With the present state of the world economy, I think almost everyone is trying to save a buck (or a euro, peso, or drachma…) these days, myself included. Therefore, it’s always nice to find a product that makes it easier to give up a similar “luxury” item. You know the type of things I’m talking about…those little things that are a bit overpriced, but you adore them enough to fork over the cash?

In my case, the luxury item I am referring to is Kiehl’s Creme de Corps. I absolutely love this stuff. I still think it’s one of the best body moisturizers out there, but at $70.00 per liter, it has become a splurge that I simply can’t justify anymore. However, a little impromptu walk through the aisle of our local Whole Foods resulted in a most suitable (and much cheaper) replacement moisturizer.

EveryDay Shea Moisturizing Body Lotion (Unscented) is made with Fair Trade, unrefined shea butter. It is paraben free, fragrance free, cruelty free, and at $10-$15 per liter, its price is very attractive. I tried a small sample of the Unscented variety (it also comes in Lavender and Vanilla), and I was impressed with how quickly my skin absorbed the lotion. I was recently diagnosed with dyshidrotic eczema, which sometimes results in raw, scaly skin on my hands and feet. Many lotions tend to sting when I apply them to these areas, but EveryDay Shea didn’t. Bonus!
After making my purchase, I went home, showered, and applied the lotion all over. Again, I noted that it absorbed quickly and left my skin feeling very soft. I now use this lotion every day, and I am very pleased with the results.

Another great thing about EveryDay Shea is that the products are an extension of Alaffia Sustainable Skin Care. Alaffia was founded by a Togolese native as a way to make money for community projects focused on reducing poverty and gender inequality in Togo and other West African nations. Ten percent of sales from EveryDay Shea are allocated to Alaffia Community Projects!

So…in the end, I haven’t missed my old moisturizer all that much, and I found a great new product that benefits my skin as well as the people of West Africa. Whether you are looking to trim your budget or not, EveryDay Shea Moisturizing Body Lotion is fantastic, and I give it two soft and smooth thumbs up!