Showing posts with label soap. Show all posts
Showing posts with label soap. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Things I'm Loving Right Now


L'Occitane Shampoo and Conditioner - When hubby and I spent a night at the luxurious Heathman Hotel in Portland, we were treated to L'Occitane bath products...and I've been hooked ever since. When I found a 50% off special on their shampoo and conditioner, I decided to splurge! Truly, I can tell a large difference between their products and my usual L'Oreal and Pantene - my hair is smoother and softer, with a soft sheen. It looks so good that a quick blow-dry is all it needs - no curler, iron, etc. To stretch out my enjoyment (and mitigate the $18-per-bottle price pain), I alternate it with my normal products.




Verde handmade soap by Bonghinatura - I've reviewed this soap before on my blog so I won't go into too much detail again, but just had to include it! It's a rich glycerin soap that lathers incredibly well, leaving my skin soft with no residue. Best part for me, however, is the crisp mint-and-lime scent. Like combining a mojito with a margarita! I think it's the perfect "welcome summer" scent, refreshing and light - and I'll enjoy it all summer and into the fall.



Benefit's Hello Flawless powder foundation - A new pressed-powder foundation that people seem to either love or hate. Me, I love it! I previously used Bare Escentuals foundation, but found it too light a coverage at times - and the powder didn't travel well. However, with my oily skin, I hate using liquid foundation as it just doesn't look natural (and applies oddly). So Benefit's formulation is great for me. The powder glides over my skin and absorbs oil well. The compact travels without mess. Best of all, you can change the coverage - a light dusting with the brush, or heavier application with the sponge, or somewhere in-between. Like Bare Escentuals, it's not cheap - thank goodness I have a hookup for a discount!



My BlackBerry Curve - Yep, I'm officially a CrackBerry addict. The convenience of checking email and surfing the web anytime, anywhere...how can you not get hooked? As a small business owner, however, I've truly found it invaluable; I can make buying decisions on the fly, and never have a "get home and regret it" moment again! I can check real time resell values on eBay while holding an item in a store, I can research an unusual brand name (is it an up-and-coming designer, or some dead-end line from Target?), and I can respond to customer questions within minutes, rather than hours. All of this is greatly helped by the Opera browser I added (for free!) - the standard BlackBerry web app being rather lackluster.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Product Review: Verde Soap by Bonghinatura

Get lost in the pleasures of handmade soap!

I was fortunate enough to win a giveaway of handmade soap on Bonghinatura's blog - and I'm just delighted with my 'prize'!

Here in Oregon, we have many festivals and farmers markets, and I've tried many different handmade soaps. Some are delightful, some too harsh, and others have no scent - enough variation that I'd frankly given up on handmade soaps. Boy, am I changing my tune!

Bonghinatura's soap came nicely wrapped in cellophane, with crisp brown-paper label. (Clean and unfussy, you could give the soaps as gifts without extra wrapping) The soap was pressed in a clean, smooth shape - but had fun inclusions to give a delightful appearance.

After much deliberation, I had decided on Verde - a blend of peppermint and lime in a shea butter base. After all, scents like honey or citrus are easy to get right...but what would peppermint and lime be like?

Turns out...the scent makes me think of a margarita. Or maybe a mojito? It's a very fresh citrus scent, not too sweet, with just a tinge of mint that keeps the lime from being sour. Surprisingly delightful - and appropriate for everyone in the family.

Of course, soap shouldn't just smell wonderful...it should work too. And Bonghinatura's soap definitely works. It creates a light lather (not as bubbly as commercial soaps) that rinses cleanly. It left my oily skin clean without dryness. A great hand-soap or bath soap - although I must warn you, the inclusions in this soap WILL come out and float in your bath water! Best of all, the soap left just a hint of scent on my skin; enough for a 'clean' scent, but without clashing with my perfume.

I'm so delighted, I can't wait to try another of her soap. Perhaps the Cappuccino Soap for a morning pick-me-up?