If I had my way, I’d live near a beach in the tropics and go surfing every morning before work, but, alas, I live in Northern California, where the water temp hovers around 50 degrees Fahrenheit all year round.
Since fate hath dealt me this cruel and ironic hand, I’ve resorted to several different tricks to capture that beachy, laid-back, surf-all-day-’til-your-arms-give-out feeling. For example, on days when I’m missing Hawaii somethin’ fierce, I’ll watch the Kuhio and Waikiki beach webcams and drink margaritas while listening to the Steve Miller Band (“Some people call me the space cowboy…”).
But while helpful at times of makeup despair, booze is not a long-term solution, and last weekend I discovered a new (and alcohol-free!) form of surf therapy. It’s called Bobbi Brown’s Beach Shower Gel ($32), and it smells just like a day at the beach.
The second I rubbed the foaming gel into my skin in the shower I felt transported to Waikiki beach. Bobbi says the scent contains jasmine, sea spray and mandarin, but I’d characterize it as more a mix of the ocean, sunblock, off shore breezes and clean beach towels. That may not be the most sophisticated definition of the fragrance, but I think it’s apt. My nose knows (ha ha) the smell of the beach, and how much this tube of shower gel captures that scent is kinda miraculous.
After I lathered up and rinsed off in the shower, I actually couldn’t stop smelling myself for hours. I was like a fiend for it, and every single time I caught a whiff, I felt like I was at Waikiki beach, drinking in the sunshine and enjoying a warm day by the ocean.
Bobbi, take me away…
Oahu’s famous Waikiki Beach
Bobbi’s Beach scent comes in various forms…
- Beach Fragrance – $55
- Beach Body Oil – $28
- Beach Shower Gel – $32
- Beach Body Lotion – $35
- Beach Body Scrub – $35
- Beach Suncreen Body Spray SPF 15 – $25
- Beach Sandbar Soap – $16
Bobbi Brown Beach Shower Gel
Price: $32
Use: To clean yo’ stinky self
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+
For a limited time, when you buy any two Bobbi Brown Beach products you’ll also snag this cute tote fo’ free.
Go forth and get your beach on!
Look for Beach at your nearby Bobbi Brown counter, or you can find it online.
Hi, lovely ladies! Happy Monday to you. 🙂 I am SO craving a beach vacation. If you could visit a beach anywhere in the world today, where would it be?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
it’s been such a long time since i comment on your blog. miss you & your blog entries. i love bobbi brown. bought her gel eyeliner, it is the bomb yo~!
i would definitely want to go to some beach and just lay there however it is darn cold in sydney at the moment. it’s snowing already in some town not so far from sydney. weee.. snow angel ^^
Ooh…I absolutely LOVE Beach! I bought it a few years ago and I got the perfume and the body oil in a set. I ran out of the perfume last summer and went and bought the big bottle and the body wash. It just smells SO good…like Coppertone sunscreen!
I could wear it year round!
Jennis last blog post..oh e-ring, how i miss thee…
Don’t forget to take me with you when you go to that charming island (:
about the products I don’t like the fruity zests that much the only fruity like scent was heiress by paris Helton which is great other wise I don’t like fruits dunno why ):
Hi Sandy!
I miss ya too, girlfriend. Hope things have been well around your way. I know a lot of people love BB eyeliner! What color do you have?
Although I’m not a snow person I think snow angels are fun. WHEEE!
Hi Jenni,
Isn’t it amazing how just one whiff of it takes you to the beach? I think I’m gonna have to spring for the body oil or maybe the lotion. )
I agree with you on it being a year-round scent. I can totally see myself busting this out in the middle of winter here, when it’s cold, rainy and dreary.
Hi Carla,
The funny thing is this has no fruit smell whatsoever! At least I can’t detect any…
Karen,
Thanks for reviewing this product — I have wanted to try this since last summer, but keep forgetting about it! I am off to Nordies right now to pick up some!
Ohhh this could be a great Mothers Day gift for my Mom. She loves the beach and is always buying beachy scented stuff but never finds something she likes. I’ll definitely give this a whirl. 🙂
Any beach in the world…. I’d say some beach in Ireland. I really just want to go to Ireland, and they must have beaches.haha Plus I need a place where I wont stand out for being so pale!
Hi Melissa!
You’re welcome! You will love the beach-tastical smell (at least I hope you do.) Happy Monday! 🙂
Hi Bridget,
Yay! She might really like this then. Do you guys live near the beach? Or is it far away? Sigh, what I’d give to live near a warm water ocean. Someday, I hope…
I love to travel and would love to go to Ireland too! I actually met a dude a few years ago who was a surfer from Ireland. Talk about crazy cold water! 🙂
I’m loving Hawaii as much as you do! Oh, to be at Waikiki Beach right now. Hoping to head there this summer. I should pass by the counter one day and get a whiff of that shower gel. =P
Ooh, I so want to go to Hawaii! I was there once for 24 hours (layover on the way to Australia) and I want to go back!!
I’ve also decided that since the sense of smell is the sense most directly linked to memories, that from now on I’m going to get fragrances as souvenirs when I travel abroad! So maybe I’ll get to go to Hawaii, and I can buy a bottle of BB Beach something while I’m there! Then it will always remind me of the Hawaiian beach! 🙂
Hi Lehea! 🙂
I hope you get to head there this summer, too. If you’ve spent time at Waikiki Beach then you’ll probably love this shower gel.
What islands have you visited?
Hi Glosslizard,
That’s a great idea! When you finally make it there you’ll have to let me know! I’ll give you the skinny on fun things to do. Maybe your Aikido group can make a stop there on the way to Japan (don’t forget the skunk powder!).
I went to Oahu several years ago. Then I went on a Hawaiian cruise with the family, so I got to see Maui, Kona on the Big Island, Kauai, and of course Oahu. That’s probably the most I’ll ever see of Hawaii. I need to seriously save up for this summer. Planning on taking surf lessons. I’m excited, but scared! How long did it take you to learn how to surf?
I’m going to Isle de Capri in 3 weeks! I cannot wait one more second! Michael Kors Capri perfume is calling my name~
Ooh! We could do weapons practice on the beach! That would be so amazingly fantastic! Yeah!! 😀
Hmmm…I think at this point any beach that’s warm and sunny will do. The weather has been not so great here for the past few days. Let’s go with Grand Anse in Grenada or Paradise Beach in Carriacou.
Hi Lehea,
LOL, I am actually a pretty lame surfer. I can paddle out, stand up, turn and that’s about it. Last time I went surfing I did notice that I started getting a lil’ better at picking out which waves to catch… trust me, there’s nothing cool happening when I am on a surfboard (no fancy tricks or riding of tubes). I’ve been surfing on and off since 2002. For several years I was really, really, really bad at it. I’d paddle out and then catch like one or two waves if I was lucky. But about a year ago something just “clicked”, I guess my muscles finally understood how to stand and move…it only took like, five years! I think though if I could do it every day (which I would if I could) then progress would’ve been made faster.
I’m sure when you go back and take a lesson the instructors will get you to stand up a few times, cause they usually push you in and make it super easy. If you head back to Oahu then you gotta take a lesson with Hawaiian Fire. Every surf instructor there who teaches there is a fireman (aka pretty hot!) AND a certified lifeguard!
Hi Stephanie,
Congrats on your upcoming vacation! Can I please hitch a ride in your carry on? LOL!
Are you going just for fun, or to visit with family?
BTW, I love the Michael Kors Island scents, including Capri!
Hi Glosslizard,
See! I am so full of great ideas! 🙂 If you guys did weapons practice on the beach I’m sure a few locals would jump in too…there seems to be a lotta martial art-ing in Hawaii!
Heh! I mentioned the idea to Sensei tonight, and she got really excited! I’m envisioning a promo youtube video for the dojo featuring weapons work on the beach against a sunset sky! Locals are, of course, welcome! 🙂
mm waikiki walls, the place i practically live at during the summer. i love hawaii(:
I love this perfume. <3
My current new favorite is Vera Wang Floral Princess (Limited Edition)
Tammys last blog post..My New Obsession
Hi Glosslizard,
How awesome would that be if you guys worked it out on beautiful Waikiki beach! Hmmm. This would also give us an excuse to do some pre-planning for your makeup! Gotta make sure they it stays put and doesn’t run if it’s hot out! 8)
Hi Lindsay!
ME TOO! I can’t wait to go back in June, woo hoo!!!!
Hi Tammy,
I haven’t smelled the perfume yet but will have to now that I’ve fallen madly in love with the shower gel. I haven’t smelled that Vera fragrance yet. I sure do love her Sheer Veil scent!
ahh the weather’s not that great, well not today anyway. kind of muggy and humid. i can’t wait for summer though, i’m going to maui via super ferry. the last time i’ve been to maui, or any of the neighbor islands was when i was about 3. anyway, please do tell me how the perfume smells. i might pick it up at nordstrom, since hawaii has one now(: