Experts say you shouldn’t exfoliate more than twice a week as it can irritate your skin, which sounds like sound advice. But if you have an oily complexion, or live in a hot climate, you may benefit from more frequent scrubbings, as warm weather increases perspiration and can lead to dead skin build-up.
The formula for smooth skin, however, isn’t always a matter of frequency – ingredients are key, as well. All scrubs are not created equal. According to Vanya Skin Care, the worst exfoliating ingredients are irregularly shaped articles with sharp edges, such as apricot kernels, walnut shells and pumice.
One …read more

If you want to have bright, ’smooth as a baby’s bottom’ skin, one of the best ways to get it is to exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! Dead skin cells are what makes our skin dull, lifeless and they also cause clogged pores which lead to blemishes. Not fun! By exfoliating your skin regularly, you’re stimulating new cell growth, reducing the build up of dead skin cells and  all those pricey lotions you apply will work more effectively.
Along with loofah and mesh poufs, body scrubs are your best bet when it comes to getting your skin ready to show off.  Since Spring …read more

To expand on my previous post about the healing benefits of aloe vera , I thought I’d scope out more aloe vera based products for you. This hard-working succulent can be found in lots of beauty and skin care product ingredient labels.

Here are just some of the benefits aloe vera is said to have:
Reduction of scalp care, stings, sunburns, sore muscles, scrapes, scalds, psoriasis, acne, burns, arthritis, sprains, bruises, cold sores and abrasions.
Heals blisters
Removes the dark spots from the face.
Removes dead skin cells when applied like a moisturizer
Has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant properties
It could possibly be a ‘miracle’ ingredient! …read more

My mind is full of Spring plans – plans for my garden, plans for my home, plans for ….not freezing, but at not even mid-January, I’ve got a bit of a wait ahead of me. Yesterday, my friend, Leah, and I met at the Farmer’s Market and I was pleased to find that my favorite stall was open.  The citrus man! The smell and taste of citrus is such a mood-lifter for me.

Last year, Steve and I discovered his Meyer Lemons and Blood Oranges. I was so sad when the citrus season ended.  Fresh off the tree and so juicy and flavorful – his …read more

That place with the crazy scents and scrubs is having a sale!   Use the code SPOOK31 to save major bucks!  Turn around time is estimated to be 3-4 weeks for large, custom orders.  If that’s true it’s a lot shorter than usual,  although the sale might well push it higher.  I’m working hard to use up some scrubs and hair products so I can order my favorites!  The Silken Hair Mist is lovely!
Although free shipping is over, Isle of Eden is still offering an awesome discount of 31% off orders, with $4.95 shipping. But hurry! These offers are ending on …read more

I met Biggs & Featherbelle at Brooklyn’s Renegade Craft Fair this summer.  They are “a health conscious company that promotes the healing elements of Mother Nature by creating body care products free from synthetic fragrances, dyes and additives.”  Nice!  I’m a scrub junkie, and their scrubs are so fresh and fun and lovely!  There’s a little bit of something for everyone – a sweet coffee scrub, a salty adzuki bean scrub, and a more traditional sugary nut scrub.  They are heavenly and have natural scents from essential oils.   I sniffed them all and honestly could not pick a favorite.  …read more

So, every day this week I’ve gotten an e-mail about Isle of Eden’s 7 day sale.  Until Thursday, use code 48off at checkout and, yeah.  Save almost half off your order.  I have absolutely no idea when you’ll get it.  Just order, forget about it, and then be all excited when it shows up in the mail.   Here’s the site.  The scrubs are among the best from e-tailers.  Also, there are new scents:
* The American Dream (compare to Lush’s “American Cream”)
* Fluffy Candy (compare to Lush’s “Candy Fluff”)
* High Fever …read more

Oh, I want it!  Doesn’t this just sound delish?
A fragrant blend of juicy Sicilian blood orange and exotic pomegranate, touched with rich Bourbon vanilla. The amazing anti-oxidant properties of pomegranate extract help to defy the signs of aging, while blood orange essential oil detoxifies skin cells and brightens your mood. We add pure cane sugar for gentle exfoliation you can enjoy daily. Our exclusive formula rinses clean, leaving skin baby soft.
Yes please!  And the price, while not dirt cheap, is not Fresh Brown Sugar scrub territory, either.  $18/8 oz at Bidwell Botanicals.

Etsy’s chock full of wonderful small bath and body product makers, and I could hardly try them all. But this one’s going to the top of my list: Sweet Gracie gets great reviews and these body polishes look and sound to die for! My sweetie would probably pick Banana Split, but Lemon Sugar and Candied Violets or Fizzy Pop sound like the winners in my book.

I purchased some new pampering goods for my hands, since they’re getting so chapped and also get paper cuts so easy in this cold weather.  I hope that winter’s almost over, but just in case, I’m going to start babying them a bit more.  I tried two products from SunKissed Bud, a seller that’s new to me but has a very good reputation on Etsy.  It arrived just yesterday and I tore into it after I got home from class (9:40 PM for those of you keeping score at home) – it was a VERY welcome treat in a very …read more