After showering, instead of getting out of the shower and drying off,  keep the doors closed to retain the steam in the shower area. Wet a washcloth and ring out the excess water. Dry off your body using the damp washcloth, ringing out the excess water periodically. This will leave your body moist, but not dry.

Then, while still in the shower, apply your favorite Body Deli lotion or oil to your entire body, rubbing it into your damp skin. Staying in the steamy shower will help keep your pores open, allowing the product to absorb deeply into your skin, keeping you moisturized all day.

Try it, you’ll like it!

Lady M

She said, “Spanish Fly? Isn’t that some insect that they use to use from Mexico?” Laughingly, I said, “No, this is not made from flies from Mexico! It’s a blend of special essential oils that have a wonderful soft romantic smell. The burn off is very intoxicating and sexy. I get compliments on it all the time!”

She asks me, “What exactly is Spanish Fly?” I replied, “It’s a blend of natural essential oils made from resins from tree barks. The aroma is great for setting a romantic mood. If you want to bring your sexy back you have to get some!”  

She replies, “Your right, I have to get me some of that Spanish Fly!” I said ~ “you sure do” as I sashayed away!

Lady M

I am usually doing research on new active ingredients, where the organics farmers are located and how do I get my hands on the newest anti aging ingredients. Are they natural, organic and eatable is always a concern.

My passion is to find the best and to offer the best. I will be updating my post as often as possible and sharing my love for all things natural and organic. I am constantly researching things that will better our health, wellness and appearance. So follow me on my quest to find the best!

Lady M

Fig and Sage is a great blog about living an organic and eco-conscious lifestyle. It really is a great blog, it is one of the best resources for everything green. I give this blog 2 green thumbs up way up. I actually spent over an hour on the site looking at different companies that are making going green a lot more fashionable.
It is amazing what is out there if you take the time to do a little research. There is so much we can be doing to reduce our consumption, eliminate waste and still have the great products we have come to rely upon. As we keep evolving our society to live in more equilibrium with our environment it is great to know that we still can look sexy, smell fabulous and have a super clean house. To find out how to have the best of both worlds visit Fig and Sage and they will hook you up! By the way they have some really great things to say about our super fresh, Fruit Smoothie Enzyme Masque. it is good enough to eat.

Cosmetic Chef

David Parker.

I must have read hundreds of books and did so many workshops, I got burnt out on information. At some point you just got to do it, no amount of book information will replace good old fashioned experience. So then I changed my diet, went vegan for 1 year then slowly transitioned to a 100% raw food diet and got really into healthy skin care (hence was that beginning of my obsession with natural cosmetics). I started to feel a major shift on all levels of my life. I remember my first cleanse was using the supplements from Arise and Shine. It was called their master cleanse and WOW what a relief. In one week I released a lifetime of impacted mucoid plaque from my colon.

From then on I have done many cleanses, fasts, colonics etc. It is just natural for me now to cleanser once or twice a year. Plus the best part I haven’t used my inhaler for over 10 years! This stuff works! Dr. Jeff our health and wellness contributor has posted a new thought provoking article about facing the toxicity in our “real” world and why we need to take responsability for our own internal environment. Go green take care of your internal landscape first.

Cosmetic Chef

David Parker

DR. JEFF – A Toxic World?

Some people think that detoxification is a “new age” idea. For me it isn’t, but I decided to at least look and see what shows up. First stop, PubMed, an Internet site put out by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health. Entering detoxification into their site search brings up 15,823 citations of studies done on detoxification. Pretty impressive. Next stop, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s website. A quick look brings up 981 citations of studies involving detoxification. Not as impressive, but still noteworthy. Last stop, the World Health Organization’s website. A quick search here brings up 1250 citations. All-in-all, detoxification seems to be a worldwide concern.

So, is detoxification an issue? If detoxification were not an issue, then we could eat all of the mercury laden fish that we wanted to. We could breathe polluted air without consideration. We could smoke 10 packs of cigarettes each day for a life time and not suffer as a result. We could dump all the waste that we wanted to into the oceans, rivers, and streams. We could do away with water filtration plants, waste recycling, and all the controls surrounding pollution. We wouldn’t need life-saving antioxidants in hospital and clinical settings. I think that it is self-evident that detoxification is an issue. It is a primary function of all cells, tissues, and organs in the human body and all other living organisms, as well as the planet itself.

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Detoxification is a necessity for life on the planet to go on existing. Without detoxification, we would suffer and die in our own wastes. The largest organ in the body is a detoxification organ, the skin. The next largest organs – the liver, lungs, large intestine, and kidneys – also deal heavily with detoxification. Detoxification sites and pathways are everywhere in our body’s tissues. As an organism, we come armed for detoxification.

Some people think that the body is adequately equipped for detoxification, but if it were, we wouldn’t have words like carcinogen, teratogens, reproductive toxicants, and endocrine disruptors. These are chemicals that create disease and dysfunction in the body because the body isn’t able to remove them. The human body was not made to handle the toxic load that it has to handle in today’s environment, and the environment wasn’t made to handle the toxic load that humans have dumped upon it. Of the 100,000+ chemicals in use worldwide, some 5000 of them are produced in high volumes in excess of 1 million pounds per year. Only a small percentage of these have been tested for environmental and human impact.

The human body is like a sponge that soaks up hundreds, perhaps thousands of chemicals. In testing done on babies, the number of toxins present at birth has been shown to be around 200-300. Scientists estimate that everyone alive today has a toxic load of at least 700 contaminants. Chemicals that have been outlawed years ago can still show up in the body’s tissues decades later. What goes in, doesn’t necessarily come out.

How we manage the toxic load of the body can have a great impact on our health and the health of our children. Reducing exposure to toxins is a great place to start. The home should be a safe place for us to retreat to and renew ourselves. We should eliminate, or greatly reduce, our exposure to chemicals through the foods we eat, the beverages we drink, and the air we breathe. Lotions, shampoos, conditioners, detergents, and household cleaners should be organic or biodegradable. Our water and air should be filtered whenever possible. Food should be our medicine. Routine sweating via saunas and hot baths is an established practice in many cultures that makes use of the skin and its detoxification abilities.

One can work with healthcare practitioners to investigate ways to assist the body in reducing its toxic burden. Nutrients can be useful in boosting the body’s resources for antioxidants. A supplement like N-acetyl-cysteine helps to replenish the stores of one of the body’s most abundant antioxidants, glutathione. Glutathione help to decrease the oxidative stress created by the toxic load we carry and expose ourselves to continuously.

So, perhaps detoxification is a “new age” concept, but more importantly, I believe that it should be a part of a new age of personal responsibility for our health and how our choices play a role in determining the quality of the life we live.

Dr. Jeffrey S. McCombs, DC, is a 3rd generation Doctor of Chiropractic, author of the book: LifeForce, and developer of The McCombs Plan (formerly known as The Life Force Plan). His 25 years of ongoing research and practice emphasizes addressing the nutritional, environmental, emotional, structural, and biochemical aspects of acute and chronic health conditions in his patients.
He can be reached at www.mccombsplan.com, 888.236.7780.

THEBODYDELI.COM

.Cindy Bokma is a true doll. The illustrious persona behind Hello Dollface, one of the best and most popular beauty blogs. Her simple philosophy is, let’s get gorgeous. I can’t argue with that! Our Light Facial Emulsion has been so popular lately. The blogosphere seems to be all lit up about it. It has saved our skin many times so we love, love to hear about it making a Dollface out of you.

Cosmetic Chef

David Parker

If you haven’t tried anything from the Body Deli, I urge you to do so. This stuff is the bomb! I love it, love it, love it! It’s all natural and made without any harsh chemicals. If you want organic skincare, this is for you. Flash Flood gives combination/oily skin a surge of moisture but is light enough to to not clog pores. It has a delicious scent and contains anti-oxidants. I’ve been getting several reader requests for all natural skin care so I want to point you right to the Body Deli for organic, pure products that work. Every time I visit their website I see many, many things I want! I am such a lover of all things rose and they have this Rose Euphoria Body Souffle I am dying to get my hands on….

THEBODYDELI.COM

When fashion comes to mind you think of Paris, Milan and New York. Boston does not really roll off the tongue. But Boston is a fabulous city that is brimming with style and attitude. New Brahmin is a blog that is striving to put Boston on the map and showcase why this city deserves to be taken seriously. Personally I love Boston, in my humble opinion is one of the most diverse and intellectually stimulating towns in the US.

Jeannie Vincent is a well known make-up artist that serves the Boston Metropolitan area (check out her site at www.jeannievincent.com). Jeannie is a contributor to New Brahmin and takes a close look, which they call “test drive” where they actually spend some quality time for the products they are reviewing.  We love that Jeannie loves the products that we sent her. We now have some new friends in Boston and a great new blog to get the skinny of what’s hot in B-town.

Cosmetic Chef

David Parker

What’s NEW BRAHMIN…

Boston is the intellectual hub of America, full of progressive politics and champion sports teams. It’s also a city where boybanders who are 15 years past their prime receive A-List attention (I still love you Joey McIntyre) and “no sneaker” policies are the norm at the door at everything from shitty pubs to nightclubs. With more important distractions from business, academics and athletics, this is a city that has little time to care about style.

With the sea of Red sox caps, college sweatshirts and blue oxford shirts that flood its streets, Boston is a blip on the style map. However, there is a flourishing community of forward thinking individuals who are providing influence for a more stylish Boston. Artists, designers, retailers and the like are inspiring how we dress. The tweedy image of the Boston Brahmin is both dated and inaccurate. Now is the time of the New Brahmin.

New Brahmin is not a distinct style. There is no formal dress code, uniform or walk of life that illustrates a New Brahmin. You cannot put your finger on it because New Brahmin is distinctive style. It’s not a matter of the clothes or where they’re from, it’s how they are worn. The attitude, the connotation, the appropriateness (or inappropriateness, if you will) all adds to the equation. It’s not something that can be purchased. Style is innate. And this is home to such style in Boston.

Here at New Brahmin, you can see how style is broken down and where you can find the right elements to create your own right in town. We’ll let you know where the sales are happening, if there’s a good shipment to our favorite off-price retailers, brands you should check out, who’s wearing what to where, lots of trend talk and some history lessons. We might get a little bitchy from time to time when we see flip flops in the winter or other major “don’ts” that the general public continues to offend us with, but it’s all in good fun and hopefully someone out there will learn something. New Brahmin is here to unite the stylish and promote the cause throughout Boston.

Liana Peterson

Founder, Publisher, Executive Editor

New Brahmin – Beauty Review, Light Facial Emulsion.

Beauty Test Drive is a new feature where we test out new products sent to us from a variety of companies. We promise that our reviews are honest and are by no means influenced by the companies who send us products.

Figuring that I’d leave the reviewing up to our in-house beauty experts (that would be Jeannie & Lauryn), I couldn’t let The Body Deli’s Flash Flood Light Facial Emulsion go. It’s that time of year when I have to put away the Oil of Olay that I’ve been using since I was 16 (by my mother’s influence) because my skin becomes fragile from the cold. So fragile that I’m convinced that I’m allergic to the cold. I usually turn to a heavy cream that makes my skin feel like an oil slick, just to keep it from flaking off.

We recently received a package of goodies from The Body Deli, a beauty brand made of natural, fresh ingredients, sold directly through their e-commerce site and at some very select spas around the world. Inspired by natural living and the science of “living foods”, all of the products are handmade in small batches and incorporate raw, fresh, natural and organic ingredients.

I don’t know what will take me more getting used to – the fact that each pump explodes out of the bottle and sometimes completely misses my hand or that it doesn’t feel like I’m wearing moisturizer at all. When they say light emulsion, they mean featherweight. I am beyond impressed how my skin doesn’t feel heavy or greasy after applying. Plus it smells delicious, although I can’t pinpoint whether it smells like a cookie or a delicious frozen drink best served on a beach. Read the ingredients and you’ll probably understand where I’m coming from.

I’ve recently been having a horrific time with my allergies, which means I spend most of my evenings sneezing or shoving tissue in my nose to prevent leaking (sorry, TMI). This usually results in my nose resembling that of a particular holiday reindeer. I’ve been now using the Flash Flood for well over a week and there is no trace of my allergic drama in the form of a dry and inflamed nose. Even more surprising, the irritated patch of skin above one of my eyes (again, thanks to allergies) has completely disappeared. This emulsion uses chiral technology to increase cellular absorption and reduce irritation, which totally explains everything.

I have been so blessed to have embarked on my own inner journey long before Body Deli was even a blip on my radar. I suppose it all starts with family and the support of friends along the way. Everyone becomes a teacher in life no matter how at times painful the lessons seem to be. I believe that the all important journey to know thy self is the most important and rewarding trip anyone can ever take. The best part, this cosmic vacation never ends we constantly evolve, grow and reshape our opinions, beliefs and attitudes toward ourselves and the world around us. It gives me great pleasure to bring all kinds of people that have had profound relevance in my life journey to contribute to this blog..

One of them is a very special person I am thrilled to have as a regular contributor to our blog, her name is Beverly Glover. I have known Beverly all my life, she is the mother to my best friend. I have watched her over the years grow and achieve great things in her life. Her wisdom and perspective are priceless. Beverly is a powerful astrologer, who is also a clinical psychologist and champion for the Divine Feminine. It has always been my philosophy that true authentic beauty emerges from within.

I hope that Beverly’s perspective is as uplifting and enlightening for you as it has been for me. Plus, Beverly was one of the very first people to believe in our vision of Body Deli and has been a fan of our products for years. With Beverly’s inner guidance and our fresh living skin food on the outside, living a beautiful life has never been so much fun! Now I would like to introduce you to Beverly…
I have a vivid memory from my childhood. When I was about five years old I remember standing next to a shrub in front of our house, looking at the vast blue sky with white puffy clouds. I was trying to imagine God, a white bearded and stern fatherly type, sitting somewhere up there on a free floating throne looking down at my every move. Then I contemplated how it was for God before he created the world. Was he floating in blue skies with puffy clouds, or darkness? Was he lonely? Did he have a family floating up there with him? My questions were never answered. I was just as mystified about my role as a female in this giant world with an invisible God, as I was about my place in this large family with an absent father.

Having been born the sixth of eight children, my security came from my grandmother, my mother and my oldest sister, Barbara. Struggle and sacrifice appeared to be the plight for these three strong women in my life. Grandma had been married four times which was almost unheard of in the early 1900’s. She was hard working, short tempered and the rock of our family in my early childhood. The men in her life were weak in character and predatory by nature. She taught us five girls to be tolerant and yet guarded of men.

Throughout my adult life, I continued to search for something to complete myself. After the birth of my first son at the young age of 18, I began to read with a hunger for understanding my existence and my purpose for being. I came across a book on eastern religion written by Lobsang Rampa. Although some of the information about reincarnation and karma made sense to me, I noticed that there was a theme of spiritual entitlement for men which excluded women. Nevertheless, this was the beginning of my spiritual journey and the foundation of my search for meaning in life as a woman. .

Mom and Barbara were the pillars in my universe and with them at my side I knew I could accomplish anything. Mom was a proficient writer and Barbara was by now a well known and published astrological counselor. Barbara was my sister, my teacher, my best friend and spiritual guide. She always seemed to have answers to life’s challenges and dilemmas.

After several marriages and the birth of three more sons, my concept of being a woman in today’s world began to change. I struggled through college, taking a more traditional route then my sister Barbara, but always turning to her for spiritual guidance. She too had lived through multiple marriages, gave birth to five children, and worked endlessly in her role as the Divine Mother and astrological counselor. I learned astrological interpretation, card reading and other modalities of spiritual guidance from Barbara.

At age 34, I was again a single parent and now had four sons. I eventually realized that it was unlikely I would be rescued by a man. I began my master’s program in Social Work while working full time as a social worker. My two youngest sons were still at home and my older sons were embarking on their own journeys. My goal was to become a counselor, to help empower other women.

Nine years after I graduated with my M.S.W., I passed the California Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) examinations. Sadly my dear sister Barbara Shere, Sacred Mother and spiritual teacher to many, passed away at the young age of 59, just two months before I reached my lifetime goal. I was approaching my 50th birthday and so much of who I had become was because of Barbara.

My grandmother, mother and older sister were living examples of the Divine Feminine and Sacred Mother. My task and life purpose is to integrate the gifts and qualities of the Divine Feminine within. The focus of my practice is to empower women in their relationships and assist them in finding purpose, meaning and fulfillment in their lives.

Every woman has a unique path and has the ability to transcend the false self that the world defines for her. Beauty is emanated from within and when we are awakened to our divine nature, our lives become balanced and meaningful. It is time for us to usher in the age of the Divine Feminine, which will bring balance and healing to our Mother Earth.

THE DIVINE FEMININE
What is the divine feminine? Look it up on Google and you will get 164,000 results and varying perspectives. It’s meaning has deep roots in history, religion, psychology, mythology and much more.

The patriarchal world view has dominated Western Culture for the last seven thousand years. Religions attribute our very existence to a male God who was angry, jealous and vengeful. Mary, mother of God’s only begotten son who carried the message of love, faith and forgiveness, has been the most highly visible of the feminine in traditional religion along with a few other popular female saints, for the last two thousand years. She is to many, the symbol of the spiritual mother and people of many faiths embrace her. She has been solely responsible for keeping the sacred feminine alive since the birth of Christ. The shamanic religion is considered the oldest of all religions and reveres the mother, along with the father. She is the earth, the Great Mother.

Jung’s definition of spiritual growth within the individual relates to the development and integration of the male and female components of the human psyche. Jung teaches that an individual can only attain wholeness by balancing and integrating these components within. Ancient mythology references the beautiful Goddess, Venus the brightest, most illuminating star in the heavens. She is the Morning Star, the Evening Star and the Star of the Sea. To our distant ancestors she epitomized the joys of grace and beauty.

Over the eons of time the suppression of women and the qualities of the Divine Feminine have created a mass energetic collective of pain and suffering which has taken on a life of its own. As women, when we choose to allow our thoughts and emotions to be activated by experiences that trigger our pain, we are accessing the unconscious pain and suffering of the collective female pain body. We must learn to live in the stillness of the present moment and avoid feeding our minds with stories of the past or the unmanifested future that keep our pain body alive.

The focus of my work is about awakening the divine feminine within each of us…So often beauty is something perceived as outside of ourselves when in fact, true beauty radiates from the inside out. The Divine Feminine has no gender. What we feed our mind fuels our emotions. What fuels our emotions, propels us to take action. Repetitive action instills habits and habits develop our character. Our egos often become attached and identified with the personality of our character which can cause us to lose our inner purpose as individuals and live in a state of perpetual unconsciousness. By suppressing the ‘Goddess’ within ourselves we have allowed a state of disequilibrium as individuals as well as a human collective which has left our planet in a state of unconsciousness and disarray.

As the Divine Feminine awakens in each of us, we will begin to embody a unified wholeness in our consciousness and our actions. The Sacred Feminine is capable of greatly assisting in the fulfillment of our existence as individuals and helping to heal and achieve balance, unity and consciousness on our Mother Earth.

Bev’s – FRESH ASTROLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES

The first exact opposition of Uranus representing rapid and progressive change and Saturn the ‘Father’ or authority representing structure and resistance, will be exact on Tuesday November 4th, a major aspect lasting through 2010. We can feel personal and global tensions build as we look forward to an uncertain future.

Any rigid foundations that do not have the flexibility to adapt to this change will not withstand the powerful influence of Uranus which demands a transformation from serving the ‘few’ to serving the majority. At the same time, Saturn will be overseeing this change and provide the structure and hard work necessary in building a new foundation.

On a personal level, individuals will feel both the need to break free and yet be responsible in the process.
On a global level, there will be little tolerance for holding onto past structures that have not served the masses but change will be slow and arduous as resistant Saturn continues his ‘Patriarchal’ influence.

On a Spiritual level this transformation will usher in the Age of the Divine Feminine. This age will emphasize less personal gain and identification with the ego and more cooperation and alignment with our spiritual work and healing of humanity and the planet as a whole.
Beverly Glover is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of California and Oregon. She was also trained in astrology by her Nationally known sister and Astrologer, Barbara Shere. Beverly is able to integrate her skills in astrology with her formal education and clinical practice. She currently has a private practice in Eugene, Oregon. She may be reached for personal astrological readings and/or counseling at 541 595-0456 or bevglo@aol.com

THEBODYDELI.COM

Now that the election is over it is time to reflect on a campaign that has lasted almost 2 years and a la Hillary Clinton, fractured many a glass ceiling. We wish President-elect Barack Obama the very best on his victory and now we can look forward to hopefully a much brighter 2009.

Are you a beauty Junkie? I couldn’t think of a better addiction. Why is there just something about lotions and potions in pretty jars that make us go crazy! Personally, I love the textures and scents and of course the best part is the benefits. No matter how pretty something is and great it smells, if it does not get the job done then alas it is just another pretty face without substance. When beauty becomes beneficial I need to run to the nearest 12-step meeting. Maybe I should create the first Beauty Addicts Anonymous in Palm Springs, hey it would  be the Betty Ford for Beauty. Beauty Junkie in SF,  a fabulous fellow beauty addict had some great things to say about a couple of our products, here is her review.

Cosmetic Chef

David Parker.

The Body Deli – Skincare products so natural you could almost eat them

Like to eat fresh? Organic? Raw, whole foods? Well, why not use them on your body too? The Body Deli has created a line of skincare and body care products made of fresh, organic, raw ingredients. They are so fresh, each product actually has an expiration on it! I’ve had the chance to try a couple of their products and so far I really like them. It is very cool to read the list of ingredients and actually know what all of them are!

Inspired by the concept of natural living and driven by the science of “living foods,” The Body Deli’s products are designed to provide nutrition for the skin. All of the products are handmade in small batches and incorporate raw, fresh, natural and organic ingredients, including organic yogurt, amino acids, fresh fruit and vegetables, and all-natural plant oils. Yum! The result is nutrient-rich products for the body, face and hair that deliver fresh vitamins, enzymes and minerals at their peak potency. Hence the expiration date!

When my skin was freaking because it was so dry, I reached for the Creme de la Rose. Normally, this luxurious cream would have been too heavy for me but my skin was extra thirsty from the dry heat. I used it only at night and it kept the tightness I was feeling at bay. So, if you want a heavy cream with tons of anti-aging benefits, from the oils of pure organic steam distilled bulgarian rose, moroccan rose geranium and sandalwood from India, try this out. You’ll feel like you are using a cream meant for a queen.

Another lotion I tried was the Solar Defense Day Cream. We all know what a big fan I am of moisturizers that include a sunscreen. Who wants to put two products on when one can do the job just fine?! My typically slightly oily skin likes the lightness of this lotion and the fact that is blends in fast. No to mention it includes anti-oxidants such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Superoxide Dimutase, which work to neutralize free radical damage and improve the health and vitality of the complexion. Yeah, that’s right! Nature does good work!

Lotion Lovely!

THEBODYDELI.COM

Cosmetic Chef
David A. Parker.

THE HUNGRY MOUSE

Order up! Get fresh with The Body Deli

The Body Deli is one of these companies I’ve been talking about that definitely believes in the power of feeding your face. Based in Palm Desert, California, The Body Deli is owned by duo David Parker and Margaret Skarin, who bill themselves as “cosmetic chefs.”

They were kind enough to send me some of their products to review. Man, am I glad they did. I think I’m hooked.

(I’m actually kind of boggled by how impressed I am. Let me be clear before I start raving: They didn’t pay me one red cent to be nice.)

The Body Deli’s products are all handmade in small batches with fresh, raw, natural, and organic ingredients. Parker and Skarin believe that your skin benefits most from vitamins and enzymes at the peak of their potency—which means that the “living foods” you get from them are fresh, fresh, fresh.

So fresh, in fact, that my products arrived by courier in a refrigerated lunch bag, complete with ice packs. (Imagine The Angry Chef’s confusion when he saw this sitting in the fridge.)

Inside, there was an exfoliating blueberry scrub, a mud mask, and a sea cucumber gel moisturizer—all three of which needed to be kept cold.

Embarrassingly, I was tempted more than once to take a little nibble of each of them, except maybe the mud mask.

A little background
All these products worked really well for me as a small, gray mouse (a.k.a. a gal in her 30’s with fair, combination skin).

Below, I’ve included product shots from The Body Deli’s website (professionally shot), as well as pics I took myself (shot in my kitchen). That probably accounts for any discrepancies in color you might notice.
Blueberry Fusion Scrub—$36

You know that St. Ives Apricot Scrub you might have kicking around in the back of your medicine cabinet? Toss it and buy some Blueberry Fusion Scrub. Trust me.

First off, if you like blueberries, this stuff smells a-ma-zing. I can’t think of a smoothie I’ve had that smells better. This is an exfoliating scrub that smooths your skin with a combination of fruit acids and natural earth particles. You massage a little blob of it onto moist skin in a circular motion. It was slightly gritty without being harsh. It also turns your face a really entertaining shade of pink before you rinse it off.

It left my skin smooth, really soft, and kind of glow-y. Two thumbs up.

Ingredients: Organic Aloe Vera Juice, Colloidal Oatmeal, Guar Gum, Organic Blueberries, Xanthan Gum, Diatomaceous Earth, Vitamin E, Organic Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Carrot Seed Oil, Organic Rose Hip Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Rosemary Oil Extract, Fresh Cells of Pomegranate and Kiwi, Organic Fruit Acid Enzymes, Potassium Sorbate.

Glacial Mineral Mud Masque—$24

I used the Glacial Mineral Mud Masque next. It was a really cooling contrast to the blueberry scrub.

Instructions state to use it as a whole face mask or a spot treatment. Not one to skimp at this point, I slathered it all over my face. It had the consistency of almost-melted chocolate ice cream.

This mask is chock full of clay and other ingredients that are supposed to draw out toxins and oil and shrink pores. The smell was a brisk mix of herbal and something bordering on menthol. I left it on for about 20 minutes, until it dried completely and lightened in color.

I rinsed it off, and my skin felt really clean, fresh, and tight (but not at all dry or irritated). Again, two thumbs up.

Ingredients: Glacial Mineral Mud, Bentonite Clay, Organic Aloe Vera Juice, Micro Clustered Ionized Water, Colloidal Silver, Allantoin, Squalane, Evening Primrose, Rose-Hips, Calendula, Carrot Seed, Chamomile, Japanese Honeysuckle, Rosemary oil, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Benzoin, Lecithin, Honey, Lavender, Ylang-Ylang, Rose, Lime, Geranium.

Sea Cucumber Gelee—$45

If this was a three-course meal, then the Sea Cucumber Gelee was definitely the dessert. It was cool, refreshing, and moisturizing—without being the least bit greasy or oily.

I was interested in this in particular, since it includes Hyaluronic acid, an ingredient in some injectable wrinkle fillers and nicer skin creams, that works by attracting water and then holding it in like a sponge.

The gelee went on smoothly and sunk in after just about a minute, leaving my skin remarkably smooth. The Body Deli says that it “imparts a dewy glow.” And honestly? It does.

(I admit to sashaying around and asking The Angry Chef if I was glowing. He agreed that I was, and then threatened to smoosh me if I didn’t stop prancing about.) Two thumbs up.

Ingredients: Organic Aloe Vera Juice, Kombucha Tea, Sunflower Seed Oil, Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, Fresh Cells of Cucumber, Pomegrante, & Kiwi, Green Tea Extract, Castor Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Organic Olive Leaf Extract, Chamomile Extract*, Rosehip Seed Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Calendual Extract, Organic Comfery Extract, Organic Golden Flax, Evening Primrose, Guar Gum, Xanthun Gum, Chorella, Blue Green Algae, Spirulina, Chorophyll & Potassium Sorbate.

.The Hungry Mouse verdict
I love this stuff. When I woke up the next day, my face looked—and felt—like I just spent a day at the spa.

I’ve used some super swanky products in the past, and The Body Deli blows a lot of them (including Creme de la Mer’s epic moisturizer) out of the water for me.

I know I’ll be a repeat customer. Definitely check them out. I’d be shocked if you were disappointed.

Jessie, The Hungry Mouse

THEBODYDELI.COM