BellaSugar

5 Baby Bath Items to Make Getting Clean Even More Comfortable

Rebecca M Gruber — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:15:13 PST

Splish splash! Bath time may be designed to get lil ones clean, but for many mamas, it's also an opportunity to calm fussy lil ones during the witching hour. The key to doing so is ensuring that the entire experience is as comfortable as possible - both for mom and for tot! A host of new products are making bath time cleaner and comfier than ever. Check out five that are hitting our radar right now!

American Standard Fun Baths: Ga Ga or Gag

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:31:30 PDT

Bath time should be a breeze. Kids playing around in a tub of water with plenty of bath toys at their disposal sure sounds like fun, but getting lil ones to want to take a bath is often a struggle. American Standards' fun baths may change all of that. Available in two designs, the kits fit directly over standard bath tubs, transforming them into either a shiny red fire truck or a purple princess castle. The kid-friendly designs also have safety in mind with built-in seats, grab bars, and spray showers to keep lil ones comfortable throughout their baths. At $2,200, the temporary tub transformations are quite an investment, but can you imagine doing bath time without an argument?

Bath Salts Will Get You High, Just Not the Ones at Your House

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 05:00:53 PST

Because salvia and cough syrup are just déclassé, America's teens are now snorting bath salts to get high. The kids are calling it "Cloud Nine", and apparently it's a craze that's sweeping the nation. Don't go shoving that Ahava up your nose just yet, though. The "bath salts" being sold aren't your run-of-the-mill lavender and eucalyptus stuff. They're actually erstwhile chemicals, usually mephedrone and methylenedioxypyrovalerone, being passed off as seasoning salt, bath salts, or even fertilizer.

Both chemicals are powerful stimulants, said to be around four times more powerful than Ritalin and similar in effect to MDMA. Also, they're as addictive as meth. Great. Not surprisingly, lots of the people using this stuff are winding up in the hospital. So, to recap: the bath salts you use at home are totally fine; don't snort them. If, however, you are looking to get high, please do not buy these dumb, terrible drugs for the above reasons.

Have a Happy Hanukkah With Lush's Fizztival of Lights

Miriam Lacey — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 04:01:52 PST

I'm well aware that Hanukkah started at sundown Wednesday, but for those of us inclined to be a little tardy with the gifting, why not make it up to your favorite mensch with Lush's Fizztival of Lights ($20) gift box? It's in a cute little hat box that's already all festively wrapped, it has four bath bombs (buy two boxes and you've got all eight nights covered), and with the price, you'll have plenty of gelt left over.

Scents of the Season: Balsam

Miriam Lacey — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 09:00:45 PST

Nothing recalls wintry woods drifted high with snow like the astringent, green scent of balsam. Of the "wood" scents popular in colder months, it's one of the brightest, and it's never fusty or heavy smelling. There's plenty of fresh balsam goodness for your bathroom, too. If you want to smell like a forest while you moisturize, there's Allgauer Foot Balsam ($10), Nivea SOS Hand Balsam ($13), and Dr. Eckstein Krauter Balsam Facial Balm ($23). If you'd rather fill your shower with the smell of the outdoors, Balsamo Soap by Valobra ($15) and Philip B. Nordic Wood One Step Hair & Body Shampoo ($8) will both do the job. And if you'd like a beautifully blended holiday scent that's pretty but not girly, there's Agraria Balsam Cologne Spray ($40).

Scents of the Season: Nutmeg

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 09:00:05 PST

The zippy, sweet smell of nutmeg helps make mulled wine, spiced cider, and pumpkin pie delicious. Coincidentally, it smells pretty great on people, too. If you'd like a soft, creamy skin scent that lingers all day, products like Jo Malone Nutmeg & Ginger Body Crème ($75) and Crabtree & Evelyn Naturals Botanical Body Butter in Nutmeg & Cardamom ($26) will leave you hydrated and nicely spiced. If you prefer smoky, leathery scents with nutmeg blended in, Serge Lutens Cuir Mauresque Eau de Parfum ($140) is extremely sexy and sophisticated. If you'd like to clean your way to frothy, chai-scented bliss, there's always fancy Byredo Chembur Soap ($45). And if you just want a little something festive from the drugstore, Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in Nutmeg ($4) is a bargain.

Is It a Scrumptious Cupcake . . . or Soap?

Miriam Lacey — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 09:00:00 PST

Some people said cupcakes were just a fad, but from everything I've seen, these tiny, nomtastic cakes are definitely holding their own. And, thus, the proliferation of the cupcake soap. You could say you've seen all the delicious-looking faux cake soap that's out there, but think again. Care to test your luck? Then take my quiz and see.

Question 1 of 5

It's November, and the cupcakes are full of holiday cheer. Can you take a discreet nibble off this little gingerbread spice guy, or would you end up with a foamy mouth?

Is It Geeky Fun . . . or Soap?

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 14:00:00 PDT

Confession time: I was Death from The Sandman for Halloween this year, and there's very little denying that I'm a huge dork, so a "geeky fun or soap?" quiz was inevitable. Won't you put your coolness aside, too, and journey with me to a land of soaps and gadgets that will surprise and delight your inner fangirl? I promise it'll be fun and that there will be Street Fighter. All ready to get down and nerdy?

Question 1 of 5

Beep, beep, boop! I am a robot, sent here to keep you clean. Query: are my constituent parts crafted from plastic and aluminum, or am I simply made of what you humans call "soap"?

Do You Take Baths at Hotels?

Jaime Richards — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 09:00:36 PDT

As many travelers will know, sometimes even five-star hotels, no matter how pristine they may appear, have their share of problems. (Yep, I'm talking bed bugs.) But assuming that any hotel's bathtub - from the exclusive to the bargain variety - is sparkly clean, would you still bathe in it, or does the risk of being exposed to a stranger's germs creep you out?

Ever More Delicious Halloween Treat . . . or Soap?

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 07:00:37 PDT

You guys, I am so, so hungry after I do one of these things. I'm deeply shamed by this, but as I write I'm salivating over the mere thought of those Brach's Fall Mix pumpkins. Why is it so hard to tell yourself that these soaps aren't edible, and how on earth do you keep from putting tooth to bar just to see? These are questions that have no answer (unless you're a cognitive scientist). In the meantime, we can all explore this seasonally appropriate phenomenon further by trying to guess what's really delicious and what's just really tricky. Ready to give it another go? Then take the quiz.

Question 1 of 5

Oh mah gawd, Fall Mix. Are these the scrumptious lumps of high fructose corn syrup that I dream about, or a glycerin-based mirage?