CaFleureBon “Soap Operas”: Bath VS Shower (Part 1) + Green Cleaning Draw

 

I prefer baths. Managing Editor Mark Behnke only takes showers, (except once in a huge jacuzzi). Most of us are a combination of a both. Bath lovers and Shower lovers, whether you prefer to spend 30 minutes luxuriating in a hot soak or 10 minutes to just get clean, there are products for both that pamper body and spirit. (Note for you bath peeps: all of our soap opera faves also work for YOU!) This is part one of of two part series and for those who love to get clean naturally!!

 

Bath lovers and Shower lovers. Whether you prefer to spend 30 minutes luxuriating in a hot soak or 10 minutes to just get clean, there are products for both that pamper body and spirit. (Note for you bath peeps: all of our soap opera faves work for YOU!) Over the past seven years I have tested dozens of bath and shower products; here are my “natural” favorites:

 

 

Pattern Body Washes “I take showers daily whether I need to or not. 😉 …yet I like to take baths to relax, maybe once every couple of weeks- James Fogg, owner of Pattern, ( their body washes have been featured in The New York Times, New York Magazine and Cosmopolitan.

 

 

Pattern body washes were sent to me without my request; it was love at first soak. I had never heard of the brand but it is really among my favorites; especially Nutmeg and Citrus. Managing Director Didier Cholay grabbed the Black Pepper; also available in Eucalyptus, Cucumber, and Sage. These moisturizing washes can be used for face, body and hair,( but I love them in the tub).

 

 

Resurrection Bath Oil: "I am definitely a bath person… when my husband and I went together to pick out our tub, we actually climbed into several at the showroom until we found just the right fit for us. Now we always use it together, just soaking and talking about our day. I make my perfumed bath oils at full concentration with no carrier oil, so adding a dropperful to the full bath fills the whole room with fragrance. I made Resurrection especially for a friend recovering from a broken heart, highlighting the restorative powers of frankincense and geranium essences."- Mandy Aftel

I recently recovered from a stressful medical issue and yesterday was my first bath after three months of taking showers, and I felt “resurrected.”

 

 

Red Flower Cleansing Wash: Yael Alkalay, a sloe eyed, exotic beauty of Sephardic descent, proves the adage that "beauty" comes from within. As a cultural anthropologist, world traveler, organic formulator and advocate of sustainable trade, Yael founded her company, based in SoHo New York City, by joining time honored beauty and bath rituals and the environment.

Yael brings the traditions of Japan, Morrocco, Costa Rico, and Finland to thousands of people (including Oprah, P. Diddy and Madonna). “Yael, prefers ‘”a long soak in the tub”. red flower is animal friendly and environmentally kind. wash slowly. Live softly. Bio-dynamic honey based. Wild-crafted botanicals. Certified organic. 100% biodegradable. Free of dyes, parabens, sulfates (sls), petrochemicals, and synthetic preservatives. Packaged in p.e.t plastic for easy recycling. Can be used as a shampoo for hair.

 

Sonsa Rae Skincare Brown Windsor Soap: Sonsa Rae is one of my favorite people and, of course, she creates some of my favorite bath and body products. This all-natural, cold process soap is made completely from scratch and slow-stirred in the time honored tradition. Extra-large and chunky, with no artificial ingredients whatsoever, this beautiful hunk of goddess is wondabar!

 

Body Conscience The 3-Minute Shower Bar :Nourish Body Polish in a Bar – Champaka/Nerolii For Sensitive skin and skin in need of special attention, the lush soap-free formulation gently exfoliates and hydrates enough to skip lotion. Also includes a wooden dish and spoon made by hand in Vermont from reclaimed wood that is salvaged after producing woodworking for furniture and toys. Good for you, your skin, and the environment. Ron Robinson is a shower person.

 

Margarita Bloom Serenity Green Tea Spa Soap Domo Arigoto for a soap as beautiful to look at as it is good to your skin. Real green tea, powerful anti-oxidants & polyphenols prove serene & soothing.

 

Michelyn’s secret silky smooth skin bath recipe: Mix 2 pumps of Charna Ethier of Providence Perfume Orange Body Oil with a healthy squeeze of Pattern’s Citrus. You will be clean and your skin will feel like satin. (this could be michelyn, notice a bit of the C word)

Our draw is sponsored by

 

Pattern Body Washes: Three commenters can choose any one of the six body washes. Please specify if you have a choice www.patternbodywash.com

 

Red Flower Cleansing Wash :One commenter can choose my favorite Moroccan Rose OR Amber Cardamom, Indian Jasmine or Spanish Gardenia www.redflower.com

 

 

Ron Robinson Body Conscience The 3-Minute Shower Bar One commentor is eligible http://www.ronrobinson.com/APOTHIA-Body-Conscience-The-3-Minute-Shower-Bar-p/15542.htm, www.ronrobinson.com

 

Sonsa Rae Skincare's  Brown  Windsor Soap- Only one is availabe as this is created by hand http://www.sonsaraeskincare.com/products/soap.php

 

To be eligible, leave a comment if you are a shower or bath person and/or why you prefer ‘green cleaning’. The draw is random, but if you choose a product , it will not increae your chance of winning(but leave your choice anyway ). Go to Pattern’s, Redflower. Ron Robinson’s  Apothia LA , or Sonsa Rae 's Facebook Page  So let's do THE math  SIX WINNERS .Draw closes June 8, 2011EST

–Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief

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21 comments

  • Alica says:

    I would choose cardamom amber. I am both – shower if there's no time and bath if I want to relax and enjoy. Green approach – everywhere 🙂 – many thanks for entering me!

  • Lauren Spitz-Moore says:

    I love to soak in a hot bath that smells wonderful, a favorite thing to do since moving from the Southwest to the NE. I love soap nearly as much as I Iove perfume.I would choose the Pattern Body wash in Nutmeg as I am a true Spice Girl.

  • Jane says:

    I adore Red Flower bath gels- have not tried the Indian Jasmine one! Sounds divine. I've loved and used Red Flower Wild Lime Silk Oil for years. Gorgeous. Yael Alkalay is just beautiful, those candles overflowing with dried blossoms look wonderful. I think I must get that Resurrection Bath Oil- I love it when a bath scents the whole room.

  • Furriner says:

    Back in the '80s, I always took a bath in the morning before work.  If I didn't, I felt tense all day.  Then I moved to Japan, and perversely (since everyone there takes baths), switched to showers.  I lived there for 15 years, then moved back to the US. I still take showers, mainly because my bath is so shallow.  I dream of getting one of those ridiculously expensive hinoki Japanese tubs! Go figure.  
    Green cleaning certainly makes more sense.

  • skrzypce says:

    I am definitely a shower person, though there is nothing like a soak in a hot tub.  The Pattern Body Washes all sound wonderful;  I would choose Cucumber for the summertime, as it sounds refreshing.  Thanks for the opportunity!

  • Leslie says:

    I am obsessed with amber right now, so Red Flower Amber Cardamom wash sounds incredible…As for my choice in terms of daily ablutions, definitely a bath- Even though, sadly, I usually don't have time for one and take a shower instead…so showers have become special occasions…and I like to have something special in terms of bath products to accompany them…I'm putting Resurrection oil on my list of must-haves…!

  • karin says:

    I'm a shower person.  I confess, I hate taking the time to shower and primp every day.  It's an annoying necessity that I try to allay with good bath products, of which I'm currently lacking.   I used to love a brand called Essentiel Elements – they had the most amazing rosemary shower gel.  Alas, they're out of business.  I now lean toward ShiKai (have their coconut at the moment).  Very moisturizing – made with oatmeal.  I love the idea of natural, "green" products, and use them when I can.  On that note, I would love to try any of these, though perhaps not the bath oil.  Thank you!

  • dleep says:

    Even though I mostly shower (due to time constraints) I am definitely a bath person.  I grew up in a house with only a tub and no shower.  I make sure that I take long hot bath after my Saturday morning workout.  It is so relaxing.  Since I love amber and cardamom, that would be my choice.

  • Mandy Aftel says:

    Thank you for including my Resurrection bath oil in this lovely article. I love the  way the scent diffuses into the air from the tub.

  • scentual healing says:

    please enter me in the contest I  would be happy with any of the choices but  I think the Body Conscience The 3-Minute Shower Bar :Nourish Body Polish in a Bar – Champaka/Nerolii  or the  Sonsa Rae brown windsor soap would be amazing. I like soap! shower person here

  • samberg says:

    Definitely baths. It could be my Nordic roots. I’m so enchanted with the health benefits of soaking in hot water that I plan vacations around visiting hot springs of the Western United States.  

    Bathtime squeezes at least two more scent opportunities into the day, one to smell while bathing and one to wear after.

  • Claudia says:

    Shower Girl here…..just makes me feel cleaner. 🙂 The Moroccon Rose sounds wonderful and i am sure any of them would be right up my alley.

  • Marlene says:

    I love Sonsa's soaps. They foam up to a sensual, and silky lather that feels scrumptious and keeps your skin soft and smooth – even heels and toes where skin can tend to get rough and cracked. All my rough skin in this area suddenly disappeared when I started using her product.
    I usually take showers because I'm in a rush but I treasure long soaks with fragrance and a candle….

  • Natalia says:

    i love water and spending time both taking short (or long!) showers, as well as luxurious baths. tomorrow night is my indulgence time! 🙂

  • sara says:

    I loathe baths. Shower girl all the way! I would love to enter the drawing–I use Red Flower body washes/moisturizers but would love to try anything at all!

  • Ragna says:

    I'm a 3 baths for every shower person.  LOVE them.  I have heard great things about Aftel bath oils!  Charna's bath oils and Sonsa's soap….more yummy stuff to drool over!
    Come to think of it….I believe it is bath time!
     
     

  • civava says:

    I'm a shower person because I don't have time to take a really long relaxing bath. Among Pattern Body Washes Nutmeg is my choice. I'm a big fan of nutmeg as a spice. From Red Flower I prefer Amber and Cardamom. Now that I'm not allowed (for medical reasons) to take bath I'll have to stick to the shower for some more time ;-).

  • Cynthia says:

    I definitely shower more, because I'm always in a hurry. But nothing beats a relaxed bath for me. I love oils, so I have to try resurrection at some point.

  • rosyi says:

    I'm a shower person, i do it everyday (i'm used to it since kid and don't have a tub in my house for now), 'Green cleaning is good, because we "chemical waste" from shampoo, soap and other product really pollute the water (it reminded me of the river in my home country, very sad)