Aveeno Body Wash: Energize Me So I Don't Feel Like Murdering Everyone At Work, Please.

Metric Jenn

It is the middle of winter, I have no vacation time left, and there is no winter sojourn down to Mexico in my future. My patience with everything and everyone is at an end, and it's a virtual Herculean Feat to get myself out of bed in the morning to go to work. Generally, I need SOMETHING new to motivate me, or just give me that little boost in the morning that isn't a ninth cup of coffee or meth-amphetamines. And so I turned to Aveeno for some help. I picked up the Energizing Body Wash with lemongrass, rosemary, and mint at Safeway about three weeks ago.  I paid 7.99$ for a 16 oz bottle, a bit on the more expensive side for body washes. 

Ardell Brow Defining Palette

Dixie

Until I started getting my eyebrows threaded, I never saw the importance of eyebrow products. Brow pencils and powders and gels mystified me. Why do I need those products? I have dark eyebrows already, so I don't need to enhance them!

Not true, ladies and gentlemen. My eyebrow artist impressed upon me the importance of the eyebrows to the overall look of the face. With just a touch of powder or pencil you can bring your face into focus, whether you're rocking an otherwise bare face or in full evening makeup. The eyebrow adds the finishing touch to the face.

Time to Break Out your Winter Topcoats: Nails Inc. The Donmar Topcoat

Rusty

Nail polish is probably one of my more frivolous hobbies. I’m not especially good at it, I don’t wear it that often, and I’m terrible at not chipping it within two or three days. But I love nail polish, I’m too poor for manicures, and having a row of little candy-colored bottles lined up on my dresser makes me happy. So I look for deals, and recently I found a great one.

Sephora was selling off some nail kits and I found one for The Donmar Collection featuring the Donmar topcoat and Chelsea polish for $10. The topcoat features clear, iridescent bits that color shift in the light. The polish was a deep plum that looks almost black with two coats. Application was pretty standard, two coats of Chelsea, wait for it to dry, and then another two layers of the Donmar top coat. Right away it began to look good, with the iridescent bits shifting in the light. The effect was completed with a clear top coat and about ten minutes of walking around being very careful about touching things. 

Ojon Damage Reverse Restorative Hair Treatment: Hair You Go!

Dixie

Florida gets a winter. Know how I know? It was cold as hell earlier this month, with freeze warnings in parts of my area. And with the cold weather comes dry air. The kind of dry air that sucks the moisture out of my hair and causes it to tangle into a dreadlock at the nape of my neck.

To avoid my little dreadlock, I have to put a ton of moisture back into my hair. As Live Curly Live Free says, well-moisturized hair should be free of tangles. My hair never seems to reach that level of moisturization but the closest it comes is when I use the Ojon damage reverse Restorative Hair Treatment. Think of it as the super-fancy version of the Alberto VO5 treatment.

Out of Africa Pure Shea Butter Lip Balm with Vitamin E

Dixie

When I see a new brand of natural lip balm in the health food store, it's hard to resist buying it. If it's on sale? Forgot about it. That lip balm is coming home with me. So it was with Out of Africa Pure Shea Butter Lip Balm with Vitamin E. Orange cream flavor, no less.

I've talked about my awesome all-natural cocoa and shea butter based promotional lip balms before, right? Right. I'm on my last tube *single tear*, so I'm on the hunt for a suitable replacement. I want a balm that will coat my lips nicely while actually moisturizing and that lasts a while. Oh, and I want one with both shea butter and cocoa butter. Not that I'm picky. A quick look at the ingredients tells me that this fits the bill. Now, will the proportions of shea butter to cocoa butter be equal to my favorite?

Sonia Kashuk Matte Oil Blotting Papers: Dewy Just Means Greasy

Dixie

Remember in the early 2000s when dewy, youthful skin was all the rage? Yeah, I hated it too. Since my t-zone tends to be a little oily, everything I tried ended up looking more like Oil Slick rather than Dewy and Youthful. So I finally gave up and went back to matte, and I discovered blotting papers along the way.

Ladies (and applicable gentlemen), blotting papers are your friend. Sonia Kashuk Matte Oil Blotting Papers are magical squares of delicate tissue that remove the oil from your face without trashing your makeup. A couple of times a day I can whip out a single white square of magic, disappear all the oil from my t-zone, and touch up my makeup good as new. So instead of going through my afternoon looking like an tired, oily hag I breeze on through looking a normal person.

DevaCare Low-Poo May Ruin All Other Shampoos for You

Tamatha

I unquestionably trust my hair stylist.  I rely on her to pick cuts that work with my hair type (especially since I do zero styling--I don't even own a hair dryer) and to choose hair colors that will be flattering to my coloring.  So if she advises that I try a product, I follow her advice.  She has yet to steer me wrong.

I spend good money on my cut and color.  But not only do I go eight weeks between colorings (and hair cuts, for that matter), my hair color of choice is red.  For those of you who do or have dyed your hair red, you know this means the color fades quickly.  Annoyingly so.  Given the "investment" I put in my hair color and the length of time between colorings, I am definitely not going to risk having the color fade any faster than it already does.  So, from the time I gave up my boxes of henna to have my hair professionally colored, I have relied on Rachel's advice for what I should use to wash and condition it.

Several years ago, the salon where she works started selling a sulfate-free shampoo, DevaCare Low-Poo, and she recommended I try it.  I'd heard of sulfate-free shampoos, and the rationale behind them made sense to me, so I was happy to give the shampoo a whirl.  I've pretty much never looked back.

Essie Nail Lacquer

Dixie

My husband, daughter, and I were shopping in Target when we walked past the new display of Essie Nail Lacquers. I stopped the cart and said, "Hold on. Pinky said she wanted us to review some items from the Shape Beauty Awards 2012 list. I have to buy this nail polish." Sounds like a convenient excuse to buy something pretty, BUT IT'S TOTALLY TRUE. (Editor's note: BWAHAHAHAHAH!) That's how I ended up trying Essie Nail Lacquer in Boxer Shorts, a lovely opaque lilac color (though it's classified under Blues on the Essie website, go figure). I know. Cool story, bro.

Simple Sensitive Skin Experts Vital Vitamin Day Cream: Phew!

Pinky McLadybits

I needed a new face cream because I had run out of my samples from Birchbox and fall and winter are fast approaching. I can make due in the summer without much face cream, especially with the oil-cleansing method I use to wash my face. In the colder months, my skin tends to feel tight, full of flakes, and generally gross.

I have also noticed that my skin is more sensitive than it used to be. A purported gentle cleanser made my face a splotchy mess and even a BB Cream made a mess. The sensitive label and the coupon for $4 off the low $9.99 price tag are what made me pick up Simple Sensitive Skin Experts Vital Vitamin Day Cream SPF 15. (And now I'm out of breath. Damn long name.)

Pivot! PIVOT! PIVOOOOT!: Gillette Venus Sensitive Disposable Razors

Figgy

Hallelujah and blessed be, I've finally found a disposable razor that I don't want to throw into the deepest pits of fiery hell!

You can't see me right now, but I'm raising the roof, here in my pajamas, like the biggest dork in the history of the planet. That's how happy I am.

I've always liked Venus razors. They're not perfect but they do the job and last forever, which, as far as I'm concerned, is a good enough reason to keep buying them forever. But I was intrigued by how the packaging claimed that the new Venus Sensitive razors had a pivoted head that contoured to your body.

Birchbox Treats: Ojon Damage Reverse (TM) Restorative Conditioner

Nora

This creamy, light conditioner, Ojon Damage Reverse Restorative Conditioner, was in my very first Birchbox order, but, like the fool I am, I didn't use it until a month or so after I received it. I was a little put off by the "damage reverse" part of the name. See, I'm an odd combination of proud and lazy. I use very little product, if ever, and I really only blow dry my hair once a month. So my initial reaction to Ojon was "How DARE you insinuate I need your damage reverse technology!", followed by a glove slap across the neck of the bottle. After some time, though, I was able to admit that I've been growing my hair out for the better part of a year, and my ends are gross and prone to dryness. Instead of getting a haircut, I opted to try out this nifty little conditioner.

Rimmel Extra Super Lash: Superman Does Good. This Mascara Does Well.

Pinky McLadybits

Yes, another Rimmel Mascara! Obviously it isn't that I don't like the other Rimmel mascaras that I have used, since they all rated quite well. It is rather that I would like to see if any of their mascaras are terrible. I want to see if the less expensive choices in their mascara line are as good as the more expensive choices. (Not that Rimmel is at all expensive. Less than $8 for any of their mascaras? SCORE!)

My latest pickup is Rimmel Extra Super Lash Mascara. It cost less than $3 and purports to "lift and build" lashes by being a "body building mascara". Let's have a look, shall we?

Hot Minute Review: Skinnytaste's Cajun Chicken Pasta On The Lighter Side

Pinky McLadybits

Now that I've reached my goal weight, I've stopped Weight Watchers. I have, however, continued to use the recipes, portion control, and other things I learned while on the program. To ensure that I never have to go on Weight Watchers again while also making sure I don't feel deprived, I have been cooking lots of lighter versions of filling foods.

Enter the website Skinnytaste, where the work is already done with converting recipes to healthier versions. While I use a few of her recipes to varying degrees of success with the other people in my household, the Cajun Chicken Pasta On The Lighter Side is a clear winner. You get the satisfaction of a pasta dish with a creamy sauce and the filling addition of healthy vegetables and protein-rich chicken. The sauce remains thick and seemingly rich with the use of light cream cheese, but it doesn't make your ass wider like a heavy cream and cheese sauce. 

If you are looking for healthy meals that will satisfy your cravings without spreading your waistline, check out Skinnytaste and start out with the Cajun Chicken Pasta On The Lighter Side.

Rating: 8/8 tentacles

Clarisonic Classic Skin Cleansing System: This is the Droid You're Looking For

Dixie

Everyone should have a robot to clean their face in the morning. No, really, I actually highly recommend it. Clarisonic launched their original Skin Cleansing System, henceforth known as the face robot, when I was in the middle of an acne crisis. After hemming and hawing at the price, I finally took the plunge, desperate to try anything to heal my face.

 

The story behind the development is interesting. The Clarisonic face robot was developed by a team of engineers and scientists led by the primary developer of the Phillips Sonicare Toothbrush. And, when you think about it, using the Clarisonic is a lot like brushing your face. To oversimplify the concept, you're brushing the dirt of the day off your face.Okay, it's a little more complicated and much cooler than that. The videos on the website show you how the sonic oscillations flex your pores to remove the dirt that is deep down in them. Pretty cool.

Birchbox Treats: Japonesque Beauty Fixation Makep Remover

Pinky McLadybits

My Birchbox had a little card with two q-tips attached to it. "Have they lost their minds", I thought. Nope. The little cotton-tipped danger sticks were actually Japonesque Beauty Fixation Makeup Remover.

That's much better than a product people use in their ears while being specifically told not to put that product anywhere near the inside of their ears. It's also handier than my usual method of barely wetting the end of a q-tip and using it to scrape away morning mascara smears.

Ultra Effective: Arm & Hammer UltraMax Deodorant

Vee

I live in Houston,  the armpit of Texas.  It gets hot and muggy starting in April and stays that way until October.  You get sweaty and oily just walking from your door to your car so when it comes to deodorant, I need something that works. 

I ran out of Secret Clinical Strength deodorant and was at the ghetto grocery that didn't carry the $10 deodorant I usually buy.  I spied some Arm & Hammer UltraMax varieties for about $2.50, so I picked one up in Powder Fresh to hold me over til I could get to Target.

Pretty (in Cheap) Pastels: Avon's Nailwear Pro+

Figgy

Hallelujah! I've found a non-shitty nail polish that I actually like!

As you might know, I'm a bit of a fiend for coloring my nails. It's an easy, fast way to put some color into my life, and I like changing my polish almost weekly.

You might also know that most polishes are pretty terrible. They crack, peel and chip away almost hours after you apply them. I've tried everything from Rimmel (remember that? Worst POS I've ever tried), OPI (I love the colors but those polishes don't last for shit on me), and Sally Hansen (mostly really good and cheap). So I wanted to try something new.

A Face Moisturizer for All Seasons: Alba Botanica Natural Hawaiian Oil-Free Moisturizer

Tamatha

I know, I know.  I'm like a broken record with the Alba Botanica products.  But listen, when you find a brand which consistently makes excellent products, there's simply no reason to risk a disappointing experience with another brand.  Besides, this was one of my first Alba products, so there.

As you may recall from my Pineapple Enzyme Facial Scrub review,  in the same travel kit which contained that scrub, I also discovered my favorite face moisturizer.  Technically, in that kit it was the Natural Hawaiian Moisture Cream, but when I asked for the full size of that for a present, the Main Squeeze chose the Oil-Free version, which turned out to be a good (easy-to-make) mistake on his part.

One-Two Punch: Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo and Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask

Vee

I'm constantly on the lookout for products that leave my hair shiny and clean without breaking the bank. My hair was feeling a little dull and oily so I picked up a bottle of Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo. Walgreens had a special on Neutrogena products so I grabbed a jar of the Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask as well since I know deep cleaning products can be drying.

The Many Uses of Dr. Bronner's Liquid Castile Soap: Shaving Soap

Dixie

Shaving cream and I will never be friends. I just don't like it. At $3 a pop for the cheapest, and I do mean CHEAP, cream it isn't really that expensive, but it just seems so expensive. Each bottle lasts for only a few weeks, you have to use so much product each time, and the empty bottles create so much waste. There is a better way. For the past ten years, I've used shave cream or gel maybe three or four times. For a while I used Suave conditioner, which does a decent job. Then I discovered Dr. Bronner's Liquid Castile Soap. The late Dr. Bronner claimed that his soap had 18 different uses; well, it has a lot more than that and shaving is only one.