Sugaring has been around since the ancient Egyptian and Greek times, and while you may have heard the term thrown around interchangeably before with waxing, the primary difference is that sugaring is made out of all natural products.  Additionally, sugaring is rumored to be less painful than waxing, as when “sugaring,” the sugar clings only to the hair and not the skin.

The sugaring kit from the legendary Shobha, who we’ve already raved about here and here, features all of the elements that you need for at-home, hassle-free hair removal.  In the kit are talc free powder (to be applied prior to waxing to help dry out the area), an instruction booklet, 2 different length spatulas (both short and long), 6 long denim strips, and professional grade Shobha sugaring gel in a plastic jar.

The sugaring gel is easy to warm up in the microwave for between 30-45 seconds. (Note: Although you should remove the lid when microwaving, it’s not necessary to remove the layer of cardboard in between the lid and the wax.) And the best thing about the kit is that the denim strips are easily re-usable and washable.  Sugaring/waxing, regardless of what kind you use, will always be messy, but luckily, the Shobha sugaring gel is easily washed away using hot water, on both skin and on the denim strips.

As far as my pain assessment in sugaring versus waxing, I personally found it to be about similar during my at-home demo, but I figured “no pain, no gain” and attributed the cause of pain mostly to my technique.  The kit retails for a very reasonable $30 since the kit provides 8 fluid ounces of sugar gel, which can easily be used multiple times and you can buy it here.

Today is the coldest day of the year in New York and I can’t stop thinking about Miami.  Seriously, when can I take another trip?  

To tide me over until the next time I hit South Beach and to wrap up in this chilly air, I’ve been using my oversize Art Basel towel, which I love, love, love! These oversize terry cotton towels are huge - 60 x 70 and sooo soft (no prewashing required).  Plus, they don’t pill or leave fuzzies so you can enjoy your art without worrying about a mess.

My favorite is this one by Karen Kilimnik, which brings the beach to me even when I’m stuck in a cold apartment. Each towel retails for $50 at Target making this a perfect last minute holiday present, but one lucky TDO reader will score one for free in a one day only giveaway.  In the comments below, please tell me the next beach you plan to hit and use these towels at.  We’re also planning our next beach trip and would love some ideas.  Contest closes tomorrow at noon EST. Only US entries with valid e-mail addresses please.

If you adore sweet, citrusy fragrances, you absolutely must try the Citrus Creamy Body Wash by Weleda. When I first sniffed this at their PR rep’s offices in NYC along with several other beauty bloggers, this was one of the products that elicited “oohs” and “ahhs” all around the table.

Made from all-natural vegetable-based cleaning agents, this body wash produces a soft, creamy and light lather. Your skin will feel super soft and moisturized after stepping out of the shower. This product is filled with essential oils, but the biodynamic lemon oil is the key to the bright, refreshing scent. It’s a sweet scent that reminds me of lemon meringue pie! (However, if you only want the citrusy scent in the shower and not to interfere with your perfume of the day - don’t worry, it washes right off and does not linger.) It really is a cheerful way to start your day!

Available at retailers such as Target.com, Amazon.com and SkinBotanica.com.

Klean Bath & Body makes one of my favorite body scrubs around, and their new scents are quickly becoming my favorites for the holidays, too. I’ve written about my obsession with Klean before, so I jumped at the chance to try some of their great products in warm holiday scents.

Klean’s Extreme Moisture Shea Lotion does exactly as its name says. It’s packed with super moisturizing shea butter that doesn’t leave a greasy trail behind. Try it in Sugared Plum Blossom, a new scent that has holiday written all over it. It’s a sweet floral that is very warm. I also love the lotion in Perfect Pumpkin. Even though it’s not a new scent, it smells just like a cinnamon-y pumpkin pie!

Of course, I also have to mention my favorite Klean product–the Body Polishes. This time I tried the Smooth-EZ Body Polishes, a series of whipped body scrubs. They were seriously a treat for my skin. My favorites are Peppermint Sparkle, a new minty scent with shimmer, and Brown Sugar, a warm and sweet oldie but goodie.

There are also a ton of great gift options at kleanbathandbody.com. These products are a true bath and body indulgence, and till midnight tonight you can save 30% off your purchase with the code CELEBRATE30. Have fun!

Ojon Tawaka: The White Ball is that one winter shower accessory that you didn’t know you needed, or even what it was, until you tried it and then couldn’t live without it.  Unlike the regular Tawaka Ball, the White Ball is neither an exfoliator nor a scrub, and practically made for the winter months. The White Ball is a cleanser and moisturizing treatment in one.  It is packed full of conditoning ingredients such as white cocoa seed butter, Ojon and Swa+ Oil (an amino acid rich, natural nut oil). This product does not contain: sulfates, silicone, fragrance, artifical color or preservatives.

The White Ball will replace all your other shower products.  It’s super easy without the least bit of mess thanks to the genious container it comes in.  Also, the ball never loses its shape.  I’ve been using mine on a daily basis and it’s still round somehow and just the fact that you’re rolling a ball around your body makes the experience that much more odd and fun. The product doesn’t really lather. You just leave it on your skin for a couple minutes to soak and then rinse it off.

This product is definately one of the most unique ones that I’ve come across and you know how much I love a multi-tasker.  I don’t even need to lotion up after the shower.  The White Ball is a Sephora exclusive, so head over there to try for yourself.

When I get in the shower in the morning, I like uplifting scents that get me clean while also waking me up.   Bliss‘ new Blood Orange + White Pepper scent is the perfect addition to my morning routine.  When you first sniff it, you get a strong burst of the blood orange that smells fresh, almost like you’re standing in the middle of an orange grove.  Underneath, there is a spicy hint of the white pepper, which gives the scent bite and keeps it from being just another run of the mill citrus scent.  It’s zesty and delicious - and definitely addictive. You won’t be able to stop smelling yourself when you’re wearing it.  (I have a tube of the Body Butter sitting next to me as I’m writing this and I keep opening it to smell it - it’s that good).  Bliss has a definite hit on their hands!  In fact, it’s become so popular that it received over 40,000 votes in their “Eau”-lection survey, making it the winning fragrance for 2008 (and it wasn’t even available for the entire year!)

The Blood Orange + White Pepper scent is available in a Bath & Shower Gel, a Body Butter, and a Sugar Scrub, so you can layer the scent for even more lasting power.  If you fall in love with the scents, order the Orange ‘Bounty’, which contains three of the products. Or if you’re planning to take a trip, you can also pick up The Big ‘Orange,’ a set of smaller sizes of the Bath & Shower Gel and the Body Butter that are perfect for a girl on the go who still wants to smell great.

You can find Bliss products at Sephora.com and Blissworld.com.

Amazing Grace is my favorite scent from Philosophy. I love how gently sweet it is, and all the various body butters and lotions that Philosophy offers with this scent are just heavenly. On me, Amazing Grace is one of those soft scents that linger on all day. I was really happy when Philosophy came out with the Amazing Grace Perfumed Buffing Wash, which is now another Amazing Grace product that I can’t live without!

The Buffing Wash is a perfect addition to any shower. Why? Well, it cleanses while gently scrubbing away. I think it exfoliates really well without being harsh on my already sensitive skin. And of course, it smells so lovely! I can just lightly smell the soft scent even hours after I’m out of the shower, which is always nice. It comes in a large 16 oz. bottle and lasts for a good long time. You can find the Philosophy Amazing Grace Perfumed Buffing Wash for $26 at sephora.com.

Pacifica has a number of gift sets that will delight any lucky gift recipient this season, and I think I’ve come across the best one in terms of price and product. Pacifica Smart Sets are made up of travel-sized versions of their best products in a cute gift box, and only for $16! A Smart Set will contain a 3 oz. soy candle, body butter, and solid perfume. It even has a matching box of matches! The packaging is so cute and perfect as a gift. The scents available are:

• Tuscan Blood Orange: rich, sweet citrus
• Hawaiian Ruby Guava: warm, berry/citrus scent
• Mediterranean Fig: pictured right, and my favorite, a sensual, earthy sandalwood scent
• Avalon Juniper: more wintry, juniper tone

With these choices, you’re bound to please with either a woodsy floral or fruit scent. And for only $16, it’s an affordable and adorable gift! Check everything out at pacificacandles.com - you can shop online, or locate stores near you. It’ll definitely be a challenge not to shop for a little something for yourself while you’re hunting for these gift sets!

We’ve written before about how much we adore Whish for their amazing shaving products for women. Whish really has elevated the shaving experience beyond just soap and water, and now they have a full line to fully complete a luxurious bath experience. The Three Whishes products include a body wash, sugar scrub, and body butter in 3 different scents (pomegranate, lemon grass, almond). I tried the Three Whishes products in the pomegranate scent and really loved them all! Let’s look at the Three Whishes one at a time:

• Body Wash: doesn’t dry out your skin, and washes away gently. It’s packed with organic shea butter, raspberry butter, and aloe, and the pomegranate scent is heavenly.
• Sugar Scrub: exfoliates using organic sugar, raspberry seeds, and bamboo powder.
• Body Butter: my favorite! An unbelievably creamy lotion that is so moisturizing and perfect to slather on after you’re done with the bath products. The pomegranate scent is the perfect balance of sweet and tart and lingers on your skin softly.

My love for LUSH is well known, but at this time of year, it gets kicked up an extra notch because of all the lovely holiday goodness.  A lot of companies put out one or two extra products at the holiday and call it a day, but LUSH always has a ton of new products to play around with, making it even more fun than usual to visit one of their stores.  And if you’re looking for the perfect gift, look no further.  They have gift sets ranging in price from $9.95 to $139.95, so you’re guaranteed to find something for everyone on your list (and, of course, something for yourself!)

The Lush-ious (as they call them) gift that I’ve been testing out is the Christmas Party Gift.  It contains alcohol inspired products that are meant to cleanse and refresh your mind and body after a night out.  (And who couldn’t use some cleansing and refreshing after a crazy holiday party?)  The set contains the Gold, Frankincense and Beer shower jelly, which is my new favorite.  It’s made with beer, warming cinnamon leaf, black pepper and clove essential oils, and mandarin juice and orange oil.  It’s a different scent, one that I’ve never smelled before, so it’s really hard to describe, but it’s making me excited to get in the shower every morning - something that never happens. (more…)