Hi everyone! Somehow it's already the end of August, and I'm struggling to figure out how exactly that happened. Fortunately there are a few weeks of summer left, because I'm so not ready to say goodbye to the warm weather. In the meantime, let's take a look back at some of the products I finally finished up in the last month. As much as its sad to reach the bottom of the jar when a product is awesome, there's also a definite sense of accomplishment around it. This time around I feel like I made some headway in the bath and body department, which is good considering how much of a stockpile I feel like I've amassed at home.
This was quite possibly the most expensive bath product I've ever owned and probably ever will own. I made the original splurge with a Sephora gift card, so I feel a little better than if I had spent cash on this, but it still was kind of a silly investment for what it was. The Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Honey Bath is a whopping $45 for 12 ounces of product. Granted, its certainly less pricey per bath than a Lush bath bomb is, but the experience is also proportionally less awesome. It does smell delicious, as one would expect from a combination of sweet honey, tropical coconut, and rich almond, but it doesn't produce a spectacular amount of bubbles. I think it did leave my skin feeling soft and moisturized, but again, it wasn't anything mind blowing. I think the bubble baths from Bath & Body Works are about the same level of quality, and are a fraction of the price (especially when you consider how often they have sales and coupons). So, while this was nice and I certainly enjoyed using it, it was no where as luxurious and amazing as the price tag would suggest. I would definitely recommend you look for a more affordable alternative.
On the other side of the fence, the L'Occitane Cleansing and Softening Almond Shower Oil and Supple Skin Oil were the kind of splurgey, luxurious treats that, while kind of pricey, are worth every penny. While I only had deluxe sample sized versions, the full sizes will definitely be going on my wish list. First off, these two products smell AMAZING. Like, "I just stepped inside a French Patissere with freshly made macarons" amazing. I'm sure the sweet, candy-like scent of almond oil isn't for everyone, but I seriously can't get enough. Aside from a killer fragrance, both of these products just feel absolutely gorgeous on the skin. The shower oil has this sort of warming sensation when you apply it to your skin, and creates the most gorgeous, rich and silky lather that makes showering feel like an indulgence. The supple skin oil is incredibly hydrating, but sinks into skin quickly enough not to leave you feeling greasy. The two as a pair will leave you feeling totally pampered, and are seriously something to be experienced.
When it comes to body scrubs, my favorites always seem to come from The Body Shop. This time around I finished a tub of the Cocoa Butter Cream Body Scrub ($20), which strikes a perfect balance between being super exfoliating and also nourishing to the skin. Since it uses ground rice and almond shell powder instead of salt or sugar, this scrub will stay scrubby the entire time you use it. And, while it has a creamy, moisturizing formula, it doesn't leave any greasy razor-clogging residue behind, making it perfect for pre-shaving exfoliation. Scent-wise the cocoa butter line is sort of creamy with a slight nutty sweetness that is really quite lovely. I don't think it tops the Coconut one for me, since that is my personal favorite, but it might appeal to others that prefer a more mild fragrance.
It was hard parting with this little guy, but he's gotten far too old for me to justify holding on to. I don't think I had high expectations for the Benefit Gimme Brow before I tried it, but it ended up being one of my favorite brow products ever. Although the $24 price tag may seem a little ridiculous considering how tiny the tube is, you really honestly do get your money's worth. The tiny brush inside is so easy to maneuver and gives you the ability to be a lot more precise with your application. The fiber-gel formula really does build up your brows while still managing to make them look natural. It also has a soft hold to keep your brow hairs in line without making them stiff or crunchy. Since I've got plenty of other brow grooming products at home to test and try I'll probably hold off on buying a replacement of this for a while. However, if you just want one simple product to make your brows look awesome with minimal effort, I would highly recommend checking this out.
It doesn't matter what time of year it is, every season is tea season for me. A few months back I finally made my first trip to David's Tea and grabbed a few of their summer blends. This Strawberry Colada flavor made amazing iced tea that I found myself sipping frequently on hot days. It's got a blend of coconut, pineapple, and strawberries that was really tart and refreshing. Dince the fall collection just launched, you can actually get one of these solo packs on sale now for just $6, so fellow tea junkies may want to check that out. There are also some other really delicious summer flavors discounted as well!
Well thank you guys for stopping by and going through my trash-that's-not-quite-trash-yet. I feel like I've got so may things in my shower and on my shelves that are nearing the end that one of these months I'm just going to have an epic empties post to share. Isn't it always the case that with some things you get down to the end and they seem to last FOREVER. Sometimes even with products I like I'm thinking "ALL RIGHT ALREADY. I'm ready to move on!"
In other news, I had an unfortunate incident this morning involving my finger and a door that has seriously handicapped my ability to type. I had hoped to get a lot more blogging done than was possible, so I apologize if my next couple of posts take a little more time than usual to appear. I don't think its broken, but its kind of hard to tell. Either way, its pretty unhappy and not very usable for the time being. I appreciate your patience while it gets back to normal. Anywho, I hope you all had awesome weekends, and I promise more awesome things to come soon!
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