My recent disappointment in Perlier

I used to love this brand made in Italy and sold in the US in high end department stores (and T.J. Maxx and Marshalls) and on HSN. Their products come in a lot of different scents that are natural-smelling and not only smell good but had great moisturizing properties but I've been pretty disappointed lately. Their products are way too expensive now since other companies like Bath & Body Works and even Victoria's Secret are stepping up with their body products. I just can't justify the expense anymore. One of my favorite Perlier scents used to be Coconut Milk and they recently re-formulated that line to include natural organic shea butter - 25% in some products. So you'd think all the new products would be super moisturizing right? I wanna rant about the hand soap.



I know hand soaps are mainly for cleaning and not moisturizing but I had to stop using this expensive product and throw it away because it dried out my hands so bad. I've never had a soap strip my hands of all moisture like this one did. It makes me pretty mad actually. I don't like the rest of the line either. The coconut smell is more natural than other brands but sometimes it smells like play-doh. The hand cream is too greasy, the body cream is too thick, and the shower gel doesn't lather enough. I used to really love this company but I might be done after this huge disappointing purchase.



{Currently Burning - Slatkin & Co Island Nectar}

My favorite hand soaps.

This is another way for me to enjoy fragrance. You have to wash your hands, so why not buy soap in fun different scents? It's also a pretty cheap way to try new scents and decorate your home.

Generally, the soaps I am most often buying are from the anti-bac collection from B&BW. These are always on sale, there are a ton of different scents to choose from, and they are always getting new scents. They can be found in stores and on bathandbodyworks.com. They come in three different types - moisturizing, foaming, and deep cleansing. People definitely have their favorite. I have to say most people I find like the foaming (my close friend, sister, dad). Me and my mom like the deep cleansing (I like to make my own foaming lather instead of it coming out that way....I know I'm weird), and I have to say I don't really know anyone that prefers the moisturizing. When it comes to the anti-bac collection, the soaps smell great and do the job but don't really moisturize at all. I still need to put hand cream on after. Here are some of my favorite scents:

Pink Grapefruit. Yum. (Sorry for the half empty bottles.)



Kitchen Lemon. Clean.



Crisp Cucumber. Fresh. This is part of their new configuration - odor eliminating.



There's also the new Summer Vanillas. I haven't tried these yet but I like the scents in the candles. Berry, Coconut, and Lemon.



I also like Tropical Passionfruit and Nectarine Mint (not pictured).

Now we come to C.O. Bigelow. These hand soaps are probably my favorite when it comes to the formula - very smooth and doesn't leave your skin so incredibly dry. However they don't come in as many scents and most scents are only found in Bigelow stores. I think the only one B&BW sells is the lemon. But that one is excellent too!

Lavender. Relaxing.



I also have vanilla and coconut (not pictured).

Then comes Perlier (made in Italy). These are probably the highest quality, the most expensive, and hardest to get. You have to get these online unless you spot one at a TJ Max or a Marshalls, which is likely but they would only have the most classic scents there. You can find them online at HSN or Perlier's website. HSN has pretty good deals. These probably have the most natural ingredients and leave the skin the most moisturized.

The only one I currently have is the honey. Their first ever scent which has a high percentage of real honey in it so it's good for your skin. This is the jumbo size.



They have a ton of other scents to check out. My favorite one is probably the Coconut Milk - the most natural, authentic scent of coconut I've ever smelled. Theirs is not synthetic or too sweet smelling. LOVE. I've actually received compliments on that soap when people that visit have used it.

Then sometimes B&BW will come out with the caddies - mainly during seasonal or holiday. They're great for presentation but I find myself never using the lotion - I always prefer a cream to a lotion, even for my hands. (Vanilla Bean Noel pictured - my all time favorite B&BW scent)



And B&BW will also come out with figural soaps that help with decorating during holidays - like the Halloween one pictured.



What are your favorite soaps to use?

Aromatherapy - Sleep

This just seems like the perfect time to talk about fragrances that help me sleep. I don't know how well aromatherapy really works scientifically but I do know the sense of smell is very powerful so you might want to give these favorites of mine a try. All of mine contain lavender, some of them chamomile. Plus my mother always said a cup of chamomile tea always helps encourage sleep as well!

This is my favorite - Aromatherapy Concentrated Room Spray Sleep - Lavender Chamomile from Bath and Body Works. I feel it's the most effective since it is powerful and fills a whole room. I only spray this once right around my bed before I go to sleep- anything else is too strong for me.



I like to put this on my hands and arms right before I go to sleep - Aromatherapy Hand Cream, same scent, from Bath and Body Works. That way I can stay moisturized and smell the scent at the same time. I like the hand cream better than the lotion because it's thicker and sinks into the skin more therefore moisturizes better - their lotion is a little greasy to me.



They sell other products in the same line that I've tried but I haven't liked them as much. I tried the pillow mist but who wants to put their head on a wet pillow? And if you let it dry before laying down you can't really smell it anymore. If you don't like this scent, they do have others - Black Chamomile, Lavender Vanilla, and Warm Milk and Honey.

This is from the Perlier line - the number 1 bath and body line in Italy. You can purchase this line from HSN and also find it in discount stores like Marshalls and TJMaxx sometimes. This is the Lavender Moisturizing Bath and Shower Cream. I love Perlier products as you'll see. They use great, natural ingredients and leave the skin feeling so soft without feeling greasy. This scent is just a natural lavender and is great to use in the shower at night before bed.



I like this line but I have to say this product I don't use as often as the others. This is Badger Sleep Balm - A Calming Sleep Enhancer. It has ingredients like organic extra virgin olive oil with essential oils of bergamot, ginger, rosemary, lavender, and balsam fir. You are directed to rub a little bit on pressure points like temples, neck or even lips. My brother really likes this product but keep in mind you are rubbing a balm onto your skin instead of a lotion or cream so it might be better for guys. But don't worry it's not too greasy. Also I recommend putting it somewhere where you'll smell it. I think my brother even rubs it right underneath his nose. It's a great line though, check it out. You can buy it several different places but the closest place for me is the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store.



Let me know what your favorite sleep remedies are! Sweet Dreams.

{Currently Burning - Winter by Slatkin & Co.}