» Amber’s Obsession

Amber’s Obsession: Love + Toast Sugar Grapefruit Hand Cream

Amber Katz — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:00:29 +0000

Love+Toast Sugar Grapefruit Hand Cream has changed my lifestyle. I know: It’s a bold claim.

This portable, gorgeously-designed tube of fabulosity smells of fairies and divinity with sparkling citrus notes without veering into sickly sweet territory. Candied grapefruit if you will, but subtly sophisticated. I don’t like sickly sweet; I was raised in a no-sugar household. I’m planning to buy the brand’s Sugar Grapefruit Eau de Parfum (only $9!) as well. And it absorbs instantly and leaves no greasy, wet feel, so you can go back to living your life (just a little more moisturized) in mere seconds.

Best of all, each piece within the line is reasonably priced. Hand creams go for $10 and Lip Balms only $9. The line also boasts natural ingredients.

I find myself selfishly hoarding it… to the extent that I carry a second hand cream of lesser (emotional) value on my person to offer friends when I reapply.

What hand cream is blowing your hair back of late?

Posted in Amber's Obsession Tagged: fragrances, hand cream, love + toast, Sugar Grapefruit Hand Cream

Amber’s Obsession: Nettiescrub, A Winning Indie Product

Amber Katz — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:00:14 +0000

A great body scrub manages to look and feel like powdery granules with no runny oil to speak of UNTIL you apply it and realize its formula boasts just the right amount of slipperiness to adhere the granules together and let it slough against your skin without pulling it too hard. But great body scrubs with the exact perfect ratio of scrub to oil are rare.

Nettiescrub products, which founder Nettie Davis claim “may cause frequent flirting,” are whimsically natural, yet effective. Her Nettiescrub Body Buff in Lemon ($12) is a flawless scrub that yields a delightful, tart lemon meringue scent.

This dream exfoliant contains pure lemon essential oil to stimulate the brain while it disinfects skin with its natural antibiotic properties. Check out the complete list of pronounceable ingredients: sugar, soy bean oil, grape seed oil, lemon essential oil, organic aloe water, jojoba oil, spearmint oil, organic acai oil, organic olive oil, grapefruit essential oil, rosemary essential oil, and grapefruit seed extract.

At $12, this one’s a steal.

Posted in Amber's Obsession Tagged: body scrub, Nettiescrub, Nettiescrub Body Buff in Lemon

Amber’s Obsession: Essie Mint Candy Apple Polish

Amber Katz — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:29:44 +0000

So while I sort of take issue with the aggressive seasonal marketing apparent in this polish’s name, I absolutely adore its crisp, opaque, refreshing hue. Essie Mint Candy Apple is the perfect complement to the darker, earthier fabrics of autumn. In a sea of vampy plums and rustic browns, my Mint Candy Apple mani is the varnish equivalent of lemon sorbet. Best of all, it’s not shimmery, which I find vulgar in a polish (and I realize I’m in the minority there).

This glossy talon accoutrement is Reason Number 549 I’m glad I’m able to rock non-conservative varnishes to my heart’s content, now that I’ve exfoliated myself (so to speak) of my stuffy finance gig.

Pick some up for $8 at essie.com.

Posted in Amber's Obsession Tagged: Amber's Obsession, Essie, Fall Colors, nail polish

Amber’s Obsession: Borba Replenishing Antioxidant Powder Drink Mix

Amber Katz — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:01:17 +0000

I’ve waxed poetic about all the ways to make drinking water more fun in this post. I thought I’d cornered the how-to-make-water-more-fun market. But I recently encountered something to add to my fairly long list of water companions: Borba Replenishing Antioxidant Powder Drink Mix* ($28). This lychee flavored powder punches up your water to make getting in a few cups easy peasy during work. And, it’s an excellent way to get in your antioxidants without having to worry about strategic fruit and vegetable consumption at meals. The mix’s vitamin complex is derived from lychee fruit nutrients, which are intended to boost moisture and keep skin smooth and supple. And the taste is reminiscent of a Lychee Martini from Stanton Social. Not that I’ve had any recently. Well, not today, anyway.

Get Borba Replenishing Antioxidant Powder Drink Mix for $28 at Borba.com.

*Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Borba PR.

Posted in Amber's Obsession Tagged: Borba Replenishing Antioxidant Powder Drink Mix

Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer

Amber Katz — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:00:24 +0000

Fall is my favorite season in New York, though it’s pretty short. It consists of October and maybe half of November before full-on freezing cold winter begins and I need to bust out my wind-proof skin care regimen. But, I find hydration of medium intensity is harder to identify in the beauty space. The world is your oyster if you’re looking for super light oil free formulas or, at the other end of the spectrum: rich, anti-aging or deeply moisturizing creams.

Like short sleeved cashmere sweaters and McDonalds Snack Wraps (seriously, WHEN is a good time for either of those things?), there is a relatively short window of time for this moisturizer, but within that window, it’s absolutely perfect. Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 20* for me, is the perfect in-between consistency. It’s a thick cream, but not heavily laden with oils and absorbs well, quickly. The after effect (i.e., it doesn’t SIT on top of my skin) is pleasant and makes for an excellent medium hydrator. I find its claim that it erases past damage a bit bold. The actual skin-tone evening effects are visible after using the cream for a few weeks, though they’re minimal. That said, as an SPF infused moisturizer for all your medium hydration needs, it’s aces.

Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 20 retails for $42.50.

*Disclosure: Item furnished to me as a press sample from Clinique

Posted in Amber's Obsession Tagged: Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 20, moisturizer