Beauty Loves Week Day Four - The Body Shop Mango Body Butter

We are now at the middle of the Beauty Loves Theme Week and we have looked at lip gloss, perfume, and nail polish favorites of mine.  Today we are going to look at the product that has emerged as my favorite body product and the one that I have repurchased more times than I can remember.  In addition to my huge makeup and perfume collections, I have more body products than I could ever use up in five years so when I have one that I repurchase as soon as I am getting close to running out of it, then you know it is a great product and one that I cannot do without.  The Mango Body Butter from The Body Shop is a key product for me, it moisturizes my skin when it is at its driest point in the winter months yet is never greasy or heavy in the warm weather.  It also helps that the mango scent is perfect and (in my opinion) is the best mango fragrance on the market today.

I first used this product during the summer of 2004 and I cannot even remember how many times that I have purchased it since them.  I have continued to purchase not only the Body Butter in this fragrance but I have owned almost every single Mango product over the years.  All of the products are great but this butter is the best moisturizer that I have ever tried.  I can use this butter any time of the year and it has come through when my skin is so dry that is hurts or when I get too much sun at the beach.

"Our super-rich and creamy Body Butter is a feast for the skin. It melts straight in to leave skin feeling soft and smooth. It contains Community Fair Trade cocoa butter and has an exotic mango scent. 24-hour hydration.  Great for very dry skin Exotic mango scent."

This thick body butter manges to really hydrate my skin and to help it retain the moisture throughout the day.  This is one of those products that can be worn all year long; as I stated above, it is thick enough to hydrate when my skin is very dry during the fall and winter yet not greasy and doesn't feel heavy on the skin during the spring and summer months.  Normally, most of my body products can be used in either warm or cold weather, warm weather products need to be lighter and cold weather products need to be really heavy or my skin gets dry again within an hour or two of application.  The Mango Body Butter quickly absorbs into my skin and keeps it feeling soft and hydrated throughout the day, normally I one or the other from many body creams but this one somehow combines the best of both aspects and is a superior formula.   I need very little of this product and a jar of it lasts a very long time, the hydrated effect also lasts the whole day and I don't need to reapply near as much as I do with other brands and formulas. 

Based on how much I love the Mango Body Butter, I have bought and used other Body Butters from The Body Shop but I always return to the Mango every time that I visit the store.  It is at the point where I order or purchase two of these when I visit Ulta or a Body Shop store, as soon as I get low on it I immediately need to get more as I could not imagine my collection without it.  As much as the formula makes me love this butter, it is the fragrance that makes me want the Mango instead of buying any of the other scents (only the Coconut can even come close to my love of the Mango), I love the scent of mango and I will try any candle or product with this scent and this one has remained my favorite for years now...

photo courtesy of The Body Shop

The Body Shop Summer 2012 Collection - Honey Bronze

The Body Shop has just released its newest summer color collection, I had to ignore all the new body products and force myself to focus only on the color products.  I love the body products from Body Shop and I could spend a small fortune on their Coconut and Mango product lines, they are two of the only product lines that I have continued to purchase year after year and have never gotten sick of.  I have found that I can now buy the body products at my local Ulta stores (though not at Sephora anymore) so I don't stress as much about being over an hour away from the closest freestanding Body Shop store, though I will have to order the makeup online or do some traveling in order to pick them up.

The new summer collection from The Body Shop only consists of bronzing products and all series of brush types to help apply the powders.  I just ourchased my first new bronzer for the summer, so I am not desperately in need of another one but I would like to own two shades for when my tan varies in hue over the next three months.  I see bronzers of all formulas in this collection, the only one that I am very likely to purchase is the pressed powder bronzer, the gels and shimmering oil are more complex products than I often try to work with in the summer heat and humidity.  The bronzers in this collection remind me of one of the MAC summer collections from years part, Naked Honey.  This wasn't a favorite collection of mine but it still had it's memorable pieces.

Personally, I think that this new collection from Body Shop could be a bit more diversified, how many types of bronzers does one need for the summer?  The best part about this collection is that there is a product of two for everyone however the collection range doesn't encourage purchasing any more than one or two products

Here is the new range of bronzers in the Honey Bronze collection...

Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil - Give your skin an even, bronzed look with a hint of shimmer with a lightweight body oil.  Honey bronze glow.  Tan-enhancing shimmer.  Non-greasy finish.

Honey Bronze Bronzing Gel for Face - Get an instant bronze glow with a moisturizing, honey-enriched gel. Moisturizing.  Light, non greasy formula.  Suits all skin tones.

Shimmer Waves - Sweep colors together for a stunning, all-over glow on the face and cheeks or use each one individually on the eyes or to accent specific areas.  Pearl pigments provide shimmer and sparkle, helping to disguise fine lines around the eye area.  Ultra-fine talc is a high-performance powder that enables smooth and even application.  Community Trade Marula Oil from Namibia helps to repair skin's moisture barrier.
- 01 Bronze - champagne gold/deep brown/red bronze/medium bronze/medium gold
- 02 Blush - medium bronze/medium rose/red bronze/medium bronze/pale cool champagne

Honey Bronzing Powder - Give your skin an even, bronze matte finish with a honey-enriched pressed powder.  All skin tones.  Even matte finish.  Convenient compact.
- 01 Light Matte - light tan
- 02 Fair Matte - light to medium tan
- 03 Medium Matte - medium tan
- 04 Deep Matte - deep tan

Brush-On Beads - Add a touch of radiance to your face, cheeks, and decolletage using bronze or buff colored powder beads with light-diffusing particles and pearl pigments.  All skin types.  Community Trade Marula Oil from Namibia helps keep skin soft and supple.  Light-diffusing particles and pearl pigments instantly brighten skin and help reduce the appearance of fine lines.
- Bronze - all shades of bronze
Baked-to-Last Bronzer - Create a sun-kissed glow with a natural-looking bronzer, handmade, and slow-baked for up to eight hours of deliciously rich color.  All skin types.  Community Trade organic Olive Oil from Italy helps to condition the skin.  Community Trade Shea Butter has antioxidant Vitamins A and E to help protect and nourish skin.  Community Trade Marula Oil from Namibia helps to repair skin's moisture barrier, leaving skin soft and supple.
- 01 - deep bronze with pale gold swirled in
- 02 - medium bronze with pale pink swirled in

Retractable Blusher Brush - A retractable makeup brush with a protective cap that is perfect for on-the-go application of your favorite blusher or bronzer.  Super-soft synthetic hairs are long-lasting and specially cut to be extra gentle on delicate face skin.  Flexible, round-shaped head is ideal for applying and blending powder.  Removable cap protects brush hairs without leaving makeup residue in your purse or cosmetic bag.

Kabuki Bronzing Brush - Apply our Bronzing Powder to face, cheeks, and decolletage with a high quality, super soft brush.  Super-soft synthetic fibers allow a seamless application of bronzing powder to face and decolletage.  Bronze opaque and metallic flat-stemmed handle allows for easy application and allows brush to stand upright.
Face and Body Brush - A versatile, larger makeup brush that is just the right size for applying blusher, bronzing powder or shimmer to the face or decolletage.  Soft synthetic hairs are long-lasting and specially cut to be extra gentle on delicate skin.  Wide tapered head is ideal for applying and blending powder formulations.  Slightly tapered handle makes the brush easy to hold and use for controlled, precise application.

Blusher Brush - An indispensable, soft-bristle makeup brush that is just the right size for applying blushers and bronzers.  Super-soft synthetic fibers are long-lasting and specially cut to be extra gentle in delicate facial skin.  Wide, flat tapered head is ideal for applying and blending powder formulations.  Slightly tapered brush handle makes the brush easy to hold use for controlled, precise application.

I think that the piece that I would need most from this collection is the Honey Bronzing Powder in both the fair/medium and medium shades so that I switch them up to make my ever-changing summer fake tan.  This is only product that I am at likely to purchase from this collection, the rest are very nice however I wouldn't use the shimmer finish bronzers enough to warrant a purchase of them. The only product that I would consider buying is the Shimmer Waves palettes, I like both shades of them and since I could use them as eye makeup, I know that I would get use from them all summer.  I would be unlikely to use them in any other way then as eye shadow. 
The last piece from the collection that I have an interest in is the brush collection.  I am considering ordering the Face and Body Brush to use for loose powder since Body Shop has very high quality synthetic face brushes.  This isn't my favorite collection of the summer however it produces a series of high quality bronzers and all types of brushes to aid in application.

photo courtesy of The Body Shop

The Body Shop Chamomile Gentle Eye Makeup Remover

A new eye makeup remover is another one of my skincare spree purchases!  For the first time in ages, I have used up my stash of Caudalie Cleansing Water and decided that I should try out a new product.  I love the Cleansing Water but I wanted to see what else is out there and I knew that I could always return to my beloved Caudalie product if others didn't meet my standards for getting my makeup off without irritating my eye area.  I considered the famed Lancome eye makeup remover but I decided to try something that is a bit more natural and has a formula that is a bit closer to the Caudalie formula.  the last thing that I wanted to do with this experiment is made my eye area red, itchy, and irritated.  Thinking along these lines, I decided to order The Body Shop's Chamomile Eye Makeup Remover from the Sephora website.

The Body Shop's skin and body product line are considered part of the Sephora "natural and organic" line and are recommended for sensitive, easily irritated skin like my own.  I tried to find this product on the Sephora website again when I went to write this post however I can't find it so I got the details from The Body Shop's website.  "Float the day away with refreshing rosewater to gently cleanse and dissolve eye makeup.  Also conditions lashes so they feel soft and silky."

I give eye makeup remover quite a challenge on a daily basis, I use all kinds of primers under my eye shadows and at least two coats of mascara a day.  I have had many eye makeup removers that can only make a dent in getting all of my eye makeup off and I have to try and get the rest of it off in the shower with my regular face wash.  Which I hate doing since I don't feel that face wash can get eye makeup off and I don't like using it that closely around my eye area.  I have been using this new eye makeup remover for the past week and so far it has been performing better than I thought that it would.

This eye makeup remover effectively gets all of my eye makeup off with the first swipe of the cotton ball.  I do have to use a second swipe to get the rest of my mascara off from underneath my eyes but this is normal for me.  The product has a light scent, with the chamomile and the rosewater combining into a nice herbal fragrance.  This fragrance doesn't bother me at all and unless you are super sensitive to fragrance, then it shouldn't be an issue for anyone.  I love how gentle this product is and how it doesn't bother my eyes at all.  So far, this is only the second natural eye makeup remover that I have found that effectively gets my eye makeup off and doesn't irritate my eyes at the same time.

My only complaint about this product is the packaging and it's not even that big of a complaint.  The bottle is short and fat and I feel that it might involve a lot of shaking and squeezing to get product out as I get to the end of the product.  I prefer the Caudalie Cleansing Water bottle, it is tall and skinny and the product is very easy to get out until the very last drop.  This is a small complaint but it is the only thing that I would change about this product.

photo courtesy of The Body Shop

Beach Week Day 5 - The Body Shop Coconut Body Products

For the fifth day of Beach Week, we are going to look at some favorite body products of mine.  How many people state that the scent of coconut reminds them of the beach?  It reminds me of the beach and I use it all summer since I love it so much and then I also use it all winter to help me forget about the storms outside.  The Body Shop Coconut line is one of the first coconut based product lines and still remains one of the best on the beauty product market today.  I first bought one of these scrubs a few years ago and fell madly in love with it, prompting me to purchase more products in this scent one of the next times that I was shopping in the store.

The Body Shop has been covered in my England Week and many other times in this blog, I have loved these products for years and now that some of the line is carried at Sephora, it makes it even easier for me to pick up some of the my favorites.  The Coconut line contains organic, virgin, cold-pressed Community Trade coconut oil and coconut milk.  These ingredients give this line a leg up on the competition since they use real coconut and not artifical coconut fragrance in their product line.  This line of products are very hydrating and the scent is pure coconut that reminds me of exotic beaches.  This line of products can take you to the islands in your shower.  I have purchased three products in this scents; the Shower Cream, the Body Scrubs, and the matching Body Butter.

The Shower Cream is the easiest way to use this product on a daily basis, it can be used morning and night to start and end your day off in the right mood.  The Sephora website states the following as a product description.  "A soap-free, moisture-rich creamy body cleanser.  This coconut scented body wash creates big, foamy lather in the bath or shower and rinses easily away.  Formulated with real cocoa butter, it gently cleanses the skin while conditioning and softening."  This cleanser contains two major active ingredients, both of which are organically derived and therefore set the body apart from others on the market.  Community Fair Trade Brazilian Soya Oil restores the skin's natural moisture barrier, helping to restore smoothness and suppleness to the skin.  Coconut Oil Derived Cleansing Agent cleanses the skin and enriches the foam and lather.  This shower cream is gentler on the skin than many other chemical-based products.  I have found that it doesn't foam up quite as much as some other washes however it is much better for dry skin and I love to use in both the summer and the winter.  This product rinses clean and only leaves a hint of fragrance on the skin, so it won't compete with any other perfume that you use during the day.

My favorite product in the Coconut line is the Body Scrub.  I first used the scrubs from this company when I bought the Mango.  I ended up disliking the Mango so I wasn't really keen on buying more scrubs withthat same texture however this product had a very different look and texture when I played with it in the store.  I bought it to try and I loved it from the first time that I used it.  The Mango Scrub was more oily and had a jelly finish however this one has more of a creamy finish.  "Reveal softer, glowing skin with gently exfoliating coconut husks and ground coconut shells in a creamy, moisturizing scrub with pure Community Trade organic cold-pressed virgin coconut oil", states The Body Shop's website.  The organic, virgin, cold-pressed Community Trade Coconut Oil and Coconut Milk condition, moisturize, and soften skin, while helping to replenish moisture levels in the skin.  In addition to the coconut oil and milk, this product also contains Organic Community Trade Babassu Oil which is a very effective moisturizer that helps to restore skin's natural moisture balance.  This scrub is creamy and gentle, with the coconut husks to helps lightly exfoliate the skin.  This product doesn't provide as deep a scrub as salt or sugar would but it is great for very dry or sensitive skin.

The final step of this collection is the Body Butter.  This is hydrating product from the product collection and can be used after showering or at the beach.  I have always loved the butters from this company and the Coconut rivals the Mango as my favorite in the collection.  "Drench your skin in a rich, intensive cream with a lush coconut scent that moisturizes for up to 24 hours and made with Community Trade pure organic cold-pressed virgin coconut oil.  Absorbs easily to help condition, soften, and smooth the skin, providing moisture for up to 24 hours.  Leaves the skin deliciously fragranced with the tropical scent of coconut.", states The Body Shop when describing this body butter.  This butter contains both coconut oil, shea, and cocoa butter to help soften and soothe the skin.  Organic, virgin, cold-pressed Community Trade coconut oil softens and conditions skin.  Community Trade shea butter and Commuity Trade cocoa butter moisturize and soften skin.  This butter is very hydrating, rubs in easily, and leaves the most divine coconut fragrance on the skin.

I know that not everyone loves to wear coconut fragrances but no one can deny that coconut makes them think of summer and the beach.  The Body Shop's coconut line is a favorite of mine because it contains the actual coconut oil and smells simply divine.  The scrub and the body butter rank in my top ten list of favorite body products both for scent and texture.  Another benefit to this product line in the summer months is that the ingredients used are very soothing to skin that has seen too much sun after a long day.  I wouldn't recommend the scrub for sunburned skin but the wash won't irritate and will help to keep the moisture in the skin.  The butter will help replenish lost moisture in the skin and will soothe the burn. 

I love coconut but if you don't I also recommend trying the Mango product line from this company to reap many of the same benefits.  I do wish that the Coconut line contained a bubble bath since then I could bring the beach to my bathtub next December...

photo courtesy of The Body Shop

The Body Shop Summer 2011 Collection - Brush With Fashion

I think that this is first!  This is the first time that I have ever hit The Body Shop's website and found a current color collection listed under the Makeup tab.  Normally, I see hints of color collections but I have never actually hit it on the right day to see a whole collection listed together.  Everyone who reads this knows that I really love the body products from this company but I haven't used the makeup products from this company since the beginning of high school so I don't expect that their current collection will be anything like what I used to use.  I don't even remember details about this product line from back then so I will be approaching this company's color collection with a totally open mind.

This new collection is named Brush With Fashion and was a collaboration with the London College of Fashion.  These two groups worked together to create a very fashionable line of cruelty-free makeup.  I am always on the look out for vegan and/or animal cruelty-free beauty products that aren't earth crunchy or are too odd to use.  So hopefully, this company will be another line of makeup that I can use because right now Urban Decay is corning the market in this area.  This collection covers eyes, lips, and cheeks and contains a line of makeup bags and brushes that match all the color products in it. 

Here is this new collection...

Tailored Cheek Tint - Highlight your cheeks with a clear gel that magically transforms on the skin into a pink blush suited to your skintone.  This limited edition makeup features collectable packaging designed by London College of Fashion.  Can be used on all skintones.
- Hot Pink - pink for all skintones

Hi-Shine Lip Treatment - Create kissable lips with our much-loved lip gloss in a limited-edition tube with an integrated brush.  It features collectable packaging designed by the London College of Fashion.  Can be used on all skintones.  Sheer tint.  Ultra shiny.  Passionfruit scent.  Limited edition.
- 01 Pink Cream - sheer medium pink
- 02 Juicy Peach - sheer warm peach

Collection for Eyes 01 Boho Beauty - Create a stunning eye look with this collection of four matte shades in a warm palette of browns and apricot.  It includes a mini Eye Definer in 01 Rich Brown and features collectable packaging designed by London College of Fashion. 
- 01 Boho Beauty - beige/warm apricot/medium brown/deep brown

Collection for Eyes 02 A La Mode - Create a stunning eye look with this collection featuring three pearlescent shades in silver, white, and pink, and a matte black.  It includes a mini Eye Definer in 01 Black and features collectable packagin designed by London College of Fashion.
- 02 A La Mode - shimmery white/shimmery medium pink/shimmery silver/matte carbon black

Limited Edition Cosmetic Bag - Store your makeup essentials in a cosmetic bag featuring a limited-edition design by fashion-illustration student Katarina Voloder from London College of Fashion. 

Limited Edition Brush Purse - Neatly store your daily makeup essentials in a handy case featuring a limited-edition design by fashion-illustration student Katarina Voloder from London College of Fashion.

Limited Edition Mini Brush Kit - A portable mini brush kit that contains four essential tools.  It features a limited-edition design by fashion-illustration student Katarina Voloder from London College of Fashion.  Includes Mini Blusher Brush, Eye Shadow Blender Brush, Slanted Brush, and Lipstick/Concealer Brush.

Limited Edition Nail File - Shape your nails with a pretty nail file with a medium-coarse finish for good shaping and filing.  It features a limited-edition design by fashion-illustration student Katarina Voloder from London College of Fashion. 

Limited Edition Nail Buffer - Smooth, buff, and shine your nails to a glossy finish with a buffer featuring a limited-edition design by fashion-illustration student Katarina Voloder from London College of Fashion.

My favorite pieces of this collection are the two eye shadow palettes, they don't contain very unique shades but I still want to try them out.  I can see myself getting use from both of these palettes many times over the next seasons.  Overall, I am curious about The Body Shop's cruelty-free makeup and if it holds up to the same standards of their body products. 

photo courtesy of The Body Shop

The Body Shop Holiday Fragrances

The Body Shop always releases new fragrances around the holiday season. They are of a very different nature than the fragrances released by Bath and Body Works. The Bath and Body Works Holiday Traditions are more on the sweet and candy-like side, but The Body Shop fragrances are more naturally scented. The two new fragrances are Cranberry Joy and Spiced Vanilla. I am excited about the Cranberry Joy but not as much about the Spiced Vanilla.

Cranberry Joy is described as being a "fresh, true cranberry scent" and I am really seeing this one as a top seller. It is available in the following products: the Bath and Shower gel, the Body Butter, Shimmer Lotion, Body Scrub, Lip Balm, and Soap. I am betting that this product would be great in the body wash, the butter, and the soap and true berry lovers can use it all over their bodies. This fragrance is also available in the home fragrance oil and fragrance reeds. Personally, I love the Frosted Cranberry fragrance from Bath and Body Works and I am hoping that the fragrance reeds in this scent will fill the void that Slatkin & Co. has left in their product line.

The Spiced Vanilla scent is described as a "sweet vanilla and spice scent". I wonder how much spice is really in this because I can only handle so much and I am betting that using this scent all over my body would overwhelm my nose. This fragrance is available in the Bath and Shower Gel, Body Butter, Body Lotion, Soap, and Lip Balm. This fragrance is available in the same two home fragrance products but these hold no interest for me with my love of spice.

I'm not super excited about these fragrance this year, I would see myself only using some of the cranberry products and none of the vanilla. The item that has me the most excited is the Reed Diffusers in the cranberry scent. I will be just staying with my Vanilla Bean Noel and Twisted Peppermint this time around...

photo courtesy of The Body Shop

Coconut Hut Holiday 2010 Fragrances

Coconut Hut is my favorite place to find both coconut fragrances and wonderful dessert fragrances. Christmas is the time of the year for dessert type fragrances and I am already making a list (and checking it twice to make sure that I have everything that I need to get through the rest of the winter!). I have been on a major peppermint kick lately so I am looking for more fragrances to add to my mint rotation.

Here are the new fragrances...

Chocolate Covered Candy Cane - Christmas candy canes dipped in warm chocolate fondue.

Frosty's Snowball - A rich chocolate milk patty, filled with peppermint creme and sweet coconut.

Pumpkin Eggnog Cupcake - Vanilla eggnog cupcakes with creamy pumpkin pie filling in the middle.

Rudolph's Cupcake - A fluffy vanilla cupcake with cherry pie filling, iced with decadent vanilla frosting.

Santa's Bakery - Warm gingerbread, creamy eggnog, and pumpkin pie swirled together to create happy Christmas memories.

Silver Bells - Lotus blossom, ginger milk, and violet petals kissed with white snow orchids.

Snow Angel Frost - Sweet cane sugar, notes of hard peppermint candy, creamy vanilla, and just a hint of angel food cake tops off this delectable scent.

Sticky Peppermint Snowball - Sweet peppermint candy and sticky marshmellow fluff are mixed with oodles of luscious vanilla and a touch of coconut cake.

Winter White Chocolate - Creamy smooth white chocolate is blended with refreshing peppermint candy.

Winter Wonderland Cake - A vanilla cake layered with mandarin oranges and orange creme custard, frosted with thick vanilla icing and crushed peppermint candy canes.

Before I decide fragrance, I will recommend products. Any of the body butter or creams from this company are top notch and the whipped sugar scrub is like rubbing your skin with a fluffy frosting. I also recommend the shea butter based body wash and I have also been told (on the Makeup Alley boards) that her perfumes are wonderfully strong and long lasting. Adding to my pepperming love with be Chocolate Covered Candy Cane, Frosty's Snowball, Snow Angel Frost, and Winter White Chocolate. I also need to order Silver Bells and Rudolph's Cupcake. And I might throw a few coconut fragrances in my cart too for when I get the winter blues.

photo courtesy of Coconut Hut

England Week Day 2 - The Body Shop Mango

The Body Shop is one of England's first body product brands that still inspires copycats the world over. The philosophy of the company and how their use of natural and fair trade ingredients is revered by both their fans and competitors alike. Mango is the first body butter that this company every launched in 1992 and still to this day remains a top seller.

Of all of the products from The Body Shop that I own, Mango is the line of products that I have repurchased the most and done so usually right after I finish up the container. I first tried the Mango products in my junior year of college and quickly got hooked on the Mango Body Butter (even as I was still working at Bath and Body Works). I loved the natural fragrance of the mango and how it wasn't candy sweet as many mango fragrances on the market today turn out to be. From this collection, I have purchased the Mango Body Butter, the Mango Shower Gel, and the Mango Body Scrub.

The Mango Body Butter is meant for very dry skin, however I have no problems using it all the year round becuase it is not greasy to the touch on my skin. I have also found many hidden benefits of this product. It soothes burned/sunburned skin and helps to hydrate and calm my skin when my self tanner is wearing off (skin can get itchy at this point in the tanner cycle). It has also soothed rashes and works great on my sensitive skin, this is the product that I turn to when something else is making my skin flare up. One of the key ingredients of this product is the mango seed oil, which is the hydrator of the product. It also contains cocoa butter to help hydrate. The sweet almond oil in this product provides essential fatty acids to help repair, hydrate, and protect the skin.

The Shower Gel for this collection has many of the same features and benefits as the Butter. It also is formualted for very dry skin and therefore does not contain many of the soaps and detergents found in traditional formulas. I have found that this product is runnier than many other gels that I have tried and doesn't lather as well on my shower pouf. But I can live with that since it doesn't dry my skin out in the colder weather and I still love the fragrance of it.

The Mango Body Scrub is my least favorite of all the items that I have tried in the collection. It is a salt scrub and I prefer sugar scrubs overall. I also always felt like I still had a film on my skin anything that I rinsed this product off and I hate scrubs that aren't clean rinsing. It states in the description of this product that some sugar is contained in the formula but it feel too much like a salt scrub for my liking. This product also contains organic soy oil to help repair skin and maintain the natural moisture barrier. I most likely will not repurchase this product unless the products are on some type of special (that's how I ended up with this one in the first place).

The only products from this collection that I haven't tried yet are the Whipped Body Lotion (lighter version of the butter), a clear soap (not really interested), and a clear lip balm (really want to try this one out). The Mango Body Butter is a staple for both myself and many more women around the world so if you haven't given this one a shot, I highly recommend getting yourself to a Body Shop store soon.

photo courtesy of The Body Shop

The Body Shop Sweet Lemon Body Products

I love lemon scented body products. I have loved the C.O. Bigelow Lemon products since I was first introduced to the Lemon Body Cream when it was first carried at Bath and Body Works. Another lemon favorite is the Lemon-Made line of products from Davies Gate. The C.O. Bigelow Lemon is true lemon and is scented with natural lemon oil, meaning that the fragrance fades quickly. The Davies Gate lemon is much sweeter and the fragrance does not fade as fast. Now, The Body Shop has added a lemon fragrance to their line up and I am quite happy to add another fragrance to me lemon loves.

This fragrance is called Sweet Lemon and I feel that it is in the middle of the two fragrances that I discussed above. It is sweeter than the Bigelow Lemon but the fragrance is still natural and fades fairly quickly. It has less of the sharp citrus note to it and therefore would appeal to someone who isn't already a fan of lemon. Another wonderful aspect of this line is that proceeds from the sales of the product go to help end sex trafficing. So you are able to help those in need while getting your hydration fix.

There are several key ingredients found in these products. Lemon seed oil is high in anti-oxidant properties and in Vitamin C helping to both soften the skin and protect it from future damage at the same time. Lemon Oil also helps to brighten the skin but it does increase the skin's sensitivity to UV rays so this may be a line best used at night if you spend a good portion of your day outside in sunlight.

This fragrances comes in the following forms: the body butter, shower gel, a light whipped body lotion (for those who find the body butter too intense for their skin type), and a divine looking body scrub. I think that I will be purchasing all four forms before they sell out.

photo courtesy of The Body Shop

The Body Shop Originals Line

The Body Shop has just decided to bring back some of their original best selling products from the 1990s and the beginning of the 2000s. I remember seeing some of these products in this store when I began shopping there in the seventh grade. The Dewberry products are the ones the jump right out at me, everyone had this scent in the late 1990s. The Body Shop has released hair care product, skincare products, and body products. Time to go back a decade or two.

First the haircare products...

Banana Shampoo - Gently cleanse and nourish your hair with a shampoo that smells good enough to eat and will leave your hair feeling soft and silky.

Banana Conditioner - Nourish and protect your hair with an irresistable smelling conditioner that leaves it free of tangles and easy to manage.

Ice Blue Shampoo - Cleanse and refresh your hair while leaving it soft and healthy-looking with an invigorating and deeply refreshing shampoo.

Now the skincare products...

Carrot Moisture Cream - Hydrate and protect your skin with a rich, moisturizing, non-greasy daily moisture cream that leaves the skin feeling beautifully soft and supple.

Cucumber Freshening Water - Remove excess traces of oil, dirt, and makeup with a mild toner that will refresh and soothe your skin without over drying it.

Cucumber Cleansing Milk - Wash away excess oil, makeup, and impurities with a refreshing cleansing milk that gently cleanses without drying to leave skin feeling soft, smooth, and refreshed.

Passion Fruit Facial Cleansing Gel - Wash away excess oil, makeup, and impurities with a refreshing cleansing gel that gently cleanses without drying to leave skin feeling soft, smooth, and refreshed.

Now for the body products...

Dewberry Body Lotion - Moisturize and hydrate your skin with a deliciously fruity body lotion that will leave it feeling soft, smooth, and fragrant.

Dewberry Bath & Shower Gel - Feel fresh and clean with a deliciously fruity gel that creates a luxurious foamy lather to leave skin feeling cleansed and gently fragranced.

Fuzzy Peach Bath & Shower Gel - Enjoy the rich lather of a soap-free, cleansing gel that leaves your skin feeling clean, soft, supple, and scented with the sweet and fruity scent of fresh peaches.

Green Apple Bath & Shower Gel - Feel fresh and clean with the luxurious foamy lather of a fresh and fruity cleansing gel that will leave your skin feeling cleansed and gently fragranced.

I want all the body products, I remember playing with these when I used to shop in the little Body Shop in my local mall. I would also like to try the Banana hair products, I have heard from various sources that banana is very hydrating and it is an ingredient that MOP uses in their deep conditioner. I would also like to get the two cucumber facial care products. I have used a cucumber tonic from C.O. Bigelow that did a great job calming my skin dow so hopefully these products will have the same effects.

photo courtesy of The Body Shop

The Body Shop Strawberry Body Products

Let me start this off to saying that strawberries are my favorite fruit known to man. I will pay large amounts to get then all during the year and usually end up having to throw way too many of them away because they had to trucked in from California or some other warm place. Then when the spring begins and strawberries are available in my local area and I finally get the long-awaited giant berries with no bruises. With strawberries as a favorite of mine, I have often looked for other items that have the same strawberry scent but always ended up finding products that smell like generic sweet candy and not the actual fruit.

During one of the Bath and Body Works Semi Annual Sales, I had the good fortune pick up some of the Me! Bath Shower Scrubs for 90%. Which seemed like a great deal at the time until I go home and went to use one and realized that I had nothing to match the Strawberry Kiwi scent. And I am particular about my body products, everything that I use at the same time must match or complement each other in some way. So I had to find something else to match these scrubs or I just threw my money away on products that wouldn't get used. I saw the Strawberry line next time that I walked by Body Shop and decided that I would give this line a try.

I already liked Body Shop's products so I figured that this line was the closest thing that I would find to a genuine strawberry fragrance. And I was having no luck at all trying to find a Strawberry Kiwi wash or cream so I decided that this line was about all that I was going to find. I bought the Body Wash and Shower Gel in this collection.

The benefits from the Strawberry Body Butter are more than I had originally expected from the product. The first one that is listed in the product description is that Strawberry seed oil provides omega-3 and omega-4 fatty acids to repair skin's natural moisture barrier, allowing it to remain smooth and supple well after the initial application. This body butter also contains Community Trade Shea Butter to moisturize, soften, and protect skin with high levels of anti-oxidant Vitamins A and E. This product also contains Community Trade Cocoa Butter that melts at skin temperature, leaving skin soft and smooth. I also bought this fragrance in the matching Shower Gel, which I had initially found to be runny but got used to texture relatively quickly. The Shower Gel contains Strawberry juice that it rich in Vitamin C to protect and nourish the skin. It also contains Community Trade soy oil that is rich in essential fatty acids to help repair skin's natural moisture barrier. This product is also available in a Body Polish, which I didn't purchase since I only really bought these products to match the scrubs from Me! Bath.

As I stated above, I initially thought the Shower Gel was too runny but I began to like it better after several uses. The Body Butter is very thick in the tub and a decent amount of effort needs to be applied to get it out for use. It works best if I rub it in my hands to warm it up then apply it to my body. It is a good product for hydration and is thick enough for use on dry winter skin but also isn't too heavy to use in the summertime. While I like this line of products, they still aren't my favorite from Body Shop and I would rather purchase the Coconut or Mango product lines.

photo courtesy of The Body Shop

The Body Shop Holiday 2009 Fragrances

I feel like I haven't looked at products from The Body Shop in forever, which is odd considering that I find their quality to be far superior to that of Bath and Body Works for most of the products they sell. Maybe Bath and Body Works just tends to hit the public over the head more with their marketing and the promotional items that I always tend to get in the mail. Anyway, Body Shop has also released fragrances for this Holiday, all of which are limited edition also.

The first scent is called Merry Cranberry and since I hate cranberry fragrances, I already know that this one is not for me. The website describes this fragrance as being on the sweeter side and very fruity. Also, they state that cranberry seed oil is very hydrating and will help to improve the condition of dry winter skin. This fragrance comes mostly in different forms of moisturizers.

The second fragrance is called Black Velvet Apricot and is the one that I find the most interesting of the fragrances. Very few companies release any type of apricot fragrance and the ones are usually released are some form of apricots and cream and smell more like sweet candy than the actual fruit. This one smells of plum and apricot, making this fragrance true to fruit scent of the apricot. The plum is more of a base and makes the fragrance appropriate for the winter. This fragrance I believe is released in both moisturizers and a scrub that is in a tube. This is my favorite of the group.

The last fragrance is more on the spicy side than the two previous. This one is called Nutmeg and Vanilla. This one is my choice for smelling the most like typical "Holiday" fragrances and is my second choice of the fragrances. This fragrance is much spicier and stronger than the other two fragrances. This one that I know that I will like in the tub but if I would buy it, I would would only use it every now and again because I would get sick of the spiciness really quickly. This one is also available in the scrub and moisturizers.

There is still time left to ge these products before the Holidays but many of them were sold out on the website so I wouldn't wait too long. I personally am all over the Black Velvet Apricot fragrance and will be getting the scrub and the bosy butter before they are gone for good.'

photo courtesy of The Body Shop

Lines That I Have Never Tried

When I look through my train case, it seems like I have makeup from every single line carried in Sephora and major department stores. However, as I read magazines and look through people’s reviews on Makeup Alley, I feel like I only own products from a couple of lines. So I complied a list of several lines that I hear a lot about but still haven’t had the chance to try any of the products from.

The lines are…
- Stila

- Lancome

- Shu Uemura

- Lorac

- Make Up Forever

- Clarins

- Bobbi Brown

- The Body Shop

- Givenchy

I think that I as I begin to look for new fall makeup, I am going to investigate many of these lines. My goal is that within the next six months to a year, I will have tried products from every single one of these line.

The Body Shop Haul

My latest beauty product purchse was from The Body Shop. I have always felt very confident in The Body Shop's products. the only product that i ever got from them that I didn't totally love was the Mango body scrub and it wasn't bad (just a bit too oily for my taste). as you might have guessed I own a bunch of stuff from them and never hestitate to buy something new that just came out.

I bought a bunch of thing, most of which were new to me. I already owned the Mango shower gel and body butter (my favorite moisturizer ever) so I didn't need anything else from the Mango line. I was totally out of my Coconut products, so I bought the Coconut shower creme, scrub, and body butter.

They had a new Japanese Cherry Blossom scent that I wanted to try even though I have bought Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cherry Blossom from Bath and Body Works (and am rapidly getting over those smells). The Body Shop version of the scent is just wonderful, its very light and floral. This one will be perfect for springtime. I bought the body butter, the body puree (a lighter lotion), and the shower gel. I think this scent is better than the Bath and Body Works version and is highly recommended.

The last few things that I picked up were the Strawberry body butter and the Strawberry body wash. These two products were actually the reason that I even went into The Body Shop. Last month, I was won over by the scent of the Me! Bath body scrub in Strawberry Kiwi and ended up buying two of them just to realize that I had nothing to use them with. I have found that stawberry is hard scent to find if you don't want little girl's Lipsmacker products from Limited Too in your shower.

I also got a Cassis Rose home fragrance oil to burn (a rose with a bit of berry in it) and a reususable shopping bag with all of the philosophies of The Body Shop printed on it.

The clear winners so far - the Mango body butter is my favorite product ever; it hydrates and makes my skin smooth. it also has calmed skin and chemical burns and the tub is huge and will last forever. The Coconut scrub is fantastic too. It has a true coconut scent with a creamy texture and bits of real coconut husks for getting the dead skin off. I haven't gotten to use the Japanese Cherry or Strawberry products yet so I can't really comment on their standouts.