Dove

Though winter tends to be a time when my skin needs the most TLC, summer time is when I use the most products. LOL. I think it’s because more is exposed and thus I feel a need to constantly be exfoliating, moisturizing, hydrating, protecting, etc. There are a ton of great budget beauty buys for the body and here are 4 that I’ve been testing and enjoying.

1. Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Buttercream – Would someone please explain to me why I have not yet tried this brand?!! Anyone?!! The only possible explanation is insanity, either that or I have been living under a rock all these years. Between the body products and the cleansing milk for the face, it didn’t take a lot for me to get hooked. This body buttercream sounds incredibly decadent, and while it is, it’s not too rich for the warm weather. It melts almost immediately on the skin and feels more like a light lotion/gel than a thick cream. Absolute heaven. And the scent is sweet with a hint of citrus. Your summer skin needs this.

2. Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub – While I am not opposed to a salt scrub, I do tend to favor a sugar based one a bit more. Sugar has more healing properties and I find it makes my skin feel soft and soothed. This scrub is quite thick so it doesn’t fall apart in my hands nor does it make an oily mess in the tub which is nice. It has a sweet lime scent that lingers a bit after the shower and leaves the skin with a hint of fragrance.

3. Vaseline Intensive Care Spray Moisturizer in Aloe Soothe – One of my favorite body moisturizers of all time is a spray application and I have yet to try another that I like as much. Until now. This one from Vaseline delivers a lightweight lotion easily with just one spray. This mist is a little narrow so I like to spray the area and then rub it in with my hands. I think what appealed to me the most about this lotion was how cooling and relaxing it made my skin feel. My legs tend to swell a lot in the summer (despite my attempts to eat as little salt as possible) and I have found that this works wonders on them after a long day. I spray it on my calves and then proceed to massage it all over my lower legs and feet and it has done wonders in helping my legs depuff. Though it is not necessarily designed to do that, I always like to find innovative ways to use the products I test.

4. Dove Body Wash Summer Care (swatch shown above) – Just a little tidbit about me – Dove Sensitive Skin Unscented Body Wash is my holy grail body wash. It has been for nearly 8+ years, and was recommended by my gynecologist believe it or not as a product that is gentle enough to use anywhere on the body without irritation. And once I tried it, I was hooked. So I was excited to give this new summer version from Dove a try especially because it had more exfoliating properties to it. As you can see from the above picture, the texture is a mix between a lotion and gel with little exfoliating beads mixed throughout. As I apply it, it melts right into the skin and leaves it feeling moisturized and refreshed. It’s a nice change from my usual Dove standby and the lightweight texture is perfect for the warmer weather. Another reason why Dove has solidified a permanent spot in my shower.

Though my skin turns into nothing short of alligator hide during the winter season, I don’t take as many steps necessary to keep it hydrated as I do during the spring/summer. Probably because my arms and legs are hidden under 15,000 layers in the colder months, which can make me lazy. But all bets are off in the warmer months since limbs are exposed every day and a sundress with scaly legs or ashy elbows is never a cute look. My summer skin prep has already begun and I have a few new products I am using this year mixed with a classic staple that never leaves my shower.

1. Dove Sensitive Skin Nourishing Body Wash – Probably one of the longest relationships I’ve ever had is with this body wash. I actually can’t remember a time when I have not used it – it’s that good. Many different body washes have tried to infiltrate my shower, but none have lasted. That’s because this one is gentle yet effective, unscented and incredibly nourishing on the skin. Oddly enough, this was recommended to me by my gynecologist because it was safe enough to be used anywhere on the body (even on one’s lady parts – yes, I said lady parts), and would not irritate. I am not consistent with most skincare and makeup that I use because I love to try new things, but this is one product that I will never stray from. We are in it for the long haul.

2. Laura Mercier Creme Brulee Sugar Scrub* – “It’s a body scrub, and it exfoliates. The end.” – is what I thought I would say after using this scrub. Boy was I in for a surprise. I actually said “Wow” after my first use, and consider it one of the best scrubs I have ever used. The texture is incredibly thick, almost like honey which makes it a bit more of a challenge to rub in, but as the product is massaged in, it warms up and begins to turn into a liquid. Sugar is more healing than salt so my skin always feels nourished and soothed after. Oh, and it smells like creme brulee. YUM, now I want a cupcake.

3. REN Moroccan Rose Otto Body Oil – If the immediate absorption doesn’t lure you in, then the scent will. I find that when using this I rarely need perfume, and the delicate rose scent is pleasant without being overpowering. I use this in the morning because it dries quickly and allows me to get dressed almost immediately. No residue is left and my skin feels incredible.

4. Tatcha Indigo Soothing Silk Body Butter – While the REN body oil is perfect for day time, I tend to like something a bit more rich at night. I have seen this Tatcha body cream all over Instagram and I just had to try for myself. And now I know why everyone is loving it – it is pure decadence, yet extremely effective. Designed for all skin types, especially sensitive and those with eczema, rosacea or dermatitis, this helps to immediately soothe my skin, and any skin irritation is immediately calmed. This will definitely stay with me into the winter season.

5. Lancer The Method: Body Nourish* – I had a chance recently to attend a fall launch preview at Bergdorf Goodman and this one from Dr. Lancer was quite unique. It is a body cream containing glycolic acid which helps to exfoliate the skin. I use this once or twice a week in conjunction with my Laura Mercier body scrub and find that the combination of the two have helped keep my skin smoother than it has ever been. An added benefit that I found once I began using this body cream was how even toned my skin began to look especially on my arms, chest and back. While I have always loved using glycolic acid on my face, I never truly made the connection that I would have the same results if used on the rest of my body. Duh, clearly not my brightest moment. Keep your eyes peeled for fall when this launches – it is worth a try!

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