Looking back at the bath, body and hair products that I tried in 2018, there were a number of standouts for me. Here we go!
Bath and Body
- Farmhouse Fresh Vanilla Bourbon Body Oil: The vanilla bourbon scent of this body oil is truly divine. I wish that FHF would make a matching body mist or fragrance because I would love to extend the scent. The vanilla bourbon scent fades on the skin after a short while. But it’s the kind of scent I’d like to keep going all day! The oil itself is a nice consistency. It sinks in quickly and provides enough hydration even for my dry skin. The FHF Vanilla Bourbon is certainly one of my very favorite products in any category of 2018. If you haven’t tried it, and you’re a fan of vanilla scents, you really must!
- Rituals The Ritual of Ayurveda Natural Dry Oil for the Body and Hair: Nourishing: I received a travel size version of this oil in the Rituals 4 piece Ritual of Ayurveda Balancing Treat Gift Set, and I liked it a lot. The scent is a lovely, deep nutty scent that’s very comforting. The oil itself is lightweight, and as a “dry oil”, it gets absorbed quickly. I often layer it with the Rituals body lotion that came in the Ritual of Ayurveda kit of travel size products that I received in November. I used up the travel size Dry Oil, and I bought a full size that comes in a red glass bottle during the Ulta sale in December. Good stuff!
- Luxe by Mr. Bubble Shower Bombs: I used up my Luxe by Mr. Bubble Shower Bombs, and I need to buy some more. Although they don’t do anything for my skin since I toss a couple on the shower floor, they do something for my mood as they fragrance the bathroom and shower as the hot water hits them. What a fun product! Since I don’t take baths all that often, I am happy to have a non-bath bomb option that makes showering fun. P.S. Oh no! I just went to the Target website, and they are out of stock. I hope they weren’t a holiday limited edition 🙁
- Humboldt Soap Company Banana Mango Body Mousse: This fall I was introduced to Humboldt Soap Company’s fabulous natural mousse-like moisturizer, Cremeplexion. I thought the fluffy but very hydrating face cream was such an innovative and effective product form that I suggested to Arice, the owner, that she consider developing a body lotion with a similar texture. To my surprise, she did! Humboldt Soap Company Body Mousse comes in 5 different scents sold on the HSC website. Banana Mango is the first one I have used. OMG, this natural Body Mousse made from organic ingredients smells like real banana. It’s incredible! I had previously thought the banana scent of the The Body Shop’s Body Butter was good, but HSC Banana Mango Body Mousse blows it out of the water on the absolutely most natural-smelling scent as well as the sublime texture! Plus it’s very hydrating. Love love love it. Another one of my very favorite products of 2018. You need to try it!
- Character Secret Agent Body Butter: Character’s Body Butter is made from natural oils and shea butter so it’s soft and pliant and easily to apply. I used it every night on my feet and what a difference it makes! Excellent product.
- Rituals The Ritual of Sakura Flowering Hand Balm: I can’t remember if I bought this 5.9 fl. oz. pump bottle of Sakura Hand Balm in Amsterdam or here in the U.S. Hmmmm. Actually, I think I bought a tube of Sakura Hand Balm in Amsterdam, and I liked it so much that I bought this larger pump bottle here. The much larger pump bottle at $17.50 is a far better deal than the tube. The pump pumps out the exact amount of lotion needed to hydrate my hands. The cherry blossom scent is divine. Plus it does an excellent job hydrating my dry hands. This was a great find this past year.
- Farmhouse Fresh Blackberry Crush Hydrating Lip Balm: Like the FHF Vanilla Bourbon Body Oil, I have technically tried FHF’s Hydrating Lip Balm in two other flavors. But IMHO, Blackberry Crush is a home-run flavor. Love it, love it, so I had to mention it!
Hair
- eva•nyc Clean It Up Shampoo: I feel funny about this shampoo that I think I’ve mentioned at least twice before if not more. Though Clean It Up Shampoo has sodium lauryl sulfate in it, I can’t help it, I love it. Although I limit myself from using it all the time in case the SLS really does fade color, I enjoy using it from time to time. The lavender vanilla scent is heaven, and it makes a lot of lather that I love. Plus it really cleans my hair so well that I use it as a clarifying shampoo that removes residue from other hair products. If your hair isn’t color-treated, I heartily recommend it.
- Honorable Mention or too soon to be absolutely sure: Cleure, a brand name derived from “clean” and “pure” with hair skin body oral care and makeup products for those with sensitive skin, sent me travel size versions of their natural, fragrance-free Cleure Volumizing Shampoo and Cleure Replenishing Conditioner. Because they are small and I use a lot of product on my thick hair, I have only used them twice. But I am so far very impressed. The Volumizing Shampoo that is SLS-free is a low-sudsing product that nevertheless cleans my hair very well and rinses clean with a bit of a squeak that I like. The Replenishing Conditioner that is also fragrance-free feels like it has dimethicone in it, but it doesn’t. It has panthenol. It left my hair very soft and, after flat ironing my hair as usual, it was very shiny and manageable. I am duly impressed.
Forgotten Best of Makeup Entry!
- Stellar Limitless Liquid Foundation: Last week when I wrote my “Best of 2018 Makeup Products”, I left out by mistake my favorite foundation discovery of 2018: Stellar Limitless Liquid Foundation. Stellar is a newish makeup brand started by a woman born in India and raised in Canada. Her brand is sold at Sephora. Lightweight with medium coverage, Stellar Limitless Liquid Foundation comes in 22 shades and it is targeted to those with medium skin tones . Further, its point of difference is that the shade focus on the big variety of undertones in medium-toned skin: peach, pink, red, olive, yellow olive, golden red, golden yellow, yellow. Really unusual. Here’s what the founder said, “Monika knows first-hand the frustrations with makeup felt by those with Hispanic, Latino, African-American, Aboriginal, South East Asian, Filipino, Middle-Eastern, Mediterranean, West and East Indian complexions.” There seem to be a good array of shades, and even I with my fair-light skin tone found a perfect match with S02, “very fair with pink undertones”. The foundation that comes in a square plastic pump bottle is so easy to apply. I often apply it with my fingers. It just blends right in. Though it says it was developed for Normal and Combination skin, my dry skin wearing a hydrating primer does very well with it. Long-wearing on my dry skin, it truly feels like I’m not wearing any foundation at all. And it looks so natural. <3 I wish Sephora would support this brand more!
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FHF and Rituals are definitely favorites of mine as well. Stellar is a brand that I definitely ned to try and that foundation sounds amazing! S02 looks like a perfect match for me as well.
I really love the Stellar foundation, Helen. I think it’s a great choice for LA’s warmer climate, too
I have to try farmhouse fresh! You mention them a lot! I think my first product will be that vanilla bourbon oil!
I think Stellar is a Canadian brand? I might be wrong though. I saw the brand at Sephora but haven’t tried anything from them. Haven’t seen much reviews online too so good to know that you adore the foundation.
Thank you, Shireen, for reminding me about the backstory of the Stellar Beauty brand. Yes, the founder was born in India but raised in Canada. The brand is manufactured in Canada. And I also forgot that the POD of this foundation line and the brand itself is focusing on the variations in medium skin toned people, especially people from different parts of the world. I went back and tweaked my mini-review! I was lucky to find a perfect match at the lightest end of the range!
Vanilla bourbon sounds like the exact scent that I’ve been searching for. I wish there was a fragrance you could recommend!
Me, too, Kerry! If I find one, I’ll let you know!
Those body mousses sound like my jam!
The Humboldt Soap Company Body Mousses are heaven!
Hi Jen,
I would be happy to send you some body mousse to try and review for your blog. There is Banana Mango, Strawberry Pear, Blackberry Coconut, Hot Chocolate Mocha and Vanilla Frosting. Which ones are you interested in? My email is: arice@humboldtsoapcompany.com if you would like to give me your mailing address for the body mousses. 🙂
The FarmHouse Fresh body oil is on everyone’s list who had the chance to use it. I know what I’ll buy next from them when I’ve made more of a dent in the FHF Body Oils I have. Great list. I’m eager to try the Humboldt.
Oh, Marcia, the HSC Body Mousse is truly divine, though I know you aren’t a scent enthusiast quite the way I am. The fluffy consistency of Cremeplexion is wonderful for a body product, too. Yes, the FHF Vanilla Bourbon Body Oil to me is the best of their scents, perfection for us vanilla scent fans.
Hi Marcia,
Thanks again for recommending Cremeplexion! I am so excited that you are interested in the body mousse! Which ones would you like to try and review? There’s Strawberry Pear, Banana Mango, Blackberry Coconut, Hot Chocolate Mocha and Vanilla Frosting 🙂
I’m obsessing over the Humboldt Soap Body mousse! I was sent a few and been using daily! Just got my photos done this weekend and cant wait to do my write up. I’m so glad you introduced me to this brand!
I’m so glad, Claudia! I am obsessing over them as well. I am going through the Banana Mango jar because I can’t stop using it. So authentically natural!
Hi Claudia,
I’m so excited to read your review on the body mousse! Thank you again so much for trying it out! 🙂
I love FHF body oils. They smell divine and really hydrate my skin.
I adore them too, and the Vanilla Bourbon is my favorite scent so far. I can’t stop sniffing it!
I really enjoy your FHF posts. A local spa uses their stuff and I was like I KNOW THIS!
I just got the Stellar Foundation based off another reviewer who loved it too. Though I have oily skin, I’m surprised by how much I love the finish and how it doesn’t feel like anything on my skin!
I think there’s a lot of latitude in who this wonderful foundation would suit. I’m glad that both of us at opposite ends of the skin dryness-oiliness spectrum can appreciate this under-appreciated foundation! I feel like I need to spread the word coz I don’t want it to disappear!
The Eva clean it up shampoo is the MOST cleansing shampoo I’ve ever tried!
Yes, the eva NYC Clean It Up Shampoo really is a clarifying shampoo – does a great job!
Those body mousse pods look amazing!!! New to me brand and I have a feeling a brand I could see getting hooked too!
The Humboldt Soap Company Body Mousse is such a pleasure to use. It is definitely addictive!
Hi Nina,
If you’re interested I would be happy to send you some body mousse to try and review on your blog ☺️ My email is: arice@humboldtsoapcompany.com if you’d like to email your mailing address.
Excited to see Rituals on your list! They have some of my favorite body products, especially those wonderful foaming washes.
I think there’s a sale on Rituals now on their website. I’m gonna take a look
Loved seeing who made your list!