Now, I'll preface this by saying that I usually don't like creamy body washes. I just don't find them to lather as well or do the job that shower gels seem to. But then I discovered Weleda Wild Rose Creamy Body Wash ... and immediately, all bets were off.
For starters, the lather from this body wash is unbelievable. A dime-sized amount on a pouf and voila! Enough to clean every last inch of your body with product to spare.
And what a decadently scented product it is! The scent of roses permeates throughout your shower experience and makes you feel like a queen. And with organic rosehip seed oil, essential fatty acids, Vitamins A and E, and potent antioxidants, your skin will feel so unbelievably soft and smooth in mere minutes.
Weleda Wild Rose Creamy Body Wash retails for $12 at drugstore.com.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Life's So Rosy: Weleda Wild Rose Creamy Body Wash
Mani of the Week: butter LONDON No More Waity, Katie
For a nail polish entitled No More Waity, Katie, I sure spent a long time waiting for this butter LONDON stunner! Every time I tried to buy it, it was sold out. And then, on a chance trip to Ricky's last week, there it was. A lone bottle sitting on the shelf. Needless to say I snapped it up before anyone else could and hurried home with my prize!
Friday, November 25, 2011
First Look Fridays: Sweetie Pie Jewelry Designer Dana Carvalho
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Best Bubble Bath Series: Archipelago Botanicals Sugar Bubble Bath
For the past six years, I lived in an apartment without a bathtub -- only a stall shower. A travesty for any beauty-obsessed woman who just wants to take a bubble bath once in awhile! Luckily, my new apartment has a gorgeous bathtub, which led me to test some of the most luxurious bubble baths on the market. Here are my findings.
A sugar-scented bubble bath that's not too saccharine or sweet? I'd say it couldn't be done, until I tried Archipelago Botanicals Sugar Bubble Bath.
This huge bottle -- seriously, it's 32.5 ounces -- contains a bubble bath that's as rich and foamy as it is intriguingly scented. A few capfuls and my bathtub was swimming in deliciously scented bubbles!
And aside from the bubble bath creating a lot of bathtime fun with mountains of bubbles everywhere, it actually treats the skin right, too. Alpha hydroxy acids, vanilla extracts and brown sugar cleanse and moisturize the skin -- so when you step out of the tub, your entire body feels baby soft and smooth.
If only this bubble bath came with a dozen sugar cookies! Oh well, nobody's perfect.
Archipelago Botanicals Sugar Bubble Bath retails for $22 at archipelago-usa.com.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Trend-Spotting: The 6 Coolest Bow Bracelets
At once cute and cool, bow bracelets are the newest trend I'm excited about. And whether you want a cuff or a bracelet, one more delicate or one more rock 'n roll, there's one out there. Below, the six best.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Mani of the Week: Newspaper Nails
Lately, I've been wanting to experiment more with nail art. And while I'm definitely a novice -- and don't have a steady enough hand to create very intricate designs as of yet -- I really wanted to try newspaper nails this week. Luckily, this is a type of nail art that's so easy, anyone can do it!
I began with two coats of Deborah Lippmann Fashion, which is my favorite nude nail polish. I recommend nude, though you really can use any color as the base -- but lighter colors like grey, nude or white would be best so the newspaper print will show up against them.
After letting the polish dry completely -- which is important, because otherwise they'll smudge and the newspaper print won't show up -- the fun part began. One by one, I dipped my nails into a little cup of rubbing alcohol for 5 seconds. While the nail was still wet with alcohol, I then pressed a strip of newspaper onto the nail and held it there for 15 seconds.
When I removed the newspaper strip, voila! Newspaper nails. To keep the design intact and add glossiness back to the manicure (since the glossy finish rubs off with the newspaper print), I finished with a coat of Seche Vite.
All in all, this manicure was really easy to do and only took about 5 minutes longer than a normal manicure! I highly recommend trying it for a unique look that will definitely get people talking!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
The Top 5 Reasons Why I Love Weleda Sea Buckthorn Hand Cream
1) Its citrusy scent is divine.
2) My hands are no longer rough, chapped and red.
3) It sinks into skin immediately without any annoying greasiness left behind, so I can keep typing/playing with my iPhone/playing piano/etc.
4) It's travel-friendly.
5) The bright packaging ensures I can find it even in a pitch black room.
You're welcome.
Weleda Sea Buckthorn Hand Cream retails for $11 at drugstore.com.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Fine Tune Your Makeup Skills With Cheek To Chic's Raychel Wade!
For two days, Raychel will lead you through extensive hands-on makeup application training, including bridal, lash application and brush education (and so much more!). And on day three, you'll get to build your own kit with Raychel and the team at NYC's M.A.C PRO store -- and you'll save 40 percent on all the products purchased, plus have the chance to become a PRO member! Here's all the pertinent info for you:
When: January 11-13, 2012
Where: M.A.C PRO in NYC's Flatiron District
How Much: $595 (a deposit is required to hold your space)
What You'll Get: two-day makeup application workshop, kit building session, 40 percent discount on all products, membership to M.A.C PRO and a $100 gift card toward the products you purchase
How to Sign Up: Email raychel@cheektochic.com
My First Attempt at Water Marbling Using OPI Jade is the New Black
I've been wanting to try water marbling for the longest time. I knew it was supposed to be difficult, but I still had the highest hopes that my first try would be absolutely perfect.
The whole water marbling process is definitely pretty intense. You need to pour filtered water into a cup and then drop different polishes into it. After the blobs are all dropped in, you swirl it around in the water to create a design. Then you tape up your fingers with three pieces of tape to make sure the polish only gets on your nail, not all over your hands. And then you dip your nails into the water, where the design makes its way onto your nail.
Well, it wasn't perfect, but I did really enjoy the process! I went with OPI Jade is the New Black -- I kept my first water marbling attempt pretty simple with just one color -- and I absolutely love how it made my thumbnail look. The rest of my nails were an absolute disaster, but at least I got one right!
I can't wait to try water marbling again, and with more colors the next time. Have you tried it before? How did it go for you?
Mani of the Week: OPI Jade is the New Black with Fresh Frog Of Bel Air
Although I was starting to feel like I was over green nail polish, OPI Fresh Frog Of Bel Air (from the line's new Muppets Collection, out now) changed my mind. This polish -- a combination of green micro glitter and silver hex glitter -- is so glitzy and glamorous, it was just dying for a polish job. But, since I usually don't like glitters by themselves on my nails, I decided to layer it on top of one of my favorite colors of all time, OPI Jade is the New Black. The creamy green hue is absolutely perfect and so, SO chic.
I'm loving the two greens layered together, especially with the silver glitter thrown into the mix. I feel so uber-glam this week!
What's on your nails? Let me know in the comments!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Johnson's Baby Products Challenge: Top 3 Unconventional Uses for Johnson's Baby Shampoo
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Trend-Spotting: The 6 Best Takes On The Spiky Studded Heel
Really want to rock out? Get a load of the spiky studded heel. It just doesn't get any tougher than the studs on these shoes, which are so pointy and sharp I'm pretty sure they could do serious physical damage. Luckily, they're also dangerously chic. Check out my favorite takes on the trend.
1) Rachel Rachel Roy Kassey
Silver glitter contrasts quite nicely with a heel covered in black pyramid studs.
$139 at rachelroy.com
2) Dolce Vita Bijou Spiked Pump
Lacquered candy apple red, a sky-high heel and super-sharp studs? Not such a tough call.
$189 at dolcevita.com
3) GoJane Spiky Stud Platform Bootie
Multitudes of gold studs and a gleamy stiletto heel take the bootie to new heights.
$63.80 at gojane.com
4) Ruthie Davis Spikette Deluxe Platform Pump
Metal studs. A five-inch heel. Metallic leather. What's not to love?
$1,195 at endless.com
5) Marc by Marc Jacobs Studded Mouse Ballet Flats
If anyone could turn an innocent little mouse into a super-tough flat, well, Marc Jacobs would be the guy.
$250 at shopbop.com
6) Sam Edelman Rizzo Spike Heel
Studs and gems liberally cover the back of this supple suede shootie -- and, quite frankly, make my knees a little weak.
$250 at freepeople.com
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Mani for the Weekend: OPI Designer, De Better!
What's on your nails for the weekend? Let me know in the comments!
Trend-Spotting: Neon Jewelry
It's time to put on your brights -- because one of the biggest trends this season is neon jewelry! Bracelets, necklaces and earrings in traffic-stopping hues are so arrestingly fabulous. Check out my favorite takes on the trend below.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Johnson's Baby Products Challenge: 2 Uses for Johnson's Baby Powder
I've long been a fan of Johnson's. One might say it was my first foray into beauty products, since my mom shampooed my hair with the baby shampoo when I was a baby! Recently, Johnson's asked me to take on a four-week challenge using their baby products on myself and report the findings. Check out how it's been going!
