Tag Archives: moisturizing

In-My-Tub-Tuesday: The sweet success of B&E Soap & Scrub Co.’s Vanilla Oatmeal Brown Sugar Body Scrub

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Scrub-a-dub-dub, therein lies the rub.

See, I have tried scrub upon scrub upon scrub and while I have found that a few are almost right (great scent or moisturizing or clean-rinsing), I have never found the perfect recipe…until now.

B&E Soap & Scrub Co.’s Vanilla Oatmeal Brown Sugar Body Scrub ($15/ 18-ounce tub)

A Perfect Recipe

This past weekend I took along this sweet little treat to a wedding in New Orleans where I was the maid of honor.

I needed to be soft, moisturized and, darn it, I wanted to glow! Is that too much for a girl to ask?

I tried  B&E Soap & Scrub Co.’s Vanilla Oatmeal Brown Sugar Body Scrub on the night before the rehearsal dinner and was downright giddy about the results! Like, took me awhile to sleep-giddy!
I was thoroughly exfoliated and left with baby soft, glowing, non-greasy, deeply moisturized skin!
The best part? I smelled like a homemade oatmeal molasses cookie and there was virtually no trace of sugar or grease in the tub.

It’s fat free sugar scrub! Yayayayayaya!

With the brown sugar, oatmeal, jojoba, sweet almond, olive oil and shea butter, my skin had no choice but to be gently, deeply and deliciously hydrated.

What a treat, indeed!

Quite honestly, it is the only scrub I have found that both men and woman will go gaga over. Really. I mean, you smell good, you’re soft and there’s no product remnant? Gaga, I tell you.

And while it might smell sinful, it doesn’t leave any inches on your hips. In fact, it’s a deliciously sweet treat that actually leaves you looking better!

Who can say no to that?

“Not I” said the fly.

I am so thankful to my good friend-neighbor, Matty, for introducing me to this delightful treat. Although, I might not be as grateful now that I’m seriously addicted.

But lucky for me, at only $15 per 18-ounce pop, I can indulge in the sweetness and softness almost nightly.

 

xoxo,

BF

BF Asks: What would your dream scent for a body scrub be?

 

 

$15/ 8 oz.

 

In-My-Tub-Tuesday: Guest post by NamiMScott.com – Taking Care of your skin

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Happy Tuesday, BeautyFrosting beauties!
For In-My-Tub-Tuesday today, I’m thrilled today to share my favorite new blog with you:
NamiMScott.com

You may recognize Nami as my most-featured Whatcha’ Wearin’ Wednesday girl. While being one of the most stylish people I know (she’s a big style icon for me), she is also a ridiculously gifted writer, a talented illustrator & art designer, an amazing photographer, a beauty & hair expert and a good friend to boot. She’s also an amazing shoe shopping fairy godmother who helped me pick out some new shoes yesterday!

You might also recognize her from the interview she did with me for her blog, LAdies. Her sage advice has led me to referring to her as “Naminy Cricket”.

And now you can receive some of her sage advice too. Well, actually, this particular advice is courtesy of her mom, Mama Matsuo.

Enjoy! And then head on over to NamiMScott.com to see other musings this muse has going on! I love her to bits.

***

Mama Matsuo Musing #2: The Skin You’re In

It’s time for another installment of “Mama Matsuo’s Musings” where I get to tell you about my chic Japanese mother’s sage advice. So, here we go…

I know what you’re thinking. “Duh.”It’s something we’re told to do all the time. Fashion magazines, health magazines, beauty blogs. Everyone is talking about skin. It’s our biggest organ and the one people see right away. What kind of idiot wouldn’t take a minute to give it a little TLC? No one’s an idiot. Life is crazy enough as is, so it’s understandable that doing all this extra self-care is the last thing on your list of priorities. (It’s probably somewhere between getting your tweezers sharpened & going through that stack of mail you’ve been meaning to organize – guilty as charged.)
But, seriously, skincare can take up precious hours of your day and you have to be diligent. None of that “I’m too tired to take my make-up off. I need to just sleep.” or the famous express washing of the face that’s basically you scrubbing at your face like it’s a washboard for 30 seconds and rinsing it off with the foolish assumption that you’ve rid your pores of all those youth-killing offenders.
I learned very early on, by watching my mother, that taking care of your skin is a process and one that, when you get into it, you can really enjoy and luxuriate in. And I’m not just talking about your face, folks. You need to take care of all the skin on your body. I mean, having a youthful face and a leathery beef-jerky-esque body would be a little disturbing, no? Yes. Yes, it would be disturbing. Don’t be that person who disturbs other people.
So, let’s start with the steps:
For your body:  

Dead Skin Demolition:

I didn’t pick this up from my mother, but she would approve. Dry brushing is basically a way to slough off dead skin pre-shower while your skin is still…dry. (Yes, it’s not a misnomer.) Using a brush, you gently brush the skin (see? really not a misnomer) in small strokes from toes to chest and fingers to chest. You want the brushing to always go towards the heart. Don’t know if this is an old wives tale, but I’m willing to keep with tradition. Think of it this way, scabs come off easier when they’re dry. Dead skin is the same. 

Here’s the Scrub:

I use a good ol’ exfoliating towel in the shower. The same kind of towel I’ve been using since I was about 5. They have them at Japanese markets. Just textured enough to catch any remaining dead skin, but not so textured that you come out of your shower looking like a burn victim. You want to get the dead skin off…NOT the live skin. That can stay. 

Hot & Steamy…and Moisturized:

Wait! Do not open the bathroom door just yet! Dry yourself off and let the steam hang out for a little while so you can properly moisturize your body. The minute you open that door, that loving steamy air is gone and in its place, mean, drying, cold, relentlessly harsh air that will steal your body’s moisture and NEVER GIVE IT BACK. Protect yourself from that situation by slathering on the moisturizer and locking that water into your skin before opening the door. Also, invest in a good body moisturizer. “Good” doesn’t mean expensive. “Good” means “works for my skin type.” I use LIERAC Hydrofilian Anti-Dessechement.

Something’s Afoot:

Oh, puns! How I love puns. I just want to say, don’t forget about your feet. We’re so busy standing on them that we forget to take care of them. Get a pumice rock and give your footsies a good exfoliating at least once a week. They’ll thank you. Trust me.

For your face: 
Remove the Excess:
Before you start getting into washing your face, remove all the extra gunk GENTLY. No using semi-decent make-up remover and then staring at your eyelashes a centimenter away from the mirror to neurotically pick off bits of waterproof mascara. I’m actually a big fan of straight-up jojoba oil (you can get it at your local natural foods shop). A tiny little puddle in your palm and a dip of your finger tip will melt through any type of make-up. So, use it to remove all the excess stuff first.  
No Express Lanes:
Remember that thing I was telling you about earlier? About scrubbing your face for 30 seconds and then calling it a wash? (MORE PUNS!) Don’t do it. First, get yourself a facewash that you love. (And not because it smells good, but because it works well for your skin.) If you have dry skin, consider a cleansing milk or cleansing oil. For oilier skin, consider a lathering kind. I use Shiseido’s White Lucent Brightening Cleansing Foam. I lather it up really well in my palm and then gently apply it to my face, keeping away from my eyes and massaging in small circles. I concentrate on my nose area because, girl, I’ve got some serious blackhead issues there. Do that for about a minute. Trust me. You want a real cleaning. Then I take a gentle swipe at my eye area (no heavy rubbing here, please) and rinse with lukewarm water. Soda Scrub (a Dub Dub):
So, I’m a wimp and chemical peels scare me. I don’t like melting things off my face and microdermabrasion always leave me looking like I stood in a windy desert for two hours (complete with particles lodged in my teeth & eyebrows.) So, I go the old fashion way with a little secret. I use baking soda as a facial scrub. Once a week, I gently rub it on my face before I wash it. Just put some in your palm, add a tiny bit of water to make it pasty (I know, it sounds lovely) and then start rubbing…just not too hard. The skin on your face is already a little thin, so don’t go having a massage party. It’s still abrasive. Then rinse and wash as usual. Trust me, your face will be porcelain smooth.It’s All or Nothin’:When it’s time to moisturize your face, don’t skimp. The worst is being all, “oh, this moisturizer is so expensive, I should just use half the amount I need. It’ll last longer that way.” Yeah, great. Your moisturizer will last twice as long, but will be half as effective. I, personally, need to slather it on at night. Partly because my face gets dry naturally and because I live in Los Angeles where there’s no such thing as humidity. I become, in essence, slightly shriveled.. Constant fans & air conditioning don’t help the cause, but further my downward spiral into dehydration, rendering me a more wrinkled, slim-jimmy version of myself. Not good. If you’re going to use moisturizer…use it. F’real. I’m a fan of Shiseido’s White Lucent Brightening Moisturizing Emulsion for night & Lierac Intiatic Fluid for day. (No giving me flack on not using SPF. That’ll come later down the list!)Eye Creams:If you’re prone to a crow’s foot or ten, consider an eye cream. I actually like crows feet. I feel like it’s a dignified and honest sign that someone has smiled a great deal in their lifetime. I probably need to use eye cream, but haven’t invested in one yet. If someone has a recommendation, I’m all ears. My mother is probably shaking her head right now. Yes, yes. I know. I need to get eye cream. Geez. OK!

For Your Skin Overall
You’ve Heard It All Before:
Ready for the obvious stuff now? Hey, eat healthy & keep hydrated! (Duh. Yes, I know, but it’s part of Mama Matsuo’s list, so I’m putting it in here.) Your skin is your body’s health billboard. Eat well, take your vitamins, and drink tons of water and you’ll become the Vegas of health in no time. Ok, you knew this already, so I can move on.
Enough of the Puff:
Don’t smoke. (Insert a long sigh here.) I’m guilty of this. I know, I know. Horrible. Dastardly. How could I? I actually quit for a year, but one trip to Paris did me in and I was sprinting to the Gare de Lyon by the evening of my first night, so badly did I was to have a cigarette with my cafe creme. I can beat myself up over it all day long, but the bottom line is that I know I need to quit and if you haven’t picked up the habit, then awesome. If you are smoking, make like me and promise yourself you’ll quit soon for the sake of yourself & everyone around you. Mama Matsuo is very displeased about this one.
(Don’t) Burn, Baby, Burn:
Sunscreen. Yes, you know that already too. I’m a big believer in BB cream. Coverage, extra moisture, and SPF (plus some other antioxidants & fun stuff depending on which one you try – I love Dr. Jart+’s Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45 PA+++) in one product. Perfect. Slap that on and you’ve evened your skintone, blocked out the sun’s rays, and given yourself a little extra protection from dryness. And I’m a fan of Aveeno’s Continuous Protection, SPF 70 sunblock for the rest of me (as much as I want that beef jerky body – that was a joke.)
Hot, Hot, Horrible:
Hey, I love a hot shower as much as the next person, but it turns out that that’s a baaaad move for anyone who wants to have hydrated skin. Hot water just strips away all the essential oils and leaves you parched. So, do yourself a favor and shower with lukewarm water. It’s just as good at rinsing away the soap, but it won’t rinse away your youth! (Yes, I know that was a bit dramatic, but I’m trying to make a point here.)
Aaaaaand I think that covers it. With enough practice, you’ll be able to do all of these things in your sleep. Or, at least, I hope you learn to because I still think that showering is such a waste of time. Why can’t I just have an auto-clean button and do other stuff in the meantime? (Are you getting a better idea of how neurotic I am yet?)
Anyway, why do I feel like this is such important advice? Because my mother, despite being in her mid-60′s, still looks like she has the skin of a 30 year old. I have to concentrate really hard on pointing out any wrinkles…even when she smiles! (Ok, ok, her Asian genetics help, but still…and, NO, she hasn’t had any work done.) So, for all of you out there who haven’t taken the time to take care of your skin, it’s ok. I’m not going to chide you, but I highly suggest you start as soon as you can.
I can’t promise that every time you take care of your skin you’ll feel like you’re in some sort of beauty advertisement (cue the background music & British female voice-over talking about the newest skin technology) and I definitely won’t promise that you’ll love every minute of it. (Between an extra few minutes of sleep & properly washing my face, I still would love to choose the former.)
In the end, however, you’ll be thankful you took the time when you’re 90 & people are cooing about how you don’t look a day over 70. Now, go forth & pamper yourself like you mean it!
***
Thanks Nami!!
xoxo,
BF
BF Asks: What sage beauty advice did your mom pass on to you that you have never forgotten? 

In-My-Tub-Tuesday: Avon Skin So Soft Original Bath Oil – a handheld walk down Memory Lane

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Many of the products that I love are new ones that I’ve found in my solitary quest for cosmetic confections.

But then there are those products that take me back to childhood. Products that I wouldn’t have found without my Mother or Nanny’s love of them.

White Shoulders perfume always makes me think of my beloved grandmother, Nanny.

Estee Lauder perfume always makes me think of my mom in the 1980s.

And then there is Avon.

Avon Skin So Soft

Avon Skin So Soft ($13)

Avon and Mary Kay are biiiiiiiig where I come from.

Everyone knows – or is related to someone – who sells it and, a few times a year, Avon will show up on your doorstep.
Yet another reason why I now love monthly beauty boxes as much as I do.

It reminds me of those magical moments in childhood when those lovely ladies in my life, whom I looked up to so, would open the door and find a bag of little luxuries waiting for them.

So when I was relaxing in my nightly bath last night, my mind wandered to mothers, grandmothers and aunts, how much they teach us and how much we inherit from them in terms of our beauty beliefs, routines and rituals.

As I was doing so, I glanced at the right corner of my bathtub and saw my Avon Skin So Soft that I took from my mom’s beauty closet last time I was home over Christmas.

Avon Skin So Soft ($13)

It made me smile. And not just because it leaves my super dry skin-so-soft as it swears! Over the years, I have used it in my bath for relaxing (as it was intended), as a moisturizing sheen for my parched legs or as a luxurious bronzing potion when I mix a drop or two of the oil with a gel/liquid bronzer.

It does indeed leave my skin-so-soft and my body relaxed but it also takes my heart on a walk down Memory Lane as it holds my hand. And that’s why I love it even more.

I remember my hardworking accounting professor/CPA mom buying it from her client, Gloria, every year. And I remember thinking it must be like a grown-up lady’s version of Girl Scout cookies! (That just made me laugh “saying it out loud”!!)

I think you’ll notice that I’m thinking about the ladies in my life A LOT this month what with Mother’s Day only 13 days away (May 13th for those of you wondering).

I’m looking forward to a May filled with motherly love and, really, appreciation for all women this month. I hope you’ll hold my hand as we take this walk together.

Hope you have a very merry May!

 

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: What products/beauty rituals did you “inherit” from the women in your life?

Thirsty Thursday Product Pick: Rodin Olio Lusso Lip Balm

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It seems only right on a Thirsty Thursday that I should feature a product that hydrates, replenishes and quenches your skin’s thirst.

In this case…your lips!

Rodin Olio Lusso makes a pretty, pink little lip balm that hydrates, is non-sticky, hydrates the most parched pouts and, did I mention, it’s pink?

This stuff may be pink but it’s golden.

Rodin Olio Lusso Lip Balm ($30)

This perfect pink lip balm, made of orange flower oil, shea butter, beeswax, and castor seed oil, leaves you with moisturized, kissable, sheer pink lips! And its light, signature Rodin Olio Lusso floral scent is a precious little perk!

Rodin Olio Lusso Lip Balm ($30)

The blush-pink packaging and super chic lucite square compact housing the balm makes you feel special every time you glide it on your lips.
Perfect for your purse or by your bedside, I choose both options as it’s a perfect sheer pink gloss and, yet, the price point makes it a perfect nighttime cocktail for luminous, soft, supple, sexy lips in the morning.

Balms away!

xoxo,

BF

BF Asks: Where do you keep your lip balm? In your purse? On your bedside table? On your vanity? Bathroom counter? Somewhere else?

In My Tub Tuesday: Darphin Cleansing Milky Emulsion – A BF-Approved Cleanser

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In My Tub Tuesday 3/20

It may not look glamorous but it is my favorite spot in my house. My haven. My heaven. My reading room. My beauty lab.

I change up my nightly bath ritual fairly often.

Whether it be a new cleanser to try, a new mask, body wash, exfoliant, oil or bubble bath (yay!), there is always some shifting products around as room has to be made for the new kid on the beauty block. But there are some favorites that remain in there, with me, week after week. We’ll get to those.

In the pic above, you can see my Andrea EyeQs eye moisturizing eye makeup remover pads, Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask, Creme de La Mer The Refining Facial, Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser Lotion, Darphin Cleansy Milky Emulsion and GlamGlow.

Each of these beloved products will be discussed at one point in the near future. So no fears there!

But today, I want to rave about Darphin’s Cleansing Milky Emulsion cleanser ($40).

Darphin Cleansing Milky Emulsion

Is it good, you ask? $40 good?

Oh, it’s good. Reallllly good.

Especially for those with redness and sensitivity issues like yours truly.

So good that I give it my “BeautyFrosting-approved Cleanser for Sensitive Skin” seal.

It’s one of those superhero-type cleansers where it both addresses concerns such as sensitivity, irritations and redness AND removes face & lip makeup completely.

It feels rich going on yet rinses off completely leaving me silkily moisturized.

Ahhh, the best of both worlds.

The verbena & other natural ingredients, like Babassu oil and tomato extracts, always make me feel like I’m giving my face a mini spa treatment. Thus, I insist on gently massaging my tense facial muscles while using this little gem.

And the soothing effect is just the cherry on top.

Darphin makes some of my favorite beauty products out there. If you don’t know Darphin, consider this your introduction to a new level of beauty product enjoyment. I call products, like those from Darphin, “Spaducts”. These products turn your nightly beauty ritual into a spa ritual.

BF Asks: What do you look for in a cleanser?

xoxo,
BF