The Sweet Smell of Success

Le Labo is the place to take your nose and desire to understand the making of good perfumes. With the goal of creating 10 signature scents technicans at "the lab"" create each version at order bringing the age old concept and understanding of the need to personalize a scent so that no two people smell "the same". 

New York's location - 233 Elizabeth Street 

( http://www.lelabofragrances.com/ )

Remember to carry a coffee bean!

Taking A Second Look

The other day I posted about my current soap obsession Coconut & Hibiscus Shea Butter Soap w/ Songyi Mushroom by Shea Moisture ( http://www.sheamoisture.com/ ). I am still obsessed and using the soap, which after 4 weeks of use has improved the texture and tone of my skin so that I returned to Duane Reade two weeks ago and purchased the accompanying body lotion (13 oz for S9.99). I just started using it and will need to wait to see if it only enhances the benefits using the soap has brought.

In my last post I was more concerned about the smell of the soap. In this post I want to share a bit of information about the company. In 1991 the owners immigrated from Liberia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberia )to New York. In 1992 they began to manufacture body, hair and beauty products using old family recipes. Like Carol's Daughter, the originators of Shea Moisture started out by selling their products via a network of local street fair vendors before moving their items into beauty and health stores and opening their own store.

The company purchases their ingredients from women run cooperatives and indigenous farmers in Africa at market prices with the intent of improving the standards of living for their suppliers and the communities around them. They work with ECOSERVE and AFRICARE to ensure sustainable harvests and The LIBERIAN EDUCATION FUND and TODEE MISSION to support the building of schools and provide accessible education for impoverished children. Locally a percentage of their sales is donated to groups that support and encourage youth and community development. In addition their Sundial Stores provide support for local artists and craftspeople by displaying and selling their goods and encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit which push their own business along.

Wow - Now I am even more impressed by this product!

Summer Suds

Way back when I started this blog almost every other post seemed to be about a bar of soap I was in love with at that moment. I am still working my way through my stash but since the arrival of the summer sun I find myself only using Shea Moisture's Organic Coconut & Hibiscus Shea Butter Soap w/songyi mushroom because its creamy suds leave my skin soft and smelling wonderful!

This organic soap with its combination of coconut and hibiscus sweetness smells incredible. It has a fragrance that is both earthy and airy, soft and appealing, contradictions that attract me. Moisturizing Coconut Oil aside all the other ingredients used to make this soap are extremely beneficial to skin, Hibiscus is suppose to be an anti-oxidant that inhibits elastin degradation to maintain healthy, firmer looking skin and the song yi mushroom with it's slightly musky fragrance brightens and evens out the complexion. Not certain about the long term effects of using this project but the daily short term effects are worth the $4.99 a bar I pay for it.

I purchased the 8oz bar from Duane Reade but have seen it around for less so keep your eye's peeled or visit the website sheamoisture.com to buy direct.

A Line I Have Loved Forever ...

Back in the day I use to buy products from a woman who sold via street fairs throughout Brooklyn and New York. Her items were made with natural ingredients and real essential oils that benefited hair, body and face. She made them in her kitchen and if you couldn't catch her at a fair you could order them via phone and have them shipped to you right from her home. For a long time I was addicted to her perfume oils and hair conditioners.

Times have changed for the Carol's Daughter line. Her products and creativity were so good that she garnered the attention of some major Hollywood backers and she exploded. I have to admit some of the items I grew to love seemed different after the benefit of financial backing but having that backing allowed Lisa Price to explore and create new products that benefited her followers, me being one of them.

I recently ran across 2 of the line's items in Elle (Body Butter) and Self (Almond Cookie Sea Salt Scrub - be warned you will want to eat it!!) magazines but of all of her products the one I have always loved and continuely buy is her Koret Amen Hair Oil, $10-$22. I swear by it.

Regardless of your hair's texture or tendencies this olive oil based hair oil leaves it shiney and healthier than you can image. The product is infused with lavendar flowers, sage and essential ylang-ylang, clary sage and bay leaf oils that give your locks a woodsy scent while nurturing them. Though not a claim, I swear it makes your hair grow. It can also be used as a hot oil treatment and has other natural ingredients such as patchouli, an anti-inflammatory with anti fugal properties that rejuvenates and cedarwood, which calms the scalp that benefit your hair.

To re stock after my curly headed neice swipes mine I head over to the 1st floor store in the Atlantic Avenue Mall but if you aren't lucky enough to be in that area check out the on line site for the goodies this line offers.

http://www.carolsdaughter.com/

Babied Summer Skin

I grew up watching my teen cousins slather baby oil all over tan limbs and body parts that escaped the confines of cut off shorts, halter tops and sun dresses. Baby oil was a tanning staple and stories of sometimes mixing it with iodine to get just the right shade of summer were not uncommon. A day at the beach meant toting home a sand covered bottle that needed to be rinsed off before putting it back onto the bathroom shelf it lived on until the next trip to the shore.

Those days are gone and baby oil has been replaced with more expensive body lotions that also offer SPFs of 30 and above. Recently Johnson's Baby Oil has made a come back bid for a younger generation. They've introduced a baby oil gel in a variety of scents that include the original scent, aloe, lavendar and cocoa butter. Each oil promises to leave the skin more moisturized than your average lotion by trapping 10 times more of the conditioning product which now includes some those extras we look for in skin products, like vitamin E and Aloe. I have to say for someone who missed using baby oil in the good old days being able to put on a "shine" and a memory without the slippery spills and sand covered bottle is worth finding this product on my local drugstore shelf starting at $4.00.

A Memory Modernized

Growing up my cousin Yvette loved 3 things, Violet candy, strawberry smelling shampoos and anything that smelled like coconut or cocoa butter. A bottle of Palmer's Cocoa Butter could always be found on her dresser. It was frequently replaced because she did not hestitate to slather it on every chance she got and those of us within reach were always the receipients of the "extra" lotion. To this day anytime I smell anything with a cocoa butter scent I think of Yvette.

Back then there was no thought of sunscreen and Hawaiian Tropic Tans were the dream so when I came across a few samples of Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin E and SPF 15 in a magazine recently I had to stop and consider it. The minute I put it on I was once again 6 years old watching my teenage cousins "play the fool" and waiting to have my elbows and knees roughly slathered with "extra" Lotion. Of course this time I was protected from the Prospect Park sun while wearing the memory.

After happily using all the samples I called Yvette to share the news, but she already had a bottle on her nightstand!

Available at your local drugstore for around $8.00 a 8.5 oz bottle.

Willie Wonker Would Be Proud!

When my friends Sarah and Greg got married they honeymooned in Mexico and as a treat brought back samples of spa items made with chocolate for their friends. I was one of the lucky that received a sample cocoa soap and body scrub as well as a pound of cocoa powder to cook with. I loved and used it all, but aside from smelling like a great cup of hot chocolate (yeah, corny I know) I didn't consider any other benefits from their use, I'm really a vanilla smelling kind of girl, and never really investigated the concept of using cocoa for such things. Recently I have run across a few articles discussing the merits of products using Acticoa, a cocoa extract rich in antioxidants called flavanols. Applied topically these products are suppose to have anti aging effects, boosting the production of collagen and moisturizing the skin. Dark chocolate provides the best flavonols. Be prepared for another flood of chocolate boosted beauty products!

Natural Bed Bath & Beyond

It's been a while since I have posted about soap because it's been a while since I have purchased any. I am still using all those wonderful soaps I've already blogged about, but today the dry spell has ended. While roaming the recently added organic and natural items section at Bed Bath & Beyond I came across Chandrika Ayurvedic Soap. This all natural soap contains coconut oil, wild ginger and cinnamon and smells like incense..sigh..worth the $1.00 it cost!

Baby Soft

When I first found this stuff I couldn't believe the smell. Burt's Bees Baby Bee Apricot Baby Oil is divine. It is an Apricot based oil that is infused with grape seed, olive and avocado oils as well as vitamin E and lanolin. Who cares if it keeps baby's skin fresh, soft and smooth try it on yours just after exiting the shower and see how smooth, sweet smelling and supple your skin feels.

I buy Baby Bee Apricot Baby Oil at my local drug store. If you can't find it in yours, try their website http://www.burtsbees.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?categoryId=10013&subCategoryId=-153&productId=-2&catalogId=10051&storeId=10001&langId=-1

Do It Yourself Luxury - Salty Body Scrubs

I love my body brush and wash cloth and will stand by their ability to exfoliate what needs to be exfoliated. On occasion I do make and use salt scrubs on my hands and feet but I have to admit I find them too messy and greasy to use as a full body scrub while home because cleaning the tub afterwards is a b*tch!

For those of you interested in the benefits of salt body scrubs I will share with you a recipe shared with me. Kosher or Sea Salt* makes the perfect body scrub. Combine 1/2 cup of either salt, make sure it isn't fine, the crystals needs to be coarse, 3-4 tbs of your favorite oil - almond, olive, avocado or even grape seed works well, and 2 tbs of white vinegar, which helps restore the pH balance of skin. If you're feeling a little creative add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for scent alone or benefit - do the research and find out the benefits of the oils you are drawn to.

You can use the scrub on either wet or dry skin, using a wash cloth or sponge or your hands apply it in a circular motion from your shoulders on down before rinsing off. Some people use a body soap or shampoo afterwards to remove any excess grit/oil while other luxuriate in the supple skin left behind.

*salt can be switched out for sugar, roughly ground oatmeal or bran or coffee grounds if you're feeling adventurous.

Another Sudsy Italian Tale

After a long October day spent walking all over Rome I found myself wandering the aisles of a cosmetic store. Unfortunatly one of the great and one of the worse things about globalization is that you can buy the same products almost anywhere. For a shopper trying to find items that she can't get in New York this is not a great thing and then I spied with my little eye Horto Bontanico Soaps.

Horto Botanico di Nesti Dante soaps are inspired by Nature and created in the classical tradition of true Italian 'Saponeria', using a four-day cauldron method of baking, which is suppose to preserve the active ingredients and produce the richest purest soap possible. They are made in Florence, Italy but available on line at http://www.amazon.com/Nesti-Dante-Horto-Botanico-Soaps/dp/B000UAQLQ2

I have to be honest and write that I was attracted to the beautiful Florentine paper design each soap was wrapped in and purchased the Tomato Soap, which claims to ba a cocktail of vitamins (C, B and A) that work together to give a glowing complexion and the Pumpkin Soap which is suppose to purify while maintaining the natural balance of the skin because of bold round pumpkin and tomato images as well as their inviting scents. I don't know if they are doing the things they claim to do but my skin is soft and supple and smells great after I use either.

Scrub a Dub Dub Exfoliate Naturally

Belive it or not one of my most treasured beauty items is a simple and basic bristle body brush. Of course I have a small round one, one with a long handle for those hard to reach places and a hand/nail size one for the mani-pedicures. Using a brush to exfoliate dead skin and increase circulation isn't some strange beauty secret ritual but a long known cleansing method used by a number of cultures. I prefer the dry technique so before stepping into the shower I brush myself in circular motions from shoulder down to foot and back up and down the other side before allowing the wash cloth and shower water to remove the dead skin that have loosend and is ready to go. The massaging brush action stimulates blood circulation, releases the body's natural oil and exfoliates skin ready to be gone which saves me tons on body scrubs and oils.

I admit to picking my brushes up as and when I have needed and found them (lesson 1 - l do not leave them in or around a wet tub and them thoroughly air dry between use), but the round one shown is from the Body Shop's line which have extra long nylon bristles and handles made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) beech wood. This means that the wood comes from well managed forests that are independently certified in accordance with the rules of the FSC.

Bath & Body works also offers a great long handled version that comes in a variety of colors for just $10.00. http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3139925&cp=&sr=1&kw=brush&origkw=brush&parentPage=search

Looking for Mr Bubble

Remembering the famous commercial that had almost every woman I knew while growing up asking at the end of a hard week that “Calgon, take them away” I purchased a box of the “New” Calgon Take Me Away! Moisturizing Bath Beads with Vitamin E & Aloe in lavender and vanilla scent. I had memories of a bath full of soft relaxing pleasant smelling bubbles and was 8 minutes into my bath when I realized those memories were about Mr. Bubble, not Calgon. After laughing at myself and wondering if I could find Mr. Bubble next time I stopped into Lot Less Discount Store, where I purchased the box of bathbeads for $1.99, I let Calgon take me away for about 10 minutes, which is exactly when the water grew tepid and my skin water logged.

The bath was calm and relaxing at least until I tried to get out of the tub and found my self slipping and sliding and needing to hang onto the edge in order to make my escape. True to it’s word, the formula was ring free and left my tub clean and it was while I was reading this claim on the box that I noticed the words of warning that I should always take care to avoid slipping in the tub. Wonder if that is why this item was at the sell out store?

A staple that can be replaced.

Have Soap, Will Travel

Two of the items I packed for my trip to Rome from the infamous goody bag were
Mistral's Savon Extra- Fin Verbena Flower Petit Shea Butter Bar Soap http://www.mistralsoap.com/page/M/PROD/MS1VF

and
the Body Shop's Pure Detox Radiance Boosting Sisal Cleanser - http://www.thebodyshop-usa.com/bodyshop/browse/product_detail.jsp;jsessionid=wJuBGUcIRlv4UPZ06XjwTQ**.bsbwilapp03-bsprd-app-102?productId=prod778863&categoryId=search.

I used them both throughout my entire stay.

Mistral's tripled milled Savon Extra Fin Verbena Flower Petit Shea Butter Bar Soap (say that in one breath) smells incredible and definitely woke me up each morning. Luxury in a mini bar size, it left my skin clean, mosturized and scented.

I was not so impressed by the Body Shop's Pure Detox Radiance Boosting Sisal Cleanser. As instructed I used the product only once while in Rome and though the smell was nice and I trust the circular motion of the sisal scrubber was beneficial in exfoliating and boosting circulation I don't think the product improved anything, but then I don't know what improvement I was looking for.

I did continue to use the sisal scrubber with the Verbena soap. It took me a few days to realize that I could slip my hand beneath the sewn in elastic strap so that the sponge held its position in the center of my palm which made it so much easier to scrub a dub dub..

Keep the soap and use a wash cloth!

Ylang Ylang Lotion Lotion

Regardless of the length of the trip when I travel I prefer to bring a carry on size suitcase and because of this I am very aware of what I pack. I usually have no problem packing clothing since most of the pieces I own can be mixed and matched to create a number of ensembles. Packing grooming and beauty products is where I can have issue. This time rather than fill a small 4oz travel bottle with some of the lotion I normally use, into the goody bag I went and pulled out the sample tube of Akhassa's Ylang Ylang Body Lotion. Akhassa products are suppose to combine the 4 natural elements, air, water, fire, earth, to offer balanced healing properties for body and mind. Their Ylang Ylang Body Lotion is part of their nurturing series.

Ylang Ylang is a strong femine scent that either one loves or hates. It can be overpowering but if balanced with just the right fragrances can also be a delicate and lasting memory. Akhassa's Ylang Ylang lotion has a strong ylang ylang presence that tapers to a halo as it is applied and warms against the skin. This shea butter based lotion also incorporates bergamont, geranium and lavender oils. Though I found the scent pleasant and strong enough to stand on its own I did not find the lotion itself to be anything spectacular. To be honest it didn't leave my skin as moist and supple as the body butters I usually reach for.

If you're interested in trying this lotion here is its posting on Akhassa's sites -

http://store.akhassausa.com/e1n.html

Get Thee To A Monastery

I dedicated a portion of one day of my Roman holiday to locating the lengendary Ai Monasteria shop. So after visiting the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and Santa Maria Sopra Minerva I found myself circling the Piazza Novana more than once in search of this shop and their legendary sandalwood soap that my friends Patrick and Hugh can not live without. My mission was to find the shop and purchase 2 bars of sandalwood soap. Finally, after avoiding a large marching group of German tourists, flirting with 2 police officers, considering taking a lick of an unspecting 6 year olds' cone of gelato I found the store at Corso Rinascimento, 72 and it was worth the hunt.

Ai Monasteria is a 4th generation Roman establishment that represents and sells products from most of Italy's monastic orders. http://www.aimonasteri.it/indexen.html
The store reminded me of what what Bigelows and the landmark 3rd Avenue Keihl's use to be like. An apothcary chock filled of all manner of soaps, beauty products, chocolates, vinegars, wines, oils and teas, many made with traditions and recipes 100s of years old, is overwhelming. My goal was to purchase the sandalwood soap and though distracted by many of their goodies that's exactly what I did. I bought soap. Of course I couldn't just buy 2 bars and ended up buying a few for my own use and gift giving.
http://www.emonasteri.it/prodotto.asp?sbcat=74&pid=319
You can visit Ai Monasteri via the net and purchase some of their wonderful items through the website but be aware that they don't export everything they carry to the United States so it's so worth the stop if you're ever in their home town. For those of us in New York craving the experience of sniffying, eyeing and handling products with similar origins you find your way to Santa Maria Novella on 285 Lafayette St (between Jersey St & Prince St). It won't be exactly the same experience but it is well worth the trip -
http://www.lafcony.com/smn/newyork/

Beat Me With A Stick

Surgeon’s Skin Secret Beeswax Moisturizer in vanilla came from the product goody bag and had me stumped. The idea of moisturizing any part of me is all about creamy consistency and hand application. The instructions ask that you apply a thin layer of the waterproof feeling production and then rub in, but the stuff didn’t glide on and its vanilla scent has a medicated smell to it. Using this stick reminded me of putting on deodorant and the only places I would consider using it were on my elbows, knees and the heels of my feet. Though I found the use and smell of this item lacking my sister LOVED it and showed me how easy it was to use it. Sorry I’m not buying her instructional and promised she could have it only was after I was through writing this review. She’s waiting for me to finish typing.

This product, which isn’t expensive at $5.99 per .78oz stick, is sold through Jamark Laboratories, Inc’s website –
http://www.jamarklabs.com/102xx.html

Buttering Up for the Winter

With the drying winter months approaching and the tendency for elbows and knees and skin more delicate to thirst for heavier conditioning I put away the Tea Tree scented bodybutter and pulled out Tree Hut Shea Body Butters in Ginger, Cocoa Butter and Almond & Honey.

These 7oz tubs are a generous serving of thick buttery creams intense in scent and real shea butter. The Almond & Honey has almond extract and honey, the Cocoa Butter is made with real cocoa butter and Ginger has ginger root extract. They are all so amazing in both smell and results it's hard for me to choose which I prefer.

When I first fell in lust with Tree Tree Body Butters I found them at Wal-Mart’s (no hissing please – they aren’t going away – we need to fight for them to change) for $4.59 each and they are still there in their spiffy new packaging. This season’s crop was purchased at Lots for Less sell out for $2.99 per item because of that package redesign.

I also found them for you at http://www.drugstore.com/ for $6.59.
The site also offers the body scrubs and body washes in matching scents. I am not too crazy for either but if you’re someone who prefers to keep consistent with your scents they are available.
(I DID NOT KNOW THEY HAD SHAVING CREAM!!)

Sudsy Distractions

I haven’t been in an Old Navy in more than 2 years. The only reason I recently ventured into one was because I arrived at the Atlantic Avenue Mall in Brooklyn too early one Saturday morning in mid September and luckily for me they were opened.

I forwent the sale on summer bathing suits and light weight jeans and ignored the t shirt sale because I already have enough white tee shirts to last me at least 12 cups worth of coffee dribble and spills but my nose did bring me to their scent collection which was on sale for 50% off. I have to admit I was not impressed with their body sprays (too much alcohol in the smell) or body lotions (too synthetic smelling, like the scent would turn or disappear too quickly), but did find my self taken in by the packaging design of the line's soaps. I ended up purchasing two bars of tripled milled shea butter soap, one in island lime scent and other clean musk, for 2/$5.00. The scents of the soaps are sublime. The Island Lime is a mixture of sweet lime, coconut milk and fresh ginger and the Clean Musk combines white musk, cotton flower and cashmere fragrances. The milky white soaps leave your skin softer than I had expected and the soft smell lingers like a whisper. They aren’t organic and I am certain the scents are man made, but because they are so subtle I expect their potency to fade as did the summer.

I am sure Old Navy is no longer carrying this item but I am hoping this post will encourage you to pick up soaps and other toiletries in stores not known for such things because you never know what you will find and fall in love with, even if it only lasts a short season

Suds and Nuts

The shells of pistachios use to be dyed red to conceal the blemishes on mostly imported nuts. Now that much of what is on the market is Californian grown there are a lot of people that have only seen pistachios in their natural beige colored shells.
When I inhaled Earthworks Pistachio Soap I expected to find my nose stained red from pushing the bar too close against it.

This tripled milled soap is made with undyed, organic pistachios as well as other rich ingredients that include shea butter, jojoba, calendula and coconut oils. Making triple mill or French milled soap is a commercial process. Soap, which is typically made with synthetic detergents, is made, dried and then rolled three or more times through steel rollers to create a fine paste that is then pressed and formed into bars. There is usually no variation in color and texture and all the soap is identical.

Earthworks Pistachio Soap is made in England by a commercial soap manufacture with steel rollers that do the job. It is smooth with an old fashioned feel to it and leaves my skin moisturized and smelling lovely and yes, I crave ice cream after washing with it. I loved the bambo and mulbrerry tree pulp wrapping paper with its raised printed pattern that reminds me of old fashioned thermography printing.

This is another goody bag item but I did do a search. Though I found it for $9.00 with out the special packaging I am posting it's listing on the actual Earthworks’ site because this bar has that pretty packaging. The soap sells for $10 a 7 oz bar –

http://www.earthworksproducts.com/pistachiosoap.html