philosophy Sparkling Cranberry Set- Holiday 2011

philosophy Holiday brings new scents and new gifts sets. One is Sparkling Cranberry . The duo of an 8 oz 3in1 and lip shine comes in a beribboned tin ready to be gifted .

The shower gel smells very cranberry -berry but also reminds a bit of Very Cherry Christmas.  I really like it . The lipshine is a little stronger smelling  and has a medium berry tint to it.

Retail is $ 18.00 and the set is exclusive to Nordstrom.

philosophy Holiday 2011 Part 1

philosophy Holiday is one I've been waiting and waiting.... for. I saw a little of Nordstrom's exclusives back in July but today Sephora popped up some of their sets. Ever since they made Cherry Christmas it's been one of my top 2 favs ( Senorita Margarita being the other) so I am excited to see a Cherry again this year albeit a different one.

Set titles seem to all be taken from the song " It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year ", a fun touch.

The Parties For Hosting Duo :

- 8 oz Cherry Berry Crisp™ Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath

- 8 oz Cherry Berry Crisp™ Body Lotion

It's $ 20.00 and LE

Also new is the Much Mistletoeing Lip Shine Set , this one exclusive to Sephora ( one of the best gifts you could give someone ever , in my opinion. Click here for a good look at last year's) with :

- 0.5 oz Marshmallows For Toasting (sheer pink shimmer)
- 0.5 oz Cinnamon Buns (light gold sheen)
- 0.5 oz Tinsel Town (sheer red sparkle)
- 0.5 oz Peppermint Bark (sheer brick red)

$ 20.00 and LE

Philosophy Sugar Chick 3 in 1

Seasonal Philosophy 3 in 1 s are usually great fun. Little can top the Christmas selections for me, but I still love to explore each new release.

 Sugar Chick is, you guessed it, for Easter/Spring. It's like Peeps candy in a bottle.  More lemon  than actual Peeps but there is  plenty of marshmallow and vanilla.  This one isn't as strongly scented as some but sort of right in the middle as it's not too light either. 

The perfect "sweet" treat for Easter baskets everywhere.

LE and available at Sephora for $ 16.00

philosophy hope in a tinted moisturizer

Philosophy  hope in a tinted moisturizer brings a tinted moisturizer into their hope skincare line.  Hydrating and loaded with good for your skin ingredients  , it's especially suited to this cold winter many of us have been having.

Ingredients in hope in a tinted moisturizer include sodium hyaluronate, a peptide blend, vitamins E, C and Carnosine , mango seed butter, sunflower seed oil, lavender oil, as well as uva and uvb protectors  with an SPF of 20.

 The moisturizer  leaves behind a  hint of color with light  coverage. The pump bottle is a nice touch and the product blends easily and dries fast .  It had a  barely there  feeling on my skin . The shade shown is light, and is a bit darker than the palest skins  might need. I am pale but not the palest in foundations and this worked on me but was still a little darker than I would normally use. There are 8 shades in all.

If you love tinted moisturizers, then you might want to give this a try. All the added skincare ingredients plus SPF make it a good choice for normal to dry skins who like sheer coverage.

Available now for $ 38.00 for 1.7 oz

The Lip Balm Guide to Super Hydration

With temps in the cellar here and in many places across the country , even so called warmer climes, lip balm is a must.  Good lip balm is even more of a must because not all are created equal.  I apply all day and night and begin to have chapped lips the minute it gets below 60 degrees.  After a fellow blogger was looking for product recs for her continuously parched lips, I decided it was time to do my lip hydration  post, one I've had in pipeline for awhile.

Things to know-

1.If it has shea butter, it's got mega moisture, many of those listed below fall into this category.

2. The more thick, and viscous a  balm, the more barrier protection from wind it will give you.  Ones like the Clinique  listed below as well as old standy Aquaphor which now comes in  a handy  lip treatment tube  fit this type.

   That said,  here is my list of personal favorites that  work in  freezing cold.  There are plenty other balms I love and use in milder, say 40-50 degree weather. But for the coldest times, these get highest marks. Links will go to my  original review if there was one.

Philosophy Kiss me Tonight- Also should be called The Lifesaver or maybe LipSaver.  This is meant as an overnight treatment, but can be used daytime as well, it just doesn't lend itself to being used under lipcolor.  It's a thick, jelly balm which  makes a  coating on lips. Its stays there long and is super healing and softening with shea and mango butters One of the few products I keep a backup of.

Shu Uemuea Depsea Hydrability- Almost oily in texture at times this one covers the lips with a heavy gel/balm and keeps out the wind and softens the lips. Ultra hydrating, no tint, no scent. Contains  depsea water as well as hyaluronic acid and macadamia oil.  Available  only online in US  at http://www.http//www.shuuemura-usa.com 

Clarins Colour Quench Balm - The balm you want if you want major moisture , gloss and color in one. These pack  more pigment than most balms and come in a huge color selection from light to bright. They also have shea butter, vitamin E and a nice fruity scent. You'll see my original post dates to 2007, these have been a staple for a longtime.

Bobbi Brown Creamy Lipcolor-  Lipstick with shea butter. When you want lipstick but you need help with chapped lips, look here. These have nice pigment, are a lipstick tube but pack  much more moisture than most lipsticks. I use my nude shade, Bronzed Pink,  all winter every year. It's what I usually reach for when I want lipstick  not balm.

L'Occitane Pure Shea Butter- The small tin of pure shea butter is just what lips need . Apply right on for healing and moisture . The real deal , simple and basic but  nothing works like  pure shea.

Clinique Super Balm Moisturizing Gloss- As the name says it's a glossy balm. It's also thick enough to stand up  to wind and cold. The colors are sheer and the formula has aloe vera and vitamin E.

philososphy hope in a jar Oprah edition

In case you hadn't heard  ,One of  Oprah’s “Ultimate Favorite Things”  this year was  philosophy's cult-classic hope in  a jar. Oprah called it  “hands down the best moisturizer I’ve ever used.”  So , for the special O-ccasion, philosophy created a commemorative, limited-edition hope in a jar moisturizer in a dazzling box covered in sparkling red glitter, honoring 25 seasons of hope, joy and love.

 The limited-edition hope in a jar is available on philosophy.com, sephora.com and in Sephora stores in three sizes, 2 oz ($38), 4 oz ($60) and 8 oz ($105)

Philosophy Under The Mistletoe Lipshine Holiday Set

I posted much of Philosophy's 2010 holiday sets last week, but I have this one more. The Under The Mistletoe Lipshine Set. The set contains 4 lipshines in the flavors Pepperimint Bark, Candy Cane. Pink Frosted Cookie and Cherry Christmas.

 I doubt you need me to tell you how delish these are, I am partial to the cherry myself with Pink Frosted Cookie  in second.

The packaging is a cute slide out with the 4 glosses set in.  Retail is $ 20.00. For 4 full size glosses that's pretty good. Rev up your gift buying engines. I know it's early but the sets are out this month and tend to sell out fast.

Philosophy Holiday Gifts 2010

How long I've been waiting to tell you about the new holiday gifts from Philosophy and now at last I can.  I have most sets today and one more to show you in a separate post shortly. 

As usual it's a stellar lineup of not just great gifts for almost everyone you know, but ones you'll want as well. I've said before that I can't think of one person on my gift list ( and that includes my dad) who doesn't want/love  the  3 in 1 s .  Philosophy holiday makes gift shopping so easy .  Three cheers too,  for the return of  Cherry Christmas. An absolute favorite of mine. The one new scent I've tried is Gingerbread Girl. You'll see her down the list.

 Some may be exclusives to Sephora or  others. And there are also some  that I don't have on my list.

Melting Marshmallow-  A 4 oz  3 in 1, 2 oz body lotion and lip shine all in Melting Marshmallow scent. $ 22.00

I'm Dreaming of ...

White Pear, White Peach and White Cranberry  3in1s, 6 oz each. $ 25.00

Holiday Greetings-  4 oz. Frozen Butter Cookie 3 in 1 , 2 oz Coconut Macaroon body butter, Pink Frosted Cookie Lip Shine . $ 22.00

Candy Cane- 4 oz foaming bubble bath/shower gel, 2 oz body lotion, lipshine all in Candy Cane. $ 22.00

The Gingerbread House- The Gingerbread Girl and Gingerbread Man each in 8 oz. $ 20.00

The Gingerbread Girl Gift Set- Gingerbread Girl shower/bath gel and body lotion , each 8 oz. $ 20.00

Peppermint Bark-  8 oz Mint Chocolate Candy 3 in 1 and  lip shine . $ 18.00

Holiday Hostess- 8 oz each Sugary Cinnamon Icing 3 in 1 and body lotion. $ 20.00

Warm and Toasty- Double Rich Hot Cocoa,Hot Buttered Rum and Hazelnut Espresso  3 in 1s , 6 oz. each. $ 25.00

 The Gingerbread Man - 16 oz 3in 1. $ 16.00

Hot Buttered Rum- 16 oz 3in 1. $ 16.00

I'm Dreaming of ...White Pear 3 in 1 . 16 oz. $ 16.00

Snow Angel- Snow  Angel scented 16 oz. 3 in 1 . $ 16.00

Candy Cane- Candy Cane 16 oz 3 in 1 . $ 16.00

Silent Night- Soothing Lavender  bath/shower gel. 16 oz. $ 16.00

Heart of the Season- Cranberry 3 in 1 , benefiting the Joyful Heart Foundation. $ 16 oz . $ 16.00.

Glow and Behold- Celestial Citrus  3 in 1 . 16 oz. $ 16.00

The Gingerbread Girl- 16 oz 3 in 1 at $ 16.00. **This one I have tried and it has lots of shimmer and a  very light citrus/ginger scent.

Eternal Grace Fragrance Layering Collection - Perfumed shampoo, Bath and Shower gel 8 oz each, 2 oz Perfumed Firming Body Emulsion and  2 oz spray fragrance . $ 49.50

Philosophy Have a Cherry Christmas -Philosophy Cherry Christmas Shower Gel and Lipshine Gift Set $ 18.00


Head to http://www.philosophy.com/  to buy and see more.

philosophy Fall 2010 and Crispy Marsmallow Bars 3 in 1

Fall 3 in 1s have arrived from philosophy.   One of the new scents  is Crispy Marshmallow Bars. This smells caramelized vanilla nutty, and is a fairly light scent, but oh so good. 

 Candy Corn, called i love Candy Corn, makes it's  welcome return and also new is Cookies and Cream.  I gave Candy Corn bottles to both my dad and uncle and they were mad for them.  Both are  big, tough guys who normally use Lever 2000 or such,  so you know these  are not for ladies only.

 All of these  are  LE and online at Sephora.com    and http://www.nordstrom.com/  now.

The fall lineup hits http://www.philosophy.com/ shortly.

Retail  for each is $ 16.00

Philosophy's Birthday Contest

Philosophy is celebrating their 14th birthday with a giveaway contest each day thru Mar. 31st on their website. You can win instantly as well as enter to win the grand prize of a $ 1000.00 sitewide shopping spree. That's a lifetime of Senorita Margaritas .

The details( and good luck):

To celebrate their 14th birthday, philosophy is launching an instant win game beginning March 1st. Visit www.philosophy.com/birthday daily for a chance to win great instant win game prizes and to be entered for a chance to win the grand prize which is a $1000 shopping spree on philosophy.com. The game will run from 3/1-3/31/2010.

Philosophy remind u.s

remind u.s. is Philosophy's newest shower 3 in 1 and newest addition to the shopping for a cause lineup. 100% of the net proceeds from the sale of remind u.s. benefit the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which provides resources and support to service members, veterans and their families to successfully reintegrate into their communities.

It smells like fresh cookies and has a red, white and blue label. One of my best friends is a Naval Reservist/Recruiter and she will be getting one of these. This makes a great gift for the military person in your life, or perhaps a military mom.

Available at http://www.philosophy.com/ for $ 20.00

**Thru December 14th save 20 % on all orders at the site.

*press sample

Philosophy Kiss Me Tonight

For the most chapped and dry lips comes Philosophy' s Kiss Me Tonight Lip Treatment . This is one heavy duty , healing balm. It leaves a layer on the lips and really heals . I used it after a nasty cold left my lips far more chapped than usual and it was a huge help. The soothing was immediate. It softens like crazy.

What's great here is that it is scentless, and has no tint. Hence the "tonight" part. It can be used anytime including overnight healing. For winter, this is a must. My go to for the really dry lip times.

$ 20.00
http://www.philosophy.com/

* press sample

Philosophy The Supernatural Cream Blush

Philosophy is coming out with color cosmetics. Aside from their tinted lip treats , we haven't seen this before from them. The Supernatural collection adds in lipglosses, cream and powder blushes, mineral bronzer and a palette.

One of the new items is the Supernatural Healthy Cream Blush. This is a creamy mineral based blush with shea butter, sunflower seed oil and more. If you have dry skin and lament a blush that really works for you, try these.

The colors in the compact look much brighter than they go on. The pink ( Look on the Bright Side) goes on with a nice pop of sheer medium pink, not anywhere near the hot pink shade in the case.

There are 3 shades in all incl. Feel Warm All Over , the other one shown here.

$ 22.50 each

Philosophy Holiday Preview

Last week I had the chance to get a sneak look and sniff at the holiday line up from Philosophy. If you know this brand, you know they go big at holiday time and this year might be the best yet. I loved everything.

So get your list ready. I know it's only mid way to Christmas , but these hit stores in October and tend to sell out fast.

Some are back from previous years and many are new. I have pictures of most but not all, but will list the whole line and describe scent where I can.

* First Snow- Snow body lotion, Snow Shower exfoliating gel, Snow Kiss lipshine $ 25.00

* Angel Cakes- 3in 1 and Bubble Bath ( 8oz each) and lipshine $ 20.00

*Silent Night - Lavender 3 in 1 16 oz. $ 16.00

* Snow Shoes and Mittens- Foot Cream and Hand Cream, 4 oz each $ 20.00. One of my favorites. A clean and crisp smell, a tad sweet but not fruity. Unique and nice.

* Classic Cookbook- 6 of 2oz 3 in 1s in baked goods scents $ 35.00

*The Cookie Exchange- Encased in an old style metal cookie tin 4 3in1s ( 4 oz each)in cookie flavors. $ 30.00

*The Gingerbread Man -16 oz 3 in 1 at $ 16.00 & 23 oz Body Scrub at $ 25.00

* Holiday Spice and Everything Nice - Another of my picks. A sweet spice , a nice mix, not too strong on any one note. 8 oz 3in1 & . 5 oz lipshine $ 16.00

* The Bake Shoppe- 2 of the 3in 1s, 1 lipshine, 1 lotion $ 30.00

* The Winter Escape- Wins hands down for cutest packaging. This is the one I show both inside and out of box. The Marshmallow scent is delicious and exactly like creamy marshmallow . The set is Peppermint Hot Cocoa 4 oz, Marshmallow Cream body souffle 2 0z, and lipshine. $ 25.00

*Twas The Night Before- Milk and Cookies 8 oz duo $ 20.00

* Peppermint Hot Cocoa- This is so yummy. I liked this more then I expected . Not too chocolate, doesn't scream mint, more like the hot cocoa with mint that gives it it's name. 16 oz 3in1 $ 16.00

*Have a Cherry Christmas- Honest to goodness straight up dark cherry. So good you want to eat it. 16 oz 3in 1.$ 16.00

* Party Girl- Pomegranate Set of bubbly exfoliating shower gel, shimmer lotion and lipshine in a cute black carry case .$ 35.00

* Candy Cane - 16 oz 3in1 . $ 16.00

* Holiday Hostess- Cutest little handbag box with a strap. Cinnamon Buns duo of 3 in 1 & hand cream ( 8 oz each) $ 20.00

* Amazing Grace set - $ 50.00

* The Miracle Worker- Full set of skincare . $ 85.00