Review: It's Skin Cookie & Body Ice Cream (I Finally Ordered It From Sephora!)

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September 2016 Empties: Hits & Misses

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Old Navy Launches Its Own Bath & Body Collection and It Sounds Quite Lovely

So Mr. G Went to Hawaii and Here's What He Brought Me...

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Review: You Are Amazing Hello Beautiful Skin Body Lotion in Juicy Grapefruit (Target-Exclusive)

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Spotted: NEW L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Summer Express Wash-Off Face and Body Makeup Collection

NEW Palmer's Coconut Oil Collection

PS: Here's What's Saving My Skin in This Heat ($10 and Under!)

My WiFi is working for a second so I want to quickly tell you what's been absolutely saving my skin in this intense heat this week:

The 0.6 oz. Tarte Maracuja Oil is on the Sephora sale page right now for $10 (regularly $17). My bottle above is actually 0.5 oz. and it's been lasting me quite a while since you literally use three drops for your entire face. It has been a miracle for me in this heat and has kept my face from turning to leather while I sleep. 

The First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream is $6.50 for the 1.0 oz. packet on the Sephora site. You can see my full review of it here. Seriously, it zaps my weird dry patches on my legs and arms that I always seem to get in extreme heat, and it zaps them almost instantly. And they stay zapped. I love this product so much I want to marry it. 

I would link to both products on the Sephora site for you, but my WiFi is about to go bye bye again and besides, I KNOW you know your way around the Sephora site. 

OK, bye for real this time. (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, see the post right before this one.) 

PS: I purchased both of these products with my own money. Forgot to include my usual disclosure. Sorry about that! 

Spotted at Target: New Products by eos, Softlips, and ChapStick

I have a fun post today for my fellow bath & body product lovers! Thanks to two lovely readers, I have some brand new Target sightings for you:

image credit: @mizzzmakeup for Nouveau Cheap

NEW eos Body Lotions in Berry Blossom and Delicate Petals

First up, reader @mizzzmakeup on Instagram spotted these new eos body lotions at her local Target this week and kindly shared this pic. The packaging here is a big change from the original eos Hand & Body Lotions (click here for my review from back in 2011 if you want to see what the old style bottles looked like). And I think this new packaging is more in line with the eos lip balm spheres and the hand lotions, don't you? 

I don't know if this is a formula change as well as a packaging change, but I did notice that the old-style lotions are all out of stock on the eos website so, either way, it looks like these are going to take their place. As of the time of this post, these new body lotions are not yet on the Target website, but @mizzzmakeup confirmed that they were around $7-$8 each at her local Target.

Keep reading to see some new products from Softlips and ChapStick...

The Product That Saved My Elbows (When Nothing Else Could)

Purchased by Me 

I've reviewed lots of excellent moisturizers, lotions, ointments and creams here over the years, and I love so many of them for a variety of different purposes. But one problem area that has always eluded me is my elbows. No matter what type of lotion, cream or ointment I use, the roughness always seems to pop back up within a few days. What's funny is that my boyfriend has this issue even worse than I do on his elbows, but he's not nearly as dedicated as I am to finding solutions. His move is basically, "G. left this lotion on the coffee table...guess I'll try it" and that's about it.

ANYWAY, I rarely (if ever) use the term "miracle product" on this blog, so let me gently tip-toe away from that term and just tell you that I finally found something that truly works for us, and it feels very "miracle-like" to me:

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

(retail: $6.50 at Sephora, 1.0 oz.)

Review: White Rain Boutique Collection Skincare from Dollar Tree

Purchased by Me 

When it comes to bath & body products at Dollar Tree, I feel like they can end up in one of two categories: "pleasant surprise" or "epic fail." So when I finally found the new-ish skincare products from White Rain at my local Dollar Tree a month or two ago, I just had to give them a shot. I mean, for a dollar each, why not roll the dice, right?

White Rain Boutique Collection Skincare

(retail: $1 each at Dollar Tree, 4 oz.)

Keep reading for my full review...

Nordstrom Rack Haul & Sightings (Pic Heavy)

A few days ago I stopped by some Nordstrom Rack locations here in San Diego, so I wanted to show you what I found, and also what I purchased!

I pretty much owe this entire post to my pal Lisa (@makeuplunchanddinner on Instagram) since she was the one who told me that Laura Mercier bath and body products have recently started to pop up at Nordstrom Rack. If you're a longtime reader of this blog, then you know that I have a serious weakness for bath and body products, and I'm a longtime fan of Laura Mercier bath and body products in particular. But they are quite expensive (I once made a bottle of Creme Brulee Body Wash last for two years because I treated it like liquid gold!). So yeah, when Lisa told me that some items were at The Rack for 50% off retail? You know I headed for the door, car keys in hand, ready for the hunt!

But before we get to what I purchased, let's take a look at the other goodies I spotted...

Smashbox Holiday 2014 On the Rocks Collection at Nordstrom Rack

(50% off retail)

First up, I spotted lots of Smashbox Holiday 2014 stuff for 50% off retail.

Keep reading for lots of additional sightings, and pics of my haul...

Bath & Body Works Spring 2015 Haul (and Mini Reviews)

Purchased by Me 

Last week I shared a fun little deal about how to get the new Bath & Body Works Honolulu Sun Lip Balm at a special preview price of $3 (regularly $5.50). If you missed that deal, I'm sorry to tell you that this lip balm is no longer listed on the BBW site--I'm guessing they either sold out (since it was on sale and new), or it was only listed for a few days as a special preview. Either way, it SHOULD be available both online and in-store soon.

After I posted about that deal, I decided to order this new lip balm myself, as well as a few other new Spring 2015 items. So today I'd like to share with you what I got, and give you my quick opinions of everything so far.

My small BBW Spring 2015 haul

Keep reading for my thoughts about these new Spring 2015 products...

Review: NEW Alberto VO5 Shine, Glow & Go Beauty Oil for Hair & Skin

Press Sample 

I'm excited to be able to share with you a brand new product from VO5 that is just now starting to hit stores. I don't remember the last product that VO5 made for both hair AND skin (have they ever?), so I was happy to have the opportunity to receive this product for review in advance of its release. Let's take a look!

NEW Alberto VO5 Shine, Glow & Go Beauty Oil for Hair & Skin

(retail: around $4.99, 5.9 oz)

Keep reading for my full review...

Hidden Gem: Proclaim Coconut & Macadamia Nut Oil Hand & Body Lotion from Sally Beauty

Purchased by Me 

As is probably the case for most of us when it comes to retailers we frequent quite a bit, I've developed a friendship with the guys and gals who work at my local Sally Beauty Supply stores. And if it weren't for one particular employee who recommended this hand cream to me about a year ago, I probably would have never known that it existed. But I do, and now it's my duty--yes, duty--to share it with you, in case you're in the market for a new, and very affordable, hand cream.

Proclaim Coconut & Macadamia Nut Oil Hand & Body Lotion

(retail: $1.69 at Sally Beauty, 3.0 oz)

This hand cream is available both online and in-store at Sally Beauty and it retails for $1.69 ($1.49 if you're a Sally Club member).

Keep reading for more info on this hidden gem...

My Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale Haul

Purchased by Me

I posted about the BBW Semi-Annual Sale right after Christmas when it first began, but to commemorate the last day of this sale (it ends today, 1/19, both in-store and online), I thought I would show you the one and only haul I made this time around. Over the years, I've become more discriminating when it comes to my BBW sale hauls and I avoid buying things "just because it's a great deal." I try to only buy things that I really, truly want and love, and it's rare that I take a chance or stock up on something that I only feel moderately excited about (believe me, this wasn't always the case!).

Some of the items here are now sold-out online, but you might still be able to find them in-store, in case you want to stop by your local store for one last round of savings after work or school tonight! And remember that you can always buy discontinued BBW items on eBay if you really want them (just be sure to check the seller's feedback before purchasing).

More pics (and prices), after the jump...

Burlington Coat Factory Haul

Purchased by Me

Let me preface this haul post by saying that not all Burlington Coat Factory locations are the same when it comes to beauty products. I've found that newer and/or larger stores have a much better variety of both high-end and drugstore cosmetics (some even have full-on wall displays of Sally Hansen, CoverGirl, etc., just like a drugstore), while smaller/older stores may have a more limited selection. So try calling around to the Burlington stores in your area and ask them if they have a large beauty department. If they do, get your booties over there ASAP and see what you can find.

IMPORTANT: Some readers have recently spotted the Kat Von D cosmetics I posted about HERE at their Burlington stores recently. I personally have found limited edition drugstore cosmetics from Wet n Wild, and full displays of Profusion palettes that I've never seen at Walgreens or elsewhere, at Burlington, as well as Color Club polishes (I bought Color Club holo polishes at Burlington over the summertime for $3.99 each) and much, much more. So it pays to go--and keep checking back--because you never know what may pop up.

Which brings me to my latest haul...

December Burlington Coat Factory Haul

Keep reading for pics and details...

Vitabath Holiday 2014 Limited Edition Body Wash and Body Lotion Collection

You know I'm a huge fan of Vitabath products (found at Ulta, Kmart, Rite Aid and other retailers). I think I've blown through five or six bottles of their Cupcake Couture Luscious Lemon Créme Moisturizing Body Wash since my review in August of 2013. I swear I could drink that stuff it's so yummy. ANYWAY, I just wanted to let you know that when I was on the Vitabath website yesterday, I spotted their holiday goodies for 2014, so of course I had to share:

image source: myvitabath.com

Vitabath Holiday 2014 Sweet Pink Peppermint Body Wash & Lotion Set

(retail: $21.50, currently on sale for $16.95; 2 x 16 oz)

From the Vitabath website:

A Craveworthy scent in this delightful Holiday Set! Take a moment from the holiday rush and sweeten your spirit with the playful scent of cool pink candy cane mixed with cheery vanilla and sugary musk with Vitabath’s Sweet Pink Peppermint™.

This sweet minty combo is the perfect treat for anyone on your list, even yourself! Each Holiday Set contains a perfect pairing of moisturizing Sulfate and Paraben Free Body Wash & Hydrating Body Lotion bound together with holiday cheer.

Keep reading for a look at the other limited edition Holiday 2014 goodies from Vitabath...

Review: CVS Essence of Beauty Naturally Indulgent Bath & Body Collection

Press Sample 

These days, a lot of people seem to be moving to more natural options when it comes to bath and body products. So it stands to reason that we're finding more natural beauty options at the drugstores, and I see that as a trend that's here to stay.

I was sent some of the new Essence of Beauty (CVS house brand) Naturally Indulgent products for review a while back, and I've been testing these products extensively ever since. Today I'd like to give you an overview of the entire collection, with my thoughts about each product. This collection is now available at CVS stores nationwide, and you can also purchase these products online. Let's take a look!

Keep reading for more photos, info and my thoughts about this collection...

Sneak Peek: Burt's Bees Holiday 2014 Collection

If you're a fan of the annual Burt's Bees holiday gift sets, then this is the post for you! I just received details about the Holiday 2014 collection, and this year Burt's Bees is giving us a whopping 19 different sets. Let's not waste any time--take a look!

Just a few of the Burt's Bees Holiday 2014 Gift Sets...

The Burt's Bees Holiday 2014 Collection will start to show up in drugstores and mass retailers in November. Everything in this collection is priced between $4.99 and $14.99.
Keep reading for lots and lots of pics...