Body Cream

In these increasingly shaky economic times, you'd think people might scoff at paying $400 for a body lotion. But according to today's WWD, luxury brand Kanebo is expecting us to do just that with Sensai Premier Body Cream.

The article points out that the new cream's $400 for 6.7 ounces trumps Creme de la Mer's body lotion, which is $195 for 10.3 ounces. Called "the ultimate body cream" by a company spokesman, the product includes Chinese Mulberry shrub, Japanese seaweed, and a Moon Flower fragrance. Are you reserving your tub now?

I love that brands like Yes to Carrots, Burt's Bees and J.R. Watkins are available at drugstores (and therefore at drugstore prices). I picked up J.R. Watkins' new Aloe & Green Tea Body Cream ($6.49) on a day when my skin was feeling especially parched. The packaging couldn't be cuter, with declarations like "free yourself" and "naturally pure" written in old-timey script — and in French, at that. This brand doesn't use parabens, dye, or phthalates (nor does it test on animals) and they're clearly proud of it — as they should be!

To find out what I thought of this cream, just read more

Last month, Paul & Joe launched a few new nail and body products for Summer 2008. Of the bunch, my favorite product is the Refreshing Leg Emulsion ($30). This citrusy-mint scented lotion is actually formulated with oil to penetrate deep into your skin, however, it dries to a powdery, velvety-soft finish. It's cool — and I mean that literally, because it also contains baby peppermint leaves and elderflower extract to create a cooling effect on your legs.

If you really work it into your skin (as directed), it helps to reduce some of the swelling and inflammation that tends to occur in the heat and humidity of the Summer. In turn, it will also help improve the rate of absorption and your blood circulation.

It goes on super-creamy and has an intense sheen that gives your legs a healthy-looking glow. Within a few moments, you'll feel a slight tingle and a pleasant coolness as the air mixes with the lotion.

This French brand has recently become available in the U.S. You can order it from any of these locations or you can call the Bergdorf Goodman Paul & Joe counter directly at 212-872-2759.

For easy-to-apply, three-step directions on how to give your legs a therapeutic massage using Paul & Joe's Leg Emulsion, read more

Just because the weather's warming up, doesn't mean we have to toss our luxurious body creams. With that in mind, I recently tried out the Bioelements Vitalization Rich Intensity Body Creme ($50), and let me tell you, it does not fool around when it comes to moisture.

This rich body cream is formulated with shea butter, botanicals, red tea, and beta-carotines. It comes in a tub, which triggers a mild attack of germophobia. The texture is thick and yogurt-like, and it goes on a little sticky and takes awhile to rub in, but the results are worth the effort: my skin was smooth and silky as can be. But, because the absorption time is longer than most moisturizers, it's probably better for nighttime use.

My favorite part about this moisturizer is the fact that it is virtually fragrance-free. Judging by the container and the weight of the product, I was prepared for an overly-fragrant, olfactory assault. Instead I was greeted with only a hint of spicy botanicals. Lovely.

My feelings on this product are mixed, mostly because of the high price tag ($50). I would recommend this cream if you have a hankering for some serious moisture, are fed up with overly-fragranced products, and don't mind shoving your mitts in an big tub of goop, and have $50 burning a hole in your pocket. There's no doubt your skin will thank you.

Victoria's Secret has just launched new products within its Beauty Rush collection. The additions are six shades of Liquid Glitter Eye Liners ($7) and six Body Whip Moisture Creams ($12), both of which are expected to hit stores any day now.

Typically, the Beauty Rush products remind me of teenagey treats that are so saccharine, it's hard to imagine applying them to your body. To my disappointment, the Body Whips fall into this category. I've tested out Appletini — and don't get me wrong, it's a lot of fun to apply since it shoots right out just like whipped cream — but the fragrance is much too intense, the texture is sticky, and I would be petrified wearing this in warm weather for fear of getting attacked by bees!

I am, however, a big fan of the rich and vibrant eyeliners. They contain a thin-tipped brush that makes application a cinch. You have a fair amount of time to blend or smudge them before they dry, and the best part of all is that they are fragrance free.

For more details about each of the new items, read more

Welcome back to my series on firming beauty products. Today's topic is body creams. Before we go any further, you need to know that no cream can actually remove cellulite. By following a healthy lifestyle you can shrink lipids, but topical creams will only work to stimulate your skin and temporarily help smooth the appearance of cellulite. Below are three that I've tried.

Benefit Jiggle Gel ($26) is a toning, firming, and hydrating moisturizer for your hips, thighs, tummy, arms, and booty. It claims to act as an "invisible girdle." I can't attest to it being quite that effective, but the mental image definitely worked to help me feel firmer. Simply smooth it onto your body and allow it to dry. I just read that it's also recommended to help reduce swelling after long flights, so it might be good for frequent fliers.


For two more body firming creams, read more

Wowsers! The tallies of this year's best body moisturizer were close. At 12 percent was The Body Shop Body Butter, at 11 percent was Vaseline Cocoa Butter, and at 10 percent was Nivea Body Original Moisture Daily Lotion.

My favorite body lotion of all time is Kiehl's Creme de Corps, but I really trust you guys, so perhaps it's time I ditch my luxurious-but-expensive designer cream for a drugstore brand. Walgreens, here I come.

Technically, this isn't exactly about new products, but Victoria's Secret Beauty is re-launching its Secret Garden collection with new packaging and new formulas. This line of bath and body products is an old cult favorite that feels great on your skin and smells amazing. In fact, VS sells over 68 million products annually! There's a new scent involved in the re-launch, too; it's called Blossoming Romance. Excited yet?

The Secret Garden collection is made up of ten fruity, floral and spicy scents in eight different botanically-based formulas to soften, smooth, and pamper your skin. The formulas include Body Lotion, Body Splash, Body Scrub, Hairspray, Shampoo/Conditioner, Bath Bubbles, Eau de Toilette Spray and Hand & Body Cream.

To read about the savory and succulent Secret Garden scents as well as to see some great images of Karolina Kurkova, Selita Ebanks and Maria Menounos from the Victoria's Secret Beauty Secret Garden Event last weekend in the Hamptons, read more