Fresh was killing me the other day with the re-introduction of Patchouli Pure and the Fig Apricot products… Now Philosophy has introduced their fall/winter stuff and I’m all aflutter.

Where do I start? The Recipe Box has two new scents, Strawberry Shortcake and Sweet Creamy Frosting, in addition to my favorite Red Velvet Cake – all shower gels in the very convenient 2 oz. size. The Holiday Cookbook has 2 oz. sizes of the new spicy pear cobbler, pumpkin spice muffin, and gingerbread, as well as three old favorites. Let’s not overlook The Cookie Exchange, 2 oz. sizes of four yummy cookie scents. Are you drooling yet?

There are two new houses this year (some of the cutest gift packaging ever) – The Coffee House and The Haunted House. The Haunted House has pumpkin spice muffin, caramel apple, and black licorice. I’ve smelled them all and they are SO GOOD, especially the licorice.

Then there are new lip glosses, in Caramel Apple,  Pumpkin Spice Muffin, Red Velvet Cake, S’Mores, and Cafe au Lait. Philosophy also has some gift-packaged glosses, including Spicy Pear Cobbler, and Gingerbread, and a trio matching the Coffee House.

In the full size shower gels, Pumpkin Spice Muffin, Caramel Apple, and Black Licorice, have all been added. Also, Caramel Mocha Latte (in gift packaging), Gingerbread, Eggnog Latte, Orange Cranberry, and Bare Your Soul, a peony-scented shower gel, are new. Seriously, they’re killing me.

When in comes to foodie scents, Philosophy rarely disappoints. I already know I like the licorice scent, the coffee and eggnog scents, and I’ll probably like the gingerbread and the pear. I’m doomed. Or at least my wallet is, since getting everything I think I’d like would set me back about $150. I better hope I HATE some of these scents (fat chance!). This is one of the best holiday/fall lineups they’ve offered in years.

I work in a mall that has a Sephora, so I’m in there fairly frequently – or at least after new stuff hits the website, and I want to see it in person. I had the chance today to check out the (newish) Korres color line, which finally came to my local store. I was reasonably impressed!

I didn’t try any of the liquid foundations because the tubes looked awkward, and I’m hopelessly devoted to Stila’s Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer. I did take a swipe at the Multivitamin Compact Powder, the pressed powder for oilier complexions, and I really loved the texture. It was really silky, and not chalky at all, and spread nicely on the skin. I’m currently carrying Tarte’s Provacateur Pressed Mineral Powder for mid-day touchups, and I like it just fine. When it’s gone, I will be investigating the Korres powder again, because it feels just as nice, if not better.

The eyeshadow colors look pretty, but I’m not a super-huge fan of single eyeshadows (I prefer multi-color palettes for saving space), so I didn’t take a poke at them. I did swipe some Cherry Full Color Lip Gloss on my hand to get an idea of the texture and opacity,  and liked what I saw. Cherry doesn’t refer to the color, but rather to the cherry seed oil in the formula. The texture is nicely smooth (not too sticky) and the colors are a lot more intense than they appear on the website. I might have to snag one of these glosses! I really liked Red 52. I didn’t love the color selection of the lipsticks quite as much, so I didn’t try any of those.

So for Korres, the powder compact and the lip glosses are definitely ringing my bell. I’ll consider these for future purchase.

The newly expanded Cargo PlantLove line is available on Sephora’s website, but wasn’t in the store yet. This is a line I can’t WAIT to try.  I’ve tried a lipstick from the line (Cargo introduced lipsticks not quite two years ago), and was favorably impressed. Now they’ve expanded with an almost-full lineup of color cosmetics. What was original about the PlantLove lipsticks at the time were the plastic-like compostable tubes made from corn, the Ecocert-certified formula of the lipstick, and the recycled (and seed-embedded) outer boxes. All the packaging for the new products meets these same guidelines (although Sephora’s website doesn’t say if the cosmetics formulas are Ecocert-certified). I really want to check out the lipgloss, the blushes (I love Cargo blushes), and the baked illuminators.

Ooh, happy day. I love earth-friendly cosmetics.

One of my favorite things about keeping this blog is the opportunity to try new products. I recently received some bath & body products to try from a company called International Orange. The line of products is made with certified organic, wild-crafted, or biodynamically grown ingredients and let me tell you, the products rock.

International Orange is a day spa and yoga studio in San Francisco, named for the paint color of the Golden Gate Bridge. All of their products are crafted by hand, with no synthetic ingredients and all the vegetable oils and butters are fair trade. What does that mean for the user? It means high quality products with lovely textures and scents, that are a pleasure to use.

International Orange suggests using all the products as a system, as a “Daily Ritual of Organic Wellness.” Start by washing the skin and hair, then protect the skin and hair with a conditioner and a lotion. Use the deodorant to neutralize body odor and fortify the immune system, then finish your day in the evening with a bath soak, and rub on the body oil.

All of the products are solely scented with plant essential oils and extracts, so they are all very herbal – this is especially nice for anyone who might be sensitive to synthetic perfumes. In my experience, natural fragrances are occasionally problematic for people who are accustomed to synthetic scents. When I used to make soap, at craft markets I’d hand people my lavender soap (scented solely with pure lavender essential oil) and they’d frown and tell me it didn’t smell like lavender. Well, no, not like the fake lavender companies like Downy and Bath & Body Works want to sell you. Anyway, the point of this rant is to say that if you are expecting the synthetic perfumes that other companies try to pass off as “natural” you won’t find them in International Orange products. They are refreshingly all-natural.

The shampoo is called Restore, and has nettle extract, seaweed extract, bergamot oil, and geranium oil, amongst the many other plant-based ingredients. It’s sulfate free, for those of you concerned about that. I found the herbal scent to be really soothing, and the shampoo itself to be really mild and gentle. Like most sulfate-free shampoos, it doesn’t have a ton of fluffy lather, but it did leave my hair feeling clean and soft, and shiny. Nourish, the conditioner, has an amazing florally scent (from jasmine and tuberose extracts), as well as jojoba and macadamia nut oils, and a total of 12 herbal infusions and essential oils. I loved it – it left my hair silky soft, with no weighing residue.

Cleanse, the body wash, has a strong lavender (real lavender! lol!) scent that I liked. If you aren’t a lavender fan, however, you might find it a bit much. It also has bergamot oil, and calendula extract. Like the shampoo, it’s mild but definitely cleansing – but not drying. It has a decent lather on a bath poof. The body lotion is called Enrich, and it’s my favorite of all the IO products. Containing avocado oil, shea butter, and vitamin E, it leaves the skin super-soft (but not at all greasy) and the scent! The scent is to die for. I kept sniffing my hands after I put it on the first time. It’s mainly tuberose extract, which is divine (and not at all nose-tickly like so many synthetic tuberose scents).

The deodorant is a spray-on product, called Balance. It’s a blend of herbal extracts and essential oils, all chosen for their antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. It has an alcohol base, but I didn’t find it particularly drying and I really appreciate how fast it dried. The scent is primarily lavender. I used it on a day when I was moderately busy (and thus moderately likely to sweat) and found odor control to be excellent. It’s not an antiperspirant, so no wetness control, but in the winter I don’t use antiperspirant anyway. The lavender scent doesn’t particularly linger, so there is no problem with it conflicting with my perfume either. Two thumbs up!

The body oil (called Anoint) and the bath salts (called Bathe) are as lovely as the rest of the line. Anoint has grapeseed oil in it (great for the skin!), as well as green tea, and has that amazing jasmine extract for scent. I used it in place of lotion one day, and was quite impressed. I love body oils anyway, and this one smells awesome. I’d wear it for perfume if it was a smidge stronger. The salts made a good-smelling bath, and they contain epsom salts which help to relax muscles. I’m always sleepy after bath with epsom salts, and this was no exception.

My only complaint with the line is that it’s pricey. Purchasing one each of the whole line will set you back $284, which is more than I can afford. Would it be totally worth it? Yes – the products are high quality and effective, and I can wholly recommend each one. Personally, if I had to pick only one (or two or three, lol) products from the line, I’d order the lotion, the deodorant, and the body oil. It’s hard to find spray deodorants with scents I like, and I really liked this one. The lotion is just too divine to pass up, as is the body oil.

You can find International Orange products at the International Orange webshop, and they offer free shipping with orders over $50.

My husband and I took a little drive into the hills west of Portland tonight, ostensibly to watch the sunset, but also to see the earliest hints of autumn coming along. I think the fall season is my favorite – I love the colors, the crisp (but not freezing) air, and the fact that cosmetics companies start bringing out all the cute holiday gift sets…LOL. I’m so easy.

In honor of the changing season, a five things list for fall.

1. Nars Luster Blush. I bought this in January, but I’m finding it to be perfect for faking that end-of-summer golden complexion. Since I’m a sunscreen-all-the-way kind of gal, I don’t have much of a golden complexion, lol. But I can fake it perfectly with Luster. Love it! (Speaking of Nars, I WANT Dolce Vita, the new shade…)

2. What goes better with a golden complexion (and my dark brown hair and eyes) than a goldy-brownish lip color? Today I wore Stila Lip Glaze in Brown Sugar, but I’m also loving Vincent Longo Baby Balm Lipstick in Positano, and Sally Hansen Comfort Shine Lip Glaze in Sugar Cookie.

3. As the weather gets colder, I start bringing back my sweeter or heavier scents. A few favorites are Matin Calin from Comptoir Sud Pacifique, L de Lolita Lempicka, and La Maison de la Vanille Divine des Tropiques.

4. Fall also means yummy scents for the home. There is something a little jarring about nice spicy scents in the middle of summer, so I’ve been burning mostly fresh scents. However, it’s getting to be time for the awesome fall scents like Autumn Leaves, Cider Donut, Caramel Pumpkin, and Winter Forest.

5. Last, but not least, fall means I start taking tub baths again. I don’t really enjoy a good soak in the summer, but I’m a bath fiend when the weather is cool/cold. That means bath bombs like Youki-Hi and Haagenbath, and I’m dying to try the new ones: Stardust and Vanilla Fountain. I’m also a fan of bubble baths like Ombra’s Citrus Sage Foam Bath, and I’m lusting after other scents in the line.

There we have it. A five things list devoted to early fall.

Throw the confetti! Squeal with joy! Paul & Joe Cosmetics are being carried by Beautyhabit!! I’ve been a big fan of Paul & Joe Beaute for years, and it used to be that Sephora carried the brand. They stopped carrying it a year ago or so, and I was sad. Apparently, there were a few places that carried it, but none online.

Now, Beautyhabit has the whole line, and we can let the rejoicing commence!

The pressed powders are my absolute favorite pressed powders ever. They have crushed pearl, so they are ever so slightly sparkly, without being really over the top about it. The texture is to die for. I have a bronze one and a cream colored one, and I’ve been literally hording the last bits of the cream colored one. No more! I can order another!

One of my favorite things about Paul & Joe is the packaging. The compacts are just beautiful, with lovely embossed designs. The special edition packaging (usually cardboard covers) is printed with prints from the Paul & Joe clothing line. Other favorite products include the eyeshadows, and the lipsticks. If you haven’t tried Paul & Joe Beaute before, check it out at Beautyhabit!

What do they have in common? Nothing, except I’m being lazy and writing about two products in one post. LOL. Anyway, I’ve decided to add a category called “Cheap Thrills,” to describe the fun stuff that doesn’t set me back an arm and a leg.

The Body Shop has introduced a new addition to their White Musk line called White Musk Intrigue. I bought the “spring” version, White Musk Blush, and was pleased enough with Intrigue to get it too. Besides, for under $20 a bottle, it’s cheap enough to purchase without much guilt. Where the Blush version was really fruity, the Intrigue turns up the cinnamon and turns down the fruit. What’s interesting to note is that I’m not really a fan of the plain ol’ White Musk – I’ve been much more pleased with the flanker fragrances than with the original. *shrugs*

Alaffia, the super-awesome shea butter company, upgraded their website! It’s a lot prettier now. They make two products that have been sending me over the moon recently: both cocoa butter lotions. First is the Cocoa Butter Body Cream. It comes in a jar, and is super thick but not greasy. In fact, once it hits your skin it gets really creamy and soaks right in like butter on hot pancakes. The scent… amazing! It’s basically like rubbing your skin down with chocolate. I recently scraped the last little bit out of the jar and decided to try the Cocoa Butter Intensive Lotion. It comes in a purple plastic bottle, instead of a jar, and has Avocado extract in it. As far as I can tell, those are the major differences. It’s maybe a *smidge* less thick than the cream, but has the same scent and that same hot butter on pancakes melt into your skin feeling. It’s a little bit less expensive, so I guess I’ll stick with it. Although there is something purely decadent about scooping the cream out of the jar and slathering it on… LOL, this from the girl who professes to dislike creams in jars. Anyway, I know Whole Foods Market in the Portland area carries the line, and I think that might be nationwide. Otherwise, hit up the website.

There you have it. Two cheap thrills that are definitely thrilling me right now.

Fresh has introduced some new products and relaunched some others, and I want it all. Too bad I’m not wealthy, eh?

First, new Fig Apricot body cream and shower gel. I adore the texture and feel of Fresh’s body creams, although the $65 price tag makes me cringe. The Fig Apricot scent is one of my favorites, although the perfume has zero staying power on me (and thus, remains unpurchased). I’d love to use the body cream and shower gel, though. Maybe a gift set is in the works,  like the $45 Cannabis Rose set mentioned here, which I did end up purchasing. Then I’d have all three, including a perfume that is small enough to carry around for frequent refreshes.

Then, Fresh is relaunching two perfumes, one of which I’m dying for. Tobacco Caramel and Patchouli Pure were discontinued, and while I never tried Tobacco Caramel, I did like the Patchouli Pure. I was reminded again how much I liked it when we visited a Fresh store in NYC and I bought the patchouli soap. The going prices for the discontinued perfume on eBay were completely outrageous though, so my lust for Patchouli Pure remained unfullfilled… but now… it can be mine! At $75 I won’t be splurging right away, but I have mentioned to my darling husband that I would love to find it in my Christmas stocking… since he so kindly fullfilled my Cannabis Rose fantasy, I can be patient.

Lastly, Fresh is introducing a Sephora-exclusive fragrance called Strawberry Flowers.  It sounds really nice, so I will definitely check it out. Since it’s a 1 oz. size, the price isn’t completely outrageous, so if I like it, it may come home with me.

Fresh: an expensive habit.

Earlier this summer I bought a lot of Henri Bendel candles when Bath & Body Works had them on sale. I thought perhaps they were being discontinued because they were all 50% off – I was prepared to be crushed! However, it would seem that they were doing a packaging change instead. Bath & Body Works doesn’t offer all the ones listed on the Bendel website (I’d love a Lily of the Valley), but they do have what I think are the best ones.

What they have now are new reed diffusers and a new scent – see here. Those diffusers look awesome, and the new scent is Vanilla Woods. I ended up doing a splurge and getting the Quince candle instead, because I’ve been waiting for it forever, but the Vanilla Woods is next on my list. It’s very smoky and sweet. Nice for winter. I want Apricot and Black Fig too.

I love these candles because they burn very clean, and they are quite strongly scented. If I light one in the kitchen, which is the central room in our house, the scent does spread throughout the house. They are also quite large and burn for a LONG time, so I do think they are worth the $26 price tag. It just means I can’t get all the scents I want at once, or I’d be dropping $100 on candles and even I’m not that extravagant…