I was beyond excited when, a few months ago, it was announced that Soap & Glory was coming to Sephora. The brand was started by one of the founders of the uber-luxe spa chain Bliss, and was initially sold at Target, making the price points very affordable. I was worried that once the UK brand’s products got to Sephora they would go through a price hike but, as far as I can tell, the price points are more or less what they were when the bath, beauty, and body brand was sold at Target.

What’s so great about these products is their packaging. What can I say? I’m a sucker for killer packaging! It’s rare that a product will literally make you laugh out loud, but the ones in this line are so clever that’s exactly what they do. It’s no surprise that a bunch of their product names are trademarked. My all-time Soap & Glory favorites are their hand cream (called Hand Food) and their gloss (called Sexy Mother Pucker), but I was recently sent a sample of Scrub ‘em and Leave ‘em Body Buff, and it’s my new love!

The thing about this line is that, yes, it’s affordable and, yes, the packaging is awesome, but the products also WORK. They smell divine; in fact, even my dad uses their body spray, and if a non-metro dad uses a body spray, you know it has to smell invigoratingly good!

Better yet, the products do exactly what they say they will. The body scrub is pink and has a fairly feminine scent, so I don’t know that many men would want to use it but, then again, so does the body spray and, like I said, my dad loves it! It’s formulated with babassu oil, sea salt, and moisturizing jojoba and mandarin oils. It’s not a harsh exfoliator (the granules actually feel soft),  so it won’t sooth seriously sore muscles, but for an everyday scrub it’s perfect. Plus, because this moisturizing scrub smells so refreshing (bergamot, black currant, magnolia, freesia, vanilla, and musk), you won’t need body wash if you’re using it all over your body.

The scrub retails for $18 at Sephora.

Image:  Soap & Glory

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Looking for a gift for the beauty lover who has it all? Check-out Jonathan Product’s Beauty Water Shower Purification System ($95). What is this funky contraption, you ask? Well, basically it’s an advanced shower water filtering system that turns ordinary shower water into pure, pH-balanced water that is free of hair-stripping, skin-damaging chemicals and metals. Sooo…it’s like showering with bottled water! I know, I know….it sounds like a Seinfeld episode or some over-the-top tale of Jennifer Lopez’s lifestyle, but it’s actually not as over-the-top and excessive as it sounds!

For people who live in areas with particularly harsh water (especially common in rural area), this system can be incredibly beneficial. The water filtering system is the closest thing to showering with natural spring water — perfect if you’re prone to frizzy, damaged hair, or have colored/highlighted hair. I’ve been using mine for about two years now and am convinced it has helped make my hair more manageable, while increasing shine and extending the life of my highlights.

The water that comes out of the shower head is also significantly softer, there are multiple settings, and some people say the filter has helped improve their skin. The one downside is that the filter needs to be replaced every three to six months, but it’s super easy to install (at least it looked easy as I enlisted my boyfriend’s skills to do it…and no, there is no wrench needed!) and, once installed, all you have to do is flush it out for about 20 minutes.

Image: Jonathan

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A few weeks ago I stopped by the Fresh office to check out the brand’s 2011 holiday buys and chat with the brand’s two founders, Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg (sweetest beauty gurus you could ever hope to meet!). Start saving your money now because come October/November Fresh will be launching some killer, cost-saving gift sets that you’ll definitely want to stock up on. But if you can’t wait, I not only got to try some awesome products that you can already buy now, but one of Fresh’s PR gals told me a little secret: P. Diddy is obsessed with Fresh’s SugarBath Lemon Bath Cubes! Also available in Lychee, just pop one of the cubes in your tub and not only will they leave your skin extra silky smooth (or oily like so many other bath products), they’ll also impart a light citrus smell that leaves you feeling refreshed and works to ease tension (they infuse the entire bathroom with a light, but invigorating scent). Plus the cubes dissovle quickly and come in a re-useable jar, which is nice because, odds are, after you try these cubes once, you’ll keep going back for more. One thing’s for sure, P.Diddy definitely has great taste.

Image: Fresh

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Mrs. Meyer’s is an eco-friendly line of super-cute cleaning, hand, and body products that you’ve likely seen if you’re a Target shopper (they differently stand-out in the household aisle!). You might not know, though, that Mrs. Meyer is actually a real person and she’s even got a book filled with useful tips, like how to get hairspray off of your mirrors and how to remove mascara from your clothes, to go along with the products. If you’re in the Boston or San Fransisco area this spring, you can learn all this and much more firsthand through June because in light of Mrs. Meyer’s eco-minded philosophy, the brand is hitting the road and setting up booths and hand wash stations in both cities. They’re also sponsoring local garden clubs, green workshops, park and recreation groups, eco-friendly volunteer events and be on hand to teach locals about ways to easily embrace green living in everyday life, as well as to give out samples, coupons, and free seed packets. Check-out all the events here.

For non-Bostonians and non-San Franciscans, Mrs. Meyer’s will be sending out free seed packets with online orders throughout the spring. Check-out all the products here and if you’re curious as to Mrs. Meyer’s hairspray and mascara tips, see below (along with a few others)!

To get hairspray off of mirrors: Pour rubbing alcohol on a cloth and clean in small circles. You can also use a baby wipe if you have them handy. Then grab club-soda that you’ve put in a spray bottle and give the mirror a spritz, wiping it clean with bunched-up newspaper.

Cleaning up broken glass: If your makeup mirror falls on the floor, you’ll want to remove all those little pieces from the floor. Dab a piece of bread on top of them, vacuum, then wipe down the floor with a water-dampened cloth.

Removing Mascara from clothing: Mix a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid with two cups cold water, apply the solution to the stain, and then blot until it’s gone.

Makeup Expiration Dates: If you have trouble keeping track of how old things are, start writing the dates on them with a permanent marker when they’re new. Mascara lasts only three months, and it’s important that you remember when you opened it, because that wand gets a buildup of bacteria that you don’t want in your eyes. Sunscreen lasts one year and lipstick up to three.

Keeping the Bathroom Smelling Fresh: Fill a spray bottle with water, three drops of lemon oil, and two drops of eucalyptus oil. Shake this really well before using.

Image: Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day

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Whether you live in a city where temperatures have already started to inch their way to summer highs or you’ve been hitting the gym to give your body a physical and mental boost, sweating tends to be an inevitable part of day-to-day life this time of year (eeck!). I don’t typically break-out but I do have very sensitive skin and, if I don’t cleanse my face and body immediately after excessively sweating (think sun-bathing or a spin class), I’ll inevitably end-up with unwanted little bumps and blemishes. The problem? Time sometimes gets in the way and I’m not always in a position where I can do my full cleansing-moisturizing-treating regimen right after the sweat starts pouring down. While I don’t recommend skipping a full-on skincare routine on a regular basis, when short on time, cleansing wipes have proven to be a savior (the last thing I need is a chest and back covered in bumps when I’m lounging poolside!).

Not only are wipes portable and good for the environment – since they save water from going down the drain – they cleanse, remove impurities, tone and, in many cases, also moisturize in one easy step. Plus, you can use them anywhere from head-to-toe. One of the best places to stock-up on these kinds of wipes is at La Fresh. They’ve literally got wipes for every need imaginable (including SPF ones). One of their newest finds, Instant Body Soother, is part of the brand’s new Eco-Beauty line. One-hundred-percent biodegradable, the wipe is a natural six-oil blend of olive, jojoba, sesame, grapeseed, Vitamin E and peppermint which, as an extra draw, is designed to be mood-elevating. Also in their new Eco-Beauty line-up is the La Fresh Oil-Free Face Cleanser, which comes naturally scented or fragrance-free.

You can get a trial pack of the body and face cleanser for only $1 here and to check-out all of La Fresh’s convenient wipes click here!

Image: La Fresh

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The line is made in the USA with natural, biodegradable ingredients, and the the packaging is pure country-chic. I could totally see this line in Martha Stewart’s bathroom. On a side note, for those who prefer more traditional scents, Lavender, Italian Citrus, and a few others are also offered.

Image Courtesy of The Good Home Co.

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You’d think soap is about as basic as it gets, but the truth is that most of them contain about as many unpronounceable ingredients as a can of soda, so it’s refreshing to come across one like TrueBody that only contains five ingredients: coconut oil, palm oil, water, vegetable glycerin and sodium citrate. Just as refreshing? It’s cheap. I’m talking less $2 for one bar, and they’ve got body as well as face bars.

Part of what makes these soaps so pure and natural — not to mention perfect for those with sensitive skin — is that they contain no animal by-products, synthetic ingredients or chemical preservatives. The drawback? They’re also unscented, so there aren’t any ingredients to mask the naturally occurring scent, which is fairly bland. Truth be told, while I don’t mind my facial soap smelling like well, pretty much nothing, I’m all about lathering my body in invigorating blends of iris, vanilla, musk, etc., meaning that maybe one day I’ll manage to be 100 percent pure, but till then, I’ll probably be sticking to the facial soap and replacing the body one with something like Philosophy Vanilla Birthday Cake (aka the complete opposite).

What about you? How important is smell vs. ingredients to you when doing your beauty product shopping?

To learn more about TrueBody click here.

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L’Occitane Hand Indulgences ($25): This is a luxury hand cream set that you can give to anyone. There are multiple scents, including vanilla and winter rose, and the hand cream will leave your skin feeling soft and smooth. The kit includes 1 oz. vanilla hand cream, 1 oz. winter rose hand cream and 1 oz. shea hand cream.

Too Faced Glamour To-Go Fairy Edition ($19.50): For a daring look on the go, this kit is perfect. Included are eight long-wearing eye shadows (in pink, London calling, champagne sparkle, golden black, matte brown, warm gold, peach pink shimmer and vintage blue), fairy rose blush and fairy wings lip gloss.

Calvin Klein Women’s Holiday Coffret Set ($35): No one does classy fragrance like Calvin Klein. This great collection includes five half-ounce bottles, with Obsession Eau de Parfum Spray (blend or florals and spices), Eternity Eay de Parfum Spray (romantic floral), Euphoria Eau de Parfum Spray (exotic fruits and creamy black orchid), Euphoria Eau de Toilette Spray (light spritz of the EDPS) and CK One Eay de Toilette Pour (pineapple and papaya mixed with jasmine).

Philosophy the Gingerbread Man Scrub ($25): Featuring sea salt scrub and natural extracts to exfoliate and polish dry, rough skin, the Gingerbread Man Scrub will leave you feeling silky soft and conditioned. The 23-oz. of scrub heats as you rub and has a refreshing ginger spice scent, good for men or women.

H2O Plus Bath Basics Shower Gel Favorites ($12.50): With six 1-oz. bottles of different scents, the shower set includes travel-ready gels in exotic and aquatic blends. They’re all enriched with natural fruit extracts and hydrating marine botanicals. The kit includes Raspberry Guava, Blushing Orange, Kiwi-Cassis, Ebb Tide, Bath Aquatics Natural Spring and Clearwater.

You can only get these great discount deals at SkinStore.com, so get them quick, before I buy them all up myself!

Image Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ginnerobot/4321639567/

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• The Complimentary
• The Improvement
• The Flirty and Playful

When beauty products say they will make our skin as smooth and silky as it deserves to be, or this lipstick will only enhance your natural beauty, we take this as a compliment. When lipsticks and facial moisturizers tell us they imbue our skin with nutrients that we lack from our busy productive lives, we feel these products improve our general well-being. But the playful and flirty was our favorite category: whey are we so smitten with products that use phrases like Vamp Tonic, Mud, or Goo. Why do we adore bottles of goo with plastic sparkles in it?

For various reasons, because we love being playful and childish, or maybe just because we want to loosen up and not take ourselves so seriously, the flirty and playful product is always our favorite go-to. It’s like comfort food in a beauty product. It’s a good friend’s birthday today, and we’re going to have a special girls weekend: plans at the local “snuggery”, a tea and coffee house that boasts comfy chairs and artisan cupcakes, and a weekend of our favorite girlish beauty treatments. Mud masks are my number one, while the birthday girl is keen on sexy Bedhead and Grunge hair products in electrifying colors. We’ll have a fab weekend, and we’ll grow up eventually.

What do you think? Should beauty products always take themselves so seriously? Do the neon colored bottles do the same things as the fancy salon varieties?

Image source: flickr.com/photos/heitzie/3768802681

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Ever heard of the Consumer Price Index (CPI)? It’s a metric that is used by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics to approximate the average price of the basic goods and services that a household needs to operate. I’m a demographics nerd, so I’ll avoid discussions of weighting schemes, etc.

Instead, I’ll get straight to the good stuff. The CPI approximates how much an average household must spend on a typical “basket of goods.” Just as a house needs a basket of goods that includes food, energy, and other basic items, I use a basket of beauty goods to keep my face looking fresh.

I thought that it would be fun to create a list of everything that I used this week. After drafting my list on three Post-It notes, I was a little surprised by how much I use for a very minimalistic look. Keep in mind: I’m not a high maintenance girl. I spend no more than half an hour on my daily routine, and I wear jeans and flip-flops to work.

The Basket:

Alba lip gloss: I use the pineapple quench flavor to keep my lips hydrated throughout the day. I like how the gloss keeps my lips smooth without going overboard on the shine. ($2.87)

Aussie Hair Insurance Leave In Spray: I use this while my hair is damp before blow-drying. It does a great job eliminating tangles and smoothing frizz without leaving my hair heavy from a typical after-product sensation. I really hate using products, and I haven’t even touched gel, mouse, or spray in years. This stuff is a perfect supplement to my everyday conditioner. ($3.69)

Garnier Fructis Hair Gloss: Did I mention that I hate using products in my hair? I hate feeling grimy and heavy-headed with a passion. This stuff gives me just what I need to smooth out my ends after blow drying and flat ironing. All I need is one bottle for the year. ($5.70)

Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship Shampoo & Conditioner: Drugstore shampoo and conditioner tend to kill my hair pretty quickly. According to my hair stylist, this is because a lot of non-salon products contain high amounts of alcohol. I’ve been told that Herbal Essences is one of the best drugstore products that you can get. I alternate shampoos to try out new scents and feels, but I’ve definitely maintained a long term relationship with Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship Shampoo and Conditioner. ($4 per bottle)

For my makeup, I use Maybeline Foundation (Dream Mousse to be exact - $7) and Maybeline’s Dream Matte powder. I use a blush by Clinique (gift), and I use Almay eyeliner ($10) in black . I like these products because I don’t like to wear heavy makeup, but I like minimal coverage and accents. With my routine, I can achieve subtle and natural looks with minimal effort.

Later this weekend, I plan to color my hair with Clairol Herbal Essences Color ($9). Even though I’m only 23, I have a little bit of gray that I need to cover. I also have very dark hair (almost black) that I like to illuminate with lighter, vibrant shades. Clairol gives me vibrance without forcing me to sacrifice my natural look.

The Bottom Line:

There you have it: everything that I use in one week. At first, I was scared of what I would find when I laid everything out in front of me. I’ve never really thought of everything that I use in terms of one big basket. Some quick number-crunching in Excel shows me that my basket costs $42.26. Not bad at all: especially if everything gets me 40 or more uses.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville

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