Yay for the Bay! In this series, for the month of February 2019, I’ll be featuring products from and around my stomping grounds, the San Francisco Bay Area.
Why, yes, it amuses me to no end that whenever I need a tropical 🌴🍍 scent fix, the brand I usually turn to (H2O Plus) isn’t located someplace tropical. Instead, it’s based in San Francisco.
I have no idea why this is so funny to me. 😂 I’m way too easily amused!
H2O+ Beauty has been a fave of mine for ages. I actually started using them back when I lived in SF in the early Aughts (back when I was all about the Milk lotion). Now I turn to them mainly for body products, like shower gels and lotions, but they also have a few really great skin care products too, like their $20 hydrating gel Elements Keep It Fresh Face Cleanser for normal to dry skin. I love using it after I work out because it totally takes care of the sedimentary layers of sweat without drying out my cheeks, which is no easy feat!
But my “go-to” items from the brand, by far, are the Coconut Verbena Body Wash ($18) and Body Butter ($22). I get them whenever I see them on BOGO at Ulta (which is often, and right now there’s a buy-one-get-one at 40% online). The scent is my favorite tropical scent whenever I’m going through Hawaii withdrawals like I am now.
It’s beachy without the standard sunscreen, piña colada or sweet pineapple notes. It has a strong bright lemon verbena tone that lifts it up and gives it a citrus-y vibe that’s very refreshing, but there’s also a plumeria note, so you aren’t walking around just smelling like lemons, LOL! The coconut is perfection, too, because it smells like freshly cracked coconut as opposed to that artificially sweet coconut candy.
Between the pair of them, my alligator limbs stand absolutely no chance. I am mois-tur-ized!
Chunky braid saves the day
I’m back from the party! I ended up going with a messy, chunky braid, and it turns out that it was the perfect thing for making the grays look purposeful. I did a deep side part to show off my silver highlights. 😊
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Ilaria says
February 21st, 2019 at 12:13 amThe packaging is so cute! I love it 🤩 products seem very good and I always enjoy reading your review 😊
Ilaria recently posted … Il Segreto Per Un Ben Riuscito Go-To Outfit
Lisa says
February 21st, 2019 at 7:03 amBeautiful!
Karen says
February 21st, 2019 at 2:45 pmThanks, Lisa!
Kate says
February 21st, 2019 at 7:44 amIf only my hair was as thick as yours and I can do that chunky braid all the time, I wouldn’t care what color my hair was! That hair style is so youthful and beautiful
Karen says
February 21st, 2019 at 2:45 pmThanks, Kate! I’m going to do it more often. It’s easy and purposefully messy!
I hope you’re having a wonderful day so far.
Tatiana says
February 21st, 2019 at 11:13 amI remember back in the day there was an H2O+ store on Union Square on one of the corners with Macy’s. Never tried their stuff.
I love the braid you wore in your hair. You look gorgeous!
Karen says
February 21st, 2019 at 2:45 pmAww, thanks! It took a minute to wrestle the baby hairs into place but I got there with about a half a pound of Oribe Freestyler hairspray.
Tatiana says
February 21st, 2019 at 8:17 pmI’m pretty sure you’re the only one who notices the baby hairs. I think your hair looks gorgeous! Wish I had thicker hair like yours. The grass is always greener… Lol.
Love Oribe products.
Suzanne C says
February 21st, 2019 at 2:19 pmTo combine comments on two posts, I’ve cut way, way back on keeping multiples of products, too. Since I turned 40, my skin, my needs, and my likes change pretty frequently.
The exception to this is hydration. There is never enough. I am going to the Ulta website immediately to check out this new-to-me brand, because you had me at Coconut Verbena. (Love, love, love both of those scents. Together? I’m so intrigued!)
The chunky braid looks fantastic. You always look great with your hair pulled off your face. And I’ve noticed lately that little photo bomber is really learning how to werk the camera, lol. It’s amazing how fast they pick that up. My two littles have learned how to make videos on the phone and recently they accidentally uploaded a bunch of pictures they took of themselves to my 12 year old’s Instagram account. I hope it was accidentally, anyway….. If the 3 and 2 year olds know how to use Instagram, I’m leaving.
Karen says
February 21st, 2019 at 2:28 pmHi Suzanne,
With you on the skin changing so frequently and always, always needing more moisture! I can never have enough.
So I’ve noticed that Connor loves the silly face filters on Instagram stories — cat ears, dog ears, heart eyes, etc. Do the littles ever do those?
Suzanne C says
February 21st, 2019 at 5:46 pmOh goodness, those filters! All four of them love the filters. I was teasing our oldest that she’s not going to be able to have a dog face filter on her driver’s license. It’s been an emotional week. We’ve studied for her driver’s license test, picked out and ordered her class ring, and signed her up for next year’s dual-enrollment classes at community college. (Between that, the hormonal 12 year old, and the HO insurance company, I need a spa weekend.)
The older two keep complaining about the baby constantly singing Baby Shark. I keep telling them to stop and sing along, because they’re going to miss it when it’s gone. And it will be gone so fast. And it’s just so stinkin’ cute!
Suzanne C says
February 21st, 2019 at 6:17 pmSo, I just discovered that Amazon has the Coconut Verbena Body Wash for $18, with a $3.60 off coupon. And the Coconut Verbena Body Butter for $22, with a $4.40 off coupon. Not sure how long the coupons last. If you have Prime, the shipping is free. And you can knock off a few cents more if you want to do Subscribe & Save.
Needless to say, the Body Butter is on it’s way to my door. You have led me into hydration temptation again, girl. 😉
Suzanne C says
February 21st, 2019 at 6:20 pmSorry, that should have said $18 and $22, plus the coupons. Making them $14.40 and $17.60.
Beth says
February 21st, 2019 at 5:01 pmCute braid! I tried one this morning and gave up. The h20 line looks nice! Have you tried or heard any reviews on Prose, the custom hair products lines? Trying to decide if it’s worth it.
Chelsea says
February 21st, 2019 at 6:49 pmI love this braid!! I need advice from my hairstylist on WTF to do with my hair for everyday.