This is the time of year for celebration and reflection! I hope you have found time for both… and for yourself. So as not to disappoint in your efforts, I’ve tried another Dead Sea product that is sure to help you along in your goal to take time for yourself.

Basics: Body butters… we love them. There are so many varieties and scents… and frankly they are still my #1 recommendation for the scaly winter skin or the fried and dried summer skin.

Extravagance: What is usually so extravagant about the Dead Sea products is the scents. Oh, the delectable fragrances paired with the creamy goodness. This one is vanilla, though it is less food-like and a little bit more cologne-esque. It is lovely. Also, the texture is very unique. It strikes me less as a butter, and more as a mousse. It smooths on as well as the butters we’ve loved in the past, but it has a slightly frothy texture that feels… well… velvety when you apply it.

Imperfections: In and of itself, this is a beautiful body butter. In comparison to my all-time favorite Dead Sea Premier Milk and Honey Aromatic Body Butter… well, that may be an unfair comparison… the Milk and Honey Body Butter is pretty much perfect.

To Sum it Up: Another treat for our dry winter skin, and our olfactory needs! Have a Happy New Year, and remember to pamper yourself in 2010!

Adovia Shea Body Butter – Vanilla

This morning, I slipped into the delightful world of Vivo Per Lei with the Shea Body Butter scent called Devotion. Well, I’m now a devotee.

I got the lotion a few days ago, and just kept opening the jar and sniffing it happily. I kept shoving it under my husbands nose, asking him if he thought it was as pretty as I did. I even brought it out to my neighbor and made her smell it. We all agreed it was lovely. Though, being paranoid after my recent disappointments, I held off using it. By golly, what if it smells wonky on me?

So, today I bit the bullet and used it. Initially I was just going to apply to my sad dry legs… then I put it on my arms, then I slathered it everywhere lotion is appropriate. I would have used more, but I ran out of space!

Vivo Per Lei Devotion Body Butter

Basics: Dead Sea Minerals and Shea Butter… and some other stuff I frankly can’t pronounce, and wouldn’t try.

Extravagance: The scent. The scent. The gorgeous scent… kind of floral (think sweet pea), kind of soft and powdery (think a baby’s talc), and really feminine. Plus, I wore it under my daily fragrance (Violette), to great success.

Ooh! And it’s good for 2 years after opening. (thanks for the expiration date, Vivo Per Lei)

Imperfections: Oh, how I hate to over-sell this, but I cannot… will not name one.

To Sum It Up: My husband had great grace all day as I kept sticking my arms in his face and telling him to smell… “Honey, can you believe it? I smell good still… in this heat?” Yeah, the man has the patience of a saint. All-in-all, I’d say check out the Vivo Per Lei stuff. It’s dreamy.

Vivo Per Lei Shea Body Butter “Devotion”

Observation #2: WOW! What a pretty baby blue lotion?

Observation #3: Hmmm… smells nice!

Observation #4: Sometimes I hate my body chemistry.

Basics: Another creamy confection from the Dead Sea. Imagine a pale blue, skin softening, mousse.

Extravagance: When you open the jar, you’ll catch hints of floral and citrus. Really delightful. This one is ultra-girlie (sorry, fellas).

Imperfections: Um, this smells not-so-good on me. As I’m sure you have experienced, I have often had the most beautiful smelling perfume turn rancid on me. This was one of those instances.

I did ask my husband to give it a shot, but I think it was just too darned frilly for his masculine sensibilities. I don’t blame him.

Also, it is so very rich that it takes a little more time and effort to rub it in.

To Sum It Up: I’ll be handing this one off to someone else. Boo. The lotion felt nice going on, was a little slicker than I’m used to, but it worked really well.  Arms and legs stayed soft all day without any re-application. I imagine this would be awesome for folks who have a tendency to get dry, scaly or ashy skin.

I was pretty disappointed that it did not smell as pretty on me as it does in the jar.

Let me know how it smells on you.

Observation #5: I wonder if this scent comes in a candle….

Swisa Beauty Dead Sea Body Butter, Bliss

Basics: A mineral body lotion, with Dead Sea Minerals, Shea Butter and GreenTea.

Extravagance: Hello Cucumber & Melon! When you first apply, you’ll really only smell the melon. It is a much more dominant scent, and frankly I’m not sure what cucumber does for the skin. Then… as the lotion absorbs, you start getting hints of… well, freshness. I think that’s the cucumber.

It has a very long-lasting scent on the skin. It is a little more aromatic than I am prone to wearing, but I have to tell you, this stuff smells lovely! It is not overwhelming, or perfumey… it just loiters throughout the day.

Imperfections: Forgive me, but I cannot name one.

To Sum it Up: If you always buy the mall store cucumber & melon, but then wish it were… well, better… check this stuff out. It is done well! It may be a little bit feminine for some of you fellas (who am I to say), but guys, this one is not: Dead Sea Premier Milk and Honey Body Butter

Adovia Mineral Body Lotion Cucumber & Melon