After about a month allowance for the Beauty & the Feast challenge to run, I’ve had a number of encouragements along the way which I was and still am very grateful for. It’s made me so pleased to see others dedicated to what I was really interested in and the results? EVERYONE LOVES BODY BUTTER AND SOAPS (not to forget perfumes, hand lotions and face products). But if body butter is the new cool and butter is never not cool or out of fashion, then I suppose it’s totally awesome to dedicate some yummy dishes to the marriage of beauty and food. Thank goodness only pictures were sent to my inbox because if these were as delicious as the products sounded, I would have gobbled up every entry in no time.

Rather than ramble on about something unimportant, with no further ado, let’s bring on the round-up.

Presenting the lovely contestants and their submissions:

‘Better Cake Than Cream Brownies’ inspired by The Body Shop’s Cocoa Butter Body Butter
Deeba from Passionate About Baking
Gurgaon, North India

‘Beta Carotene Taken to the Extreme’ carrot salad & carrot juice inspired by own homemade soap ‘22 Carat’
Nazarine Andrychow from Giddy Gastronome
Littleton, USA

‘Mango and Pink Grapefruit Cupcakes’ inspired by Evodia Mango and Pink Grapefruit Body Butter
Minko from Couture Cupcakes
Australia

‘Luscious Mango Mousse and Grapefruit Marmalade Tart’ inspired by Crabtree & Evelyn Mango and Grapefruit Body Butter
Dee from Choos & Chews
Malaysia

‘Coconut Lime Scones with Mango Orange Curd’ inspired by Mango Tangerine Soap and Coconut Lime Soap
Elle from Elle’s New England Kitchen
NH, USA

‘Cheesecake Omnia’ inspired by Bvlgari Omnia
Gaurav from Gastronome by Choice
Hyderabad, India

‘Farida’s Zesty Fiesta Chocolate Fridge Cake’ inspired by Hand Lotion with Lemon, Lime and Orange
Farida from Farida’s Azerbaijani Cookbook
Long Beach, California, USA

‘Coconut-Ginger Scones with Lime-Ginger Curd’ inspired by Burt’s Bees Citrus & Ginger Root Body Wash
Toontz from Okara Mountain
Wisconsin, USA

Thank you everyone for participating. Each entry was a joy to read and receive. Hans was also very delighted to look through the entries with me and was absolutely fascinated with your creations.

The Top 3 have been selected based on the criteria of choice of product, creative use of ingredients, amount of care & love put into it, edibility and aesthetics. It wasn’t easy at all to come to the final decision as I found myself being tempted by all entries and every one was equally creative. Unfortunately, what has to be done must be done.

The long-awaited Top 3 now:

1st place: Farida’s Zesty Fiesta Chocolate Fridge Cake

2nd place: Dee’s Luscious Mango Mousse and Grapefruit Marmalade Tart

3rd place: Toontz’s Coconut-Ginger Scones with Lime-Ginger Curd

Congratulations to the winners! I hope there are no hard feelings to the rest who have taken part. You’ve made me so happy; if I could afford as many prizes as I want to, I’d send a package to every one. Will definitely keep in touch with your foodblogs for more delicious creations.

Finally, once the Top 3 have received emails from me, please reply asap with your recipient’s name and choice of postal address. I’ll thereafter proceed to send out your rewards and pray they reach you safe and sound via Royal Mail!

Best love.

xxx