Recently in Cream Category

Did you know what you put on your skin is just as important as what you put in your mouth? The skin is the largest organ on our body, yet we treat it as if it's disposable-- layering chemical after chemical on it. I am becoming more aware of what I slather on both myself and my 5 year old son these days and try to go organic for him whenever possible.  He travels with me and his toiletry case has become ridiculous what with all the organic baby products I still use on him.  Recently, I finally found an amazing product that will not 1. irritate his sensitive skin or 2. leave me smelling like I'm still in pre-school. 

Tela Dri Calming Crème is a USDA certified 100% organic formula that applies like a crème yet dries like a powder to soothe irritated skin.  I've been using it on myself and my tot and it really does dry fast which means I don't have to worry about grease stains on my clothes or bags!  It contains Reishi mushroom which repairs and strengthens delicate skin while marshmallow root adds protection from environmental pollutants (sounds yummy right?).  You can use this on your baby's bottom-- there is corn starch that will absorb excess moisture to help prevent chaffing and irritation.  The scent is calming and subtle-- a mix of almond and olive oil, shea butter and lavender to hydrate skin and relax the senses.  We will be packing this on our whirlwind European trip next month!  $20.00 At Barneys.com

I am chilled to the bone lately.  No matter how many layers of clothes I wear or how many hot baths I take, I am damn cold!  I've even taken my lotions into the shower with me so I can moisturize amidst the leftover steam (it helps your skin retain moisture to put lotion on while it's a bit damp).  Have you noticed most body lotions are in jars nowadays?  I love my creams but it's so much easier when body lotion has a pump!  My new favorite pump and go lotion is from SEED-- a line developed by a couple who wanted to detox and start a family.  I am not sure if they were able to start a brood but the wonderful line they did conceive is a gift to us all.  Made of nutrient rich ingredient grapeseed, which is intrinsically concentrated with incredible antioxidants and essential fatty acids promoting healthy skin.  the lotions are rich without being greasy and made of all natural ingredients to boot.  I love the lavender sage but there is also an unscented version if you don't like scented lotion.  Buy (seed)+ Nourishing Body Lotion, Restful Lavender Sage, 8-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 3) here $19.62!

To start off the New Year right I thought it would be great to highlight some of the most exciting new brands and product launches that we've come across these past 12 months. Can't wait to see what's in store from these brands for 2010! Check back this week to see more for makeup and fragrances.

Body Conscience -- The products in this line are so mild, you could actually eat them! I'm obsessed with their 3-Minute Shower Jar which is a smooth - and as far as I can tell odor-less - exfoliator that's gentle enough to use everyday. I've used it near-daily post shaving and it also comes with a wooden spoon and dish that were handmade from recycled wood.  


Rodial -- Though it's their Boob Job and Bum Lift creams that will be my perennial faves, Rodial launched a luxe faux-face lift kit in 2009, La Face Lift, that's become my new must-have for travel (will be taking it with me to Nicaragua when I escape the NYC cold at the end of this week!). It includes five travel sized, super-chic (love the metallic silver), products to tackle everything from hydration to wrinkles. Jump for More!

There are other things to worry about in life than dimply saggy arms but let's face it, we all want toned and firm biceps!  Now if you're not willing to put in the time at the gym, chances are you will not achieve Jennifer Aniston worthy triceps but you can try to improve your arms' tone, firmess and definition with a jar of cream.  According to Orlane, by addressing the particular physiology of the skin on the arms, the cream is able to preserve and improve their contours. Not a body lotion but rather an intelligent response to the arms' unique aging process (or so says Orlane).  I don't know how sold I am on this, I've tried all kinds of products on tightening and most just peel off or leave me feeling greasy.   Refining Arm Care from Orlane is $85 at neimanmarcus.com

Or you can try the "Tina" way of achieving firm arms:

1. Do triceps dips on a toddler wooden stool while pretending to be fascinated with the  Transformers your son is stacking up on your belly (good core work!)

2. Do push ups with toddler on your back with 10 of his favorite Transformers and try not to let any of them drop.

3 sets of 15 reps a day per exercise and let me know how you look!  

There's frugal and then there's FRUGAL! This is the second kind! I first across Udderly Smooth in the Virgin Islands where it's widely used. I'm not sure that I would have dared try it had I known that this cream was initially created for dairy cows! But, my feet were completely cracked and I needed a quick-fix remedy. Pretty much nothing in the line is priced over $6.50 and their Udderly Smooth Foot Cream with Shea Butter ($5.79) has just the right amount of thickness and grease (think -- happy medium between L'Occitane's Milk Concentrate and La Roche-Posay sunscreen), and while it's greasy, it absorbs quickly and is only lightly scented. I use it on my feet and my elbows and it's truly a life saver if you live or are traveling anywhere where you're faced with a very dry heat. Their marquee product however is Udderly Smooth Udder Cream ($4.49) which is like the foot cream only lighter (plus it's water-based so it won't leave a greasy residue). Both provide all-day moisture (unless your skin is severely cracked in which case you might have to use it more frequently). The only thing that stops me from using the Udder Cream on a daily basis is that the scent is too light for my taste. Would you dare try Udderly Smooth?:)

I have written about the "Beach" collection from Bobbi Brown before and want to remind you again how heavenly it is.  It was 109 yesterday in Dallas, yes, you read correctly a hundred and nine friggin degrees!!!!!!!  I showered 3 times and still felt grimy and sticky.  Thank god for the Beach products, I may be sweating like a hog but I manage to smell pretty and fresh.  I've used the Beach shower gel for years and recently started the body lotion but now think I need the Beach scrub $35 and fragrance $55 to completely immerse myself in its beachness. It's the most fresh scent you can imagine, not the usual faux coconut scent that most 'beach' products have. I can't even describe it except just imagine you're standing on the shores of Hawaii....... and who says you can't bring the beach to you!?!?!? At Bobbi Brown counters worldwide.

To celebrate and promote the idea behind Earth Day this month, we are doing major giveaways on eco-friendly beauty products, which are not only good for Mother Earth but for your face too!

REN uses nothing but the latest hi-tech bio actives in their skincare products, which are free from skin-unfriendly synthetic ingredients. REN skincare products are a complete pleasure to use and leave skin feeling absolutely radiant and clean by boosting the skin's natural ability to protect, repair, and renew itself.

We are giving away an REN package including: the Moroccan Rose Otto Body Wash made with one of the most expensive and revered essential oils in the world, the Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask designed to renew complexion, reduce fine lines and improve skin tone, firmness, and radiance, the Wild Yam Body Repair Cream that nourishes, regenerates, and hydrates your skin, and lastly the Osmotic Infusion Ultra-Moisture Day Cream which infuses dry skin with long lasting hydration leaving skin smooth, plump, and beautifully healthy. This REN package is worth over $130.00! Thank you Space NK for sponsoring this giveaway!!!

To win, do something nice for the earth today and answer: Who is this eco-friendly celeb who joined Al Gore to announce the Save Ourselves: The Campaign for a Climate in Crisis initiative in 2007? Put your answer and what you did for the earth in comments by Friday April 24th at 11:59pm EST. One entry per person please. We will choose one winner among all correct answers using a random computer drawing.

We will be doing Earth Day Giveaways everyday starting today until Earth Day on April 22nd.

To celebrate and promote the idea behind Earth Day this month, we are doing major giveaways on eco-friendly beauty products, which are not only good for Mother Earth but for your face too!

REN uses nothing but the latest hi-tech bio actives in their skincare products, which are free from skin-unfriendly synthetic ingredients. REN skincare products boost the skin's natural ability to protect, repair, and renew itself.

We are giving away an REN package including: the Moroccan Rose Otto Body Wash made with one of the most expensive and revered essential oils in the world, the Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask designed to renew complexion, reduce fine lines and improve skin tone, firmness, and radiance, the Wild Yam Body Repair Cream that nourishes, regenerates, and hydrates your skin, and lastly the Osmotic Infusion Ultra-Moisture Day Cream which infuses dry skin with long lasting hydration leaving skin smooth, plump, and beautifully healthy. This REN package is worth over $130.00! Thank you Space NK for sponsoring this giveaway!!!

To win, do something nice for the earth today and answer: Who is this eco-friendly celebrity who founded the UN's Water for Life organization that devotes itself to provide people worldwide access to clean drinking water? Put your answer and what you did for the earth in comments by Tuesday April 21st at 11:59pm EST. One entry per person please. We will choose one winner among all correct answers using a random computer drawing.

We will be doing Earth Day Giveaways everyday starting today until Earth Day on April 22nd.

To celebrate and promote the idea behind Earth Day this month, we are doing major giveaways on eco-friendly beauty products, which are not only good for Mother Earth but for your face too!

REN uses the latest hi-tech bio actives in their skincare products, which are free from skin-unfriendly synthetic ingredients. REN skincare products boost the skin's natural ability to protect, repair, and renew itself.

We are giving away an REN package including: the Moroccan Rose Otto Body Wash made with one of the most expensive and revered essential oils in the world, the Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask designed to renew complexion, reduce fine lines and improve skin tone, firmness, and radiance, the Wild Yam Body Repair Cream that nourishes, regenerates, and hydrates your skin, and lastly the Osmotic Infusion Ultra-Moisture Day Cream which infuses dry skin with long lasting hydration leaving skin smooth, plump, and beautifully healthy. This REN package is worth over $130.00! Thank you Space NK for sponsoring this giveaway!!!

To win, do something nice for the earth today and answer: Who is this vegan shoe designer/Shoe4Africa sponsor who made a documentary about preserving habitats of African mountain gorillas? Put your answer and what you did for the earth in comments by Sunday April 19th at 11:59pm EST. One entry per person please. We will choose one winner among all correct answers using a random computer drawing.

We will be doing Earth Day Giveaways everyday starting today until Earth Day on April 22nd.

Summer is coming and you know what that means, girls! The sun is coming and it is going to make you old!! Ahhh!! I don't want to be an alarmist but now that I am almost 40, I worry a lot about wrinkly skin and with good reason. I NEVER lay out in the sun anymore, when I go to the beach, I make my husband erect the largest beach umbrella ever. It requires heavy anchors so the wind doesn't blow it over. Well, all this stress and concern has lead me to Natura Bisse's C+C Vitamin Body Cream. The intense pure vitamin C repairs cells and helps to firm the skin. You know how the skin falls away from the muscle when you age? Just think Donatella Versace in her bikini. Yeah, we do not want that to happen. This helps take that slack off and prevents it if you are not there yet, which is where I want to stay! It also smells so wonderful and feels super luxurious when I'm slathering it on. I just can't get enough of this and I am glad it comes in this jar so I can get big scoops in my hand and apply generously. The 17oz jar is $147 and worth every penny. At Neiman Marcus.