Sunburn Lotion for Those Holiday Vacations

This is hands-down the best sunburn product I've found, and the best thing is, every beach town in (practically) the world has it. I'm fair skinned, but love the sun, and sadly have been through a lot of bad burns. This is the only lotion I've ever used that prevented peeling. You have to be disciplined though in applying it twice a day for a few days, and it is a little greasy. I swear it works though!

Best Everyday Body Lotion

I love this total drugstore cocoa butter, it smells like you are on vacation, and it is the most hydrating thing ever. It costs around $4, so you can use as much as you want and not feel guilty. I read about it in the 'best of' magazine sections for so many years that I finally gave in and bought it. Now it is one of my standards. No colors/dyes either, I can't handle purple lotion. This isn't my absolute fav for sunburns though...I actually use something else(Banana Boat After Sun Lotion)...so I'll have to post that one next!

Gimmicky Goods

These 'Beauty Magnets' might make you laugh a little, but what a cute adder to a bachlorette gifty basket. Supposedly the ancient ritual of putting these tiny charged discs on your face makes your circulation increase...soooo....you look like a million bucks! I'm not sure, but a map of wear to put them onto your face comes with the set up, good thing.

Kukui Products

Here is the new secret ingredient: Kukui. It is in all sorts of lotions and oils, even Proactive uses it. I'll add more products to the list too...

Nail Hardener...Does It Work?

I tried Revlon Calcium Gel Nail Hardener 10 days ago when I was feeling like my nails were particularly pathetic. The package says '60% thicker in just 4 days', and although I wasn't quite sure how they measured the %60, any improvement sounded good to me. It went on easily (as anything clear does) and looked shiny, which I liked. Fast forward 4 days, and my nails were notably thicker and stronger. BUT, checking in today (6 more days) and it chipped off like regular polish does. Sure, it isn't as bad as colored polish would have looked, but it looked like clear nail polish does when the ends all wear away and there is a circle of shiny in the middle of your nail. You need to take it off with nail polish remover - not that big of a deal - but not what I was expecting. So...as long as you are thinking you will need to take it off, it really did make stronger nails. I'm definitely up for trying it again when I'm feeling a little brittle...

No Mess, Quick Nail Color

I tried these for a wedding, when I knew for sure that I would be running late. They are made by Avon and are called 'Instant Manicure Dry Enamel Strips'. It was so great, because when I finished doing them (in the car) they were already dry. The packets come with some extra ones, like press-on kits, in case you mess up or for if your fingers are wider or thinner than the average. They are almost like stickers, except that there is no glue just pre-dried nail polish. You would think they would look different, but if you put them on carefully they really look painted. It's the weirdest thing.
I've recently heard there are knock-offs now in the drugstore, which might be cheaper, but I would wonder about quality. These are $8 each, but you get a free one when you buy. So...$4 really, which is cheap for a manicure but not quite the deal that painting them yourself would be. My attempt lasted over a week, which is pretty good for my nails, and they looked good despite my less than surgical steady hand. They make pedicure ones as well. Click below and search 'Instant Manicure' to find them on Avon.

Terrible Bottle, but it Smells Great...

My favorite new scent is 'Princess' by Vera Wang. Sadly, it has a sort of tacky bottle that I don't know if I can bring myself to buy! I couldn't not tell you about it though, because it is so light and fresh. Maybe they were going for the medicine cabinet crowd...that is where mine will be hiding.Vera Wang Princess Perfume - 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette Spray

Customized Soap Chips For Your Guests

These soaps are such a cute idea for your guest bathroom. They come in a nice display box, or just order the refills and then put them into any basket you like. The flavors are yummy (mango butter, white grapefruit, cinnamon orange, etc.) and they are made of all natural ingredients. It could also be a great hostess gift if you ordered the little box with only 5 soaps in it. www.valseyandme.com

Natural Pumpkin Hand Cream for Halloween

Here is a lotion that doesn't contain artificial fragrance or dye - a fun seasonal option. Desert Essence Organics Pumpkin Hand Repair Cream. It moisturizes with pumpkin seed oil...which is super silky, and for the price - you could use a bottle a week stress-free. I know drugstore.com has it and they have a sale going on right now:
The Big October Sale - Get up to 40% off at drugstore.com. Offer ends 11.02.07. Enjoy!

Life After the 'Chicken Cutlets'...

'Cleavage Cupcakes' offer a new alternative to the old 'chicken cutlets', you know what I'm talking about ladies. These are much cuter and potentially giftable to someone close (like a sister!). $44 at http://www.cleavagecupcakes.com/

Yummy Sierra Nevada Soaps

Can't go wrong with soap - everyone uses it. I like to give yummy smelling soap as a hostess gift (a functional, unintrusive, don't-have-to-dust-it type of gift), and this is version is perfect. They are made by the Sierra Nevada Soap Company (http://www.sierranevadasoap.com/), and they look super natural and kitchy. The flavors are really strong and good, love the Raspberry & Creme, and only $4.50 each!

Olive Oil on Everything?

Here is something random, but it actually makes a lot of sense. Some celebrities swear by putting extra-virgin olive oil on your face, hands, and hair. Honestly, I was pretty nervous about this. Isn't oil exactly what you're not supposed to put on your face? I don't know about the hair idea…but I've tried using it (cautiously with a q-tip) on the dry spots on my face in the winter and have been really impressed with the results. Someone else is going to have to chime in on this one!