In the Shower with Tom Ford: 
Neroli Portofino
5/18/14

I've become obsessed with all things Tom Ford as of late, from his luxurious nail lacquers, Alix bags, lipsticks, fragrances and now bath & body products. My last post featured more affordable bath and body options, so this post is all about luxury. I'd read and heard raves about TF Neroli Portofino, and decided to try the shower gel and the body oil. I've been super into skin oils as of late, from face to body. I bought the shower gel because I wanted to continue the scent throughout my routine. I don't advise mixing scents, unless they're complementary. It's also a lovely sensory experience, which I've been thoroughly enjoying.

The shower gel is pretty on par with any other high quality shower gel, and a little goes a long way on a loofah or sponge. I imagine one bottle will last 4-5 months. Neroli Portofino works for both men and women, working with our body chemistry. Now don't get me wrong – this isn't one of those cK one situations, which made every woman I know smell, well, like a dude. This is definitely gender-neutral, and reminiscent of a day at the beach –  in the Italian Riviera. What's not to love?

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Then there's the body oil. Oh, the oil! I like to use body oils in the summer in lieu of perfume, as I find perfumes too heavy and obtrusive in warmer weather. The oil smells heavenly from the moment you open the flip top (helping control the amount dispensed) and much like the shower gel, a little goes a long way. The body oil feels like silk as I smooth it over my skin, and is readily absorbed. My skin drinks it up and is left glowing and soft, with the sexy, sultry scent of Neroli Portofino. Notes include: bergamot, lemon, mandarin, lavender, myrtle, rosemary, orange bitter, Egyptian jasmine, neroli, orange blossom water, pittosporum, woody amber accord, ambrette seeds, angelica root. Sexy, subtle, summery. I awake every morning with the scent subtly lingering on my skin.

My verdict? I've been using this duo for about two months now, and receive compliments regularly. Of course I never say what I'm actually wearing. That would be too easy! I can't imagine going without these products or this scent this or any summer. It's highly addictive. Don't say I didn't warn you!

Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Shower Gel is $65 for an 8.5 oz. bottle. 
Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Body Oil is $70 for an 8.5 oz. bottle. 

Available at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Saks. 

Bath & Body:
Dry Skin in Spring?
4/4/14

The flowers are starting to bloom, the trees are getting lush and green and...my allergies are wreaking havoc on my body! Well this is definitely a first for me. Outside of the typical runny nose, sneezing and itchy eyes, I'm suddenly suffering from dry skin this Spring. The first area I noticed some dryness was on my arms, particularly my upper arms. My usual lotions and potions weren't cutting it, so I thought I'd share some successful, reasonably-priced products that relieved my dry skin.

First I switched to a natural and soothing body wash. So many shower gels and soaps can strip the skin of natural oils, which is especially problematic if you're already suffering from dry skin. I'd used Jurlique products before and consider it to be a solid natural beauty brand. Less expensive than Dr. Hauschka, they have a wide array of bath and body as well as facial products. I selected their Rose Shower Gel, and have been impressed. In case I haven't touted it enough by now, I'm a huge fan of products containing rose and believe in the healing powers of the rose. It's not just a fad or especially unique ingredient, but it is something I have been seeking out for quite some time. A little bit goes a long way on a bath sponge, and this healing and soothing shower gel leaves my skin hydrated and healthy.

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Kiehl's Crème de Corps body lotion has been my go-to dry skin reliever for years, but it couldn't cut the mustard this time. Their Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion contains Argan oil (from Morocco), which is widely used in skin and hair products for its repairative and hydrating properties. This lotion is a happy medium between a body lotion like Crème de Corps and a body oil. For those new to using body or facial oils, it's a great introduction. The rate at which my skin absorbs this lotion is astounding. My skin literally drinks this readily and it doesn't leave a messy residue or take awhile to fully absorb like some lotions can. I was sold after using this product once. My skin was instantly hydrated and healed. I happened to notice that one of the first ingredients listed is Squalane, something often found in facial skincare products.

My verdict? I don't believe in investing tons of money in body care products when there are so many fantastic, moderately-priced products available. Both products are my new go-to dry skin relievers. It's been quite awhile since I've stumbled upon such transformative bath & body products. Save the big bucks for your facial skincare. 

Jurlique Rose Shower Gel is $22 for just over 10 oz. Available at Julique online, Whole Foods and other natural stores. 

Kiehl's Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion is $38 for a 6.8 fl. oz. pump & $55 for a 16 fl. oz. Pump. Available in Kiehl's stores or Kiehl's online, and at retailers like Nordstrom & Neiman Marcus. 

Winter Body Care:
Kiehl's Creme de Corps Moisturizer &
Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish
1/24/14

In addition to changing my facial skincare routine for cold weather, I also change my body care products. During summer months, I use a lot of fresh citrus-scented products. Colder weather calls for a thicker, more intensive moisturizer and frequent exfoliation to keep my skin soft and hydrated. Creme de Corps is one of Kiehl's best sellers, with good reason. The rich body moisturizer is enriched with Beta-Carotene, Cocoa Butter, Sesame Oil and Squalane, which helps restore our skin's moisture balance. The cream is unscented and offered in a wide array of sizes, from travel-sized options to the 1 liter pump shown below. 

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The texture is thick, but smooth. While quite rich, it's readily absorbed by the skin and only takes a few minutes to fully absorb. Unlike most body butters, application is a breeze. I find most body butters to be thick and cumbersome, and often sit on top of the skin needing to be massaged in for proper absorption. This is fine for smaller areas like feet, but who wants to waste time and money on body butter everyday? Creme de Corps provides skin the moisture it craves all winter long. For those who like the idea of a body butter, Creme de Corps offers a Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter, which has a slightly sweet scent and isn't nearly as thick as a typical body butter. 

Unlike summer months, I exfoliate my skin in the shower at least 3-4 times a week. What better pairing than Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish? Honey, Shea Butter and Jojoba Oil are key to this gentle and effective body exfoliant. It leaves skin incredibly soft and primed to receive moisturizer. 

My verdict? This is a winning combination for soft, hydrated skin all winter long. With the wide array of sizes available, it's also travel and budget friendly. Thumbs up!

Creme de Corps is available in a wide array of sizes, from a 2.5 oz. bottle for $11 to a 1 liter pump (shown above) for $75. 

Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish is available in a 2.5 fl. oz. tube for $11, or an 6.8 fl. oz. tube (shown above) for $30.

Available at Kiehl's, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. 

Pedi-Ready Summer Feet

7/2/13

While summer is full of sunshine, good times, and lots of mani/pedis, it's also a time when our hands and feet take abuse from the sun and our choice of open footwear. Sure, we feel minor relief for a brief while after a mani/pedi, but our poor hands and feet are craving real moisture shortly thereafter. Since our feet are exposed to the elements now more than any other season, they need extra TLC. A couple of friends have asked for my foot care beauty recommendations, so I thought I'd create a post on the subject. 

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I have two secret weapons that I use year-round to keep my hands and feet moisturized and healthy. Neither are new products, but both are staples in my skin and body care arsenal. First up we have the cult classic L'Occitane Certified Organic Pure Shea Butter, in a classic tin. While I've touted the smaller tin for nail and cuticle care, the larger tin was designed for daily use on larger areas, making it perfect for hands & feet. Some initially find the thick, slightly waxy texture off-putting. The trick is to start with a small amount, warm between your palms and apply to dry feet. It glides on rather easily once warmed, and is incredibly hydrating. I use a generous amount of this product nightly just before I go to sleep, massaging extra onto my toes and heels. 

While the L'Occitane may be enough, I don't stop there. Another one of my all-time favorite products from Kiehl's completes my nightly hand and foot regimen. Kiehl's Intensive Treatment & Moisturizer for Dry or Callused Areas is the perfect top layer to soften rough, parched skin. It also doubles as an amazing nighttime hand cream, and does wonders for the nails. I reserve this product solely for nighttime use, as it's incredibly rich and intensive, as the name implies. 

If your feet are very dry or cracked, I recommend using extra product in both steps above, followed by wearing loose-fitting chenille (or similar) socks over your feet to bed two to three times a week. I simply lie on top of my duvet and read for about 20 minutes until both products are mostly absorbed. Come morning, my feet are soft and ready to show off in summer shoes. Since both products are so intensive, I only recommend using them at night. L'Occitane offers a Shea Butter Foot Cream which is more appropriate for day use, as is Caudalie Foot Beauty Cream.

My verdict? If you need a boost of moisture but don't have overly dry feet, you'll likely be set with Kiehl's intensive moisturizer. If you're wearing open shoes, flip flops and the like, I highly recommend the power duo above. It's a winning combination. And don't forget to exfoliate with a pumice stone if you don't let the pros do your pedis! Like most other skin treatments, your feet will benefit from overnight treatment and healing. 

- L'Occitane Certified Organic Pure Shea Butter is $40 for a 4.9 oz. tin. 

- L'Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream is $28 for a 5.2 oz. tube. 

- Kiehl's Intensive Treatment & Moisturizer for Dry or Callused Areas is $48 for an 8 oz. jar. 

And don't forget my favorite polishes: 
YSL & Chanel

Summer Body Beauty:
fresh Hesperides Bath & Shower Gel
& fresh Hesperides Body Lotion
4/25/13

It's amazing how many products we switch in the summer, from adding heavier SPF to our faces and bodies, waterproof eye makeup, to lighter moisturizers and scents. I wear a cult favorite body cream in colder months (review to come), or if my skin needs extra moisture. During warm and humid weather I switch from a body cream to body lotion, with a light, summery scent. 

fresh Hesperides smells of fresh grapefruit, and is utterly refreshing both in and after a shower. I actually discovered this scent (the fresh brand version) in the fancy restroom of L'Espalier, a fine dining restaurant in Boston. They had a hand lotion that I was so fond of that I actually wrote the fragrance down in my iPhone notes. While I was quite familiar with the fresh brand, I really only purchased ornately-wrapped bar soaps from them. Well, color me stoked when I hit fresh Boston the following day and saw the scent in bath & body products. Of course I immediately got both. 

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I immediately loved the shower gel, as they can be so disappointing. They're either drying, don't create enough lather with a bath sponge, the scent can change after you shower...you get the idea. Shea butter nourishes the skin without feeling heavy, and a little goes a long way. This also means the bottle lasts for quite some time. I would guess each bottle lasts approximately three months. I've had bottles of shower gels from other brands that were twice as large, yet were used up in half the time. 

The body lotion is lightweight and soothing. I tried to do the natural/bargain thing with body lotions from brands like Nature's Gate. No comparison. The fresh body lotion immediately absorbs into skin, leaving it soft, silky and leaving behind the intoxicating Hesperides (grapefruit) scent. Very feminine. Perfect for hot weather, and you don't have to spend forever applying it. 

- fresh Hesperides Bath and Shower gel is $18.50 for a 10 oz. bottle

- fresh Hesperides Body Lotion is $22.50 for a 10 oz. bottle

My verdict? I can't imagine summer without this duo, and recently ordered the rollerball fragrance. 

Available at fresh, Nordstrom, and Sephora.