TROPICAL PARADISE... IN A BOTTLE

So, I've been looking through the PETA list of cruelty free companies lately. I don't agree with everyone PETA does, but if a company can make it on to that list I KNOW they are cruelty free because PETA doesn't mess around with that stuff. That is how I came across Baudelaire from my last post, and how I have come across this latest fun store, THE BUBBLE SHACK ( www.bubbleshackhawaii.com ), a soap company based in Hawaii. They really make their Hawaiian themed stuff IN Hawaii, what a concept, right? I know... I really want to order some stuff from them because their products look GREAT!

First off, you know I am already thinking about the COCONUT VOLCANO scent:

"Our Coconut Volcano tropical bodywash is an absolute explosion of creamy Hawaiian coconut."

Or the Grass Skirt Holiday Scent:

"With papaya nectar, pineapple, exotic tonka bean and sea grass, you”ll be dreaming of long grass skirts and beachside cocktails for a moment of pure paradise."

Or even Hawaiian Water Ocean Bliss:

"With Rice flower, green tea, sea cucumber and ocean air, youll feel like youve taken a plunge into the deep turquoise waters of the Pacific after relaxing to the glow of our Hawaiian Waters Ocean Bliss candles."

I'm not sure how you include Ocean Air in a candle, but I'm in for a test run, that's for sure.

This store offers a wide selection of unique scent combinations in all the regular stuff for bath and body (lotions, soaps, body wash), loofah soap (per the website: "Did you know that the loofah is a climbing plant and it’s distant cousin is the cucumber? It’s also the only plant known that can be raised and used as a sponge. Each Bubble Shack loofah lather contains a 100% vegetable glycerin soap and macadamia nut oil base. Sticking with our vow to use local ingredients whenever possible, our macadamia nut oil is also Made in Hawaii. A power exfoliator, each loofah soap will naturally brush away dry skin for a wonderfully polished glow"), and soy candles in several different sizes and shell holders. These candles would make AWESOME gifts if their scents are as good as I hope they are. All of their stuff is totally reasonably priced too. :-) And I just noticed they have MORE stuff too, a coming-soon doggie wash section and an "other stuff" section which has bath salts, other soaps, bath bombs, massage oil, and soap dishes. SWEET!!!!

I CAN'T STOP PINING FOR COCONUT!

All I want is the scent of coconut. In everything. It reminds me of the warm weather I KNOW will be here soon. It is sensual, but natural, and makes everyone feel happy and relaxed. At least that is what I feel when I smell it. So.... I have been oggling these awesome coconut scented goodies from The Body Shop (which is a great, long time cruelty-free company that I should patronize more often). I need to go.

1. Coconut Bath & Shower Cream ($11, 8.4 fl oz)

2. Coconut Body Butter ($20, 6.9 oz of moisture intensity)

3. Coconut Body Scrub ($20, 6.9 oz)

4. Coconut Milk Body Lotion ($13, 8.4 fl oz)

5. Coconut Perfume Oil ($16, 0.5 fl oz)

6. And if I want my apartment to smell de-lish too, Coconut Home Fragrance Oil ($7.50. 0.33 fl oz, and right now it's buy 3 get 1 free!!!)
Obviously the Body Shop sells a variety of scents in their products, but I have been accused of having tunnel vision before, and right now I am looking down a long, coconutty tunnel of tropical relaxation. Ahhhh. I want it all now!

Dreaming of swaying palms on a Monday morning

Perhaps it is the fact that I am sitting in my office on a beautiful Monday morning, but all things coconut or otherwise tropical sound especially appealing to me today. I must say that I have been very impressed with everything I have bought from Alba (http://www.albabotanica.com/) so far, including my weeklong night cream experiment, so while perusing their website this morning, this product sounded divine ($11.95 for 20 oz)

Their Coconut Milk Cream Body Wash, from their Hawaiian Spa line, sounds soooo relaxing and good for my skin, with cocoa butter, shea butter and flax, safflower and borage oils, as well as coconut and aloe, all packed in to 7 fl oz of tropical goodness for only $8.95! WOO HOO!

This sounds de-lish as well - their Passion Fruit Bath Salt (also from their Hawaiian Spa line) is a blend of epsom salt and sea salts combined with passion fruit, pinapple, mango, vanilla and papaya extracts (and some hibiscus too!) for what sounds like a really really nice bath experience.

I am also currently completely addicted to Alba's Terragloss in Bloom (42 oz for $5.95)
This substantial but subtle gloss is once again a perfect shade of JUST SLIGHTLY blushed pink, totally natural looking and soothing to wear with lots of shea butter and vitamin E in it. Plus it smells like vanilla (good vanilla, not bad vanilla). Yesssssss......