In my last LUSH review a few weeks ago, a lovely TDO reader named Haina recommended that we check out LUSH’s exfoliating body butters. We love feedback from our readers and I was definitely curious about a solid exfoliator, so I immediately contacted LUSH about how their body butters work and received a few samples to test out. After trying the Aqua Mirabilis Body Butter and the Buffy Body Butter (Haina’s fave!), I’m now a believer.

What’s most impressive about these body butters is that they leave your skin feeling soft and moisturized without it feeling slick or greasy. I usually use lotion or moisturizer on my body each morning, but after using the LUSH body butters, I didn’t even need to. They also have great scents that linger on your skin all day. The Aqua Mirabilis smells like cocoa and almond butter, and the Buffy has a light lavender scent. I tried both over the last week, paying particular attention to my problem dry spots (elbows) and any areas prone to ingrown hairs from shaving. I can definitely see improvement over just a week’s time in terms of softness! I didn’t find the exfoliating to be too harsh, though I though the Aqua Mirabilis to felt “grainier” than the Buffy and probably more exfoliating.

The only drawback is that these are designed to melt at body temperature, so be careful to keep them out of your tub and not directly in the shower’s spray. Visit lush.com for more information on the body butters.

I take my skincare very seriously, especially when it comes to preventing future damage and healing past screw-ups (hey, I didn’t always wear sunscreen). I met some of the scientists at SkinCeuticals at a luncheon a couple months back and was very excited to learn about SkinCeutical’s new antioxidant rich “prevent and protect” line of products.  The very knowledgeable team explained the inadequacy of simply using SPF in preventing sun-related skin damage.  Cell damage due to sun exposure still occurs for various reasons even if you are using SPF protection and will manifest itself into unpleasant conditions (i.e. wrinkles, sun spots) as your skin ages.  Normal skincare doesn’t do much to treat these damages, which is why it is important to incorporate a wide range antioxidant treatment into your skincare.  SkinCeutical’s Phloretin CF combines a potent dose of phloretin, Vitamin C and ferulic acid in a unique delivery capsule to deliver the products deep into the skin.  Phloretin is a powerful antioxidant derived from apples. Vitamin C fights wrinkles and fine lines. (This is backed up by scientific research to be one of the most effective ingredients in anti aging.)  Ferulic acid is another antioxidant that has been linked to fighting cell damage, DNA damage and ever cancer.  The combination of these 3 ingredients is designed to fight skin and cell aging form all angles.

The efficacy of Phloretin CF, obviously, remains to be seen in the long term, but I am pretty convinced by the science behind the product.  Phloretin CF is super easy to incorporate into your morning routine; simply use the dropper to deposit a drop or two to cover the whole face.  Even though this is not a moisturizer, I often feel that I don’t even need to use one after I apply this product.  The serum also quickly penetrates the skin and is actively working throughout the day.  So far from trying the product, reading other blog reviews and independently Googling, I’m a believer.  You can check it out for yourself wherever SkinCeuticals is sold.

The new Bright collection from Kiehl’s aims to brighten your skin through hydrating and evening your skin tone. The products use a blend of natural botanical extracts and vitamins that work to brighten your complexion. My skin always tends to be a bit uneven during the summer months because of sun exposure, so I was eager to see if these products do what they claim to do.

I tried the Brightening Botanical Hydrating Mask and am happy to report that after using a few times, my skin definitely appeared to be more even. While it doesn’t completely eliminate my weirdly tan forehead (I should remember to wear a hat to Cubs games), my face has a nice, soft glow that gives the appearance of evenness. My skin also felt really soft afterwards and never dry, so the mask was gentle as well. I think this product is definitely worth a try for anyone concerned about an even skin tone.

The mask retails for $40 and you can find out more about the other products in the Bright Collection at kiehls.com.

Confession time: I’ve never tried mineral makeup! In my defense, I’m just not a fan of powder foundation. It tends to make my skin look cake-y and clogs my pores. When I heard about the new Prescriptives All Skins Mineral Makeup, I was definitely ready to give it a try, since it’s not just any mineral powder. It is packed with minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and sun protection in the form of SPF 15. This is actually healthy for your skin!

I applied using the Round Buff Brush, which was soft and easy to use. The Mineral Makeup goes on flawlessly–very smooth and undetectable. I think it basically gives your skin an instant glow and balance. My skin seemed really even in tone, and the makeup is light and controls oil/sweat pretty well. That is key for me during the summer months especially, so the Mineral Makeup is now part of my everyday morning makeup routine. Check out prescriptives.com for more information. There are 18 different shades, so you will have no trouble finding just the right one for you.

As a bonus for our readers, through August 31, 2008, click here for free standard shipping with your purchase of All Skins Mineral Makeup SPF 15. No code necessary, so enjoy!

When summer rolls around, there’s pretty much nothing that can stop me from dousing myself in Kai. The fragrance is an instant reminder of tropical islands, everyone will compliment you on how great you smell - and well…I kind of have an addiction to anything scented with gardenias. Really, it’s an obsession. If it were ever discontinued, I would cry and then hunt down stock like a mad woman.

However, believe it or not, as much I love this fragrance, I’ve only tried one item from their line - the original perfume oil. Boy, was I missing out!

I’ve been buffing and exfoliating with the Body Buffer this past month. Blending the original Kai perfume oil, it incorporates palm, coconut and olive oil as well. Together, it is “infused in a hypo-allergenic sponge to cleanse, exfoliate, and moisturize the skin.” It comes in a two-pack, so you should be able to have these for quite some time. When you first use it, make sure to douse the sponge in water and let it completely soak (to soften the sponge up). Simply scrub all over your body and you will notice that it will produce a bubbly foam. The sponge is slightly rough, so you feel like it’s really sloughing off all those dead skin cells. You probably won’t be able to notice a huge difference in the shower, but once you step out and towel off, you’ll see that your skin will be much smoother and brighter. Bonus: The Kai scent wafts up and scents the entire bathroom!

I’ve also been finishing with the Body Glow, which is essentially a dry oil spray. It will help hydrate and moisturize your skin, while leaving you deliciously scented. For the warmer months, I think it’s a great alternative to moisturizer since it sinks in pretty easily and feels very light during application. In fact, if I’m using this, I will substitute it for my daily roll of the perfume oil. However, you bet that when chillier weather rolls around, I’ll be reaching for the Body Butter for more intensive hydration (and to wish summer was still around!).

Happy August! I’m actually heading to Prague today for the second half of my European adventure, but wanted to let all of you stateside know about a fabulous eco-friendly e-store called Ekoh.  Ekoh is an in-store and online boutique - the green arm of The Cosmetics Market, an upscale cosmetics retailer.  Ekoh was developed when The Cosmetics Market realized that being green is not a trend; it’s a way of life and it is here to stay.  They carry an assortment of environmentally friendly and organic products to serve those who want more eco-aware brands.  They have an absolutely wonderful list of brands- some that I will be testing out myeslf for review in the coming weeks.

Ekoh carries: Body by Sonia Dakar, Care by Stella McCartney, Caudalie, REN, Sacred Locks and Tela among many others.  Check out the full list here.  And for this month, Ekoh has extended The Daily Obsession readers with a generous 20% off code: tdo20 valid until September.

I have tried a lot of self-tanners. A LOT. Seriously, a ridiculous amount. And while I’ve found some great ones for the body, it hasn’t been as easy to find one for the face. They’re all either too greasy or too orange or too streaky… The list goes on and on. And then I tried Dior’s Bronze Sun Powder Spray and now all is right in my self-tanning world.

Available in two shades, Light Tan and Bronze Tan, it’s also the quickest self-tanner I’ve ever used. You simply spray it all over your face, blend any areas you need to with your fingertips, wait a short minute or so for it to dry, and then go.  Seriously, it’s that easy. The spray left no streaks on my face, but I had a distinctly bronzer glow then before I used it - and it looked completely natural. I was kind of in awe, to be honest. I liked it so much that even though the product is supposed to be for your face only, I used it on my entire body this past weekend because I was at a wedding and wanted to look like I’d just flown in from Aruba. (And I totally did. Score!) The difference was noticeable enough that some of my family at the wedding commented on how I’d gone from pasty white to glowing - definitely enough of a confidence booster to make this spray a regular part of my beauty regime. (Although at $60 for 2.3 ounces, it’s not exactly cheap. Still, the fact that it gave me the perfect tan somehow makes the price tag a lot more justifiable. Who needs to eat anyway?)

Dior Bronze Sun Powder Spray is available at www.sephora.com and Dior counters everywhere.

Guess what? Today, a limited first-edition supply of Oscillation, the first vibrating mascara by Lancome, will be on sale at select locations. It will not be available again until the national launch this fall. Lancome is famed for their mascaras, and Oscillation is their newest hi-tech additional to their line. Retailing for $34, the battery-operated brush provides 7,000 micro-oscillations per minute, wrapping lashes up to 360 degrees. We’ve heard nothing but good things so far - so we strongly advise that you get yours asap! It will be available only on July 31st while supplies last at the following locations:

• Online: Lancome-usa.com and Sephora.com
• Atlanta: Macy’s at the Lenox Square Mall
• Brea: The Lancome Boutique at the Brea Mall
• Costa Mesa: Nordstrom at South Coast Plaza
• Chicago: Macy’s on State Street and Bon-Ton at the Yorktown Mall
• Dallas: Dillard’s and the Lancome Boutique at NorthPark Center
• Houston: Neiman Marcus at the Galleria
• Miami: Macy’s at the Dadeland Mall
• Manhattan: Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale’s 59th Street, Lord & Taylor, Macy’s Herald Square and the Lancome boutique on Columbus Avenue
• San Francisco: Macy’s Union Square
• Santa Clara: The Lancome Boutique at the Valley Fair Mall
• Short Hills: The Lancome Boutique at the Short Hills Mall

Here at TDO, we spend a lot of time trying various beauty products. So when a line really manages to stand out from the crowd, it’s something to talk about.

I’ve recently become a convert to Caudalie’s fantastic line of products. I told you all about their Purifying Mask a few weeks ago, but that’s just the beginning. Their VinoPerfect Radiance Serum has done such amazing things to my skin that I’ve actually started sending friends out to buy it. It gives my face a fantastic dose of antioxidants and other goodies that make it happy, and keep it smooth and bright…which, at this point in my life, is really all I’m looking for. Their Contour Cream for Eyes and Lips is fantastic, too. It has that same intense brightening effect that, while it doesn’t eliminate the dark circles, it does make them much less noticeable. And from what my aesthetician tells me, that’s really all we can hope for.

Even their body products are amazing! I haven’t stopped using their Sauvignon Scrub since the day it arrived. It’s so gentle that it’s perfect for daily use, and it’s doing wonders for my parched summer skin. Plus, I love that the fragrance is incredibly light…when it’s hot out, the last thing I want is a strong fragrance that sticks around all day.

If what I’ve seen so far is any indication, I can’t wait to check out the rest of the Caudalie line!

I don’t know about everyone else, but I definitely go through stages with makeup. One week I can’t get enough of lip products, the next I’m all about blush or foundation. Recently, I’ve been coveting eye shadows like crazy. I can’t get enough of them! And if they come in a palette, all the better. The Kat Von D line at Sephora is one of my favorite recent eye palette discoveries.

There are two different palettes, Ludwig and Beethoven, both of which were designed exclusively by Kat for Sephora. Both contain a selection of eight different shadows and are meant to be used to create a smoky eye (would you expect anything less from a collection designed by a tattoo artist?) Ludwig contains slightly less edgy shades, with some lighter golds and browns, while Beethoven contains a few darker shades like Sinner, a metallic purple black shimmer that I adore. Both palettes have the Lucifer shade in them - it’s a matte charcoal black that I’ve been loving as an eyeliner. The shadows layer incredibly well and have great staying power, important when you’re creating a smoky eye that you want to last through the night. The palettes are also thin and small, so they’re perfect for travel. You could even slip one in your bag if you’re planning to go out right from work (each palette includes two double-sided applicators). Who doesn’t need a little makeup re-application before happy hour?

To go along with the palettes, Sephora is also offering an Eye Brush Set designed by Kat as well. The kit contains five brushes - an angled eye shadow brush, an eye shadow blending brush, an angled brow brush, a smudge brush and a flat eyeliner brush. It’s all the brushes you could possibly need to make your eyes look fantastic, and it all comes in an adorable little black pouch that’s also easy to transport. (Both the pouch and the brushes are decorated with silver stenciled roses - a design that’s inspired by Kat’s favorite tattoo). I love knowing that the next time I have to pack for a trip, I can just throw this kit into my bag and not worry that I’m forgetting any of my important eye brushes.

The eye shadow palettes retail for $34 each (well worth it for the color selection you get), while the brush set is $48. Both are available exclusively at Sephora stores or at Sephora.com.