Beauty, Charm & Style

Here’s a secret.  I spent two years of my adult life working on film sets as a set dresser.  This may sound glamorous: hanging out with celebrities, making movies out in sunny Hollywood, exclusive parties.  Well it’s not.  In fact, movie sets are far from the sensational Hollywood on the covers of trash mags. Most of my days were spent in jean cut offs, tank tops, work boots and some sort of power tool in my hand while working 12-hour days in the sun during the summer with no relief of shade.

So, why would I leave this life to come review beauty and body care products?  Duh – my hands were starting to get callously, rough and dry.  Ew. I’m a girl who likes manicures, sun dresses and chardonnay and I loathed the way my hands would be at the end of a production shoot.

Now, to keep my hands looking 25 and not 52, I massage lotion into my fingers, palms and arms all day long, especially after I wash them, after shuffling piles of papers and organizing anything remotely dusty.  All three of those daily, office routines can dry out the thin skin on your hands and digits. Recently I’ve taken a shine to Liz Earle’s Nourishing Botanical Body Cream.

Liz Earle’s Nourishing Botanical Body Cream

Since this lotion isn’t exclusively for hands, I use it when I get out of the shower in the morning over my whole body, keeping my shoulders, elbows, knees, ankles, tummy and more, nicely moisturized and soft. This concentrated, deeply hydrating body cream helps my skin retain moisture throughout the day as well as helping to comfort, and improve my skin’s smoothness.

But in addition to my morning lather, I keep the lotion on my desk so I’m sure to reapply liberally as the day continues.  The lavender aromas calm me, even in the most stressful moments at work, like a little bit of incense. And since I rarely wear perfume, the floral smell of Liz Earle’s body cream doubles as my sent, calming me and those around me.

The Breakdown:

• • 6.7 fl. oz / 200 ml bottle
• $30 each
• Echinacea promotes cell renewal and actively encourages the production of fibroblasts, which eventually form the supporting structure of the skin. Echinacea is also anti-inflammatory and is renowned amongst herbalists for its ability to help skin disorders such as acne, eczema and psoriasis.
• Sweet orange citrus oil helps stimulate circulation and improves skin tone.
• Vitamin E protects skin against free radical damage caused by pollution and the sun’s radiation.

Tips:

• If any type of lotion is ever spilt on clothes, gently scrape to remove any excess lotion. Moisten the spot with water and apply an enzyme presoak (follow directions on label). Wait for 30 minutes, then, flush area with water. If possible launder immediately. If not, allow fabric to air dry.

“Arabian nights
‘Neath Arabian moons
A fool off his guard
Could fall and fall hard
Out there on the dunes”

Those are lyrics from the opening song of the cartoon movie, “Aladdin,” one of my absolute favorite movies.  Flying carpets, opulent jewels, puffy pants – what more could a girl want? I can clearly remember watching that movie over, and over and over again, literally memorizing both the songs and the dialogue and desperately wanting my hair to look like Jasmine’s.

Perhaps my devotion to all things Aladdin, encouraged my sense of exploration into the Arabian culture.  I want to go to Morocco and visit the markets that have been in continuous existence for 900 years.  Through these ancient lands are steeped in thousand of years of tradition and legend, Bella Luccè’s Desert Oasis Body & Linen Mist and Exotic Date and Wild Honey Buff brings me to this place where I have never been before.

Bella Lucce

First off, Belle Lucce means “Beautiful Glow,” in Italian and has a delicious history of creating natural products  that have the decadence found in luxurious spa products. With the mist, there are two options – Linen or Body.

Sensuous sandalwood mingles with pure vanilla in this non-staining mist that adds a sophisticated touch to bed linens, bathrobes and cotton towels. Spraying my pillows, the ever so soft scents fill my nose and my sleep brings on dreams of desserts, palaces and camels.

The Exotic Date and Wild Honey Buff, suddenly engulfs my skin in Arabian’s natural treasures, Turkish coffee and real vanilla beans and suddenly my skin is infused with pure honey, real dates, red sandalwood and Moroccan lava clay. And I swear up and down, that, the first week I spritzed my body with this spay, I received so many compliments and everyone wanted to know what I was wearing.

This may mean I have a terrible natural odor, but who cares? The memory of that handsome man stepping closer to get a better wiff of my soft skin sends shivers all over my body.  It is almost as if the Dessert Oasis has kissed bare skin with a light veil of moisture, leaving me smelling fabulous.

The Breakdown:

• 6.2 oz spritz bottle  for $17.00
• 10 oz. Jar for $28.00
• Paraben, petroleum, phtalates,sulfate and silicone free
• Aloe-infused and pH balanced

Tips:

• Shake mist well before use to get all the spicy scents mixed up and ready.