$6.95 - LUSH

$8.95 - LUSH

I purchased these adorable and yummy smelling massage/lotion bars from LUSH as bridesmaid gifts.  The one on the top is vegan, vanilla scented and has sparkles in it!  Super fun for the younger set of ladies.  The one on the bottom is a honey chocolate heart and minus the sparkles, a little better for the late 20′s early 30′s crowd   They both smell amazing and I’m sure my girls are going to be super excited to get them tonight

I absolutely LOVE PEACE Spa!  If you’re in Chicago you must see Courtney for a facial.  She is absolutely amazing!  I went last week for a pre-wedding facial and left there glowing!  I was headed back to work and all I threw on was a little bronzer and brow powder!  Courtney is fantastic with extractions.  Most aestheticians tell me there isn’t anything to extract and maybe go after 2-3 spots and call it done, then I head home and take care of it myself.  I will stick with Courtney from now on!

Get on their email list.  They offer promotions all the time!  I paid up front with a recent promotion so this facial was half off AND I got a product sample!  One drawback is they are really difficult to get in to, so plan ahead and know that you’ll be booking a good month out.  I normally like to make appointments on a whim but Courtney is that good that I’ve been making my appointments in advance and have been sure to stick with them.

In case you didn’t notice, yesterday I created a new page called Currently In My Cosmetic Bag – check it out!

I love to have a bit of color and I love the sun but I also worry about how damaging the sun is to my skin.  My current favorite self tanner is made my Alba and runs about $9.95 for 4oz.  It is super moisturizing and was fabulous in the dry months of winter.  I never have any streaking issues and it gives me a great golden color – nothing orangey.  It definitely has a light tanning product smell but it’s not horrible.  I use it as often as once a day for a darker color.

I recently picked up Nature’s Gate self tanner (which runs around $8.99) but wasn’t as nearly impressed as I have been with Alba.  So, if you’re debating between the two, definitely go with Alba.  The Nature’s Gate is not as emollient as Alba, which I thought may be nice for summer, but in the end I found I liked the creamier one and also noticed some streaking and un-even areas with NG.  I also don’t like how it settles in cracks – like the under side of my elbows or in my cleavage.  The Alba product didn’t do that.  So, as soon as this tube is gone I’ll be back on the Alba tanner

A+ Skin Care in Chicago
$79 Sonya Dakar Green Tea Peel with Facial: From the celeb-loved line, Sonya Dakar, this green tea and spirulina infused treatment will leave you glowing, naturally. (normally $165)

A Go Go The Salon in Glenview, IL
$49 Haircut, Kevin Murphy Deep Conditioning Treatment and A Go Go Blo (Blowout): Treat yourself to a haircut and conditioning treatment using Kevin Murphy’s recyclable and naturally-based luxury products, finished with a blowout. Hair clippings will also go to Matters of Trust. (normally $90)

BioSkinErgy in NYC
$49 Organic Crystall Microdermabrasion (normally $150)

Salon Santa Cruz in NYC
$49 Go Green & Leave the Blowdrier Behind: Let us show you energy saving styling techniques for day or night. Wet set your curls for a polished look. Or pull your hair back into a side ponytail for an edge to your tail with a sleek gelled look and polished ponytail. (normally $65-$85)

Eva Luna Day Spa in Milwaukee
$59 Organic Aroma Massage: An hour long organic aromatherapy massage. The oils used are local, and are all natural and organic. (normally $75)

To browse participating locations and their discounted offers, log on to www.prettycity.com/green.

I recently was in the market for a new hand cream.  After spending a great deal of time wandering the skin care isles I settled on Weleda’s Pomegranate Hand Cream.  You may remember I did a give-away when they launched the line but was never able to try the products myself.

In the winter I do like something a little more heavy duty but this one is great for summer.  At first I didn’t think it would be moisturizing enough but I was wrong!  Although it isn’t super thick, it provides great moisture and smoothness without a greasy residue.  I’d definitely purchase it again.  It’s $12.50 for a 1.7oz tube which is great for your hand bag and considering how little I use at a time, it’s going to last me quite awhile!

…half used travel size shampoos, conditioners and lotions that is!  Most of us bring our own toiletries when traveling but on the occasion you forget or just decide you want to test out what the hotel has to offer, bring the left overs home!  It’s unlikely that you’ll use the whole bottle in the time that you’re there so bring it home with you to avoid wasting the leftovers.  This saves on waste and also means you’ll be able to recyle the bottle!  These little items can be great for the gym, and the lotions fit nicely in hand bags and glove compartments of cars.

I just realized that you all probably never saw this…I posted it in January but set it to post January 2009 NOT 2010…which means it back posted it and just put it at the very end of all my posts.  Since you more than likely have not seen it, I thought I’d give it a try again

I’ve been trying a lot of 100% Pure products and I just love them.  I think I love even more what a great company they are.  I recently received a letter from Susie, the owner, sharing what they’ve done this year.  It makes me so happy to know I’m supporting such an amazing company.  Here are a few highlights from her letter:

All our 100% Pure formulas are biodegradable, all our labels are printed with non toxic soy ink, our packaging is from post recycled and or recyclable materials, our shipping materials are pre-cycled – we pick up from our neighbors packing materials such as popcorn and packing boxes to re-use them which eliminates waste, and majority of the paper we use is recycled.

Also, thank you deeply for supporting and believing in our mission to help animals. 100% Pure formulas are completely cruelty free (none of our formulas or ingredients were ever tested on animals) and 100% Pure formulas and makeup brushes are vegan (or vegetarian when cruelty free honey ingredients are used). With your generous support to 100% Pure, these are the ways we helped animals this year:

**** We have rescued and placed 21 dogs into loving, happy homes that were abandoned or about to get euthanized at shelters

**** We have donated to private individuals who were not able to afford surgery or necessary medical care for their pets and without our help, a lot of caretakers would have had to of put their pets to sleep or let them suffer in pain. We arranged with animal hospitals to contact us if a caretaker opts out of treatment due to financial inability. We told the hospitals if there are ever cases like this, we are happy to financially help and this year, we saved quite a few pets this way

**** We made generous financial and product donations to no kill shelters that needed to raise money

We currently donate products to a women’s shelter that is a haven for battered women who have nowhere else to go. My fiancee’s grandmother passed away from breast cancer and I know for certain that with enough money into research, we can find a cure so women no longer have to suffer from this disease. I also love children and it breaks my heart when children are hungry from poverty.

$48 for 0.5ml

I finally bought myself a bottle of Josie Maran’s Argan Oil and boy do I love it!!!  I was slightly nervous at the thought of using an oil as a moisturizer but it sinks in beautifully and doesn’t leave your skin feeling oily.  I have pretty normal to combination skin – if I get oily its in the t-zone.  I have not had any oil issue since using this.  It’ s a great dual purpose item as you can use it on cuticles, dry ends of hair, and more – basically what dry spot you can think of!

From Josie…

This legendary, lightweight oil, grown organically in Morocco, is rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids. Use it as a fast absorbing daily moisturizer, or to heal and condition everything from cuticles to split ends. Plus it is 100% organic! Housed in a recyclable glass bottle.

I have fallen in love with 100% Pure – their products are AMAZING!  Since it’s all made with REAL fruit the scents smell legitimately real and not like those sickeningly fake imitation fruity smells.  I haven’t personally tried the Ice Cream set but I can only imagine it’s just lovely – in fact I’d almost like to try it myself!  I can certainly vouch for their products in general so when I saw this I thought it would be perfect to share with all of you!  Don’t these scents look delightful?!