As any pale girl knows, a safe faux-tan is hard to come by. From looking like an Umpa Lumba to being a streaky mess, I’ve been through it all (and multiple times)!
Luckily, this month M.A.C. has a new product, Skinsheen, that they’ve promised will bronze me to perfection. I hope they’re right, because the last thing I want is to look like a pasty mess my first weekend back out in the Hamptons!

Skinsheen is a smooth-on, gel-based bronzer that’s soft and mousse-like to apply. It comes in a range from Medium to Deep Dark and is priced at $22.50. M.A.C. suggests using their $52, 179 Body Buffer brush for the best application. While Skinsheen isn’t transfer-proof, it’s highly transfer resistant, so unless you’re overly moisturized, Skinsheen will stay on and not move. From my experience, it works best if you put it on naked (not moisturized), skin and don’t do it when you’re in too much of a rush, because you’ll have to wait a few minutes for it to dry before putting back on your clothes.
The new Mac Skinsheen is available as of this month at all M.A.C. locations and at www.maccosmetics.com. Try it and tells us about your experience!

This could not have come at a better time! My favorite bronzing lotion from True Blue Spa, Golden State, has been discontinued!! -gasp!- ...This left me to ponder what my legs would do without it when my last bottle runs out. Well, I have found a new and even better solution, All Over Bronzing Gel from Bobbi Brown! My legs have found their new best friend ♥.This stuff is magic when you need to show a little skin without blinding the room with your whiteness, and the color is so natural that everyone is going to think you spent the afternoon in St. Barts! I use it whenever I wear a dress because it gives my legs an instant color (and confidence) boost! And it doesn’t stop there, if it’s your first time on the beach this summer, this bronzer also has an SPF 15 rating…wow! This gel is SO much easier to rub in evenly than most of the other products on the market. If I was rating this product on a 1-10 scale, it would receive a 9 only because I wish the bottle came in a larger size. You need to try this!

Bobbi Brown All Over Bronzing Gel SPF 15- $25

I was sent a sample of the Institut Esthederm Paris body Shaping Multi-Target Cream last week to review. I was intrigued by its claims; a powerful cream that targets the three factors that cause cellulite: water, fat and fibers. It is supposed to restore the hydrolipid balance and fortify tissues to reduce dimpled appearance of skin. Hum, pretty hefty claims for a pretty smelling jar of cream. I did some research and interviewed several dermatologists and all told me the same thing: cellulite can not be removed by a topical cream. Determined to find out for myself, I've been diligently massaging this to my thighs. Here is my review:

Consistency: Gooey at first but absorbed into my skin immediately.
Scent: Fairly strong, citrus notes and perfume-y. I don't mind that though.
Residue: None but it left a light sheen on my skin which I like.
Packaging: Lightweight plastic jar, 200ml.
Price: 65,00 € .
Overall: A great smelling and moisturizing body cream, my skin looks nice but still have a little bit of dimpling on upper back of thighs, I am only 97 pounds but I've had a baby. I don't know if a cream will fix this but I am damned if I don't keep trying!

At Esthederm.com

Get ready for summer with Bobbi’s best-selling Beach! I am obsessed with Bobbi Brown's Beach scent. My friend Liat, first told me about it, when we were on one of our girls' trips (and she subsequently forgot to take it home with her--she left a day before me. Finders, keepers right?). The scent is just so intoxicating and really smells like the beach! Seriously, the shower gel makes every shower feel like a trip back to the Maldives.

I can't think of a better way to get ready for the warm weather, than with Bobbi’s Beach Collection, which features, in addition to the fragrance: Beach Body Oil, Beach Body Lotion, Beach Shower Gel, Beach Sunscreen Body Spray SPF and Beach Body Scrub. Bobbi’s Limited Edition Sandbar Soap, a perennial favorite, is also back for a limited time and is perfect for gently exfoliating and moisturizing the skin.

Have you used it? You have to try it! You're going to thank me and think of me every time you use it. At Bobbi Brown and Department stores.

In addition, purchase any two products from the Beach collection at a Bobbi Brown counter and receive a Beach mini tote for a limited time! A bag and beauty? She sure knows how to please a girl!

I love traveling in the summer, but it takes a toll on my skin. All that flying on airplanes and playing in the sun (even with sunscreen, my skin suffers!) dries my skin and makes it dull and scaly. I've heard for years the best way to hydrate your skin is with oxygen, but who has time to sit in a spa with an oxygen machine for hours? Lucky for me, the geniuses at Natura Bisse created an entire line of products based on the amazing healing properties of oxygen! I've been a fan of its Oxygen Finishing mask (just used it on Sunday) for months, but I found out today that Oxygen Body Cream is slated for release in May! It is made for all skin types, including frequent fliers. How excited am I? And it's just in time because I am scheduled to be in eight cities and two continents from May through June, and I will need lots of help keeping my skin silky smooth and glowing. The Oxygen Body Cream is intensive oxygen therapy that supplies native oxygen and other trace elements essential for the development of healthy skin cells. All you need to remember is that it will restore your skin's vitality and glow (and who can't use a healthy does of that?!?). It also boasts a deep hydrating effect that protects the skin throughout the day. This is ideal for people who work in polluted environments, who smoke, and are frequent flyers, etc.

You might think this is off topic for Beauty Snob but beauty definitely encompasses the figure!! We all know about the amazing benefits of Spanx tights, even the thinnest celebs wear them because we are all women and women have curves and bulges. And cameras are oh-so-NOT forgiving!! Even for regular gals like us, we need to look our best on our special nights out but for sure we want to be slim every day of the week!! Warm weather is here so we can no longer hide behind bulky sweaters. Good thing Spanx has a whole line of various under garment "gadgets" to get us to look our very smoothest, even if they can't make us actually thinner. I tried all their goodies and my favorite and the one I find myself wearing the most is this Hide & Sleek high rise panties with a thong back. Those half tights (they just go to the thigh) seem to make my jeans slip off so I'm pulling at them all day, which is annoying. And they don't work with my staple of DvF wrap dresses because the wind does blow them open (or brisk walking will do that) and how embarrassing is it to be caught with what looks like giant grandma underwear underneath! This is the perfect solution, I get the thong that is a requirement with tight jeans (the jeans do the butt lifting I need) and the high rise panel is super firm so it keeps the muffin top in check. The front is totally seam free so it is completely undetectable under tight t's, sheer blouses and knits. There is an elastic band in the back to keep the whole thing in place. The only issue I found is that I want to pull it up as high as possible and that causes a wedgie. I just have to find the sweet spot where everything works perfectly and I look instantly 5 pounds thinner. How awesome is that?? Comes in black and nude for $42 ($46 for plus sizes) at Spanx online.

H2O plus shower scent is sprayed into the hot mist of your shower for some aromatherapy while your scrub. While it only lasts for a few minutes it is quite powerful when you initially spray it! This shower spray comes in three scents Ice Water (strong scent of Bergamot and Peppermint), Mint and Eucalyptus. To caution you, I would not recommend this for small bathrooms; even one pump could completely overwhelm you!! This product is perfect for trips where you will be staying at a hotel or anywhere that a familiar scent would perk up shower routine.

$15 at ~H2O+

You know how you feel extra icky after a workout? I don't like to shower at the gym so I come home with dried on sweat (nice imagery, right?). Yesterday after such a situation, I used the Nettie Scrub in grapefruit for an extra refresher - it is the perfect time to do a body scrub as it detoxifies and gets your blood flowing, plus who doesn't enjoy a spa like treatment after working out? I have used a lot of scrubs and this one was really fantastic. Most sugar scrubs dissolve too quickly making you feel like you are just frosting your body with a coat of sugar. This one, which has some secret ingredient the maker won't divulge, keeps going until you are perfectly satisfied with the degree of scrubbing you desire. It is infused with soy bean oil, grape seed oil, jojoba oil, spearmint oil, organic acai oil, organic olive oil, grapefruit essential oil and rosemary essential oil. Needless to say, it is quite oily but my skin soaked it all up leaving it not only perfectly buffed and soft but nourished and moisturized. I used the entire 4 oz jar ($8.99) for my vigorous scrub. There was a little left so I just decided to use it all so the 10 oz jar ($16.99) could probably stretch to 3 treatments. Just be careful afterwards, it will leave a minor oil slick in your shower. Just use your shower gel (the cheapest one you have!) for a quick clean up. All the Nettie Scrub products are green and handmade in southern California.

I have the world's best friend and best husband. When I was pregnant with my son, my best friend (and blogging partner Kelly) threw a baby shower for me. My husband wanted to be involved and offered to help, she decided to let him sponsor all the party favors for the guests (since most were flying in from LA and New York, he wanted to do something special for my girlfriends). Not that he has any idea what a party favor for a baby shower is but it made him feel useful. My best friend, however, knew exactly what a girl would want in a party favor bag. Meaning white vanity bags with each girl's name monogrammed in pink stitching and filling it to the brim with products from Fresh- I have been addicted to Fresh products ever since! The shower itself was pretty amazing, too. It was an afternoon tea at one of the oldest hotels in Dallas, the Adolfus- built in 1912, it is the epitome of old world grandeur (to this day, even my most competitive girlfriends tell me I had the best baby shower, hands down)! Fresh is a sophisticated line made of rich and luxurious ingredients, like the new Fresh Cannabis Rose body cream made of cannabis seed, rose hip, and meadowfoam oils. Yum! You'll be so delicious you'll catch yourself delighting in the scent of your arm. Just don't stand in a public place like I did sniffing on my arm and smiling to myself. People will step back and give you room. You know what I mean. It's $65, which is pricey but you won't need perfume when you use it plus your skin will be heavenly soft so it's really a two for one. Fresh at Sephora.com

From the manufacturer: Azur Skin introduces its first anti-aging cream with gentle yet powerful solar protection that won't sting or burn eyes. Comining powerful anti-aging technology, with its proprietary natural tearless solar protection formulation, Azur Moisturizer & Anti-Aging Creme for Face & Eyes protects the delicate skin around the eyes, where you really need it, helping to prevent fine lines, wrinkles, and discolorations. $30-$34 at Azur Website

Beauty Snob review: I was really excited to try this because my sunscreen creams burn when I apply near my eyes, usually when I am not wearing eye make up. My mascara and eyeliner is actually a buffer for me but there are days when I just swipe on sunscreen and lipgloss and go (not often but it does happen). I received samples of this cream and noticed that it was really watery. In fact, I had my cup of tea close by when I opened it and it spurted straight in to my cup so be careful when you open it! I squeezed some more to test on the back of my hand as I do all new lotions and it was still a bit watery but very lightweight. I liked the lightness of the lotion and it would probably be great for the pool or water sports because it is water resistant. With summer around the corner the SPF 40 will be ideal for my daily trips to the park with my three year old son!

Cover yourself in sparkling Diamond powder with this Diamond Duster, a spherical plume of Marabou feathers from Laura Mercier, before your big night out on the town with your sweetheart. Nothing is sexier than a light shimmer to the skin, don't you agree? Kelly and I used to cover ourselves with bright sparkling powder in the '90s and we glittered like neon lights but now we prefer the subtle glow from Laura Mercier. Powder $38, Laura Mercier Diamond Duster $22, both at Sephora

I use men's razor, the same kind my husband uses actually, which lead to the constant bickering of "did you use my razor?", which lead to the argument of whose hair is coarser, my leg's or his face's. I am happy to announce that we have left this battle behind and moved on to other more pointless ones. I am using women's razors again because they finally made one powerful enough for me, the Venus from Gillette. I want 4 blades or 5 blades or however many blades he has, why can't I get the same treatment in razors? I don't want these dinky, cutesie, gel infused, contour shavers that contours itself out of shaving all my hair. I don't need my razor to look "lady like", I want one that works. The Venus has 5 blades, yes count them, 5!! It is contoured and has the gel around the edges which does add some benefits. I am not against these things, I just don't want them to distract from the job of shaving. Instead of having the tiny strip of the shaving gel right above the blades, this razor has it all around the outer frame so the gel has a chance to get on the skin surface instead of just going directly into clogging the blades. I still used shower cream when I shaved, somehow I just don't have enough confidence in the gel alone. The slight contour does make it easier for that part of the leg next to the shin that is curved, a totally straight razor would require a couple of passes there. When you buy the initial package, it comes with one extra razor and a handy holder and dispenser that suctions on your shower wall. No more rusty blades causes by razors sitting on a wet surface. No more razor mix ups but more importantly, I am getting a great shave that leaves my legs totally smooth.This new razor launches on Feb. 12, you can get it at Drugstore.com for $11.99 for the starter kit (comes with a razor, 2 cartridges and the shower pod).

I was getting ready for a night out on the town to celebrate one of my girlfriends' birthday last weekend when I realized that I have officially lost all of my tan. I confess from time to time I have used the tanning bed (please don't strike me down Beauty Snobs!), but it just takes so much time, and then the wait to see results of your efforts. I don’t know about you, but I am a big fan of instant gratification. I ran for my friends bathroom to see if she had any answers to my winter white skin, where I found Too Faced Tanning Bed In A Tube 6 oz. It was great! It blends nicely into your skin for a streak free bronze, and best of all it looked natural. An instant tan that can make me look as if I’ve just arrived from a fabulous beach vacation is great for that winter pick me up!

I have this adorable blue coat that I bought when I was studying abroad in Paris. Every winter, I pray for the cold weather to get here faster and stay forever so I can wear it without looking ridiculous. Unfortunately, no matter how super cute I look, I usually get sick of the cold weather after about a month (which would be right now) and start complaining about it being too cold. (I didn't move to Texas for nothing!) So in the spirit of the Spring Break that I know is just around the corner, here is a product that I can't wait to use after a lazy day on the beach. PHYTO PLAGE Moisturizing Hair and Body Wash with Bamboo Marrow gives you plenty of moisture and is best used after prolonged exposure to the sun. I know this will come in handy around March when I'm burned to a crisp praying for cooler weather. Phyto Plage Moisturizing Hair and Body Wash with Bamboo Marrow, $20.00, Beauty.com.

Have your hands taken a beating with the hard winter dryness? For simple, no nonsense moisturizing that will work and keep working through hand washings, there is nothing better than the drugstore favorite, Eucerin. I get the big jar for ease of applying, I can never get enough from the tubes at one time, I like to scoop and slather. But get the tube for your bag so you can always have it on hand. This is a thick cream but does not go on sticky or greasy, just hearty and deep penetrating goodness. I keep a jar next to the kitchen sink, one on my coffee table and another next to my computer. And like I said, it goes on clean so my keyboard never gets gunked up even when with multiple applications throughout the day. I can even skip between washes because it really gets in the skin and when I wake up in the morning, my hands are still soft and velvety. If you are wondering why I don't have one in my bathroom it's because all of my fancy lotions are there and after shower or bath is my one time during the day for a luxurious treatment. That's when I get refreshed with something in a delicious scent. And that leads me to another reason why I love Eucerin, it is completely odor free so it will not conflict with anything else I have on. Especially since I use this so much during the day, with a scented lotion I will end up smelling like a Bath and Body Works store. People have stopped buying me stuff from there during the holidays because they know I will re-gift those. I'm sorry but I just can't handle the super potent smells, just walking by the store makes me woozy. At Drugstore.com for only $12.27 for the big jar, so get 3 or 4 for each room of the house.

Left: Jada Pinkett Smith, a devoted fan of Carol's Daughter products

We thought it fitting to celebrate Martin Luther King Day with a profile on a woman who not only had a dream, she made it a reality. In 1993, Founder Lisa Price had a dream, she wanted to create quality beauty products for women, men and children of all skin types and needs. She transformed her hobby and love for fragrance into a skin care business and from that love Carol’s Daughter was born. Inspired by nature, the unique line includes over 300 products for face, hair, body and home - allowing for product combinations and possibilities that are endless for every man, woman and child regardless of skin type, tone, or need!

All of the products are presented with an abundance of love and quality ingredients. The concentrations in the moisturizers are among the highest you’ll find tested on people, not animals and do not contain harmful additives or cheap fillers. I got a ton of stuff to test out for you beauty snobs and I now smell and feel yummy!

1. Jamaican Punch Body Butter: I have to confess when I saw the dried apple slice on top of the body butter, I had an urge to eat it (I know- so weird but I love dried apples!). But it's not just the apple, the body butter smelled intoxicatingly delicious! Full of natural oils, it was just the thing my skin needed this week in this crazy cold and dry weather. $18

By Rich, guest writer and husband of Beauty Snob Kelly

I'm an average guy. I wouldn't consider myself a metrosexual or anything like that, so my shower during my bachelor days had only 3 things. A bar of soap, one bottle of shampoo, and a washcloth. Ok 4, a bottle of conditioner I used every once in awhile. When the bar of soap ran out and slipped down the drain, I bought another one to replace it. When the shampoo bottle breathed its last breath of shampoo, I bought another one. I never had more than one type of product in the shower, and I liked it.

All of that changed during my transition to married life. I was introduced to the complicated world that women inhabit. The shower became filled with multiple bottles of shampoos, conditioners, body creams, lotions, exfoliants, body washes, facial soaps, a wash that smelled like the beach (did they steal that from Kramer on Seinfeld), products that contained oatmeal, mud and various other bottles of things I have no idea what they did.

I'm a simple man, so I pretty much only need something to clean my body (soap) and something to clean my hair (shampoo). So a few weeks ago, we ran out of the body wash we were using and my wife replaced it with a bar of soap...or what I thought was soap. It was shaped like a bar of soap, and it was in the same place that the body wash was, so I assumed it was soap. Ah, it reminded me of my bachelor days...but of course, everyone knows what happens when you assume.

I wait all year for this L'OCCITANE sale and I stock up on everything I could possibly use for the year. All of the best products are on sale, like my all time most cherished luxury, the Lavender Shower Cream $28 ($40), this is the big 17 oz bottle so it is a great deal. And of course I have to have my scrubs and nothing is better than their Shea Butter Ultra Rich Body Scrub, $27.20 ($34). What I really am desperate for right now is the Shea Butter Softening Hand Mask, $14 ($20) after a dry winter of heaters and hand washing (cold and flu season and 2 kids equals hand washing every 10 minutes), my hands need serious help. I also love to get the gift sets to have on hand in case I have an impromptu dinner party to go to, these make the best hostess gifts. Everyone's favorite is the Lavender Set, $54 ( originally $61) so that's the one I always get. I can't believe everything I need is on sale, I am so happy, I mean, how often does that happen? You better hurry because things are selling out as you read.

I love Bioelements, their Kerafole mask is the best thing ever made! So of course anything new that Bioelements comes out with I am going to be excited. Well even with all the hype, they deliver. The Vitalization Body Creme is an intense moisturizer for the entire body, it has 10 pure botanical oils, shea butter and antioxidants like red tea and beta-caratene. How much do I love this? Forget pump dispensers, I love the jar because this is the kind of stuff you want to dig your hands into and slather all over liberally and lavishly. The scent is nothing short of heavenly, I carry this from bedroom to living room to office all day long because I can't get enough of it! We all have a bathroom full of body moisturizers that work relatively well, I mean, it makes your skin non-dry for the most part, but this stays with you and hydrates you through the night. It is not greasy, the texture is mouse-like and like I said, the smell is ridiculously amazing. You know how you feel when you leave the spa? Well, that's how this make me feel. I love that the entire house flows with the scent making me really feel like I am at the spa. Unfortunately, you have to make an initial trip there because this is only available at select spas and salons.

I read the most bizarre article in Bazaar yesterday, advocating a cleanse diet and starving yourself for 5 days (well you get to drink juice but still, it does not sound healthy!) I am very disappointed in the magazine for even mentioning it in their pages let alone asking a writer to undergo the diet. Sure, she lost 8 pounds in 5 days but imagine the toll it took on her body. I am a believer of moderation; moderate eating, moderate exercise, moderate drinking (yes- I love wine and champagne but in moderation:) etc etc. I have been a size 0 my entire life (now a size 00 due to the 'tweaking' of sizes by American designers), I have never been on a diet (Kelly can attest to this though I have watched her and her sister try some of the most insane diets known to man) and never plan to. I believe the reason my weight has been the same since I was a teenager (other than my pregnancy) is because I have never starved myself (my theory is the minute you get off a diet, you gain back the weight plus more because your body fears being starved again so it will store reserves of fat in case you do it again! No, I am not a doctor but it makes sense doesn't it?).

Seriously, I have simply loved food too much to put myself on any kind of diet and it turns out my healthy attitude and love for food is the reason I am thin and healthy. Furthermore, drastic dieting will not only hurt your health, you will end up with wrinkly saggy skin because the weight loss/weight gain cycle will stretch and stress out your skin. Your organs will also suffer as they need nourishment to function properly!

So I propose all of our Beauty Snob readers to make a New Year resolution - STAY AWAY FROM FAD DIETS! Why not eat everything and anything you want, in moderation (I just ate a piece of chocolate- and I do not feel guilty nor will I do any extra miles on the treadmill. One piece of Fauchon chocolate is a pleasure! Now had I ate the entire box, that would be a different story). I know it is easier said than done but if you do not deny yourself, you won't feel the urge to binge. Listen to your body and give it the proper respect it deserves.

I know it's all about tights now but when I wear a dress, I want to show my legs! And to show them in their best light, I always make sure they shine and glow. Remember the glitter days? I put so much glitter powder my legs looked like a Christmas tree. Now that things are more subtle, as am I, the Nars Monoi Body Glow is my secret to fabulous looking legs. The coconut oil is infused with the Tahitian tiare flower (Tahitian gardenia) giving it the most sensual, delicious scent. There is a tiare flower left in the bottle so you can see what it is and also it continues to infuse while in there (although I doubt very much). The shine is not glittery and it is not oily either, you just get this nice healthy glow from well hydrated skin. You just can't get that glisten from lotion. This oil is unlike other oils that leave you sticky and slick, it actually absorbs into your skin so you look as if you have super supple skin. Although this product is best seen in the day, make sure you do not use this as a tanning oil, you will literally be frying your skin. You should use a oilless sunscreen before if you plan on spending some time in the sun. This is a luxury worth it's weight in gold. NARS Monoi Body Glow II $59 at Sephora.

I have been running around like crazy trying to get all of my Christmas shoping done. (I waited until I got back to Alabama to finish my shopping.... yes I know, very stupid especially considering there is only one mall in my town) Needless to say I've been a little preoccupied. So when my mama asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I realized that I had not spent any time thinking about what I wanted for myself. I called up one of my best friends in the world, Andrea Ashe, and asked her if she had tried any new body lotions lately. She immediately began telling me about Laura Mercier's Tarte au Citron body lotion and I just had to check it out for myself. It is fantastic! It smells wonderful. I know the name makes you think of a fruity smell but it is not fruity at all. It is creamy and moisturizing while leaving a fresh, slightly sweet smell that doesn't interfere with your perfum. If you are still in need of a gift idea for yourself, I would definately suggest this body lotion. Laura Mercier Tarte au Citron body lotion, $40, sephora.com.

I got all this stuff for my husband to use and I end up using all of it because he refuses to raise his standards in his hygienic rituals. Like a prisoner, soap and water is all he needs. Well too bad for him and good for me because I have been enjoying the Anthony Logistics products. This Mud Exfoliating Bar serves the same function as the Sea Salt Scrub I reviewed, it is great for pre-shaving because of the oatmeal infused in the soap bar. But this has many properties that the Sea Salt Scrub does not, mud is a natural defense against odor and we all know that boys have not cornered the market on that bodily function. This bar also has mint which is so invigorating in the morning and makes me feel so tingley and alive. I actually got this for my husband because of his love of mint and eucalyptus when I force it on him. Men really love that sensation when used in their nether regions. Don't ask me why, I mean, if its so darn sensitive down there I would think this would hurt them. But whatever, "don't ask don't tell" is my policy regarding that kind of stuff. This soap is also super moisturizing with aloe and glycerin so you get a whole treatment in one convenient bar. At Spa Look for $18.

I’ve always been a huge fan of sea salt. Ever since I began learning about beauty treatments I’ve understood the great effects it had on skin. I’ve used it from everything from exfoliator to a way to cure an infected piercing. Right now I am totally coveting this Lime Coconut Sea Salt Exfoliator by Aedes De Venustas. The mix is all natural and the smell is delicious! It’s always nice to have a great, fruity, exotic scent in these dark and cold winter days. I really recommend the sea salt exfoliator because it will help your skin but is gentle and won’t tear it apart like other exfoliating mixes I’ve used in the past. This will leave your skin feeling silky and awesome and leave it glowing. $45 at vivre.com
Sea Salt Exfoliator at Vivre

Oh the joy of exfoliating away dead, rough, dull skin! I was really excited to use this product, even though Anthony Logistics is supposed to be for men, but whatever, skin is skin, right? Actually I was expecting something rougher since it is meant for tough male skin but this is very mild. The granules are rounded so it doesn't itch or hurt when scrubbing, which is good and bad. I like a good beating but I guess that is just psychological, it is not that good for your skin to tear it up with super coarse scrubs. I love using salt based scrubs because it detoxifies your skin as well as your entire body. If you are feeling sick or had a hard day, a good salt scrub does wonders. Another great use, pre-shaving (legs and under arm)! It gets your legs silky smooth for that perfect date shave =) The scent is very soft and has hints of marine life, which is a good thing even though that might have sounded like I just said you'll smell like you do after a trip to Sea World. It is more of a kelp scent rather than anything fishy. I use this all over and love the sense of true cleanliness - it claims to soften elbows and heels but I didn't get great results, those spots require serious industrial strength scrubbing, which this is not. Keep this in mind as a stocking stuffer! $25 at SpaLook.com.

I've been sick and traveling for two weeks and my skin is seriously suffering, I am not kidding, my body is starting to feel like the python scales on my favorite bags. Lucky for me however, I came home to find a box of Shea Terra Organics Shea butter body cream, Dead Sea Salt scrub and Silk and Shea butter body lotion made of organic ingredients from African herbs in the Miombo Rainforest of Central Africa. The products promised ultra hydration while reducing signs of aging. What perfect timing! I was feeling dry and wrinkly and could not wait to try it. I managed to get my disgruntled hubby (because I've been gone for so long) and my son fed, bathed and in bed and locked myself in the bathroom to try all my new goodies. The Dead sea salt scrub was amazing, non oily but hydrating, it left my skin smooth as silk. I then put on the Miombo Mango Indigenous shea body butter and my skin immediately bounced back to life. The 40% organic shea butter completely quenched my thirsty skin and gave me back my youthful glow. I am now a total addict and plan to travel with my jar of Mango shea butter. $18 at Shea Terra Organics online store.

Read more about the inspiration behind the line here.