body lotion

Brand: Estee Lauder
Products: Bronze Goddess Eau Fraiche Skinscent, Luminous Body Lotion and Body Oil

Looking for the perfect summer fragrance? How about one that recalls a dusk stroll along the shoreline after a day of sand and swim? One that harkens images of tropical flowers, refreshing citrus, and the warmth of the sun? Well, look no further than your local department store’s Estee Lauder counter. Yes, this is typically a budget blog, but any perfumista worth her salt will tell you that Estee Lauder produces
high quality products at reasonable price points. Bronze Goddess is no exception.

Cheesy name and tacky bottle aside, BG is a summer must. It has none of that “booze cruise” essence that some so-called “tropical” scents seem to have these days. It is less “I just got sloshed in Cancun” and more “I sunbathed the day away in Palma de Majorca”. Tropical coconut, tiare flower and sandalwood give it a “suntan lotion vibe” which is tempered by lush gardenia, jasmine, and orange flower. Citrus notes of mandarin, bergamot, orange, and lemon give it a sun-lit brightness, while calming notes of vetiver and lavender give it a restful quality. Notes of vanilla, myrrh and amber convey a luscious decadence.

The scent is available in multiple forms, and all wear very close to the skin. That is to say, they do not announce your entrance into a room, but rather reassert your presence when you hug your summer soiree host. This is a scent that you wear with you, and not for others. Bronze Goddess is best enjoyed in the Eau Fraiche Skinscent, ($52 for 3.4 ounces), the Body Oil (a tremendous value at $32 for 3.4 ounces), or the Luminous Body Lotion, (my least favorite as it fades quickly, for $32 for 3.4 ounces). Get a bottle fast as they are a seasonal offering only!

Cut Costs Cuties!
Gemma

Our favorite cost cutter is back following a week off during NY Fashion Week. Enjoy…

Brand:  Dove

Product:  Cream Oil Intensive Body Lotion

By the sixth month of my last pregnancy, the skin around my belly button resembled the puckered ends of a Nathan’s hotdog.  Holy stretch marks batman!  I wasn’t yet thirty, and I was lucky that that my skin recovered fairly quickly without the use of any special products or treatments.  I’m thirty-three now, in the midst of my second pregnancy, and I think it is a safe bet that my skin has lost some of its youthful elasticity.  Although I did not consciously seek to avoid stretch marks during this pregnancy, it seems my skin is holding up better this time around.  I’m currently in my seventh month of pregnancy with nary a stretch mark to be seen.  I believe I can attribute this miracle to the regular use of two stellar Dove products.

     As I mentioned in a previous blog, I recently switched from using Dove beauty bars to using Dove Cream Oil Body Wash.  The use of this gem coupled with the use of Dove Cream Oil Body Lotion has produced extraordinary results.  My skin, which is usually like sandpaper in the winter, has been smooth, and silky through the whole season.  The extra bonuses are that I don’t have any visible stretch marks and I have not suffered the abdominal itchies that have plagued so many pregnant women.  If the good people of Dove are reading this blog, perhaps they’ll take a cue and begin marketing these products heavily to pregnant women.  Why pay almost $97 for a 6oz bottle of Stri-Vectin when you can purchase more than double the amount of lotion from Dove for a mere $6.97 (Drugstore.com).  What you save could purchase you five cases of Pampers!  Seriously ladies, it’s a no-brainer.

 

Cut Costs Cuties!

Gemma