The Body Shop

Ringing in 2009 got me thinking, "Now, just how old am I going to be this year?" That reminded me of the goodies beauty companies send out in honor of my birthday. (I don't sound too greedy, do I?)

To help you prepare for your big day, I've compiled a short list of companies that provide complimentary b-day gifts, so you can sign up if you'd like. Feel free to add to the list in the comments section and share your favorites. And a Happy (early) Birthday to you!

• The Body Shop: As a member of the Love Your Body card program, you pay $10 to join, accumulate points, receive rewards, get 10% off all year long, and receive a gift during your birthday month, too.
• Aveda: The environmentally-friendly beauty company's Pure Privilege card also costs $10 to join. You earn points with each purchase, and every year when you're birthday rolls around, you'll receive a certificate for a $20 gift. Psst. It's usually a customized Pure-Fume Spirit blend.
• Sephora: The beauty megastore's Beauty Insider Card is free. As a member, pop into a Sephora store within 14 days of your birthday to redeem your gift. See the site for more details about redeeming online.

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Right before the holidays, I had this urgent need to have my house smell more festive. The fake plastic tree wasn't producing any pleasant smells (particularly after one of my kitties peed on it), so I rushed into The Body Shop for a little Blue Spruce Fragrance Oil to burn. I dropped a little more cash than I would have liked, but it was the holidays, so it was A-OK, right?

But when I stopped back in again a few days ago, I was pleasantly surprised to discover its postholiday sale. While some of the items are a bit "holiday," no doubt you'll be drawn to their cozy, wintry appeal. Various bath and body products, fragrances, and home aromas are discounted online and in-store — some up to 75 percent. An assortment of makeup items are available at three for $10, and hair products are buy one, get one half off.

I picked up some more Blue Spruce Oil, some sweet Almond Oil, and a new burner. The tree is down, the place smells great, my wallet is a little fuller, and those cats seem to be a little better behaved.

While I was browsing products in The Body Shop a few days ago, I bought this Almond Oil Nail & Cuticle Treatment ($12). Not only did it have an olfactory allure (it smells like sweet nuts) but the formula really works. I love the fact that my cuticles actually feel soft enough after a few uses to be able to push them back with the rubber tip that is conveniently housed on the end of the cap.

I guess it's the mixture of organic olive oil, Vitamin E and almond oil that helps moisturize, soothe and smooth out rough, dry and dehydrated cuticles. They even seem less red and puffy — and the skin around my nails is more supple too, which I think improves the overall look of my hands.

Out of all of the cuticle oil pens that I've tried so far, this even blows away my creamy old fave from Sephora. All you have to do is paint the oil onto your cuticles and rub it in with your index finger. It's the perfect beauty playmate to keep in your pocketbook or desk drawer, since you can apply it as often as you like.

Since you all seemed to enjoy the last post about strawberry body and face scrubs so much, I felt inspired to round up even more fresh-smelling and adorably packaged strawberry face and body cleansers to awaken your winter senses.

TESS Scrub-It-Off Strawberry-Jojoba Facial Cleanser For Problem Skin ($9) is intended for the hormonally hyperactive skin of teenagers, which makes it great for adults with sensitive, yet oily skin. It gently washes away the dirt, oil, and makeup from the day and also slightly exfoliates the skin. The jojoba oil and beads and aloe vera also ensure that your face is left feeling moisturized and refreshed.

For two more sweet strawberry beauty treats, read more

With winter beginning to rear its ugly head, the temperature is dropping and you know what that means: All of your body's extra moisture is now being sucked right out of you. If you've been noticing some unsightly scaling on your arms, legs, and elbows, these fruity limited-edition body moisturizers have come to the rescue.

Kiehl's Limited-Edition Hand and Body Pear Tree Corner Lotion ($19.50) is a fast-absorbing cream that leaves skin smelling like fresh pears. Don't let the lightweight texture fool you; this lotion is made with aloe vera and oatmeal to ensure that your dry skin gets all the nourishment and moisture it needs. (And if you're wondering, Pear Tree Corner is the corner where their flagship store is located in New York. )

For two more fruity, limited-edition body lotions, read more

After learning about the many many first-aid and household uses for tea tree oil, I decided to do a little bit of research to see what kinds of beauty products exist with this ingredient. I found out that there are way too many to count, so I've decided to create a three-part series highlighting some of my favorite brands that use this fabulous essential oil in their hair, face and skin care products. I can't wait to hear what you think — and of course if you have any tea tree-infused products of your own to share, please leave a comment.

Liz Earle Spot On Roller Ball (around $15) is an amazing treatment for blemishes bites and cuts. It's made from pure tea tree oil, melissa and lavender (it's got that really strong tea tree oil smell). I've been using it for about a week now on my pimples and it's been extremely effective in fighting off bacteria.

I love the easy roller-ball application, and it doesn't sting like many other spot treatments often do. Unfortunately right now it's only available in the UK, but—shh!—there are tons of gray markets online that will deliver overseas.

For two more tea tree oil products for your skin, read more

This is some sad end-of-the-day news: Anita Roddick, who founded The Body Shop in 1976, has died. In February, she revealed that she had contracted hepatitis C through a blood transfusion while giving birth in 1971. Known for her commitment to fair trade and providing cruelty-free cosmetics, she built The Body Shop into an international company worth millions of dollars. Queen Elizabeth II made her a dame, the female equivalent of a knight, four years ago. Anita Roddick would have been 65 next month.

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Generally, I get frustrated when "charity" products wind up giving only a miniscule percentage of profits to the causes they supposedly benefit. Maybe I'm a cynic, but it seems tacky for a company to bring out a charity product, then donate only 5% or so to the charity while keeping 95% as profits. So I'm really happy that through sales of its new limited-edition Hi-Shine Lip Treatment ($11.50), The Body Shop is giving at least 75% of proceeds to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

In the tube, this limited-edition gloss looks like it might be too disco. It's a bubblegum pink with tiny pink sparkles, which—let's face it—has the potential to be a little more Barbie-at-Studio-54 than you'd ever want. Fortunately, when it's on lips, it's subtle enough for daytime wear. The translucent color provides shine without adding color, making it a good choice for a layering gloss. It's slightly sticky, which I'm not crazy about because I keep smacking my lips. Then again, I wouldn't be smacking my lips so much if it weren't for the delightful scent of the gloss. The Body Shop says it's scented with passion fruit, but to me it smells exactly like Kasugai litchi gummies. Yum.