Soap & Glory

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.

I love testing cleansers. If I could test them all day every day I would. (well I guess I would have to give my face a break one in a while, ugh) Here are 5 that I have put through the paces over the past few weeks and months.

1. Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Cream – I think of this more as a mask/cleanser than a standard cleanser. As you can see from below, it is a thick grainy texture so it is definitely better for a second cleanse or even a treatment. I add a bit of water to it to make a thick paste and then pat it on my skin. I use upward massaging motions to work it onto the skin for a minute or two and then gently rinse it off. My skin is left smooth, plump and hydrated. Truly a unique product.

2. Zelens Z Pure Cleansing Liquid Balm – Boy is this stuff thick! Which initially had me wondering whether it would perform better as a makeup remover/first cleanse or massaging second cleanse. I did feel that it removed makeup nicely, but it’s a pricier cleanser so I would prefer to leave it as a second cleanse and really work it well into the skin. Because it is so thick, I like to remove it with a warm cloth and love the final result of how my skin feels and looks. Definitely another win from Zelens.

3. Sjal Deep Pore Cleanser – We all know how judgey I can be when it comes to skincare and makeup and I often make snap decisions about a product from just the name or appearance. I am forever proven wrong, but yet I keep doing it. Here was another example of a judgement gone wrong. I saw “deep pore cleanser” and immediately thought it would be foamy and stripping and designed for oily skin but leave my skin feeling worse. And this was after falling in love with the 2 Sjal masks….I’m a tough audience. Welp, my assessment couldn’t be further from reality. This is the most luxurious and decadent creamy balm that glides over the skin like silk. I use this as a second cleanse because I want every bit of the key ingredients to get right on my skin and not be wasted trying to cut through makeup. Add water and this melts beautifully leaving the skin feeling like it’s had a day at the spa. After a good 2 weeks of using regularly, my skin look noticeably brighter and my pores appeared cleaner and less noticeable. The cap is a bit troublesome to remove but frankly I could really care less because what’s inside is so remarkable. Two thumbs up! 

4. Soap & Glory Deep Cleansing Milk – First things first – this stuff smells unbelievable. It has a sweet and enticing aroma of fresh peaches and I wash just a few seconds longer each time to enjoy the smell. But yummy scent aside, the formula itself is soft, creamy and delivers just the right amount of moisture and hydration to balance my oily skin. I know this may seem like a bold statement from a product I was only recently introduced to, but it secured a spot in my top 3 favorite milk cleansers already. Yup, told you it was bold. But when you know, you know. Ya know?

5. Jurlique Nourishing Cleansing Oil – I typically don’t write my blog posts in order of least favorite to most favorite, but in this case I ended with my favorite cleanser of the bunch. I have tried a lot (seriously, a TON) of cleansing oils and this was a stunner from first cleanse. The texture is thick but not too thick, and literally erases any and every trace of makeup from my face. Stubborn eye makeup, thick foundation, 13 layers of bronzers….not a match for this stuff. And while it is easy to emulsify and rinse off, it doesn’t completely dissolve immediately. I have to work the water into the oil to really get a good milk which ensures I get a deep clean. My skin is left soft and smooth, and if I absolutely had to skip a second cleanse it wouldn’t even matter. This stuff is that effective and my skin loves it. I told my mother to go out and buy this immediately. LOL. We love to chat skincare and text about our routines and I told her that her face needed this cleanser. Stat! I’m bossy when it comes to skincare. Sorry not sorry. Her face will thank me.