Slough off that skin

My love of all things moisturizing continues today, and I need to cover the importance of getting your hands on a good scrub and using it!

You'll find that scrubbing off dead skin will not only get rid of the dryness, but it'll make your moisturizing much more effective. You'll also find that many scrubs have an oil base so they're very moisturizing.

Of course, scrubs are also a great way to prep your skin for self-tanner or bronzer. It helps you get an even glow rather than one that's patchy.

If you've been neglecting your skin for a long time and want to get back into some sort of routine, a scrub is a great place to start.

Right now I'm using my LaLicious Sugar Souffle in Coffee Bean. It smells just like a Coffeecrip chocolate bar, and makes me mouth water when I use it. There are other scents available and they are all as yummy.

The New Cold Cream

If you're old school then it's likely that you're already familiar with the ways of using cold cream as a face cleanser at the end of the night. Women would put this cream on and then wipe it off with a tissue, taking their makeup with it. It was called "cold" because it had a touch of alcohol in it which dried as you put it on and accounts for that cooling effect.

Not many people use cold creams anymore, but the idea of a creamy moisturizing cleanser is useful, and Olay has just the thing.

If you have very dry skin, try their new Total Effects Nourising Cream Cleanser. It's essentially a modernized cold-cream formula. It's not as thick and very very emollient so it rubs on very very easily. It also has ingredients in it that help it rinse away cleanly without leaving a residue and only moisturized skin.

I'd recommend this for those of you who have extremely dry skin. Among some of the primary ingredients are Petrolatum and Mineral Oil which means that when it comes to moisturizing, this packs quite a punch. That, of course, is a good thing given the time of year, but be aware of it. This is on drugstore counters everywhere now.

Facial Cleansers for Dry Skin

Everyone has dry skin on their face at this time of year - even us combination skin gals need something a little extra for our faces and that's why I'm going to recommend that you try an oil cleanser. It sounds strange, I know, but the newest cleansers rinse clean and leave no residue!

Try La Mer The Cleansing Fluid.


It is great. You massage it into your dry skin and it dissolves any makeup or impurities that were there. As soon as you add water, the texture of the oil changes and it dissolves into something else and rinses away. It's great. Your skin is soft and clean without any additional tightness at all. You must try this.

Pantene Essential Hydrating Rinse

If you've got dry hair, you've got to try Pantene Essential Hydrating Rinse. It is so moisturizing and will leave your hair much softer.Leave it in your hair for 3 minutes and see how easily you can brush through your hair afterwards. That's always a good sign.

L'Oreal Wrinkle De-Crease Collagen Skin Remodeller

Of course, I've got to talk about skin moisturizers when I talk about dry skin. L'Oreal Wrinkle De-Crease Collagen Skin Remodeller is new and was brought on the market when L'Oreal saw the success of their other Wrinkle De-Crease products. This is a great moisturizer but it's not at all greasy and absorbs into the skin in a matter of minutes. I have to say that although this is for the older set, it's not for very dry skin because it's so lightweight. If you've got oily or combination skin, you'll want to try this. You too can have a creamy moisturizer but not one that's greasy.

Intense Skin Repair

With the weather being so dry these days, Lubriderm's Intense Skin Repair is so good that there are two bottles of it in my house - one in the kitchen and one in the bathroom so that I can remember to put it on each and every time that I wash my hands.
The lotion is really thick but absorbs quickly and really soothes dry hands. It also comes in a big bottle with a pump, which is oh so handy.

Oh, and if the girl with the chapped elbows is reading this (you asked me what you should use), try this stuff. It will work.

Body Butter

Have you ever looked at a tub of vanilla frosting and thought: mmmm, I wish there was something like this that I could use as a moisturizer. No? Ok, maybe that's just me.

In any case, I found something that has the consistency, look, and even scent of frosting. And it is moisturizing too!You have got to check out Beyond the Basket body butter. It's thick, it's whipped, and it's super moisturizing. I tried the one scented like Mint Chocolate Chip and found it to be natural smelling and not cloyingly sweet at all. At $10 the body butter is also very reasonably priced, so try it out for yourself!

MAC Moisturelush

Since it's the kind of moisturizer that I wouldn't ordinarily go for, I wanted to really use MAC's Moisturelush for a while before I reviewed it. This cream is very moisturizing but has a light texture that makes it easy to smooth into skin without having it feel too heavy. Moisturelush will be a godsend for anyone with dry or very dry skin, and another bonus to it is that it works well with makeup - as all MAC products should.

This is a must for the winter months.

For the Times that You Crave Chocolate

I am craving chocolate a lot these days, and it reminded me to talk about one of my favourite lip balms of all time - the Lush Whip Stick Lip Balm.

I loved the Lip Balm so much that I've purchased it numerous times - it leaves a sheer chocolaty stain on your lips (that looks quite flattering, actually) and is best when it's a little melted. The lip balm doesn't taste at all like chocolate (it doesn't taste like much, actually) but it sure does smell like it. I think it's the best lip balm that Lush has. Even if you don't like the Lush store - and I know many of you don't - duck inside and grab this lip balm. They keep it right by the checkout, no matter what store you go into. Yummy.

Olay In-Shower Body Lotion

Feel that nip in the air? That means it's time for more moisturization. I've been trying this Olay Body In-Shower Body Lotion and I have to say that I really like it. I use it on the days that I'm too tired to really spend time moisturizing and I can slick this on, rinse it off, and end up with soft skin. It's amazing how it goes on without any trouble even when your skin is completely wet. I've only tried the Age-Defying version and it has shimmer in it, which I'm fine with, but just know that your skin will be glowy when you use this. The In-Shower Body Lotion is so good that it's going to be a keeper during the cold winter months.

Say Goodbye to Hangnails

I have been using for the past two weeks and I am super-impressed. This might just be the best hand lotion that I have ever used. I only use it twice a day and I need a tiny amount - less than the size of a pea. I use it every morning and every night, and my hands have never been in better condition. No hangnails, no dry skin at all.

The lotion isn't greasy at all, and it doesn't have a super-luxurious feel. There is no yummy scent, and no fancy schmancy ingredients, but the bottom line is that it works. Get it, this will save your hands this winter no matter how many times you wash your hands, scrub the dishes, or change your nail polish.

The Body Care Deli

I've been using products from The Body Care Deli for a little while and I've been really impressed. All their products are made from organic ingredients and are only available online. If you have dry skin, I'd really encourage you to try one this line. The moisturizers are so rich and leave your skin soft and smooth once they've been absorbed.

My favourite product is the Sweet Fennel Eye Cream. A little bit goes a long way, and just a smidge provides a cooling and refreshing feeling to the eye area. The cream is moisturizing but the texture is almost gel-like. I dab this on at the end of my day and as I inhale the lovely fennel scent, I doze off to sleep.

All the products, from the face sprays to the face creams, come in substantial glass bottles and jars that look lovely together. The creams are dense and smooth and a pleasure to use. You must also try the cleansers - they are a must for the winter for they leave your skin soft and supple because they clean without drying.

Check out The Body Care Deli website to order the products!

J.R. Watkins Body Oil

I'm not new to body oil, but it hasn't always been my favourite product because some of the ones I've tried are so heavily fragranced. When I saw the J.R. Watkins Pure Lemon Body Oil I wasn't exactly eager to try it.

But I read the ingredient list and noticed all the pure oils that made up this product and saw that it seemed to have a light consistency. I opened the bottle and took a sniff. Not too lemony - just slightly.

I've been using this product in place of my regular moisturizer and I have to say that I really like it! Now, it doesn't absorb into the skin that quickly but the key to this is not to overapply so that you're not too greasy. The oil is so light and the lemon scent fades quickly after you use the oil. The oil does moisturize very well for the summer, and I like not having to rub it in like a regular lotion.

You can purchase this product off the J.R. Watkins website but this product is also available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Zellers, and other drugstores, so it's pretty easy to find. The body oil also comes in Lavender and Unfragranced versions.

Since trying this body oil, I've also had a chance to try out some other J.R. Watkins products and I also love their Shea Body Butter which is maybe the quickest absorbing lotion I've ever tried! The lemon cream scent is so soft and sweet while the mango scent is tangy just like a real mango! Check this line out when you get the chance - it seems that many of the products are really nice and you likely won't be disappointed.

Honey Dipp

Little did I know that I could be sitting in the heart of Toronto and still somehow get transported to a place that's tranquil and peaceful.

How?

Because of products from the Honey Dipp line. Launched recently by two friends, Dionne and Mickella, this line contains spa-style products at prices that consumers can afford to pay. Their products are made with care and smell absolutely amazing! Yes, they have a line that is floral (Blush), one that reminds you of the islands (Exotic), and one that has more foody scents (Spice), but the twist is that there is also something for those who like their products unscented (Palm), as well as something for men (Metro).

Best product ever? The Honey Dipp Body Butter.

Wow. That's all I can say. It's thick and creamy and best of all, it's made with a blend of oils so what you're getting is pure moisturizers that are perfect for dry skin. I also love their Coconut Lime Body Wash that smells just like creamed coconut, but if you like your scents a bit more fresh, you'll have to check out their Green Tea products that smell just like the real thing. Have a sniff for yourself - not only can you get the products online, but you can also find them at your local Blossom boutique.

I also had a chance to talk to the line's creators and asked them more about their line as well as what some of their favourite products were. Enjoy!

1) What inspired you to come up with the concept of Honey Dipp? Why a Spa product company?

Mickella: Our inspiration came on a hot summer’s day in July 2003. While at Dionne’s house looking at the latest trends and tips in beauty magazines it began to bring back childhood memories of the natural products we used as kids. We shared stories about how our mothers used aloe and coconut oil for dry skin and bath salts for aches and pains. We became instantly hooked on the idea that we could come up with our own line of natural products and then began to list the ingredients we would want in our product line; sugar, coconut, honey and aloe just to name a few.

We decided to create a line of at-home spa products because we wanted everyone to be able to treat themselves to a spa experience at home. Initially we started doing at-home spa parties which was a fun girls’ night in and a great way to introduce our spa product line. We got a great response from both our existing customers and from our new clientele.

2) What's the story behind the name of your company?

Dionne: Once we knew that we wanted a line of natural products we wanted a name that would capture the essence of our product line. Mickella thought of honey because it’s pure and sweet. Then we began bouncing ideas back and forth for a word that would be catchy and would compliment honey. We thought of Honey Dew, Honey D, Honey Suckle, and then I thought of dipp. Once we said the two together we knew that it was a perfect fit!

3) How did you come up with all the different scents?

Mickella : First we came up with lines that we thought would appeal to all women. Then we searched for the scents that would be a perfect fit for each product line. We have edible; we have tropical, floral and unscented. For our Bliss line we chose floral scents such as lavender, rose and white orchid. Our Exotic line has the tropical scents of fresh papaya, citrus, coconut lime and island burst. In our Spice line we used vanilla and coconut because they smell edible. After choosing scents, we thought of the woman who did not want to have a scented product, so we decided to create an unscented line which is Palm.

4) It's amazing that you've included a scent line for men... What's the story there?

Dionne: While we were mixing and experimenting with different blends, my husband Kevin was our “first customer” as he got to try out most of the products before anyone else did. He said he really liked the way the lotions and the butters moistened his skin and that if we carried scents for men he would use it everyday.

So we created the Metro line for men with the soft musky scents of Urban and Zen.

5) What's your favourite product from the line?

Dionne: “My favourite product is our coconut lime lotion because it takes me back to the islands and it gives me a feeling of tranquility.”

Mickella: “My favourite product is our coconut body butter because I just love the smooth texture of our butters and the light edible scent of our coconut.

Name your favourite:

Mascara?

Dionne: “I like MAC’s Mascara X because it doesn’t irritate my eyes. I like the way it goes on light and smooth without being clumpy. I also like that it gives my eyes a natural look and that it washes off easily”.

Mickella: “I like Maybelline’s Waterproof Great Lash Mascara because it doesn’t smudge and it goes on smooth”.

Makeup Product?

Mickella: “My favourite make-up product is a sun-kissed bronzer because I find it light-weight and I love the natural glow it gives my complexion.

Dionne: “I love the natural shades of lip gloss like the Lancome Juicy Tubes because it gives me a soft natural look during the day and a sexy look at night! Personally, I think less is more when it comes to applying make-up.”

Perfume?

Mickella: “I really like the French Connection scent I got for Christmas. It’s a crisp, clean fresh fragrance”

Dionne: “I like Sarah Jessica Parker’s Lovely as my everyday fragrance because I love the soft citrus scent. On the weekend, I like to wear Weekend by Burberry!”

Olay Quench Therapy Skin Repair Concentrate

You know what I'm going to use to help my feet get ready for summer sandals? Of course, it's a never-fail product from the Quench line, this time the Quench Therapy Skin Repair Concentrate. I love every body care item from this line and this one is no exception. Now, if you're using this on your feet don't expect a miracle. It can help dryness but it's not going to take off a whole winter's worth of callouses. You're definitely going to need a foot file too (the one on the right is from the Body Shop but you can really get them from anywhere). Just scrub away all the dead skin after showering or soaking your feet in warm water for about 10 minutes, and keep the dead skin away by using the Olay Repair Concentrate. Try it. It works and you'll soon be ready for your flip-flops.

Mother's Day Body Shop Scrub

When it comes to picking out Mother's Day gifts, it seems that The Body Shop is almost a natural place to go - they have lovely baskets and their scents are traditional so it's easy to find something that isn't too "out there" or potentially offensive. You can also pick products to put in packages yourself and should you be doing that, the Body Shop scrubs should definitely make the cut. My favorites are the creamier scrubs (like the Brazil Nut one in the picture) simply because they're so moisturizing and feel luxurious on the skin. Plus, scrubs often seem like nice products to have but ones that Moms don't always want to invest in themselves. Just a suggestion!

Olay Thermal Pedicure

Before launching into a product review, lets talk about this whole thermal business. I just want to say that I am tired of hearing "oh it's just some mineral that heats up, what's the big deal?". To be quite honest, I really don't care why the product is heating up - I like it! I've tried a few of these products and the heat lasts for maybe a minute and then goes away, but for the minute that the heat feels nice, especially if you're using the product in the winter.

Now lets talk about Olay's Thermal Pedicure. This is one of those products that heats up when you first put it on. It has LOTS of scrubby bits in it - ground up pieces of pumice that are actually quite jagged so they do scrub your feet very well. I would never ever use this scrub on my face, but I loved using this on my body. Turn off the shower (to conserve water, of course) and scrub down with this for buttery soft skin. There's also Shea butter in it so moisturizing afterwards is optional, but more importantly your feet get that extra hydration they might need.

The warming for this product really added an extra dimension to the experience. When I used the Thermal Pedicure on my feet, they felt to relieved and soothed. I walk a great deal and also work out several times a week, so my feet get very tired and it was nice to pamper them a little bit. I love this scrub.

Body Shop Lip Butter

The first time that I tried the Body Shop Lip Butters, I found that they were a gritty oily mess and so never went to their area of the store ever again. Then recently as I was looking through some of their newer products, I decided to try on the Grapefruit Lip Butter since it smelled so yummy. Imagine my surprise to find that it was beautifully creamy and soft! This is one of the smoothest lip balms that I have ever tried, and I immediately went into the store and tried them all. It turned out that they're all like that! They're so great that it's hard to pick a favorite but the Papaya one is a good choice, as is the Grapefruit one. The lip butters are a must-have for those who love their lip balm.

Olay Radiance Ribbons Body Wash

I've mentioned that I love the Olay Body Wash with Body Butter Ribbons, so when a new version came out - with Radiance Ribbons - I had to try it. This version may just be a little more moisturizing than the other. It's hard to tell when they're both leave your skin so soft. This body wash does seem slightly thicker and has the same thick rich lather that all the Olay Body Washes have.

Now, I've read other reviews and it seems that some people have trouble getting the most out of this body wash. I use a loofah mitt much like the one to the left (from the Body Shop). You can find these mitts everywhere and I use them so that I can exfoliate, clean, and moisturize my skin all in one shower. I squirt a loony-sized amount (Americans, think larger than a quarter) on to the mitt and that's all I need. If you haven't tried using the body wash this way, give it a go - I think you'll find that you get tons of lather and no gloopiness.

The Bomb

At fashion week, one of the goodies that some of us picked up was a tin of Soysilk "The Bomb" Intense Moisturizer. This product is sold at The Soya Boutique, a site that sells soy-based products. The moisturizer has a petroleum jelly-like consistency but is very easy to spread and absorbs quickly. This means that it's not only a great lip-moisturizer, but it's also great to spread on hands and cuticles too. The scent is minty but only slightly - if you're in the mood for something different, the balm comes in some unique "flavours" such as lavender peppermint, and lemon clove.

The tin itself is quite ingenious as well. You press the centre and the tin pops open. To close, just press the sides of the lid and it pops close. This means that even greasy fingers can easily close the tin. I've been using this product for a week now and I absolutely love it because my hangnails are starting to disappear. I love that it feels absolutely weightless on my lips - nothing bothers me more than an overly waxy lip balm, and this one is perfection in a tin.