bath and body - 8/20 - A Girl's Gotta Spa! (sm) Top beauty blog, spa, hair care, makeup, beauty trends, skin care | A Girl's Gotta Spa! (sm) Top beauty blog, spa, hair care, makeup, beauty trends, skin care

EnvyDerm Lip Volumizing and Conditioning Plumper

As I get older I notice the collagen making a prompt exit from my lips leaving them looking lifeless and thin. The best way to combat thinning lips (or if you have thin lips to begin with) is to keep them hydrated and to use a lip plumper. When Read more

No3 Berry Face Oil Review

Can I use face oil if I have combination skin? Of course you can, simply avoid pore-clogging oils and use only the ones intended to moisturize your face. L.A. Christine's No3 Berry Face Oil is comprised of Lingonberry, raspberry and acai berry, yet smells of an herbally sweet concoction. High Read more

Need for Speed: New Quick Drying Nail Polishes

Today's modern polishes promise to dry faster than a speeding bullet, but which ones actually save the day? Top manicurists have known about pro top coats for years - those specially formulated clear coats that left lacquer intact for an extended wear manicure. Compatible with nearly every brand, topcoats like Read more

Verb Detangle+Defrizz Conditioning Leave-In Mist Review

To be completely up front about things, I hate washing my hair because it's a nightmare to comb afterwards.  It’s much like that of a 6 year old little girl. It tangles like nobody’s business and is a nightmare to comb after washing. It’s so bad that my hairdresser Read more

Delfin Spa Cellulite Reduction Apparel and Anti-Cellulite Lotion Review

Everyone deals with cellulite. And no one is a fan of it. We've written about coffee ground products like Gail's DIY Coffee Scrub or isola Jamaican Coffee & Sugar Scrub, that are said to help minimize the appearance of cellulite due to the caffeine. Now there is another product system Read more
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bath and body

Kiehl’s Continues to Give Back With Another Collaboration with Jeff Koons

Kiehl’s may not deliver the most bargain-friendly bath and body goodies around, but it’s comforting for us shopping addicts to know that our hard-earned money is not only going towards quality skin care and beauty, but also to a good cause to boot! The 160-year-old, New-York-based apothecary brand is no stranger to giving back, and their renewed partnership with Jeff Koons kicked off the recent holiday season with another limited-edition Creme de Corps collection – this time inspired by the artists’ legendary “Balloon Flower (Yellow)” sculpture.

While the holiday season is well over by now (*sigh of relief*), luckily it’s not too late to take part in the charitable cheer! Ranging in price from $29-72, plus a collectible bottle topper inspired by the original sculpture for $50, this collection donates 100% of its net proceeds (up to $200,000) to The Koons Family Institute, a branch of the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. Plus, considering Creme de Corps has been lauded as the most hydrating of Kiehl’s extensive collection of moisturizers, it’s the perfect purchase to help you beat brittle winter skin!

- Alexandra Gambardella

*Guest beauty post from my friends at TheFind.com.

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Shannon Nelson in bath and body, beauty, skin care Leave a comment

Get Your Glow On All Year Round With a Gradual Self-Tanner

While I wouldn’t say that I’m tanorexic, so to speak, and I never verge on the orange side of way too tan, I have to admit that I do enjoy my summer glow. It makes me look and feel healthier, sexier, thinner, and looks great against my favorite brightly-hued wardrobe pieces. But does it really have to be summer to rock a summer glow? Is being tan strictly a seasonal thing? Technically no, but there is something to be said about using self-tanner in moderation in the off-season!

Gradual self-tanners help you get and maintain that subtle glow without showing up at work one day looking an entirely different shade than the day before! Moisturize with a gradual self-tanning lotion and skin will be nourished, soothed, and firm while slowly but surely building an even sun-kissed tone. Let’s face it – unless you’re heading out to the tropics for the holiday season, you have no reason to look like you’ve spent a week at the beach in one go!

From left to right: St. Tropez Tanning Essentials Everyday Gradual Tan, Sisley-Paris Soleil San Soleil Self Tanning Lotion, purminerals Get a Little Self Tanning Lotion, and La Prairie Gradual Tanning Lotion.

- Alex Gambardella

*Guest beauty post for A Girl’s Gotta Spa! from my friends at TheFind.com.

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Shannon Nelson in bath and body, beauty Leave a comment

Global Beauty with styleVISA

If you can believe it, I don’t own a passport. I’m envious of my friends jet setting around the world and bringing back unique fashion and beauty finds. But now I found a new online retail destination that brings those items to you. styleVISA features a distinct and eclectic assortment of home décor, personal accessories, beauty products and limited curations by artisans and designers from all over the world. Like a travel visa, the concept is to create an online passport to global culture and design…an assortment of those amazing finds you come across when globetrotting (sometimes near, sometimes far.) Not that I can speak from experience about globetrotting, but you know what I mean (side eye at my jet setting friends.)

Right now styleVISA is spotlighting designers and artisans from Africa, France, New Zealand, Mexico, Japan, Sweden and the US. I spy Kio Kio, a New Zealand bath and body company that’s been reviewed on A Girl’s Gotta Spa! before. There’s also a lotion bar from Etta + Billie that resembles the lotion bars I used to sell from Jordan Essentials (and if these lotion bars are as good as Jordan Essentials, then you definitely want to pick one up!) There’s also nail polish from Scotch Naturals, and while I have never heard of them, the colors look amazing.

So which visa stamp do you want? Take a trip, no passport required! styleVISA is offering A Girl’s Gotta Spa! readers 10% off  everything on their site until November 30, 2011. Use code STYLEPASSPORT at check out! www.stylevisa.com.

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Shannon Nelson in bath and body, beauty, skin care Leave a comment

Review: Camille Beckman Tuscan Honey Bath and Body Products

What is a girl to do on a Friday night when it’s raining cats and dogs, she has absolutely no plans and there is nothing good on TV? Why enjoy an at home spa night of course!  I had just received an array of  Camille Beckman bath and body products and could not wait to try them and a rainy Friday night just seemed like the perfect time to give them my undivided attention…with some minor interruptions from a glass or two of red wine, of course.

I decided to try the products from their Tuscan Honey line.  First up was the French Milled Soap.  I loved the really light fragrance of the soap and went insane for the super rich lather.  After cleansing with the soap I decided my feet needed some lovin so I exfoliated them with the Pumice Oval Exfoliating Stone.  The stone definitely left my heels feeling smoother and softer and I really appreciated that it has a string attached to the stone to prevent me from dropping it constantly.  I had a few sips of my wine and decided it was time to moisturize so I whipped out the Tuscan Honey Body Butter.  The body butter is very thick and rich and left my skin uber moisturized (it also contains 7% Shea butter.)

Since my feet received some extra lovin I felt like my hands might get a bit jealous, so I decided to give them some extra attention too and after exfoliating them I applied the Glycerine Hand Therapy.  Well my feet got jealous of my hands because the Glycerine Hand Therapy is just amazing.  It is beyond moisturizing…so I guess I would call it restorative…my hands immediately felt soft, pampered, loved and of course moisturized.  I tend to suffer from dry feet (thanks to living in flip flops 24/7…too hot for anything else) so I applied the hand therapy to my feet and they have been feeling and looking a lot more presentable lately.

All of the products I tried from the Camille Beckman Tuscan Honey line were just great.  They all had a very light, pleasant  and soft fragrance…never overpowering.  They were all very pampering and moisturizing and the packaging is absolutely charming.  Spending a Friday night with Camille Beckman was the best time I’ve had on a Friday night in a very long time.

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Gail Lewis in bath and body, beauty Leave a comment

Slough Away Summer with Soap & Glory Body Polish

Now that the rare afternoons of the San Francisco sun are starting to become even fewer, as the closest thing we have to fall weather gradually rolls in, I’m finding it especially tough to keep up any semblance of a summer glow. And let’s face it – no tan at all is better than the unsightly, sickly-looking aftermaths of a dying tan: dull, flakey, dry skin. Yuck! The cast of Jersey Shore may not agree, but I’d rather be pale than look diseased. That’s why I’m putting my tan-preserving products away and embracing a new body polish to help slough away dry summer skin and unveil the healthier-looking epidermis underneath!

Soap & Glory’s “Flake Away” Body Polish is the perfect happy medium between gentle but not too gentle; it’s seriously effective without irritating sensitive skin, and leaves my body feeling baby-smooth right out of the shower! The shea butter, almond oil, peach seed, and sea salt mixture helps rid my skin of its parched surface, while the bad-ass brand’s signature fragrance with mandarin, rose, jasmine, amber, and vanilla makes me feel like I’m experiencing a spa-worthy treatment right in my own bathroom. If anything could actually make me feel relaxed about losing my summer glow, it’s definitely this body polish!

- Alex Gambardella

*Guest beauty post for A Girl’s Gotta Spa! from my friends at TheFind.com.

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Shannon Nelson in bath and body, beauty, skin care Leave a comment

Review: Kanshi Salted Coconut Body Scrub

I love exfoliating.  Something about scrubbing away all of those dead skin cells that makes me feel pretty productive. As a lot of you  already know, I am also in love with the aroma of coconuts, it just makes me feel good about life.  So it probably won’t come as a surprise that passing up a scrub with any hint of coconut in it is virtually impossible for me.  This uncontrollable tendency to consume any and all coconut scented scrubs has at times left me with dry, flaky, irritated skin…due  to scrubs that were so harsh and aggressive that the only thing pleasant about them was the aroma of coconut.  But I still find it difficult to not at least give a new coconut scented scrub a try, especially when that scrub not only smells like coconuts but is also natural, paraben free and contains sea salts and coconut shell.  I am of course referring to the new Kanshi Salted Coconut Body Scrub.

The Salted Coconut Scrub of course smells like coconuts but not overwhelmingly so.  The scent is more naturally coconut, not at all manufactured.  The scrub does a great job of exfoliating without feeling scratchy or irritating my skin.  The first time I used it, I applied it in the shower after my skin was already wet and to me it felt a bit slimy.  However, the second time I used it I rubbed it onto my skin before getting my skin wet and it worked a lot better for me, my skin was soft, smooth, moisturized and smelled great.  The slimy feeling that I experienced the first time was the natural oils in the scrub…which actually left my skin feeling a bit moisturized even after I rinsed it with warm water.  Now I can’t promise that I won’t try other coconut scented scrubs out there but I can promise that I am definitely keeping this one as a constant in my beauty drawer. Have you tried it?

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Gail Lewis in bath and body, beauty 3 Comments

Shop Salma Hayek’s Budget-Friendly Beauty Line at CVS

It’s no secret that drugstore beauty buys are typically hit or miss. It’s important to find that perfect sweet spot between “affordable enough” (because let’s face it – some drugstore brands aren’t even that cheap!) and “quality enough” to justify avoiding the high-end brands. After all, what’s the point of hittin’ up the drugstore makeup aisle instead of Sephora if you’re not going to score some beauty loot for less? Despite the suspiciously high-priced finds lurking on the Walgreens and CVS counters, some of us (myself included) will still compulsively go spelunking in the drugstore makeup racks in search of whatever we saw Drew Barrymore or Jessica Alba rockin’ in the commercials the night before, because a famous face makes even the most affordable beauty brands seem way more luxe. After all, that’s what drew me to Salma Hayek’s beauty line, Nuance, sold exclusively at CVS.

More than just a pretty promotional face for the brand, Salma calls on inspiration from her beautician grandmother (it helps to come from gorgeous genes!) to design a 100-piece line of skincare, haircare, and cosmetics, which retail from $7.99-19.99. Can’t be bothered to travel to one of the dozen CVS stores near you to check out the Nuance line in person? Browse the beauty buys online at CVS.com!

- Alex Gambardella

*Guest beauty post for A Girl’s Gotta Spa! from my friends at TheFind.com.

Posted on September 2, 2011 by Shannon Nelson in beauty, Hair Care, skin care Leave a comment

Review: Schick Intuition Limited Edition Razors

Living in a place like Miami is great for the most part.  After all there is not much I can complain about, it’s almost always sunny, I live a few blocks from the beach and the people watching here is amazing.  But one thing about actually living in a beach community is that shaving daily is a must.  Back in Minnesota I could get away with skipping a few days in between the razor, but not here.  I basically live in shorts and always have a swimsuit in my purse so missing even one day of shaving is just not an option for me.  Anything that would make shaving less time consuming is always appreciated.  So I was pretty ecstatic about the new Schick Intuition Limited Edition Razors.

The Limited Edition Razors are available in three colors and are the first razor that lathers, shaves and moisturizes all in one. The razor has four blades, skin moisturizing solid and an ergonomic handle.  Each razor package also includes two refill cartridges, a shower hanger for your razor as well as a travel cap. The first few times I used the razor I did not experience a very close shave, in fact there was an over abundance of the moisturizing solid on my skin which might have prevented it from shaving properly as I could still feel stubble after shaving.  However, after using it about five plus times, it  gave me a closer shave.  I think that once the moisturizing solid melts a little it allows for a closer shave.  The razor is definitely easy to grip in the shower and I love that it comes with a shower hanger which allows for easy and very convenient storage.  The travel cap however, sometimes get stuck on the moisturizing solid and I had to struggle with this a few times.

Travel cap and initial overabundance of moisturizing solid aside, I really appreciate this razor.  I love not having to worry about applying a shaving cream or lotion, I just get my skin wet and can immediately start shaving away, definitely cuts down shaving time.  I also love that I have yet to drop this razor due to the thicker, easy to grip handle.  I would maybe suggest removing a bit of the moisturizing solid before your first use if you would like a closer shave.  But until I can afford laser hair removal, this is definitely my go-to razor.

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Gail Lewis in bath and body, beauty 3 Comments

Review: Vitabath Heavenly Coconut Creme Body Wash

I know that we are still in the throes of summer…after all how could I possibly forget when I’m reminded every time I step outside thanks to my immediately sweat soaked clothing? But I still can’t help being excited about the arrival of fall and fall beauty products of course.  I love that beauty products seem to have more of a pampering feel to them during fall and winter months.  The scents become more comforting and rich, they feel more moisturizing and just downright luxurious.  That being said, of course I could not wait until Fall to try Vitabath’s Fragrance Collection.

The Vitabath Fragrance Collection is new for fall and features 16 body washes with four aromatic fragrance profiles; Spa Day, In Bloom, Fruit Fanatic and my absolute favorite, Cupcake Couture.  The body washes are all sulfate and paraben free and include a nourishing blend of Vitamins A, B3, C, E, Pro-Vitamin B5 and antioxidant-rich superfruits.  I am currently using the Heavenly Coconut Creme body wash from the Cupcake Couture fragrance profile and i’s absolutely decadent.  The scent reminds me of a cupcake I recently had while on vacation in Santa Rosa Beach, FL…toasty, creamy, delicious…just heavenly…weird because the name of the bakery that I bought the coconut cupcake from is called Heavenly Shortcakes.  Those of you who know me, know that every once in a while (or often), I have a tendency of tasting my beauty products if they smell delicious…well I had to really fight the urge not to taste this one because every time I open the bottle I am very tempted to just give it a quick lick, it just smells so amazing.  The lather is also very rich and luxurious and it leaves my skin feeling really moisturized.

Currently, my trainer has me on a strict diet of absolutely no carbs, sugar, cream…basically I can pretty much forget about having desserts of any kind, so now  whenever I am tempted to cheat on my diet with a cookie or cake pops, I just open the bottle of  Heavenly Coconut Creme body wash and take a whiff.  I kid you not, the scent it actually satisfies my cravings.  I love that this body wash is doing great things for my body in more ways than one.

Posted on August 16, 2011 by Gail Lewis in bath and body, beauty 1 Comment

Review: True Blue Spa 60-Second Manicure Hand Scrub & Smoothing Foot Scrub

Although going to the spa can never be an overrated experience, there is something to be said of being able to bring the spa to the comfort and privacy of your own home with you and a few of your closest girlfriends…or sometimes just solo.  The only problem with bringing the spa to your home is the quality of the spa products.  More often than not, spa products that I am able to get my hands on are never spa quality and being that neither me nor my girlfriends are professional estheticians, we need our products to do the job that we can not.  Which is why I love products from True Blue Spa by Bath & Body Works.  The brands products are spa quality without the spa prices, they really allow you to experience the true spa experience at home.

My two favorite True Blue Spa products are the 60-Second Manicure Hand Scrub and the Smoothing Foot Scrub.  The Hand Scrub is a sugar based exfoliating treatment that also contains moisturizing Shea Butter.  I love starting  my at home spa manicures with the scrub because it immediately softens my hands and cuticles and allows any moisturizing products that follows, whether it’s a hand lotion, masque or cuticle oil, to do a more effective job.  The scrub also has a great citrusy scent…like a blend of sugar and grapefruit.  Much like the hand scrub, the Smoothing Foot Scrub also smooths and softens, allowing moisturizing products to be better absorbed by the feet.  The foot scrub also has a great refreshing minty scent, due to the Peppermint Oil that is a part of the ingredients and that also stimulates tired feet.

I may never completely give up going to a spa in favor of spa-ing at home, but for those days when the spa budget is a bit too tight or if I just want to have a girl’s night in with my at home spa products and a bottle of wine, it’s great to know that I have two amazing products on hand that very closely captures the spa experience and results without the steep spa price tags or having to change out of my jammies.

Posted on August 1, 2011 by Gail Lewis in bath and body, beauty, skin care Leave a comment
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