Cleopatra & Colette by Tocca

I am INCREDIBLY picky when it comes to fragrance.

Since I'm so impossibly hard to please, I am forever searching ...

There came a day when I finally found THE ONE - literally. It was Dolce & Gabbana's The One.

I loved it. I had found everything I was looking for in a fragrance. My search was over ... until I found out that the real version of "The One", my husband, couldn't stand the smell!

Noooooo!

So my quest began once more and only this year have I found my new, true fragrance loves!

Or perhaps I should call them my fragrance BFF's ... introducing:

Cleopatra & Colette!

These little babies are from Tocca and were in the line display at Sephora, which I sometimes enjoy even more than the rest of the store, if I'm being honest.

I thought 'hey, the packaging is nice, why not give them a sniff and see'.

I fell in love!

I smelled Cleopatra first. It was perfect: sophisticated, feminine, light and fresh. It made me think of a Parisian spa.

I left it there, finished up with my purchase and went home... as the night went on I couldn't help but wonder 'What was I thinking'? I had finally found my dream fragrance! I had to go back for it.

So I did.

I bought the duo it was sold in, Cleopatra & Colette. I figured I'd just ditch Colette and hold on to my little gem, Cleopatra.

Turns out I hit the jackpot.

Colette is a beautiful fragrance as well! I love it almost as much as Cleopatra.

It's a slightly softer, more romantic and floral scent.

Anyways, I am SO HAPPY with my little perfumes!!

As soon as these little gift sizes run out ~ I will 100% be purchasing the full sizes. Now that I've found my new BFF's ~ I can't live without them!

DIY: Exfoliating Moisturizer

Exfoliators & moisturizers are my favourite things to buy!
I used to work at The Body Shop and owned just about every lotion, cream, body butter and scrub they carried - plus a million drug store brands!

One day it dawned on me that at the heart of these moisturizers were natural oils ~ almond oil, olive oil, sunflower seed oil ~ and at the core of the exfoliants were ... natural exfoliants ~ nut shells, salts, sugars.

"Eureka"!! I thought (well, maybe I wasn't quite so dramatic). But I was suddenly very eager to make my very own exfoliator with edible products that I knew were safe and natural.

I've experimented with all kinds of natural beauty products ever since ~ facial masks, hair treatments, moisturizers, but my classic go to that I never get tired of is a Sea Salt Moisturizing Exfoliator.

Below is the "How To Make It" and the "Why I Love It".

How To Make It:

Step 1: Pour about 10-15 tablespoons of sea salt into your desired container

Step 2: Add about half a cup of oil to the salt, or as much as gives you a consistency you like. *I use grapeseed oil lately, but you can use any oil that suits your skin ~ almond oil, coconut oil, olive oil ... the list is endless

Step 3: Bam! You're done.

  

You can now use this mixture in the shower to exfoliate dead skin cells away, as well as moisturize your skin! So simple, so effective!

Why I Love It:

1. It works! My skin feels super soft and moisturized directly after, and until my next shower.

2. It does the job of 2 products (exfoliator & moisturizer) in 1 step!

3. Mechanical exfoliation (the process of physically scrubbing the skin) promotes circulation

4. Sea salt is known to have great benefits for the skin

5. It's all natural

**One word of warning: the oil can really do quite the job on your tub, making it extremely slippery ~ so be mindful of that while you're in there. I try to give it a rinse with soap when I'm done so my hubby doesn't wipe out on a slip & slide the next time he's in!

So, this is my go-to scrub in it's most basic form.

I will sometimes add essential oils for their scent and health benefits.

It adds a little 'kick' to throw some peppermint or lemongrass oil in every once in a while ~ or whatever you like!

Give it a try and see what you think ~ and make sure to let me know how it goes!

Happy Exfolurizing!!!

~ Kelly