If you are an avid reader of my site then you know I’m a huge fan of honey when it comes to skin care products. The L’OCCITANE brand just put out the Shea Melting Honey Collection and yowza, let me tell you about it!

There are 5 products in the collection and in looking at the ingredient lists on each of the below products, the Shea Butter is listed as one of the first five listed, except for the balm, which is fine. Here is the breakdown:

Exfoliating Sugars ($28/6.1oz) – contains 5% shea butter in a sugar mix that smells of sweet, sweet honey.

Ultra Soft Cream ($26/3.4oz) – the second ingredient listed on this one is the shea butter and this one packs 10% inside it. And the scent of honey lasts on the skin for quite a few hours. So decadent!

Soft Shower Gel ($20/8.4oz) – I’ve been loading up my shower puff with too much of this one at once but it just smells so good!

Lip Balm ($12/.4oz) – this one kept my lips moisturized for quite a few hours and it’s become a purse staple.

There's also Shea Melting Honey Whipped Hand Cream available in the line so pick them all up @ loccitane.com. 

Is this on your list of must-haves? 

Disclosure: Samples were provided for review purposes.

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Even though it’s December, can you believe it’s still fall? The first day of winter is December 22^nd so we still have a little time to talk about fall fragrances. Here are a four I’m digging!

ELIE SAAB Le Parfum, Eau de Parfum – L’Edition Argent ($124/3oz @ neimanmarcus.com) – I get week in the knees when it comes to Elie Saab scents. This latest release seems built for a sexy night out on the town but maybe, and that’s a big maybe, can be worn during the day. My jury is still out on that. It highlights top notes of orange blossom, middle notes of royal and sambac jasmine absolutes and a pure “heart of patchouli.”

ELIZABETH AND JAMES Nirvana White ($100/3.4oz, $80/1.7oz, $60/1oz, $25/.34oz (all edps) @ sephora.com) – this one will fit all my holiday evening party needs. If you’re looking for a warm, rich scent with notes of peony, muguet and tender musk, this could be the one for you. The dry-down is really unique.

LISA HOFFMAN Tunisian Neroli Eau de Parfum Spray ($22/15ml travel size @ lisahoffmanbeauty.com) – a travel-sized scent is great in every nook of your life – home, purse, stored in the car. You just can’t go wrong with purchasing one! And this floral combines Ylang-Ylang, Golden Amber, Neroli Blossoms with Lemon with Buchu Leaf. I can’t get enough of this one!

L’OCCITANE Jasmin Immortelle Neroli Eau de Toilette ($62/2.5oz @ loccitane.com) – the brand  partnered with pastry chef, yup, pastry chef, Pierre Hermé for two uniquely dynamic fragrances, and this one has become a fast favorite.

Disclosure: Samples were provided for review purposes.

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If you’re out doing some holiday shopping in the next few days, here’s one to put on your list. L’OCCITANE just put out the Holiday 2015 Advent Calendar ($49) and there’s so much interest in this that it’s only available in their stores now and not online! It contains minis of 24 of their best sellers – from body lotions to fragrances to lip balms and shower gels. So make sure call your local store before running over to pick one up! Read more about what's inside here. 

RITUALS Foaming Shower Oil in Organic Rice Milk & Cherry Blossom from the Sakura Spring Collection ($15/6.7oz @ rituals.com and barneys.com) – cherry has always been one of my top favorite scents and this one contains real cherry flower extract. And this cleansing body oil won’t dry the skin out like a regular soap can.

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER Classique Summer Edition EDT ($71/3.3oz @ macys.com) – JPG puts out one of my favorite scents found on a man so I was giddy when this one landed in my mail box. With pungent notes of rose, orange blossom, jasmine and woody lily of the valley, this is sure to become a scent-staple this season. 

COAL AND CANARY Super Powers and Fresh Cut Flowers Candle ($25 @ coalandcanary.com) – ok, picture a huge bouquet of fresh cut flowers … got it? That is exactly what this candle smells like!

L’OCCITANE Peony Perfecting Mist ($24/3.3oz @ loccitane.com) – I’m getting my summer face mists together this month for the upcoming heat and this one is for sure being included. Instead of just using a plain water, why not use one that not only hydrates but smells wonderfully of peonies from the real extract inside?

Disclosure: Samples of these items were provided for review purposes.

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One of my favorite categories to give/receive in has to be fragrance! So many options – get her a new bottle of her signature fragrance or take a chance on a new one altogether. Here are some I’m loving right now.

L’OCCITANE Arlésienne Eau de Toilette - $50/2.5oz @ loccitane.com.

DOLCE & GABBANA ‘The One’ Collector’s Edition - $113/2.5oz @ luxury retailers nationwide.

VIKTOR & ROLF Petite Flowerbomb – $50/20ml @ bloomingdales, nordstrom.com.

STELLA McCARTNEY STELLA Eau de Parfum $92/3.3oz, $72/2oz, $50/1oz @ stellamccartney.com.

NARCISO RODRIGUEZ 'For Her' Eau de Toilette Atomizer - $96/2.5oz @ nordstrom.com.

1. Scrub Love - LOTUS MOON Cardamom & Bamboo Polishing Cream Moisturizing Facial Scrub ($23.95/2.2 oz @ lotusmoonskincare.com) – made with good-for-skin-ingredients like bamboo stem and don’t worry, the exfoliates won’t harm your skin as this uses spherical jojoba beads to do the work.

2. Belly Love - USANA Probiotic ($27.45/14-1gram stick packs @ usana.com) - Let’s face it, if you don’t feel good on the inside, you won’t look good on the outside and it can certainly show up on your face. Probiotics help support digestion by balancing the naturally found bacteria in your gut.

3. Wrinkle Love - RODAN + FIELDS REDEFINE Acute Care Skincare for Expression Lines ($220/10 pairs @ rodanandfields.com in January 2015) – Using what they call Liquid Cone Technology, these crescent shaped patches contain Hyaluronic Acid that plump the area and the powerful Sh-Oligopeptide-1 peptide reduces the appearance of wrinkles, while increasing the skin’s firmness. And you can apply them anywhere like under the eyes, above the lips. By apply the patches three days a week (you wear them on the skin overnight) can give you up to either weeks of firm results. I used them on the outside of my eyes and could feel them, well, doing something for about the first hour I had them on before hitting the hay. 

4. Eye Love - NYAKIO Firming Eye Balm with Baobab ($45/15g @ nyakio.com) – I tend to opt out of using an eye cream in my skin care routine but in the past few months have opted in and I’m not sure if it’s this specific balm that I’m using that has made the visible difference or the fact that I started using one in the first place.

5. Serum Love - ORIGINS Plantscription Anti-Aging Power Serum ($56/1oz @ origins.com ulta.com) – I’ve always believed in the power of the serum! And this one works quickly so improve visible lines and wrinkles. This would be a nice addition to your skin care routine.

6. Face Oil Love - L’OCCITANE Divine Youth Oil ($96/1oz @ loccitane.com sephora.com) – There’s a lot of buzz on this oil from L’Occitane and deservedly so – it has 7 plant oils and enhances and plumps the skin’s natural ability to regenerate collagen and each application only calls for a few drops.  

Disclosure: Samples of these items were provided for review purposes.

I think Fall and Spring are my favorite times of year when it comes to beauty launches as I think companies put out their best ones during this time. One brand that’s topping my list is the latest from L’OCCITANE. Their Bonne Mère Collection comes with a lot of what you want (nice scents, pH neutral and hypoallergenic formulas) and stays away from things you don’t want (parabens and phenoxyethanol (a preservative)).

The “Good Mother,” en Francais, collection is made up of shower gels, hand washes and a favorite of my French father, soaps. 

Click here to read more

Have you ever had a product that you just can’t stop smelling? Like every time you walk past it, you have to stop, open it and give it a whiff? My nose loves a few and it seems to be all over the map these days. One day I’m into flowery smells and the next it does a 180 with mint. I don’t know what that’s all about but here are the ones that have come out on top.

1. LALICIOUS Extraordinary Whipped Sugar Scrub in Sugar Tiare Flower ($110/68oz, $34/16oz, $9.50/2oz @ dermstore.com) – this brand always nails it when it comes to great and unique scents. If you’ve never been to Hawaii or need to feel like you are there, this one delivers the vibe.

2. SWEET HARVEST FARMS Amore’ Artisan Soap ($6.98/7oz bar @ sweetharvestfarms.com) – I seem to be collecting soap these days. I mean I have so many that I don’t exactly use but just like to pick them up and smell them and this one currently falls in that category. It’s modeled after “Very Sexy for Men” by Victoria’s Secret.

3. L’OCCITANE Vitόria-Régia Day Flower Shower Gel ($20/8.4oz @ nordstrom.com) – this one is best described as aquatic floral and is infused with vitόria-régia extract from the Amazonian in Brazil. I’d never heard of this flower before and was delightfully surprised. And this one is so fitting for this time of year!

4. THYMES Rosewood Citron Whipped Body Cream ($30/6.5oz @ amazon.com) – I must always have a luxuriously feeling cream or butter on my dresser so depending on what mood I’m in, if self-care is on the menu, one like this fits the bill. I’ve never smelled rose and citrus together but it’s pretty nice! And this one is thick and rich.

5. AQUA SPA Bath Soak in Eucalyptus + Mint from the Soothe Collection ($9.99/10oz @ aquaspabath.com) – it’s not quite bath season for me but I have a friend who takes a bath each Saturday religiously, so I’ll be sharing this post with her. This combo of eucalyptus and mint really cleans the sinuses! Their whole line contains their Marine Mineral Complex that harnesses the power of sea minerals by including such ingredients like Antioxidant Zinc, copper, and iron among others.  

How do you apply your scents? Here are four different ways to scent your skin this season! Body wash, cologne spray, eau de parfum and body lotion. Which do you use?

Clockwise from L to R:

DEMETER new Pixie Dust Cologne Spray ($20/1oz, among other sizes @ smallflower.com, demeterfragrance.com next month) – looking for a really fun and simple scent? This one is a little fruity, a tad sugary and as light as Tinker Bell’s dust, which it was named after.

BODYCOLOGY Flawless Glow Luminous Lotion in Sheer Bloom ($7.97/16oz @ walmart.com) – load up the smell of white peaches and jasmine on your skin this season with this one.

L’OCCITANE Privoine Flora Eau de Parfum ($62.1.2oz @ loccitane.com) – named after the Mediterranean legend nymph Paeonia, this springy fragrance blends top notes of bergamot, grapefruit, green with a heart of peony, magnolia and rose on a base of vanilla, cedar and musk. Sexy.

LULAH Body Wash in Citron ($11.25/10oz @ lulah.com) – created for the stylish woman of today from the Thymes brand, this scent represents everything the season is – fresh, crisp, and clean with notes of pink pamplemousse, tart lemon, sweet basil and herbal leaves and is a true wake-me-up in the shower. 

Disclosure: Samples of these items were provided for review purposes.

KAT BURKI Tubereuse eau de parfum ($95/3.4oz @ katburki.com) – I wore this one quite a few times on my recent trip to Kauai and wow, just love the combination of peach nectar, orange, green leaves, tuberose, gardenia, jasmine all on a base of amber, rosewood and musk. Gorg!

L’OCCITANE Shower Gel in Jasmin & Bergamote ($18/5.9oz @ loccitane.com) – nothing wakes up my nose like an intoxicating shower gel. This one contains jasmine absolutes from Grasse (located in the south of France near Cannes) and Egypt and essential oils from Italy. This one is not one of those faux-scented products that overwhelms upon opening. It’s subtle and very pleasant.

LAVANILA Fresh Vanilla Lemon eau de parfum spray ($58/1.7oz @ sephora.com) – I thought this one might smell like a floor cleaner but phew, it doesn’t and the vanilla base makes it last on the skin. This also comes in a super convenient Eau de Parfum Rollerball for $19/.23oz.