vitamin d

Let's pretend... let's pretend we have been exposed to just the right amount of topical vitamin d. not easy in january. in an effort to duplicate the byproduct of the vitamin d experience, while causing no damage, productaddict has tested bronzer upon bronzer. loose powders, gels, compacts and more. francois nars' 'the multiple' wins in all categories... color, superquick almost mistake proof application (bumpy taxi rides not a challenge), portability and wear... simply selecting a color triggers daydreaming. we had thought of ourselves as a more 'mustique' or 'maldives' type, but settled on 'south beach' as the perfect year round vitamin d simulator. available at www.sephora.com

costa brava

Not much science here, just pure decadence resulting in super soft, almost no need to moisturize post shower skin (even when sampled during the bleakest of winter months). however, what we loved the most about the whole plum plum experience was what was left behind... (not really a plum aroma. sorry, bliss chemists) but the sweet smell of sangria taking us back to a sultry afternoon with sand between our toes and the mediterranean within our peripheral vision. worth the trip. available at www.blissworld.com

dear doctor

I'm damaged. but significantly less so with the help of famed dermatologist patricia wexler's undereye brightening cream. science is on my side. haloxyl, the main ingredient in this potion, has been found to decrease the appearance of dark circles by 60% after 56 days of daily application. basically, haloxyl breaks up and clears out the unsightly substances under the surface of the skin which cause dark circles. productddict loves this idea as productaddict does not like concealers, which we have found rarely conceal. though dark circles are largely heredetary and not a penance for late nights, let's feign ignorance and party on. available at www.bigelowchemists.com

dreamsicle

Lemon cream pie slathered all over your body after a shower. stop dreaming. open a jar of bigelow ultra moisturizing body cream and inhale deeply. producaddict has to say that even if the cream was not as an unbelievable quality moisturizer that it is, we would continue to apply palmfuls simply for the dreamy aroma. the aroma we describe is fully natural, no artificial fragrances have been added. we guess it's the 4.5% lemon extract (which also acts as a natural purifier, cleanser, astringent and preventor of skin discolorations) and the shea butter (miracle ingredient that it is, contains a high density of sapofiniable fatty acids which simply stated are essential in retaining moisture and elasticity in the skin. which is good.) as if that weren't enough, the vitamin c naturally contained in the lemon extract is a powerful antioxidant which helps maintain an even skin tone. productaddict cannot stop using this product. we also can say that this most appealing fragrance easily layers with whatever else one might be wearing. more on that later. available at www.bigelowchemists.com

candy shop

Take me to bigleow instead.... product- addict tends to favor all purpose flavorless glosses for morning application as to not mar the venti vanilla skim latte experience. however, this (ultra mentha lip shine) has become a true addiction. we have sampled many supposed minty, 'breath freshening' glosses only to find them weaker than weak in freshness and flavor. tingling from immediate application this seems to work almost in a way that 'lip plumping' products claim...upon licking one's shiny lips we taste a super sweet minty taste. (flavored naturally with 2.3% peppermint oil and .2% field mint oil). productaddict is not a fan of mints and this has won us over. no more spilled mints at the bottom of our handbag. available at www.bigelowchemists.com

i know what boys like

Grapeseed extract. through rigorous scientific testing we have found that males respond to not only the scent but even more importantly, the tactical properties of alchemy. aside from that little bit of information, having tested most every luxury moisterizer in existence we have found this to be the holy grail...it actually works without any moisturizing downside. plus, the naturally ocurring scent is amazing (true aromatherapy benefits kick in when applied before bedtime) aaand, the primary ingredients actually work to fight that thing called the aging process. grapeseed extract is a powerful antioxidant applied topically (and even more powerful taken orally). beta glucan naturally reduces immune stress of the skin by improving the reception capabilities of immune cells. in addition, apple extract, green tea extract and vitamins a,c and e are all working in your favor. often sold out, so in true productaddict form we order a new bottle from www.blissworld.com before being halfway through with our existing bottle.

bright eyes

As refreshing as it looks. 'ultimate lift eye gel' really ultimately lifts ones eyes overnight. the danish chemist behind this product has combined aloe vera (benefits obvious), calendula (a natural softener), cucumber (a tightener and decongestant), eyebright extract (a natural herb which constricts capillaries), and hyaluronic acid (a humectant which binds moisture to the skin). great used every night, even better used nights which involve a bit more debauchery than is good for the delicate under eye area. we highly recommend incorporating the following regimen as part of your evening plans.... prior to stepping out the door, refrigerate your 'ulitmate lift eye gel'. upon arriving home, as good as your bed looks, apply chilled eye gel only to wake looking fully rested. for added relief apply chilled gel again in the morning pre shower. rinse off. results guaranteed. available at www.olehenriksen.com

mixed greens

Perhaps it's the algae extract, perhaps it's the aloe barbadensis leaf juice. it might even be the avocado oil. the scientists at kiehl's have concocted a muddy mixture which can right all but the most disastrous of skin wrongs. slather this on after an eighteen hour flight and post rinse off you will see smooth and pretty replace that weird dry yet broken out skin that only an eighteen hour flight can generate. it's not pretty and it doesn't smell great but i love it. also great chilled. available at www.kiehls.com

bye baies

We all love baies... we've been burning it and breathing it as long as we can remember. it's the perfect blackcurrant, a heady blackcurrant. it's not easy letting go. until we met santal. a creamy sandalwood unlike any other with the power to transform a living room into a lair. dim the lights and enjoy. available at www.diptyque.com

slicker than most

As an avid collector and indiscriminate sampler of lip glosses from around the globe i can confidently call this my new favorite. usually preferring those with a vanilla-esque scent or flavor this has won me over with its purity. (the usual 'unscented' lip gloss is not truly so as often the chemicals shine through). my malin+goetz lip moisturizer has earned a permanent spot in my parka's pocket for both the slickest, smoothest consistency ever, and its absolute cleanliness. it smells and tastes like water. available at www.malinandgoetz.com

21st century soft

For all who have spent much too much time trolling ebay for hard to find ancient bottles of love's baby soft, only to receive them and realize the scent is nothing like the memory of that sweet sweaty slow dance with your seventh grade crush in the school gym...keiko mecheri has perhaps created the scent that is so deeply embedded in your memory. it's called 'loukhoum' and is named after a turkish delicacy. i cannot imagine a dessert item emitting a baby powder scent, but this is genius. it will bring you back. highly recommended. available (samples too) at www.luckyscent.com.