Cream Of The Crop from page 7 skin creams . encompass every' unscented lotion th t comes in a b ottle , ew dollars at drugstore, to an imported crem, made natural oils, hibiscus in its fra3rance, that costs $50 or 1 ounce. 1*4441b4A;... 'S., • is. CLEAN : L 14 . 0 4 satt arcit oll sgolcn G BP EsEED. Joio „.„„ S -ER BUTTER 1 3 ° °1" 1 - 14NitNRRIP FIR pplt9r°t BODY GEL N Y A M 0 t.i 1 "' REPAIR k:R Er' oturol Active% . Am Amino Acids .,.+r.t a."' .0 00 /i °6 9nelements Actives G op s,c,d 4 e4::":;: an mn coii ./... ll o i :e Ajob st r sm.” Truce Clements woo 1° ..fit art„mss 25 °r/11e/8.5(1.0: 250m1 e/ ml e 8.5fi.oz IC : Of OVEILA 5-1 41LN j -GNFIRENZe LAV E PER IL CORP', According to Cameran Howell of Lori Karbal in Birmingham, price often depends on what's in the stuff. Howell explains: "The quality of ingredients varies," ranging from handmade, all-natural oils and fra- grances to a series of chemical ingre- dients no one can pronounce. Of course, the former are more costly; they're also better for you. One of Howell's favorite natural ingredients is olive oil, because lotions with this as a base "don't leave you greasy." Olive oil is immediately absorbed into the skin, unlike a petroleum- based product, like Vaseline, which just sits on top. There's also the packaging. Obviously, a delicate glass bottle with a gold rim is going to cost a great deal more than a throwaway plastic one. How the lotion is made is anoth- er issue. SM Novella's Body Milk for Men comes in an elegant glass container, about the size of a coffee mug, and is from Italy. The price: $72 at Lori Karbal. But while many lotions are pro- duced en masse, this one is made by hand, from start to finish, by monks. One of the biggest sellers at Lori Karbal is the Bliss Body Butter. "It's rich," Howell explains. The Body Butter comes in a nice, large tube and in a delicious collec- tion of scents — plum, lemon and sage, vanilla bergamot — which cer- tainly adds to its appeal. It sells for $32. Another popular cream is Red Orchid's Soy Body Whip, $26 for 16 ounces, in fragrances like blood orange and chocolate, poppy and citrus, among others. If poppy and plum aren't for you, consider Mario Badescu's unscented Super Rich Olive Body Lotion for $22. Or for something a little less pricey, but equally yummy, there is the Lori Karbal house lotion. This creamy concoction comes unscented in 8- and 16-ounce bottles. You can then select your own fragrance from among Lori's huge collection of aro- mas like rosemary, baby, sweet pea, pear and peach. If money isn't a concern, you may want to consider the V-Tonic line, new from Fresh. This mint- scented unisex lotion sells for $48 for 6.8 ounces, among the store's most expensive. Howell notes, however, that these costly lotions are very rich, which means that a small dab should take care of the dryness for a long time. Other creams are less expensive, but Cream Of The Crop from page I 0 8 • DECEMBER 2005 • JN GIFT GUIDE II