Review- Kiehl's Lip Balm #1

• Relieves chapped or cracked lips


• SPF 4 sunscreen


• Not tested on animals


• Temporarily protects and helps relieve chapped or cracked lips.


• Helps protect lips from the drying effects of wind and cold weather.

This lip balm is not for the novice; this is heavy duty lip balm. It comes out of the tube with the consistency of Vaseline, but once it hits your lips it turns into a thick oil. This is a great product for skiers, ice skaters or anyone who spends prolonged periods outdoors. I usually wear it to bed. You know how in winter you put on lip balm at night and still wake up with mummy lips? Not so with this stuff. It's thickness can feel weird at first, but it's so worth it for a soft smoocher all winter. Although it contains sunscreen, you'll need to bolster it with a higher SPF as it has only an SPF 4. Kiehl's does not test on animals, uses recycled packaging and encourage their patrons to return their packaging to the store for recycling as well.

$8.50 @ Kiehl's

Review- Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo

Refresh, revive, and recharge hair and scalp without water. Pronto is perfect for use between washings, in a rush, or as a midday hair pick-me-up. This dry shampoo increases volume and removes dirt and build up in your root area in seconds.

Natural rice, oat, and tapioca starches cleanse hair by absorbing excess oil, product, and grease and increase hair volume at the roots without weighing hair down. Triclosan and tea tree oil help treat the scalp and reduce the occurrence of dandruff, while the invigorating lemon verbena fragrance leaves hair smelling and feeling fresh.

This stuff saved my life tonight! I was planning on going to a birthday party, but lost track of time. Long story short, I had 15 minutes to get ready. I shampooed with a 2 in 1 yesterday so my hair wasn't looking it's best. I separated my hair into sections and sprinkled the powder in the parts. Then I brushed my hair with a thick bristled brush. The kind of brush is important because it could leave you with white powder in your hair. By the time I was finished brushing, it looked like I had showered, shampooed and coiffed. I was really impressed! It also is made with one of my favorite fragrances- lemon verbena. Even if you've tried dry shampoo before and weren't the biggest fan, give this one a go. You'll thank me for it.

$19 @ Oscar Blandi

Review - Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Body Butter

An intensive, creamy all-over body moisturizer. It absorbs easily, helping to condition, soften and smooth the skin, and help prevent dryness, leaving your skin moisturized for up to 24 hours.

Okay, seriously, if you have not tried this yet, GO GET IT. It's winter, we're all dry/scaly/ashy and our skin is THIRSTY. Quench it with this body butter. I keep the smaller size in my bag at all times. Good for cuticles, good for hands, and a small amount can be used as a hair smoother in a pinch (not that I know that from personal experience or anything). I love citrusy flavors, and the pink grapefruit tricks me into thinking it's summer even in this cold season. If that doesn't float your boat, it comes in a bunch of other good flavors - think nuts and fruits - and some less pungent versions, too.

$10-$20 @ The Body Shop

Review - Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Facial Wash

Cleansing gel that lathers to gently cleanse, lift impurities and make-up while helping to control shine and blemishes, leaving the skin feeling clean and fresh. Deep cleanses to remove dirt and makeup while allantoin soothes skin.

I love The Body Shop for a lot of reasons, and this cleanser is definitely on the list. The tea tree oil is gentle, but lathers up nicely and helps keep my oily skin under control. It is tea tree oil, so the scent is powerful, but I like it. Just beware for those with sensitive noses or ladies who don't care for the spicy flavor of the tea tree oil!

$10 @ The Body Shop

Nuxe Aroma-Vaillance moisturizing anti-wrinkle cream

Anti-wrinkle care with long-lasting effects, drawing on the action of Matrixyl® on synthesis of collagen and glycoaminoglycans to help restore the qualities of young skin. Enriched with anti-aging Vitamins A, C and E, moisturizing Plant Oils and soothing Essential Oils. The fine-textured emulsion literally melts into skin.

Wrinkles are visibly diminished, the skin is left supple and soft, the complexion radiant.

this is a pretty cool smelling and good textured facial moisturizer, but I'm not finding anything that sets it apart. it could be the small sample size that I have, that it hasn't had time to really work yet, but all I'm really seeing is a good moisturizer with a nice smell that undoubtedly works on my skin even when it's super dry, but I'm not too sure about the anti-aging properties that it purports. I guess if I had a larger size I would be able to say more, or if used for more than a week or so. Either way, it's right up there with the others as far as moisturizer goes (like Origins perfect world or chanel day and night cream), but it doesn't set itself apart otherwise.

$51 @ Beauty.com

Review - Dr Michelle Copeland Microdermabrasion Formula

A deep cleansing, spa-like treatment that leaves you with an overall fresh, healthy-looking glow. Perfect for Dull-looking skin, clogged pores. A deep cleansing formula to revive skin and slough off dull cells with natural exfoliators. An enriched blend of exfoliators sloughs off dull cells, frees pores of impurities and helps correct environmental damage. Natural particles mechanically deep cleanse the skin. Our high level of AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) penetrate the skin for deep exfoliation. Great for face, hands, feet and body.

$25 for 1 oz.

$42 for 2.5 oz. @ Dr. Michelle Copeland

I have tried this product 2 times, and already my skin (immediately afterward!!) was at least 10-15 times softer than it was before, my dark spots and weird red blotches were gone, my skin feels so smooth and my blemishes and the tiny marks from previous ones are shrunken or gone. Admittedly, the scrub feels a bit harsh and I was really afraid it may be too severe for my super sensitive skin, but afterward my skin was glowing and did not feel irritated or look like it had been ravaged. Quite the opposite actually, my skin looks better than it has probably since the summer, now that the winter weather is harshing it, I will be keeping up with using this to keep my skin looking summer soft and glowy.

Movie Maven says:
Remember when you were a kid and you used to create exfoliating treatments out of wet sand, and cover your whole body in it? No? Just me? Fine: imagine that sensation, minus the sand in your swimsuit, and apply it to your face. It's wondrous. At first, I was a little alarmed at how this product really puts the "abrasion" in "microdermabrasion," but after I used it, I loved the results, and felt like my (typically problematic) skin was much smoother. I wouldn't use the product any more than a couple times a week, but that's plenty. Love it!

Hillary says:

How do I love this product? Let me count the ways (there's quite a few)! I use a prescription cream called Tazorac (it's like Retin-A). My doc just increased the strength and I've started peeling all over the place. But it only lasts until I use Dr. Michelle Copeland's Microdermabrasion Formula. It's like it gives me a whole new face! I go from peeling and mummified to smooth and soft. Like Movie Maven says, I wouldn't recommend it more than 3 times a week max, but boy what a difference it makes! It's been keeping me looking my best for the last 2 weeks and I don't really know how I could live without it. I've had professional microdermabrasion and it pales in comparison. This cream revealed supple skin I thought had flown south for the winter. Log on to Dr. Michelle Copeland's site and get some on the double (that goes double for those of you in cold climates).

Cityslicker Says:

I am a fan of The Copeland line. I have seen it in magazines and on entertainment tv.. I would compare this line to Kate Somerville & Sonia Dakar.. I love trying and using self starters who not only create for others but for themselves, to me it means that you will go the extra mile! This microdermabrasion is great to use.. It's a very this scrub that has a light menthol scent, I am sure this is to help tone your skin after a scrub.. This isn't like other kits I have tried, I found that the granules in the scrub aren't a fine as other lines, this isn't a good or bad thing, just different and worth mentioning. I use about 1/2 tsp. for my entire face, I go lightly on my nose and when close to my eyes.. I pretty much got over my face about about 90 seconds, when using this you don't need to apply heavy pressure.. I go over my face lightly and when I am done, the results are super soft skin without and sensitivity.. I do find my face looks pinkish but this is NORMAL, I think it if looking like the same before using I would be sloughing anything off.. I have been using this every other night.. When I am done I use a nice heavy night moisturizer and when I wake I am finding that my skin look bright and glowing.. I will continue to use and highly recommend to anyone who is looking for a little something extra for if you have an event coming up and no time for a facial, a week of this and your face will look great..

Review - Leiber Eau de Perfum Spray

With LEIBER fragrance, you can feel that special, every day with Italian bergamot, pineapple and mandarin leaf that form a top note with a sumptuous blend of Turkish rose essence and white gardenia as delicate middle notes. Invigorating base unifies vanilla, musk, and amber in this floral oriental scent.

First of all, what a cool looking bottle huh? Second of all, what a complex and difficult fragrance to describe to someone not smelling it! This is a really deep combination of fruits and what smells like roses and gardenia, the combination works great on my skin, although I could see how it could be a little bit tart on some people with more oily skin perhaps. Leiber comes in a really neat looking bottle (above) and has a long-lasting scent that ranges on different skin (I tested it on two friends at work) from very flowery to mild and almost orient/spicy. I really like it, I will definitely wear it probably more often at night when I go out than during the day, but it's very beautiful and would make a great gift.

Review - Comme de Garcon Series 5: Sherbert Scents

Rhubarb is the tart one in the Sherbet series, perfectly capturing the sourness of a rhubarb stalk with a tiny dash of sweet. A beautifully fresh, green stem scent runs throughout the evolution, and it dries down to a creamier version--like an icy rhubarb sorbet mixed with a non-sweet (or overtly feminine) vanilla. We pick up a bit of wood (wenge) in there, too. Completely unique and unisex (go on, show us someone you know who wears a rhubarb scent), the tart green of Rhubarb is a study in converting taste into an exhilarating and crisp bottled scent. Extremely addictive, you just may drool a little when you smell this.

This is my favorite perfume of all time, hands down. I've had this stuff for over a year and i wear it at least twice a week. It smells like candy and vanilla and incense all mixed together, it's never too strong, goes with any occasion, and I find that all of the scents available from this series work well for almost everyone I know that's tried them. It smells like the most delicious food you've ever tasted/smelled, and I almost want to lick it off every time I apply it. Although I primarily wear the rhubarb because I find it's my favorite and goes best with my skin, all the scents/flavors are amazing. I would *highly* recommend this for people that love wearing non-traditional perfumes and cosmetics and love trying something truly new and different, this stuff is fantastic.

Review - Maybelline Expert Wear Blush

This powder blush comes in soft color-true shades that last for hours and hours.

• Silky smooth formula keeps skin looking fresh
• Streak-, smudge- and crease-resistant

I normally don't use powder blushes, I use creme/cream blushes because my sensitive and often dry skin holds onto the matte powder blushes too much and makes me look a little clownish if I'm not super careful. This 'expert wear' blush by Maybelline actually went on really subtly and clean looking, and lasted through an entire work day with only one reapplication (admittedly after running out in the rain). I think it's great and you can't beat the price.

Review - Estee Lauder High Gloss (Lip Gloss)

It's all you really need to shine. High Gloss gives you irresistible color and brilliance as it caresses with feel-good conditioners. It lets you wet your lips with luscious super-shine, minus the heavy, sticky feel of traditional gloss. Lips are left looking moist, plump and smooth.

Lip gloss is supposed to be subtle and compliment your face. But what do some lip glosses go and do? they clump up around your lips in shiny weird colored spots, rub off in strange streaks, or fade within 10-14 seconds of putting them on. Estee Lauder's High Gloss is just that, heavy shine for your lips, it stays where it's supposed to be (the texture is much thicker than your average gloss, but not so heavy it's annoying to wear), the color stays and doesn't slide around or clump up. It's fun to use and comes in great colors (I have 'berry # 13', which is fantastic for fair/olive-y skin). the $16 bottle will probably last months and months too, so the price is very reasonable, considering the clumpy gross alternatives. Definitely recommend it.

Movie Maven Says:

As lip glosses go, this one is just okay. I got it in the Berry color, a great basic pink that looks good on ladies with cool undertones. It's really sheer color, which is great for girls like me who feel like wearing lipstick in the daytime looks overdone. I liked that it was sheer and crazy shiny, like Japanese-TV-crazy. Also, it tastes nice, but isn't flavored. However, you have to reapply it fairly often, and it does tend to get a little sticky after you wear it for a while. Overall, I probably wouldn't buy it again at the $16 price, but if you can find it on sale, it's worth a try.