Grace Magazine

Because of my love for all things beauty related and my penchant for mixing up my own soaps and lotions, friends are always letting me know of new products they’ve tried and giving me samples of things they’ve picked up.

A friend discovered LUSH while travelling on business. She was looking for ways to pamper herself while she had a prolonged stay in a hotel.

The Serenity Set by Lush - $35.45

A beautiful collection for calming, inspirational baths
Some people go an entire lifetime without experiencing a waking moment of serenity. Some of us have got to the point where we think that five minutes a day is pretty wonderful, but wouldn’t ten be better? Up your friends’ serenity quotient by giving them our Serenity box with five soothing treats, including A Ring of Roses buttercream for soft skin and Bathos bubble bar for a lovely, peaceful bath time.

Set includes:
Alkmaar Handmade Soap, Ring of Roses Conditioning Buttercream, Bathos Bubble Bar, Butterball Bath Bomb, Ceridwen’s Cauldron Luxury Bath Melt

Available at LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics

Price: $35.45

Milk soap is fabulous for dry and sensitive skin. This Italian gift box of 3 soap bars has a clean, fresh scent and gentle, rich lather.

Santa Maria Novella: Rose Milky Soap Box - $48.00

Triple milled, each exquisite bar is hand-molded using 19th century equipment, aged for 60 days in ventilated cabinets, then hand-wrapped. The all-natural, milk-based formula is infused with the romantic scent of rose for a lather that is rich, gentle, and softly moisturizing.

100% whole milk base. Softens dry and sensitive skin. Lasts about three times longer than ordinary soap while maintaining its shape and scent. Limited, controlled production at the original Florence site. All herbs and flowers cultivated naturally without pesticides.

This would make a lovely Mother’s Day gift.

Available at eluxury.com

I can’t help it. I’m a beauty addict.

Beauty products relax me, especially when they are high quality and long lasting.

Work stress is an everyday part of my life. Thankfully, it’s not stressed caused by people I don’t like or don’t respect. Quite the opposite. I work with people I admire and trust. But we work in an extremely busy and fast-paced atmosphere.

One of my pleasures is looking good and smelling lovely. When you have to work closely with others, your fragrance can’t be overwhelming. It should be personal and enjoyed just by you.

I write often about how much I love Chanel No. 5. These are my favorite Chanel products at the moment.

Chanel No. 5 Bath Gel
I use this in the shower with a nylon puff. It produces a rich lather and provides aromatherapy benefits for my sleepy morning routine.

Chanel No. 5 Essentials Bath Oils
I follow up my shower by smoothing on this moisturizing oil before I towel off. The light scent lasts all day without overpowering. It’s a modern way to enjoy this classic fragrance.

4 Fleurs de Chanel Yeux-Eyes Exclusive Creation - Limited Edition
To add to my prettiness factor, I just purchased this eye shadow quad. The colors are soft and feminine. The packaging and presentation are romantic. I enjoy using them in the morning before my commute.

What are your favorite beauty products?

Origins has introduced a new certified organic line of skincare products.

Products include face wash, body lotion, lip balms, hair care oil and more, using ingredients that have been certified organic by the USDA.

Organic ingredients are free from chemicals and preservatives and are also produced by farmers who respect nature and are careful with the way they treat the earth and water supply.

I can’t wait to try the foaming face wash.

Visit the Origins Organics Web site to learn more.

L’Occitane has some fabulous products, including luxurious hand creams, fragrant shower gels, refined vegetable bar soaps, and more.

Shopping the stores and Web site can be a little pricey. But right now, they are having a sales on over 150 products.

Here are some highlights:

Hand Creams Trio - $25.00
Three 1 oz. tubes lightly scented with Cherry Blossom, Honey Lemon and Rose. Rich and creamy. Perfect to relieve winter dryness.

Holiday Hands Trio - $25.00
A limited edition 1 oz. Hand Cream trio lightly scented with Rose, Shea Butter and Lavender. If you didn’t get these for Christmas, it’s time to gift them to yourself.

Bonne Mere Soap in Lavender - 4.3 oz. bar for $4.80
Made with a pure plant base, in the Marseille tradition of soap-making, and blended with mineral pigments so that bars are delicately tinted. Scented with the relaxing aroma of lavender.

Lip Gloss Trio - $22.00
Three 0.5 oz. lip glosses lightly scented with Cherry Blossom, Honey Lemon and Rose. For a sweet scented pucker.

And remember, each time you order you get to choose three free samples.

I highly recommend anything in the Shea Butter or Olive Harvest lines.

It’s an interesting concept, a catalog that contains only soft items.

And they are having a SALE.

I just bought some fluffy Bellissima Towels from softsurroundings.com.

They have other items, too, like clothes, shoes, sheets and blankets. I’m getting warm and cozy just thinking about it.

Imagine slinking aroung the house in this lovely Embroidered Satin Caftan.

Or wrapping yourself in this Saturday Morning Sweater.

Shop online. It’s cozy time.

Caswell-Massey has been purveying luxury scented products since 1752.
Here are some gift ideas for your holiday shopping list.

Angel Soaps - $16

These charming soaps contains warm woodsy notes mingling with Italian bergamot, jasmine and lavender. Set of 3 in a gorgeous gift box.

Coterie de Rose - 4 Soaps with Porcelain Bowl - $19.99

For a touch of romance, dress your vanity or bathroom counter with a vintage bowl of these sculpted rose soaps by Gianna Rose Atelier, milled from the finest quality natural vegetable soap. Packaged in a boxed set that’s ready for gift giving. 1.75 oz.

“Noel” Hand Care Caddy - $24

A complete hand care solution for kitchen or bath, fragranced with festive winter berries and holly. This stand-out wire caddy holds antibacterial hand wash and soothing lotion, 9.5 oz. Each.

Presidential Soap Collection - $24

Ever since George Washington selected Number Six as his favorite fragrance, Caswell-Massey has been preferred by men of stature including two other President of the United States - Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. Our Presidential Collection includes three bath soaps (5.8 oz.), triple-milled for lasting performance and fragrance: Number Six, Washington’s favorite; Almond Cold Cream, selected by Eisenhower; and Jockey Club, the choice of JFK. A five-star gift.

Men’s Sampler - $19.95

A generous assortment of fine essentials for the man of discerning taste. Try out this superior collection of soaps, lotions and gels - Perfect for the frequent traveler. Packaged in a Caswell-Massey gift box.

Women’s Sampler - $19.95

For her, An alluring bouquet of petite lotions, soaps, creams and more. Enjoy this sampling of our favorite products to cleanse and calm, soothe and soften. Presented in a Caswell-Massey gift box.

If you’re wondering what to get me for Christmas, here’s Chanel’s makeup collection for the 2007 holiday season.

The hallmarks of CHANEL holiday beauty: quietly shimmering silvers, warm bronzes and delicate twinkling pinks to create a refined richness, a subtle polished glow.

4 Camelias De Chanel Levre-Lips
A limited-edition lip pallette with four tres French shades: rose, sheer rose, white and plum.

Rouge Allure Luminous Satin Lip Colour
Beautiful satin lip color in 7 new shades: Dazzling (true red), Flash Quartz (beige rose), Pink Saphir (tender rose), Violent Diamond (amethyst pink), Rubis Siam (ruby red), Absolu Topaze (sheer peach), and Garnet Fire (red brown).

Levres Scintillantes Glossimer
Two shimmering shades of gloss: Iris (peachy pink) and Hibiscus (shimmering plum)

Rouge Double Intensite Ultra Wear Lip Colour
Shiny, intense color in two pretty hues: Violet Sapphire (soft plum) and Amber (warm nude)

Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow
Two limited-edition eye pallettes in Radiant Gems (cool tones) and Winter Nights (warm tones)

Irreelle Blush Silky Cheek Colour
Chanel cheeks are always youthful and pretty. Try Neroli Rose, a silky light pink.

Poudre Universelle Libre Loose Powder
Dust away flaws with this fine translucent loose face powder in Merveille, a light gold.

Le Vernis Nail Colour
Two long-wearing nail colors in Dazzling (true red that matches the lip color) and Delice (soft sparkling pink)

Here’s hoping you find something lovely under your tree.

Since 1730 Floris Fragrances have been creating elegant and luxurious scented products for fashionable London society.

Over the years, Floris have held royal warrants starting with England’s King George IV to today’s Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles.

You can buy Floris products online.

Here are some lovely holiday gift ideas:

Night Scented Jasmine Fragrance Collection

Our latest fragrance is showcased in this enticing collection. Cleanse, moisturise and subtly layer yourself in this radiant floral bouquet warmed by soft musks and sandalwood.

White Rose Bath and Body Collection

A contemporary soft floral rose fragrance, Floris White Rose is blended with white flower notes to create a clean, truly beautiful, sparkling classic.

Cefiro Weekend Collection

Cefiro is a sophisticated yet subtle blend and sits at ease whether you are at work or at play. A contemporary light, green and gentle fragrance which lifts your spirits. Suitable for both men and women, the sparkly fresh top note is created with a blend of lime, grapefruit, mandarin and lemon.

Elite Luxury Grooming Collection

A mellow, sophisticated fragrance with a beautiful woody base note. Elite has a strong character: deliberate, thoughtful and provoking. the fragrance suits the mature, confident individual.

Have you ever had a red velvet cupcake? They are chocolate with cream cheese frosting and full of sugary calories. Yum.

If you want to partake without tipping the scales, try Philosophy’s new bath products based on this sweet confection.

Its latest indulgence is red velvet cake and creamy frosting shower duo, available at QVC for $30.00.

Philosophy is famous for its three-in-one bath products that can be used as shampoo, shower gel, and bubble bath. So lather up and satisfy your sweet tooth.

Top Photo from Sprinkles Cupcakes in Beverly Hills, CA.