Oils great for hair, face and body from Schwarzkopf, Pai Skincare and The Body Shop!

Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair Oil Nutritive Weightless Oil - 150ml - $9.99 - with frizz-fighting and weightless, non-greasy nourishment for fine to normal hair, especially longer hair prone to split ends. The non-greasy formula with 8 beauty oils and keratin not only nourishes the hair, but also deeply repairs stressed hair structure, for fewer split ends.

Available at drugstores across Canada.

Pai Skincare Rosehip Bioregenerate Oil - 30ml - $40 - contains a highly concentrated blend of organic rosehip fruit and seed oil - rich in omegas to help regenerate skin and beta-carotene - acts as an antioxidant, helping to provide protection against free radicals such as UV light and pollution. With regular use, it deeply conditions skin, improving firmness and elasticity and promoting a clear, even skin tone, as well it can be used to improve: dry patches, flaky patches, blemishes, dull skin tone, fine lines, scars, and sun damage.

Available at Murale and select Shoppers Drug Mart BeautyBoutique locations across Canada.

The Body Shop Spa Of The World French Lavender Relaxing Massage Oil - 170ml - $20 - with lavender essential oil from the south of France which has a natural relaxing scent which promotes a sense of well-being and soothes body and mind.

Available at The Body Shop locations across Canada and online at thebodyshop.ca.

- Lisamarie -

Lotus Aroma Arnica Gel

Lotus Aroma Arnica Gel - 100ml $19 - with a comforting warming action that relieves the aches and pain of muscles and joints associated with backache, lumbago, strains and sprains (involving muscles, tendons, and/or ligaments) and arthritis - not to mentions sore legs from too much holiday shopping!

It has a 99.5% natural formula that contains: arnica montana - an anti-inflammatory that relieves pain and reduces inflammation,  eucalyptus globulus leaf oil - an analgesic that relieves muscle pain along with aloe barbadensis leaf juice and a bunch of essential oils: balsam fir, cypress, lemon peel and peppermint leaf - to provide a soothing sensation that gradually changes to warmth and which need I say, all makes it also smell great!

And as with all their formulas, it's vegan and free of gluten, sodium lauryl, sufates, irritants, parabens, silicone, dyes, synthetic fragrances and phthalates - and only contains food grade preservatives.

Available now at select drug and health food stores across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

The Body Shop Spa Of The World Firming Ritual

The Body Shop has added a new regime to their Spa of the World range: the Firming ritual - infused with a blend of fruit extracts from forests and vines and blended into refining textures and invigorating fragrances for an uplifting regime designed to empower skin, body and mind.

Available in the collection:

Ethiopian Green Coffee Firming Body Cream - 350ml - $36 - a silky, soft cream with the refining, firming and toning properties of caffeine from organic Ethiopian green coffee along with community trade organic olive oil from Italy that leaves skin feeling firmer and more refined with a satiny smooth finish.

French Grape Seed Refining Body Scrub - 350ml - $32 - infused with grape seed powder from France and community trade organic sugar from Paraguay to help invigorate, exfoliate and refine skin, stimulate circulation and promote even skin tone and a fresh and delicate fruity fragrance that helps awaken and revive the senses. This is my favourite product from the line, not only does it leave skin amazingly silky and smooth, it leaves it smelling amazing too!

Thai Makrut Lime Firming & Toning Body Oil - 170ml - $24 - a toning and firming oil enriched community trade marula oil from Namibia to nourish skin and infused with zingy makrut lime with a stimulating and uplifting scent.

Indian Turtle Body Massage Tool - $18 -  a sleek turtle-inspired tool, developed with community trade craftsmen in India, that gently pinches the skin to stimulate blood flow when used with a rolling massage technique to help increase skin elasticity.

Available at The Body Shop locations across Canada and online at www.thebodyshop.ca.

- Lisamarie -

Massage your way to smoother, more radiant skin with Shiseido Firming Massage Mask!

Shiseido Firming Massage Mask - 50ml - $60 - combines the benefits of a revitalizing massage and a mask in a single effective treatment.

It's a light gel mask containing conditioning treatment granules that gently exfoliate to refine the surface texture of the skin - and then melt during massage to become a firming hydrating mask that in just 3 minutes, can be wiped off to leave behind skin that is smooth, soft and radiant.

Available now at Shiseido counters across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Awaken your senses with the new L'Occitane Aromachologie Rebalancing Ritual!

L'Occitane Aromachologie Rebalancing Ritual offers up a new range of permanent products to awaken the senses and bring well-being and harmony to body and mind - that smell amazing, like an expensive spa!

The formula combines five purifying 100% natural essential oils to provide a feeling of inner harmony and rebalance including Juniper, Cypress, Lemon, Thyme and Eucalyptus.

Rebalancing Exfoliating Shower Gel - 250ml - $26 - with lemon peel and olive kernel powder to help invigorate and rebalance the skin.

Rebalancing Massage Cream - 200ml - $40 - with horse chestnut extract to help moisturize and reoxygenate the skin.

Rebalancing Face Mask - 75ml - $32 - rich in botanical and mineral powders to rid skin of impurities and help tighten pores.

Rebalancing Black Soap - 150ml - $24 - a black soap paste made with olive oil to cleanse skin and rid it of impurities.

And my favourite:

Rebalancing Infusions for Bath - 20g x 5 - $26 - the sachets contain citrus fruit peel and revitalizing salts to infuse bath water with their amazing scent! I must admit the sachet format does give me the sense that I am taking a bath in a giant cup of tea...

Available now at L'Occitane boutiques across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Massage your way to a better mood with oils from L'Occitane, Escents and Lotus Aroma!

Get relaxed with:

L'Occitane Relaxing Massage Body Oil - 100ml - $36 - made with naturally derived ingredients that combine the benefits of botanical active ingredients for well-being, harmony, revitalizing and soothing effects.

Available now at L'Occitane boutiques across Canada.

Get romantic with:

Escents Love Massage & Bath Oil - 100ml - $15.95 - with skin soothing sweet almond oil and long-lasting, moisturizing jojoba oil to absorb quickly and not leave a greasy feel - scented with rose and jasmine.

Available at Escents stores in British Columbia and Alberta and online at escents.ca.

Get better with:

Lotus Aroma Eucalyptus Globulus Massage Oil - 180ml - $19 - offers muscle relaxation and easy-breathing with pure and natural eucalyptus globus essential oil in a formula that is non-greasy and won't stain.

Available at fine pharmacies and health food stores across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Collection - for skin that glows!

The Body Shop introduces a new line of bath and body products enriched with handpicked Community Fair Trade wild argan oil from Morocco that aims to add radiance to your skin!

I don't find it has a strong scent, it's light with a sweet hint to it almost like honey, so if you aren't a "fragrancey" person then you probably won't find this overwhelming.

Body Butter - 200ml - $20 - with a buttery texture that leaves skin feeling soft and smooth for 24 hours.

The Radiant Oil - 125ml - $20 - a rich, dry oil with a satin touch that can be used on the body and hair

Bubbling Bath - 250ml - $12 - fills your tub with rich, plentiful fragrant bubbles to leave skin feeling softer and smoother.

Rough Scrub - 200ml - $20 - lifts away dead skin cells and helps stimulate the skin's surface to leave skin smooth and soft.

Body Lotion - 250ml - $12 - offers lightweight, easily absorbed moisture with a non-greasy finish.

Shower Gel - 250ml - $9 - for lather-rich cleansing that is soap free so won't dry out your skin.

Massage Soap - 150g - $6 - cleanse and massage all in one go.

Miracle Solid Oil - 50g - $14 - 70% solid oil with a rich texture for body and hair.

Solid Oil Lips - 20ml - $6

This is another line your can feel good about buying and using - The Community Fair Trade partner is the Targanine Cooperative from Morocco, a local cooperative created by women, for women to help find buyers for their argan oil and invests in social projects such as school rooms for children and adult learning, creches, doctor's visits and micro loan facilities.

Available now at The Body Shop stores across Canada and online at www.thebodyshop.ca.

- Lisamarie -

Get in the mood for love with the LUSH Valentine's Day collection!

Share the LUSH love this Valentine's Day with a romantic collection of products meant for sharing - but really nice enough that you might not want to!

Love Locket Bath Bomb - $10.95 - with a blend of uplifting and sensual oils including: vanilla, jasmine and neroli. Be frugal and use each half of the locket and inner heart in 3 separate baths or go crazy like I did and throw it all in at once - because I wanted really pink water either way, your heart will melt with the romantic scent!

Close to You Massage Bar - $7.95 - made with a luxurious blend of butters and oils and a delicious vanilla scent - you will be left wondering why do birds suddenly appear....

Tender is the Night Massage Bar - $11.95 - tenderly melt this bar onto skin and be seduced by the intoxicating blend of jasmine, ylang ylang and Fair Trade vanilla essential oils.

Neon Love Soap - 100g - $6.95 - lather up with a brand new fragrance of bergamot, rosewood and cinnamon leaf oil bended with passion fruit juice to cleanse and soya yogurt to nourish and soften skin.

Prince Charming Shower Gel - 100ml - $9.95, 250ml - $19.95, 500ml - $29.95 - lather up with soft marshmallow root and Fair Trade vanilla pod infusion to make you smell amazing while fresh pomegranate juice and grapefruit oil cleanse the skin and almond oil moisturizes.

I never thought I'd love a LUSH shower gel as much as I love my Snow Fairy but I this one is giving it a run for its money! Prince Charming has the vanilla notes so it's a more mature sweet scent than Snow Fairy, if I ever decide to become a grown up this will become the frontrunner!

The Kiss Tinted Lip Balm - $9.25 - a delicate pink lip balm that gives a touch of colour while a blend of moisturizing butters and organic agave syrup easily smooth onto lips leaving a high shine.

Available now at LUSH location and online at www.lush.ca.

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Demeter Chocolate Covered Cherries and other Valentine's Day inspired scents!

If you find fragrances confusing and just want your scents to smell exactly like their name then this is the brand for you! With over 250+ uncannily accurate scents to choose from you can mix and match your fragrance to any mood or occasion.

If you're looking for something sweet and sexy smelling this Valentine's Day check out:

Demeter Chocolate Covered Cherries - 30ml - $15 - smells chocolatey sweet and good enough to eat!

Or check out some other Valentine's Day worthy scents from the Demeter Fragrance Library including: Bulgarian Rose, Redhead In Bed, Devils Food, Between The Sheets and Champagne Brut.

You can also spice up the atmosphere with their Diffuser Oils - 120ml - $25 or spice up a lot more with their  Massage and Body Oil - 60ml - $12 - whatever you choose - your Valentine's Day (or any other day) is sure to smell great!

Available at select Loblaws banner store locations including The Real Canadian Superstore.

- Lisamarie -

Holiday Helpers from Lise Watier, Kalaya and Smart Mouth!

Shopping and socializing don't sound like difficult things but they sure can take their toll on you! Late nights, drinking, eating, dancing and cruising the malls can all lead to sore muscles, tired looking skin and breath that is less then social - here are a few products to solve these issues:

Lise Watier Beauty In A Flash Kit - $42 - includes 7 Flash Lift Radiance Vials - for an instant glow for tired looking skin, 3 pairs of Bio Lift Eye Patch - for younger looking eyes in 20 minutes and a sample of Vent du Sud EDT - vanilla and jasmine, perfect for a pre or post party touch-up - all tucked away inside a beauty advent-calendar type deal!

And while you're feeling festive, visit the microsite flash.lisewatier.com and send an interactive greeting card to all your friends! As an added bonus, when you share your card on Facebook or send one to at least 5 friends, you'll get a $5 discount at the Lise Watier online boutique and a chance to win 1 year of Lise Watier products!

Kalaya Roller Relief 6x Dual Action Massager - 120g - $23.95 - combines a deep, soothing massage experience with fast acting and long lasting topical pain relief with 6 all-natural active ingredients for pain relief and anti-inflammatory action - for relief in as little as 3 minutes that can last up to 8 hours!

What makes it really great is the applicator which not only dispenses the product without you having to get your hands all gunked up and messy, but gives you a massage at the same time - and who doesn't love that - if only it took out the garbage too!

Not only great for shopping wearied muscles but also arthritis, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, athletic injury (what's shopping if not that?) and any other everyday soreness of muscles and joints.

Available at The Shopping Channel - www.theshoppingchannel.com. 

SmartMouth 12 Hour Fresh Breath - 480ml - $16.99 - offers patented zinc-ion technology to not only freshen your breath but to also prevent the bad breath from coming back for up to 12 hours. With two solutions that are mixed together to activate the Smart-Zinc technology that works on two levels - to eliminate any existing breath as well as block germs to keep odors and protein particles away. What's great about it is it's not disguising odor the way many mouthwashes do but eliminating it and preventing the problem from reoccurring.

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Pharmasave and Safeway.

- Lisamarie -

Fall in love with LUSH for Valentine's Day!

Nothing says sexy to me like a bath or shower filled with bubbles and wonderful smells - if nothing else it means the boy will be clean at the end of it... and of course sharing is environmentally friendly too! These V-Day offerings from LUSH are sure to get at least one of you in the mood!

Sweetheart Soap - $4.95 - a sweet smelling soap that is full of aphrodisiacs like jasmine, sandalwood, ylang ylang and bergamot to help lift your spirits. And even though it looks like a giant candy, I don't recommend eating it!

Love Potion Massage Bar - $9.95 - delicately scented with the fragrance of Love perfume.

Leap Frog Bath Bomb - $4.95 - with the scents of jasmine, sandalwood, ylang ylang, rose and neroli - created in honour of 2012 being a leap year which means ladies can do the proposing! I guess that means this will get a ring around your man instead of the tub...

A Million Kisses Lip Tint - $8.95 - a red lip tint that is scented with roses and will leave lips soft and supple. Can also be used as a cheek tint!

25:43 - 2ml - $3, 9ml - $14.95, 30ml - $39.95 - named for the amount of time - 25 minutes and 43 seconds that it took Mark Constantine, LUSH founder and Gorilla Perfumer, to make this fragrance for his son Simon's wedding. With notes of lime tonka accord with sweet warm hay and a fresh green citrus top.

Do Knot Disturb Knot Wrap - $28.95 - inside the wrap you'll find products to make your Valentine's Day a  little more special with a paper band around it that can be used as a door hanger once cut out. Contains: Soft Coeur Lust Soap, Sex Bomb, French Kiss.

- Lisamarie -

Elancyl Cellulite Offensive Review

Elancyl Cellulite Offensive 14 Days - 100ml - $57 - triple impact for embedded cellulite.  I like the french name for this product better - "Offensive Cellulite" - because I think it really speaks to the heart of the issue for me - I hate orange peel skin and do in fact find it offensive!

So yes, you guessed it, another bottle of cellulite cream down the hatch (thighs) and here I am to give you my findings.  First off, the colour - bright green - is perfect!  I'm absolutely convinced that green products work better, I don't know why this is, just another one of my irrational notions, so just go with me on this one!  The smell is also great, very fresh and dare I say it, green!  It has a pump dispenser and what I think is very clever is the bottom of the bottle is rounded up so that you don't end up with an inch of product at the bottom that the dispenser straw can't suck up. The lotion itself is a gel/cream, not at all sticky and it absorbs quickly so I was able to get dressed right after applying.  If you have dry skin you might need to apply a moisturizer on top, it's not very thick and while it was fine for my skin during the summer, I suspect I would not find it rich enough for when it's cold out and my skin is drier.

Elancyl Cellulite Offensive promises to break the vicious cycle of cellulite in just 14 days, that it only needs to be applied once a day for 24 hour effectiveness and that it would prevent cellulite recurrence for longer lasting results.

My verdict:  In 14 days my thighs did look much smoother, not perfect mind you but I've accepted that perfection would take a miracle, lipo, or an avoidance of french fries, none of which are going to happen anytime soon.  Not only that, when my bottle ran out last week I intentionally used nothing else since to see if I would get the whole preventative benefit noted and my thighs are still equally smooth.  I'm not going to be able to hold out any longer to see how long the results will last, I'm going through cellulite cream withdrawal here!

If you really want to show your cellulite you mean business, use the cellulite cream in conjunction with this Elancyl Massage Glove and Gel - 200ml - $50.  This is a great shower tool, the massager really amps up your circulation and as we know, increased blood flow has all kinds of benefits.  You can use the massager anywhere you like (although I wouldn't recommend your face) and the gel has a great fresh scent (and it's green).

And since I know you are all wondering and dying to ask me - yes, the above picture IS me!  I really need to get out of the habit of wandering around almost naked!

You can find Elancyl products at most drugstores including my beloved Shoppers Drug Mart!

- Lisamarie -