Call the Girl Police: The Bath Project, Part 2

I finally conceded that I couldn't suck it up and take a bath. Don't get me wrong, I do take showers and am very clean. It's an irrational fear of water. Let's move on.




Xina kindly agreed to check out Botanical Bath Salts from The Bath Project for me, as she is very brave. (Plus she has a new fancy bathroom, so any excuse is probably welcomed.) A little bit about Xina: she is really into natural health and is actually a natural health practitioner. She knows her stuff. Xina is also a mosaic artist and designer who works on a lot of non-profit projects (which you know I appreciate!).

So what did she think? I will start out by saying Xina is a tough critic who likes what she likes. The product she tested contained Epsom salts, Chamomile, Lavender, Licorice Root and other natural and good for you goodies. She gives the ingredients big props for being serious stress busters. She loved the scent of the bath salts in the jar and wished the scent was actually stronger in the tub. This fact surprised me, as her nose is very sensitive.

Xina was excited to try a movie-worthy bath, laced with flower petals and other beautiful bits. Never having had a romantic feature-film style bath, she was curious to check it out. However, she wondered if it was going to be similar to when she wanted a skylight in the bedroom, which turned out to be better as an idea than it was in reality.



Xina found the bath very relaxing, but she was distracted by the floating flora. Turns out, for her, floaty bits are not up her alley, despite how pretty they looked. She said the bath did make her skin slightly softer, which was very nice. She did feel the need to rinse off to remove the flowery pieces after the bath. Since I don't take baths, I'm not sure if that is standard operating procedure or not. I don't get the whole process, so you decide.


I think the floating beauty that accompanied this bath would be appreciated by some, but sadly, it is wasted on Xina. However, if you prefer all natural products and are longing for a romantic bath, this is the product for you!



I'm afraid of the tub. You check it out!


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You Might Have to Call the Girl Police : The Bath Project

I recently received some products from the lovely people at The Bath Project. They were kind enough to send me an array of wonderful goodies; some delicious lip scrub (I can't help but eat it), some yummy body frosting (I want to eat it), wax melts (which smell really nice, but you can't eat them), a brownie-like bar of soap (that Mr. Lox almost took a bite of) and some beautiful Botanical Bath Salts.

Here is the honest truth. Many moons ago, The Bath Project was one of the first companies to contact me about reviewing their products. I couldn't have been more excited. A young beauty blogger's dream is to have someone say the magical words, "would you be interested in receiving some product to review?" I know all of you bloggers who have been around for years are flooded by wonderful PR reps who send you loads of stuff you wouldn't even think about giving away. But not me. That email made my week.

However, there is a downside. But we will get to that in a minute. First, let me tell you a little about The Bath Project. The company was founded by a massage therapist, Shannon Thompson, who was bitten by the beauty bug and never looked back. She makes wonderful, natural soaps, scrubs, hair mists, candles, bath salts, lotions, body butters and anything else you can think to use in a bathroom (from a beauty standpoint). The products are made fresh to order (literally!!) and are so natural you can even eat some of them. (I have. Yum!)

One thing I really like about Shannon and her company is that they also give back to women who aren't as fortunate in their community. I think volunteering, donating or working towards a cause because it is just is something everyone should do a little bit more of (or a lot of, depending). Plus, they don't work on weekends, because that is when they spend their quality family time. You gotta love that. If only I could learn that lesson.



I have personally tested most of what The Bath Project sent me. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the lip scrub. Did I mention that I like it? Made from sugar, oil and a few other goodies, it makes my lips feel really soft and plush and tastes really sweet (I love to lick it off!). Nothing makes my lips as smooth and sweet as this concoction does. Topped off with a hydrating balm or Pucker Butter and it's a little bit of delicious heaven. The brownie soap, which I was honored to be among the first to check out, smells and looks like a real brownie. YUM! Mr. Lox almost took a bite of it, which would have been hilarious, had I not stopped him. The body frosting in Mango Lime, which also smells dreamy, is moisturizing and a wonderful treat when you get out of the shower. Plus, it smells exactly like what it is called. Nothing is artificial or chemical smelling. It makes my mouth water just to smell it! All of their products are handmade and are a fabulous find for you or as a gift for a friend.




Back to the downside. Rewind back to when I first received that wondrous email from Shannon, owner and creator of The Bath Project many moons ago. You might have to call the girl police and file a report or pull my beauty blogging card for what I am about to tell you. But...well...I don't take baths.

It's not because I think soaking in your own dirty water is a little weird (although I do). That isn't the reason. I wish it was that simple. The real reason is that I am terrified of sharks.



Always have been. Since I was a wee lass. I think I stared at the cover of my mom's Jaws novel for too long. I also don't go in pools (unless there is other bait, and then, only to get wet), lakes, ponds, cruises and heaven forbid I DON'T GET IN POOL LOUNGE CHAIRS. I worked on a TV spot for a National Aquarium and the footage made me jump each time the blowfish blew. I know it's crazy. I fully recognize this. To add to the insanity, I will get in the ocean. But only for a moment.

When Shannon contacted me, I decided to be a big girl and get over it. How ironic is it that the first company to contact me has BATH in the company name? I can get over that irrational, stupid fear, right? That very night, Mr. Lox got the bright idea to watch Rogue, a movie about a giant killer crocodile, which seriously set me back. (Although it is also really good.)

It was then I realized I can't take a bath. Even for the sake of beauty, science or country. I just can't do it. Mr. Lox offered to sit in the bathroom with me and I still chickened out. Sorry. I will do a lot of things. But I will not bathe (in a tub).

Enter super friend, Xina. Xina is a real girl. She takes baths. She is also a natural health practitioner, so she knows about natural stuff. (That said, she still eats cookies from the grocery store and stocks up on Diet Mountain Dew when I come over, so she's cool.) Which is why I am turning over the first product ever to be sent to Gouldylox Reviews to her - The Bath Project Botanical Bath Salts.

Check in tomorrow to see what she thinks.



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Leslie, you WERE listening, weren't you? BE Matte Foundation

I like mineral-based foundations. In fact, I really like a lot of Bare Escentual products. I am not sure I am on board with their skin revival night-time products and no matter how many times they say it, it's better to wash your face at night than to wear your makeup to bed (although I have done a lot of both). That said, I have quite a collection of BE to back up my love for this line. (My fave kit so far is definitely the Rocker Eye kit.) I like BE so much I am a part of the BE Angel's Program - people selected by BE and given product to give out to friends. Sometimes, Leslie herself even writes me back when I have questions (she's really nice).

However, each summer, I have to put away my BE foundation because I am one of the unlucky girls who has a reaction to bismuth oxychloride in warmer weather and in humidity. Most BE products contain bismuth (many companies use this, not just BE). The way I understand it, it is what gives the luminous look, allows for the swirl, tap, buff application method and is a fairly inexpensive ingredient. Many other mineral foundations have cropped up that specifically avoid bismuth (a by-product of lead and copper metal refining, with chloride and water) because they know there is a need for mineral foundation sans this ingredient.

So how excited am I that Bare Escentuals has finally come out with a bismuth-free, matte version of their foundation? The matte version of the foundation does not contain bismuth oxychloride and after wearing it over the previous holiday weekend, I am happy to report it didn't make me itch! The coverage was definitely a little more matte, which I am ok with. I think it wore well, looked great and most importantly, felt great!

This isn't available just yet, but you can get a sample at any Sephora in person or online by using check out code BEMATTE.

I really liked it! You should check this out!

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Me and My Hair. In High School.

Back in the day, Vitapointe made my permed tresses look smooth and glossy. It stopped my hair from getting too frizzy and made my ringlets shine. However, things are different now. I'm all grown up and have a new magical hair elixir that does the same thing as Vitapointe, but without leaving behind that greasy feeling. It's nothing new, but it does work wonders.



I'm talking about Frederic Fekkai's Glossing Cream. I first discovered this years ago, when I actually won something from Allue magazine. If you haven't tried it, this cream will do amazing things for your hair and I now carry it with me at all times. It calms dry, tired or frizzy hair instantly. Plus it adds amazing shine. It's not as heavy as my old friend, Vitapointe, but I will warn that those with thin hair should use Fekkai sparingly. You only need a tiny amount and it was last for a long time. If you have yet to try this gem, pick it up.


Love, Love, Love this. You probably need this.


ps- I don't look like that anymore. In fact, one of my closest friends from school once didn't believe that I was me. True story.


Copyright 2009, Gouldylox Reviews