What They Say: "Ashy or scaly skin? Nevermore with Figs and Leaves handmade soap. Tiny fig seeds brimming with nutrition and gentle exfoliation yield to a creamy, aloe vera conditioning lather and a bouquet of fresh garden aromas. The scent of oranges and earthy ylang ylang linger on your silky, smooth skin as a tempting reminder of sweet cleanliness."

Melissa Says: This is perhaps my favorite offering from LUSH so far. I absolutely am in love with the velvety, fresh scent. It's actually quite a bit more complex than the description sounds, and the orange isn't necessarily predominant at all (which I was happy about). It lingers on the skin beautifully, and even though personally I'd be more than happy to smell like this each day, I imagine for some of you this will be more well-suited as a hand soap (guests will probably love it, and so will you). In that capacity, it still gives you a kiss of scent but also lasts a bit longer. It's not overly-moisturizing, but not drying.

Retail Price: $7.60 (at LUSH online or go here to find a retail store near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Neutrogena® Energizing Sugar Body Scrub's natural sugar crystals gently smooth away dry, dull surface skin cells to reveal a fresh glow while botanical oil pampers skin, leaving it beautifully soft and smooth. The fresh citrus scent invigorates your senses to help start the day off right.

This energizing scrub uses thick natural sugar crystals for soft yet intense exfoliation. Because sugar crystals are natural, they gradually dissolve to avoid over-exfoliation. Its botanical oil conditions skin, leaving it soft and silky-smooth, and the fresh citrus scent awakens your sleepy senses."

Jen's Experience: I love citrus-y scents, so this product practically had me at "hello", but there's more to love besides the scent. A lot of body exfoliators are rough and grainy, but this one feels soft enough to use even on my face. The sugar grains are suspended in a nice oil that leaves my skin feeling super soft hours after I leave the shower. While the price may seem high for a drugstore product, there's a lot in the little tub, and what's there is so fantastic, this product is a big winner in my book.

Retail Price: $9.99 (Drugstore.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "Give your skin a rich, buttery treat. Decadent Nutts massage bar is full of highly moisturizing natural ingredients like organic coconut butter and tahini paste to keep your skin super soft. The sweetly intoxicating scent of chocolate comes from cocoa butter which we get straight from the producers, still with its natural scent. This is a really sexy bar so go ahead, indulge!"

Jamie's Thoughts:
Holy Cow. Despite being a huge fan (i.e. ridiculous overconsumer) of Lush product, this was my first experience with their massage bars. The intent is for the bar to be rubbed DRY onto skin, at which point it's massaged onto/into the skin. The product melts at body temperature, so it's important to realize this when storing, using, etc. Right off the bat, it felt very strange.

After the third application, I got the hang of it, and I have to say it did work wonders on my disgusting, wintery, old-lady elbows and heels. I also tried it in the shower (which is not the design of the product) and true to form, it resulted in the water just beading right off of me. Despite this, I still think it would work wet/dry in the bathtub if you need to massage sore muscles, or work on a dry area of your body. The absorbency was excellent, and it lasted about 6-8 hours - must be all those natural ingredients.

That being said, I have to address the smell. I would describe it as intensely nutty in an oily way - like being held captive in that bag of cashews my grandmother brings out every holiday season. My boyfriend's description was far less imaginative, and yet, somehow accurate when he said it smelled like, "motorcycle chain wax." Hmm. I guess beauty is in the eye (or nose) of the beholder.

Overall, it does the job, but don't go nuts (pun intended) if you end up hating the smell.

Retail Price: $9.35 USD for one bar - comes in a great steel tin (Available at Lush.com and LUSH retailers)

Delush Rating: (one star off for the scent)

What They Say: "This 2-in-1 moisturizing shower and shave cream goes beyond cleansing to help minimize the feel and appearance of hair. You have that just-shaved feeling longer. This creamy cleanser, specially formulated with skin silkening Natural Soy, softens and conditions hair and helps you shave less often. This special moisturizing formula provides a rich lather to gently cleanse and helps protect against nicks and cuts from shaving. The result is softer, smoother, healthier skin for longer."

• Helps you shave less often
• Helps prevent nicks and cuts
• With natural soy
• Dermatologist recommend

Apply directly onto hand, wash cloth or pouf. Work into lather and apply to wet skin. Gently cleanse or shave where needed and rinse clean.

What Lisa Says: I found this to be a great addition to my shower. The creamy feel and fresh clean fragrance (with a hint of citrus) was very refreshing. The lather is rich but not super sudsy which I like. While I didn't really find that I shaved any less often or that the hair on my legs was any softer, I did find that my skin was not only smooth and silky as promised, but that it stayed so longer than usual. I also experienced fewer nicks and ingrown hairs. Add all this to the fact that I'm in favor of anything that helps to eliminate an extra bottle or two in the shower and this 2-in-1 product is a great inexpensive way to feel super smooth. For the price and performance I couldn't be happier.

Retail Price: 10.0oz./$6.99 (at major food & drugstores or, online at Drugstore.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "We've got a crush on you...and we'll do anything for someone we love. So we've formulated a unique and amazing exfoliating and moisturizing skin cleanser that you're gonna want to marry.

Crush On You is like nothing you've ever felt (unless you've run your hands through a bowl of extra moist sugar cookie batter). It's loaded with sugar that not only scrubs you clean but sloughs off dead dry skin cells. The macadamia nut oil and fresh shea butter we whip in moisturize your skin, leaving it soft and supple. Finally, the incredibly gentle body wash that holds it all together rinses you off as clean as a whistle, leaving your skin soft, clean and fresh feeling.

Scent offerings change from day to day or week to week, depending upon what our freshest batches of product are. If your favorite isn't here now, try something new, or check back from time to time. You can always email us to ask about your faves."

Melissa Says: I tested this in an absolutely scrumptious scent, Pecan Praline. It's exactly as they describe - a wonderful whipped consistency, full of skin-scrubbing sugar, that leaves you soft, ever-so-lightly moisturized (not oily!) and smelling yummy. In my bath-junkie opinion, this is a no-brainer. In terms of scrubs of this quality, this one is worth every penny.

Shopping Tip: The 4.75 oz. "try me" container is MORE than ample to last more than a few baths or showers, and get you to fall in love. If you aren't sure, go ahead and order that size. If you know you'll love it, you'll be super-happy to get your larger 9 oz. jar.

Retail Price: $22.00, 9 oz. / $9.00, 4.75 oz. (at Product Body's Shop online)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Scrub-a-dub-dub, get this body butter in the tub (or shower) and buff away the day's worries. Stress disappears as our lavender-scented body butter melts into your skin, making it way beyond silky. Ground rice, almonds and aduki beans exfoliate to velvety perfection as the natural butters provide maximum miniaturization. So put down your loofah, grab your Buffy, and smooth your cares away."

Alissa's Opinion: I love how fun Lush products are to use, but I'm not always a fan of the strong fragrances. This butter is quite light compared to their other products because it contains a nice amount of citrus in addition to the lavender.

As an exfoliator it is quite abrasive, so don't use it on any sensitive parts. The ground almonds and rice are too rough. It is, however, a great in-shower moisturizer. My favorite areas to use it on are my legs after washing and shaving. They stay soft and moisturized long after getting out of the water. The Lush website suggests using it in the bath then air drying, which I definitely recommend, unless you want your towel coated in oil. A word of caution: be wary of using this on your feet unless you want to end up on your back. Tubs are slippery enough without the layer of grease!

Retail Price: $10.75/3.3 oz. (Lush)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "...the ideal 2-in-1 body wash and shave gel! Enjoy gentle cleansing and silky-smooth shaving in one simple step.

As a body wash, this fresh, marine-scented gel is enriched with ingredients that clean and moisturize your skin without leaving behind a heavy residue. As a shave gel, the silky lubrication helps your razor glide smoothly over your skin while soothing aloe helps prevent dryness and irritation. This clean-rinsing formula won't build up on your razor--or your skin."

Melissa Says: I can't believe I hadn't tried this before. It leaves skin wonderfully soft with a subtle fresh, clean scent. The fact that it doesn't create an oily feeling on your skin is the plus side to it not being super-moisturizing, and yet it manages to leave your skin very comfortable. It's an easy, light body cleanser.

As a shave gel, only two good pumps is plenty to provide lather on each leg. The result is a close shave that doesn't leave any redness or itchy irritation at all on my legs, which are very sensitive to shaving products.

I absolutely love this do-it-all product, and so does my skin!

Retail Price: $7.99 (at drugstores everywhere)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Pomegranate detoxifies and bestows anti-aging benefits in this naturally derived coconut cleanser with moisturizing organic shea butter. The perfect path to revitalized and younger looking skin. No amides, SLES or SLS."

Melissa Says: While this created soft bubbles, this particular scent gave off an intensely bitter floral vibe. I suppose it's not exactly the fresh, fruity scent I imagine when I hear "pomegranate", which is really too bad. I do think some of their other scents (Kiwi Coconut, Honey Papaya) may be much more enjoyable (especially because the scent lingers a long time). It was was just too much for my nose to handle, and I didn't find this to be significantly moisturizing, either.

Retail Price: $20.00 (at aromafloria.com)

DeLush Rating:

"Our natural bath salts smooth skin and lift your spirits. Natural sea salts soothe and help release tension. Vitamin and protein-rich almond oil nourishes skin and locks in moisture." ($14.50)

Jen's Experience: I have tried a lot of bath salts in the past, and some have had a nice moisturizing effect in the water, and some have had a pleasant scent when I pull out the cork. I have never tried any bath salts as dreamy as these. The scent I tried was Peace Train, a lightly perfumed scent that makes my water smell fabulous throughout my marathon baths, and leave my skin so soft I barely need to apply any moisturizer. I think they're a little pricey for the tiny container, sure, but seriously? If I go to the GAP store and these are on sale, I think I am going to have to buy a case. This is my favorite product in the whole line.

 

"Our lightweight, everyday formula is enriched with moisturizing ingredients that leave your skin soft and supple. Sunflower and hazel seed oil moisturize. Vitamins A, C and E keep skin nourished." ($12.50)

Jen's Experience: I am a little less impressed with the body lotion. The glass container is pretty on my bathroom counter, and the scent I tried, Moonwalk, is pleasant enough (although it has nothing on Peace Train), But the lotion was like Keri with a more potent scent. Perhaps on it's own this one would be more of a stand-out, but in the full line-up, this one falls a little flat.

 

"Give your hands a little extra TLC. Keep them healthy, hydrated and beautiful with our super emoillent cream. Cocoa seed butter softens and lubricates. Hazel seed oil and milk thistle moisturize and protect." ($10.50)

Jen's Experience: I loved the scent I tried in the handcream, NightFall. There was a time when I wasn't so much into musky scents. The scent in this handcream had some musky undertones, but wasn't so overpowering that it conflicted with the perfume I was wearing. The hand cream itself is more luxurious than the body lotion and really keeps my hands feeling moisturized without being too greasy. This is another product in the GAP Body line that I highly recommend.

 

 

"Get the perfect glow with exfoliating natural sugars, sea salts and soy bean oil. Sea salts and sugar smooth away rough, dull skin. Soybean oil gives your skin a silky sheen."  ($11.50)

Jen's Experience: This body scrub from GAP Body is in close contention with the bath salt for my favorite product in the line. The scent I tried, Sugar Snap, is a bright, happy, little scent that helps me to wake up in the morning. I also love the texture of the scrub. The salt isn't overly abrasive, and mixed with the oils in the blend, it leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft and smelling great. This is yet another winner from GAP Body that is worth checking out.

 

DeLush Ratings:
Bath Salt
Body Lotion
Hand Cream
Body Scrub

What They Say: “Von Natur’s Exquisite Bath Line is vegan-certified, phthalate, gluten, paraben, and sulfate free, and naturally derived.”

About the Blue Green Algae Body Polish: “All the ingredients in this amazing Body Polish help to: repair, tone, firm, reduce photo and free radical damage, improve skin hydration and elasticity, smooth and soften with great penetrating ability, help inflamed or acne skin, cleanse, refresh, absorb moisture, increase local blood circulation, and aid in healing minor wounds and irritated skin. Need we say more?”

Alissa’s Opinion: The color of this body polish makes a gorgeous first impression, as does the thick consistency and fresh, minty fragrance. Scrubbing down with this blend of olive oil and sea salt is definitely a good way to start the day. I can’t say whether or not this scrub has repaired or firmed my skin, but I always feel smooth and soft after using it. It also works great as a foot scrub for home pedicures.

About the Headthrob Bath Soak: “The natural cleansing, toning, refreshing, astringent, antiseptic and moisture absorption properties of Real Salt along with MSM’s ability to detoxify the body, increase blood circulation, reduce muscle cramps, help muscles heal and relieve stress, arthritis, inflammation, and back pain, and a beautiful blend of specialized essential oils for head and body aches, make your bath experience relaxing while it benefits your entire body.”

Alissa’s Opinion: Personally, I prefer bubble baths to salt soaks. But this salt is intended for a specific kind of bath (i.e. the stress and pain relieving kind) and it accomplishes its objective quite well. After a long day on your feet, a strenuous workout or an emotionally taxing occasion, immersing yourself in a richly fragranced Von Natur Headthrob bath is so therapeutic. The scent is a little on the medicinal side, but I like how it clears the mind (along with the nasal passages).

Retail Prices:
Body Polish $25.99
Bath Soak $21.99
(both available at vonnatur.com or go here to find a retail location that sells Von Natur near you)

DeLush Ratings:
Body Polish

Bath Soak

What They Say: "Yogurt. Nourishing. Dermatologically Tested. Dermatological tests show that yoghurt helps to improve the skin's appearance day after day and keep it looking young and healthy. The Cleo formula is enriched with corn oil which has an anti-oxidant effect and makes the skin softer."

Toya’s Take: I am intrigued by these Cleo soaps. I’d never heard of them before receiving them for review and I really like them! Both soaps lather nicely, rinse away cleanly and don’t leave your skin dried out, like many soaps I’ve used in the past. Even my husband has fallen in love and deigns to use them, though he thinks they smell just a bit “girly”. Girly or no, the soaps are great. The only drawback is that I expected my skin to feel a bit softer and moisturized, and that didn’t really happen. However, from what I can tell, they didn’t add to any dryness and flakiness and that’s good enough for me.

Retail Price: $1.95 for bar/$2.95 for liquid (on sale for $1.56 for bar/$2.36 for liquid now at drugstore.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Leave skin deeply hydrated without the greasy feel. Unique formula, with a touch of natural oil, absorbs quickly as it cleans for deep hydration. Dermatologist-tested, soap-free. Available in two nutrient enriched formulas:
* Almond Oil & Shea Butter
* Olive Oil & Aloe Vera"

Melissa Says: Okay, I'm torn. On one hand, this makes my skin incredibly soft. Honestly, it is pretty remarkable. On the other, I think I'm really used to "moisturized" being associated with a little bit of that greasy feeling. That's why I think I initially didn't know what to say about this body wash. My skin doesn't feel tight or itchy afterward, but is quite soft. It's still a unique experience to feel this sort of 'dry-touch hydration'. If you want a very skin-softening body wash but can't stand feeling slick afterward, this is something you should try.

The bottle even says that this is gentle enough to use as a shaving lotion. I gave it a try, and it worked pretty well. Maybe not as perfect a shave as with my favorite lotion, but it gave plenty of glide and I had very soft, knick-free results.

Retail Price: $5.69 (at drugstores and superstores everywhere)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Tranquil bubble bath contains pure essential oils from Lemon, Rosemary and Orange to pamper the body leaving your skin refreshed and fragrant. This beautiful bubble bath is formulated with herbal extracts and natural skin conditioners and is hypo-allergenic, alkaline free and pH balanced. "

Jen's Experience: While the size of this bubble bath is small, the contents inside really pack a surprising punch. The smell is absolutely fantastic. I'm always a fan of citrus scents, but the rosemary gives just enough of an earthy tone to keep it from being too fruity. A small amount, about a capful, gives a nice bathtub full of long-lasting bubbles that lend softness to my skin for hours after I leave the water. Overall, a fantastic product that makes bathtime a pleasure.

Retail Price: $17.00 (Spalook.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "Dermatological tests show that yogurt helps to improve the skin's appearance day after day and keep it looking young and healthy. The Cleo formula is enriched with cocoa extract which, thanks to it's nourishing, emollient and anti-oxidant properties, nourishes and protects the skin ...Infused yogurt properties have an espeically calming effect on dry or irritated skin."

About Cléo:
"Introducing Cléo, from Paglieri Profumi - a leader in Italian perfume and body care since 1876. This Italian bath and body line is infused with natural moisturizing extracts from yogurt to continually improve the texture and elasticity of the skin. Combinations of yogurt and vanilla, yogurt and berries, and yogurt and cereal make sweet scents for everyday shower cream, bath cream, body cream, liquid soap, and bar soap."

Melissa Says: I tried this in Chocolate, and this chocolate-creamy combo...it is GOOD. The formula lathers luxuriously and you don't need much on your bath pouf to last the entire shower. It really is so soft that I found myself always regretting having to rinse it off. The good news is that my skin still felt gently soft afterward. It wasn't an intense moisturization, which some of you may crave more of, but it was enough to make my skin continue to feel soft after the shower. The scent is there afterward as well, but is quite faint. That would be my only unfulfilled wish with this shower cream. For this price and the scrumptious feeling, I would still recommend trying this out.

Retail Price: $4.95 (newly available at drugstore.com!)

DeLush Rating:

Occasionally, I find a new product that redefines the concept of "Totally DeLush", the designation given to our highest rated products. With Tocca's Bath and Body products, I've found a whole line that is so fabulous it should have a category all it's own. Note that Stella, a blood orange scent, is also available in perfume. I will definitely be getting some of the fragrance to round out this line of products!

--Jen

Tocca Body Wash in Stella
"An ultra-luxurious foaming bath gel that contains natural cleansing agents from olive oil, calendula flower extracts and honey. In the shower or in the tub, Bagno Profumato gently washes and thoroughly hydrates all skin types. Also available in Cleopatra and Florence."

Jen's Experience: I can't wait to use this product every day in the shower. The absolutely delicious citrus scent wakes me up and brightens my morning. The cleanser has a great lather that makes my skin feel clean. The hydrating ingredients feel like they really moisturize my skin, but they wash away nicely. And did I mention the fantastic scent?

Retail Price: $19.00 (Tocca.com)

Tocca Rich Body Cream
"A sumptuously rich body cream combining the benefits of natural ingredients such as cocoa butter and shea butter with our signature fragrances. Absorbs easily and leaves the skin soft and supple with a dewy glow. Also available in Cleopatra and Florence."

Jen's Experience: As with the body wash, the scent is a major selling point for this product. But that's not the only reason this product is fantastic. When I use it right out of the shower, the moisturizer melts right into my skin. It doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy at all -- I can put my clothes on moments after I apply it -- yet it works throughout the day. The scent lasts throughout the day as well. And the beautiful glass jar just tops off the whole package. This is handsdown my favorite body moisturizer. I feel like I should save it for special occasions or something, but I just can't resist using it every day.

Retail Price: $45.00 (Tocca.com)

Tocca Soap
"A gentle, moisture-rich bar soap that uses key ingredients like Kukui Nut oil, blue-green algae extract and vitamin E to hydrate, firm and repair skin, leaving it soft and glowing. Available in Cleopatra, Stella and Florence."

Jen's Experience: The first thing I noticed about this soap is that the bar is gigantic! And unlike other specialty soaps I've tried, it really lasts a long time and doesn't fall apart. The scent, as with the other products, is still heavenly, although not as noticable as with the body wash. The hydrating effects are just as good as that of the body wash, though. Had I tried this product alone, I would probably be raving about it, but I think I prefer the body wash if given a choice between the two.

Retail Price: $12.00 (Tocca.com)

Ratings:
Body Wash
Body Cream
Soap

What They Say: Unravel the strains of the day with this dedicated muscle therapy created to restore a tense, weary body. Enriched with dynamic thermal salts and active extracts of linden and birch. Helps to flush toxins, soothe the muscles and boost skin condition, while a fresh woody aroma lifts the spirit.

Our thermal salts originate from 250 million year old seawater deposits in the German Leine Valley and are an extremely rich and concentrated source of active minerals.

What Lisa Says: Being the time of year that I tend to get outside and weed, plant and hack away at the garden, I saved this product for when I knew I’d be needing a soothing soak for aching muscles. This product was just what I had hoped it would be! A blend of linden and birch, the fragrance alone was strong but relaxing leaving a fresh forest-like scent that stayed on the skin long past my evening bath and into the next morning. My muscles did feel less sore and I noticed that it also reduced some swelling in my feet & ankles. It also seemed that small cuts and bruises that I’d received were immediately less sore and bothersome and I couldn’t help but wonder if this was the work of the extract and mineral-rich formula of these small turquoise crystals.

I definitely recommend this product for those wanting a stress-busting, muscle-easing soak. Would be a lovely gift item as well.

Retail Price: $29.00/10 oz. (Spalook.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "This intensely moisturizing bathing therapy harnesses the potency of yuan zhi extract to combat stress and promote inner peace. Mango oil ensures the skin is soothed and conditioned, while essential oils of vanilla, ylang ylang, and rose help relax the body and senses. Perfect at the end of the day to calm restlessness and encourage sleep.

Yuan Zhi is a unique, wild plant from Southern China, used traditionally in Chinese medicine to balance energies and soothe the spirit."

Jamie’s Thoughts: This is my first experience with the Molton Brown product line. The scent of this gel, which I would characterize as warm and romantic, is light and lovely. It makes my bathroom smell like a high-end spa, but sadly doesn’t linger on my skin at all. The product lathers better on a shower puff than with a simple hand to body application – and when used in a bath, there are almost no bubbles. Not necessarily a bad thing, but would be a rude awakening indeed for anyone expecting inches of soft bubbles.

For a company that considers itself a luxury line, I simply didn’t see the “wow” in this product. For the price, I would have rather gotten a scented candle from the same family and used another shower gel altogether. Average at best.

Retail Price: $25 for 10 fl. oz. (at spalook.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Moisturize & exfoliate with our whipped kiwi sugar scrub. Filled with kiwi seeds, sugar, cocoa butter, and coconut oil your skin will never be the same!

To Use: Gently massage over skin while showering, and rinse. This one is a house favorite"

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I tried this scrub in the Isla Dulce scent, which I have to tell you is fantastic. It's described as a "sweet island blend of lemon candy, a touch of green and creamy vanilla", which really doesn't even do it justice. It's actually lighter than it sounds, but is mood-lifting with the hint of sweet lemon and delicious vanilla. (You can check out the rest of the fragrances Scuba Bath Shop come in here).

The texture is light and the exfoliation is gentle yet effective, and it leaves just enough moisture on your skin after drying to keep it amazingly soft without a slick residue (in the bath or shower you might wonder about that, but the formula actually sinks into your skin quickly and leaves an incredible silky-to-the-touch feeling after you dry off). This scrub definitely delivers on the two most important scrub duties: incredibly soft and healthy-feeling skin and a lingering scent that will leave you happy for hours afterward.

*Since I tried samples, I'm not sure what the current size is of the regular containers. The website says they are "now larger". However, I'll be getting that information in the next day or two and post it here.
UPDATE: They're a very respectable 8 ounces - definitely worth the splurge!

Retail Price: $20.00 (at scubabathshop.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Active Sport Hair & Body Wash is perfect after intensive activity or workout. Advanced technology quenches the skin with electrolytes and minerals naturally lost in perspiration while leaving skin and hair feeling hydrated and conditioned. Formulated to cleanse and condition the skin while gently washing away impurities.

• Contains Essential Oils & Organic Ingredients
• Instant Luxurious Lather
• Environmentally Friendly (refillable)
• No Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or other Harsh Surfactants
• Paraben Free
• No Animal Ingredients or Testing

Jamie’s Thoughts: While it’s not the sole reason I purchase spa products, I always love to find out that a company has a conscience – these Desert Essence products fall into the friendly category of organic, non-animal tested, etc. That alone should give them 5 smooches in anyone’s beauty notebooks. However, I found these body washes to be average, at best.

Scent-wise, both the Awapuhi and Citrus were lovely. Neither clung for very long on my hair or my skin (which can be a positive and a negative, depending on whom you ask). They did a passable job at cleaning, but I didn’t find them overly conditioning. Two pumps of product was plenty for a head of short hair, but I needed 5-6 for my skin – maybe I’m a lather hog? Either way, I went through a lot of body wash with each application, even when I used a shower poof. After multiple uses, I found that I needed lotion on my body and conditioner on my hair – perhaps this would simply be better for me in the summer when my body requires less hydration in general.

Long story short, I’m nonplussed, but that doesn’t mean I’ve given up on Desert Essence. I like the message behind the product, and when summer hits, I think I’ll give this body wash another go, just in case.

Retail Price: $6.99 (go to desertessence.com to find a retail location near you)

DeLush Rating:

About the Hair Cleanser: "A mild hair cleanser wth Neem and Chinese rose (Japa) extracts which naturally nourish the hair while cleansing."

About the Conditioner: "Cypress Orange Hair Conditioner blends Indian Gooseberry (Amla), Almond, and Soy with Almond Oil to create a wonderful moisturizer that revitalizes and strengthens damaged hair."

Jen's Experience: I was in love with the bottles at first sight. The plastic bottles look like they're made out of glass, and the gold caps and beautiful labeling make me want to just put them on the shelf for decoration. I was a little hesitant to try them on my hair after it was recently colored. Then I read the labels, and was incredibly impressed with the list of natural ingredients. There are no harsh detergents at all, not even any chemicals. I decided to give it a shot and was very pleased with the results. The orange scent is pleasant but not overpowering and my hair didn't seem to retain any of the scent. The cleanser didn't lather a whole lot (probably owing to the lack of detergents), but it did the job -- my hair was clean but well moisturized, thanks to the conditioner. Used with volumizing products, my hair gets excellent body, but even without, it's soft, bouncy, and extraordinarily glossy.

Retail Price: $18.00 each (Alcanz.com)

About the Body Cleanser: "A perfect hydrating shower gel with Honey, Rice, Wheat and Sugar extracts to nourish the skin while cleansing."

Jen's Experience: The scent of this is the same as the hair cleanser, but I found the scent to be more noticable as I used it in the shower. It doesn't foam or lather a lot, but it does a good job of cleaning and a great job of restoring moisture to my skin. The product is so gentle it seems like it could even be used on the face. I definitely enjoy using this in the shower!

Retail Price: $18.00 each (Alcanz.com)

About the Body Moisturizer: "A perfect moisturizer with Rice and Wheat extracts and Sunflower and Olive Oil which nourish and hydrate the skin."

Jen's Experience: Much like the other products, I was impressed with the low-key, pleasant scent and the natural ingredient list. This is one of the only scented moisturizers I've used where the scent wasn't overpowering and didn't really linger (although with this product, I certainly wouldn't have minded). The moisturizer soaked into my skin quickly, making it a great product for blue jean days or use before bed. When I do use it right before going to sleep, I can't even tell I had it on by morning. My legs aren't dry, but they don't feel the slightest bit slick.

Overall, I'm incredibly impressed with this line, and I think it would make for an excellent indulgence for yourself or an impressive gift for others.

Ratings:
Hair Cleanser and Conditioner
Body Cleanser
Body Moisturizer

What They Say: (about the Soap) "Our cream handmade soaps are made with the highest quality olive oil, shea butter, monoi de tahiti oil, fresh cream, goat milk, essential oil, and fragrances. The combination of fresh cream and extra shea butter gives this handmade soap a wonderful thick, silky, and creamy lather.

Unscented soap is always available to those who do not prefer any fragrance.

Designs may vary from batch to batch as our soaps are handmade and handcut.
Cream Handmade Soaps are sometimes referred to as Designer Soaps, due to the design and patterns of the Handmade Soap. 6 oz."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: What I like about these lovely soaps are the pretty blocks of color and soft lather. Though they don't provide incredible moisture once you're out of the bath, they're still gentle and provide a nice clean feeling without residue. I also want to note that some of the scents in this line can be a bit strong and perfume-y, but others are pleasant. (I tried the Peaches and Cream, Dutch Apple Pie and Creamy Peppermint Sea.) I would recommend that you carefully look for something that sounds like what you'd enjoy. However, I believe many of the scents will appeal more to those who prefer the florals that predominate many of the options. Another option, of course, is to get the products unscented, as they offer.

What They Say: (about the Body Butter) "A little body butter makes everything better!

Especially this luxurious and natural formula of shea butter, monoi de tahiti oil, cocoa butter, sweet almond oil, sunflower oil, goat milk, vitamin E, and silk fibers.

Handmade with the finest quality of healing oils, butters, essential oils, and fragrance, our body butter is ideal for post-shower or bathing to seal in moisture, leaving you with healthy skin that immediately feels smooth and protected.

Once you start using Whipped Shea Monoi Body Butter you will wonder how you ever did without it."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: That definitely sounded promising, but I must say I was disappointed with this product. The scent that I had (Gardenia Peach, described as "sweet and feminine tropical floral gardenia, paired with sweet juicy peaches") didn't strike me as sweet at ALL. In fact, I felt a bit bombarded with the floral part, and it wasn't very pleasant. I actually decided to try to wash it off after wearing it for a short amount of time because I felt like it was giving me a headache. Also, it appeared that there were tiny bits of sparkle on my arms after I applied it, which I can only assume were in the formula, though they were hard to see in the jar. Compared to some other body butters I've tried, this one didn't feel nearly as nice on the skin, either. Unfortunately, I think this is a product that needs to be completely re-formulated or simply eliminated.

Retail Prices:
(the Soap) $5.00
(the Body Butter) $15.00 (8oz) $25.00 (16oz)
(available at Maryam's Soap Nook online - which I also want to note is a bit cumbersome to navigate and could have a much cleaner look)

DeLush Ratings:
(the Soap)
(the Body Butter)