My friend Cindy is staunchly anti-beauty, and it’s rare when she wants to talk about makeup or beauty products, so this snippet of a thrilling conversation we recently had was a pleasant surprise. 🙂
CINDY: Do you use body lotion every day?
ME: Well, yeah. Don’t you?
CINDY: Uh uh. I don’t need to. I don’t really have dry skin.
ME: Lucky you!
CINDY: Do you have to use it everywhere? Even on your feet?
ME: Oh, yeah. Especially my feet.
CINDY: What happens if you miss a day?
ME: My skin starts to look like crusty parmesan cheese.
Yeah, it’s not a good look, which is why I’m big into body lotions. Here are the ones currently living on my bathroom shelf…
Ahava Mineral Body Lotion Duo ($37.50 for a 17-oz bottle): One for me, one for my mama! And these bottles are huge.
First, Ahava Mineral Body Lotion is hella moisturizing yet doesn’t leave a greasy residue behind. It comes as a two-pack available now exclusively at Nordstrom for $37.50 ($96 value), and the light powdery scent doesn’t overwhelm my perfume.
Antica Farmacista Peonia, Gardenia & Rosa Body Moisturizer ($25 for a 10-oz. bottle): Rose dominates this moisturizer’s memorable scent, and the fragrance lingers all day long and layers well with my rosy perfumes.
The moisturizing formula is a touch greasier than the Ahava lotion I mentioned earlier, but it contains many moisturizing ingredients that sit well with my alligator skin, like aloe vera, sweet almond oil and shea butter, to name a few.
Tata Harper 100% Natural & Nontoxic Fortifying Body Lotion ($68 for a 4.1-oz. bottle): I like the philosophy behind Tata Harper’s skin care line. They use naturally-derived ingredients and skip the synthetic stuff.
An anti-aging body lotion with a fresh, grassy scent, this one specializes in improving skin texture and tone, but for the life of me, I cannot get the pump to work!
It drives me absolutely cray.
You’d think that for $68, the pump would work, but nooooo.
Agraria Lemon Verbena Hand & Body Lotion ($24 for a 8.45-oz bottle): I keep this lightweight, citrusy lotion in my kitchen to use after I wash my hands or do dishes because it’s a little too lemony to wear on my bod (smells almost like a cleanser).
Still, it’s loaded with moisture and doesn’t make my fingers feel slippery, which I like, and oh! — Bay Area shout-out. The brand is based in SF.
Q: What body lotions have you been using and loving lately? Anything I need to try right meow? My crusty parmesan-like dry skin thanks you in advance.
PMS Tea
Don’t laugh, but I call this stuff my “PMS Tea.”
OK, laugh if you want. I’m totally cool with it! 🙂
I’m coming up on my “avoid emotional triggers” week on my calendar (so not kidding), so I’m trying this Organic Raspberry Leaf Tea by Traditional Medicinals, which is supposed to support mood and whatnot during your womanly times…
I suspect it won’t be as therapeutic as a slice of chocolate cake…but here’s to hoping, LOL!
You have a terrific Tuesday, OK? 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Kiss & Make-up says
Fortifying body lotion eh? I like the sound and look of that one.
Stephanie Smith says
These lotions are lovely, but wow! Expensive!
Karen says
Yeah, this was the fancy-schmancy moisturizing edition, LOL.
Agata says
Nice selection! I am really bad about applying lotion after a shower. The best solution for me is using an in shower lotion. I have been using a lotion I got in Poland, it contains Aragan Oil and it smells divine!
Karen says
Hi Agata,
I like in-shower moisturizers for humid days when I’m a little less dry. Have you ever tried the one by Lush? It’s pretty good!
Stephanie says
I so don’t knock raspberry leaf tea. The more I drink it the less weird pains in my stomach I’m having – and I went to the ER twice for those weird pains that no one understood! It definitely has an effect.
I’m really into making my own lotion or using body oils. There’s a shea and avocado oil cream I made that is wonderful for my eczema in winter. Also, there’s a body lotion I got at Walgreens called SheaMoisture, and it’s lightly scented with lavender, and it feels SO good. Kind of melts into your skin after a shower. Mmmmmmm.
Karen says
Hi Stephanie,
Your shea and avocado oil cream sounds heavenly. Would you mind sharing the recipe?
Stephanie says
Oops – only just saw this! The recipe came from here: asonomagarden.wordpress.com/2010/11/29/how-to-make-an-easy-winter-hand-salve-aka-eczema-fighting-lotion/
sone says
LOL $68 and the pump doesn work!
This is like my DREAM shelf…!!Do an India only giveaway plz 🙂 😉
Karen says
I know! How could the pump not work at that price point?
Lisa says
Crazy question..where did you get the cute little bunny plate in your “On the Bathroom Shelf” blog. It is featured with the
Rouge Bunny Rouge pix.
Thanks!
Karen says
Hi Lisa,
It’s a ring tray that’s a gift with purchase right now on the Rouge Bunny Rouge website. 🙂
Rachel says
Mmm…tea. I bought some Traditional Medicinals tea from whole foods that is supposed to relieve a sore throat when I had a cold. I think it worked, although any tea is soothing when you’re sick! I looked on the back of the wrapper and realized the company is out of Sebastopol, CA, which is near where I used to live!
Karen says
Hi Rachel,
Are you drinking Throat Coat? I actually really love that tea! I drink it for the flavor.
Where did you used to live? Petaluma?
Ericca says
I need Cindy’s skin because I get ashy after getting out the shower, waking up, going to work. Anytime. I really need PMS teas, I am going to try the Traditional Medicinal. I did get a tea from my Bulu subscription box and its called helps for her. I think it has alfalfa sprouts.
Karen says
Hi Ericca,
RIGHT!? Seriously, I’m dry the moment the towel wipes the water away. I can’t imagine *not* having to use lotion. It just blows my mind.
kellly says
I use lotion every day, too. Sometimes in winter when it’s cold and my skin is really dry, I follow up with some oil, too. I don’t have the budget for anything expensive but find Eucerin works great for me.
Karen says
Hi Kelly,
Eucerin’s an oldie but goodie. Have you ever used Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream? I bust that out when I need some serious moisture.
Natalye says
I want to try the Ahava lotion!
Karen says
Hi Natalye,
It’s awesome. I hoe you give it a go.
Kim says
These all sound lovely! I usually only splurge on hand lotion (if that) because I have to slather on the body lotion daily. I use the el cheapo Suave in the 55 gallon drum (well, that’s a slight exaggeration) which does the trick – and the price is right! 🙂
Chelsea says
My current body lotion is the cheapo Up & Up (Target brand) version of Eucerin calming cream. Love it! I also have some coconut scented Trader Joe’s body butter…
Jasmin says
I recently started using a serum and I’m just overwhelmed after the first use! I think, if a woman would genuinely like to take care of her skin to get a vibrant and younger looking glow with total satisfaction upon use, she has to try ‘OZ Naturals Vitamin C’ just for once. The repetition will be occurred for sure because of its radiant effectiveness! I found that at Trend-labs (trend-labs.com) and I’m entirely satisfied upon using it 🙂