It seems like everyone is getting sick lately!

I figured now would be a good time to remind you all how important it is to wash your hands. Constantly. It seems obvious, but too often we forget!

If your coworkers are sick, or you are in highly public places like on public transportation, you're putting yourself at risk for colds and maybe even the flu! Just think about all the surfaces we unknowingly touch! Door handles (at various public places), bathroom stalls, money, pens at stores, etc. are covered in bad germs. And then what, we grab a quick pretzel at the mall, WITH OUR HANDS, and scarf it down. Or, we rub our eyes. Or, we pick up our purses and cover them with germs, too.

Blah blah blah. So, where am I going with this rant? Well, I figured that would be a good intro to my favorite hand soap! Method's Naturally-Derived Foaming Hand Soap in "Eucalyptus Mint" ($4) is my absolute "hands down" favorite! It smells so fresh and clean, and the bright blue liquid inside the self-foaming pump bottle is très chic as well!

I usually find the Method line at Target or Harmon. If you don't like mint, Method's super cool foaming hand washes also come in Ginger Yuzu, Sea Minerals, Green Tea, Sweet Water, and Lavender scents.

So, lather up ladies! And remember, if you can't get to a sink, use some waterless hand sanitizer (Purell) or antibacterial hand wipes. Stay healthy! Oh, and if you're already sick, here's another tip: Take some Zinc and Echinecea vitamins to cut down your sick time :)

Mmm. I recently visited Bath and Body Works because I had a coupon for some free stuff with a $15 purchase. Now, normally, I would've went the "3 for $15" lip product route... but lately I feel bombarded with lip products and I wanted to try something new.

Let me just quickly mention - I don't really like a lot of Bath and Body Works scents for some reason; they feel very synthetic to me or something. I like the Aromatherapy Eucalyptus Spearmint line and almost all the C.O. Bigelow products... but that's about it.


So, I wasn't expecting much when I stumbled upon the True Blue Spa "Far East Escape" Collection. Reluctantly, I headed over to the sink and tested "For Heaven's Saké" Super Softening Oil-To-Cream Bath and Shower Wash with Saké ($15). It starts off as an oil, and lathers up richly, washing away clean and leaving your skin smooth. I wouldn't really say it turns into a "cream", but it does turn into a nice lather. It contains Japanese saké to detoxify the skin, as well as green tea to protect skin from environmental damage.

Okay, get this: It smells SO good. For some reason I am in love with this scent. It's addictive. I don't really get excited about Bath and Body Works products but this is something different. It has a 4.4 out of 5 rating on the B&BW website, mainly because of the price point I'd assume.

Needless to say, it's my new shower body wash and so far I love it!

Tested it? Liked it? Hated it? Let me know!

Sorry I've been post-free for a few days! I've been under the weather, but I'm back and better now!

Like the bottle says, it really is a "Magic" soap. Although there are many uses for this product (floor cleaner, shampoo, toothpaste, body wash), I chose to use it as a facial cleanser. If you can believe it, I am starting to think that this was one of the best decisions of my life.

Over the years, I have tried endless facial cleansers on my combination, acne-prone skin. I've tried Noxema, Neutrogena, Cetaphil, Clinique, St. Ives, Clean & Clear, and everything in between, and nothing has outperformed Dr. Bronner's. I have even made my own cleansing oil to use with the Oil Cleansing Method (Grapeseed oil, castor oil, almond oil, and a few drops of tea tree oil) which worked pretty well, but it was a mess to use and it was not portable whatsoever.

Granted, I've only been using Dr. Bronner's for three days... but during those days I've taken account of a noticeable change in my skin. Existing blemishes are fading, there hasn't even been the slightest tremor of a new breakout forming, and my pores just look and feel cleaner.

Since Dr. Bronner's is real soap, it lathers up superbly and will give you a deep clean. Just make sure you moisturize afterward, since some people find it to be slightly drying.

So here's what I've been doing: At night, I was my face with Dr. Bronner's (no need for toner or makeup remover, this stuff takes it all off, and you only need a little bit), and then I apply 10% Benzoyl Peroxide cream to any spots, and lightly smooth on a layer of Vaseline (the best, and it WILL NOT clog pores, so don't even start with that!). Then, in the morning, I wash my face again with Dr. Bronner's, treat any spots, and apply a mixture of 2/3 Pure Aloe Vera Gel and 1/3 Glycerin to moisturize. This regime seems to be working swimmingly.

I love the peppermint scent, as it's very refreshing. If you aren't a fan of peppermint, Dr. Bronner's soaps come in endless varieties (like almond or lavender) and sizes, ranging from $2.15 for a small bottle to a gigantic, super-huge jug for like $40. It also comes in bar form for those who don't like liquid soaps. Dr. Bronner's has been known since like the 1960's, so who would've thought such a traditional product could pack such a powerful skincare punch!

Anyway, if you haven't already, check them out at your local drugstore or health food store, or visit their website for more info :)

EDIT: Posted - 2/16/2008: My oil prone skin did not like this product after 5 days, I still broke out, and in fact got a large cystic pimple. I no longer am endorsing this as a miracle product (surprise surprise) but I do think that for people with less sensitive skin, it might work out. For now, I'll be using Dr. Bronner's as a foot soak, cleaning product, and other involvements that don't relate to my face.