More Soft Hands

I love lotions. Love them. If they had AA-type meetings for lotion and lipgloss addicts, I'd be needing a handful of sponsors.

:: Johnson & Johnson Softcream Extra Care Healing Hand Cream ::

Good things:

1. Extremely good moisturizer...ranks better than high-end brands like L'Occitane.
2. Really does last throughout the day. May need to reapply if your hands are especially dry, but for the most part it's the type of lotion you can put on once and feel the effects throughout the day even after washings.
3. Scent is lovely. Relish anything that is warm and cozy like babies.
4. Nice small tube goes great in a purse/bag.
5. Reminds me of the Neutrogena Norwegian formula except WITHOUT the excessive greasiness. It's not very greasy at all because there's just a touch of baby oil.
6. Cheap

Bad things:

1. I can't think of a single one.

It rubs the lotion on its skin.

I am an avid hand-washer, and in the winter my hands become so dry they crack and bleed. I need a really good lotion that isn't greasy and this is one I LOVE. Holy grail status.

:: Dove Regenerating Night Lotion ::

Good things:

1. Super emollient but not greasy, absorbs insanely well and quickly.
2. Smells wonderful.
3. With continued use, my skin feels like a babys...put it on at night and in the morning your skin is still silky and smooth.
4. I noticed a more even tone in my skin as well.
5. Has shea butter beads...which absorb superbly well compared to regular shea butter, which is notoriously sticky and lays there on your skin.
6. Cheap

Bad things:

1. Some women don't care for smell...to each her own I guess.

Sensual Amber

I love this fragrance line from Bath and Body Works. It's a very sophisticated yet simple smell that is warm and sexy, sweet and spicy. B&BW doesn't always produce winners, but this has inspired me to try some more of their new lines. I can't wait to get my hands on the Midnight Pomegranate line that just came out...I'm crazy for pomegranates.

:: Bath and Body Works Sensual Amber ::

Here is my stream of consciousness about this: women are raving, can't keep it in stock, smells much more expensive than it is, amber/vanilla/coconut/woods/smokyness, nice to go out in, or to wear to bed, deep, heady, intoxicating, not overpowering, what smells so nice?

I am using the cream and the EDT and it layers nicely. The cream is lovely on it's own and has more complex layers in my opinion.

Winnie the Pooh was onto something.

I am here to convince you that honey is the ultimate skin and hair care product you will ever own.

Yes, honey. I prefer raw, unfiltered honey (look in the organic section of food stores) but sometimes I like the kind in the plastic bear just as well.

There are so many things you can do with honey, it ain't even funny. I'll just tell you a few of my faves here.

1. Plain, as a face mask: Honey is a perfect moisturizer for oily skin with dry patches. With a slightly damp face, rub honey on your skin, and leave it on 30-45 minutes before rinsing. If you put it on 15 minutes before showering, you can rinse by the time you are done showering. It's going to feel icky, and maybe stinky, but it is well worth it! It will leave your face glowing and moisturized. It also reduces pore size and helps eliminate black heads. The best part: pimples go down in it's presence!
2. Mixed, as a face mask: Try mixing 1 part honey to 2 parts brown sugar for a wonderful exfoliating mask. Replace the brown sugar with baking soda for another version. Also, mix honey with some crushed aspirin and plain yogurt for a great acne mask. (The honey is a natural antiseptic/antibacterial agent and moisturizer; the aspirin reduces redness and inflammation; the yogurt is a gentle exfoliant.)
3. Mixed with shampoo: Mix 1 part honey to 2 parts shampoo to make even the cheapest shampoo luxurious. Honey will combat dandruff and dry/itchy scalp. It also moisturizes hair and leaves it softer and smoother.
4. Topically, to heal wounds: Apply to burns, cuts, and irritated skin. Honey reacts with skin's fluids to disinfect without harming surrounding skin. Whether, it's wind burn, a bad chemical peel, or just a bad cut, honey will help heal the wound gently and quickly.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. If honey isn't part of your beauty regimen, you need to give it a try. As with any product, if your skin reacts badly, stop using it. Even natural ingredients can cause a reaction in some people.

Marshmallows Gone Sexy

I like to think that I've outgrown the desire to smell like food. Scents like cookies and fruit were the hallmark of my teens and early twenties. But I was too curious to resist when I saw that Calgon's Marshmallow line for Holiday 2006 was getting such rave reviews from ladies over on MUA. Some are seriously buying it by the caseful.

This scent is highly erotic and addictive. If you can find a set on sale (try Wal-Mart, Target, or CVS), pick it up. Ebay has them too. Not sure when this will be out again.

:: Calgon Marshmallow Gift Set ::

Good things:
Try this if you are a vanilla lover.
It's nice but not sickly sweet.
Faint hint of cocoa.
Slight sparkle/shimmer.
Only $8.99 for body mist, lotion, and lip gloss.

Bad things:
Scent doesn't last all day.