Sticking with a carefully researched and tested (but not on animals!) high quality facial routine that addresses all my skin’s needs is what causes people to ask me whether someone they saw me talking to who’s maybe five to ten years my senior is my mom! So I wouldn’t trust just anything on my face and I presume neither would you. It was sheer seduction, a momentary flight of my senses in unaccustomed directions, then, that prompted me to try a product suddenly, without premeditation–I’d even say rashly, but we are talking about skin here, and that would just be gross.

The Giovanni Hot Chocolate Sugar Scrub I picked up at Whole Foods the other day felt so good on my arms and legs as I used it, in the shower….the delicious fragrance floating on the steam smelled even prettier and yummier than the goop itself….and the scent, as much as the robust exfoliation, warmed me inside and out. And even intoxicated by smells-of-great-loveliness-and-sweetness, I knew its ingredients included Shea butter, vitamin E, cocoa bean, kukui nut and honey. And my face was pretty dirty. (I was fibbing to myself a just a tad there.) So I gave in to the moment! And it felt FABULOUS. My face was clean, but hydrated; exfoliated, but not abraded; soft. And there were no negative after-effects, which can be a big issue with my combination skin. It may respond to any new product with a typical princess-tantrum—-issuing me a truly spectacular zit if its oily side’s displeased or flaking in tender spots if its dry side’s taken umbrage. Perhaps the balance of meaningful exfoliation and a great blend of meaningful ingredients enabled this luscious confection to keep both aspects of my combination skin happy, but there’s no doubt that it was the euphoric aroma that brought a sparkle of euphoria to my mood. You might not want to go crazy on your lovely face as I did, but for winterizing arms and legs you cannot go wrong. Just, you know, remember to get out of the shower before all the hot water runs out if you’re somewhere in cold weather too!