At Home and Across The Pond: Soap and Glory Favorites!

Soap & Glory Favorite by elbonner featuring fabric home decor

Do you ever forget about something you used to love, come back to it, and wonder why you ever left? I had that happen when I was on my trip to England. I always venture into a Boots Chemist/Pharmacy while I'm there so I can pick up stuff like body lotion and deodorant and just like all the other time, I dawdled around the aisles looking for something new (I always want to try new things). Long ago, I used to buy Soap and Glory products from Boots like it was going out of style. It was new, fun, and not available at home. Boots was then purchased or merged with Target and Soap and Glory came to the states, and unfortunately the whole mystique I had built up in my mind around Soap and Glory was gone. It's like I forgot about all the awesome stuff they had! Not only that, Target stopped carrying it and they switched over to Sephora which meant one thing, waaaay more pricey. 
The good about spending time away from something you used to love is that it makes it all the more exciting when you see it again in a whole new light! When I went into Boots a few weeks ago I saw that the shelf or two of Soap and Glory of the past turned into a big display of all sorts of new products and scents! It was like seeing an old friend and having that feeling where everything felt just like it did when you first found them and it's comfortable, but fun and new at the same time!
The UK product line is MUCH more extensive than what is available in America, which bums me out because they have the most wonderful scents going on across the pond. In the states, we can only find a fraction of what's available back in England, including cosmetics, a ton of great skin care, and some amazing scented body products. I've listed my US and UK favorites here for you!

USA
Sugar Crush Body Wash- Smells like a vanilla lime milkshake. It takes everything in me not to eat this stuff or spread it on top of an ice cream cake; like a Key Lime pie for your body! You only need like 2-3 pumps on a body pouf and you're wrapped in a delicious, non-drying foam that makes even the earliest of showers better.

Sugar Crush Body Scrub- Not oily, which is a huge must if you don't want to fall and break your hip in the bathtub. Same great fragrance as the body wash and you really can't go wrong with a good sugar scrub and S&G are great when it comes to scrubs.

Sugar Crush Body Butter- Soap and Glory are known for their body butters and for good reason: THEY'RE FREAKING AMAZING! Their signature butter formula is made even better by, you guessed it, the sweet limey vanilla scent that makes you consider eating it out of the jar. 

The Righteous Butter Lotion- Nicely scented body lotion that is high on moisture and low on greasiness. I cannot stand putting on lotion to begin with and I'm really bad about putting it on because I HATE feeling greasy afterwards. This stuff soaks in right away and lasts a long time. The scent can be a little strong, but I love how well it moisturizes so I sort of look past it and if anyone complains they can really and truly suck it.

All US Products Available at Sephora

UK

Orangeasm Body Scrub- Smells like all the citruses thrown together and I couldn't be happier. Citrus is a great shower scent because it wakes you up and puts you in a good mood. I am kicking myself for not bringing back 50 jars of this stuff in my suitcase and on my person. It's like smuggling level awesome. If you're in the UK, go to Boots, pop open a jar, have a sniff, and have a big ol' Orangeasm right in the store!

Peaches and Clean Facial Cleanser- Great cleanser for removing makeup whilst being gentle. It's getting closer to winter in the UK and a gentle cleanser is a must for those with dry and sensitive skin. Really wish more of the skincare was available over here in the states!

Orangeasm Body Wash- Smells like the scrub, but you can justify using it every day! It comes in a giant bottle and is a great waker-upper!

Smoothie Star Body Milk- Please bring this to America, Soap and Glory. This lotion smells like you're immersed in the most delicious bowl of honey-filled oatmeal. Soap and Glory does lotions really well and this lotion soaks in immediately and keeps dryness away all day long!

All UK Products Available at Boots

If you're looking for something new to try or you're rediscovering an old friend, go out and give Soap and Glory a go! They make excellent Christmas gift sets and now is the time (even though it's not even Halloween!) you'll start seeing them in stores. Give yourself some TLC and get scented!

Body Oils: How I Fake Healthy, Moisturized Skin

Body Oils by elbonner featuring omorovicza

Girl, my skin is DRY! For real though, this time of year shrivels and flakes me up like a bag of dates I forgot about in the back of my pantry. It's not pretty, and that's why I turn to what I think is the best kind of moisturizer you can put on your body: OIL. Sweet, glorious oil that comes from a variety of sources, natural ones only! I have compiled a list of body and bath oils that I like to use when I'm feeling itchy and scaly.

1.  Nuxe Huile Prodigieuese OR- This stuff is good in the summer because it's a dry oil that has lots of bronze glitter, but this is great for nights out when you want to look sparkly and fabulous. 

2. REN Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil- This is something you're supposed to add to your bath to make it moisturizing in the water as well as out. This smells like roses (duh) and feels lovely after a bath because you're not doused in oil, it just rests nicely on the skin. Also available at Sephora.

3. The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Body Oil- Smells like grapefruit: SOLD. Nice and light, good for the daytime when you want a fresh smelling body oil that keeps you soft.

4. Aromatherapy Associates Perfect Partners- Two mini bath oils, one in a zingy citrus to wake you up and one in a soothing herbal scent for night? SIGN. ME. UP. These are great for travel when you're in a different place and just want something to help you wind down. Also great for business travel when you're just tired of watching America's Got Talent alone or stressful holiday trips to your new in-laws house and you're sick of spending time with people.

5. Origins Ginger Gloss Dry Oil Spray- This stuff smells like a goddamn ginger snap and makes you look like a Beyonce album cover: smooth, glowing, and "Sasha" fierce. Great scent for winter and summer; this is a dry oil spray so no greasiness, all fabulousness.

6. Heritage Store Aura Glow Skin Lotion- I use this as a makeup remover, moisturizer, and shave oil. It comes in like 15 different scents and in sizes from teeny tiny to dear-god-that's-a lot size. Needless to say, this is an all-around good oil for lots of things. This is made from peanut oil and is super moisturizing. Wouldn't recommend it for daytime use because it can get oil stains in your clothes (aka ruin them), but great before bed because it really soaks in when you're warm!

7. Extra Virgin Coconut Oil- You can get this stuff just about anywhere nowadays and I always have a jar in my house (two at the moment). I use this like I use the Aura Glow. It's a bit lighter than the Aura Glow and way better for hair. It's good in smoothies and for frying and baking. Just get a jar already!

8. Omorovicza Three-Oil Coffet- Swag, luxury, and high-end body oils. I just named three things I don't have, so this pick is more of a wish-list item. This company is super expensive which makes me think these oils make you a supermodel, look 20lbs. lighter, and magically speak fluent French. It probably doesn't do this, but I like to tell myself it does.

If you've got disgusting dry skin (like me!) go out and get a body oil. Your body moisturizes itself naturally with oil, so what better way to augment your poorly functioning oil glands by giving them a nicely scented boost!