The New Black

After all this sweatin' and scrubbin' that's been going on lately, I decided to have what Tom Haverford and Type (A)-shley call a treat yo'self moment.  In a non-caloric manner.

The Boscia Luminizing Black Mask is a great way to do it.  What is it, you ask.  Well, let me tell you.  It's a facial in a tube.  It's a treat for the senses.  It's a miracle worker.

Maybe that's a bit much hype, but it works.  It's a black, clay-based treatment that you apply generously to the skin.  Wait about 15-20 minutes, and (no kidding) it easily peels off in contiguous sections, leaving behind a glowing, debris-free blank canvas.

It's $34 at Sephora, but it will last quite a while.  Remember that you can always sample at Sephora, so if you're curious, just give it a little whirl.

Nitty Gritty

After several of my recent cardio sessions, I have treated myself to this scrub from St. Ives.  Well, it's actually called Purify Exfoliating Body Wash.  Excuse me. 

I saw it in Real Simple and figured that a few dollars was totally worth it.  And it was.  This product is formulated with 100% natural exfoliants (sea salt), and it's made without parabens and phthalates.  Bonus!

It's not too fine or coarse, so the texture is just right.  The fragrance gets a B-, but I like it more for what it lacks than what it has thrown in.  Give it a whirl if you're looking for an inexpensive skin treat.  You should be able to find it at Target, Wal-Mart, CVS, Amazon, and so on.

Have a great weekend!

Discounted Kiehl's Monday, August 1st!

If you're a fan of Kiehl's, then you know that they do not offer discounts very often.  In my several years of being familiar with the company, I've gotten a discount exactly once.  That was last Christmas. 

Tomorrow (Monday, August 1st) you can visit a free-standing Kiehl's store to receive 15% off your purchase* in conjunction with their LifeRide for amfAR, the American Foundation for AIDS Research.  They are also donating $5 for every visitor to the store tomorrow--up to $100,00!.

If anyone wants anything, let me know.  For real.  I'm going to pop over after work and pick up a new face wash that I've been sampling.  It's great for summer, which seems to last from May to November here.  :)  I hope you're enjoying your weekend.

*excludes gift cards and limited-edition charity products

Ace in the Hole

I'm hooked on lip blam.  You may remember that from a while back, but in case you're new, this brings you up to speed.  And I just realized that I started this post with the same sentence as the older one.  Oh well.  I'm nothing if not consistent. 

Anywho, I had read about the brand Jack Black and how awesome their lip balms are.  On my last trip to Sephora, I decided to give them a whirl.  I'm glad this happened.

Jack Black is a men's line, which means that it's sort of low on the frills factor.  These lip balms are not too shiny or sticky, and they really work.  Plus, they have some SPF going on.  I'm for that.  I've taken to putting them on before bed, and I'm hoping that they pass the test of the dry winter air.

Do you have any new lip discoveries?

My Always List: Tea Tree Oil

I have normal to oily skin.  Yes, it's true.  The cheeks?  Dry as a bone.  The T-zone?  Let's just say it could fund a ce-ment pond if needed.

Despite my best efforts, I do get the occasional blemish.  And my favorite treatment is The Body Shop's Tea Tree Oil.

It's a teensy bottle, but it lasts a long time.  Back when I started using this (probably high school), it was $6 a bottle.  Inflation, being the biz-nitch that it is (sorry, Mrs. J), the price has gone up to $9.  Still worth it.

I know it sounds counterintuitive to use oil on...well...oil, but it works.  Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic, and it usually clears up what ails my dermis.  Plus, I really like the earthy smell. 

99 Kiehl's Balloons

You know I loves my Kiehl's.  And I even mentioned one of their ads last year. 

Today my inbox did not disappoint.  I like the direction they're going with the ads.  Isn't this fun?

This link will take you to their new hair products, in case you're interested.  Have a great weekend!

My Always List: Burt's Bees

Ahh...lips.  I'm hooked on lip balm, and there's no telling how many I've tried over the years.  Some were cheap; others were not.  Some were too shiny; others didn't last long enough.  One even made my lips more chapped.  WTH? 

But Burt's Bees is my everyday go-to.  It's reasonably priced, goes on matte (what a concept!), and has that peppermint tingle going on.  Plus, I'm digging the brand's eco-factor.  I realize that this stuff is extremely popular, so I'm definitely not trying to reinvent the wheel.  This is just another of my staples for living.

Are you hooked on lip balm?  If so, what's your favorite?

My Always List: Classic

I can't really say enough about this next item on my list.  Banana Republic's Classic is something I've worn for many years now, and it's probably my favorite go-to, everyday fragrance.  I say 'fragrance' instead of 'cologne' because this is unisex and not very heavy at all. 

It's sort of a clean citrus smell, and if I were to have designed a bottle, this would probably have been it.  Plus, I like that it lasts all day and is not expensive.  It's simple and, well, classic.  Of course.

My Always List: Shampure

After my face is clean and scrubbed, it's time to wash the hair.  And one of my favorite shampoos is Aveda's Shampure, which was introduced to me by my pal Ashley many moons ago.

If you've never smelled the scent, then it's really hard to imagine.  It's earthy.  Like dirt-earthy.  But in the best way.  I've even gotten the gals at Aveda to mix up the fragrance into a spray bottle so I can wear it as a cologne when I feel so inclined. 

My Always List: Scrub

After obtaining clean skin, sometimes it's necessary to scrub.  I've tried several over the years, but last year I ran across this Kiehl's scrub, and it's my favorite. 

I talked a bit about Kiehl's last year in a post about one of their ads, but I've only grown fonder of the brand since then. This scrub is a bit pricey, but my first tube literally lasted a year. A dab'll do ya, so I like to divide the price by 12 months and then by how many times a month (4-6) I use it.  Then it's not so bad at all. 

It has pineapple and papaya and smells good enough to eat, if you like fruit.

My Always List: Purity

Ok.  Title of the post.  You may be thinking "He's a Jo Bro?!" 

But no.  I had this idea after looking around J.Crew.  Their creative director (Jenna Lyons, for those keeping score) comes up with an "always list" for each season.  I like that idea, so I'm blatantly copying it.

I thought I would start with the basics.  And there's nothing more basic than clean skin.  My choice to accomplish this goal is a face wash called Purity Made Simple by the brand Philosophy. 

I would classify my skin as sensitive and normal to oily.  This is just what the doctor ordered--if I went to a dermatologist, that is.  It "melts" away the oil without drying my face out.  Yikes.  Plus, it smells really good. 

Secret: I buy mine from QVC, just like an old lady, because it's way cheaper to get the jumbo size there.  And it lasts (literally) a year or longer. 

Oh, Roy...

I have been a Kiehl's fan for a couple of years now. They have really good shampoo and face "stuff." (It's a pineapple scrub and works wonders, especially pre-shaving.) Plus, they give out free samples like candy.

The Kiehl's aesthetic is very old-timey apothecary. And although I've not really been a huge fan of their advertising, I got an e-mail today that caught my eye. This shot is for a new line of Acai-based products. Isn't it really cool and Lichtenstein-esque?

I can definitely get on board with this type of ad. It was about time.

Give 'Em a Whiff

Yes, this picture is a little more racy than what I usually upload. But specs appeal? I am sure of it.

On a Labor Day shopping jaunt to Memphis, it was with much surprise I learned that a) Sephora had downsized its men's cologne section to about 1/8 of what it used to be and b) they had not even heard of the new D&G 'fragrances.'

When I had flipped through my latest magazines, this ad campaign was running through most of them. It's a unisex line that is getting lots of buzz. This is why I was irritated at Sephora. Usually I like going there because they had tons of cologne, and no one bothered me. I was free to sniff to my nose's content. *sigh*

So it was off to Macy's, where a D&G rep was restocking a case. And I have to say that I tried all of them, and each is unlike anything I've ever smelled before. Some are definitely more feminine or masculine, so I don't know if they can all be called unisex. But if you like it, wear it. They're strangely addictive, and I recommend trying them out if you get a chance.