body lotion

When a tube of Cetaphil DailyAdvance Ultra Hydrating Lotion ($10) crossed my desk, I had mixed feelings. On one hand, I am a huge fan of Cetaphil's cult (and dermatologist) favorite Gentle Cleanser, but on the other, I feared it would probably just be yet another greasy body lotion.

Now that I've used it for five days in a row, I'll admit that I should have given this moisturizer the benefit of the doubt. It is nowhere near "heavy" in consistency, but you can tell while rubbing it in that it is going to hydrate better than your average, watery body lotion. It has a silky-fine texture that forms a light, non-greasy film on your skin that reminds me of a glycerin based hand cream–smooth, yet not slippery. It soaks in pretty quickly, maybe a little too quickly for my liking. Nonetheless, it left my skin feeling very soft.

While I am a big fan of this moisturizer for daily use, I am not sure it is deserving of the "Ultra Hydrating" title. It would probably be better suited for those of you with normal to moderately dry skin, rather than those of you battling severe dryness. It is also worth noting that although the product is "fragrance-free," it has that distinct "non-smell" kind of smell, which Mr. Bella accurately described as that of water balloons. It's not strong, but it's not exactly fragrance-free, either.

Talk about at-home spa treatments. This La Mer Body Cream is so unbelievably thick and creamy, the folks at La Mer HQ call it a "seaweed wrap in a jar." Lucky for me, I was sent a sample because $195 for body cream is holy outrageous, Batman!

The lotion comes packaged in a pale green celery jar and smells exactly like the face cream and the hand treatment. That's probably because it contains all kinds of ingredients from the sea along with four kinds of algae, omega 3, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid. Funny enough, it doesn't contain the company's most famous Miracle Broth, which I thought was their secret weapon.

I'll level with you: If this became your guilty pleasure, you'd need to take another mortgage out on your house, but for anyone who's got some cash to burn, I'd put this at the top of my list. It really is that fabulous. The cream comforts and seriously moisturizes dry, damaged skin. For everybody else who is looking for a less expensive option, check out my drugstore pick for body lotion.

For those of you who worry about sagging skin on or around your breasts, these firming creams are designed to lift, tighten, and rejuvenate your bust contours by improving tone, texture, and firmness. These are great for new mothers, or for anyone looking for a topical preventative treatment.

Keep in mind that firming creams claim to hydrate, improve your skin's resilience and boost antioxidant and collagen production — but they aren't cure-alls, and their effects aren’t permanent. I've found a few bust-firming products below. These are items I haven't tested yet, but I can recommend these Apivita Express Bust Firming Mask Packets firsthand, which make your skin smell and feel baby soft.

Mama Mio Boob Tube ($38) is a product meant for new moms. Not only does it claim to soothe sore, itchy breasts and nipples, but it also prevents stretch marks and improves tone and firmness. If you have any friends who just had a little one, this is a great way to show some, uh, support.

Guinot Liftenseur Firming Bust Cream ($40) promises to tighten, plump, and mend the suspensory tissues in your skin. The box says to avoid your nipples, so consider yourself warned.

For one last drugstore option, read more

Got a big date tonight but no time to stop off at home and primp beforehand? Don't sweat it. Here are three products you can throw in your purse to help you create a red-hot Valentine's Day look that will take you from day to night.

• Red lipstick: If there's any day to wear red, this is it. I like Estee Lauder Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Autumn, a slightly shimmery blue-red shade that you can use to stain your lips and cheeks during the day and then layer in the evening for an intensified, seductive look .
• Liquid luminizer: Benefit Hollywood Glo highlighting lotion has golden undertones as opposed to pink or peach, so it will give you a natural-looking radiance. Apply a small amount to your nose, temples and cheekbones — and to super-size your sex appeal, smooth some along your collarbones, shoulders and cleavage.
• Scented body lotion:Try something obviously seductive like Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Body Lotion. Not only will help to smooth out your skin at the eleventh hour, but it will also double as a fragrance. A scented moisturizer dilutes the strong smell of perfume and gives off the illusion that your body smells good all over.

Welcome to my third installment on strawberry beauty products. These body lotions are refreshing and sweet fruit treats for your skin. I've found that even with the wide assortment of orange, lemon and pomegranate body creams, there's nothing quite as wonderful as strawberry. Judging from your comments about strawberry facial scrubs and cleansers I think you'll like these juicy treats too.

Kama Sutra Strawberry Creme Body Soufflé ($17.09) is more of a massage cream than a body lotion. I haven't tried it, but a friend has, and she claims it's even edible (tastes sweet, but good). The timing sure is perfect considering that Valentine's Day is next week. I think it's funny that there's a warning saying that you must be 18 and over to even buy the cream. So, let me get this straight: Anyone can buy condoms, but you can't buy massage cream unless you're 18. Hmm, tawk amongst yourselves.

For two more smoothing and soothing strawberry body lotions, read more

Make lotion better? I know what you're thinking: "Oh, but how could lotion ever become better than it already is? Why, it's already at the zenith of moisturizing properties!" In just a minute, you'll understand. About a week ago, I headed to Bliss for a pedicure. What a treat! The best part isn't the luxury of sitting back while somebody rubs your feet; it's how that person does it. And at Bliss, they heat the lotion before slathering it on your worn-out feet and legs. Let me tell you, it's one of the most amazing feelings your legs will ever experience. So warm, so soothing.

Now, until Milo learns how to give a proper pedicure, I'm on my own as far as re-creating this warm goodness at home. I fiddled around with the microwave and different containers, so to find out the sweet spot for heating your moisturizer, read more

I've been using St. Ives Collagen Elastin Advanced Body Moisturizer ($5.39) on and off for about a year now. When my precious Creme de Corps seems a bit heavy or if I am just not in the mood to use something that expensive when I know I am going to shower again later in the day, I turn to this creamy, sweet-smelling body lotion to make my scaly skin smooth.

I'm pretty particular about my body lotion and hand cream, and I think this one is tops. It penetrates quickly and leaves skin feeling soft and smooth, not waxy or oily. And when I say that it smells good, I'm not exaggerating. Think of slowly brewed tea made from chamomile, primrose, elder flower and sunflowers — that's what this lotion smells like. It's not over-the-top powerful, sweet or girly, it's just right. Apparently I am not alone in my affections. According to a press release from St. Ives, Collagen Elastin has been the brand's best-selling lotion for over 25 years! I really encourage you to try this if you are on the market for a new body cream. It's available in three sizes, including a travel size for 99 cents.

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.

For those of you who prefer to keep your face matte, but still crave a little bit of shimmer for the holidays, you might like these gorgeous gold enhanced body products. Just sprinkle a little sparkle on your shoulders, decolletage, arms and legs and you'll be the Bella of the ball!

Guerlain Forever Gold Sublime Radiant Powder ($78) is a limited-edition, violet-scented gold shimmer powder for the body, face and hair. It comes in an atomizer for easy and even application—which is great, but it also definitely adds to the hefty cost.

For two more gold body products, 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