Winter Ice Queen look with a subtle glow? CHECK. 

Thanks to Loren Burns and her magical skillz at Stem Salon, I have a holiday look I am #dbsobsessed with. It has been A WHILE since I found a fab colorist, and I am thrilled to have found Loren. She took me to icy-blonde and I am in love. Book with her today! 

​Stem Salon: 925.933.7836

Best tan I have ever had sprayed upon my body. Not sticky, not smelly, fades evenly and looks natural. 

Seriously. 

Owner Jenny creates a customized glow for you, and gives more personal attention to the details than ANYONE I have ever tanned with. If you are in the East Bay, make a point of checking out this gem (even the decor is on-point...even in the bathroom)!

925.451.0645 | jenny@apressoleiltans.com 

 I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I know I did, and that I now need to lose like 200 pounds. But, I will deal with that later... for now, let's focus on what is really important: PAMPERING YOURSELF.

I have found another obsession in the wonderful world of bath bombs and bath products, and this one is especially wonderful for the season! Herb + Bumble! Beautifully scented bath bombs, without all of the mess of bombs with flowers in them (I love those too, but sometimes clam is key), as well as soaps that smell better than ANY soap I have ever tried.

​Sunflower Mini Bath Bomb: Sunflowers aren't just for summer! Now you can enjoy them anytime of year with these mini bath bombs. Each bomb contains Grape Seed Oil, Mango Butter & Cocoa Butter to nourish and hydrate your skin. Grape Seed Oil is quickly absorbed by the skin and perfect for sensitive skin. Even people who have had issues reacting negatively with other oils, rarely have problems with Grape Seed Oil. Mango Butter is loaded with vitamins A, C and E as well being extremely efficient in locking moisture into the skin. Cocoa Butter is high in fat making it desirable for moisturizing and nourishing the skin. It is extremely beneficial to dry, irritated skin and is known for providing relief of eczema. All fragrances are phthalate free.

Oatmeal Milk & Honey Mini Bath Bomb: This is the relief from dry, itchy, irritated skin that you have been waiting for!!!! Not only is there amazing skin loving oils and butters such as Avocado Oil, Shea Butter and Mango Butter, in each bomb, but they are also loaded with Colloidal Oatmeal and powdered Goat Milk! Bath Bombs don't have to be huge to be effective. These small 2" diameter little bombs will soothe and nourish your skin in a big way! The fragrance is Phthalate free and Formaldehyde free. No F,D & C colorants or dyes are used!

Apple Sage Mini Bath Bomb: This is a perfect capturing of the end of summer....juicy apples blended with succulent sage and topped off with a hint of pineapple, coconut water and earth notes...heavenly! Each bath bomb contains grapeseed oil, cocoa butter & mango butter to soften your skin while the scent relaxes your cares away. Because of the oil and butter content, it is safe to say that smaller is better! Perfection definitely comes in small packages. The fragrances used are Phthalate and Formaldehyde FREE! 

Apple Sage Soap: Perfect soap for end of summer / beginning of fall alike! Late summer is captured by blending juicy apples with succulent sage and topping it off with a hint of pineapple, coconut water and earthy notes. Shea butter provides an amazing lather and richness to this soap while also providing hydrating power to  leave you cleansed and soft. Sunflower oil is rich in fatty acids and vitamin E, caressing your skin and providing nourishment and protection. Our soaps are always: Phthalate free, Paraben free, PEG free, Petroleum free, synthetic detergent free and harsh chemical free!
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Farmhouse Cider Soap: Fall, brisk autumn air & cinnamon apple cider are all combined to make this fabulous scent! It smells so good it's hard to believe it's in a soap & not a piping hot mug!! Instead of cinnamon sprinkled on top, it has just a splash of cosmetic grade ruby red glitter. That's not the only treat this soap offers, it also has a wonderful combination of skin nourishing oils and butters such as Hemp Seed Oil, Cocoa Butter, Mango Butter and Sweet Almond Oil. These bars are large, weighing between 5.3 - 5.6 ounces. All soaps are Phthalate, Paraben, PEG, Synthetic Detergent, Formaldehyde and Petroleum Free!!

Get to know more about Steph and her line, by reading this info straight from her:

Welcome to Herb & Bumble! You will find a beautiful collection of handcrafted artisan soaps, bath bombs, sugar scrubs, room/linen/body sprays and lotions that will nourish your body! Our bath products are created especially for people with sensitive skin and our ingredients are gentle, nourishing and natural.

I’ve always suffered from dry, irritated and eczema prone skin. I’ve taken numerous medications over the years and even tried expensive soaps and creams. It was a frustrating battle that I just couldn’t seem to win! That all changed when my husband bought me a glycerin melt and pour soap kit and my journey into healthy skin began!

After years of making soaps for family and friends, I’m finally ready to share my creations with the world. I am passionate about bringing you beauty products that will truly transform your skin. My products are free of harsh chemicals and synthetic detergents and filled with good for you ingredients. Soap making is a work of art that truly allows my soul to sing. You’ll notice my soaps are often colorful, swirling and twirling with rich oils and butters. I love interpreting the soothing aroma of essential oils into a palette of colors and patterns.

When I’m not making soap, you’ll find me scrapbooking, reading, cooking, gardening and enjoying the beautiful outdoors. I find peace in nature and enjoy a morning stroll through my garden or in the woods. I’ve shared 21 years of marriage with my amazing husband and we have three sons together. Our oldest son was married last June so I am happy to say I finally have that daughter to love and cherish! We live in the beautiful state of Iowa and love the vibe and sincerity of the Midwest. My favorite part of living in Iowa is what they call, “Iowa Nice!” The people are giving, loving and always have a smile on their faces.

Coming to you from Oceanside, California, here's a real treat for those of you who love bath bombs! Bare Naked Bath is an Etsy shop that makes TRULY AMAZING bath bombs, bubble bars and other bath goodies. They look great, feel fabulous and smell so good that I have never in my life wanted smell-o-vision to be real, more than I do now. No words can describe the magical unicorn-like bliss of the smell of these products. When dropped in a tub, the purple and white Sparkling Snowdrops transform into what can only be described as a liquid fairy tale.

Two other facts about this shop that make me #dbsobsessed:

1. The prices are great! Compared to something like Lush - wait, there is no comparison.. And while there are many people making and selling bath bombs on Etsy for lower prices than the big brands, they are NOT all high quality. I have been lucky enough to find some great shops that do (more to come on that later), but have found some not-so-great bulk sellers as well.
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2. They come in collections/boxes! How fun is it that they are seasonal groupings that allow you to try out new things each time? Speaking of which... Can you say perfect for the GIFT GUIDE?! What a fun present for the person who has it all (and likes to take baths). Fun little indulgences that someone may not be inclined to purchase as a treat for themselves. What a great idea!

 A bit more on the concept of these boxes: The boxes will be a monthly, themed feature and each is handcrafted by shop owner and product maker, Tiara! They contain between seven and nine indulgences in each box  (always be at least three bath bombs, two average sized and one larger and two bubble bars). Other items that are included are anything from perfume sprays, roll-on perfumes, lotions, lip scrubs or balms, salt or sugar scrubs, soaps, and/or nail polish. Most items or fragrances are box-exclusive and won't be available in the regular shop inventory. As a bonus, some boxes will include something from another Etsy Handmade seller, allowing you to discover something new!

Obviously, Kim Zolciak Biermann is my hero. So obviously, I had to try her skincare line, Kashmere Kollections. The smell is INSANE. I want to smell like this all the time. I love the products, especially the oil, firming lotion and scrub. But, without the initial discount the offered, I am afraid it is a bit spendy. However, based on the line itself, consider me #dbsobsessed!

Dirty Peach and Love Bite are here! I also nabbed Kristen and I am loving all three. 

I am so in love with everything I have tried from Kylie Jenner's cosmetics line. Here are some favorites:

So, why do I love it so much? Because the colors give incredible options for so many eye looks, and several of them are killer for contouring and highlighting the face. On top of that, they actually stay put and last! #dbsobsessed

Hello friends. Let me start by apologizing for the lack of product photos in this post. I had every intention of taking glorious photos for you, to tell you which LUSH bath products I was most #dbsobsessed with. However, I must say that one thing I have learned in researching for this post is that while LUSH is an amazing brand with incredible products and excellent customer service, they do not make a product that is meant to be shipped. So for that reason, the products that I have access to as I am writing this post, would not do justice to the beauty of their products, if I were to take photos.

The first box that I ordered arrived damaged (not by LUSH, but obviously had suffered some sort of terrible tragedy along the way from LUSH to my apartment). So, I contacted LUSH and let them know what had happened, sending them photos of each of the damaged products. I was completely and thoroughly impressed by their customer service. They sent me replacements for everything that was damaged, including several items that I had missed an online warning about, regarding the fact that they may melt during shipping in summer months.

Additionally, they took quite a lot of time to explain things and communicate with me, which was a pleasant change from typical large business customer service. The best part was that after having tried one of the damaged products (Too Drunk Emotibomb), I decided I did not like it, so I let them know that and they were happy to replace it with something new that I requested, in the replacement shipment. While the replacement shipment did arrive without any damage to the box, the reality is that items like bath bombs are very delicate and are going to experience some jostling in transit. As a result, they do end up somewhat damaged, albeit still totally fine for personal use.

So, now that we have established shipping vs. in-store purchasing, let's talk about LUSH bath products!

• Guardian of the Forest Bath Bomb: See with eyes uncovered as you find the spirit of the forest, dappled with mossy greens and soft with the shimmer of luster. Prickly on the senses at first, the calming cypress and mystical oakmoss absolute will embrace you, drawing you into the bright, sunlit heart of this woodland bomb. It's packed with its very own forest protector: sustainably-sourced and seriously intoxicating rosewood oil.
• MMMelting Marshmallow Moment Luxury Bath Oil: Mmmelt into a pink, sweet and silky retreat and leave your troubles far behind. Creamy fair trade cocoa butter and coconut oil create a gently bobbing, slowly melting oil that goes the distance for luxuriously long soaks. Watch as the two-toned vivid pink and golden yellow halves unfurl to paint a dreamy sunset swirl on the water, and take in its nostalgic cotton candy scent. When you're ready to face reality again, it'll be with luxuriously soft and sweetly scented skin.
• Yoga Bath Bomb: Designed to be slow-frothing, with a meditative blend of color and earthy, grounding oils, this bomb creates a sanctuary of calm in the tub. Drop this seemingly simple orange bomb into a warm bath and watch as it froths up in slow fizzing layers of mesmerizing color. Inhale the deeply relaxing scents of sandalwood, olibanum and ho wood oils and take a journey of the self.
• Sex Bomb Bath Bomb: What’s in a name? When it comes to the Sex Bomb we take the moniker seriously. A must for any romantic bath, our world famous sphere of sex appeal contains all of Nature’s most potent and seductive ingredients to get you in the mood for a good… bath. Scintillating jasmine, clary sage and ylang ylang are powerful aphrodisiacs that are known to relax you as they warm your heart, and other body parts too. Soya milk makes the water milky, softening your entire body as you enjoy a luxurious soak with our best-selling Bath Bomb. Consider yourself warned.
• Twilight Bath Bomb:  Recreate the magic of a starry night in your bath water with clouds of lavender and tonka absolute to fight the demons of insomnia and soothe your stressed out body and mind. Our most relaxing Bath Bomb yet, Twilight is our gentle, reassuring hug for the bath to transform you from worn out to warm and fuzzy. It changes color like the sky at dusk, from pinks to purples and darker still. Lay back in the comforting herbal waters to soak your troubles far, far away.
• Milky Bath Bubble Bar: Don't cry over spilled milk - bathe in it! This comforting milk bottle bubbler is filled with moisturizing cocoa butter, skimmed milk and olive oil for supremely soft skin, and the delicate scent of orange oil to soothe your mind and let your troubles float away.

Yes, the results are scary good, but the way I look with this face mask on is just scary (and as you can see, I decided to really embrace that and give you psycho face... you're welcome). 
Anyway... I heard about this gem from a friend and had to try it for myself. The Daiso Japan Natural Pack Charcoal Peel Off Mask is easy to use, and once it is totally dried, it is a clean peel off mask. But, the greatest thing about this mask is that it really dry out and deep clean your face. At $4.65 a bottle, I am totally #dbsobsessed.

Given that today is the launch date for Kylie's first eye shadows, it seemed like a perfect time to tell you about what I think about her cosmetics, thus far... I must say, that having just tried to get the shadow RIGHT at launch time, and failing, I am quite sad....

At first I was a little bit embarrassed about my deep need to purchase the product I am talking about on this post. However, I am now ashamed for ever having felt such embarrassment, because this is the greatest shit in the world!

Lip Kit by Kylie is legit the best thing to ever happen to my makeup game. Not only is the product amazing in terms of how long it lasts, value, ease-of-use, and color options, but it brought me to a realization I wish I came to long ago.  I realized that no makeup look is complete without lip color, and lip color that stays put, at that. I've been living a life of lip gloss reapplication that has resulted in far too many photos without any color on my lips. Never again!

So far I have Candy K, Posie K, Exposed and Heir (metallic). Each of the matte lip kits comes with a lip liner that perfectly matches the shade. Following the instructions that her highness Kylie includes, to fill in your phone lip with the liner and only apply the lipstick once is clutch. It lasts for an unbelievably long time.

Posie K is my favorite, but I really do love all of them. Without a tan, Exposed is not my best choice, but it will have its time.

Dear Kylie- Anticipate that I will be a long-term customer. xoxo

Pretty much in love with this Glow Stick from Marc Jacobs Beauty, sent to me by Influenster. It is great for those of us who are new to the highlight game, as well as those of us who are sick of broken powders messing up the makeup bag.

HIGHLIGHT. GAME. STRONG.