I haven’t a clue who the product creation person is behind The Body Shop, but they ought to be DAMN PROUD of creating this beauty of a product! Behold… the Countdown to New Year! holiday set.
The Body Shop Countdown to New Year! set
There’s a heck of a lot of people who go ga-ga for advent calendars even before December starts, but that fun all comes to an end come Christmas Day. What better way to keep the fun going than to have a Christmas Day to New Year countdown calendar??
The Body Shop Countdown to New Year! set
I expressed my amazement over this idea in my recent Holiday 2017 Skincare Sets video, but I also wanted to go a bit more indepth and open up all the boxes so you could see what was inside. Fundamentally, I think this is a GENIUS gift to give someone on Christmas Day. They can open up the “Christmas Day” box, and then they’ve got something new to open straight through until New Year’s Day!
The next few posts are going to be picture spoilers. As I only received this box a week ago I can’t give you any kind of review on the products encased therein, but I did want you to see what was inside in case you wanted to buy it as a gift for someone (or yourself, of course)!
Day 25 – Christmas Day
I personally feel like the could’ve started off Christmas Day with a bit of a larger product (more impact, you know?) but the first day you open this up you get a Vitamin E Moisture Cream (15 ml).
Day 26 – Boxing Day
Day 26 is a Glitter Dust in Pink.
Day 27
Day 27 is Hawaiian Kukui Rich Nurturing Body Cream (50 ml).
Day 28
Day 28 is the Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream (15 ml).
Day 29
Day 29 is a matte lipstick in the shade Sienna Rose.
Day 30
Day 30 is a headband with little bunny ears on it!
Day 31 – New Year’s Eve
Oh so appropriate for New Year’s Eve – you get a Glitter Dust in Gold!
January 1st – New Year’s Day
The last day, January 1st, is definitely the item I got the most excited about – there’s a full size Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask in there!
All in all, I think The Body ShopCountdown to New Year! set is so frigging smart. Having a new item to open every day after Christmas is really something special!
Being a beauty blogger means that, above anything else, skincare is the thing that PR companies try to send you the most. As a result, it can mean having a huge backlog of items you want to get through, which is usually held up by the fact that we’re always in the midst of trying something out in order to review it. This is one of those rare occasions where I’ve turned down enough skincare over the last few months so that I can play catch up and finish up some products that were already in my stash just waiting to get used up! Because honestly, finishing up a product is really very, very satisfying!
Hair care and scrub
Starting you off with some hair stuff, I’ve got the Gliss Hair Repair Extra Volume shampoo* and conditioner*. While this is supposed to give me more volume, my hair is so stupidly long right now that I don’t notice much of an impact. That being said, this is a perfectly serviceable set of shampoo and conditioner and I have enjoyed using them quite a bit. I did use up the Gliss Hair Repair with Liquid Keratin* set previously though, and if I had to choose between the two, I’d definitely opt for the Liquid Keratin one instead (comes in a black bottle with gold writing) as that one worked absolute wonders on my hair.
About once a week I’ll do a hair mask and lately I’ve been using the PhytoPhytoelixir Intense Nutrition Mask*. It’s intended for ultra dry hair, which isn’t necessarily me, but I do like the infusion of nutrients into my hair once a week since I am a daily hair washer.
And since it sits nicely on the hair mask, I’ve got a body scrub over on this side of the shower as well. As with the hair mask, about once a week I’ll use a body scrub and I’ve been working my way through the BVSpaSugar Scrub in Pink Grapefruit*. Great scent and helps to slough off any dead skin.
Shower caddy holding all my shower essentials!
The bottom half of the shower caddy is my section (David’s area is above since he’s taller) and I’ve got it stuffed with the products I use most in the shower. (Not pictured, a bar of Mary KayInto The Garden soap* that’s lounging on the corner of the tub.)
I’m a bit fussy with shaving, so I’ve got a few items in here for that purpose. I prefer to shave my legs with the SchickIntuition Razor just because it’s SO EASY. I started using this razor in my 20s because my friend Alison tried it out and loved it, so I hopped on the bandwagon. Not having to lather up my legs with shaving cream before shaving them is glorious. The layer around the razor acts as the shaving cream and saves me so much time in the mornings. You will notice that you go through these a bit quickly and they are more expensive than using a regular razor with shaving cream, but for me the time savings is huge. That being said, I hate how the Intuition razor feels on my underarms (makes them itchy for whatever reason), so I stick to my GilletteVenus shaving gel (Violet Swirl here) and a GilletteVenus Razor for those areas. (Also great for the bikini line area and anywhere else downunder.) Since I am a natural blonde (yes, it’s true – I don’t dye my hair), I don’t actually have to shave all that often – maybe once a week for my legs and twice for my underarms.
Shaving details aside, I’ve got two face washes in here: the MyChelleCreamy Pumpkin Cleanser* and MarcelleHydra-C Daily Radiance Scrub. The MyChelle pumpkin cleanser is to die for – it smells like a pumpkin spice latte in a face wash and I *love* using it in the fall! The Marcelle scrub is one I’ll use once a week on my face and sadly it does not smell like oranges – which is what I had been expecting from the tube! It’s an okay scrub, but I feel like it could use a lot more scrubby particles in the formula.
I’ve left my favourite till last: the LushIt’s Raining Men shower gel. Of all the shower gels I have tried in my life, this is hands down my absolute favourite scent. It’s a honey-caramel scent explosion in your nose! It leaves my skin feeling soft and wonderfully scented with those honey and caramel tones. My husband actually bought this bottle for me last year for Christmas and I’m only just now getting to use it (see, I told you the backlog of trying out products is intense) and I could not be happier. Love, love, love!
So that’s everything that’s in my current shower rotation – hope you liked seeing this slice of my daily life!
This post contains a mix of items that were sent to me for consideration as well as some purchased items. Items that were sent are marked with an asterisk. Some links are affiliate links.
I think we’re all a little bit curious as to what products people keep – be it in their bags, showers, makeup collection, etc. – so I thought I’d take you on a quick tour of my two bathrooms and the products I keep on the counters and in the medicine cabinets.
Sidenote: There’s a lot of PR products in here and most of them I’ve reviewed in the past. I’ll put a star (*) beside each product that was sent to me so you’ll know!
The first bathroom is our guest bathroom and, out of the two we have, it’s the one we use the least (which means it stays clean the longest!).
Guest bathroom – sink area
I like the idea of keeping a fairly clean counter in the guest bathroom (our ensuite is much different) so I don’t have a ton of stuff on display. Tis the season for Live Clean holiday hand soaps, so I’ve got theirVanilla Peppermint hand soap* out for use. I also keep the Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Lotion* out in case someone is feeling dehydrated and needs a skin boost.
In my opinion, no bathroom is complete without Q-tips and cotton rounds, so those are there as well!
Guest bathroom – medicine cabinet
It’s a little bit empty inside the mirrored medicine cabinet, but that’s fine by me! I’ve got a handy Febreze in there because no one likes to leave a bathroom feeling ashamed (more specifically… in someone else’s house!) and honestly that Febreze is about six years old at this point. Those things last forever!
I’ve also got some QUOnail polish remover – I always opt for the hydrating ones if I can find them. Some more lotion in there – Avon‘s Skin So Soft Aqua Express* (love the smell of this one!) and the Be DelectableHand Cream. Since I also wash my makeup brushes in the guest bathroom, I’ve also got a huge bottle of Johnson’sBaby Shampoo which is my go-to for makeup brush cleaning.
Ensuite bathroom
Time to move on to our ensuite and this one is a lot more jam packed with products! Once again with the Q-tips and cotton rounds, but this time I’ve got a Bath & Body Works hand soap in Crisp Morning Air which is one of my favourite autumnal scents.
Ensuite bathroom – counter
To the right of the sink is a lineup of products that I use daily… or that I try to use up (namely some of the hair stuff).
The AveenoPositively Radiant Daily Cleansing Pads* are one of my favourite quick face washes. The pads come soaked with face wash and have a textured side so you can really scrub at your face.
Dermal TherapyHeel Care is VITAL to me. I get heel cracks and this is the only product that will heal them.
BiodermaMicelle Solution in Hydrabio*– an absolute daily necessity for me. Helps to clean up my makeup mistakes and great for removing any makeup or oil residue at the end of the day.
Too Cool For SchoolEgg Mousse Soap – I usually wash my face in the shower (where I keep another face wash), but if I’m not showering that day I’ll reach for this face wash. It’s kinda neat – it foams up like shaving cream, and thankfully does not smell like eggs!
Infusium 23 Leave-in Conditioner*: LOVE this stuff. I was a huge fan of the shampoo and conditioner, but I used those up a while ago. So now I’m finishing up the leave-in conditioner which I spray on my hair when I’m out of the shower. Helps detangle my very-much-in-need-of-a-haircut, far-too-long-hair right now!
Sun BumSea Spray*– I love using this during the summer to give me some crunchy, salty beach waves!
Sunsilk Thermashine leave in conditioner: This is actually a bottle of water that I use to wet my hair if I got a kink in it and need to re-style it. I miss Themasilk/Sunsilk though. They were my absolute favourite hair brand through the 90s and 00s.
Pantene hairspray – I’m not fussy when it comes to hairspray so I just buy the biggest can out there and it lasts me forever since I only use it when I curl my hair.
Ensuite bathroom – medicine cabinet
Straight into the medicine chests! There’s a hell of a lot in here, so I’ll keep it brief. I’ll also only be mentioning the products that are mine (which uh…. is most of them).
Secret Deodorant: Spring Breeze is my favourite scent and I haven’t strayed from it in about a decade!
SekkiseiEnriched Lotion*: Using this as my daily toner. It seems fine, but I don’t notice much of a difference in my skin. I do like using toners for some reason though.
Lierac Hydragenist Spray*: I don’t use this super often, but it’s a great hydrating spray when you need an extra boost.
Boots No7Beautiful Skin Cleansing Oil: It works really well at breaking up makeup, but I do notttt like the smell of it.
MarcelleGentle Makeup Remover for Sensitive Eyes: The BEST makeup remover in the world, hands down. Been using this for more than ten years and they had better continue to make this throughout my entire lifespan!
MACCleansing Oil: Tiny baby sample I got with one of my orders.
Ensuite bathroom – medicine cabinet
And the last two shelves… phew!
CliniquePep-Start Eye Cream*: I use it… but I have no idea if it’s doing anything like removing wrinkles. It does help to rehydrate my eyes if I’ve worn makeup too much that day though.
tarte Lip Facial* and Mary Kay Satin Lips*: Two lip scrubs I just pulled out but haven’t used yet (just finished my Lush one the night before).
KorresWild Rose Face Oil*: Almost done with this one and I really like it! It’s lightweight so you can wear this one throughout the summer as well. I usually apply it a few times a week at night.
Maison JacyntheEau Florale de Lavande*: I’m not huge into lavender, but the scent of this is refreshing and soothing. I occasionally mist my face with it in the mornings for a boost.
EmbryolisseEmulsion Hydra-Mat*: This stuff is WILD. Super moisturizing but also mattifying. I don’t know how that works, but it does!
BiodermaHydrabio Creme*: Feeling seriously dehydrated? This is the moisturizer for you! I only apply this at night because it’s SO thick and does’t play well under makeup.
PhilosophyTake A Deep Breath*: This is a lovely gel cream that is my current daily moisturizer. It works really well under makeup, smells nice and is hydrating.
EmbryolisseEclat du Regard*: Super buttery eye cream that I’ve used a handful to times, but will be in full rotation when I finish up the Clinique one
Phew! That’s it! When I thought of this idea for a post, I hadn’t really stopped to consider just how many products I have in my bathrooms! Hope you liked the quick tour of the products I’m currently using on the daily. 🙂
Although Soap & Glory has been at Shoppers Drug Mart for a long while (look for it near the end of the bath aisle, sometimes on an endcap!), the selection can end up being a little bit limited (and I’m still waiting on the full makeup range!). They’ve recently added a few more items to their range and I was more than happy to test some of them out.
Let’s start off with my absolute favourite products!
The number one new item I tried was the Smoothie Star Breakfast Scrub ($18 CAD). This stuff is absolutely UNREAL. And maybe it’s because I’m Canadian, and this scrub has a maple scent, but the Breakfast Scrub is absolutely to die for. It smells edible (it’s not though – so don’t!) and it works like a dream. This has actually become my new favourite body scrub (sorry Tree Hut – you’ve been upstaged!) because the combination of the texture (dense but spreadable and plenty of exfoliation to leave you feeling smooth) and the scent makes this top notch in my book. If there’s only ONE thing I could encourage you to try out in this post, it’s the Smoothie Star Breakfast Scrub!
The Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Plumping Gloss ($14 CAD) is going to be for those looking for a little more plump in their lips. I know not everyone can handle the feeling of topical lip plumpers (and I’m not especially sensitive to them so keep that in mind) but this one in Spun Sugar felt a bit different from the ones I’ve tried in the past. It doesn’t burn, but it almost feels like my lips are constantly moving? It’s a bit of a hilarious feeling… almost like the product in the gloss that causes the plumping is jumping around for fun on top on my lips. It does plump mine a little but nothing too extreme, which is good in my books! I do notice the sensation disappearing after about thirty minutes, so you’ll need to reapply if you want to feel that active plumpness happening on your lips.
Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Lotion & The Fab Pore Daily Micro Smoothing Moisture Lotion
I’ve started usingThe Fab Poreon the daily as my morning moisturizer and I was really impressed with the performance of it. Not only from a “kept my face hydrated” perspective, but also because it performed really, really well under foundation. (And when I was done trialing it for the week or so for this review, I went back to the moisturizer that was currently in my rotation and quickly realized just how BADLY that one performs under foundation, so heck yes to The Fab Pore!) Part of the performance may be chocked up to the ingredients which help to mattify the skin and tighten your pores.
The Sugar Crush scent isn’t new to Soap & Glory‘s range, but it is one of their most sought after scents. I believe it was previously only available as a body butter, but now it’ sin the more fluid body lotion($16) format with a pump top (thank you!). The Sugar Crush scent is slightly intriguing to me: with a name like Sugar Crush you’d expect it to me syrupy-sweet, but that’s not at all what it is! It’s more of a lime scent with a sugary edge. It’s one of the more unique fragrances out there simply because no one really makes lime-scented products!
Soap & Glory Body Spray in Original Pink and The Fab Pore T-Zone Cloths
And lastly, we have the Soap & GloryBody Spray in Original Pink and The Fab Pore T-Zone Cloths.
The Body Sprays ($10 CAD) come inOriginal Pink (pictured), Smoothie Star and Sugar Crush. The Original Pink scent is identical to Hand Food scent (which I think is the original smell? I see it now in Sugar Crush-scented, but I’ve only tried it when it smelled this way). For me, this is a bit too much as a body spray – I like when my moisturizer smells this way (and I LOVE Hand Food), but I like to keep that scent localized to my hands. If you’re a huge fan of the Original Pink scent though… then more power to you and get to spraying because the scent is very consistent with the hand cream!
It feels funny to end this review by mentioning a product I haven’t tried yet, but hey – here we are. I’ve got way too many packages of makeup wipes open right now and don’t want them to dry out so I’ve avoided opening The Fab Pore Triple Action Purifying T-Zone Cloths. ($10 CAD). Interestingly, these wipes are not fundamentally geared towards makeup removal – these seemed to be advertised as wipes to help purify and clean your face while also tightening your pores. If you’ve tried these out, let us know how you feel about them in the comments!
And that’s everything brand spanking new by Soap & Glory in Canada! I’ve been using their products for years and am never disappointed. I am so, SO glad to have discovered my new favourite scrub in this roundup of products!
For those of us in Canada, Soap & Glory can be purchased at Shoppers Drug Mart and some of their products are available online via beautyboutique.ca. If you’re in the USA, you can find a wide array of Soap & Glory at ulta.com.
The products featured in this post were sent to me for consideration. Affiliate links are included.
