Love and Toast Handcream is a Little Tube of Heaven

I usually try to post a review of everything new I try out on this blog. Reading product review, of both old and new things, is probably my favorite type of post, so I try and return the favor by posting my own. Sometimes though, I’ll realize that I have been happily working through a product without having posted a word about it on my blog. Case in point? My Love & Toast Handcream ($9).

Love & Toast are a relatively small lotions and perfume company that aims to do good as well as make you smell good. A portion of proceeds from each purchase goes to the Regional Affiliates of Girls Inc. They make perfume, hand cream, and lip balm. They are sold from a variety of retailers including Amazon and Urban Outfitters. I picked up my hand cream at a spa. (Haven in SoHo, for you NYCers).

I picked up the Sugar Grapefruit version. The other scents available are Pomme Poivre (Apple Pear), Honey Coconut, Gin Blossom, Mandarin Tea, and Paper Flower. Sugar Grapefruit comes in a gorgeous bright pink tube with pretty illustrations, so it will look cute wherever you keep it. It’s a lovely, reasonably rich cream that sinks in very quickly. It’s not a super rich cream, so those of you who have very, very dry hands may wish to keep that in mind. Love and Toast’s real selling point comes from its use of fragrance. I wish my blog had some sort of scent-o-vision, because I just cannot get over how good this cream smells. It has a beautiful, sweet but not cloying, crisp, fresh citrus smell that instantly wakes you up. Plus, the scent hangs around for about an hour after you’ve put it on.

For the sheer gorgeousness of the scent I more than highly recommend Love and Toast’s handcreams. I urge you to track them down immediately and start getting that amazing burst of energy that comes from smelling something really good. Plus, you can feel good about yourself as well as some of the proceeds go to charity. Fantastic.

L'Oreal Instant Bronze Self Tanner

It’s the time of year when we start to bare our winter skin to the general public. While I now live in New York, I grew up in Ireland, where sunshine was but something we experienced during our 2 week vacation in France or Spain in July, or this thing we saw on television. It didn’t actually happen in Ireland. Therefore I have pale skin, and almost blue legs! Even if staying out in the sun for months at a time wasn’t a huge cancer risk, it would barely make a dent in my milk bottle limbs. Therefore it’s important that I scope out some serious fake tan skills to make my legs palatable to the general public. I do admire those who are proud of their pale skin, and I also think that it can look gorgeous, but with my coloring and build, a little bit of color goes a very long way. 

I picked up L’Oreal’s instant Bronze Gel Sunless Tanner last year. It is a self-tan (or sunless tanner in the US) product that also has a bronze instant tint so you can wear it straight away. For me, the only thing that is good about the tint is that you can see where you have applied the gel. The color was a strange, sheer brown that clashed with my natural blue in a way that looked far away from sun and more like coffee stains. Plus, it has shimmer. I don’t want my legs to shimmer, glitter, or shine. I know this comes as a shock to many firms, but I want my fake tan products to look natural, and shimmer, pretty as it can be, is not natural. This drives me crazy! As it is a gel, I worked very quickly to apply it, as gels dry more quickly than lotions or creams. It did have a fake tan scent, which, when combined with the glitter, did not make me super comfortable about wearing the tint straight out in public. Oh, that and the weird color. So instead I put it on at night and let it dry. I think it probably took about 10 minutes before I felt comfortable walking around, and 30 minutes before I felt it was totally dry. I went to bed on white sheets and had no issue with color transferring to the sheets which was pretty good. 

So, what’s the color like? I think it’s pretty dark – at least 3 shades darker than my natural skintone. On my skintone it gives me a warm, buttery toast color (hmmm, that might be too much of a Brit reference!), similar to that of Amber Lights by MAC, but without the shimmer (once I’ve washed the gel tint off!). It’s not exactly the color that I go naturally, but it’s not a crazy orange color either. I would give the color a 7 out of 10 - definitely an improvement on my natural bright white, but not quite Caribbean glow.

YogaWorks For Me

Today’s post is a little bit out there in terms of what normally goes on a beauty site, but I am a firm believer in mind, body, and self being beautiful, and right now, I’m getting that kick through one of my latest obsessions: yoga.

I am such a late starter when it comes to yoga. In all my 28yrs, and worldly travels, I really only started it a couple of months ago, when I randomly decided to try it out after reading an article in the NY Times called the Yoga Manifesto. It was one of the comments in the sections that really spoke to me. It basically was that you are the most important person in the yoga studio, and the most important thing to do in the yoga studio is simply be. It doesn’t matter if you can’t touch your hands the floor, or if your downward dog is more like an arthritic pug than a graceful whippet, but simply turning up, and focusing, is enough. If you think about it, that is incredibly powerful, and yet, takes away all the fear and trepidation a yoga newbie might feel. Simply be.

It is with this mantra that I approach each class with. There are some things I am good at (my upward dog is pretty damn good), and some I am not (anything requiring flexibility, standing on one leg, balance etc), but every single time I go to class, I can feel myself slow down, focus on the moment, focus on my body, my breathing, and simply try. In each class, I can feel myself growing taller, stronger, longer, leaner. I can feel my back strengthen, and the tension in my shoulders release. I can feel my legs literally become straighter, and my balance improve. Some days are good, and some not. Some classes are harder (my Thursday night sessions is a beginner intermediate rather than standard beginner, and it is haaard, but I keep going to push myself), and some easier. Some days will be more rewarding than others. But everytime I go, my body and my mind thank myself for taking me to class and focus my mind on doing something good for my body, even just for an hour.

I go to yogaworks, who have studios in California and New York. They have a range of classes and levels, depending on your ability. I am a solid beginner, and the beginner classes are focused on getting the form and structure of each pose right, now just in the pose, but getting in and out of the pose. YogaWorks focuses working through a number of related poses to build up your capabilities and YogaBlend has more emphasis on moving between poses at a greater speed. YogaBlend definitely gets your heart racing as you move between downward dogs planks, upward dogs, and the like. The instructors are clear in their instructions and offer many modifications for both easier and harder versions of the pose, and although the classes are graded by ability, there is usually a couple of people on each end of the scale. By the end of the class, I’m always feeling challenged and like I’ve worked my body in a very good, beneficial way.

If you had asked me 6mths ago about what I thought of yoga, I would have written it off as a thing that women with too much time on their hands and an excess of flexibility do. Now, it’s become a part of my regular routine and I literally count the hours until I get a chance to stretch back out on my mat and challenge my body and my mind again.

Guess what? You too can experience the benefit of Yoga Works. Leave your email in the comments and I’ll send you a voucher for a week of free yoga.

Kiehls Light Weight Body Lotion is an Under Rated Secret Weapon

Kiehls Creme De Corps Body Lotion is their signature product - it's a rich, gorgeous, creamy lotion that can turn the driest skin into silk, and keeps them that way for a couple of days at least. I use it about once or twice a week to keep my legs smooth and ash-free. However, it takes a while to sink in, and sometimes can feel like overkill. For a daily lotion or something to use in a rush (don't look at me as if I'm crazy - you know there are "rush days" for body lotion too!), look no further that Kiehls Light Weight Body Lotion ($22). It provides that gorgeous silky softness but sinks quickly into the skin. I adore how light it is to use and how quickly I can get dressed after using it. It's more of a daily lotion rather than the extravagance of the original, but I find myself reaching for it more and more. Definitely a bottle I'll be purchasing again and again.

Physique 57 Reinvents Hot Body

In case you hadn't noticed, summer is pretty much here. (Although as I type this, it is completely pouring with rain and dark outside!). About 6 weeks ago I decided I had to do something fast or I was never going to be able to bare my body comfortably until I made a conscious decision to tone everything up. I started to research NY gyms to find the best one for me. Initially, I so thought I was going to be an Equinox girl, but on my journeys around Google I saw a couple of references to Physique 57. I found that it was based on the Lotte Berk Bar Technique, which basically combines the muscle lengthening approach of ballet with interval training, resulting in a lean, sculpted body. Kelly Ripa swears by Physique 57, and there are studios specializing in the Bar Technique all over New York, and the rest of the US.

I was a little nervous when I signed up for my beginner intro month at Physique 57. I had heard how tough the class was, and I hadn't worked out in months. I was right to be nervous, because that first class was TOUGH, but the instructors were great, and enthusiastic. Physique has several levels of class - beginner, intermediate, advanced, and open which is for everyone. I loved this approach as it allowed me to graduate through the classes. After a month, I was at intermediate level - go me!!!

The classes each had a very set structure - quick warm-up, 5 or so minutes of arm work, stretch, a horrible period of thigh burning work, stretch, butt, stretch, abs, stretch and cool-down. However, the exercises are pretty much unlike anything you have ever come across before in your life, and the emphasis is on small, controlled movements that sculpt your body. Try this technique and you will never realise how much pain "up and inch, down an inch" can really be! As the technique is novel, and requires good form, the instructors are supposed to walk around making corrections, rather like a yoga class. This varies from instructor, to be honest. All of the instructors are amazing at energizing the class and keeping you motivated, although when I did an early morning class I found an inner voice saying "and up, and down" for hours afterward! They also, of course, all have amazingly hot bodies and incredible flexibility. The music in the classes was also consistently really good.

Does it work? Yes - after 5 weeks I have a much tighter butt, defined abs, more arm tone, and more leg tone. I walk taller, and my posture is better. I feel stronger, happier, and encouraged to keep up the hard work. 

The studios are gorgeous - bright, clean, carpeted, wall to wall mirrors (great for checking form), and the changing rooms, although I never used them, were clean with everything you could ever wish for. There are 2 in NYC - Soho and Columbus Circle. The class choice was also amazing - there are 3 early morning (6 or 7am classes) each day, and dozens of classes throughout the day and evening of varying levels. This to me is a huge plus - exercise is hard enough to work into your schedule, and giving me a huge choice of classes makes it more likely I'm actually going to make it.

Physique 57 isn't perfect though. For a start, for all these amazing facilities, there is a hefty price tag: $250 introductory month, or $440 per month after that for unlimited classes. Each class is $35, or you can buy bundles of 5, 10, or 20.

Secondly, the instructors varied in terms of ability to troubleshoot and correct, which, if you are consistently doing something wrong over time, could lead to problems. I also thought that the thigh sections were too long, and too hard, risking both bulking on my thighs, and knee problems. This might not be an issue for other people, but legs have a tendency to bulk up.

To sum up:

The pluses:

• effective body sculpting
• fun classes with great cheerleading instructors
• amazing facilities
• flexible schedule

The negatives:

• EXPENSIVE
• too much thigh work
• instructor skills vary

All in all, I am not continuing with Physique for the moment, but I would certainly consider going back sometime if there was a way I could do another month at $250. More than that is just not in my budget right now.  Instead, I'm trying out some other Bar classes across NY. Check back soon for reviews!!

For those who want to work out at home, Physique 57 also sell a range of DVDs through their website which will show you how to carve your butt out in your living room - nice!

Day 3 of the Detox: Easing into Real Life

I have to admit that I did not complete the cleanse. Instead, I started snacking on fruit at about 4pm. This was because it was a Saturday and I did not want to spend all Sunday being sick when I ate real food with friends. Turns out I shouldn't have worried.

By Day 3 I was actually super enjoying my All Greens with Apple, my Grasshopper, and my Killer. I know, it takes to Day 3 for me to become healthy-craving, green freak. By late afternoon, I didn't even really feel like eating that much. I had lots of energy and wasn't hungry at all, even after a hearty morning of cleaning the apartment and taking the puppy for a long walk.

One of my biggest concerns was feeling ill when I started eating again. That also didn't happen. I had some chips on Saturday afternoon, and a lot of fruit, with no side affects. On Sunday I started the day with a bagel with cream cheese and a poached egg, and again no aches or pains. I have noticed since then that I am noticeably less hungry in general, that I don't have diet coke cravings any more (although I had one lunch today, but I'm going to skip tomorrow). I do have more of a taste for vegetables and green things now, but I'm not off chocolate or peanut butter m&ms. I still haven't had any red meat, but only by lack of planning rather than virtuousness.

So, is a cleanse worth it? Well, I didn't lose any weight, but I did gain a lot of energy. Mostly I felt strong about my will power and the goodness of what I was putting into my body. I sort of enjoyed it while I was cleansing, but mostly because of the novelty factor, rather than the positive side effects. I'll be interested in seeing how I am doing in a month's time and whether I've really kicked the diet coke for good and whether I'm still snacking on salad. We shall have to wait and see.

Sponsored Giveaway!! Gillette Venus Get Ready For Summer

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to ask fashion and beauty expert Rebekah George a couple of questions about the upcoming summer season, thanks to the kind people at Gillette. I was so impressed with her beauty tips, especially her favorite beauty icon.


1. What's your favorite summer make up trend this year?

I love how color is back in a big way from turquoise nails to peachy lips and coral cheeks. It's a definite departure from the usual bronzey tones we've been seeing the past few summers. If you don't think you can pull off color or if you want a subtle look, you can get away with wearing small doses of colors like a light peach lip or a soft blue tone on your toes and a more natural nude on your fingernails.

2. If you were to buy one item of summer clothing this year, what would it be?

Does it have to be only one?

Ha, there are so many great pieces this year! I just bought Trina Turk's Bonita dress. I love dresses in summer (well, all year round, actually) because they are so easy. But, this dress is especially versatile - I can dress it up with heels for a TV segment or wear it with flip flops as a cover-up for the beach.

3. What's your top tip for looking cool in the summer heat?

Aside from staying in the AC, I say keep your hair off your face. Try a lose side pony or an easy, natural twist. If you have shorter hair, go for a headband or use a barrette to clip back your bangs. By keeping your hair off your face and neck, you'll instantly stay cool. Plus, the oils from your hair won't seep onto your makeup and cause it to run and smear. On top of that, summer hair should look effortless and not like you spent hours getting it blown out at a salon.

4. Who are your  favorite beauty icons?

I have a few, but Catherine Walsh, an executive at Coty is one of them. She always wears red lipstick and she pulls it off beautifully. So why does this make her an icon? If you find what beauty style works for you, go for it and wear it with confidence. Finding a look that becomes your "signature style" also makes a statement that you are comfortable in the skin you're in.

5. What fashion / beauty item can you not leave home without?

I'm on the go so much with my job, so I am very into products that are transitional and go with any look. I am really into Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss in Rootbeer because it's so moisturizing and keeps my lips hydrated after flying and it's color is really soft and natural and goes with anything I wear. I'm also loving my new Cole Haan Maria Sharapova Air Renfrow OT Sling because they are so cute, go with everything from a TV dress to a pair of cargos and are beyond comfortable - so I can literally run in heels! If you do wear a dress, don’t forget to shave with a five-bladed razor like Venus Embrace so you have touchably smooth skin all night long.

That's not all the fun - you can join in on the beauty fun and win prizes!!! Gilette have kindly provided a set of 4 products to complete a summer shaving prize that's just the right time to prepare to bare those legs!!

The prizes are:

• Venus Embrace Disposables – The first and only five-bladed disposable razor for women and the most technologically advanced disposable on the market
• Venus Embrace Pink – Venus’ most technologically advanced five-bladed refillable razor with a Protective Ribbon of Moisture and pivoting head, now available in pink 
• Satin Care In-Shower Moisturizer – Satin Care’s first ever In-Shower Moisturizer helps lock in moisture for up to 24 hours after five days of use and eliminates the need for a moisturizer out of the shower
• Reformulated Satin Care Shave Gel – Reformulated Satin Care shave gels deliver up to 35% more glide than before. 

All you have to do to win is comment below on this post with your favorite summer beauty tip. For a second chance at winning, follow me on Twitter and tweet the following:



Follow @scarlettholly and RT to win prizes from Gillette Venus http://bit.ly/9xibh2


Good luck everyone and I can't wait to read your summer tips!!!!!


Competition will close on May 15th.

Day 2 of the Detox Cleanse

I woke up feeling pretty good, not hungry as I imagined. I headed down to Liquiteria to get the next 2 days of juice. From my poor performance on Day 1 I knew I didn't need to get all 5 juices for each day, and at all costs to avoid the All Greens straight up.

I puchased:

2x All Greens With Apple
2x Grasshopper
1x Killer
1x Beets Me

For breakfast I had the half bottle of All Greens after my hot water and lemon. It was slightly better than yesterday, mainly because I knew there was only half of it. My Grasshopper went down okay as well, and before you knew it I was onto another All Greens and Apple. Day 2 was bright with energy, and I was conscious of wanting food textures, but not actually hungry. I managed to get down most of my drinks (okay, I skipped the Beets Me), without cheating or having any food. I went to bed feeling pleasant, and got an excellent night's sleep.

Day 1 of the Detox Cleanse: Pain...

I did decide to go for the Liquiteria juice cleanse, based on the Blueprint Cleanse system, AKA Blueprint on the Cheap.

The juices I used consisted of:
1 All Greens With Apple
1 Grasshopper
1 All Green
1 Killer
1 Beets Me
A glass of almond milk

Total damage: $48

I started the day off with 24 oz of warm water with a couple of slices of lemon. I used to drink this all the time so it was not exactly a shock to the system. I started it at work and finished up about 10am. Then I cracked open the All Greens with Apple with much trepidation as I had never drunk a green juice. I took a very little sip and, wow, not so bad at all! Very apple-y, and actually quite sweet. I thought to myself, this is going to be pretty easy. It did take me a whole hour to get the bottle down though. Not quite so easy.

Another glass of water to get the taste of sweet greenery out of my mouth, and onto the Grasshopper, which has pineapple, apple, mint, and a shot of wheatgrass in there. Got all excited about the pineapple and mint, and you couldnt' taste them. Instead, it tasted pretty much exactly the same as the first drink, which made it pretty hard to choke down. The mouth likes variety, you know? It took me 2.5hrs of nursing my drink to finally drink the whole thing. In that time I went to Bryant Park for some fresh air during my "lunch" break, only to find myself fantasizing about what I can eat on Sunday. Am pretty sure that food fantasies are not what detoxes are all about...

By 3.30 I have a faint headache, and issues concentrating. I always have issues concentrating at this time, so I'm not sure it's juice related. I am however hungry. I start on the next All Greens, which does not have apple. Bllluuuurrrrrghhhhhhhhhhhh. Ohmigod this is so bad. I manage to struggle half a bottle down. I am never buying this again. No way.

At 6pm, I am very hungry and craving crispy textures. I open my next bottle which is a Killer XX. Ooooh ginger!!! Wow. This is super gingery. I have a hard time getting half a bottle down. I sat and watch tv with my husband and point out every single food ad and get upset about the fact that the main storyline in Community was based around chicken fingers. Mmmmm, chicken fingers. Also, form the lack of chewing and the overabundance of green juice going down my throat, my mouth tasted like gack.

The juice highlight of day one was the glass of almond milk I had before bed. Went to bed early mostly from boredom and hunger rather than tiredness. Have survived day 1.

The Simplest Pleasures Set You Up

A year ago, I would never have thought I would be writing this post. I would have laughed at the very idea of spending $16 on shower gel. And I was wrong. I can undoubtedly say that the quality of my life is better since my husband bought me  Philosophy Caramel Apple Showergel . I can quite honestly say that it is far and away the most heavenly scented shower gel that I have ever come across. It is rich and sweet, and the scent hangs around for a while afterwards as well. The Caramel Apple is a deep red, and the consistency is thick, and actually, a little goes a long way. This is the kicker for me: it makes me happy every time I use it. Just think, every time that you take a shower, you might be sleepy, or having a bad day, or just had a fight with someone, and you use this shower gel, and the scent of delicious caramel fills the air, and wow, you’re happy. And that, for me, is worth every penny. Just talking about pennies – I’ve been using this since Jan 1^st, and I am maybe a third of the way through. For some reason, this bottle is going the distance, justifying that $16 again and again. I definitely recommend heading to your nearest Philosophy counter and picking out one of their shower gels for yourself? Can’t make your mind up? Try their recipe books or selection packs.

This post has an affiliate link. Affiliate links do not influence the opinions of review. 

Scrub Those Tootsies Good

Does everyone neglect their feet during winter? I know I do. All that time in tights and boots and never seeing the light of day means spending time on a pedicure doesn't happen. I do paint my tootsies, but scrubs and soaks? Not a chance.

With this in mind, I picked up Lush's Volcano Foot Mask ($19.55 / 11oz) and Pied de Pepper Foot Cream ($14.45 / 3.5oz) in order to start getting my toes in order for spring. Okay, I'm way ahead of the game here. I've just checked the weather forecast and snow is forecast for all of next week. But you know, when flip flop season starts, I'll be prepared!

Volcano foot mask is a rather unappetizing shade of gray, with visible pieces of grit. It had a strong clove and cinnamon scent, although the feature ingredients are tomatoes, papaya and pumice, all designed to smooth off any dry or dead skin. The instructions are to cover your feet in the mask, put them in plastic bags for 10 minutes, and then scrub off. As you can imagine, this is not the tidiest process, and has a high propensity towards, quite simply, making a mess. The mask stays wet on your feet during this period, although anywhere that the mask was exposed to air led to it drying. While my feet were wrapped in plastic (doggie poop bags in my case – sexy times it was not), I did experience a strange peppermint-esque minty heat-cooling sensation, which, if nothing else, made me feel that the mask was definitely doing something. After 10 minutes, I then sat down in the bath and massaged the scrub into my skin, which is to aid the exfoliation process. After that, I rinsed off. Because of the sticky nature of the mask, rinsing off was very difficult, and the mask had a tendency to cling to my feet. I rinsed them under my bath taps. Maybe if I used a basin of water this would be more effective. Because the mask soaks the feet first, making them softer and more receptive to being scrubbed, this mask did do a good job of improving my feet and making them more flip flop friendly. I did notice a visible improvement on my heels where I have a tendency for rougher, old skin to form, and my feet were noticeably smoother. In this respect, the mask definitely worked. Bad points were definitely the high mess factor (although I actually didn’t make a mess of the bathroom, I did feel like I was always “just about to”), the difficulty of actually scrubbing the mask off, and I also think that the cost point is pretty high for what it is. I think that a tub is going to last about 2mths based on weekly scrubs, and that doesn’t seem to be very long for a $20 payout.

I followed up the scrub with the Pied de Pepper foot lotion. This lotion promises to soften feet and control perspiration, and it is recommended for daily use. It has ginger, cinammon, cocoa butter and olive oil as its active ingredients. Maybe I’m super lazy, but I am lucky if I remember to rub lotion on my feet once a week, so expecting me to do this once a day was a bit of a stretch! It did smell nice and peppery, and was easy to rub in. Although the tub is much smaller, I do think it will last a good amount of time (though not if you stick to the rules and use it daily!). I don’t know about controlling perspiration, but I did like that it made my feet feel soft and smooth, and didn’t take a really long time to sink in. If a foot cream takes too long to sink in, then I feel like I’m leaving greasy footprints all over the house as I forget I’m not supposed to be walking around and end up doing some random task.

Both products did do their job pretty effectively, and I’ll continue to use them to start prettying up my feet for the summer.



This post contains affiliate links. The use of affiliate links in no way alters the opinions of reviews.

Lush Lemony Flutter Softens Me Right Up

 

I have not really been taking care of my cuticles for a while now, so when I came across
Lush Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter ($13.25 / 1.5oz) I got all excited. Not only does it smell citrusy it divine, it promised to repair my cuticles and even dry patches on my elbows and heels as well. It has shea butter, avocado oil, and mango butters to moisturize your skin. 

First thing to say is that this tub is HUGE! I only need a teeny tiny dab on my cuticles. I literally will be using this thing for years. I'm actually going to take a chunk of this into a smaller tub and keep another tub on my desk at work to keep moisturizing whilst I work on Excel.

When I started using this my cuticles and hands in general were really dry, and not in the best shape. This cuticle butter definitely softened them up and made them much happier and healthier. Definite win. Highly recommended.

This post contains an affiliate link. Affiliate links in no way influence the opinions of reviews on this site.

Most Loved: Kiehls Creme De Corps Soy Milk and Honey Body Polish

Saturdays are scrub day in my house. I have the most ridiculously set routine ever now. And the reason that I have a Saturday routine is because I love my Kiehls Milk and Honey Scrub so much that I built everything else around it.

Kiehls Creme de Corps Soy Milk and Honey Body Polish ($27.50 / 6.7oz) comes in a decently sized tube. It is a thick white paste with coarse grains through it. Once I've showered I apply a generous amount to my body and massage the scrub in. It takes about 4-5 quarter sized dollops to do my entire body, and then I rinse off under the shower. The grain is coarse enough that you really feel it against your skin, although I've never been scratched or even red after using it. The scent of this product is amazing. It is literally one of the best smelling products I have ever come across - a sweet but natural honey and milk scent that is simply divine. And even better than that is just how amazingly smooth your skin is after you've scrubbed. I then follow up with Kiehls Creme De Corps which is their signature body lotion for truly silky skin. Once I've completed this little routine, I really feel like my weekend can start with truly glowing, radiant skin.

Etsy Find of the Week: Chocolate Raspberry Sugar Scrub Cubes

Mmm, don't they look delicious? These are chocolate and raspberry sugar scrub cubes from Fresh and Clean and retail for $10. They are made of a little of our extra gentle glycerin soap, with loads of sugar, grapeseed oil, and jojoba oil to gently smooth and exfoliate your skin. You just take a cube in the shower and scrub yourself all over - sounds like a little piece of heaven to me. Definitely a nice little find in the handmade world.

Fresh Sugar Cubes Review

My lovely husband picked up the Fresh SugarBath Lemon Bath Cubes ($34 / 7.7oz) for me for Chrismas as part of his terrifying Sephora experience, and I finally had a chance to try these last night. The instructions said to use 2-3 per bath. The bicarbonate of soda is to create effervescent bubbles (aka fizz) which is good for sloughing away dead skin. I tossed them in before I got in so I didn't get to test this claim, but they produced so little fizz that I wouldn't rely on it for exfoliation.

The first thing to know about these bath cubes do not create bubbles. None. Zip. ZERO. If bubbles are an integral part of bath-time for you, skip this product, or you will be disappointed.

They smell divine. Like a yummy, lemony sugary piece of heaven. Sweet, but not cloying. I loved it. I didn't really notice anything whilst I was in the bath apart from a yummy scent. When I got out though, I did think that my skin was lovely and soft, so I liked that part of it as well. I know it should not technically be part of a review, but they also look gorgeous on the shelf. Amazing translucent glass jar with a nice weight. Not one to hide away in a cupboard.


To sum up, these were a great gift product. Would I buy them for myself? Probably not. Next time I'll try the bath and shower gel which has the same great scent for a few less bucks.

Christmas Present Haul Post

Santa, aka my lovely husband, was very good to me this year. I got some great gifts like Frye boots, amazing, amazing books, and he made a stocking trip into Sephora. This, to me, was the cutest ever. He took a list I had sent him, handed it to a girl, and then she found everything for him in 10 minutes. So sweet! And she managed to throw in an awesome surprise!!

So, what's the haul:

• Fresh! Sugar Cubes. Oh, I'm so mad excited about these!!! Plus they were completely unexpected. Recently, I've been thinking I want to take more baths (I do shower, really), but haven't had anything nice or fun to throw in. I was debating heading to Lush! for their bath bombs, but these look uh-mazing. Fresh! are one of my favorite brands, but a wee bit pricey for me, so what a treat!
• Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick. Remember about 10 years ago this was THE lipstick to wear. Well, I gots me to thinking about 6 months ago that I wanted to try it again, and I couldn't find it anywhere. I put it on the list, and wow - thar she be! (I don't know why that came out as pirate speak). I think I may have to dedicate a whole post to it later. 
• NARS Dolce Vita Lipstick. Karen at Make Up and Beauty Blog posted about this a couple of weeks ago, so I decided it was a must have. I do love it, but weirdly, if you want to know what color my lips are, they are exactly the same. No difference when I put it on. Is that a good thing? Can't quite decide yet.
• NARS Lip Velvet Matte Pencil in Cruella. I heart these pencils so bad. I actually asked for Dragon Red, but it was sold out, and she said it was exactly the same. They aren't. Dragon Red is more blushy berry red, this is a cooler, bluer, stronger red. I've tried it once, I think I like it. Plus, lovely husband lost the receipt so I think I'm stuck with it. 
• Philosophy Bath & Shower Gel in Caramel Apple. I heard these were good, but at $16 they seemed pricey. Then I saw the size of the bottle. Hey ho! I wouldn't necessarily have picked this scent, but do you know what? I love it. Awesomeness. 
• Sephora Powder Brush. I actually asked for a blusher brush. I'm going to try and exchange it. That's kind of annoying that the girl got the wrong brush to be honest. They are different! 
• Essie Lollipop. What a gorgeous bright red! Maybe my pedicure color for West Palm Beach. 

Did Santa bring you any nice presents for Christmas?