With so many beauty brands and so many offers and money-back guarantees out there, it's sometimes easy to forget the really, really good ones so I wanted to take a moment to remind you about the Kiehl’s Eco-Loyalty Program. Launched almost a year ago, it's Kiehl’s way of thanking and rewarding customers who recycle their empties. Simply bring in an empty Kiehl's bottle, tub or tube and you'll receive a stamp for every item that you bring back. Stamps add up to reward points which you can then redeem for a Kiehl's #1 lip balm (three stamps), travel-sized product (five stamps) or full-sized product like Crème de Corps (10 stamps). So next time you go to throw a Kiehl's empty in the bin, make sure that it's a Kiehl's recycling bin!
There are body lotions out there for just about every type of dilemma: Dry skin? Sorted. Feeling pasty? Try this. Hate that greasy feeling? We've got a lightweight one. Feeling podgy? This firming one will do the trick. But what about a body lotion that makes you FEEL good?
No, it doesn't come with a genie to grant your every wish, but at just $6.25, NIVEA's newest release, Touch of Happiness Body Lotion, promises that if your skin feels good, you'll feel good. And when you feel good, you're happy, right? Right.
So how exactly does it set you on the path to happiness? Well again, it's all about taking the stress out of your daily life. It features bamboo extract and milk protein which help strengthen the skin’s protective function so handling daily aggressors and stressors becomes a cinch. For me though, the main feel-good factor is its top, middle and base fragrance notes (orange flower, peach and vanilla, to name but a few). They make it feel and smell like a luxe body lotion, without the exxy price tag. So even if you don't buy into the whole feel-good vibe, you've got to be happy that you only need to spend $6 on beautifully fragranced skin, no?
Every now and then something arrives at my desk and reminds me what a kind and caring world we live in. Yesterday it was Support Scent, a range of products that has been developed by Kit Cosmetics in association with Guide Dogs Australia to raise money and awareness for guide dogs and the visually impaired. The unique campaign features a fragrance ($5), body wash ($22.95), body lotion ($29.95) and fragranced soy candle ($44.95), all of which appeal to the visually impaired's heightened sense of smell. All products are simply gorgeous.
Support Scent will be available at Kit Cosmetics from Monday, March 8, with all proceeds from the fragrance going to Guide Dogs Australia and $2 from the sale of each auxiliary product being donated to the cause, too.
I'm a big H&M fan. As is Kylie, Stella McCartney, Matthew Williamson, Madonna and my mum. I would DIE if it opened here. Especially when I heard this little nugget of information: H&M is launching an organic skincare line in March. Uh huh. In keeping with the brand's simple style, the range features everyday essentials like shower gel, body scrub, body lotion, hand cream and lip balm in raspberry and melon or lavender and mint. Yum. The range features organic ingredients such as organic apple juice, jojoba and beeswax that have been certified by ECOCERT. Prices start at €3.90 which is the equivalent to $5.90 so, Mr. H&M, if you're reading this, please, please, please, please, please open a store in Australia. Preferably Sydney.
Vaseline has just launched two amazing cocoa butter products that you simply must try: Vaseline Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning Body Lotion (from $7.29) and Vaseline Cocoa Butter Smoothing Body Butter ($10.99). The Body Butter is obviously the richer of the two and features pure shea butter, as well as cocoa butter so it's great for dry hotspots like the knees, elbows and feet. The fragrance is actually a bit more delicate than other cocoa butter products on the market so it's less sickly and in-your-face. Plus, even though it's fragranced, it's fine for people with skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
Now, I still can't believe that less than a third of Australians use a moisturiser daily—crazy! Without a daily hit of moisture, your skin becomes rough and uneven, meaning less light is reflected, hence you get that dull, lacklustre appearance. Please, please, please make sure you moisturise. Otherwise we can't be friends scaly lady. And you know I don't want that.
The Argan tree comes from southwest regions of Morocco, where it can withstand harsh environments like extreme heat, drought and poor soil. It grows a round fleshy fruit that has an olive-like texture and inside there's a nut where the oil comes from.
Argan oil is believed to have medicinal benefits such as lowering cholesterol, improving circulation and building up the immune system. It has mild anti-inflammatory properties, protects the skin from free radical damage and also helps to nourish dry, hydrated skin because it's rich in essential fatty acids and vitamin E.
I'm just gonna throw it out there: when's the last time you wore sunscreen on your body when you weren't hitting the beach? I'm guessing around the time that your mum still applied it for you. See, as much as we slap, slap, slop the SPF on our face (fearing the leathery look), we tend to forget about our body. Rookie error, my friends. Rookie error.
Allow me to correct it for you. This is one of my all-time favourite products: Hissyfit Body Double ($48). Why has it reached those dizzying heights of fame and glory? Well it's quite simple really. It has SPF30 + UVA/UVA broad spectrum protection, but the key thing is, it smells and feels just like a regular moisturiser. If that "regular moisturiser" is a wonderful fusion of vanilla and citrus deliciousness.
It contains cehami which is a native Australian daisy that's been used by Aboriginal tribes for years because of its soothing properties. I can't get through the day without it. And neither can Oprah. Reggie Wells, Oprah's makeup artist, loves using the whole Hissyfit range – which includes tinted moisturiser, hand cream and lip balm – on her so much that he signed on as a celebrity spokesperson. How's that for endorsement.
Candle connoisseur, Diptyque, is rolling out a very exciting bodycare line this week. Driven by a passion for travel and discovery, the luxe Parisian brand take you on an exotic voyage through Aleppo, Alexandria, Byzantium, Cordoba and Florence with the beautiful five-piece line.
Free from synthetics and parabens, the range includes:
Creamy Body Wash ($75) which features olive oil and vitamin E to create a nourishing light lather. Interesting fact: bathing was invented in ancient Aleppo.
Fresh Lotion ($90) which features orange blossom as its key ingredient and reminds me of a spring morning.
Rich Butter for the Body ($135) which the brand describe as luscious like Turkish delight and soft like a Byzantine rose. I would have to agree.
Precious Oils for Body and Bath ($125) which includes precious iris oil alongside organic sweet almond oil and macadamia nut oil. Softens and soothes skin beautifully if used on wet skin after a shower.
Luxurious Hand Balm ($69) which is velvety smooth just like the Cordoba apricot. It’s also a great night-time treat for feet, pop it on followed by some socks and let it work its magic while you catch some zzzz’s.
There are body lotions out there for just about every type of dilemma: Dry skin? Sorted
I'm a big H&M fan. As is Kylie, Stella McCartney, Matthew Williamson, Madonna and my mum. I would DIE if it opened here. Especially when I heard this little nugget of information: 
Vaseline has just launched two amazing cocoa butter products that you simply must try: Vaseline Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning Body Lotion (from $7.29) and Vaseline Cocoa Butter Smoothing Body Butter ($10.99). The Body Butter is obviously the richer of the two and features pure shea butter, as well as cocoa butter so it's great for dry hotspots like the knees, elbows and feet. The fragrance is actually a bit more delicate than other cocoa butter products on the market so it's less sickly and in-your-face. Plus, even though it's fragranced, it's fine for people with skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
The Argan tree comes from southwest regions of Morocco, where it can withstand harsh environments like extreme heat, drought and poor soil. It grows a round fleshy fruit that has an olive-like texture and inside there's a nut where the oil comes from.
I'm just gonna throw it out there: when's the last time you wore sunscreen on your body when you weren't hitting the beach? I'm guessing around the time that your mum still applied it for you. See, as much as we slap, slap, slop the SPF on our face (fearing the leathery look), we tend to forget about our body. Rookie error, my friends. Rookie error.
Free from synthetics and parabens, the range includes: