body wash

Sometimes we come across products that are just so girly that we have no one to test them out. Since Christelle is more like a guy and even I have my limits, I knew it was time to bring someone else on board to test out the really feminine stuff.  Please meet Erin the Bath Guy.  Erin is a lawyer, who likes sports, women, beer, women, stupid movies and women.  To talk to him you would think he was some manly dude all into sports and leering at women but in the privacy of his bathroom he turns into a big gooey girl who's greatest joys in life are bubble baths and smelly soaps!
His first testing mission was the Olay Body Sheer Moisture Ribbons with Mandarine Oil Moisturizing Bar - 4 x 120g - $6.49 - some of the ingredients it includes to soften his lizard like skin include: glycerin, mineral oil, mandarin orange peel oil, grape seed extract and babusa vulgaris shoot extract.

Here's what Erin thinks of it in his own words:

"I have been using the bar for a couple of weeks now and absolutely love it.  The scent is awesome and leaves a hint of this very clean smell on me all day.  The soap lathers up like crazy and rinses away without leaving any greasy feeling.  A perfect combination.  I would be happy to sample many more versions of this product for sure.  The most significant benefit is that since I have been using it, this hot EA in my office can’t keep her hands off me!!!"

From the last part you can tell that he obviously has serious delusions but I can attest to the fact that his general smell is much improved since he took up with this soap!

If you are more of a body wash girl (or guy), you can also find this scent in a wash - 295ml - $5.99. 

Please give Erin some love and you can look forward to another contribution from him in a couple of weeks!

White Sands - The Fix - 120ml - $19 - this super multi-tasker will transform damaged, dry locks into youthful shiny hair and provides hair the following benefits: infuses silkiness, controls frizz, balances moisture, adds shine, smoothes, detangles, protects hair colour, minimizes hair breakage, is thermal intelligent, defines natural body and reduces split ends. You just spray a small amount in hair after towel drying and lightly mist again when dry.  I started using this as one of my gym products because it's one of the few times that I actually use a blow dryer and the product seems to work better when I useit with one rather then just air dry. It gets bonus points from me for the smell - it's amazingly fruity!

 Available at fine salons across Canada and the US as well as at www.whitesandproducts.com



Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Anti-Aging Moisturizer Plus Cooling Hydration - 50ml - $28.99 - gives you the usual seven benefits of the line: line minimization, moisturization, energizes appearance, gentle exfoliation, pore refinement, free radical defense and subtle firming.  What makes this a gym favourite for me is the cooling effect it has from the rapid release formula matrix which instantly releases cooling water hydrators in a formula with vitamins and minerals plus mint extract.  I don't know about you but when I exercise, my face turns super red and stays that way for a long time.  This moisturizer helps with the uncomfortable "hot" feeling that my skin has - the other stuff are a bonus!

St. Ives Energizing Citrus Moisturizing Body Wash - 532ml - $6.99 - made with natural ingredients and 100% natural extracts and contains no parabens or phthalates.  The best part of course is the smell, it is super citrusy!  They say that is also smells like mint and eucalyptus but all I smell is the wonderful citrus!  I like this one for the gym because it rinses off so easily, you don't want to have to spend longer then necessary in a gym shower so this is key!

Live Clean Fresh Water Moisturizing Body Lotion - 227 ml - $6.99 -  for normal to dry skin contains 98% plant ingredients including naturally derived hyaluronate.  It's parapen, phthalate and phosphate free and enriched with certified organic botanicals.  It's the perfect gym lotion because it smells great and absorbs really fast, so I don't have to wait to get dressed after!

It comes in a couple of other types as well: Exotic Nectar Argan Oil Replenishing Body Lotion for dry skin and Sensitive Skin Fragrance Free Body Lotion with Vitamins A & E for sensitive skin.

You can find Live Clean at Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix.

Any of this inspire you to hit the gym?  And of course I would love to hear about your gym faves!

I started breaking out on my chin this week which annoys me to no end and got me thinking about great acne products - and our fabulous contest (which you can still enter, the link is at the bottom of this page!) - which made me decide to tell you about the other Neutrogena lines that could be good for my chin - and yours!

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Line - contains MicroClear - a proprietary technology that blends oil-dissolving agents, acne-fighting salicylic acid (2%) and soothing botanicals - but the best part is the smell, my very favourite scent of all - Grapefruit, that is my very favourite colour - Pink!  This is not my regular cleansing line but it is my husband's and I must admit to raiding his bathroom on occasion just because I love the smell so much!  Here's what you can find in the line:
Facial Cleanser - 177ml, Foaming Scrub - 125ml or Body Clear Body Wash - 250ml all for $10.99

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Redness Soothing Line - contains the same MicroClear technology as above as well as 100% naturally derived Aloe and Chamomile extracts to help soothe skin made red and sensitive by acne.  Just looking at the lovely green colour of the wash makes me (and my skin) feel calmer!  Here's what is available:
Cream Cleanser (rich and creamy) - 177ml, Gentle Scrub - 125ml and Facial Cleanser - 177ml all for $8.99
And of course don't forget about the Acne Stress Control line which there is still time to enter to win - check it out here!

I've always hated and cursed my dry skin but I never realized that it was such a widespread issue - Vaseline recently conducted a Good Skin Day Survey and I was amazed to see that 76% of the women surveyed have the same problem as I do and say that their dry skin can make them feel physically uncomfortable at least some of the time - including itchiness, tightness and cracking.  Women also say that the physical effects of dry skin can interfere with a range of every day activities including sleeping, getting dressed and working.  It's nice not to be alone in this problem but it's even better to find something to solve it!

Vaseline Intensive Rescue Extra Strength - 325ml - $4.99, 600ml - $7.99, 725ml - $8.99 - is available in fragranced (chamomile scent) and unfragranced. - Accelerates the healing of dry skin by tripling the skin's moisture reserves instantly while still feeling comfortable on your skin - not greasy or sticky.  Dermatologist recommended, restores and protects the skin and delivers 24 hours of hypoallergenic soothing moisture.  For super dry skin they also offer Vaseline Clinical Therapy Lotion - 200ml - $8.49 - which is clinically proven to moisturize for accelerated healing of persistently dry skin without feeling sticky or greasy and is comfortable on skin.  Proven to instantly increase hydration by five times and to lock in moisture for 24 hours.  Instantly softens and relieves extremely dry skin and to restore - through hydration - extremely dry skin in 5 days.

And of course having dry skin means that I try every moisturizer out there so here are some other great choices:

True Blue Spa Lay It On Thick Body Cream - 170g - $17 - fragrance-free with super moisturizing shea butter, macadamia nut oil to nourish and hydrate the skin and Vitamin E to help protect and condition. If you like your moisturizer to be super thick, this is one to try - I enjoy using this one right before bed to give it all night to soak in! Available at Bath & Body Works.
Calgon Nourishing Body Cream - 236ml - $6.99 - with Vitamins E and A as well as aloe to deliver longer-lasting moisturization that will leave your skin feeling soft and silky. Comes in Morning Glory, Hawaiian Ginger, Tahitian Orchid, Cotton Candy, Vanilla Swirl, Marshmallow and Moon Petal Musk. My favourite scent is the Hawaiian Ginger, you just close your eyes and imagine yourself away from winter and on a tropical island!
Thann Body Butter - 100g - $23 - 350g - $47 - with cocoa butter, jojoba oil, licorice and shiso extracts to nourish and protect dry and sensitive skin. The tick yet smooth cream absorbs quickly into the skin for long-lasting and effective moisturizing.  It's 100% paraben-free with no artificial colours or fragrances.  Available online at www.thann.ca, in select stores and spas across Canada and at Thann concept stores in Ottawa.

St. Ives 24 Hour Moisture Advanced Body Moisturizer - 600ml - $6.99 - an innovative formula clinically proven to nourish skin even after 24 hours - replenishes and retains skin for soft-looking, smooth skin all day with 100% natural moisturizers including shea butter. Features a patented moisturizing complex that acts as a barrier to prevent moisture loss without forming a heavy film on the skin.
Dial NutriSkin Replenishing Lotion - 88ml - $2.99 - 354ml - $6.99 - focus on adding essential moisture, vitamins and nutrients for your skin - in four varieties each containg a specific BioNutrient blend: Dry Skin - with aloe and vitamins C, E and F, amino acids, and omega 3; Extra Dry Skin - with shea butter, omega 3 and 6, vitamins A,C,E and F and amino acids; Soothing - with chamomile, beta-glucan, vitamins A,C and E, amino acids and zinc; and Men's - with magnesium, niacinamide, amino acids and vitamins A,C and E.

Kiss My Face Peaches & Creme Ultra Moisturizer - 118ml - $6, 350ml - $12 - with 4% alpha-hydroxy to help speed up exfoliation that allows for new healthy skin cells to emerge from your dry, flaky mess - and the peachy smell - Amazing!  You can find Kiss My Face products in various drug and health food stores - I find the website easier though - they have a Canadian site that prices and gives shipping costs in Canadian $ - www.kissmyfacewebstore.com

If you want super duper softness, start with a moisturizing body wash - my faves right now:


Dove Visible Care Renewing Creme Body Wash - 300ml - $5.99 - for visible skin improvement in just one week and with continued use, skin is more visibly beautiful within 3 weeks. It's designed to nourish and replenish skin with the highest concentration of Nutrium Moisture which contains skin natural moisturizers, the building blocks to help improve skin's look over time. It has a fruity, floral fragrance that I quite like and lathers like nobody's business!
Soap & Glory Clean, Girls Body Wash - 500ml - $9.99 - with a built-in moisturizing matrix and natural vanilla fruit and orchid extracts, it feels great and smells amazing!  It also suds up nicely which is something I find that moisturizing body washes sometimes lack. Available at Shoppers Drug Mart.
Bath & Body Works Triple Moisture Shower Cream - 236ml - $12.50 - with milk proteins, rice bran oil and acai berry.  Part of the Signature Collection, you will find it in lots of different scents - I love Warm Vanilla Sugar and Twilight Woods!

Are you a dry skin sufferer too?  Would love to hear about any great moisturizers that you've tried!

Clarins Skin Illusion Foundation SPF10 - 30ml - $42 - in six shades: 103 Ivory, 105 Nude, 107 Beige, 109 Wheat, 110 Honey, 112 Amber - has a Light-Optimizing+ Complex to capture, diffuse and intensify light immediately.  Fine lines and wrinkles are smoothed away for an even, radiant complexion. Contains a Silicium mineral extract to hydrate a nd tone the skin and deliver a feeling of suppleness and comfort as well as a plant-based micro-patch that acts like a reservoir providing time-release hydration to keep skin supple, replenished and comfortable all day long.
Soap & Glory Mist You Madly range - not new, but new to me - they arrived last month but got shoved  in with the other products so it wasn't until I took a close look that I realized they were new products! Available in the range are: Mist You Madly Body Spray - 250ml - $11.99, Clean, Girls Body Wash - 500ml - $9.99, The Daily Smooth Body Butter - with rosehip seed oil and cocoa butter - 250ml - $14.99 and Scrub 'Em and Leave 'Em Body Buff - with babassu oil and sea salt - 300ml - $14.99 - the Mist You Madly scent they all have is lovely with top notes of citrus, bergamot, mandarin, jasmine and freesia on a mix of musks, sandalwood, vanilla and amber.
Rimmel London Match Perfection Foundation - $11.49 - blends seamlessly for undetectable coverage that goes on smooth and lasts all day.  Available in eight shades: Ivory, True Ivory, Warm Ivory, Soft Beige, Classic Beige, Sand, Nude, Warm Sand
Concealer - $8.99- 2-in-1 concealer and highlighter that adapts to your skin tone - in three shades: Ivory, Classic Beige, Soft Beige
Marc Jacobs LOLA Purse Spray - 20ml - $69 - refillable EDP comes in the most adorable casing and if you don't have a purse already, it comes with one of those too!

Bath & Body Works has a romantic new scent just in time for Valentine's Day - Carried Away! Part of the Signature Collection, Carried Away has top notes of Italian Bergamot, Meyer Lemon, Golden Mandarin, Juicy Pear Nectar and Lush Raspberries; mid notes of Purple Freesia, White Tuberose, White Jasmine and Soft Violet Petals; and base notes of Creamy Sandalwood, Whipped Vanilla and Musk.  I love the scent it's fruity, a little floral and really fresh!  I'm keeping the fragrance mist in my drawer at work for a mid-day pick-me-up!

Available in the collection are:
Eau de Toilette - 50ml - $34.50
Body Lotion - 237ml - $11
Body Butter - 200g - $15.50
Shower Gel - 295ml - $11
Creamy Body Wash - 236ml - $12
Fragrance Mist - 237ml - $12
Bubble Bath - 295ml - $12.50
Body Cream - 225g - $12.50
Hand Cream -  70g - $10.50