for me.

Velvet Sugar is said to be modeled after a Red Velvet Cupcake, one of my favorite desserts and one of the best holiday candles that Bath and Body Works has come out with this season.  "Savor every moment of this sweetly sumptuous blend of red velvet créme and golden plum laced with a swirl of sugared musk, pink jasmine and wild strawberries. Too much is never enough."  The top notes are: Wild Strawberries, White Nectarine, Pear Blossom, Apple Nectar.  The middle notes of the fragrance are:  Pink Jasmine, Golden Plum, Red Velvet Créme, Dewy Honeysuckle, Freesia.  The base notes are: Golden Amber, Vanilla , Tolu Balsam, Caramel, Baileys Créme, Sugared Musk. 

What is Tolu Balsam and what is it doing in this fragrance?!  I tried this fragrance in the EDP and the matching Body Lotion and didn't fall in love with either.  I loved the perfume bottle and actually wanted to love this fragrance just to have it sitting on my bureau but I couldn't bring myself to buy the perfume just to set the bottle out.  This fragrance is all strawberries, sugar, sweet musk, and more sugar.  I think I got a tooth ache from just trying this fragrance on...

The perfume is a mixture of the berry and sugar on me and then it settles down into the musk note, I got several compliments on the fragrance when I was wearing it but I still didn't like the way that it smelled.  The lotion was more sugar and the shower gel was more strawberry, I considered buying the body products but I didn't love the fragrance enough to add more products to my already overloaded bureau and shower caddy.  Maybe I will revisit this fragrance around Valentine's Day and see if my views on it change.

I put up a picture of the EDP in this fragrance because I love the packaging so much.  The rest of the packaging and products are more in line with the traditional Signature Collection products.  You can purchase the following products in this fragrance: Fine Fragrance Mist, Shower Gel, Body Lotion, Triple Moisture Body Cream, Luxury Bubble Bath, and Shimmer Mist.  I am only considering the body products to be worthy of retrying next Valentine's Day, I cannot wear any of the fragrances in Velvet Sugar and doubt that my mind will change any time soon.

This hasn't been the best fall season for fragrances for me from this company but the candles and matching Wallflower Bulbs have been spot on and are one of the best holiday collections that I have seen in several years from this company.

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Bath and Body Works Forever Midnight

My major thoughts of the beginning of this month are surrounding all the work that I will have to do to get ready for the holidays.  I hate thinking about Christmas before I even have my Halloween costume picked out but now that holiday has come and gone last week and everything is beginning to get decorated for the holidays that are rapidly arriving.  It seems like every store in the mall is decked out and getting ready and Bath and Body Works is leading the pack with brand new holiday items.  Holiday was one of my favorite times of the year there and I have always had a soft spot for Vanilla Bean Noel and buy lots of holiday candles.  Last year, Bath and Body Works broke from its trend of cozy holiday scents (Vanilla Bean Noel, Winter Candy Apple) and introduced a beautiful fragrance named Forever Red that I still consider one of my favorites in my collection.  Thanks to the tremendous success of that fragrance, Bath and Body Works has released another fragrance in the Forever line this holiday season, Forever Midnight. 

Forever Red had distinctive notes of Pomegranate, Osmanthus, and Vanilla Rum and wears differently on every lady that I have ever smelled it on.  This fragrance could be worn day and night and I have worn it from work to class to getting dressed up, this is one of the few fragrances that works in every scenario that I have ever worn it in.  Forever Midnight is a very different style of fragrance, this fragrance is more much about getting dressed up for dates and holiday parties, hence the name "Midnight", this is perfect time of the year to release a fragrance this like!

I love that the Forever fragrances are offered in an Eau de Parfum, I put the Forever Red EDP on in the morning and I can still smell it by the end of my night class.  I am hoping that I can use this fragrance when getting dressed up in the evening and then not need to touch it up at all.  "An irresistible blend of night-blooming vanilla orchid & luscious plum nectar warmed by rich caramel liqueur.", states the Bath and Body Works website. 

The top notes of Forever Midnight are: Plum Nectar, Apple Blossom, Caramelized Pear.  The heart notes are: Night Blooming Vanilla Orchid, Midnight Jasmine, Gardenia.  The base notes are: Caramel Liqueur, Whipped Meringue, Sandalwood.  I tried this fragrance earlier today in the store and decided that the perfume would be my first purchase from this new fragrance line.  The perfume smells very deep on my skin and the Vanilla Orchid and Jasmine come out the strongest on me and this is a very feminine floral fragrance for me.  I have already purchased the large bottle of the EDP and want to go back for more of the body products in the coming weeks.  This scent might be my new favorite for the holiday parties!

This fragrance comes out in many of the same forms as Forever Red: EDP, Shower Gel, Body Lotion, Triple Moisture Body Cream, Fine Fragrance Mist, and all forms of small products.  I wished that this fragrance came in the Rollerball form that I bought the Forever Red fragrance but since that product was discontinued, I wasn't surprised that Midnight wasn't released in it.  So far, I have bought the EDP, Shower Gel, Body Lotion, and Triple Moisture Body Cream.  The Triple Moisture Body Cream holds a special place in my heart because the package features the skyline of Park Avenue on front.  This makes me think of Sex and the City and the scene in Season Four where Samantha meets Richard on the rooftop pool in the middle of the night.  I might have bought the product for just the packaging but I am glad that I like the product inside the pretty package too!

This fragrance will be harder to wear than Forever Red, it is much stronger and more musky.  It will appeal to a special type of customer and at a special time.  I hesitate to call this a hit for this company, I cannot see how many of their holiday customers will try this fragrance out with their Holiday candles and hand soaps.  It will make a lovely gift and I can see it being giving to many women by the men in their lives.  This scent will appeal to their customers who prefer to buy fragrances from Macy*s and Sephora and tend to use Bath and Body Works for other types of items.   I fall into this category and know that I will wear this fragrance when getting dressed up for the holidays and then throughout the winter months.

Happy Holidays!

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Bath and Body Works Luxury Bubble Bath

With the change of their whole Signature Collection packaging line, Bath and Body Works has updated the formula of their bubble bath.  The Signature Collection Bubble Bath was always one of the best formulated products in their store and I am interested to see how the product was updated and improved.  It is now called Luxury Bubble Bath and I was hoping that it might be similar in formula to the Aromatherapy but I found that it wasn't very different from the old formula.  I visited the store last night and picked up a new bubble bath in Pink Chiffon.

I must admit that I was a bit surprised to see that the company decided to update the formula on the Bubble Bath.  Over the past few years, this product has come out less and less with new fragrances and seems to be only available in what are considered the best selling fragrances in the store.  I remember from working there in college that this type of product was always the first to go once the fragrance wasn't selling as well and it was a barometer as to what fragrances were going to be discontinued soon.  I still have memories of the Coconut Lime Verbena bubble bath and I used every last drop of that formula when I was on my last bottle of.  I haven't found a bubble bath that I have loved so much since then...

The new formula of the Luxury Bubble Bath is described as follows, "Rich, creamy foam envelops skin in long-lasting, luxe bubbles. Fortified with nutrient-rich ingredients like protective Vitamin E, Jojoba and Aloe, our ultra-soothing formula leaves skin beautifully scented with irresistible fragrance."  I remember that the old formula had honey in the ingredient list but the addition of Jojoba is new. 

I purchased the product in Pink Chiffon and used it for the first time last night.  I used about two capfuls of the new formula...the exact amount that I would have used from the old formula.  I got a bathtub full of bubble from that amount however this is no different than what I would have gotten from the old formula.  The biggest difference seems to be that the new formula has a stronger fragrance than the older version.  I like this aspect of it but this many appeal to anyone who doesn't love to be fully surrounded by fragrance in the bathtub.  I can't say that this formula NEEDED to be revamped but I do like the new formula.

The new bubble bath only seems to be available in a few fragrances.  I was hoping to see it in Coconut Lime Breeze but my wish wasn't granted.  This product can be purchased in: Japanese Cherry Blossom, Twilight Woods, Warm Vanilla Sugar, Sweet Pea, Moonlight Path, Paris Amour, Beautiful Day, and Pink Chiffon.  I was a bit surprised to see this limited availability since the company just put lots of money and efforts into repackaging this whole collection but maybe this means that the product will be available in more of the new and limited edition fragrances.

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Bath and Body Works Amber Blush

Bath and Body Works has released a new fragrance for the fall and early winter and it brings the revamping of their Signature Collection products with it.  Fall has just started and it is time for many of us to start looking for new fragrances and body products to use as the weather is really changing.  The Fall Traditions fragrances came out again this year before Labor Day and I skipped over them because they are basically the exact same fragrances that we get every single year and I have never found any of them to be all that great (unless you LOVE pumpkin) and wasn't wasting my time on them this year.  I am glad that I kept waiting and now can feel free to buy another fragrance this fall.

Amber Blush was released earlier than I had first heard but I am glad to see and try a new fragrance for fall.  This is a strong berry fragrance was is a disappointment for me, most berry fragrances either go very sweet or very sour on me and I tend to only be able to wear berries when they are mixed with strong florals.  I doubted that this fragrance would be a keeper for me and I was right after trying out the Fragrance Mist and the Lotion, the lotion is ok on me but the mist goes much too sweet for me to wear on a daily basis.

"Capture the sensual warmth and luxury of a romantic getaway! Raspberry champagne & gardenia petals mingle with a seductive kiss of crystallized amber for an ultra-feminine scent.", states the Bath and Body Works website when providing us with a fragrance description.  The top notes of the fragrance are: Sparkling Bergamot, Juicy Mandarin, Raspberry Champagne.  The heart notes are: Jasmine, Gardenia Petals, Star Anise, Apricot Nectar, Magnolia Blossom.  The base notes are: Creamy Vanilla Suede, Crystalized Amber, Golden Sandalwood, Soft Musk.

I get all the Raspberry Champagne from this fragrance and next to none of the other notes...especially not the floral notes that are in the brew.  This fragrance starts out with the raspberry and a bit of tart champagne but the champagne quickly fades away and the fragrance wears as a very sweet raspberry on me.  I don't get much of the amber notes or any of the bottom notes and this fragrance fades pretty quickly since it has little to no base.  This is not the best fragrance for me and I will not able to wear it, the raspberry annoys me and gives me quite a headache.  The Fine Fragrance Mist was awful on me and will not be coming home with me.

The fragrance comes in the full range of Signature Collection forms: EDT, Fine Fragrance Mist, Shower Gel, Body Lotion, Triple Moisture Body Cream, Golden Sugar Scrub, and Shimmer Mist.  The EDT is better than the Fine Fragrance Mist for me, it is less sweet and the tart champagne note is much stronger.  I bought the small sample of it earlier this month and have been wearing it the past few days, I like it in the EDT but don't love it enough to purchase the full size bottle.  I get sick of this fragrance quickly, I can only wear it two or three days in a row before I tire of it and want to switch over to another fragrance. 

The lotion and shower gel is in this fragrance are better for me than the EDT or Fine Fragrance Mist and the only items that I would consider purchasing.  The body products are still slightly too sweet for me to like, I prefer sweet vanilla scents to sweet berry scents and know that I wouldn't get very much use from the body products and therefore there isn't much of a point in my purchasing them.  If you like berry scents, then you will love this fragrance but I will be skipping over it and setting some cash aside for when the Holiday Traditions body products come out!

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Bath and Body Works Summer Chill

Now that the Semi Annual Sale is over, Bath and Body Works has created several new lines of products and I have been all about this store for since the beginning of this month.  We have already looked at the True Blue Spa Shower Smoothies and I picked up the rest of the collection scents already.  Now I am moving toward the Summer Chill collection of scents that was released for the Signature Collection and I have even more body products to collect at the moment.

Summer Chill is probably the last limited edition collection that Bath and Body Works will release for the warm weather months, I remember from working there in college that the fall products start getting shipped to stores at the end of July so soon we will all start thinking about pumpkins and cider.  But until then...I need to celebrate every minute of the warm weather and pick up a few last minute summer products!

The Summer Chill collection consists of three new fragrances, each with the typical products that are found in the Signature Collection.  All three fragrances are available in the Fine Fragrance Mist, Shower Gel, and Body Lotion; I am disappointed to see that none of the fragrances are available in the Triple Moisture Body Cream that I prefer to use.

The first fragrance that I tried from this collection is still my favorite of the three and the one that I took home first, White Mango Chill.  Everyone that knows me knows that I love mango scents both in the summer and then all year long and this is one of the best that I have smelled in years.  This fragrance is up with The Body Shop Mango and I wanted these products as soon as I smelled them.  "Chill out with an ice cold cooler of white mango, kiwi sorbet and strawberry frost."  The top notes of this scent are: Fresh Red Raspberry, Blackberry, Strawberry, Tangerine, Water Lily, Blue Freesia, Frozen Melon.  The middle notes are: White Mango, Jasmine, Muguet, Orange Blossom, Solar Floral.  The base notes are: Blue Sugar Cane, Musk, Vanilla Bean, Creamy Sandalwood, Teakwood.  This is my favorite scent and I was so excited to buy it the other day!

The second fragrance is my least favorite of the collection, I thought that I would love the Coconut Water Chill since I love coconut scents but this one did nothing for me.  "Beat the summer heat with the ultimate refresher of coconut water, iced acai berry & watery melon.", the problem with this scent for me is that it smells next to nothing like coconut and I get more of a weak melon and berry mixture.  This scent smelled like nothing on my skin and I wasn't impressed.  The top notes are:  Sparkling Tangerine, Lemon Italy Orpur, Bergamot Italia Orpur, Iced Acai, Frozen Apple.  The heart notes of the fragrance are: Watery Melon Notes, Sheer Muguet, Pineapple Juice, Jasmine Petals.  The bottom notes are: Sheer Coconut Water, Sandalwood, Musk, Touch of Madagascar Vanilla.

The last fragrance is the one that I liked but wouldn't consider buying.  The Citrus Orchid Chill is a slightly citrusy scent with a slight floral note.  "Slight" is the best word to describe this scent, it has very little fragrance.  "Cool off during the white hot days of summer with this exotic blend of iced blue orchid, lemon granita & watery star fruit."  The top notes are: Watery Starfruit, Lemon Granita, Sparkling Tangelo.  The middle notes are: Iced Blue Orchid, Chilled Lotus, Pink Jasmine.  The base notes are: White Amber Crystals, Exotic Teak, Solar Musk.

I was expecting to like at least two of the fragrances, if not all three.  I wanted to like all three of the fragrances but only the White Mango Chill ended up coming home with me.  So far, I have bought the Shower Gel and the Body Lotion and I am considering buying multiples of those products since I love this Mango scent.  The Coconut was too berry for me and the Citrus Orchid scent was too light for me to get much of a fragrance from it.  If you don't like a lot of fragrance in the summer months, then these are the scents for you and will be great for you to wear until Labor Day.

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Bath and Body Works True Blue Spa Yogurt Shower Smoothies

All of you know that I have been using Bath and Body Works True Blue Spa self tanners for the past two years and I consider them to be among the best of the tanners on the market.  This is quite a feat considering that I have used some of the best self tanners from Sephora before and this is the only one that even comes close in quality.  Since I love this product so much, I am all about looking for new summer products in the Spa collection and I always wish that Bath and Body Works would expand this great line of products even further.  This summer, the company has brought out a new product for the shower and I am willing to bet that this is a summer-only product (though I can hope that it stays a bit longer).

The Shower Smoothies are a new product line that is based off the popularity of the Mango and Raspberry line of body products that I was buying earlier in the spring.  Those two collections were discontinued at the Sale that just ended and now I see that they are back in the shower products only and a few other fragrances have joined the line up.  I am excited to buy a bunch of these smoothies and use them all summer long, I already own several of the Mango and Raspberry and now I need more of them!

"Our creamy yogurt-enriched shower gel is a nourishing cocktail that cleanses and replenishes skin.  Vitamin E and nutrient-rich fruit extracts provide the ultimate summer indulgence!  Ultra-refreshing body cleanser contains exfoliating apricot seeds.  Rich & creamy formula provides abundant lather."  Each of the smoothies contains special fruit extracts that make them unique and all worth purchasing!

In addition to the Mango and Raspberry, there are four more fragrances that are part of this collection and I have already starting collecting them even though they have only come out last Monday.  The other fragrances that are available are...

- Strawberry Banana
- Blueberry Vanilla
- Honeydew Kiwi
- Pineapple Papaya

My favorites so far are the Strawberry Banana and the Pineapple Papaya.  The Strawberry Banana is the perfect combination of the two fragrances and is perfect to layer with the Fresh Picked Strawberry Body Lotion from last spring.  Pineapple Papaya is heavy on the pineapple and a very unique, tart pineapple fragrance.  This is one that I own nothing like already and was very excited to add it to my collection.  The Honeydew Kiwi is very heavy on the honeydew note, I can barely smell the kiwi note at all.  Again, very unique and a welcome addition to my collection.  The Blueberry Vanilla smells like blueberries and cream and I have never smelled anything like this scent before. 

I already bought both of the Strawberry Banana and Pineapple Papaya and want to buy the other two also.  I think that I can skip over the Mango and Raspberry since I already own two of each scent, I stocked up when they went on sale since I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to get them again.  Turns out...I shouldn't have been quite so worried. 

I have only used the Strawberry Banana so far and I have found that this type of product can be used in two different ways, it works well when applied directly to the skin or when applied to a puff.  I like it both ways but I think that I prefer it when used directly on the skin, I have found that it helps to prolong my self tan and keep my skin very hydrated.  This is a great formula for someone with dry skin or that have had reactions to certain types of foaming ingredients in other body washes.

I love this product line and I really hope that this line is permanent but I believe that it only out foe the summer months.  I am going to buy the two other fragrances that I need and I am even considering picking up more than one bottle of each fragrance.

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Current Favorites!

The heart of summer has now arrived and I am all about running outside, eating the best fresh fruit from the farmer's market, and wearing as many shades of bright greens and pinks as I can.  So far this summer I have been adding the gym into my life at least three times a week and am now appreciating products that can easily take me from work to working out and the right into casual playtime.  I feel that I tend to love many of the same products from summer to summer and then just add a few more new ones into the mix.  My newest love for this summer is from Bath and Body Works, my Pure Paradise Fine Fragrance Mist will lead off the Favorites list as it is my new fragrance love for the warm weather!

My Current Favorites!

Bath and Body Works Pure Paradise Fine Fragrance Mist - "Lavishly splash or lightly spritz your favorite fragrance, either way you'll fall in love at first mist! Our carefully crafted bottle and sophisticated pump delivers great coverage while conditioning aloe mist nourishes skin for the lightest, most refreshing way to fragrance!  A summer-chic blend of sparkling star fruit & ocean-kissed frangipani blossoms it's pure paradise in a bottle!  Mid Notes: Luscious Gardenia, Frangipani, Watery Lily.  Dry Notes: White Musk, Blond Woods, Sun-Kissed Coconut.  Top Notes: Fresh Star Fruit, Juicy Guava, Dewy Cassis."  This is new scent that I added about three weeks ago to my fragrance collection and one that I put on my dresser right away, it is very rare that I find a Fragrance Mist from Bath and Body Works that I love and want to add to my collection, normally I either use only their body products or buy the perfume in a scent that I love.  I almost never use Fragrance Mist but this one was so lovely that I bought it right way when I smelled it.  This is the perfect light tropical floral that actually smells crisp and clean instead of strong and cloying.  I have tried tropical florals from Comptoir Sud and have found that many of them tend toward a mixture of Gardenia notes and Coconut Milk, a combination that is very hard to get correct.  This scent is what I have always envisioned when trying out the tropical florals and I loved this one as soon as I first smelled it.  I own it in the Fragrance Mist and all the matching body products, I will wear them all summer long!

Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Collide - "A vivacious nail varnish.  Leave your mark with bold, rich, vibrant colors that stand out. The formula is long-wearing and chip-resistant and contains individual finishes from matte to high gloss. Apply two coats for high intensity and use with Illamasqua Nail Base Coat and Illamasqua Nail Top Coat for the perfect finish. Make a statement and talk with your hands!"  Collide is a "bright neon pink with a satin finish" and has been a favorite of mine for years.  Anyone that has read this blog for the past few years know that I pull this polish shade out as soon as the weather warms and will be on my Favorites list until the end of summer.  This bright pink shade matches a favorite pair of pink flats and everything that I own from Lilly Pulitzer.  Illamasqua Nail Varnish is one the best quality polishes that I have ever used, they last for about five days with minor chipping and the high shine finish stays just as long.  I will use this shade for both manicures and pedicures all throughout the summer and am considering trying this shade and a bright aqua for new twist on an accent manicure.  A perennial summer favorite!

MAC Cremesheen Glass in Floating Lotus - A lip finish that fuses the creamy, sheen-filled nature of Cremesheen Lipstick with the shine of M∙A∙C Lipglass. Soft, comfortable, non-sticky. Applies with a doe-foot applicator. Use as a top layer to its namesake Lipstick or on its own."  Floating Lotus is a "frosted soft rose" and has quickly risen to the top of my traincase after trying it out for the first time several weeks ago.  I use this lip gloss all the time and it is one of the best shades that I have ever used, the formula is very hydrating and the pigmented formula leaves my lips a great pink shade.  I will be buying more shades in this formula over the next few weeks.

MAC Prep + Prime Skin Face Primer - "An ultra-fluid lotion formulated with special-effect silicones. Calms and soothes the skin, blots away excess oil, and evens out skin redness. Improves the laydown and application of foundation or powder."  I have used this primer several times before and this is one of the few primers that I continue to repurchase over and over again.  This primer works well all year long and somehow manages to prevent excess skin in the summer months and then hydrate dry areas in the rest of the year.  This creates a great base for foundation and Urban Decay Beauty Balm.  I have been using the Beauty Balm for about three weeks now with bronzer (instead of my traditional foundation and powder routine) and I have been very happy with the results from the combination.  I will keep this combination up for the rest of the summer!

Urban Decay Eye Shadow in Maui Wowie -  "Urban Decay’s groundbreaking new eye shadow formula.  This reformulation of Urban Decay’s eye shadow features even softer, amazingly velvety texture; richer, more dense and decadent color; smoother, more uniform pigment distribution and blendability; and longer-lasting, more crease-free wear. The new line of shadows features a completely revamped assortment of shades, new textures, and a totally redesigned token compact.  The secret to the new formula is Urban Decay’s Pigment Infusion System™, a vehicle for color that holds tightly to pigment and gives the formula its glide. The proprietory blend of ingredients allows color to weave itself through the formula resulting in insane color payout, color that stays on your lids, and sparkle that doesn’t fall. The amazing technology works for every shade and finish. Every Urban Decay shade is silky, blendable, and stays put."  Maui Wowie is a "metallic golden beige with silver shimmer" and I have worn it for about two years now.  This is favorite of mine all throughout the year but I especially love this beautiful gold in the summer months, it brightens my blue eyes and complements my fake tan.  I love pairing this eye shadow with a bright pink lip shade for both day and night.

My favorites now area ll about getting the summer started on the right note!

photo courtesy of MAC

Bath and Body Works 60-Second Manicure Hand Scrub

One of the hardest places on my body to successfully self tan is my hands, I have never found a good way to make my hands look natural and completely streak-free.  I have struggled with this year after year and I doubt that I will ever find a way to make this an easy process.  I have decided that I need to focus more on the preparation and the maintenance of the tan.  I have a good regime started for tanning and I will need to just add an extra step or two to improve upon it.  I have been using the Bath and Body Works True Blue Spa Smoothing Foot Scrub for years now to keep my feet an even, streak-free tan and I have decided to use the hand scrub in this collection to see if I get the same results.

I had originally used this product back in college when it was first released and I have used it on and off ever since.  However I have mostly been using it during the late fall and winter in order to try and relive some of the chapping that occurs every cold weather season.  I had not thought of using it any other time of the year since I really don't need it unless my skin is very dry and cracked.  This is the best hand scrub that I have ever tried and I have tried several from a range of salon brands and this is the clear winner and one that I am going to try to make the self tanner on my hands a bit less of an issue. 

"Why wait? This sugar-based exfoliating treatment makes quick work of dull, dry skin and ragged cuticles to give even the most mani-deprived hands a taste of soft, smooth, spa manicure perfection - in just one minute.  Sugar crystals provide exfoliation, resulting in smooth, glowing skin.  Light citrus fragrance.", states the Bath and Body Works website.

To use - "Massage treatment into wet hands for a full minute, paying special attention to any rough areas. Rinse clean to reveal hands that look like they've spent the whole day at the spa."

I use this scrub once a week to get rid of the dry skin that is soaking up too much of the tanner and creating the issues with the streaks and the deep spots than tend to appear on my hands.  This product has some great benefits but a few downsides to it at the same time.  The major benefit is that it is more effective than anything else that I have tried to get dead skin off and help to improve rough, dry areas.  Use of this scrub makes my hand cream work much more effectively and this continues to improve my tanning experience.

The main issue that I have with this product is that I can only use it once a week (at maximum), it takes too much of my tanner off to make me happy and I need to use it sparingly or I will take all of my tan off and I will never be able to build up a good fake tan.  I have accepted this because this is the best hand scrub out there and will help my hands to absorb the tanner better and more evenly (and make them look much more natural than they did before I tried using this product).

I am glad that I started using this product again, I remember how many times I used to wash  my hands with it when I first tried it out and it really is the best hand scrub on the market.  I have tried quite a few and this is the best one and I highly recommend this product for anyone that has dry skin on their hands.

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Bath and Body Works Aromatherapy Smoothing Body Scrub

Body scrubs are one of my favorite body products and I am always excited to try new fragrances and formulas from nearly every single beauty product company.  I am someone who uses scrubs in every single season and consider them to be one of the staples of my body product regime, I scrub at least once a week and usually try to get in a second round once every few weeks.  I have very dry skin all throughout the year and I have found that my moisturizers just don't work correctly unless I take the extra step to exfoliate as much dead skin off as I can before using the products.  It consistently amazes me when people do not use scrubs or body brushes...what is the point of using great product on dead skin cells that aren't going to absorb it and waste it? 

I exfoliate every single season how I do change up my formulas with the season as I want different results at different times of the year.  In the winter, I need a sugar scrub that will get dry skin off without being harsh on my very dry skin.  I use the same type of formula in the spring because I am trying to get the rest of the dead winter skin off before I start wearing skirts and using self tanner.  I find these two seasons to be the most important for scrubs and this when I use them the most.  In the summer and fall months, I will use a lighter formula scrub and it is more for self tanner maintenance and for general skin health (once I stop using tanner for the season).  Right now, I am using a light, foaming formula from the Aromatherapy line from Bath and Body Works.

One of my all time favorite scrub formulas is the Sugar Scrub from Bath and Body Works' Aromatherapy line.  I have used this scrub since I worked there in college and this is one of the few products that I have consistently bought for years now.  My only issue with this product is that it is too heavy for the warm weather month, it is a combination of hydrating oil and sugar.  A great choice for the winter and spring but too much for the summer and early fall.  For quite a long time, I simply resigned myself to using these scrubs only during the winter months used other formulas from this and other beauty brands during the summer months.  However this is no longer the case!

The Aromatherapy line now has a second scrub formula and one that is much better for the summer months.  I believe that I first saw this product about two years ago when some of the new Energy blends came out but I have just purchased a tube of the Stress Relief formula and have been using it for about two weeks now. 

"Gentle enough to use every day, this foaming body scrub cleanses and softens skin while an aromatherapy blend of essential oils and natural ingredients enhances body, mind & mood. Massage gently over skin during a shower or bath. Breath deeply for best results. Rinse well.  Eucalyptus essential oil clears the mind while Spearmint Essential Oil uplifts to help improve concentration."

This scrub is great for the summer months, it is very light, foams up quickly, and then rinses clean with no oil in the formula.  I use this once a week in between self tanning treatments to keep my color even and the products absorbing correctly.  I use this on clean, wet skin and I love the way that it keeps my tan even and natural looking.  I personally love the Eucalyptus Spearmint scent from Aromatherapy but I was a bit disappointed to see that this was the only scent that it was available (or in stock in), I would love to own this in the Sleep blends or the other Eucalyptus fragrance in the Aromatherapy line. 

I'm glad that I found another scrub formula to use in the summer months, normally this is the time of the year that I have a harder time trying to find good scrub formulas as many of the good ones are too heavy for this time of the year.  I will be using this formula for the rest of the summer and into the beginning of fall.  I just hope that a few more fragrances get released in it...

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Bath and Body Works Pure Paradise

This has a been a big spring for Bath and Body Works, it seems like every month at least one new fragrance has come out along with all kinds of new scents in candles and hand soap.  The last thing that I need is more shower gel but I always want to try new scents from this company and am always end up buying some items from each new fragrance, once you have worked there it seems that you never fall out of wanting new products and know how fast the items go and when to stock up.  I am hoping for a Buy 3, Get 3 sale for Memorial Day but I don't know that I will be able to hold out until the end of this month for a sale like that.  Bath and Body Works has gone from spring products to summer products and this is my favorite time of the year to buy body products.  This is also the time of the year that I buy enough products to last me all through the cold weather months, I am not a spice or pumpkin fan so I will be using coconut and mango scents all through the year. 

Today is the first day that Pure Paradise is available at Bath and Body Works and I will be buying some of it before the weekend hits.  I tried the Fragrance Mist tester out several weeks ago and I think that this might be one of my favorite fragrances in a long time from this company, it is rare that I find a fragrance from this company that I want to purchase and use as more than just body products.  I want this in all the body products and the matching Fragrance Mist because this tropical floral scent is unique, pretty, and perfect for pairing with a sundress on a summer night!

The Bath and Body Works website provides a fragrance description and a detailed look at the notes that are found in this fragrance.  "Pure Paradise is an island fantasy inspired by white sand beaches, endless blue skies and clear turquoise waters as far as the eye can see. This alluring fragrance is a sparkling blend of fresh star fruit, frangipani and water lily drenched in sun-kissed coconut and white musk."

The top notes are: Fresh Star Fruit, Juicy Guava, Dewy Cassis.  The heart notes of the fragrance are: Luscious Gardenia, Frangipani, Watery Lily.  The bottom notes are: White Musk, Blond Woods, Sun-Kissed Coconut.

On me, this fragrance is a mixture of the sweet Starfruit and the florals.  This is the tupe of tropical fragrance that I would wear out at night with a sundress, this is not your typical beachy or casual fragrance.  This is more what I imagined that Bronze Goddess from Estee Lauder would smell like and it is surprising how expensive this fragrance smells, the Fragrance Mist smells quite strong and rivals many of the more expensive tropical fragrances that I have tried.  This is one of the few Bath and Body Works fragrances that I actually loved in the Fragrance Mist, typically I only buy body products from the Signature Collection with a few EDTs in here and there but Fragrance Mist is not a product that I use.  I do wish that this fragrance came in the EDT, I would buy it in a minute to add to my perfume collection.

This fragrance comes in the normal range of Signature Collection products; shower Gel, Body Lotion, Triple Moisture Body Cream, Fine Fragrance Mist, 2-in-1 Superfruit Body Scrub and Wash, and Lip Gloss.  There are also three unique products that are released in this fragrance: Beach Glow Body Lotion, Beach Bronze Leg Shine, and Beach Waves Hair Mist.

Beach Glow Body Lotion - Add a radiant, sun-kissed glow to skin all summer long. Our Beach Glow Body Lotion adds instant glamour and shimmer to skin for a beach-ready body!  A summer-chic blend of sparkling star fruit & ocean-kissed frangipani blossoms… it’s pure paradise in a bottle!  Apply evenly to legs, arms and wherever you want a silky smooth, bronze glow. Let dry before dressing and you're ready to glow!  Contains soothing, refreshing Aloe.

 

Beach Bronze Leg Shine - Add the perfect hint of tint and shimmer for flawless, bronzed, beach sexy legs. Our velvety shine effortlessly glides onto skin for the smoothest, most radiant legs!  A summer-chic blend of sparkling star fruit & ocean-kissed frangipani blossoms… it’s pure paradise in a bottle!  Shake well. Apply evenly to legs. Let dry before dressing, then it’s time to shine!

 

Beach Waves Hair Mist - Add incredible texture to get tousled, wavy hair for an effortlessly sexy beach blown look. A few quick mists and you'll become the envy of bronze bombshells everywhere!  A summer-chic blend of sparkling star fruit & ocean-kissed frangipani blossoms… it’s pure paradise in a bottle!  Use on dry or damp hair. Work through hair and use fingers to scrunch and twirl for sexy, beach blown waves.  Leaves hair feeling soft, never sticky or shiny.  Contains mineral-rich sea salt.

 

I have picked up a few pieces of this fragrance already today and I plan to get more items if Bath and Body works does a sale on Memorial Day.  I bought the Fragrance Mist, Shower Gel, Body Lotion, and Triple Moisture boy Cream already and I put some of each of the bronzer products on my arms so that I could see the differences.  I am not sold on either of them yet, the Beach Glow Body Lotion provides a hint of bronze color with a bit of shimmer while the Leg Shine is much more dramatic in both aspects.  I would be more likely to buy the Lotion version, the Leg Shine could look too over the top for me and I would have to sustain a pretty deep self tan to use it. 

 

I am excited that I have some new body products for the summer and I will be pairing this fragrance with a cute little sundress for all kinds of summer dates!

 

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Bath and Body Works True Blue Spa Malibu Body Product Collection

Today we are going to look at some body products that will be perfect for the summer months, I love Bath and Body Works True Blue Spa collection and I am very excited to see that a new collection inspired by the shores of Malibu has come out for the summer months!  Last spring, a Malibu-inspired Spa collection was released and I still count those products among my favorites in my body product collection, I am really excited to see that they came back this year so I have the chance to pick some more up to stash away.  In addition to some of my previous favorites, I see that there is a crop of new products for me to love this year!  I am especially excited to see the return of the beach pedicure foot scrub, I had used this sand scrub for years in college and I hope that the formula is exactly the same as it was several years ago.

In addition to the Malibu body and hair care products that came out last year, a series of beach-inspired foot care products have arrived this year.  I am not going to visit the products from last year's collection again, you are free to look them up on your own but I am sure that many of you have read about them already if you have been following this blog for more than a few months.  As I said already, I am the most excited for the sand foot scrub but I am also looking forward to the new beach foot cream in the collection.  In addition to the beginning of self tanning season being right around the corner, the beginning of sandal season is right around the corner too and I need to begin to get ready to show off a bright pink pedicure!

Here are the new Malibu foot products that have been added to the True Blue Spa collection!

Malibu Fresh Cooling Foot Scrub - When the heat is on, this icy cool spray revitalizes and invigorates hot or tired feet and legs so your feet feel light as air all summer long.  Mint instantly cools and refreshes for feet that feel invigorated.

Malibu Beach Pedicure Foot Scrub - Reveal softer, smoother, beach-worthy feet with our intensely exfoliating pedicure foot scrub. This fab spa formula is perfect for every day use as it smooths rough skin and prepares feet for an ultra-glamorous dip in the sea.  Exfoliating Beach Sand smooths away rough, dry skin.

Malibu Beach Pedicure Foot Cream - Dive feet first into this luxuriously rich moisturizing spa treatment and give dry skin an ultra-pampering pedicure.  Avocado Butter adds creamy moisture.

I have already bought both the foot cream and the foot scrub, I tried a bit of the foot scrub last night and I am happy to report that this is basically the same product as before.  In fact, this product was actually improved, the fragrance on the new version is a great tropical fruit blend and fills up the whole shower with fragrance.  I would love to have matching body products in this fragrance and I hope that Bath and Body Works considers doing more in this line next year.  The foot cream is spiked with avocado, a new ingredient for this company to use.  The fragrance is almost exactly the same as the scrub and the texture is very rich and creamy, I love this product after only using the tester once.

I actually considered using the foot cream as a body cream as I love this fragrance so much.  I haven't reached that point yet since I will go through the product really quickly that way and I want to buy at least one more tube of it before I try going this route.  The rich cream quickly hydrates my feet and this product will be a staple of mine through the next few months.

The scrub is lighter than the traditional Spa Soothing Foot Scrub but it still does the job quite well.  I use twice as week just as I did the other formula and I have gotten great results from use twice a week.  I will continue to use either of the foot scrubs in this fashion.  This sand foot scrub is limited edition so I will continue to buy it as long as it is available but after that I will have no problems going back to the other formula.

I love True Blue Spa products and I hope that the Malibu collection is one that will continue to reappear and grow over the next few years!

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Bath and Body Works Take Me to Italy Body Products

Bath and Body Works is all over the fragrance spectrum this spring, they started with the fabulous Fresh Picked line and then introduced a light, fresh fragrance named Beautiful Day.  Fresh Picked in one of my favorite lines that this company has introduced in the past few years and I can't wait to see if they bring more fragrances out in this collection since I know that I will keep buying these products for years to come.  The newest fragrances in the Signature Collection are very different from every other fragrance that has been introduced in the past few months and it seems a bit out of the blue.  The three new fragrances are all based on Italy and the fragrances that are popular in that country, it is very similar to the three limited edition Paris fragrances that I loved late last summer.  These fragrances may be out of the blue...but I have tried all three and I am loving this new direction for the end of the spring months!

Three new fragrances have been introduced with the Italian theme and new home fragrance products and hand soaps have all been introduced at the same time.  I started with collecting some of the new candles, my favorites are Expresso and Limoncello, and I started picking them up as soon as I could at the end of last month!  I am really pumped to add the soaps and the fragrance body products to my collection, I loved Italy when I went there in high school and some of these fragrances can take me right back to Venice and the Italian countryside.  At the rate we are going, I will be able to visit the whole world by just taking a shower with the right fragrances...

The three new fragrances are: Capri Seaside Citrus, Rome Honeysuckle Amore, and Venice Dolce Berry.  My early favorite is the Capri Seaside Citrus, this is a great citrus scent and it smells like nothing that I already own (a huge feat for any fragrance)!  "Lavishly spray on our sunny seaside fragrance and radiate this sparkling blend of fresh citrus, juicy nectarine & orange flower."  The top notes of the fragrance are: Mediterranean Grapefruit, Sparkling Bergamot, Juicy Nectarine.  The heart notes are: Muguet, Orange Flower, Coconut.  The bottom notes are: Amber Driftwood, Creamy Musks, Whipped Vanilla.  This fragrance is a mixture of citrus, delicate floral notes, and driftwood.  I love this fragrance in the body products, however the Fragrance Mist doesn't work well on my skin chemistry.  This is a great citrus however the driftwood keeps in unique and like nothing else that I have used recently, I will be buying the body products in this fragrance over the weekend.

Rome Honeysuckle Amore is my second favorite of the fragrances, this one is the floral fragrance of the trio and it reminds me of fragrances that I have had in the past from this company.  I had something many years ago and this fragrance is so similar to it, of course I don't even remember the name or the bottle but the scent still sticks with me.  The smell of honeysuckle has been a favorite of mine for years and I was as excited to see this fragrance as I was the Capri Seaside Citrus.  "

Lavishly spray on our glamorous fragrance and radiate our head-over-heels blend of pink honeysuckle, golden peach & cyprus woods."  The top notes are: Italian Peach, Blackberry, Green Mandarin.  The middle notes of the fragrance are: Pink Honeysuckle, White Raspberry, Peony.  The bottom notes are: Golden Amber, Soft Sandalwood, Cypress Wood.  This fragrance starts out with the strong peach note but then quickly goes floral on me.  The amber and sandalwood stay on my skin the longest and mix with the honeysuckle note to make the fragrance last longer than your average honeysuckle mix.  I will be buying the body products in this scent but I found the peach  note to be too strong in the Fragrance mist, I was hoping for a perfume with less fruit and more floral and wood mix.  Any ideas?

 

The last fragrance is my least fragrance of the three, Venice Dolce Berry is very sweet and a gourmand fragrance.  I found this fragrance to be too strong for the summer and I might have liked it better if it was a fall fragrance.  I think this fragrance was introduced at the wrong time of the year and I might revisit it at the end of August (if it is still around).  "Lavishly spray on 'la dolce vita,' the sweet life, and radiate our playful blend of plumberry, frosted magnolia & sandalwood sugar."  The top notes of the fragrance are: Pink Plumberry, Apple Blossom, White Iris.  The middle notes are: Venetian Raspberry, Red Apricot, Frosted Magnolia.  The base notes are: Blackberry Musk, Sandalwood Sugar, Vanilla Biscotti.  This fragrance smells like blackberry and biscotti and will be very popular among those who love sweet fragrances or strong berry scents.  This fragrance is much too strong on my skin, in both the body products and the Fragrance Mist so I will skip over it.  Maybe if this would have been a fall fragrance, I might have different thoughts...

 

This fragrance comes in the traditional Signature Collection Body Product forms: Fine Fragrance Mist, Shower Gel, Body Lotion, Triple Moisture Body Cream, and one new product.  The new product that was released is the Bronze Shimmer Fizz Body Mousse, a product that holds no appeal for me.  "Soak in a faux sun-kisssed glow with our bronze shimmer fizz body mousse, a silky-smooth, body bronzer that leaves skin sparkling with a kiss of color.  Goes on smooth with a fresh, fizzy sensation."  I use self tanner instead of dealing with body bronzers so I would never use this product.  The last product that comes with this collection is a lip gloss that matches each fragrance, I will skip over the lip gloss also and just stick with the body products.

 

Overall, this collection will appeal to ladies with all kinds of tastes, the three fragrances are all very different and everyone will be able to find at least one that they really like.  I love the Capri Seaside Citrus and the Rome Honeysuckle Amore and will buy the body products in both fragrances to wear in the spring and summer months.  Bath and Body Works has released quite a wide variety of fragrances this spring and I am looking forward to what else will be coming out over the next few months! 

 

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Bath and Body Works Beautiful Day

Spring is technically here even though Mother Nature decided to hand us flurries yesterday and I am determined to move into using fragrances and color products that are perfect for spring.  I haven't yet found a new fragrance that I love yet for the season, Flight of Fancy was basically a dud for me and I am putting my purchase of See by Chloe on hold since that would not be a spring fragrance for me.  I will keep using my current bottle of Chloe for the next few weeks (good thing that I love that fragrance) until I try a few more out.  Bath and Body Works has just released a new fragrance for the spring and maybe this one will be the big winner for me this season, Beautiful Day is their newest fragrance choice for the spring and I bought a small vial of it when I bought all of my lotions and shower gels for Fresh Picked.

All of the items in Beautiful Day have now been released and I am about half finished with my sample vial and I am deciding if I will be going forward with this fragrance this spring.  This fragrance is very light and is a combination of green apples and light florals, this is not really my type of fragrance and is very similar in construction to Anna Sui's Flight of Fancy that I really wasn't a big fan of.  The last green apple fragrance that I used was DKNY's Be Delicious and this fragrance is very similar to me.

"As beautiful as the perfect spring day...with sun-kissed apples, wild daisies, and fresh pink peonies.", is the fragrance description from Bath and Body Works.  I have also heard this fragrance described as "spring in a bottle" and I can absolutely see where that description comes from.  More information is provided when I looked at the EDT itself, I started with this product because this is the small tube that I have been using over the past few weeks.  "Our exclusive Beautiful Day fragrance makes you feel like you're having the perfect spring day, full of carefree, delicious moments. The scent starts with a sparkle of sun-kissed apple and finishes with a dash of wild daisies & fresh pink peonies, for a truly bright fragrance that lasts all day!"

The top notes of the fragrance are: Sun-kissed Apple, Dewy Pear, Sparkling Cassis.  The heart notes of Beautiful Day are: Wild Daisies, Lily of the Valley, Fresh Pink Peony.  The bottom notes are: White Peach, Blonde Woods.

This is going to be another one of those fragrances where I don't use the Fragrance Mist or EDT but like and purchase the body products.  The EDT is very apply on me, with just a few hints of florals.  I do not really like fragrances that are this fruity.  With the floral hints, this becomes a fragrance that I do not mind but do not really love, I would use up my sample but I won't be purchasing the full size of the EDT.  This apple fades off me in about an hour and half but then the whole fragrance fades off very quickly after that, this fragrance just doesn't not smell strong enough on me or last long enough for me to wear it.  DKNY's Be Delicious is stronger on me and I would be more likely to repurchase that product rather than this one for the simple fact that I have to reapply this one too much.

The body products are another area of interest for me, I do like the Shower Gel and Body Lotion and I will most likely add them to my collection.  This fragrance comes in the typical product line up: Shower Gel, Body Lotion, Triple Moisture Body Cream, and Shimmer Mist.  It is also available in two brand new forms that I have never seen before and we will look closer at them.

The new forms of Beautiful Day!

Swirl Gel Lotion - Sparkle with radiance and enjoy every delicious moment of spring with our luminous Swirl Gel Lotion. Nourishing formula adds a hint of shimmer for gorgeous, glowing skin.  Shea Butter, soothing Aloe Vera and protective Vitamin E hydrate skin with moisture that lasts all day.

2-in-1 Superfruit Body Scrub and Wash - Say hello to gorgeous skin with our 2-in-1 Superfruit Body Scrub & Wash. Made from antioxidant-rich pomegranate, blueberry and cranberry seeds, our exclusive Superfruit Seed Complex leaves skin feeling ultra-soft, sexy and smooth. Massage onto skin to create a cleansing lather and rinse.  Intensely exfoliating formula reveals instantly smoother skin.

I will buy the Shower Gel and Body Lotion/Triple Moisture Cream in this fragrance and I am considering trying out the body scrub.  This company used to have some of the best body scrubs but they have been disappearing over the years and I would be very happy if I found a new formula that I loved and could buy in a series of fragrances.  I will have to try this one out and then I will report back, I don't love that it has seeds in it since they can have too jagged of edges and tear at skin but I will try this product and see if they create an issue.

Beautiful Day is a great fragrance for those who like light and fruity fragrances but just isn't strong enough for someone who likes a good floral.  This will be another fragrance from Bath and Body Works that I will only use in the body products and nothing else.

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Bath and Body Works True Blue Spa Raspberry Body Products

Bath and Body Works has put out some great collections so far this spring, Fresh Picked contains some of the best fragrances that I have seen in years from this company and I love the direction that they appear to be going in.  White I have been raving over Fresh Picked for the past month, I have been quietly collecting and loving one of the new lines in the True Blue Spa collection.  Ever since college, True Blue Spa has contained some of the best quality products in the store and I have been using many of these products for years now.  Needless to say, anytime that I hear about new products in this line, I immediately get interested and a purchase (or two) is the result.

I was really excited to see that the Mango Butter line came back from Spa, I was obsessed with this line last year and now I have the chance to pick up some more of it before I run out.  With the Mango line, the company introduced a line of Raspberry products.  I typically hate the scent of raspberry, Sun Ripened Raspberry still makes me gag and I have never found a true raspberry scent that I enjoy and that works with my body chemistry.  I wasn't impressed the first time that I saw this line.  However after trying and smelling the products, it quickly became evident that this is not just a raspberry scent but a combination of raspberry and mojtio.  The mojito scent in the mix makes all the difference because I utterly love these body products.  The combination makes it less sweet and more wearable than just the berry and great for the spring and summer months.  Now I have another True Blue Spa product obsession...

There are four products in the Raspberry line and I bought all four of them already.  There is a Body Wash, a Cream Gel moisturizer, a Scrub, and a Bar Soap (just like the Mango one!!).

Raspberry Yogurt Shower Smoothie - Our creamy yogurt-enriched shower gel is a skin nourishing body cocktail that cleanses and replenishes skin with Vitamin E and nutrient-rich raspberries.  Raspberry Extract and antioxidant Vitamin E provide nourishment to skin.  Rich & creamy formula provides abundant lather.  Juicy & effervescent raspberry fragrance smells just like an exotic raspberry cocktail.  Not tested on animals.

Raspberry Mojito Cream Gel - Replenish parched skin with a healthy shot of antioxidant-rich raspberry, Jojoba oil and Vitamin C! Our ultra-moisturizing formula leaves skin feeling soft, satiny and fragranced with an exotic fruit cocktail to remind you it's always 5 o'clock somewhere!  Exotic Jojoba Oil adds moisture to skin as it pampers.  Lightweight, moisturizing cream gel absorbs easily and replenishes tired, dry skin.  Juicy & effervescent fragrance smells just like a refreshing raspberry mojito.  Not tested on animals.

Raspberry Margarita Body Scrub - Celebrate happy hour as you scrub your way to soft skin! Sugar exfoliates white antioxidants, Vitamin C, raspberry extract and moisturizing oils take you away on a tropical getaway!  Sugar exfoliates to sweeten your spa experience while antioxidant Vitamin C, raspberry extract and an exotic blend of moisturizing oils provide pampering nourishment.  Intensely exfoliating formula reveals instantly smoother skin.  Juicy & effervescent raspberry fragrance smells just like an exotic raspberry cocktail.  Not tested on animals.

Raspberry Nourishing Body Bar - It's superfood for your skin! Smooth, soften and cleanse from head-to-toe with body bar's rich lather bursting with a fresh n' fruity fragrance! Replenishes vital nutrients with vitamin rich raspberry extract.  Replenishing Glycerin and vitamin-rich raspberry extract attract moisture to skin.  Juicy and effervescent raspberry fragrance.  Not tested on animals.

Yes I have bought all of these products so far and I can't wait until I have the room in my shower to break them out.  The Cream Gel product is the most unique, it feels like jelly and absorbs in very quickly and instantly leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated.  It is a really interesting product and will appeal to those who don't like the feel of a traditional lotion or cream.  My second favorite product is the scrub, it is less oily than most scrubs and is really abrasive (without be overboard) and it will get all the dead skin off before self tanning or for the rough dry patches that I get at the end of winter. 

The last thing that I needed was yet another reason to collect True Blue Spa but I found it in the Raspberry line and now my shower will be smelling like sweet mojitos!

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Bath and Body Works True Blue Spa Mango Butter Nourishing Body Bar

Many of you will remember that I went crazy for the Bath and Body Works True Blue Spa Mango Butter products last summer and after I bought all of them, they were discontinued and then I couldn't replace any of my favorites.  Well I am very happy to see that they must have been seasonal since they are now all back on the shelves and ready for me to go shopping!  I have already picked up another Body Butter and another Bar Soap to put away for the summer months.  I then realized that I had never reviewed the Bar Soap on this blog, as the product was unavailable by the time that I got around to using the soap early last winter.  Which was sad because I really loved this product and I have already opened up my new bar and am deciding if I should pick up yet a few more to satisfy my obsession with these products...

Bath and Body Works really only carries bar soaps in their Spa line, a line of high quality product that always perform well (I loved this line back from when I first worked there in college and still do).  The Mango line of products is a favorite of mine, I have loved the scent of mango for years and I have used the Mango line from The Body Shop for years now.  I am really excited that I now have two whole body product lines to choose from!

"Mucho mango! This rich, nourishing body bar with abundant lather gently cleanses skin while lavishly moisturizing with tropical Mango Butter.  With richly replenishing Mango Butter and Glycerin.  Fresh and juicy mango butter fragrance.", states the Bath and Body Works website in a description of the product.

The first aspect that I noticed of this product was that the fragrance filled the whole bathroom as soon as I took the wrapper off the product.  For the rest of the day, every single time that I walked by the bathroom, I could smell the lovely mango scent coming out at me.  The only other soap that I have had the same from is the LUSH Rockstar soap (my absolute favorite soap ever!) and I was instantly in love with the product.  The soap lost its scent a little bit over the four weeks that I used it but i could still smell it every single time that I went into the bathroom. 

This soap is a very creamy formula and I really recommend it for drier skin types, my skin is very dry and will remain so until the beginning of May.  The product produces a very rich and creamy lather while still rinsing clean and not leaving a film on the skin.  I was very impressed with the rich lather created by this soap but I must say that I was even happier when I got out of the shower and my skin wasn't as dry as it normally is.  This bar soap didn't solve my dry skin (not that a bar soap ever really could) but it didn't strip my skin and leaves it feeling better than many liquid shower gel formulas do.  I would recommend this for anyone with dry skin or skin that can be easily irritated in the cold weather months.  This one bar lasted about 5 weeks for me, it is large and dense bar that didn't disappear with the addition of warm water.

I love this bar soap and I really hope that this line will stay around longer this time, I would love to see the Mango Butter product line be available all year but if it isn't, I know that I will buy a bunch of these in the next few months!

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Bath and Body Works Fresh Picked Body Product Line

For the past few years, Bath and Body Works has brought out a line of candles and hand soaps in the Fresh Picked collection.  This has been one of my favorite collections for the entire time that it has been released and I already possess candles and soaps from the previous years but I am already plotting out how many more I will buy this week.  The line has been out for about a week now and I have already picked Fresh Picked Apple Blossoms and Pears hand soaps and have already bought four candles from the collection (I really recommend the Strawberry and First Bloom candles!) and I cannot wait for the beginning of spring to begin using the products!  This year, in addition to the great hand soaps and home fragrance items, Bath and Body Works has expanded the line by offering a small line of body products in these fragrances.  Last year, I would have killed for a Fresh Picked Strawberry body wash and this year my wish has come true and I have already indulged myself in purchasing several shower gels and lotions!

The line offers shower gels and matching body lotions, just the more simple products in the collection.  When I first saw the bottles, I was taken aback by how huge they are, size-wise this collection is on par with the Philosophy products.  I fell in love with the Strawberry and the First Bloom products as soon as I smelled them and I added them to my huge bag full of Fresh Picked products, this is my favorite launch so far from Bath and Body Works.  These products and the general atmosphere of the store reminded me so much of when I started there in college and made me nostalgic for old scents and products.  The products are available in the following five scents: Strawberry, Apple, First Bloom, Pear, and Tangerine.  I like them all but Strawberry and First Bloom were the clear winners for me.

Here is the Fresh Picked Body Product collection!

Fresh Picked Strawberries Body Wash - Straight from the strawberry patch to you! Bring home the best locally grown strawberries of the harvest with our Fresh Picked Body Wash. Inspired by the energy and crisp scents of your local farmers market, the luscious aroma of ripe strawberries creates a lavish lather while moisturizing Aloe Vera and nourishing Vitamin E gently clean and soften skin.  Lightly scented with fresh picked strawberries.

Fresh Picked Strawberries Body Lotion - Your favorite Farm Fresh fragrances are now in season! Bring home the best locally grown strawberries of the harvest with our Fresh Picked Body Lotion. Inspired by the energy and crisp scents of your local farmers market, luscious strawberries leave skin lightly scented and incredibly soft.  Fortified with powerful ingredients like super conditioning Shea Butter, fast absorbing Jojoba Oil and protective Vitamin E, this fresh favorite hydrates skin with moisture that lasts all day.  Non-greasy formula absorbs quickly and completely to leave skin feeling incredibly soft, smooth and nourished.

Fresh Picked Tangerines Body Wash - Indulge in the mouth-watering scent of sweet tangerines picked fresh from the tree. Inspired by the energy and crisp scents of your local farmers market, the sweet aroma of tangerine creates a lavish lather while moisturizing Aloe Vera and nourishing Vitamin E gently clean and soften skin.  Lightly scented with fresh picked tangerines.

Fresh Picked Tangerines Body Lotion - Bring home the sweet citrus scent of tangerines plucked straight from the branch. Inspired by the energy and crisp scents of your local farmers market, the sweet aroma of tangerine leaves skin lightly scented and incredibly soft.  Fortified with powerful ingredients like super conditioning Shea Butter, fast absorbing Jojoba Oil and protective Vitamin E, this fresh favorite hydrates skin with moisture that lasts all day.  Non-greasy formula absorbs quickly and completely to leave skin feeling incredibly soft, smooth and nourished.

Fresh Picked Pears Body Wash - Indulge in the mouth-watering scent of sweet pears picked fresh from the tree. Inspired by the energy and crisp scents of your local farmers market, the sweet aroma of ripe pear creates a lavish lather while moisturizing Aloe Vera and nourishing Vitamin E gently clean and soften skin.  Lightly scented with fresh picked pears.

Fresh Picked Pears Body Lotion - Bring home the crisp scent of pears plucked straight from the branch. Inspired by the energy and fresh fragrances of your local farmers market, the sweet aroma of nature's best pears leaves skin lightly scented and incredibly soft.  Fortified with powerful ingredients like super conditioning Shea Butter, fast absorbing Jojoba Oil and protective Vitamin E, this fresh favorite hydrates skin with moisture that lasts all day.  Non-greasy formula absorbs quickly and completely to leave skin feeling incredibly soft, smooth and nourished.

Fresh Picked Apples Body Wash - Bring home the harvest's best locally grown apples with our Fresh Picked Body Wash. Inspired by the energy and crisp scents of your local farmers market, the luscious aroma of ripe apples creates a lavish lather while moisturizing Aloe Vera and nourishing Vitamin E gently clean and soften skin.  Lightly scented with fresh picked apples.

Fresh Picked Apples Body Lotion - Bring home the crisp scent of apples plucked straight from the branch. Inspired by the energy and fresh scents of your local farmers market, the sweet aroma of nature's best apples leaves skin lightly scented and incredibly soft.  Fortified with powerful ingredients like super conditioning Shea Butter, fast absorbing Jojoba Oil and protective Vitamin E, this fresh favorite hydrates skin with moisture that lasts all day.  Non-greasy formula absorbs quickly and completely to leave skin feeling incredibly soft, smooth and nourished.

Fresh Picked First Blooms Body Wash - Introducing our newest farm fresh fragrance! Bring home the intoxicating scents of spring's first blooms. Inspired by the energy and crisp fragrances of your local farmers market, the alluring aroma of water lotus and pink peony create a lavish lather while moisturizing Aloe Vera and nourishing Vitamin E gently clean and soften skin.  Lightly scented with spring's first blooms.

Fresh Picked First Blooms Body Lotion - Introducing our newest farm fresh fragrance! Bring home the intoxicating scents of spring's first blooms. Inspired by the energy and crisp fragrances of your local farmers market, the alluring aroma of water lotus and pink peony leaves skin lightly scented and incredibly soft.  Fortified with powerful ingredients like super conditioning Shea Butter, fast absorbing Jojoba Oil and protective Vitamin E, this fresh fragrance hydrates skin with moisture that lasts all day.  Non-greasy formula absorbs quickly and completely to leave skin feeling incredibly soft, smooth and nourished.

I loved all of the fragrances when I first smelled them and I was really tempted to buy both products in every single fragrance.  The Strawberry scent is on the sweeter side and is the perfect sweet strawberry fragrance, I detect a slight hint of mango in the fragrance but it doesn't take away from the strawberry base.  I love both the wash and lotion in this scent and I bought both of them the first night that I could.  The other scent that I loved enough to purchase the first night was First Bloom, this is pretty peony fragrance that is perfect for the spring.  I do wish that this came in a Fragrance Mist but I have to content myself to purchase it in every other form that I can.  The Pear fragrance is quite nice also, it is crisp and simple pear fragrance.  I liked it a lot but I decided that I didn't need it in the first round but I am considering picking it up another time if it is still in stock.  This fragrance could be used be either gender and I bet that it will sell out quickly.  Fresh Picked Apples is a Red Delicious apple scent, it is dead on to the scent of the fruit.  I loved this scent but I did skip over it as I already have the exact scent from Philosophy and from Bath and Body Works several years back (American Grown collection), I will buy the lotions later on since I have so much more body wash than lotion in those fragrances, I certainly do not need the wash in this fragrance.  Lastly, the Tangerine scent just didn't work on my skin.  Citrus scents are not typically my cup of tea and this fragrance is no exception.  It smells great in the bottle but turns out horrible on my skin, it sours and is just bad on me.  So I will not be buying any of the products in the Tangerine scent.

This is my favorite collection so far and I don't want to know how much money I have spent on this collection so far this year.  Between candles, soaps, and now body products, I have bought more items than I even have room.  Fresh Picked is the perfect way to start spring and now I am beyond excited to start buying fresh pears and strawberries at my local farmer's market!

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works