An S & G display at my local Target had caught my eager product-seeking eyes recently, and since I was looking for a new body wash to try (what product junkie doesn’t crave something new?!) I decided to drop $9.99 on a  16.9 fl. oz. bottle of Clean, Girls Skin Softening cream cleanser.  Talk about ten bucks well-spent: this creamy lotion lathers well and is lightly scented with Mist You Madly’s™ beautiful notes of bergamot, blackcurrant, magnolia, freesia, vanilla and musk (fragrance info courtesy of The Soap and Glory Daily Muse).  Girls–and guys–with sensitive noses need not be afraid; nothing offensive about this delectable combo.

Ingredients include:

• Natural vanilla fruit extracts

• Orchid extracts

• Built-in Moisturizing Matrix

• Perfume

How to use:

• Rub a handful of Clean, Girls™ onto slightly damp skin until it forms a thick, luxurious lather, and then rinse.

• Dry off, and follow with moisturizer if you feel you must.

Because I loved this cleanser so much, I look forward to trying other products, all of which are available at many Target locations within the US.  (If you prefer, you may also order online from target.com.)

Soap & Glory Clean Girls body wash

Click here if you’d like to learn more about Soap & Glory.

I’ll be the first to admit how much I love lying in the sun and soaking up its delicious rays, but I’m also smart enough to recognize the inherent risks associated with such a sybaritic indulgence. So, what’s a heliolatrous gal to do?  Should I simply hide my ashen legs underneath multiple layers?  Why would I want to do that, when I can have a healthy Jergens Natural Glow, instead.  As an additional bonus, my favorite formula–the firming daily moisturizer–may also help reduce the appearance of cellulite. What beach bunny wouldn’t love that?

For best results, here’s how to apply (courtesy of Jergens.com):

• Always apply to freshly cleansed skin–this will help the moisturizer become fully absorbed.
• Smooth on evenly and thoroughly, just as you would with any daily moisturizer.
• Use sparingly on knuckles, knees, ankles and in between fingers and toes; these areas are dry and will absorb more of the product.
• For a natural look on the back of hands and top of feet, gently feather the product toward fingers and toes.
• For a natural look, apply the product to the tops of your arms and then blend around to the underarms.
• Rinse excess residue from the palms of hands, between fingers and around nails.
• As with any moisturizer, allow drying for several minutes before you dress.
• Avoid getting wet for at least three hours after initial application.

Another thing to remember: exfoliation isn’t just for our faces!  After subjecting the skin on our bods to the harsh, drying effects of winter wind and indoor heating systems, now’s the perfect time to channel your inner snake and shed those icky dead dermal cells.   Not only will your skin feel better, you’ll also haven an easier time distributing Natural Glow (or any other self-tanner) evenly–which means you’re a lot less likely to wind up sporting a pumpkin-hued “tan”.  Check out the FAQs for a pretty extensive list of hints and tips.

I realize this product may not be everyone’s idea of a Summer Must-Have, but regular and careful use of this terrific moisturizer from cruelty-free drugstore favorite Jergens has helped me achieve a healthy glow which looks–and feels–almost as good as an old-fashioned tan.

Jergens Natural Glow Firming Moisturizer

Definition retrieved from Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary .

The lip balm is concealed in the cap and is more on the oily (rather than matte) side, but not at all sticky (I cannot tolerate sticky lips!). Coconut oil, shea butter and beeswax make this a fairly heavy-duty lip balm. The lip balm also has UV filters to keep the sun from messing with your kisser. Votre Vu is a prestige, luxe brand, and not on the super cheap side, but I think the pretty packaging makes this product great for gift-giving.

You can also head over to fellow beauty blogger, Spoiled Pretty‘s site to win your own Duette! (Contest ends 5/4/10.)

Press samples were provided for the purpose of review. Opinions are the author’s own.

To be honest, I was skeptical using a product to replace my moisturizer because my skin feels tight and uncomfortable when I skip that step; however, I replaced my daytime moisturizer with the Skin MD shielding lotion and was happy with the results. 

The formula is non-greasy and incredibly lightweight, yet the skin maintains its hydration all day long. The lotion is full of natural ingredients that are wonderful for the skin such as Vitamin A, C, E, Aloe Vera and Chamomile and remains free of fragrance, colorants and parabens. The formula comes with or without SPF and claims to be a natural remedy for skin conditions such as Psoriasis and Eczema. 

Skin MD can be used all over the body and I found that I really enjoyed the product as a hand lotion.  I tend to get dry hands at the most inconvenient times and hate using the traditional hand creams that often leave a greasy residue that makes typing on the computer or touching anything a hassle.

The product is also convenient.  You can get out of the shower and only have to use one lotion all over the entire body, including the face!

Guest blogger Ella is a makeup artist, former cosmetic counter maven, and lover of all things beauty. She loves trying new products and can’t resist a great deal. She prides herself in her closet full of beauty supplies, which is bound to make even the most obsessed beauty junkie jealous.

I love words.  To say I am not a numbers person is an understatement.  Numbers can be beautiful, complex and mysterious to some, but for me nothing is more beautiful than a few short strings of letters that when put together have the ability to give me feelings of hope, passion, sadness, courage, or inspiration.

I get a special joy from short quotes that inspire me or give me a simple reassurance that we are all human and the feelings I have are shared by many.

Why am I talking about all this on a beauty blog?  Well, I had the chance to try the Inspire collection by Dionis.  Dionis started making goat’s milk soap in 1982 and has since become a thriving natural bath and body care company.

The Inspire collection consists of body wash/shampoo/bubble bath in one, hand therapy cream, sugar scrub and hand/body lotion in four distinct scents.  Each scent corresponds with inspirational quotes that feature prominently in the packaging.

“We were all born with wings. In times of doubt spread them.” – Author Unknown

“Be brave. Live brave. Play brave.” – Author Unknown

“The future belongs to those who dare.” – Author Unknown

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the conquest of it.” – Author Unknown

The BRAVE line has a blend of orchids, citrus fruits, warm amber and woodsy scents. The KIND line is scented with a blend of tangerine, ginger, peach, jasmine and ylang ylang. The STRONG line (my second favorite) is scented with honeysuckle, citrus, lotus, white tea and cedarwood. The SMART line is made with lily, rose, lilac, lavender and orange flower.

In my opinion, the moisturizers are very light – not deeply moisturizing as the company claims.  The fragrances are fairly heavy – not too strong for my super-dog-nose, but definitely noticeable.  If I could change one thing about these products, I would substitute only essential oils for the parfum.

That being said, these products are definitely worth checking out and they are SUPER inexpensive – currently 50% off!  These would make great gifts for friends who are going through hard times or taking on challenging new goals.

(For some more awesome quotes – check this site out.)

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I really wanted to find a moisturizer with sun protection, so when I found Peter Thomas Roth’s Max All Day Moisture Defense Cream with SPF 30 I was excited to try it.

The formula is lightweight and oil-free, yet it was moisturizing enough to keep my combination skin (with at times super dry cheeks) hydrated all day. The moisturizer immediately absorbs into the skin and also contains Vitamins A & E, which help fight the signs of aging.

I am really impressed with everything about this moisturizer. Not only does it give me the moisture, sun protection, and antioxidants my skin needs, but it does so without clogging a single pore. I’m pretty sure I can declare this mission accomplished.

Guest blogger Ella is a makeup artist, former cosmetic counter maven, and lover of all things beauty. She loves trying new products and can’t resist a great deal. She prides herself in her closet full of beauty supplies, which is bound to make even the most obsessed beauty junkie jealous.

I decided to try some of their body products for my dry skin. The Super Moisture Body Balm is an intensive moisturizer that contains Olive Seed Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Shea Butter, Cocoa Seed butter, Coconut Butter, Soy Oil and Vitamin E.

These oils are perfect for penetrating into the skin and restoring lost moisture and elasticity. The Cocoa Butter gives it a slight natural fragrance that will remind you of those lazy beach days as a child.

I loved the feel of this on my skin, but it is very concentrated, so you only need to use a little. Even then, it not only leaves your skin soft and comfortable, but leaves it with a smooth and silky sheen, kind of like Gwyneth Paltrow’s legs a few months back on the Tonight Show, although not quite so shiny.

If you’re someone who doesn’t want the sleek and shiny look, you might want to only use this product at night. But I personally think it makes my legs look smoother and prettier.

The cool part, since you only have to use a few drops, this product will last you a while.

Also, if you’re not used to using natural products, many of the oils and butters can tend to solidify in cooler temperatures (not so in my non-air conditioned residence). If you happen to be so lucky, heat the bottle in the microwave for one minute and shake well.

The next product I tried was their After Shower Spritz. This is a great product to use in the morning. Spritz is the key word here, it doesn’t quite spray on because of it’s heavier, serum-like consistency, but it does squirt on and then you can rub it into your skin. It contains Olive Seed Oil, Sweet Almond Oil and Vitamin E.

I’ve been applying it all over after my shower and I’ve been really happy with how quickly it absorbs into my skin, yet keeps my skin feeling nice and smooth. When I use this in the morning, I usually don’t need the Super Moisture Body Balm, and so I reserve that one for night use. However, when winter comes I’ll probably layer them up for extra skin softening protection.

Another great product is their Niaouli Butter Stick. It contains Olive Oil, Sweet Almond oil, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Soy, Niaouli, Vanilla and Vitamin E. It’s perfect for applying to your elbows, knees and heels. I used it on the backs of my arms too. It was really easy to use and I was surprised how well it smoothed on without feeling greasy.

The best part about all of these are their prices, each priced below $13, you can feel smooth and silky all day long even on a budget.

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The Soy Spacasso Manstyle Soothing Aftershave Moisturizer turns that notion on its head with its ultra-luxe, ultra-creamy emollient. It’s especially soothing if you are  disposable razor man as I am.  Manstyle does help to shift that risk/reward, pleasure/pain ratio into more favorable territory (self-affirmed bad asses can ignore that last bit).

A note of caution: it is VERY rich so a little goes a long way.  I don’t care who you are, but not even Brad Pitt can exit a shower with a face shellacked with gloop and still maintain his dignity.  Also, this product does smell very “dessert-y” which may be off-putting to some.

I will observe that after using this product, my girlfriend is significantly more affectionate.  She would attack my face like it was a freshly baked Cinnamon Roll, which I kind of dig, I don’t mind telling you.  Cheap ploy, perhaps—but I have no problem with easy wins.

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