Product Review: William Sonoma Pure & Green Collection, Ruby Grapefruit Ylang Ylang Hand Cream

Hi friends! So in my last post, I mentioned the virtues of moisturizing one's hands daily. If you've decided to take this to heart, then you need to hop over to your closest William Sonoma to check out their Pure & Green line of hand creams. Yes, I know William Sonoma is more known for its bakeware than beauty products, but seriously, this line is so delicious it would be perfectly at home sitting on a shelf in Sephora!




Being a lover of all things Pink Grapefruit, of course I zoned in on the Pink Grapefruit Ylang Ylang scent. It's zippy, sweet, and refreshing... just as it should be. The Ylang Ylang is pretty subtle, and I can only detect it in the form of a slight floral warmth. The cream feels great on the skin, and while it is not the most moisturizing product I've ever tried, the mix of shea butter, olive oil and glycerine certainly does a good job of leaving hands soft to the touch. It absorbs fairly quickly as well.

Other favourite scents in the line are the Wasabi Green Tea (amazing, unique and refreshing), Herbes de Provence Sweet Orange (bracing but sweet), and Olive Oil Coriander (comforting, with the bright green Coriander smell I love). Each of these scents come in a hand cream, hand soap, dishwashing detergent, and scented candle so you can put this scentual bliss in every room of your house.

The selection is dwindling though, because these are on sale right now for 50% off! The hand cream is only $7 CAD, where it normally is $15 for a 473 mL bottle. I hope this doesn't mean they are discontinuing the line... better go stock up while you can! These yummy scents almost (almost!) make me forget all the snow and cold that's happening outside!

Product Review: Malibu Secret

Anti-aging seems to be all the rage these days. Of course, there has always been the countless anti-wrinkle products, but fighting the signs of time no longer seems to be the exclusive territory of face-creams. Dove has a Pro-Age line for aging hair, scientists claim grapefruit scents make you smell younger, and food and beverage companies tout the anti-oxidant (read: anti-aging) properties of their offerings.

Well why should your face, hair, nose, and stomach have all the fun? There's like 95% of skin on our bodies that's not on our faces... why shouldn't it get some pampering?

Clearly, the mother-and-son team behind Malibu Secret* had the same idea.


Malibu Secret is a cream that takes some of those good-for-you (and expensive!) active ingredients in higher end anti-aging facial creams and puts them in something designed specifically for the rest o' your bod. After all, if they make your face look smooth, even-toned, and glowing, shouldn't it do the same for your arms, legs, and whatever body parts you'd like to show off? Some of these fancy ingredients include Thymulen 4 (French patented!), Bois 11, and Dermox SRC. Okay, so I don't actually know what any of these things do, but they sound impressive! You can read more about the ingredients here. Oh, and it's paraben free, which is always nice.

I can't really speak to whether Malibu Secret makes my limbs look younger (mostly because my limbs haven't changed that much over the years), but I really love Malibu Secret for its soothing and moisturizing properties. I had a spot of difficult eczema-ish irritation near my collar-bone, which is not exactly picturesque (hello, wedding season!). I'd tried everything I had (face creams too!) and nothing worked. But after a few days of using Malibu Secret, I could see a real improvement, and with 2 weeks of use, the irritation cleared up completely.

This soothing ability was extra-surprising, since the product has a fairly prominent scent. It's very beachy... floral and coconut, with a hint of suntan lotion. If you like coconut scents, you will LOVE this. I'm not much of a coconut fan, but I found the scent pleasant enough.

Thick and moisturizing, but quick to sink in... this generous tube (over 200 mL) is a great summery treat for the skin. Shimmy a bit of this over your shoulders and your legs and you'll feel ready for those patios and clubs in no time! You can order from their website, or find them at these fine Canadian retailers

BC: Beautilicious (South Surrey)
AB: Pink Door (Camrose), Smashing Cosmetica (Banff)
ON: Cosmetique (Hamilton)
Que: Abe & Mary's (Montreal)

If you'd like to see Malibu Secret in your favourite store, just leave a comment below or email the company!



* They look like beautiful TV people. Seriously! Also, the packaging is hilarious... if you look closely, you will see the words "I Love You" scrawled in the sand across the front of the bottle!

Product Review: The Body Shop Brazil Nut Body Scrub & Africa Spa Body Balm

Hey guys and dolls! Not to be harping on a Body Shop theme or anything, but talking about that Q&A yesterday reminded me that I wanted to review their Brazil Nut Body Scrub. Apparently, in some parts of the world, Spring has been sprung for weeks, and you lovely ladies out there have been frolicking in the sunshine and whatnot. But for those of us in Canada (ok, non-BC Canada) and the Eastern parts of the US, the sun has only recently been peeking out from grey skies, and those chilly winds have just begun to calm down.

And so, all of a sudden, I must deal with the dilemma of scaley elbows paired with short-sleeved shirts. My skirts are a-begging to be worn, but my legs are all "Hell no lady, not 'til you get some heavy-duty moisture on us!" What to do when faced with such dermatological unpleasantries and... um, limbs that yell at you?

Scrub and Moisturize!



Let me be the first to say that I hated the Body Shop scrubs of yore. The ones that were in the scent of the Body Butters? They were greasy and oily and sloppy and leaky and just plain not good. But things have changed, my friends! The Brazil Nut Body Scrub, once a sugary hot mess, is now full of creamy, scrubby goodness.

Replacing the sugar granules with crushed walnut shells gives you greater exfoliating power, while the luscious creamy base feels silky and soft. A thin layer of moisture is left on the skin after you rinse off, helping you achieve that healthy, supple glow. And the scent! It's not exactly the same as the Brazil Nut Butter itself, but it is very close, and it's leaps and bounds better than the old one, which had this burnt-sugar and plasticky scent.




To really indulge, I like to slather on some Africa Spa Rich Body Balm after I hop out of the shower. It's fairly light for such a moisturizing product, so it's good for use in the summer (although it does feel a wee bit sticky sometimes). I love this soothing scent (always have), and the $25 price tag doesn't seem so bad now that the regular butters are $22 a pop. (Not that I'm bitter or anything.)








If you have super dry skin and don't mind splurging even more, the thicker Hand and Foot Honey Butter is amazing as an all-over moisturizer. Cute-Helpful-Salesgirl also suggested the Africa Spa Salt Scrub, but I was already sold on the Brazil Nut Butter Scrub. Next time and next paycheque, Salesgirl!


Diligently using these products will banish that scaley, itchy, leftover-Winter skin, leaving you and your gorgeous epidermis to burst forth like... um, some terribly cute animal into some terribly cute springtime scene. And if you've been turned off by some of TBS' products in the past, hop on over there and take another look. Some great classics are still lovely as ever, and some former-losers have been transformed into all-around winners!

Product Review: Gloves in a Bottle Shielding Lotion & Steps for a Speedy Pedicure

For some odd reason, the more work I have on my plate, the more I want to avoid it*. Some people manifest this avoidance behaviour through sports ("3 term papers and an exam in 2 weeks? Hey, let's join a spin class!"). Others look towards the TV (Arrested Development marathons, anyone?). Still others manically clean and organize everything in sight (these people should come over to my place).

And for me? My attention turns to beauty and beauty-related activities, of course.

Exams to mark? Pedicure!

Presentation to give? Time for a new gloss/eyeshadow/blush!

Paper due? New highlights!

Thesis defense? Major reconstructive surgery! And then flee to Finland and drown sorrows in pickled herring and Aquavit!


Fortunately for me, I've a few years to go before the Thesis defense happens. But, I do have all that other stuff going on, which means that it's Pedicure time, at the very least.

I don't know about you, but I am lazy. I'm certainly not one of those people who exfoliate their soles and keep toes all pretty and polished during the winter months. But inevitably, the call of warm sunshine and cool breezes** gets too much, and the strappy sandals must come out.

Of course, one is rarely prepared for this opportunity. Instead, one finds oneself with nary an hour to go before the sandal-worthy event must happen. In short, one needs a Pedicure In A Hurry.




The choice of the right polish is fodder for another post -- or another blog, for that matter. Today I want to talk about how you can turn those rough, scaley hooves into smooth sandal ready feet, all in about 10 minutes***.

- First, you need a foot file. I really like Dr. Scholl's Contoured foot file, but your favourite file or pumice will do just fine.

- Next, hop in a nice steamy shower. Mmmm. Wash your hair, shave your legs, do your shower 'thang. This would be a great time to use a deep conditioner, since you'll be spending a few extra minutes in there.

- Grab your most moisturizing body wash. I've been using Olay's Creme Ribbons Body Wash which is alright as a wash, but especially good for pedicure purposes. Slather some on the sole of your foot.

- Take the foot file and rub it over any rough spots (ball of foot, sides, heels, tips of toes, etc). The Dr. Scholl's one is great because it's contoured, and small enough so that I can target a specific area without rubbing the rest of the foot raw. The creamy lather from the body wash helps soften skin and protect it from too much abrasion.

- Do this until you are satisfied with the results, or start to get bored and/or pruney. This usually takes me just a couple of minutes. Lather, rinse, and repeat for your other foot.

- Rinse yourself all squeaky clean, and hop out of the shower. Now it's time to get your moisture on.

- This. This is the most important part, and is where the review for today actually starts. Up 'till now, any of your favourite pedicure/bath products would have sufficed, but the next step crucially depends on a shielding lotion like Gloves in a Bottle:




Okay, so it's not the most glamourous looking bottle. But it's exactly what you need. This thin lotion sinks into your just-scrubbed feet, and soothes and smoothes like nothing else. I've tried doing this with body butters, other lotions, and creams, but they just won't work as well. With the other products, your skin gets soft right away, but the feeling fades after an hour, and then you're left with dry flaky skin again. Gloves in a Bottle gives you silky smooth skin that lasts throughout the day. Plus, this sinks in so fast and so thouroughly, while other lotions leave me skidding across our tile floors, picking up random debris along the way (ew).

Now, we're talking about a quick-fix pedicure here, so obviously, results won't be as good as a proper maintence routine (i.e., where you exfoliate and moisturize daily). BUT, if you use Gloves in a Bottle in place of your regular foot cream, you may just find that you need to be much less diligent with that routine, since it locks in moisture so well.

Of course, this lotion works for the skin on the rest of your body as well. You may remember the good results I got with Skin MD Natural, another shielding lotion, and this is certainly a comparable product. There's not much difference between them -- both are soothing, non-irritating, and both absorb quickly. However, I find that while Skin MD has a very light almondy scent, Gloves in a Bottle is truly scentless. There is a fleeting, odd smell of school glue (not really unpleasant, but weird), and then nothing. Due to this, and a slightly better skin-feel during application, I prefer Skin MD. But, if you don't feel like shelling out $25 for 4 oz., take heart: Gloves in a Bottle does pretty much exactly the same thing, and it's only $12.95 for 8 oz. Plus, you can physically go purchase Gloves in a Bottle in Canada AND the US, and the website has a handy retailer locator.

And, if you REALLY love Gloves in a Bottle, you can even order bottles by the gallon! Which sounds crazy, but really isn't if you're using it in a hospital or factory setting, or if your entire family gets hooked on it or something.

Finally, Gloves in a Bottle has this picture on their website. Which makes me think of things like.... um... Farah Fawcett, soaring gloriously. On a dove. Spreading messages of hope and peace and love. And of soft feet!






* Okay, fine, this is not odd. It is the way of the graduate student. Possibly even the way of Life -- the founding rule for all of creation.

** Unless you live in Toronto, apparently. Oh warm weather, why won't you come?

*** OMG, I totally felt like an Infomercial Person right there. "How much would you pay for this amazing talking amazing new cleaning system? $200? $500? $1000 and the left arm of your first-born? Well today, you can have all this for just 3 easy payments of $19.99!" I have career OPTIONS, I tell you!

Product Review: Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion

Oh hello there! How are you? Do you have a fork handy? If so, you need to please stick it in me...


... because I am DONE! This thesis business is OVER! I feel I should muster up more enthusiasm for the occasion, but mostly I am just so very grateful that I'm finished. Because the time spent in your office should not be measured in magnitudes of consecutive days, you know?



It's odd... while I was in my Insane Thesis Fury Mode, I noticed that my skin was really dry. Really really dry. Like flaking-off dry. At first, I thought maybe I had literally become allergic to work. But, as it turns out, other people (who evidently spend a lot more time at work than I do) experienced this too -- our building ventilation just seems to suck every last drop of moisture (and, I'd argue, our souls) out of us. So it's a really good thing that I had a bottle of Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion on hand. My parched-feeling, incessantly-typing, pitiful hand.



Skin MD Natural claims to be different from traditional moisturizers. According to their website, whereas traditional lotions and creams merely lubricate the surface of the skin, this shielding lotion bonds with the skin's outer layer, enhancing the skin's own protective abilities. There is a lot of information on that site, with various testimonials from both regular folks and doctors. There's even a study on there demonstrating Skin MD Natural's effectiveness at creating a moisture barrier.* I'm not qualified (read: not smart enough) to be able to assess the technical claims, but I CAN share with you how this stuff worked for me.

Alright, I'm going to be candid. Did this lotion change my life? Did choirs of angels beam down upon me lovingly, gently fanning me with their cherubian wings? Did I suddently speak in tongues upon application? No.

Did my skin feel softer and more hydrated? YES!

Roomie, Cowgirl Warrior (who lives near the bone-dry Rocky Mountains), and I have all tried Skin MD Natural, and incredibly, we all had the same reaction when we first rubbed the lotion into our hands:


"Woah...". (It's even more fun if you imagine it in a Keanu Reeves circa Bill & Ted days voice)


Skin MD Natural made all our hands feel super silky and smooth. But best of all, it did so without a heavy or greasy feeling. The lotion is light and fluid -- go easy when squeezing it out of the bottle, or you'll end up with way too much, like I did. You'll only need a little bit. It also sinks in fast, which means that keyboards, pens, and siginficant others don't get all lotion-y. This also means that your "Hand Lotion Breaks" at work (the miniature equivalent of a Mental Health Day) can be much shorter, but no one else needs to know that.

As I said, I'm not sure about all that "bonding" science speak, but I did notice that this lotion seems to settle INTO the skin, as opposed to sitting on top of it. I find this especially helpful for the flakey type of dry skin... thicker moisturizers like Cocoa Butter will sort of glaze the skin, while this stuff feels like it's putting moisture in between the flakes, if that makes any sense.

The lotion is listed as unscented, but for some reason, I detect a very light, pleasant almond scent to it. The smell is fleeting anyway. I am fortunate that I don't struggle with eczema or psoriasis or even sensitive skin, but with aloe as a main ingredient, this lotion shoul be soothing to any problem areas. (If you're interested, they have a complete list of ingredients and explanations of their functions on the website -- how many companies will do that?!?!)

A light, non-greasy, moisturizer that leaves skin feeling like silk? I'd say this one's a winner. But don't take my word for it, try it out for yourself! With their 100% moneyback guarantee (it even includes shipping costs!), you really have nothing to lose. Except for that scaley winter skin, that is!



[UPDATE: Another friend tried this today... Her exact words were: "Wow, that is some hand lotion!" Couldn't have said it better myself!]



* Unfortunately, it doesn't look like they compared the lotion to some other lotion -- they just used untreated skin as a baseline. I can't say for sure, as there's only a summary of results posted.

Product Review: Neolia Olive Oil Lotion

Can I share an odd fact? I have some kind of bizarre fondness for green body products. I am very much NOT one of those 'embrace nature' girls*, and I have no problem with using beauty products will all sorts of 'artificial' and non-vegan ingredients. But I luuuurve me some green lotion. Cucumber, avocado, lime... whatever, I'll take it. There's just something about the colour green that inherently suggests a certain ... lushness. Vibrancy. Invigoration. All sorts of other catchy advertising words.

One of my absolute favourite green products is the Olive Body Butter from The [sort of evil] Body Shop. You've probably all seen it and/or tried it. Of all the Butters, Olive is probably my favourite. Unless it's the Nut Butter. Or Strawberry. Or... Ok, fine, I have a problem. Whatever, you already knew that. Anyway, the Olive Butter's got this wonderful fresh olive scent, and the texture is light and whipped. Of course, it's also got this earthy green and "organic" look to it. It moisturizes well without feeling heavy, and is just great for summer time.

However, possibly because it feels so whipped, I find that I go through this stuff like crazy. If I use it daily, it probably lasts me about 3 weeks. At $18 CAD a pop, I can't afford to use it up so fast! Reason #31 why The [sort of evil] Body Shop is sort of evil!!!

I've tried a few other "olive" moisturizers on the market... I think Fruits & Passions has one, and a few of our favourite discount retail chains have now lemmed** on with their own (rather substandard) versions. While some of these products are ok at what they do, none have captured that oh-so-important-and-delicious smell of Olive Butter.

Enter.... Costco?!?! That's right folks, Costco! No longer just for 2-gallon tubs of mayonnaise and free food samples! I found this Neolia Olive Oil Moisturizing Lotion there, and exclaimed with surprise and delight*** upon trying it: it smells almost exactly like the Olive Body Butter! And a giant pump bottle (700mL!) cost me just $10 CAD. Oh joys!

Neolia's entire product line (there's also a bar soap and body wash) features "100% Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil" and aloe vera as its star ingredients. I must admit that it doesn't rub in as well or absorb as quickly as the Olive Body Butter, but it feels very moisturizing once you have it rubbed in. It's a medium-thick lotion that I don't find too sticky or anything. And the scent is heavenly of course. It doesn't stay obtrusively on you throughout the day, and it doesn't interfere with perfume, but I can smell it lingering pleasantly on my pajamas sometimes. It's certainly a great way to satiate my Olive Body Butter cravings without breaking the bank.

Sadly, the Neolia lotion is sort of an off-white, not a yummy green. Oh well. They told me that I'd have to make some sacrifices in terms of finances and lifestyle when I became a grad student, and I'm pretty sure this is exactly what they meant. I might buy the Olive Butter again as a treat for myself on occasion, but for every-day use, the Neolia lotion is a worthy substitute.

And now I've got a strange craving for guacamole. Which doesn't even have olive in it. How does that even happen???


As requested, here is the ingredients list for the Neolia Olive Oil Body Lotion:

Aqua, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Cetearyl Acohol, Ceteareth-20, Cetyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Polyacrylamide, Isoparafin C13-C14, Laureth-7, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Gel, Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaen, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben.



[EDIT 09/25/06: I spotted the 236mL tube of the Neolia lotion at Shopper's Drug Mart recently, going for about $8 CAD. So that's good news for us Canadians. I'm afraid this isn't much help for those abroad, although if you do happen to visit our lovely country, SDMs are all over the place, and it should be fairly easy to grab a tube. Or 12.]


* I have nothing against nature, she's a cool mamma. I just don't roll with that crowd, you know?
** Possible new word??? [lemmed -- past tense of 'lemm': To create a faux version of a much hyped item, in accordance with popular opinion. der. 'lemming', ex. "She saw the buzz that the new retro-madras jumper created, and so lemmed up her own from last season's plaid. How very Molly Ringwald of her!"] Yes? No?
*** It probably sounded a bit like "wwhrreeeee!"

Product Review: The Yves Rocher Haul

Hello hello! How are you, internets? You know how sometimes, when you get very little sleep the night before, and you have to be awake and running around all day exhausted, and then you finally come home and can go to sleep? But you can't, even though you're really really tired and really WANT to go to sleep, but you're just too damn wired?

Well that's me! Right now! Thank you Starbucks! Thank you weird-but-nice coffee man at my subway station! Thank you MSG-laden instant cup noodle I had for dinner because I was too tired and spazzy to cook!

Anyway, not much left to do but blog I guess. This post will be all about the haul I got from Yves Rocher a while back. I've already talked about how I liked their Deligloss -- in fact, I went back and got the peach shade too, after my success with the Estee Ginger Fizz. Now that I've been using their other products for a while, I can give you the full report on the Arnica Hand Cream, Phytum Oxygenation Shampoo, and Green Tea Deodorant. (Spoiler: All signs point to Yes! Go Yves Rocher!)


Arnica Daily Moisturizing Hand Cream:


This is my new favourite hand cream, beating out the previous favourite... um... okay, I'm bad, I don't use hand cream regularly. But I will now! This stuff rocks: it's medium-thick and creamy, but sinks in super fast, leaving your skin feeling hydrated and smooth, not slick. The low grease factor makes this a great moisturizer to have at your desk, since you don't have to wait 10 minutes after applying before you can type without leaving smeary fingerprints on your keyboard. The mild soapy scent is pleasant and clean, and does not stick around obtrusively. The lemon-yellow tube contains 75mL (2.5 fl oz.) of product, and usually goes for about $7 CAD, but you can often find it on sale for $3. Oh look, it's on sale right now! Go get some! I just bought an extra tube myself to keep in the car. Good stuff! (Note: the pic is of the Hand & Nail Cream, I can't find one of the regular Hand Cream.)



Phytum Hair Care Oxygenation Pure Air Shampoo:


Gee, for such a long name, this bottle of shampoo is pretty small. Measuring in at a whopping 200 mL (6.7 fl oz.), at least you know this baby won't take up much room in your shower or gym bag. I guess this falls under the category of clarifying shampoos... according to the website, this "purifying shampoo gently eliminates dulling impurities and increases cellular oxygenation to leave hair clean, light and fluffy". I'm not sure about all that cellular oxygenation business, but this IS a great clarifying product. You don't have to use a lot (which is a good thing, considering the tiny bottle!), and the clear light blue gel works up into a nice minty lather. The smell is very unisex and very clean... quite refreshing!

Pure Air Shampoo really did leave my hair feeling clean, light, and fluffy -- a bonus since I am basically on silicone-overload with all the deep conditioners and shine products I use. Also impressive was that it didn't feel too dry or stripping. I DO always pair it with a heavy conditioner though, so keep that in mind. The snap top on the bottle is kind of a bother when your hands are slippery and wet, but the bottle itself is quite cute (which is clearly very important when picking a good shampoo). Normally, this is $7 for the 200 mL, which seems a bit much, but oh g'damn, it's on sale too! I'm going to have to go buy some now. I thought the point of this blog was to inadvertently cause OTHERS to spend money, not cause ME to spend more. Yeesh.



Fraîcheur Végétale Thé Vert Antiperspirant Deodorant:


Okay, this was sort of a random purchase. I wasn't looking for a new deodorant, but I've a soft spot for anything with Green Tea in the name. This stuff sure lived up to its name... it smells wonderfully fresh, like ice-cold sweet green tea with lots of lemon and just the tiniest hint of spice. It's what I wish The Body Shop's Lemon Tea scent smelled like. Instead, TBS' Lemon Tea dries down to Lemon Pledge on me. But I digress. The invigorating scent of this deodorant would work for both guys and gals.

Right, but does it work? Um... sure! I've only used it for normal days (i.e., not crazy active days), and it seems to do a fine job. This deodorant is housed in a stout green bottle with a screw-off top. The clear gel is dispensed via a roll-on ball. The mechanism is kind of pissy... I usually have to shake or otherwise jiggle the roller a bit to get the stuff to come out properly. Not sure if I just have a dud or if they're all like that. But when it smells so divine, I'm willing to forgive. Seriously, I could drink this stuff. Not that I'm saying you should... I actually have it on good authority that licking antiperspirant is a Very Bad Idea. A Very Very Bad Idea. Trust me.

A 60 mL (2.0 fl oz.) bottle normally costs $6.50, but what the hell why is everything I like on sale right now?!?! Seriously people, I just paid tuition, I can't take this kind of pressure!!!


Alright, that's it. I'm ending the post now, I've got some on-line shopping to do. The Visa people are going to love me. And then maybe I can finally get some sleep! Happy long weekend!!