Tag: body scrub

H2O Plus Spa Sea Amber Collection

H2O Plus Spa Sea Amber Collection on Belle Belle Beauty

I feel like I am sounding like a broken record. But this time of year allows for my ultimate indulgence in my favorite, spicy scents like amber. Not only am I wearing a version as a fragrance, but I am also stocking my shower with these cozy scents.

H2O Plus has been a favorite for a while. Their marine-inspired collections are subtly scented and hydrate my dry skin. The Spa Sea Amber Collection is no different. Vanilla and citrus mix well to be both soothing and warm. The formulas actually contain Sea Amber found along the Baltic seashores, upping the nourishing factor.

I’ve been testing out the body care trio: Body Wash, Skin Smoother and Body Lotion. The wash cleanses without tightening skin. And my redness-prone skin is left calm. The Skin Smoother is amazingly hydrating with sweet almond and macadamia oils. And the sea salts exfoliate dry, autumn skin leaving a radiance. Last, the lotion contains H2O Plus’ Hydrating Marine Blend and Cocoa butter that adds moisture but doesn’t leave skin greasy.

My skin has a very subtle scent – it isn’t cloying or overly sweet. To boost the effect, use all three products used together.

Available at Ulta and H2OPlus.com

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE MAY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

Brand Spotlight: basq skin care

Brand Spotlight: basq skin care on Belle Belle Beauty

Even though I am not a mom, I can appreciate a brand grown out of skincare for expecting and new moms. Brands like this put my mind at ease knowing that they are gentle and free of harmful ingredients. All basq products are chemical, paraben and phthalate free and not tested on animals. And note that all basq products are rigorously tested for no skin allergy and irritancy. Not to mention they are backed by some major celebrity fans including Heidi Klum, Molly Simms, Jamie Lynn Sigler and Poppy Montgomery.

As the brand evolved, their products expanded to appeal to women in all their stages from pregnancy to weight loss to mature skin. The premise is keeping skin looking polished and young. While I haven’t tried the skincare, I have had a chance to check out some of their goodies for the bod. While gentle, they also are infused with aromatherapy. Ingredients include nutrient rich oils and plant extracts to strengthen and rebuild skin.

One of their most popular product lines is focused on treating stretch marks ranging from prevention to repair. The two products I have been testing out are part of this group. First, Citrus Sugar Body Polish is known as the first step in fighting a repairing stretch marks. Exfoliation literally pushes damaged skin up and out. The gentle sugar granules remove dull, dry skin and reveal renewed skin underneath. Essential oils like Rosehip, Grapeseed, Wheat Germ and Hazelnut work to nourish and improve skin, leaving it hyrdated and radiant.

The citrus scent – Neroli (Orange Blossom) – is fairly mild and the exfoliation action works well with my redness-prone and sensitive skin, probably thanks to the oils. Skin is left prepped for other treatments, particularly the rich moisturizers I am using in this frigid and dry weather. The basq Resilient Body Toning & Hydrating Oil has been high in the recent rotation. Touted as even more effective than lotions, this stuff is packed with oils much like the scrub: Hazelnut, Sweet Almond, Wheat Germ, Grapeseed, Rosehip, and Eucalyptus oils, along with Vitamin E.

These oils and vitamin E can strength skin in ways that lotions can’t. They protect skin while it is stretching during pregnancy, preventing marks. And even those who aren’t will love the amped up hydration that I have come to love. My main peeve with oils is sometimes they can leave skin greasy. Not this one… it absorbs easily and there is no sticky residue you can so often find with creams and lotions.

Available at BeautyBridge.com and basqnyc.com. Right now at BeautyBridge.com, get a FREE basq Citrus Sugar Exfoliating Body Polish 4 oz. with $75 or more of basq Purchase.

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE MAY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

Lustful Luxury Friday: Darphin Body Scrub and Lotion

Darphin

There is something about Darphin that just immediately transports me to Paris. The sleek, oh-so-French typeset and beautiful (not cloying) scents are very European spa-like. This little bath and body duo is an indulgence. But not as big of an indulgence as flying yourself over to spa in the French countryside.

Darphin Aromatic Nourishing Smoothing Body Scrub is actually a gomage – a thicker and translucent gel that whips itself into a nourishing milk when it connects with water. The natural and organic ingredients like natural cranberry extracts, bamboo particles and silica powder work on lots of different levels to exfoliate and soften skin. One plus side on this scrub, in the shower it doesn’t just slide off of you so no wasted product!

And naturally, followed up by Darphin Silky Moisturizing Lotion we get the whole Darphin skin experience. This formula is used by beauty therapists at Darphin’s Paris Institute. It zaps skin with immediate and intense hydration, leaving skin smooth. The gel formula is perfect for the hotter months, particularly with its fast-absorbing properties.

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE MAY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

La Prairie Cellular Mineral Body Exfoliator

La Prairie Cellular Mineral Body Exfoliator // Belle Belle Beauty

I’ve got the perfect thing to pick up during Neiman Marcus Beauty Event… I just tried out the new La Prairie Cellular Mineral Body Exfoliator. Not only is it precisely what the doctor ordered to pre-game before summer, but it is just enough to score the gift with purchase tote full of samples!

Off the bat, this gel is truly incandescent – a little surreal beauty for your shower. The exfoliating beads are accompanied by Pure Diamond Powder, Amethyst Powder and Smithsonite Mineral Extract. Because it is so densely packed, the exfoliating action is even. Beyond exfoliating, the formula also is enriched with Olivine Oil, Rose Hips Oil and Camelia Oil to cleanse and soften while the The La Prairie Cellular Complex works against aging.

While the granuals don’t initially melt away, the exfoliation action is very gentle. The scent is very subtle. But the effect is not. My skin was unusually soft, hydrated but not greasy. It was the perfect canvas for a little self tanner. The formula is gentle enough to use a couple times a week, but I’d shy away from every day.

Also, don’t forget to snap some Instagrams of your Neiman Marcus Beauty Event haul. Tag your shot with #NMBeauty for your chance to with a NM Beauty Bundle valued at $2,500.
La Prairie Cellular Mineral Body Exfoliator is also available at shoplaprairie.com.