FabSugar

Back to Basics: The Best Body Lotions

BellaSugar — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 04:33:33 -0800

Welcome to this installment of Back to Basics. These amazing moisturizing body lotions are my all time favorites. I have used them for years and have never had any kind of allergic reactions or dry skin. What are some of your favorite body lotions?

Kiehl's Creme de Corps, $26, is a treat for your skin when it is feeling just a little too dry or you've recently been in the sun. Just a little of this super rich moisturizer goes a long way.

I received a bottle of this as a gift about seven years ago and have never looked back. Beta-carotene gives it a natural deep yellow color. It is recommended to use for ten straight days to achieve optimum results.

It is available in three sizes: a 4.2 oz travel bottle is $16, an 8.4 oz bottle sells is $26, and a 16.9 oz bottle is $42. If you buy the larger size it comes with a pump for easy dispensing, it costs $44 (shown).

To see more of my favorite body lotions of all time, read more

Lubriderm Daily Moisture Lotion For Normal to Dry Skin, $7.99, has been in my house every since I was a wee little tot. Owned by Pfizer, it was developed by dermatologists to promote more supple, smooth and healthier skin.

It has a very clean, non-greasy feel and it quickly penetrates your skin so that there is no residue left on your body as you are getting dressed. It won't clog your pores and is available in two sizes: 6 oz and 16 oz at most drugstores and pharmacies.

Biotherm Lait Corporel Anti-Drying Body Milk, $20, is the lightest of the bunch - but don't let that fool you. Just because it has a thin texture, it still helps to repair dry skin, restore your skin’s protective barrier and protect its natural elasticity. It is available in two sizes: a 6.7 oz bottle costs $20 and a 13.5 oz bottle costs $35.

Ziploc Bag Beauty, Part II: Save It For the Solids

FabSugar — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 12:10:22 -0800

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard about the latest carry-on regulations from the Transportation Security Administration: All of the liquids in your carry-on luggage must be in bottles 3-ounces or smaller, and those must be sealed in a single quart-sized Ziploc bag. But even if you have a high-maintenance beauty regimen, it's possible to accommodate your liquids on board. The key is having a mix of liquids that go in the baggie and solids that don't. Earlier today, I gave you Ziploc Bag Beauty, Part I: Maximize Your Baggie, detailing all of the liquids you should stow in your bag.

Fortunately, many liquid cosmetics (i.e., foundation, perfume, lotion) now have solid counterparts, so you can save the Ziploc bag for the most crucial liquids. Hence, Part II: Save It For the Solids, my guide to the space-saving and non-liquid cosmetics you'll need. Here's how to divvy it up.

Body Lotion: Country Bunny Bath and Body Lotion Bar, $7, available in six scents or an unscented variety here.
Perfume: Stella McCartney Stella in Two Amber Parfum Solid, $42, available here.
Hair Pomade: Charles Worthington London Smart Fixx Quick Flick Wax Stick, $7.99, available here.

To see the rest, read more

Eye Makeup Remover: Bare Escentuals On the Spot, $5 for 24 liquid-soaked cotton swabs, available here.
Deodorant: Dove Antiperspirant Deodorant Invisible Solid, $1.39 for .5-ounces, available here.
Foundation: Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Foundation Stick, $38, available here. Possibly the best solid foundation stick of all time.
Blush: Laura Geller Cheek Sweeps, $29 for two (no brushes required!), available here.
Powder: Clinique Blended Face Powder and Brush, $18.50, available in seven shades here.
Hair Brush: Sephora Smoothing Travel Hair Brush, $30, available here.

A Healthy Winter Tan

FabSugar — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 23:50:55 -0700

This Sunday marks the end of Daylight Saving Time, which means the days are going to get shorter. But just because the sun is going to be scarce doesn't mean you can't maintain a light, healthy-looking tan. (Please, just don't go overboard!) The advances in self-tanning products over the past few years have been so remarkable that there's really no excuse to lay out in the sun any more. Here are my favorite self-tanners for instant and gradual results for the face and body.

FOR QUICK RESULTS
Neutrogena Sunless Tanning Spray Micro Mist Medium, $10.99, available here. I've heard some people complain that this gets splotchy if your skin has dry patches, but I have dry skin and I've never had a problem. Just make sure to apply right after exfoliating in a moisture-free room (i.e., not the bathroom you just showered in) and rub it in for extra blending.

To see the rest, read more

FOR THE FACE
Clarins Tinted Self Tanning Face Cream SPF 15, $28, available here. This amazingly even tinted lotion gives you a bronzed look while the self-tanner is working, and the added SPF 15 sunscreen keeps your face protected from the actual sun when you're outdoors.

FOR A GRADUAL TAN
Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer for Medium Skin Tones, $5.99, available here. Given, this product is slightly overexposed, but for good reason. The serious budget buy is one of the best gradual-tanning lotions out there. It goes on smooth without streaks and has a wonderful clean scent to boot.

Help Out Your Hands

FabSugar — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 09:46:26 -0700

If you spend a lot of time taking care of your face, your hands are probably feeling a little bit neglected. The summer pool and beach time-not to mention the usual abuse from cooking, cleaning, and working-has made them look old and scaly. Here are my favorite luxurious and super-rich hand creams to make sure that your hands are just as pampered as the rest of your body.

L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream happens to be one of my favorites, as well as one of the company's best sellers. This hand cream (they now have a Lavender Hand Cream as well) is a super-smoothing, indulgent balm made with 20 percent shea butter, honey, sweet almond extract, jasmine, and ylang-ylang oils. It also contains anti-oxidizing vitamin E to help nourish damaged skin. Your hands won't feel greasy or oily after use; rather, they'll feel refreshed and soothed. Buy it here for $25 for 5.2 oz or get a travel-size for $9.

Two more, so read more

La Prairie Cellular Hand Cream is a notch above the rest. Made from marine ingredients, it is luxuriously moisturizing and alphahydroxy-enhanced to exfoliate flaky skin and prevent moisture loss. It also helps hands look firmer and fights signs of saggy, aging skin. Buy it here for $85.

Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve is designed for super-dry, active hands-a great nighttime treatment for rough hands and cuticles. The extremely thick lotion is made from a special blend of ingredients including olive oils, botanical oils, and natural wax to form a "glove-like" shield on your hands. This helps to soothe and condition seriously dehydrated and damaged skin. You can buy it here for $18.