BATTLE OF THE BODY LOTION...

Kiehl's Creme de Corps has long been a favorite of mine (and many others) for severe dry skin conditions. It's a heavy-duty cream that intensely moisturizes without the hoopla of much else (no fragrance, dies, etc.). It's one of those products that everyone has in their arsenal of beauty gear - a dry skin must-have.

Well, I've just discovered a cream that's basically identical to the Kiehl's Creme de Corps (cream of the body): Clinique's Deep Comfort Body Butter, also known as Creme pour le Corps (cream for the body)... and the similarities don't stop with the name.

Both are yellow in color and both are relatively thick (although Clinique's is a bit richer in texture). Both are fragrance free (yes, Clinique is 100 % fragrance free) and loaded with moisturizing ingredients like shea butter.

BUT Clinique's cream comes in a jar (which I love) while Kiehl's is in a bottle. When I'm using a deep moisturizer (similar to when I use a hair masque) I like to be very tactile with the product... get my hands "dirty" in it. Take a handful from jar to palm and lather it onto my body. Clinique allows me this luxury; Kiehl's does not. Since I usually apply fresh out of the bath or shower, I am very clean, thus my hands in the jar does not scare me.   If I lived my life concerned that every time I used something in a jar rather then a tube I was spreading bacteria, I'd have missed out on so many great products (lippies, exfoliators, eye creams, face creams, hair masques, face masques, etc.).  With the Kiehl's Creme de Corps, one has to squeeze the lotion from the bottle. In my opinion, this approach is more of a hassle to consume the appropriate amount.

The Clinique cream is so gentle and incredible for sensitive skin while the Kiehl's cream is a tad harsher. They even have the disclaimer, "We recommend testing a small amount of any product on the inside skin of the wrist area to check its compatibility with your skin." I'm just saying... Clinique doesn't need such a warning!

I've restocked my shelves and (GASP) replaced my Kiehl's Creme de Corps with my Clinique Creme pour le Corps.... it's my new favorite dry skin cream (and it's amazing after a long day spent in chlorine or salt water). I feel recharged and rehydrated after a daily lather of the cream. It's seriously one of the most soothing and gentle body moisturizers that I've ever put on my skin!

**Beauty Tip**: If you love the richness and intensity of the cream, but want a bit of fragrance (and aren't sensitive or allergic to fragrance), try adding a couple of drops of your favorite massage oil or fragrant oil. I love adding an organic lavender oil to my cream!

PRICE TAG: Kiehl's - 16.50 for 4.2 oz. or $26.50 for 8.4 oz/ Clinique: $23.50 for 6.7 oz