Tatcha body butter, dry skin savior

Much of my taste has changed over the years, but Tatcha's Indigo Soothing Body Butter has staunchly remained my favorite body moisturizer. To illustrate: I sang its praises in this 2014 blog post; I've switched partners since but my current boyfriend also refers to it as "the nice stuff" and thinks of it as special occasion lotion.

My body is oddly attuned to the seasons, and its first indication that Winter is Coming™ is a bout of rash on the back of my thighs. Out of the moisturizers I've used, this Tatcha one remains not only the most luxurious but also the only one that keeps those pesky spots at bay. Do I wish my legs would quit being so high maintenance? Of course I do. But every winter I give Cetaphil a whirl and my body mocks me with an outbreak. At some point one just has to concede and give it what it wants.

The body butter got a facelift sometime last year and went from a dark purple jar to a blue that better matches its contents. The cream itself also became lighter in color, though its function remained the same. It has the signature scent that accompanies the Indigo collection (which I like) and melts into skin on application. I love applying skincare on my face, but usually find moisturizing the body a slog (too much surface area). The Tatcha experience makes it more palatable.

Tatcha Indigo Soothing Body Butter is $48 and available at these retailers:
Tatcha
Violet Grey

How to effectively moisturize in winter

I have a love-hate relationship with winter. I love the crispness in the air, the promise of soft snow, and sticking two sticks on my feet and skidding down a mountain, but I detest the myriad of bodily problems that pop up during the season. We've discussed my nose freezing up (which a few of you identify strongly with), so let's get to another big problem: skin.

Every year in November, if I don't keep up a regular moisturizing regimen, I will inevitably get rashes on various parts of my body. Once, I had to go to a doctor because I was suffering from dry skin even after constantly moisturizing. I wasn't prescribed anything, but I did walk away with valuable tips on how to avoid it happening again.

The best time to moisturize is after getting out of the shower. Your pores will be open from the hot water and thus absorb product better. Pat down (do not rigorously wipe!) your skin so that it's still a little damp, then apply lotion liberally.

Some days I don't have time to moisturize immediately out of the shower, which is when I layer a body oil and lotion later in the day. I've found a few products that work marvelously together and provide me with that elusive 24-hour hydration (no matter what the marketing people say, it's hard to find them). In fact, nowadays I only get rashes if I don't moisturize within a week!

1. Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Spray ($46 for 3.3 fl oz / 100ml)
I'm on my second bottle of this cult classic. If Nuxe was known for one thing only, it would be their Huile Prodigieuse oil. I like the nutty, gourmand scent, and the oil hydrates skin without leaving it greasy. It also comes in a splash bottle, but I prefer the spray for ease of use and especially to access hard-to-reach areas. That said, while a spritz would be enough for summer or fall, this oil is more of a layering item in winter. I use it as a base before applying my other body creams so they absorb better.

2. Haus of Gloi Aether Pumpkin Butter ($10 for 6 oz / 177ml)
I almost didn't want to share this because it's difficult enough for me to procure as it is. Haus of Gloi is a small vegan business that sells handmade bath and body products, and the Aether Pumpkin Butter is their best selling product. The proprietors describe the scent as "absolute nothingness." The butter itself is lightweight and easy to spread (ha!). Right now, it's out of stock again, but when it's available I usually just purchase in bulk. This is a glorious product, especially at this price point!

3. Tatcha Soothing Silk Body Butter ($46 for 6.8 oz / 200ml)
This product is geared toward people who have sensitive, inflamed, or irritated skin – perfect for a rash-prone individual like me! The indigo extract contains actives that help reduce irritation. The formula is lightly creamy, smells wonderful, and the blue hue disappears into skin upon application, leaving in its wake sighing soft skin. I will always remember it as "the nice stuff."

4. Tata Harper The Royal Treatment Ultimate Antiaging Body Set ($125 for both; 4.1 oz / 125ml each)
I'm on a Tata Harper kick lately. I love discovering products from her brand, because each of them is more decadent than the last. This limited edition set is the definition of indulgence, price and product-wise. The body oil has an intriguing formula – it pumps out of the nozzle as very fluid liquid, but applies like rich, slightly heavy (but not gross and greasy) oil. If you made me describe the scent of the oil, I would say it's nice smelling insect repellant (dear Tata Harper, I'm sorry my nose sucks). The application instructions echoes my doctor's advice: massage generously onto damp skin.

The lotion is much lighter in texture and less distinct in scent. While not entirely necessary, since the body oil is rich enough as it is, I apply the lotion after the oil dries as extra immunity toward the frigid weather. Both products boast a long list of Good Things in its ingredients.

Full disclosure: This entry contains sample products sent by the brand for editorial consideration. This entry also contains affiliate links.

Tatcha Indigo Skincare Collection

Can I go one month without talking about Tatcha at least once? If you follow me on my various social media platforms (Instagram! Twitter! Facebook!) you'll know I simply don't have it in me. But that's okay. This blog is a diary of pretty things, and pretty things shall be spoken of!

Tatcha's newest pretties are part of the Indigo Skincare Collection, which marks Vicky's first foray into body care (huzzah!). Firstly, though it shows my lack of education, I never knew "indigo" was ever more than the name of a color. How pleasantly surprised I was to find that it was also a flower, and an extremely vibrant one at that. It makes me want to bring the plant to various deli owners in New York City as explanation of why it's not okay to dye flowers into unnatural hues.

I have a funny story to illustrate how good these products are. My boyfriend and I have been using Haus of Gloi Pumpkin Butter to alleviate our dry skin woes with much satisfaction for the past two winters. Then I received the Tatcha Soothing Silk Body Butter and hastened to test it because Vicky Tsai is like my fairy godmother of miraculous skincare. The blue cream literally seeps into your skin as soon as you apply it. There is credence to its name, because it really does soothe the skin upon touch. My nose is not discerning, so I can't really tell you what it smells like, but I can assure you that it's wonderful.

Back to the actual funny: my boyfriend is as most boys are – ambivalent about his grooming routine (though particularly attached to Dove Beauty Bar. He has a stockpile of it in his bathroom closet). He started moisturizing when we started dating because I was concerned about the cracked skin on his knuckles, but was largely unconcerned which moisturizer we used. When I was testing the Tatcha butter, I also applied it on him, and since then, he asks me if we can "use the nice stuff."

The Tatcha Soothing Silk Hand Cream, by the way, is basically the body butter in portable form.

One of the many reasons I love the brand is because of its commitment to quality and craft. Each Tatcha product is packaged exquisitely and with care, and while that is the norm in Japan, you rarely see it in companies based in the US, even those with Japanese roots. I've also been lucky to receive one of the brand's signature gifts last Christmas, namely the Obon Tray featured in the pictures above. It adds a touch of glamour to my nightstand and makes my cluster of candles look much more organized.

Tatcha Soothing Silk Body Butter retails for $48 and the Soothing Silk Hand Cream goes for $38. Available at tatcha.com and select Barney's locations.

Full disclosure: This entry contains sample products sent by PR or the manufacturer for editorial consideration.

The Scent of Fresh Meadow - kai

Mood lighting!

As someone who wasn't already acquainted with the signature Kai fragrance, I expected it to be something clean and simple based on the brand's aesthetic, and what a pleasure it was to find out that it was true. It smells like a spring meadow filled with fresh, dewy grass – no flowers, just grass.

(For those who require something more precise, the official description for the fragrance is a "light and intoxicating scent of gardenia wrapped in white exotics.")

What I didn't know was that Kai didn't only produce perfume, but a whole line of bath, body, hair, and even home products, and suddenly I was intrigued. As mentioned numerous times on the blog, I am not a fragrance person, so when something I like finally appears, I cling onto it like my nose depends on it. A quick peruse through the web catalog shows that yes, if I'd like, I could coat myself and everything I own with this fragrance if I so wish. Believe me, I'm very tempted by the Fine Linen Wash.

That said, what I received in the mail was a more sensible starting tester product: their shampoo and conditioner. I brought it over to my boyfriend's apartment and the both of us have been enjoying it steadily for the past two months. He tells me he loves how easily the shampoo lathers and I tell him I love that it smells like clean grass. We both agree that it's a very pleasant product to have in our bathroom.

For all the upcoming holiday travel that you'll be doing, there's also a nifty travel set containing the shampoo and conditioner, body wash and lotion, and bubble bath that'll meet your basic needs. I took this with me on my trip to Chicago two months ago and the entire set – down to the see-through pouch (yay, TSA...) – served me well. I will be flying to Taiwan in a couple of days for a family trip and will once again be checking this in.

Unfortunately, Kai does not have a dedicated e-shop. However, you can find Kai products online at Barneys.com!

Full disclosure: This entry contains sample products sent by PR or the manufacturer for editorial consideration.

Lush Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub

It's only after living in New York City that I understood how dirty air can be. True disgusting fact: last winter I had a bath obsession and took baths at least three times a week. When I emerged, the bath water was gray. It's not that I'm a particularly dirty person or anything, I just can't hide from smoke and smog, and here you can't help but rub shoulders and thighs with strangers everyday. 

For days that I feel particularly grimy, I use an exfoliator for a deeper cleanse. When I was younger I was a staunch champion of St. Ives Apricot Scrub, later graduating to Sabon's Body Scrub. Sometimes I wonder how I ever thought torturing my skin was a fantastic feeling. No doubt I felt clean, but it was as if I had to scratch my skin with a metal scrubber to get there.

I was recently sent a tub of Lush Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub to test and was filled with trepidation at first glance. Those salt particles looked dangerously coarse. But I was told to stir the concoction before first use and what I got was a happy mush.

The lime and grapefruit scents are particularly strong in Ocean Salt, which combined with a salty tang, harkens the image of having tropical punch at an actual beach. The scary-looking salt turned out to be fine* when combined with (what I'm guessing is) the avocado butter and coconut oil, and together they make a soothing combination in the shower – moisturized, scrubbed clean, but not raw.

*I forgot that it's meant for "face and body." For body, I think it's definitely not abrasive as an exfoliator. I agree with shusheshe that it's too rough on the face.

Lush Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub retails for $35.95 and is available at Lush in-stores and online.

The product in this post was provided by the company for editorial consideration