Candy Cane Bubble Bar from Lush ($6.25)

Products from HomeSpaGoddess tag body Neutrogena wants you to be stress free this holiday season. Not only have they created a Relaxing Holiday set to make getting your home spa on easy, they have a great article here with tips on how to "De-Stress Before the Holidays" and a printable gift guide to make shopping for all of you Neutrogena obsessed friends a serene experience. For pics and links visit the Stylehive for HomeSpaGoddess.com here, and click on the "december 2006 beauty blast" tag. The HomeSpaGoddess's Tags list is on the right side of the page, just scroll down:) To listen to and subscribe to HSG.com audio posts (Beauty Blasts) click this button

I'm not sure what I think about this. I don't know one black person that is unaware of the wonder that is Vaseline. I consider it a close personal friend, but I have always found their lotions to be much too watery. I've been seeing these Skin Voice ads on the trains here in Chicago and as I sit here typing this I honestly don't remember Vaseline products mentioned or pictured. The ads feature close-ups of light to dark brown skin and ask "What does your skin mean to you?" There is a web address on the pics inviting you to visit the site and tell your "skin story". I was a little shocked today to discover in my inbox an email from them about their new Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning Lotion and a chance to win a exclusive all expense paid trip to the 38th annual NAACP Image Awards. Huh? I click on the link which takes me to a lovely flash happy web site that features the "skin stories" of everyday and famous African-Americans. There is beautiful, close-up, artsy photography of nude African-American models of various skin tones. I did notice that very light skin wasn't featured, light brown to dark brown (a LOT of dark brown) models were used. Being a chocolate sister myself, this was very refreshing. I guess I was shocked because I feel like this product as being marketed as "The Vaseline Lotion for Black People". I didn't understand this because the site features only a tiny blurb about why cocoa butter is what African-American skin needs on the product page for the lotion. As I surfed the site I expected to find TONS of info on why I should buy this. There was a great section on skin health, why skin has color and skin, the sun and aging. The only mention of cocoa butter and how it relates to dark skin was not explained well at all. Yes, most black people use cocoa butter, but...I don't know. If this was a new product from Palmer's, which has had distinct "African-American" focused and "Caucasian" focused ad campaigns for years, I don't think I would have given this a second thought. Check out the site for yourself here, and make up your own mind. I'll try the lotion next week and let you know what I think. What are your thoughts?

Products from HomeSpaGoddess tag body I'm dying to try some of these products! I've had my eye on this site for a while and I might just take advantage of a few of the holiday deals they have laid out here. Act fast, because there is free shipping if you spend $40 or more until December 15, 2006.

Products from HomeSpaGoddess tag body When ever I see anything with "home spa" in the title, I have to mention it. My latest find? The Simultane-bliss Spa-at-home Set. The site says: "Who wouldn't love a facial and a candlelit bubble bath? Here, in one gift box, is months of them. Includes full sizes of bliss vanilla + bergamot bubbling bath + shower gel, bliss steep clean (our 15-minute facial-in-a-tube) and a spicy-scented candle from sage. Comes in a Bliss blue gift box." It's $85 at Bliss For pics and links visit the Stylehive for HomeSpaGoddess.com here, and click on the "all i want for xmas" tag. The HomeSpaGoddess's Tags list is on the right side of the page, just scroll down:) To listen to and subscribe to HSG.com audio posts (Beauty Blasts) click this button

Products from HomeSpaGoddess tag body Today's post is for Body and Earth's "Elements" line. I've tried several of their body washes, which are always packaged beautifully. I have to say, I've been less than thrilled. Disappointed is actually the word I would use. They sell for $3.99, but I still expected more. There was barely any scent to them. That's my main complaint. I bought the White Mocha, Vanilla Sugar and Pomegranate. All three were a wash. No pun intended. For pics and links visit the Stylehive for HomeSpaGoddess.com here, and click on the " " tag. The HomeSpaGoddess's Tags list is on the right side of the page, just scroll down:) To listen to and subscribe to HSG.com audio posts (Beauty Blasts) click this button

I am obsessed Carol's Daughter bath and body oils...the bottles...the floating flowers in the bottles.. I'm hypnotized. The pics on her site are fantastic. I remember when she had this small site with just her bars of soap on it. Now it this huge thing with lots of flash and amazing product photography. I'm going to try these on my next visit to Sephora. Have any of you tried them? For pics and links visit the Stylehive for HomeSpaGoddess.com here, and click on the "all i want for xmas 2006" tag. The HomeSpaGoddess's Tags list is on the right side of the page, just scroll down:) To listen to and subscribe to HSG.com audio posts (Beauty Blasts) click this button

Products from HomeSpaGoddess tag body Davies Gate has a new scent for the holidays, "Sugar Plum". It's described on the site as "a blend of ripe Plums, light notes of luscious Peach and sugar sweet Vanilla". The reason I found out about this new scent was because I scored two Davies Gate gift sets marked down from $18.99 to $8.99 at Ulta on "Black Friday" last week. I got the "Pink Grapefruit" and "Sweet Orange" Beauty Lift sets which included body lotion, shower gel and powder sugar bath soak. I couldn't find a pic of the sets online anywhere. Sorry. Enjoy this pic of the new "Sugar Plum" soothing shower gel instead:) For pics and links visit the Stylehive for HomeSpaGoddess.com here, and click on the "all i want for xmas 2006" tag. The HomeSpaGoddess's Tags list is on the right side of the page, just scroll down:) To listen to and subscribe to HSG.com audio posts (Beauty Blasts) click this button

Products from HomeSpaGoddess tag body According to the December Lucky Magazine frankincense is the hottest new "secret ingredient", since not only is it the perfect gift for newborn kings, when it's used in skin treatments it brings down inflammation and moisturizes. Pacifica has my favorite formulation of this ancient scent which is described on their site as "A rich blend of Frankincense and Myrrh at the heart with top notes of sweet Italian mandarin and orange. Resinous, rich and deep with a bright, fresh lift". You can get Pacifica products from Whole Foods or from their website. I've listed their frankincense offerings below. You can get candles made from food-grade paraffin wax and lead-free cotton wicks in sizes from voitives to 3x9 inch pillars. From $7.95 to $34.95. 3oz, 5.oz, 8.oz, and 10.oz soy candles made with a vegetable soy wax blend. From $4.95 to $19.95 You can also get soaps! $6.95 for a 6oz bar. Get yours form Pacifica.com

Products from HomeSpaGoddess tag body Calgon has new body sprays just for the holidays. The scents? Gingerbread, Almond Cookie and Apple Cinnamon. Cover Girl has special items just for the holidays too. Their Holiday 2006 collection includes limited edition lip gloss, blush, bronzer, powder, nail color and value packs. For pics and links visit the Stylehive for HomeSpaGoddess.com here, and click on the "all i want for xmas 2006" tag. The HomeSpaGoddess's Tags list is on the right side of the page, just scroll down:) To listen to and subscribe to HSG.com audio posts (Beauty Blasts) click this button