Body Lovin'

Aveeno Positively Ageless Firming Body Lotion / LUSH Coco Lotion / LUSH Lovely Jubbiles* / c. Booth Honey Almost Nourishing Dry Oil Mist 

With the weather nearing 85º most days and a trip to NJ where it's been 90-105º as of late, a lot of my skin will be and has been showing. While I'm not a lotion-addict, I do have little spot in my heart for these few. Each do their part in making my body look and feel super nice, so I'm happy.

Aveeno isn't at all a brand that I frequent but when I spotted this lotion in Walgreens I figured why the hell not. It's not that I'm particularly fussed about firming anything but I wanted a nice lotion for my tummy area and this seemed to do the trick. I love the smell and texture of this stuff. Not too thick, not oily at all, and leaves you feeling moisturized and fresh. I mostly use this from my waist down to my thighs and it's just heavenly. Mmm.

Now you all know I love me some LUSH. I popped into the shop a few months back and picked up this big pot of Coco Lotion. I love that it's unscented and perfect for sensitive skins making it a winner for Richard (and me, obviously). This is my favorite thing to use all over my legs. You know when you get out of the shower, lotion up your limbs and can't get enough of that super smooth feeling? Yeah this lotion makes that 100x better. It sinks in with no problem and leaves the most amazing finish. Coconut Oil, I luv u.

Lovely Jubbiles is something I've been interested in for ages, so when LUSH offered to send me a pot I was ecstatic. I hope it's not weird that I've actually enjoyed rubbing a bit of this in after showers and before bed. There's something really lovely and feminine about the whole thing — maybe it's the scent?  Jasmine, rose, and orange blossom is a gorgeous little mix. As for it's firming power, well I haven't noticed anything tremendous but it seems to have helped just a teeny bit. Could be a total placebo though. Either way, my girls are left feeling incredibly soft. No complaints on that front.

Lastly, c. Booth. I haven't heard much about this brand but got I this little guy in last months Glossybox. After a shower I decided to try it out; I spritzed it all over my arms, rubbed it in, and fell in love. The scent is glorious and it leaves your skin feeling super smooth soft. Softness is key here for me, if you haven't noticed. It's not greasy whatsoever and sinks in really really well. This is going to be an instant purchase once I run out. What can I say? I'm a sucker for honey and almond. Also, that packaging.

So that's basically my little routine as of late. It is really nice to have a routine to stick to. Plus every day feels like a mini pamper session. Ain't nothin' wrong with that! Have you guys tried any of these?

LUSH Brazened Honey Fresh Face Mask

LUSH Brazened Honey Fresh Face Mask / $6.95

Ladies and gentlemen, I present you with my favorite LUSH face mask. Ever. 

I've tried many a LUSH mask in my day but honestly I have yet to find one I love more than this (sorry BB Seaweed). Something about the fact that this was made with ayurvedic properties just makes me smile a bit as I've really been into reading about things like holistic health so I am quite interested in things of this sort. But, onwards. 

This mask is made of honey, lime oil, ground almonds, a bit of ginger and a bunch of other yummy sounding ingredients. When you pop this on, it does tighten a teeny bit as it dries and you might feel a bit of tingling, but the best part is washing it off. For me this is most definitely an instant gratification type product; once rinsed off, my skin is left feeling so incredibly clean and decongested. Better than that? Not only is my skin feeling cleaner and all around much better, but it looks so much brighter. I know that there are lots of masks out there that probably do the same thing but I love the idea that this was made with a lot of all natural ingredients. Using anything else just feels like a disservice to my skin!

There is ginger root in the mask to help release toxins from your body while the almonds are there to help exfoliate a bit. Kaolin, a white clay, is supposed to get deep into your skin and pores to help remove any nasties and dirt, which is why your face is left with a noticeable glow. I don't use this too often because it is a really deep cleaning mask, but when I do I'm in love. Those with sensitive skin might want to stray from this — my sister-in-law says it's a bit much for her, but it's totally fine for me and my very normal skin!

Have you used tried this mask by LUSH? What do you think?

Favorite LUSH Toners: Tea Tree Water & Eau Roma Water

LUSH Tea Tree Water / $9.95
LUSH Eau Roma Water / $9.95

If there were ever any doubts in your mind about my love affair with LUSH, rid yourself of them! I'm in love and I'm (very obviously) not afraid to show it. With that being said, my duo of toners have been neglected for far too long. I blame the fact that my skin is usually quite calm and sometimes I just forget what a quick spritz of a toner can do.

As I said in my April beauty favorites, my skin has been kind of crazy lately. I needed something to balance it all out and give it a push in the right direction (aka no more spots) and that's when I turned to Tea Tree Water. This toner in particular is chock-full of ingredients with antibacterial properties; tea tree, juniper berry, and grapefruit, just to name a few. I spray this stuff on and either leave it (usually what I do in the morning) or wipe it away with a cotton pad (night/throughout the day if needed). I've found that since using this my blemish issues have completely settled down. No more spots have popped up and the ones I do have, are healing well. I'm not saying that this is a one-stop shop, but it has helped me tremendously to keep the nasties away. Plus, it's alcohol-free and not harsh on the skin at all.

Eau Roma Water, or, omfg I love you and I want to take you everywhere with me please just live in my purse. Seriously though. I am a lavender freak, especially as of late, so this product most definitely has its place in my life. While Tea Tree Water is great for specific use, Eau Roma is the goddess of all daily toners. On a hot summer spring day such as today, what isn't lovelier than spraying a mix of rose water and lavender water all over your much-too-warm mug? Not only is it refreshing, but it helps keep oils at bay while still being extremely lightweight. It's supposed to help with redness but I haven't really noticed much of that (I also haven't been looking). It does however, seem to add just enough moisture to make me look a bit more radiant and fresh than before I used it. I normally just spray this stuff on throughout the day — anytime, really. It's especially nice on warmer days or after yoga — giving the skin just a little boost of happiness.

tldr; I love both of these. Tea Tree is great for angry skin and Eau Roma is the perfect all-day every day toner.  Someone ring the holy grail gong 'cuz we've got two new additions.

Have you tried these? What do you think?

LUSH Vanilla Dee-Lite

Vanilla Dee-Lite / $27.95

We've all got our favorite lotion or two. In the summertime I'm drawn towards happy smells; coconut and vanilla mostly. Anything reminding me of a tropical getaway where I'm sippin' a cocktail with my toes in the sand. But alas, here I am sitting at my dining table, blogging. At least I smell good.

Vanilla Dee-Lite is my favorite LUSH lotion (after Smitten which is now a Retro product). It's a light yet hydrating lotion — I can't stand heavy products in the warmer months. While I still love it in the autumn and winter, it really stands out to me in summer. I'm blaming it all on the smell (and my ability to become so utterly obsessed with something because of the smell). But really now, cocoa butter, coconut oil, fresh kiwi? Those are all things I'd like to slather on my skin after a shower and before the shorts, tanks, and sandals go on. I'm going to reiterate on how light it is: SERIOUSLY it is so lightweight. I really love how smooth and lovely it makes your skin after applying. Mmm. Soft summery skin, come to me. I'm not sure I could find a lotion I love more than this for S/S but if you're up for it, I'd love some recommendations! ;)

What do you guys think of LUSH's lotions? Do you have a favorite?

January (Beauty) Favorites

I really love watching favorites videos on YouTube, but because I don't have a proper filming camera I figured I'd just do a favorites post. While I don't have a lot of favorites, these are the few things I've been using basically religiously throughout the month.

First up is the Essie polish in Eternal Optimist. I'm gonna be honest and say I kind of hate the formulation of these polishes. I find they chip so fast, even with a bit of Seche Vite over top. That said, this color is incredible and is probably my favorite polish color of all time. Pale pink with a hint of salmon? Love at first sight. 

Next are MAC's 224 brush and All That Glitters eye shadow. I've been loving just sweeping this all across the lid with the 244, blending a bit, popping on some mascara, and leaving it at that. The gold pearlescent color is really flattering whether it's worn alone, or with another color. 

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara, anyone? While this ain't a product for everyone, it's definitely a product for me. I usually wear mascara on my bottom last and deal with the dreaded smudging or smearing or whatever. With this I have zero issues and it lasts until I wash it off with a bit of warm water. It's almost too good to be true.

Then we've got a Revlon lip butter. I didn't really hop on the bandwagon with these but I did pick up two that I quite liked the look of; Peach Parfait being one of them. It's got a hint of color with a bit of shine and is super moisturizing. Such a great alternative to lipstick if you're feeling a bit lazy. 

Last but definitely not least is LUSH's Full of Grace. I've literally been using this non-stop since I got it in December — every night before bed and after I cleanse, I'll rub my fingers on this little serum bar (which I keep in a shampoo bar tin) and I massage it into my face. It's calming and smells heavenly and I wake up in the morning with extremely soft and hydrated skin. I've noticed that my skin is a lot calmer as well, less redenss and basically no breakouts whatsoever. This stuff is holy grail in my book. 

Annnnd that's it for January favorites. I'll probably review some of this stuff on it's own at one point or another.. but until then, let me know what you think! What are your favorite things from January? 

LUSH Jasmin And Henna Fluff-Eaze

Jasmin And Henna Fluff-Eaze · $22.95

Can you tell I've been loving LUSH lately? It seems as though I've fallen back into my old ways of using LUSH products constantly. To be fair, it seems they have something for (almost) anything, so how could I not? 

Jasmin And Henna Fluff-Ease is a hair-mask hair-moisturizer all around badass product. This is my third(!!!!) pot of it and you can bet your bottom I'll be repurchasing when I run out once again. I use this probably twice or three times a month depending how I'm feeling — leaving it on for way longer than the suggested 20 minutes. I've slept with it in, blogged with it in, you catch my drift. It softens and calms my frizz, leaving me with super smooth jasmine smelling hair. When I say it leaves my hair smelling like jasmine, it's no joke. Even after a few washes I can still smell it, so if you're not a fan, be wary! 

This little pot is packed with things like jojoba oil, olive oil, almond oil, coconut butter — lots of things to help tame and moisturize. Also, it gives you a pretty good amount of shine; not a huge amount but still noticeable. I use this most when I'm feeling like a need a little boost, a little refresh, a little help. It's especially good if you use a lot of heat and feel like you're getting a bit drier than normal. It'll just sink in and settle and the moment you wash this stuff out you can feel a difference — crazy lions mane to sleek and supple in 20+ minutes. I can see myself repurchasing and repurchasing until they decide to discontinue... which will hopefully be never! 

What do you guys think of Jasmin And Henna Fluff-Eaze? What are some of your favorite hair masks/treatments? 

Pro-tip: I do not use a whole pot on my head. I mostly focus on the mid-shaft/ends and can get a pretty good coating with 1/4 of the pot. 

P.S. This does have red henna, so if you're blonde/bleached: be wary. I never noticed a difference when I had highlights, but still.

LUSH Lustre Body Powder

LUSH Lustre Body Powder · $15.95

I'm such a sucker for things like this, especially from LUSH. Massage bars, body powders, one too many lotions; I just can't help myself.

Lustre is a body powder (o rly?!) that has got a bit of shimmer in it. Not that over the top HEY IN YOUR FACE shimmer but just a subtle one that fades a bit over time. I love using this on my collarbones and around the sternum area at nights to give a sexy glow to my skin. This stuff smells like jasmine, and I mean really smells of it, so if you're not a fan I'd either try it out first or just steer clear. One of my favorite things to do if I know I'm going to be using this is to use Flying Fox in the shower and then dust this on once I've towel dried. The two scents, while extremely similar, are still a bit different and compliment each other like no other. The honey in the shower gel adds just a bit of sweetness to the jamine making a really yummy scent.

LUSH markets both products as being aphrodisiacs because of the jasmine — so if you're looking to feel a little more in the mood, these are your guys.

What do you guys think of this product? Is it something you'd buy? Do you have any other favorite products that make you feel a little sexy and seductive?

LUSH Enzymion Facial Moisturizer

LUSH Enzymion · $39.95

As of late, and especially while I was in England, my face has been anything but cooperative. My fairly normal skin started to feel extremely oily and greasy which is something I'm really not used to. Up until now I still hadn't found a moisturizer that I really loved. Most things are just too thick and sit on my skin. While others actually gave me this weird sweaty feeling. I've tried tons of LUSH ones, some Kiehl's and Origins too, but still, nothing I've found works with my skin! When it comes to moisturizers I need something quite light but still able to do it's job. For me, Enzymion takes the cake.

It smells of fruits and feels sooo nice when slathered onto the face. I take a small bit between my fingers and massage it into my skin. I can literally instantly feel a difference; any greasy spots are now long gone, yet my face feels really moisturized and not overly saturated. Win! Another awesome thing? I've noticed that my makeup stays in place a lot longer than normal.

While the pot is quite small and the price is a bit higher than what I'd like it to be, a little really does go a long way so I'm sure it'll be a long while before I run out.  I've got to admit that I don't see this leaving my skincare routine for a very very long time — this stuff is holy grail to me. Have you guys tried Enzymion before? Do you love it as much as I do? If not, what are your other favorite LUSH moisturizers?

LUSH: Autumn Favorites

Flying Fox Shower Gel · $17.95

Silky Underwear Dusting Powder · $6.95

Ro's Argan Body Conditioner · $5.95

9 to 5 Cleansing Lotion · $9.95

Fall is just around the corner which means it's time for chunky sweaters and Pumpkin Spice Lattes. It also means changing up my shower and moisturizing routine. My skin tends to dry out in the fall especially as I start wearing more layers to keep myself warm. There are way more LUSH products that I use daily, but these are just my favorites especially for the coming seasons.

Flying Fox is the ultimate fall shower gel — with honey and jasmine and a bit of spice, this is honestly one of the best smelling things LUSH makes. It reminds me of leaves changing and Thanksgiving at home, but more than anything else, it seems to keep my skin pretty hydrated and soft. The scent seems to linger throughout the day, keeping my mood elevated from the sweet yet spicy scent.

Silky Underwear is my next pick. While some may say that Lustre would go better with the aforementioned (because they basically smell the same), I prefer use this dusting powder instead. It literally melts into my skin giving me a soft finish while leaving me with the loveliest jasmine scent, which is great with the ever-lingering honey smell of Flying Fox.

Ro's Argan can only be described in one word: divine. It's got the most gorgeous rose smell and fits in beautifully (scent wise) with the other two products as if they were all made to work together.  It really does an amazing job at conditioning and hydrating my skin, leaving me feeling smooth and moisturized for days.

Last but not least is my favorite cleanser of all time, 9 to 5. I use this year round but when I'm feeling like my body and face need an overall cleanse from being cooped up in thicker clothes, I reach for this. It smells incredible, is pretty light for a cleanser and leaves me feeling so fresh (and so clean clean). It really is one of the best overall cleansers that I've ever used!

Have you guys used these products before? What are your favorite LUSH fall picks?

LUSH Emotional Brilliance

My lovely sister-in-law works at LUSH in England and sent me a few things for my birthday. I was super excited because I love LUSH to bits and the fact that they were coming out with a make-up line was just too perfect.

The marketing for the line is pretty wonderful; it's all about conveying and portraying yourself through their cosmetics and colors. Feeling a little passionate? Pop on their Passionate lipstick. As LUSH Co-founder Mark Constantine said, "You choose the colour that represents a word. As long as you believe in that word, it’s got nothing to do with anyone else.". Obviously not everyone is going to use them this way, but the idea is cute, non?

I'm absolutely in love with what I've used so far. Sophisticated is my new favorite cream eyeshadow — it's perfect for my skin tone and is versatile enough to be used day and night. The Feeling Younger skin tint is seriously amazing. It works wonderfully as a highlighter, adding a bit of glow and shimmer right to your cheek bones. I'm already planning to do a FOTD (face of the day) using most of the products I can so you guys can see just how amazing this stuff is.


What do you guys think of LUSH's makeup line? Do you think their marketing will be successful in getting people to wear how they feel, so to speak?