Stocking Stuffer: My Calgon Discovery

Done with your Christmas shopping yet?

I am, more or less. For hubby, all the kids and important relatives (in-laws, aunts, cousins) on my list I'm done. For my parents and siblings I'm not, as I have no idea what to give them. Also we're all eagerly awaiting the arrival of my baby nephew supposed to be born this weekend! I guess that eclipses any gift giving in mind as we will all have a baby this Christmas.

Anyways, when mom & I went to S&R yesterday after a derma appointment (my monthly glycolic peel, diamond peel and IPL maintenance) we found this:

BBW Creamy Body Wash

I heard about the Bathed & Infused Anniversary sale from my Vox friends and have been contemplating on making an order. It is 40% off the entire order and I"ve always wanted to order bath products to try out there. After staring and making ghost carts for most of the week I ended up not getting any. The international shipping is too expensive plus the long wait (even if I'm very patient waiting for my int'l packages) stopped me. Good thing I found an alternative, mwahaha!

I've been addicted to Bath & Body Works' Creamy Body Wash for 3 years now and in fact it is my HG of body washes. It is hard to find locally as stores mostly sell the shower gels which I dislike coz they're drying so I get mine from my cousin in the US if ever she comes for a visit here. Because of my dilemma in ordering from B&I, I tried looking for an alternative over at Multiply and I found an online store selling my beloved Creamy Body Washes (which I'll keep to myself, ha!). Good thing the seller had lots of stocks and scents to choose from including my staples so I ordered on Wednesday night, paid Thursday morning and I got my package this morning, yahoo! Instant gratification :-)

I got Warm Vanilla Sugar (my favorite), Brown Sugar & Fig and Sparkling Peach. I now have additional stocks to my last few tubes that would last me till middle of next year. Price isn't bad either although I do prefer the ongoing sale price of BBW mid-year sale. I definitely will order more tubes in a month or 2 to stock me up for a few years.

CYS and Lumiere Haul

Both my CYS and Lumiere orders came at the same time.

Cleanse Your Soul

All of them smell so good but I haven't sniffed the freebies I got yet.

Breakdown of what I got and some initial thoughts on some of them:

Bath Moisture Whip in Pumpkin Whipped Cream

"Heavy on the whipped cream...with just the tiniest hint of pumpkin"

- This is my 2nd favorite scent of this batch. It smells creamy and a bit sweet. Yum! The color also looks good enough to eat.

Oil Infused Creamy Body Wash in Candy Corn Cream Cake

"The famous Halloween candy baked into an angel food cake"

3-in-1 Body Bubbles in Vanilla Bean Noel

"Bath & Body Works dupe (but better!) Delicious vanilla w/ caramel"

- I haven't smelled the original BBW one but this smells like a good creamy vanilla scent and I do love vanilla. This isn't very strong that it would make you nauseous.

Creamy Oil in Caramel Apple Fluff

"Everyone's favorite Autumn treat, dipped in melted marshmallows"

- I think I need to let this cure for a while because I don't smell the apples as of now.

Creamy Dreamy Scrub in Lemon Marshmallow Cream

"Lemon, Marshmallow fluff and Whipped Cream"

- This is my favorite among all these. It smells lemony yet not too tart. Exactly like their description that it has that hint of marshmallow and cream scent. I can't wait to use this.

Included in my box were freebies!

Silken Body Butter in First Rain

"This scent evokes images of taking a shower under a waterfall. It’s a soapy, clean scent w/ a fresh air note"

Perfume in Berry Patch

"Patchouli infused with cherry almond, stra wberry and hints of Sandalwood and Jasmine. Again…I don’t love patchouli, but this is really pretty!"

Will report back once I've sniffed these 2.

This is the freebie gummi burger. My DD loves this and before I could take a picture she grabbed it and ran away. I told her I still had to get a photo and she was the one who took this shot :-) Then she ran away again and ate it all.

Reviews of the products in future posts.

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Lumiere is here!

I ordered along with a friend (a very timely present coz she passed her board exams this week!).

The next photos are only my orders.

The Medium Mixing Bowl. I can just imagine how small the small size would be!

Trio Cheek Color in Natural Radiance, Island Sands and Be True:

6. pcs Trial Size vials in Gleeful, Ditto 'O', Cherry Blossom cheek colors and eyeshadows in Honey Brown, Peppermint Patti and Foliage.

So many new colors to play with and the new vial packaging looks cute. Since I haven't opened these vials and tested them I still don't know how it would fare with daily usage. Swatches next post. I'm so tired.

Brook & Ivy Body Buff

I was browsing the shelves in a mall a few weeks ago and came across Brook & Ivy. They had different bath and body products like bath gels, shampoo, scrubs, lotions and body splashes. I was looking at the scrubs in particular because they had the Cosmo Beauty Award sticker on them. I took a sniff of the Vanilla Vine scrub and fell in love instantly with the scent. Unfortunately I didn't get it because it was the last piece there. Hmmm...I actually don't know why I didn't get it, too lazy to go pay for it I guess LOL!

Fast forward a few weeks later when I went to the Greenmeadows Bazaar, I saw a stall there of this particular brand. They had testers of all the 5 scents they had but Vanilla Vine still tops my list. I got myself a jar of scrub and some body splashes to give as gifts. They all smelled sooo good! Next on my list would be the Ginger Patch and Tea Infusion scents of scrubs and body washes.






The Vanilla Vine Body Buff has medium sized scrubby grains. It contains Dead Sea Salts and other minerals beneficial to the skin. The grains aren't abrasive nor too gentle -- just right for me. The label says to use it on dry skin for a better exfoliating experience although I haven't tried it that way. The vanilla scent is not overpowering and it lingers on your skin long after your bath.

If I didn't have other open jars of scrubs I'd really get more of this although nobody's stopping me. Each 150 ml. tub of this scrub is inexpensive at around P250 ($5). What's more, it's locally available so easily accessible (I've seen this in Crossing's Shangrila Mall).

Yeah, I'll definitely get more!

CleanseYourSoul (B&B)

**(Hey, Michelle and Inan, I caved in!!!  It seems that we're the 3 resident bath & body addicts of our little Vox community LOL!).

I ordered from Cleanse Your Soul because the shipping is just too good to pass up at only $5.

I got:

* 3-in-1 Bubbles 4oz. in Vanilla Bean Noel

* Oil-Infused Creamy Body Wash 8oz. (on sale) in Candy Corn Cream Cake

* Creamy Oil 2oz. Malibu tube in Caramel Apple Fluff

* Creamy Dreamy Scrub 4oz. jar in Lemon Marshmallow Cream/yellow color

* Bath Moisture Whip 4oz. in Pumpkin Whipped Cream

Woo-hoo! I'll probably get all these in the new year since TAT is 1-14 days although this comes in Priority Mail.  Also I hope I win in her raffle ($25 gift voucher) for those who order until the 24th of December.

MCS Cream Soap Review

I've used my Madcitysue Shower Parfait Cream Soap in Pumpkin Brulee/Iced Gingerbread.

As I've posted before, the combination smells good.  Not sickeningly sweet and not too foodie.  It's just enough to lift up your mood and scent the whole bathroom but it's not over powering.

The cream soap itself is mousse-like in texture.  I used only a palm-sized amount when I showered and it was enough for the whole body.  It lathered really well, double the lather because I use a shower puff.  It is moisturizing on the skin even after rinsing it off that I didn't put on any other lotion.  There is a faint scent that lingers which is just perfect if you still want to use another lotion or cologne/perfume.  Otherwise, if you prefer the same scent, it would be better to layer it with the same scented lotion to make the scent stronger or longer lasting. 

I think the next time I make an order, I would get smaller tubs in 4oz instead of the 8oz tubs so I could get to try more scents.  The 8oz. tubs would be hard to finish (which is a good thing cost wise) bec. the lather is enough for a small amount used.

All in all, I really like the cream soap's formula.  Actually, I liked it better than the Sugar Scrub but I need to try out the bigger tub I have and make another post on it.

My MadCitySue is here!

I lost my dsl connection a couple of days ago but now it's back!!!

Wee! My hubby offered to get my package at the PO yesterday and it's my MadCitySue order!  It was packaged in a box and dated Dec. 4.  Only around 2 weeks ship time from the US considering it's in a box and it's the Christmas rush.  Not bad.

Presenting:

I got both in 8oz. Cream Soap in Pumpkin Brulee / Iced Gingerbread and Whipped Sugar Scrub in Reindeer Cakes / Marshmallow Cocoa.  There was a freebie Candied Apple Sugar Scrub.

Shower Parfait Cream Soap 

Whipped Sugar Body Scrub

Freebie

see the red & green sprinkles?

I had the colors also custom made in white/pink and yellow/violet.  The Reindeer Cakes combo smells so heavenly and I like it the most although the other ones also smell really good.  I like foody scents so these all work for me.

I used the Freebie Candied Apple Scrub right away yesterday.  I actually finished the whole tub since it's around 1oz (my estimate).  It was very moisturizing and no lotion is needed after.  I think I over used it coz my shower floor was a bit slippery LOL!

I want to order more scents now.  Thanks to Inan for the great find.  

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Been busy the past few days and unfortunately I keep forgetting to bring out my camera!

Sunday: 

Lunch here at home.  My cousin from the US is here and we hosted a lunch.  My mom's brother and his family also came over.  Lots of food, *burp* and at the same time it was the Pacquiao - DeLaHoya boxing match so we were all watching it thru live stream on the internet.  Yahoo! Pacquiao won!!!  

Went to the mall after lunch coz I needed to buy additional gifts/prizes my DD needed for their school party.  

Monday:

Met up with my cousin at the mall and my mom and hubby followed after work.  My cousin bought my DD's last item on her Xmas wish list without her knowing about it.  We now have all her wishes and more!

Tuesday: 

We attended the Dept. of Surgery's Christmas party.  Since hubby is the newest fellow in the hospital's department, they "told" him to bring a roast pig/lechon.  So we brought a big one!!! 

We had a great time, esp. my DD who was dancing and going around the venue like she was the host LOL! She also didn't want to leave until after we've won something from the raffle.  Well, we won a minor prize so we were able to go home.  (I heard everyone was still there until late in the evening).

Too bad I really wasn't able to get ANY pictures on any of the days' events.  Oh well...next time I promise to put my camera in my bag.  Like today, we're going out again after my trip to my dermatologist (my 5th -or is it 6th?- IPL session). 

Because of Inan....

I just purchased from Etsy for the 1st time.

From madcitysue I got the following:

1.Moisturizing Whipped Body Sugar Scrub 8oz. half and half in the scents:

Reindeer Cakes - Dark chocolate cake topped with buttercream frosting and sprinkled with flaky coconut (in white color)

Marshmallow Cocoa – Nothing better after a long day sledding, creamy milk chocolate cocoa topped with a mountain of fresh marshmallows (in pink color)

2. Foaming Shower Parfait Cream Soap 8oz. half and half in the scents:

Iced Gingerbread -- Freshly baked gingerbread cookies with just the right amount of white icing -- a delicious combination of sweet and spice (in yellow color)

Pumpkin Brulee' -- thick, rich vanilla cream, pumpkin, brown sugar and just a hint of spice (in violet color)

I had trouble ordering at first but worked it out eventually. Good thing Sue was online the same time I was and we were emailing each other. She said she'll be shipping my order this week. Can't wait to get it.

Inan: you are fueling my bath & body addiction with all your good finds...thanks! LOL!

I haven't forgotten your tag for the lippies...I'll do it this week :-)

** Photos taken from madcitysue's site at Etsy.com