Read in the Bathtub Day: Nourishing Body Care

If you haven't played hooky from work or school yet this year, today might be the time to do it. It's National Read in the Bathtub Day.

R&R stands for read and relax--with no guilt attached. So feel free to act like you don't have a care in the world as you curl up with a good book and soak in the tub with no time restrictions.

In your pursuit of peacefulness, consider the following bath and body products--and enjoy your home spa day.  

 SHINE: Babor Vitamin A-C-E Body Cream (Body Line Thermal). BEAUTY: Sweet almond oil and vitamins A, C and E protect against environmental stress and strengthen skin's elasticity. BEACON: Supports Dolphin Aid.

SHINE: Burt's Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Shea Butter Body Wash. BEAUTY: Replenishes moisture with non-fat dry milk and shea butter. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates and petrochemicals.

SHINE: Elemis Tranquil Touch Creamy Body Wash and Quiet Mind Relaxing Bath Elixir. BEAUTY: The body wash utilizes sweet almond, cedarwood and patchouli oils, while the bath elixir uses eucalyptus leaf, lemon peel and patchouli oils to promote tranquility and skin conditioning. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of animal-derived collagen, synthetic perfumes and coloring, mineral oil, alcohol and silicones.

SHINE: Lather Yuzu Bergamot Body Wash and Manuka Body Butter with Grapefruit & Juniper. BEAUTY: The body wash features yuzu peel and bergamot fruit oils, as well as cucumber, green tea and rosemary extracts, while the body butter utilizes grapefruit peel and juniper berry fruit oils to cleanse and moisturize the skin, and uplift the senses. BEACON: Contains no sulfates or parabens.

SHINE: Malie Organics Body Cream. BEAUTY: Hydrates and soothes the skin with coconut, kukui and macadamia nut oils, and aloe vera leaf juice. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, sulfates and petroleum.

SHINE: Shea Terra Organics Ultimate Moisturizing Body Creme (Rubi Rose Hips). BEAUTY: Softens skin and reduces scaling with rose hips seed oil and shea butter. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil and Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash. BEAUTY: The body oil utilizes pomegranate and jojoba seed oils, while the body wash features pomegranate, sesame and macadamia nut seed oils to promote skin renewal. BEACON: Free of synthetic fragrances, colorants, preservatives and raw materials derived from mineral oils. 

SHINE: Whish Body Wash and Body Butter. BEAUTY: The body wash uses aloe vera leaf juice, pomegranate oil and cucumber fruit extract, while the body butter features shea butter, raspberry juice and lavender oil to purify, firm and moisturize. BEACON: Free of parabens, sulfates and petrochemicals.

Honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month

When you think about the color pink, different things come to mind. For many, it signifies the arrival of a baby girl. For others, it represents a rock star. This month, it stands for healing and hope. 


October marks National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The designation gives us the opportunity to honor victims and survivors. More than 230,000 American women will be diagnosed with the disease this year, and almost 40,000 women will lose their lives to it, according to the American Cancer Society.


As we reflect on these humbling statistics, the beauty industry renews its commitment to help find a cure. The following manufacturers support the fight against breast cancer by donating all or a portion of proceeds from sales of their products. We're overwhelmed with their generosity.

SHINE: Infiniti by Conair You Curl is part of the 2011 Collection of Power of Pink products, which donates $1 per sale to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. BEAUTY: Create curls in a single wrap with no clamp and tourmaline ceramic technology. BEACON: Also supports American Red Cross.

SHINE: Twenty percent of the proceeds from the sales of Dermelect Cosmeceuticals Resurface Stem Cell Reconstructing Serum will be donated to the Young Survival Coalition this month. BEAUTY: Stem cell extracts from the Swiss Alpine Rose help stimulate protein production and neutralize environmental free radicals. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Twenty percent of the proceeds from the sales of Dixie Bits Triple Treat Gift Set will be donated to the American Cancer Society this month. BEAUTY: Indulge the senses with Rave in Beauty Soothing Body Wash, Whippa Peel Exquisitely Rich Moisturizing Body Lotion, Sweet Sugar Darlin Skintoxicating Brown Sugar Scrub, Ramie Wash Cloth and Bathin Beauty Body Brush. BEACON: Vegan and cruelty free. Also free of parabens, phthalates and petrolatum, and utilizes recyclable containers.

SHINE: A portion of sales from the limited edition Elemis Think Pink Beauty Kit will be donated to Breast Cancer Care. BEAUTY: Reduce the depth of wrinkles and increase hydration with Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, Pro-Collagen Lifting Treatment Neck and Bust, and Skin Nourishing Shower Cream. BEACON: No animal testing. Also contains no animal-derived collagen, synthetic fragrances or colorants, mineral oil or alcohol.

SHINE: Twenty percent of online sales from Elizabeth Grant Light Up Your Lips Sweet Pink (top) will be donated to breast cancer awareness programs this month. Also pictured: Light Up Your Lips Baby Pink. BEAUTY: An LED light and small gold mirror help refresh lips in any situation. BEACON: No animal testing. Also supports the Children's Diabetes Foundation and Hollyrod Foundation. 

SHINE: A portion of proceeds from the sales of limited edition Essie Raise Awareness will be donated to Living Beyond Breast Cancer. BEAUTY: Feel empowered and pretty in pink from tips to toes. BEACON: Contains no dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde.

SHINE: All profits from the sales of iS CLINICAL Poly-Vitamin Serum will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Coalition this month. BEAUTY: Improves skin tone and elasticity with hyaluronic acid, bilberry extract, and vitamins A, B3, B5 and E. BEACON: Also supports the Revlon/UCLA Breast Center.

SHINE: For each purchase of Mama Mio Skincare Boob Tube Bust & Neck Firmer this month, $1 will be donated to Look Good...Feel Better. BEAUTY: CoQ10, shea butter and avocado oil help minimize sagging and wrinkles on the neck and chest. BEACON: Contains no parabens, petroleum, phthalates, sodium laureth, sodium lauryl sulphate, colorants, synthetic fragrances or xenoestrogens.

SHINE: Twenty percent of proceeds from SpaRitual In Pink 2011 will be donated to Cancer Schmancer Movement. BEAUTY: Formulated with diamond powder, In Pink 2011 shades include Strength (shimmering pink), Knowledge (golden pink) and Clarity (sheer glittering pink). BEACON: Contains no toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and dibutyl phthalate.