I have an obsession with smells. My nose can detect something acrid or deliciously fragrant from a mile away. I often say to myself wow he smells great or I wonder what perfume she is wearing when someone passes me in the street. Subsequently it’s also scent that attracts me to men. I once had a boyfriend who smelled like new born baby and what I thought life smelled like. I spent about 30% of our 6 month relationship sniffing him in big inhalations like a crazy person. I even remember telling my friend “you’ve got to smell my boyfriend”. My current boyfriend also smells pretty amazing and I find myself sniffing him too, he thinks it’s creepy, it’s the ultimate sign of endearment for me. I usually notice someone’s scent before their looks or anything else. I am a scent driven Taurus in that way and it’s definitely spilled over into how I like to smell.
I get complimented on a regular basis on my scent especially after I give someone a hug and they get a whiff of my hair ( a special moisturizing concoction of Marula oil, 100% Aloe Vera Juice, Water and Optimum AMLA Silkening Oil Mist) that I spray into my Marley twist daily. Its also helped to combat my serrhobeaic dermatitis that’s at its worse during the summer months. I am skin and smell obsessed, wanting every part of my body to be smooth, moisturized and softly fragrant as if I was born smelling like almond milk. I have gone through rigorous trial an error with my sensitive and dry skin and here dear readers are my favorites du jours!
Exfoliators
When my boyfriend caresses my freshly shaven and moisturized legs he comments how smooth they are and asks how I get them so smooth. I exfoliated today I beam! I am big on exfoliation especially since I am a little OCD when it comes to dead skin piling up on me. I use a combination on organic soaps, gentle mechanic body exfoliators and exfoliating creams.
Organic Mint Body Soap: When I want to feel extra fresh, so fresh my skin tingles…I use my favorite Organic mint soap from Bed, Bath and Beyond. It’s basically just compact mint leaves. It gives me energy and it smells simple, clean, fresh and exhilirating.
Shea Moisture Organic African Black Soap: The only soap I will ever and I mean EVER use on my face. Super soothing and supple.
L’Occitane Cleansing and Exfoliating Soap with Flaked Almonds: My favorite soap at the moment that doesn’t even feel like soap. The AMANDE brand (Almond) is my go to and I feel amazing after an invigorating hot shower with this supple soap.
L’Occitane Exfoliating and Smoothing Paste: AMAZING!!!! It exfoliates and moisturizes at the same damn time! With bits of almonds no less. It’s just great and I love to use it for my lips as well as a gentle exfoliant.
Konjac Cleansing Sponge with Charcoal and Deep Hydrating Clay: I got these in a gift bag and hunted them down in Sephora after I used my samples. They are amazing. They exfoliate my face better than anything I’ve ever used. My face is baby smooth after each use especially with the pink deep hydrating clay sponge. It’s great for that extra skin build up around nasal folds as well.
Moisturizers and Oils
L’Occitane Smoothing and Beautifying Milk Concentrate: L’Occitane is my new obsession. Damn the French and their impeccable tonics and lotions. It smells DIVINE. I love the AMANDE line with hints of Almond. It is hella expensive but well worth the luxury. The milk concentrate lotion is my absolute favorite. It’s rich and intensely indulgent. I also use the same line of body oil, exfoliating soap, oil body wash (yes its an oil based body wash that will leave your skin feeling like silk). This soothing milk is perfect after a fresh shave too and won’t irritate your skin but replenish it with all the moisture it craves.
Tree Hut Amazon Pequi Soothing Body Butter: OLD FAITHFUL. I have put everyone that I love (women) onto this amazing body butter. Take a hot soothing shower, open your pores and slather this stuff all over your body…don’t skip your neck, and behind your knees. Men LOVE this scent for some reason. They will walk past and stop just to inhale you. Your boy toy wont be able to keep his hands off you. Your scent will linger anywhere you are for more that 5 minutes. Trust me…just buy it. I bought a year supply from Bed, Bath and Beyond (which is about 4 containers)
La Nuit Shea Butter Hand & Body Cream: I picked up this gem at West Elm Market and got the stamp of approval from my beloved. It smells absolutely amazing…with a hint of masculinity and it’s extra concentrated and moisturizing. Get your jar of this magic stuff HERE.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream: I have dry skin mostly on my forehead and cheeks after exfoliating and I have extra sensitive skin and have found that this is the only lotion I can actually put on my face without freaking my skin out. It’s light, soothing and extra moisturizing. It works like a charm for me and I tend to wear it as a base under my makeup.
L’Occitane Shower Oil AMANDE: I mean its an oil based shower gel. OIL BASED! I love it lathered on a loofah.
Marula Oil: This stuff is magic and I promptly bought it online after seeing it in a magazine. It has a light musky scent and it’s very fluffy. It’s not a heavy oil and comes with a built in medicine dropper. That’s because all you need is a drop. I use it everywhere, on my skin and in my hair. It’s great for eyebrows, hairlines and nails. I love to mix a few drops into my homemade hair spray.
Blemish and Pimple Control
EradiKate: Kate Somerville EradiKate Acne Treatment is a magical gift from the clear faced Gods. It will dry the hell outta a pimple overnight and I swear by this stuff. Even if I feel the beginnings of a pimple coming on, I plop a glob of this on and sleep with it overnight and presto…I’m good as a golden goose in the morning.
Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask: The best mask for pulling out the impurities in your face and shrinking my unsightly huge pores (thanks heredity)
Mario Badescu Ezyme Cleansing Gel: This stuff leaves my face feeling clean, fresh and energized. I actually love using it in conjunction with my clarisonic.
The price of beauty is a high one and lets face it, when it comes to great skin care…we tend to pay what ever the cost. These are the things that I don’t skimp on. These are the products I really love and that have worked wonders for me as well as just made me feel good! I think it’s important to pamper your body every now and again. You only have one body so why not!
xx
Monroe
