Recently in Body Category

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!