From the category archives:

Bath and Body

woman's world magazine mention, raging rouge beauty blog, makeup reviews, beauty news

I could probably field questions on bubble bath ALL DAY LONG.  Seriously, I am a bit of a bath and body fiend.  My “bath bar” is ridiculously overstocked with yummy-scented cleansing treats.

But naturally, when Woman’s World Magazine asked me to select one baby-friendly bubble bath, I had to whole-heartedly point their fabulous readers to California Baby.  This brand was a godsend for my baby’s sensitive skin.  It’s also a smart pick for allergic or allergy-prone children, as well!

Click HERE to check out the Woman’s World Magazine website for some fun giveaways… and do pick up the publication the next time you’re in a store!

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Lately, my bathroom smells like a produce-stand! I am obsessed with fruity potions, especially those with the scent of cherry.  After being sucked in by holiday sales at The Body Shop, I’ve become “re-addicted” to their selection of juicy, tree-picked scents.

My latest after-bath indulgence is Wild Cherry Body Butter.  Unlike many cherry-scented products, this body butter smells more like Cherry Yogurt than Cherry Bubblegum.  It’s consistency is rich and creamy, and the cherry scent lingers.

Retail price is $8 to $20, depending on the size you select.  But if it’s a sale you’re looking for, check out the “specials” selection online, where holiday gift sets are selling for a song!

Click HERE to buy Wild Cherry Body Butter from The Body Shop

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Here’s something my newer readers may not know…  When I’m not testing out the latest makeup collections, I’m a full-time Mommy to two beautiful, bouncing (and I literally mean bouncing) boys. 

In my personal (but experienced) opinion, pregnancy is incredibly taxing on the body and spirit.  If you are hunting for the perfect holiday gift for a Mom-to-be, or the precious newcomer, here are some terrific pampering gift ideas!  Tuck one of these inexpensive gift sets under the tree, and be proclaimed a hero!

five gift ideas for mom and baby, maternity skincare, pregnancy skincare, baby skincare, baby shower, gift ideas for mom, gift ideas for babies, mustela, noodle and boo, california baby, belli skincare, mama mio, product review, beauty blog, skin care Mustela has earned the reputation as a one-stop-shop for Mom and Baby for good reason.  The company has been around for over 50 years!  If you know a mom-to-be, Mustela’s “Pregnancy Program” is a great intro to some beauty products that make pregnancy easier on the body: Stretch Marks Double Action, Specific Support Bust, Instant Comfort Legs and Ultimate Hydration.  Retail price is $22.  Click HERE to buy it from Mustela.com.
five gift ideas for mom and baby, maternity skincare, pregnancy skincare, baby skincare, baby shower, gift ideas for mom, gift ideas for babies, mustela, noodle and boo, california baby, belli skincare, mama mio, product review, beauty blog, skin care Mama Mio was my personal “go-to” brand during my second pregnancy.  Mama Mio’s ”Congratulations Kit” is a great way to celebrate the great news and treat Mommy like a queen.  This kit contains: Tummy Rub Oil (to help prevent stretchmarks), OMega Super-rich Body Cream (a moisturizing treat that features the line’s divine Gravida signature scent) and OMega Shower Cream.  Retail price is $55.  Click HERE to buy it from MamaMio.com.
five gift ideas for mom and baby, maternity skincare, pregnancy skincare, baby skincare, baby shower, gift ideas for mom, gift ideas for babies, mustela, noodle and boo, california baby, belli skincare, mama mio, product review, beauty blog, skin care Moms know this shocking fact…  “Baby” powder is, in fact, dangerous for use on babies!  The tiny particles can irritate baby’s tender lungs.  But if you love that familiar scent as I do, Noodle and Boo is the brand to choose.  Noodle and Boo baby products smell exactly like baby powder, and come in the most beautiful nursery-worthy packaging!  The “Special Delivery” set at left includes luxe bath-time treats:  soft lotion, extra gentle shampoo, soothing body wash and a luxe washcloth for bathtime.  The kit also comes with their (totally addictive) Ultimate Cleansing Cloths.  Retail price is $35.  Click HERE to buy it from NoodleandBoo.com.
five gift ideas for mom and baby, maternity skincare, pregnancy skincare, baby skincare, baby shower, gift ideas for mom, gift ideas for babies, mustela, noodle and boo, california baby, belli skincare, mama mio, product review, beauty blog, skin care You may not realize this, but many of the drugstore brands that come to mind when you think of bathtime for baby are simply not gentle enough for baby’s skin!  I learned this lesson the hard way, when a popular baby wash caused my sensitive-skinned little one to break out in hives!  Founded by a mother with a similar dilemma, California Baby offers gentle bath and body products for babies who are allergy-prone or have sensitive skin.  The Calming Newborn Tote, pictured at left, retails for $19.99.  Click HERE to shop CaliforniaBaby.com.
five gift ideas for mom and baby, maternity skincare, pregnancy skincare, baby skincare, baby shower, gift ideas for mom, gift ideas for babies, mustela, noodle and boo, california baby, belli skincare, mama mio, product review, beauty blog, skin care Founded by a doctor and his wife, Belli products take an analytical approach to skincare.  They’re the perfect choice for a brainy Mom-to-be.  Not only are the products allergy tested, but they are free of artificial dyes, fragrances, phthalates, and xenoestrogens (ingredients which can interfere with development of the reproductive system).  The “Bundle of Joy” gift set, pictured at left, retails for a mere $14.99!  Click HERE to shop the entire line at BelliSkincare.com.

The author of Raging Rouge received press samples for purposes of this makeup review / product review.  For more information on sample policies, please click HERE to read my full disclosure statement.

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spa week, $100 gc, promotion, discount, spa gift card, spa gift certificate


The team over at Spa Week really knows how to celebrate the holiday season!  One of my absolute favorite gifts to give is a gift certificate for some spa pampering!  With Spa Week, you don’t even have to pick the spa, or the treatment!  This gift certificate is good for use at spa locations all over the country (and even Canada)!


Perhaps the best part is the current discount!  For this holiday season, a $100 Gift Certificate is on sale for only $80!  That’s right, it’s a 20% discount right off the bat!  Want to know where to score an even better deal?  Click HERE to check out Spa Week’s list of deals at participating spas, to make that $100 stretch even more!


Click HERE to buy a gift card for yourself or a loved one!


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Jo Malone Reviews, Jo Malone Review, Pomegranate Noir review, fall 2009, holiday 2009, beauty blog, product review, makeup reviewWho would have ever thought the crisp, snappy scent of Pomegranate could be made so utterly seductive?  Jo Malone!  The Pomegranate Noir scent should be your choice if you’re in search of a fragrance to set the scene for a romantic encounter.

The inspiration for Pomegranate Noir was a red silk dress.  Notes of pomegranate, raspberry, plum, pink pepper combine with patchouli, frankincense and spicy woods to create this magical, mythical, mysterious scent.

For the holidays, Jo Malone has packaged Pomegranate Noir Bath Oil (200ml), Body Crème (175 ml) and a special-edition Body Powder to make the ultimate, luxurious bath & body holiday gift.

The Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Pamper Kit retails for $245.  If you’re looking to buy the scent, stand-alone, a 30mL bottle retails for $55.  A 100mL bottle retails for $100.

Click HERE to buy it from Jo Malone online.

Click HERE to buy Jo Malone at Nordstrom.

Click HERE to buy Jo Malone at Saks.

The author of Raging Rouge received press samples for purposes of this makeup review / product review.  For more information on sample policies, please click HERE to read my full disclosure statement.

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beau bain, bath bombs, petite bath bombs, holiday 2009, product review, makeup review, bath & body

Great news for those of you in search of a great gift idea!  Beau Bain recently announced that their beloved bath bombs are now available in petite versions!

I’ve written about the virtues of Beau Bain in the past, and it’s safe to say my entire family is crazy about this brand.  My personal favorite “flavor” bath bomb is Coconut Lemongrass.  The scent has a zippy citrus element that puts a little pep in my step, while simultaneously giving me a 5 minute tropical vacation with the essence of exotic coconut.

My obstacle to a relaxing bath is my oldest son.  He is obsessed with these bath bombs.  If I dare take one out for my personal use, he hoards it for play.  While an apothecary-styled jar filled with mini bath bombs makes a wonderful gift for others, it also makes it much easier for me to “share” with my little guy.  One mini for the tub, one mini for his play.  I manage to get my 5 minutes of R&R while he is gleefully entertained.  Bath-time bliss!

A large jar of 12 petite bath bombs retails for $30.  A small jar of 6 petite bath bombs retails for $15.  Two great holiday price-points!

Click HERE to head over to Beau Bain to check out these new additions to the bath & body fun!

Click HERE to read my original review of full-sized Beau Bain bath bombs.

Click HERE to read about Beau Bain’s divine whipped body cremes and scrubs in a feature story called “Always The Bridesmaid.”

The author of Raging Rouge received press samples for purposes of this makeup review / product review.  For more information on sample policies, please click HERE to read my full disclosure statement.

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When I recently received word of this promotion via email, I knew I needed to blog about it immediately for the benefit of my readers.

Ordinarily, I pass on Body Oil. Slathering myself in oil generally makes me feel more like a salad than a woman, but the LaLicious formula is different. LaLicious Body Oil has a gel-like consistency, making it less messy and easier to control while applying.  It absorbs rapidly enough that I'm never concerned about staining my clothing, and leaves behind the slightest hint of yummy scent.  My super-dry skin just drinks this moisturizing formula right up!

Ordinary retail price for the LaLicous Collection Gift Set (pictured above) is $95, but from November 15 through January 2, you can score 25% off of this set!  What a terrific hostess gift this box of 4 full sized products would make.

The Collection Gift Set is offered in the following scents:  Brown Sugar & Vanilla, Coconut Cream, Lily Mango, Passionfruit Lime, Island Guava, Tahitian Flower and Peppermint. My pick for the season?  Peppermint. Unlike some "mint" scents that can be overpowering in a menthol sort of way, the LaLicious take on Peppermint is sugary sweet, just like a candy cane!  Yummy!

Click HERE to visit LaLicious to check out their extraordinary bath and body products!

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tria review, tria reviews, home laser hair removalUpon receiving my Tria Laser Hair Removal System, I was terrified.  Who could blame me?  The contraption (pictured at left) looks more like space-aged weaponry than any beauty tool I've ever seen!  After weeks of glancing at the box and nervously shuffling by it, I finally decided to take the plunge.

Startup is easy, but for safety reasons, you need to call customer service to activate the laser before your first use.  The instruction manual claims this call will last for about 5 minutes.  My call took 5 1/2 minutes to almost the second, and only because I asked a LOT of questions.

"Laser Hair Removal" is a bit of a misnomer for Tria.  Unlike some hair removal processes, Tria requires no growth at all prior to use.  In fact, to use Tria properly, you have to be freshly shaved.  What Tria does promise is that over time, the tool will actually prevent hair from regrowing.

Once activated through customer service, you're ready to get started!

tria review, tria reviews, home laser hair removalEach time you use Tria, you need to activate the system using the Tria skin sensor (pictured at left).  The sensor determines if your skin is acceptable for the Tria to be used.  It also happens to be an excellent way to ensure that the kids don't accidentally play with it!

How to use:  Start on the lowest Tria setting, and work your way up to higher settings until you find the feeling too uncomfortable.  Some can use Tria on its highest setting with no discomfort.  For me, the "high" setting felt hot on my skin, so I kept the device on its medium setting for use.

All three sides of the triangular laser window must be touching your skin.  The device will beep once indicating the start of the process.  Hold the laser in place.  When the device beeps again in a lower tone, you can move on to the next section of skin.  That's it!

It does take a while to effectively cover an entire area, so some patience is required!  The good news?  Treatment is only needed once a month, and over the course of months, Tria promises that regrowth will become more sparse, or even cease altogether.

After use, my skin appeared very mildly red, but didn't feel irritated at all.

Tria is groundbreaking option for women with excess body hair they find embarrassing.  There are some restrictions!  Only those with lighter skin-tones can use the Tria safely!  African-American, East Indian, Native-American or Pacific Islanders can not safely use Tria  Sadly–Tria can not be used safely on the face, so you'll still need to wax that upper lip!

Retail price is $795, but there is currently an Easy Pay program to help lighten the blow to your wallet.

Buy at www.triabeauty.com.

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bath & body works review, morocco collection, cedarwood spice warming body scrub

Space for product in the shower is scarce, so I'm always happy to stumble upon a product that can be used by men and women.  One less bottle in my shower caddy!

True Blue Spa's Morocco collection includes this Moroccan Tea & Cucumber Shower Gel.  The woodsy scent is just a touch masculine… so he'll reach for this bath and body treat as often as you will!  Moroccan green tea acts as an antioxidant, while shea butter and cucumber soothe and moisturize the skin.  I find the exotic scent combination so refreshing (green tea, crisp mind, cucumber and woodsy notes).  This gel is ideal when you need an eye-opener first thing in the morning!

Click HERE to buy Moroccan Tea & Cucumber Shower Gel at Bath & Body Works. Retail price is $15 for a huge 16 oz. bottle.

The collection includes:
Honey & Date Body Yoghurt ($17.50)
Sweet Fig & Argan Body Lotion ($16.50)
Moroccan Tea & Cucumber Shower Gel ($15.00)
Saffron & Fig Shower Gel ($15.00)
Rose Petal & Orange Flower Shower Cream ($15.00)
Cedarwood & Spice Warming Body Scrub ($15.00)

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August can be a strange month in the Pacific Northwest.  Some years, by mid-August Fall is officially here… with cooler days and overcast afternoons.  In other years, the warmth of an Indian Summer can extend through the end of September.

Naturally, I have my fingers crossed that the warm weather will continue… but regardless of what happens, I have all bases covered with one of the recent releases from True Blue Spa:  Morocco.

The Cedarwood & Spice Warming Body Scrub from this luxe collection keeps skin summer-ready by smoothing away dryness.  My favorite part, however, is that the scrub actually warms slightly on the skin.  What a wonderful way to kick off the day when chillier weather begins!

Click HERE to buy Cedarwood & Spice Warming Body Scrub at Bath & Body Works.  Retail price is a very reasonable $15.

The collection includes:
Honey & Date Body Yoghurt ($17.50)
Sweet Fig & Argan Body Lotion ($16.50)
Moroccan Tea & Cucumber Shower Gel ($15.00)
Saffron & Fig Shower Gel ($15.00)
Rose Petal & Orange Flower Shower Cream ($15.00)
Cedarwood & Spice Warming Body Scrub ($15.00)

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