Beauty411

Bath & Body Works Enchanted Orchid: The Scent of Spring

Bath & Body Works has welcomed Spring with a gorgeous new fragrance:  Enchanted Orchid.  This is a lush, tropical fragrance that any woman would love.  Part of the B & BW Signature Collection, Enchanted Orchid has top notes of pink grapefruit, wet greens, waterlily and crisp apple; middle notes of Calypso Orchid, fresh gardenias, delicate iris and violet petals.  Base notes are vanilla orchid, heliotrope, creamy amber and skin musk.

A basket of several Enchanted Orchid products would make for a special Mother's Day gift.  I would choose the Satin Body Veil, Creamy Body Wash and Eau de Toilette, which would make a nice layering set.  I've tried the shower gel, the lotion and body spritz and that trio also would be a perfect gift suggestion.  On the website, there's a Buy 3 Get 1 Free promo going on, so pick something out for yourself, too!  This really is a lovely fragrance and perfect for spring and summer.  Additional product information can be found on the Bath & Body Works website or in-store.

The "Scoop" on Open Sundaes

Open Sundaes is a Canadian Bath & Body line that gives new meaning to the words "girly girl".  These handmade products are not only fun, but are done with incredible attention to detail.  All the fun and eye candy of tempting treats without the calories. 

Here's the scoop:  The Bon Bon Bath Melts come four to a container.  With flavors like Strawberry Shortcake, Chocolate Raspberry, Cherry Almond Shortcake and Bubble Gum, they look exactly like a colorful box of candy.  Drop one into your bath water for a heavenly treat.  If you didn't know better, you'd swear the Blue Hawaiian Cupcake Bubble Bath was the real deal!  Shaped like a cupcake with frosting on the top, it's a real treat.  An interesting product is the Chocolate Shake Hair Powder.  You shake it into your hair, work through and it's like a dry shampoo with a chocolatey fragrance.  And one of my favorite products is the Lip Toppings, which is a delicious tasting, sheer lip gloss with a hint of shimmer.  Not goopy or sticky, this really feels--and tastes--good on your lips.

If you need a gift for a 'tween, shower favors, a Mother's Day or Girlfriend gift, or just want to treat yourself, check out Open Sundaes.  All the fun without any of the calories!  For more information on Open Sundaes products, visit the online store.

Space.NK Apothecary Bath & Body Collection

Space.NK Apothecary is a trendy beauty store that has migrated from Britain to the U.S. and is already a huge hit with beauty product junkies.  The reason?  A fabulous selection of highly sought after product lines and knowledgeable staff; an unbeatable combination.  In addition to the niche lines, Space.NK has it's own line of fragrances, as well as bath and body products, which are--like the store--fabulous.

There are a total of nine fragrances, which were designed to evoke forgotten memories and emotions.  Here's a sampling of my favorites:

• Enrapture:  Enrapture is completely romantic.  A blend of tuberose, ylang-ylang, blackcurrant bud and orange blossom, it's sensual and perfect for a romantic summer evening.  I tried this fragrance in a hand lotion, which is rich and moisturizing.

Soulful:  Woody and floral; a blend of cedar, sandalwood, rose and lily of the valley.  Not overpowering; think gentle, tranquil, relaxing fragrance.

Laughter:  Uplifting and fresh, Laughter is a blend of lime, rosemary and juniper with a bite of ginger.  A walk in the fresh air or on the beach, Laughter is a light fragrance.

Expression:  If Enrapture is romantic, Expression is sexy.  A blend of vetiver with jasmine, bergamot and a hint of nutmeg.  This is a more personal fragrance; uniquely yours.

Each of the fragrances is available in select formulations, such as perfume, body balm, hand lotions or washes and so on.  The quality in each product is apparent; the body balm and hand lotion is rich; the bath oil, so fragrant and moisturizing.  You can purchase at a Space.NK store or the entire collection is available on the Space.NK website.

Mother's Day~ Give a gift of beauty!

Mother's Day is such a special time to remember Mom.  Give her a gift of beauty that will help her feel extra beautiful, inside and out.  These are some of my favorites:

Pamper your Mom with Breakfast in Bed:  This cute set from philosophy includes the famous 3 in 1 scented show gels in Cafe au Lait, fresh cream and Belgian waffles fragrances. One of my favorite lines, leave it to philosophy to come up with sweet treats without the calories!  Available at Sephora.

Just in time for Mother's Day is the gorgeous new Gardenia Collection from Kiehl's.  Choose from a variety of products, including Hand & Body Lotion, Gardenia Liquid Body Cleanser and Gardenia Candle.  What a beautiful collection this is...in a classic fragrance that any Mom would love.  Hurry into your local Kiehl's store to mix and match a gift set.

If your Mom's not into fragrance, give her the gift of skincare.  This Pampering Weekend Kit from Liz Earle has everything she needs to feel indulged.  Inside the exclusive vanity case is a selection of mininature Liz Earle Daily Essentials, Bodycare and Special Treatment products.  You can find my review of Liz Earle products here.  Available at www.lizearle.com.

This is the time of year when cosmetic and fragrance companies put together gift sets, which can be a terrific value.  Check out the sets above or head out to your favorite store to pick out something wonderful for Mother's Day.  And who knows, you might find something irresistable for yourself!

Soaptopia: 100% Junk Free!

Soaptopia is a small soap company in California with a big sense of humor and a fabulous product!  I love being able to feature artisan businesses with great product lines and Soaptopia definitely fits that description.  Add that the bath products are handmade, natural and with a dedication to being "100% Junk Free" and you have the makings of one hip, bathing experience.

Soaptopia creates over 40 different flavors and scents, so there's a soap for every body.  The soap is made with a base of olive oil, shea butter, hemp seed oil, coconut, palm and essential oils.  I tried the Orange Blossom and Blue Velvet soaps and totally love them.  They last forever and are so moisturizing that even out of the shower, your skin is left soft.  I also tried ALOTTA Bubbles, which is a sulfate-free, sugar-based bubble bath.  Great scent and lather.  And my favorite product is called the 50/50 Body Balm.  When I first looked at the jar, I went "what is this?".  Then I put it on my skin and went "this is sensational!"  The 50/50 Dr. V'Nilla, is a 50% blend of deep natural therapy creme swirled with 50% Madagascar Vanilla Essential Oil.  It's unlike anything I've ever tried, and it's incredible. Trust me on this one.

Soaptopia offers a 5 for $25 special on their soaps when you use code 5for25 checkout.  Orders are shipped in recycled boxes with natural nesting fibers and leaves, flower buds and other natural fillers.  Gift wrapping is free. Make sure to browse the website to see the entire of line of products.  Give Soaptopia a try and bathe 100% Junk Free!

Diana B. Bath & Body Collection

Diana B. Bath & Body products were started with a trip to exotic Morocco and a desire to create something new.  On that trip, the Diana B. Sugar Scrub was born and from that product, an extension into body lotions, bath gels and a new line of facial products. 

The Body line consists of three steps:  Cleanse, Exfoliate and Moisturize.

• Diana B. Bath Gel:  Thick, rich and wonderfully fragrant, you only need a dime-sized amount of Peach Frangipani Flower Bath Gel to work up to enough lather to cleanse and cover your body.  This hydrating bath gel formula contains Aloe Vera, seaweed extracts, Spirulina and chamomile to leave your skin soft and supple.  Can be used in the bath or shower.  Heavenly!
• Diana B. Sugar Scrub:  The signature product of the line and not to be missed.  There are a couple of features that set this sugar scrub apart from other exfoliating scrubs.  First, the amount of product you get...at 21 ounces, the jar is ginormous!  Inside, you'll find a blend of all natural, super-fine sugar and salts mixed with cane sugar syrup and antioxidants.  The scrub doesn't contain oil, yet smoothes and exfoliates your skin to glorious perfection.  And the fragrances?  The Maple Sugar Lychee Nut is fabulous, as is the Green Tea Desert Grapefruit.  If you've got sensitive skin, this scrub is for you.  In addition to being oil-free, it's wax and chemical-free.
• Diana B. Body Lotion:  Thick, hydrating, the scent of Black Fig is intoxicating and crisp; I think this could be a unisex moisturizer.  The body lotion formula contains Aloe Vera, sugar cane extract, marine oils, seaweed, Vitamins E and A, Spirulina and chamomile, so that your skin feels completely moisturized.

Overall, I loved the entire Diana B. collection.  I really feel each product gives you a pampering, indulgent experience.  You can purchase the Diana B. collection online at Orange Blossom Spa, Lucky Scent and Kiss and Makeup Ltd., as well as select spas and stores, including the Studio at Fred Segal, the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas and Henry Bendel. More information on the line can be found on the Diana B. website.

Klean Bath + Body Sugar Body Polish

Klean Bath + Body's Blue Hawaii Sugar Body Polish is like a trip to a tropical island minus the mad rush through the airport and the loss of your luggage.  Seriously, I had the opportunity to try the Klean Blue Hawaii Sugar Body Polish and the first thing you notice when you open the bottle is the incredible tropical fragrance.  Notes of creamy coconut and jasmine immediately transport you to another place. 

I scooped out about a quarter-sized amount of the Blue Hawaii Sugar Body Polish and went to work on my elbows.  The sugar that is used in the Sugar Body Polish has a nice texture and I would consider it to be medium coarse.  It does an excellent job of exfoliating the usual dry areas:  elbows, feet, knees.  Not only does it exfoliate; it leaves your skin smooth and feeling wonderfully soft and moisturized.  I can highly recommend this product!

Klean Bath + Body has a full line of spa products including whipped shea body butters, lotions, solid perfume, body washes, milk soaks and more.  There are a variety of gift options available, including the Scrub Club, a once-a-month gift of a Sugar Body Polish (who wouldn't love that? ).  Klean Bath + Body products are available through the Klean Bath + Body website. 

Product Body Cream: Handmade and Delivered Fresh!

Product Body is the perfect start to our focus on spa products this week at Beauty411.  When I go to a spa, I like careful attention to detail, personalized service and an innovative product lineup.  With the Product Body line, you get all that, plus ingredients selected for quality and freshness.  All of the products are handmade in small batches, to insure freshness and many are 100% natural and/or vegan.

One of the products that I tried, Product Body Cream, is an emollient, shea-butter infused cream that is perfect for spring-into-summer skincare.  It's a lighter formulation than a more "traditional" shea-butter cream and is definitely not greasy.  Product Body Cream provides excellent hydration and moisture, keeping skin supple all day and in addition to using as a body cream, could also be used as a hand cream.  It's lightly scented; I tried Praline Pecan and it smelled good enough to eat! Product Body Cream retails at $ 19.50.   

The Product Body lineup includes bath and body soaks and scrubs, moisturizers and a line for pregnant women and moms called MAMA BALM, that is paraban-free.  Product Body products are available online and in select retailers.  Any of these products would make a great gift and with Mother's Day coming up, a little Product Body pampering is just what she needs!

Frilly Lilly: Delectable Bath & Body Treats

Frilly Lilly is a dessert-inspired product line that was created to not only look good, but to perform as beauty and bath products should.  I'm happy to report that this whimsical line succeeds on both counts.  Frilly Lilly is a diverse line--everything from adorable bath bombs to hand lotions and nail care.  The products smell divine and the pretty packaging satisfies a "girly girl" like me.  I had the opportunity to try out some of the hand and nail products.  The Lemongrass Sage Hand Cream is definitely a product that has become a favorite.  Thick and rich in shea butter, with a fresh lemon scent, it moisturizes even the worst winter-cracked hands.  Another favorite product is the Frilly Lilly Cuticle Cream.  A light pink cream that deeply hydrates and conditions cuticles, the container is cute enough to leave on my nightstand. The cuticle oil and cuticle remover also work well.

Frilly Lilly is known for their bath concoctions.  There's a strawberry shortcake bundt cake for your bath that looks divine.  And if you want to sit in the bathtub all day, smelling all sweetness and daisy cake, we won't tell.  Think about Frilly Lilly for shower favors or girlfriend gifts, but order with enough time to allow for shipping from Canada.  Frilly Lilly can be ordered off their website and is also available at Fred Segal in Santa Monica, Kitson in LA and The Wynn and Palms Hotels in Las Vegas. 

Perlier La Voglia Matta

Perlier, one of the staples in the bath and body category, introduces La Voglia Matta, "The Great Desire" fruit-scented shower gel and body milk set.  Fruit extracts are used to improve skin smoothness and texture while helping skin stay supple, soft and lightly fragranced.  The shower gel and body milk duo comes packaged in an organza drawstring bag, making for a nice presentation and perfect for gift giving.  The scent is fresh and light; in addition to Sweet Strawberry, Black Berry is also available.  Perlier products can be found online, in department stores and at HSN.