Antica Farmacista at Costco!

I always scout the healthy and beauty section when I go to Costco. Sometimes, I find the most amazing things. Friday the "find" was this gift set of Antica Farmacista Home Ambiance Diffusers ($29.99). I bought one and need to go back to buy more of them. What a perfect holiday gift!

The sets were all alike. Each contains two 200 ml boxed bottles, filled with exquisite home fragrance and two sets of white birch reeds.

Noël captures the beauty of the holidays with a fresh rendition of a traditional holiday spice fragrance. Fresh mandarin, French verbena, and blood orange top notes brighten the classic holiday notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and spruce.

Casablanca, one of the most regal lilies, is a warm, floral, intoxicating scent of lush lily and exotic floral ylang ylang, with a subtle hint of clove.

These diffusers go from the powder room to the bedroom with elegance. They are also lovely layered throughout the home. Put Noël in the kitchen and Casablanca in the living room. Your home will smell like holiday splendor.

These are going to be hard to give away, but I will. I think the sets are lovely gifts. A 250 ml diffuser usually costs $62.00. Imagine, two for $29.99! I can't guarantee that your own Costco will have these amazing sets, but if you are headed that way, make sure to look.

Photo by Best Things in Beauty

NÉOLIA Olive Oil Soap Alert - Costco Restocked!

I have looked for this amazing soap at Costco for a year - always hopeful and always disappointed - because it was never restocked. Until today! I just found it again. I am deliriously happy! I bought seven eight-packs.

You can read about the NÉOLIA Olive Oil soap eight-pack at this Best Things in Beauty link. There are two types in the package - Olive Oil & Shea Butter Soap and Olive Oil Soap - both appeal to me.

I know that not all Costco stores have the same stock, but if you have been looking for this, make the trip. It's worth it!

Buy the soap. Don't bother with the hair products. I hated them and gave them away.

Photo courtesy of NÉOLIA

Costco Beauty Bonanza

I have raved before about Costco's beauty deals. Sunday, I was blown away by the incredible gift selections in the "beauty" section.

I learned from my mistake of buying only one NÉOLIA Olive Oil soap eight-pack when I saw it (it never reappeared). Sunday, I found the nicest gift sets and stocked up. When I stumbled upon the Anthousa mini fragrance diffuser sets, I thought I was in the wrong store! The Trios were $19.99. At Neiman Marcus and Saks, they cost $85.

Each Trio includes three 100 ml diffusers. The Citrus Trio has Aqua Verbena, Pomegranate & Mint, and Vanilla Grapefruit & Blood Orange. The Orchard Trio has Nectarine & Red Currant, Cucumber & Green Grass, and Fig Leaf & Bitter Almond. The Blossom Trio has Athenian Orchid & Jasmine, White Gardenia, and Cliff Rose & White Carnation. Sorry that I can't identify the fragrances in the Chinoiserie Trio. I didn't buy any of those. Costco often has different products in different stores, but if you head that way, make sure to look for these.

For the body, Costco has a four-pack of Tree Hut Shea Body Butters. In Original, Tahitian Grass, Coconut Lime, and Hawaiian Kukui, these are heavenly scented and intense body moisturizers. A three-pack set at Amazon costs $15. At Costco, there are four in the set for $12.99.

There is also a great Bliss Spa and Aaaah Set with a Tried + Blue Bubbling Body Wash and a Body Lotion - both large. The set is priced at $14.99 in the store. On Costco's Web site, the set is priced at $24.99.

Costco has plenty of co-branded Borghese sets too - all at bargain prices.

If you are shopping for really nice gifts at incredible prices, you can't beat Costco!

Logo and photo courtesy of Costco

NÉOLIA Organic Skin and Hair Care Products

Another fabulous Costco find! Not too long ago, I picked up an 8-pack of a body soap I had never seen before. The brand is NÉOLIA, which specializes in products containing 100% natural extra virgin olive oil, and the packaging said the soaps were 100% organic. There were two types in the package - Olive Oil & Shea Butter Soap and Olive Oil Soap - both appealed to me.

It's hard to describe my happiness with this soap! Yes, soap can make you happy, especially early in the morning. This soap has a heavenly, clean, and natural smell; feels great upon use (so creamy); lathers nicely; and leaves my skin soft and without a need for moisturizer after the shower. Happy (with one condition - see why below)!

Gentle and hypoallergenic, NÉOLIA Olive Oil Skin Care products use 100% Italian extra virgin olive oil and aloe vera. They have been proven to be suitable for sensitive skin. Of course, olive oil contains nutrients and vitamins rich in antioxidants. The company makes soap, body wash, hand wash, and hand lotion, along with hair care products.

The only thing that bothers me is that I found out the company is in Canada. Fortunately, the soaps are made in the USA. I have been trying to boycott Canadian companies because the Canadian government condones clubbing baby seals to death for their fur (I just don't understand this because Canadians have historically been more environmentally conscious than US citizens). I hope that companies like NÉOLIA (with a conscience) will also lend a hand to the animals. After all, they advertise that their products are not tested on animals and are free of animal ingredients - they should care.

I went to a different Costco yesterday, and they didn't have the soap. I have known for years that Costco stores carry different products. I'll have to remember to look for this in my usual Costco store. Amazon had this 8-pack, but it's out of stock at the moment. You can also purchase from NÉOLIA, but the prices are higher, and the 8-pack doesn't appear to be available on their Web site.

Photo courtesy of NÉOLIA.

Costco - A Makeup Source?

When considering places to browse makeup, how many of us think of Costco? Sure, we can get our staples, such as soap and dental floss, there - but makeup? During the last year, I have started to troll the aisles for just that. Here are some items I have purchased from the "$300 club" (for those who don't know, you have to exercise discipline to get out without spending $300).

Kirkland brush sets (really nice) - made by Borghese
Stila lip glazes
ck Calvin Klein lipsticks (a three pack)
Kirkland (Borghese) Mineral Lip Shine & Mineral Shimmer Balm SPF 15 - bought last weekend, with three glosses and the lip balm

What gives? I don't know, but I like it! Next time you go to bulk-buy groceries or other necessities, make sure to stop by the beauty aisles. You might find Shiseido, Sisley, Chanel, Prevage, or Kinerase - all of which are available at Costco.com.

Costco logo courtesy of Costco.