It's time to reveal the final winners in our 2012 BellaSugar Australia Beauty Awards. Turning our attentions to all things body, find out which products — including body wash, self-tanner, firming body product and fragrances for ladies and gents — earned the high praise of our readers. From a shower gel designed (and used!) by a supermodel to some hot home-grown heroes, all are well worth a coveted spot in your bathroom. So what are you waiting for? Find out what they are!
Having been introduced in France in 1987, The Product of the Year Awards are now in their third year in Australia. With an aim of giving consumers the option to vote for the everyday products that not only work, but save time and money, the winners of the 2012 Product of the Year Awards have just been announced by ambassador Lisa Wilkinson and the judging panel. The awards focus on everything from household appliances to pest control, but it's the 10 beauty categories that we're interested in. With over 7,000 Australians voting in the awards, it's a great way to suss out which hair colour, shampoo, razor and body lotion is worth buying next!
If you're at a loose end tonight we not take a detour on the way home and browse the latest products to hit the counter? For starter's we have Illamasqua's first fragrance, Freak, which launches today and blends together intoxicating notes such as black davana, opium flower and poison hemlock. Also hitting shelves this week: Clarins' latest serum to target age spots and a new cleanser from Biotherm. Plus some great news for Kiehl's fans!
Inspired by traditional apothecary, MOR has earned cult-like status across the globe thanks to its beautiful blend of fragrances and pretty packaging. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the brand has its luxury looks yet accessible price points to thank for its continued success, and it's about to get even more affordable with a new capsule collection, Dolce by MOR, that will be available exclusively at Target stores across the country. Available in three fragrance families — Pomegranate, Honey and Sorbet — prices start from just $10. Definitely one to check out when it hits this Friday!
Is your bestie's favourite movie Valentine's Day? Does she applaud PDAs? Does she ooh and ahh over anything that is heart-shaped? Are roses her favourite flower? Then I think it's safe to say that she's a hopeless romantic, don't you? Which means you've just stumbled across the right gift guide for her! Packed with rose-a-licious treats, heaps of heart-shaped things and beautiful finds that just scream love-o-rama, she'll absolutely adore any of these gifts for Christmas! We love, love, LOVE them!
If you know someone who's mad about Mad Men, who looks to Dita von Teese for beauty inspiration or who just loves a retro find, then these Christmas treats will be perfect. Pick up a style bible from Cath Kidston about living the vintage life, or treat someone to an old-style vanity table. Labels like MOR and Diptique should be high on your list and we've found a gorgeous vintage Alice in Wonderland mirror. LOVE.
I love me some Molton Brown goodies. Always have. Always, always, always will. The latest mini-range is no exception. Molton Brown Paradisiac Pink Pepperpod is divine. Gorgeous. Sensual. Sumptuous. And any other heavenly word you can think of. The femme fatale of the range, it's got a deep, spicy scent at its core. Featuring an exotic blend Brazilian pink pepperpods, African ginger oil and patchouli, the Paradisiac Pink Pepperpod Body and Shower Gel ($39) and Body Lotion ($39) are the perfect indulgence every morning. But more than just an aromatic treat, the Brazilian pink peppertree is also known for its skin conditioning and antioxidant benefits. Love, love, 1,000 times love. Get it before it goes . . .
Pssst. Did you know that pink pepper was traditionally called "grains of paradise" and was thought to only be found in Eden? You had to collect your share as they floated down the rivers of paradise. Sigh. No wonder it smells so blissful.
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!
Conditions apply.
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?
Stockists: NIVEA (1800 103 023)
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.
