First of all, every morning I use Dr CI: Labo Basic Black Blemish Control Soap on my face.  When my face isn't red and bumpy, I do my regular make-up routine in the morning which involves a layer of my favorite Lancome Aqua Fusion Teinte moisturizer. But when I'm having blemish issues, I switch to using Dr CI: Labo Basic Black Blemish Control Moisture Gel.  (No, it's not black.  It's not even really a gel, more of a light cream.) I skip the tinted moisturizer and use powder foundation that day.  At night, I dab Mario Badescu Drying Lotion on the problem area.  Et Voila!  red bumps disappear fast - within 24 hours.  Before I started using the Dr CI: Labo stuff, it could take a week for my face to clear up.

Thanks to Diane, the Beauty Alchemist, for recommending those products! 

The Sugar Soufflé is gently abrasive but quite oily - be sure to wash out the tub carefully after using so you (or your loved one) don't slip the next time you get in.  It left a sheen of oil on my skin that lasted for hours, but wasn't greasy.  

I tried the body butter on a separate occasion since I most definitely didn't need it after the soufflé.  It's a thinner consistency than most body butters, more like a thick cream than a butter.  It was also perfumed with the rich Tahitian Flower scent.  Using either product, I really didn't need to apply additional fragrance, but it would work well with anything in the vein of Kai, Child, If, etc. 

Both the butter and the soufflé would be perfect for the upcoming cooler and drier weather, and the scents would bring a little bit of the tropics to your boudoir.

Here's the official info on LaLicious Body Butter and Sugar Soufflé: 

"Our unique line of moisturizing Sugar Soufflé Body Scrubs, healing Body Butters, nourishing Body Oils and soothing Whipped Body Soaps will keep your skin hydrated and silky smooth! With the perfect combination of natural ingredients, LaLicious products exfoliate, condition, moisturize, and smooth you to perfection!  

"Founded in 2003, LaLicious was born out of Jessica Kernochan’s kitchen as her passion for mixing ingredients led to the creation of the PERFECT body scrub. Today, LaLicious is sold in over 350 stores and spas nationwide and has gained the adoration of celebrities, magazine editors and self-proclaimed beauty addicts!"

Sugar Soufflé

Product Description/Uses:

LaLicious Sugar Soufflé Scrubs are highly moisturizing and can be used in the bath or shower. After cleansing, scoop out some LaLicious Sugar Soufflé Scrub with your hands, and scrub all over! Rinse with warm water to melt the sugar crystals away. This is a great time to get the closest shave ever! Step out of the shower, pat yourself dry, and no need for lotion! Gentle enough to use every day.

Product Benefits/Tips:

We use a whipped technique so the consistency will never change, no oily mess & no re-mixing! Coconut oil absorbs quickly and easily into your skin, leaving it moisturized and protected without feeling greasy. Pure cane sugar crystals gently exfoliate dead skin cells while sweet almond and vitamin e oils condition, moisturize, and smooth you to perfection! No need for lotion after you get out of the bath or shower!

Product Ingredients:

Coconut Oil:

• Coconut oils ability to nourish and heal the skin has been known in the tropics for hundreds of years.
• Helps keep skin soft and smooth. ⋅
• Helps prevent premature aging and wrinkling of the skin. ⋅
• Natural anti-oxidants help your skin repair and protect itself from free radicals and other environmental aging factors. 

• Provides minerals, vitamins and proteins that are essential for beautiful skin. ⋅
• Penetrates skin easily and provides a barrier against the elements.
• A potent soothing property.
• Relieves itching, dryness, inflammation, burns and thread veins.

• Less abrasive than salt, also won't sting cuts on the skin.

• Pure and natural to soften skin also acts as a natural preservative.

• The anti-oxidant benefits of Vitamin E result in smooth, conditioned skin.
• Also helps to prevent stretch marks.

Body Butter

Product Description/Uses: 

LaLicious Body Butters are thick, whipped creams that leave your skin feeling silky smooth. This shea butter based moisturizer is enriched with Aloe and Vitamin E to heal even the driest skin, and it is paraben free!

Product Benefits/Tips:

Moisturize after the shower or take your LaLicious Body Butter with you in the car or to the office! Apply to all your dry areas to stay hydrated all day long. Your skin will be moisturized to perfection and smell heavenly.

Key Product Ingredients:

Shea Butter:

• Renowned worldwide for its therapeutic value and healing properties. It is effective treatment for burns, scars, stretch marks, dryness and eczema or psoriasis.
• Evens skin tone and returns skin to its natural luster.

I'm starting to get dark circles under my eyes, particularly my left eye. They're probably hereditary, but in case they're not, I wanted to see if I could do something about them cosmetically, besides cover them up. I read about Shiseido's White Lucent Brightening Eye Treatment and thought I'd give it a try.  It's billed as "a highly moisturizing, anti-dark circle eye treatment" which sounds like exactly what I need.

According to the company...

"...this lightweight cream addresses both melanin formation and poor local microcirculation, two major causes of dark circles. The Dark Circle Targeting Complex reduces melanin and diminishes the appearance of melanin pigments. By gently massaging the cream onto the skin, local microcirculation is improved while a unique mix of Asian plant extracts recover moisture balance. Additionally, it contains Multi-Luminizing Powder with light diffusing properties to instantly bring luminosity to eye areas."

I've been using Brightening Eye Treatment for about a month now, every day, twice a day as directed.  I make sure to do the little massage routine each time.  And do you know what?  I think it's working.  I find myself using far less concealer than I was before I started the treatment.  My left eye is still a bit darker underneath than my right, but overall they are both a bit lighter.  

The product itself is a light lotion with a pleasant summery scent.  My preference is usually for thicker eye creams, and this one melts right into the skin.  At first, I felt a bit naked, particularly at night, but I now realize that there's an adequate amount of moisture present, especially for these warm summer nights.  And it's especially nice that it's not goopy and doesn't interfere with makeup application in the morning. 

I like Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Eye Treatment, I plan to use it in the future, and I do recommend it for those of you who aren't fond of your dark under-eye circles.  Keep in mind that it's not a miracle-worker, but it makes a difference. 

I've been using Lemony Flutter nightly for the past 2 1/2 months and it does make my cuticles very supple. If they're rough and hard, I tend to chew them (I know, gross) but if they're nice and soft, I don't.  Well, not so much. :)  Lemony Flutter is also a great moisturizer for scaly elbows and feet, but it is a bit greasy, so don't use it and then put on your best silk blouse.  It's best for bedtime use, or on a day when you plan to hang around the house in your sweats. 

I've used the stuff religiously after my morning shower for the last thirty days now, and the verdict is in - holy crap, it works!  My neck is smooth again, like it was not too many years ago.  I wish I had before and after photos for you, but I'm no photographer and the flash on the digicam washed out every shot.  It's not like I had big wrinkly turkey wattles anyway.  And if you do, your mileage may vary, but heck, it's definitely worth trying.   I know I'm a believer.

Here's the official word, from Shiseido USA: 

A powerful protective day cream created especially for mature skin experiencing wrinkles, discoloration, and loss of resilience associated with hormonal changes due to aging. Defends against dryness, pollution, and the harmful effects of UV rays. Restores skin density and firmness for young-looking facial contours.

• Reduces the appearance of wrinkles and promotes a look of youthful vitality.
• Absorbs quickly and provides long-lasting hydration benefits.
• Utilizes Shiseido light-diffusing technology to minimize the appearance of age spots/discoloration and uneven skin tone, and improve radiance.
• A fresh, comfortable fragrance creates a pleasant skincare experience.
• To Use: Smooth over face each morning after cleansing and balancing skin.
• For maximum results use with NutriPerfect Night Cream.

I always liked shopping at Boots when visiting the UK; it was our neighborhood chemist shop in 1976 when my whole family was sick on vacation, and a place to peruse for beauty products when I visited solo in the 80s.  Their scented body products were always a favorite, particularly the camellia fragrance. I recently had an opportunity to try some of the items sold here in the US, and fell in love with the Mediterranean Almond, Pistachio & Milk Body Butter. From the Boots site (including typos and British spellings):

Nourish your skin with organic almond oil while your senses are awoken by the wholesome mediterranean oils. Pistachio oil will condtion and moisturise your skin while milk extract will leave your skin silky soft.We've also added shea butter, nature's most moisturising ingredient to ensure your skin is thoroughly nourished.

The texture is rich and creamy, but blends in instantly and leaves no greasy feeling.  Plus the scent is light and pleasant and doesn't compete with my perfume.  It's fantastic on elbows and knees and my itchy dry winter legs.  And at $10.99 (about half the price of the Body Shop's body butter), I can indulge my skin without breaking the bank.  I think that's the true success of Boots products - they are both effective and inexpensive.

Intriguing, no?  I've long been a fan of Indian culture, food, ritual, and to some extent, beauty and skin care. I think I definitely need to look into this line further, and when I do, I'll report back here.

Sundari products are available online at www.skinstore.com