OFF with their heads! Their blood-sucking heads!

Hey guys! I just got back from a surprisingly fun trip to Manitoba... Winnipeg is a actually a cool city, who knew?! Last time I spent a few days in Winnipeg was when I was a wee tween, camping with my family. The most memorable thing about that trip (other than the sight of my parents actually pitching tents and sleeping on the ground) was the size of the mosquitos in the place. Massive! They could give horseflies a run for their money.

Knowing that my bare arms and legs would constitute a tasty feast for those blood suckers, I thoughtfully brought along a trusty can of OFF! Smooth & Dry insect repllent.




I first used this stuff last summer, on a kayaking trip. (Which was ludicrous, by the way. Go ahead and try imagining me on a kayak. Hilarious, right?) Not only did Smooth & Dry keep the bugs off, it lived up to its name. No weird sticky-feeling film here... the aerosol spray deposited the repellent evenly, and then I pretty much forgot about it. There's a fruity scent to the spray, which, although it does smell a bit fake, is leaps and bounds better than the DEET stank. As time went on, the fruit smell faded a bit, and you could detect the typical bug-spray smell, but overall, using Soft & Dry was a much nicer experience than I've come to expect from bug sprays.

So did I avoid being mosquito food during my Winnipeg trip? Well, for some reason, the spray part of the can got all effed up. It slowly leaked in my luggage (I had thought to put it in a ziploc bag, thankfully), and by the time I used it, the spray had stopped working all together. I tried running it under hot water, but nada. On the first day, I managed to dribble some out and smoosh it on my legs -- not elegant, perhaps, but still effective. The 2nd day, I didn't feel like bothering with it, and my laziness was rewarded with several itchy bites around my ankles.

I'm not sure if the can was just too old, or if several trips on a plane somehow mucked up the mechanism. But it did work great on the first round, and I'll be sure to pick up another can before the summer's out -- that is, until they finally figure out how to make a truly scent-and-texture-free bug spray. I hear it will be based on pheremones of people who never get bitten!

Product Review: William Sonoma Pure & Green Collection, Ruby Grapefruit Ylang Ylang Hand Cream

Hi friends! So in my last post, I mentioned the virtues of moisturizing one's hands daily. If you've decided to take this to heart, then you need to hop over to your closest William Sonoma to check out their Pure & Green line of hand creams. Yes, I know William Sonoma is more known for its bakeware than beauty products, but seriously, this line is so delicious it would be perfectly at home sitting on a shelf in Sephora!




Being a lover of all things Pink Grapefruit, of course I zoned in on the Pink Grapefruit Ylang Ylang scent. It's zippy, sweet, and refreshing... just as it should be. The Ylang Ylang is pretty subtle, and I can only detect it in the form of a slight floral warmth. The cream feels great on the skin, and while it is not the most moisturizing product I've ever tried, the mix of shea butter, olive oil and glycerine certainly does a good job of leaving hands soft to the touch. It absorbs fairly quickly as well.

Other favourite scents in the line are the Wasabi Green Tea (amazing, unique and refreshing), Herbes de Provence Sweet Orange (bracing but sweet), and Olive Oil Coriander (comforting, with the bright green Coriander smell I love). Each of these scents come in a hand cream, hand soap, dishwashing detergent, and scented candle so you can put this scentual bliss in every room of your house.

The selection is dwindling though, because these are on sale right now for 50% off! The hand cream is only $7 CAD, where it normally is $15 for a 473 mL bottle. I hope this doesn't mean they are discontinuing the line... better go stock up while you can! These yummy scents almost (almost!) make me forget all the snow and cold that's happening outside!

Product Review: Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Body Butter & Lip Butter

From the archives. Just wanted to mention that I still love this butter, plus The Body Shop recently lowered the Canadian prices by a couple bucks, to reflect how well our dollar is doing. Still a splurge, but at least they tried!

A few quick words about the Body Shop's new Pink Grapefruit stuff. I am already addicted to the shower gel in this line, so I was super excited to see that they were coming out with the corresponding body and lip butters.


First, the Body Butter: MMMMMMM! The consistency is similar to many of the other body butters (perhaps a tiny bit lighter and more gel like), but the smell! It's incredible -- they've captured the sweetness of pink grapefruit, and balanced it out perfectly with a salty tang. Yes, you read right, SALTY. It's subtle, but it totally sets the scent apart from the millions of other pink grapefruit products out there. It is as refreshing and zippy and summery as a Seabreeze, and The Boy goes "Oh my god you smell so good" without fail whenever I use it. Total winner.




I wish I loved the Pink Grapefruit Lip Butter as much. I really wanted to love this. The scent is sweetly delicious, and the texture is much much creamier than Lip Butters of yore. They must've changed the formulation -- gone is the crumbly dry mess that used to be the lip butters. The new and improved version is smooth and almost whipped.

Sadly, this tends to leave a milky, white/pink look to the lips. While this might be a good thing for those looking to rock the Surfer-Girl chic, for the rest of us it is an unfortunate side effect. Also, this means you'll have to make sure your lips are already smooth before applying, otherwise the balm will emphasize any dry flakes. Moisturizing power is mediocre -- again, better than before, but not great, especially considering how plush the body butters are. Still, the scent is quite yummy, and for that alone I will use up my little tub.


To offset all this awesomeness, the Body Shop has raised the prices for their Body Butters YET AGAIN. They're now $20 CAD a pop, up from a price increase to $19 less than a year ago. But with the Pink Grapefruit, Strawberry, and trusty Nut butters crowding the top of my need-to-have-it list, I'd better keep my eye out for those 2 for $30 sales! Bastards.

Product Review: Malibu Secret

Anti-aging seems to be all the rage these days. Of course, there has always been the countless anti-wrinkle products, but fighting the signs of time no longer seems to be the exclusive territory of face-creams. Dove has a Pro-Age line for aging hair, scientists claim grapefruit scents make you smell younger, and food and beverage companies tout the anti-oxidant (read: anti-aging) properties of their offerings.

Well why should your face, hair, nose, and stomach have all the fun? There's like 95% of skin on our bodies that's not on our faces... why shouldn't it get some pampering?

Clearly, the mother-and-son team behind Malibu Secret* had the same idea.


Malibu Secret is a cream that takes some of those good-for-you (and expensive!) active ingredients in higher end anti-aging facial creams and puts them in something designed specifically for the rest o' your bod. After all, if they make your face look smooth, even-toned, and glowing, shouldn't it do the same for your arms, legs, and whatever body parts you'd like to show off? Some of these fancy ingredients include Thymulen 4 (French patented!), Bois 11, and Dermox SRC. Okay, so I don't actually know what any of these things do, but they sound impressive! You can read more about the ingredients here. Oh, and it's paraben free, which is always nice.

I can't really speak to whether Malibu Secret makes my limbs look younger (mostly because my limbs haven't changed that much over the years), but I really love Malibu Secret for its soothing and moisturizing properties. I had a spot of difficult eczema-ish irritation near my collar-bone, which is not exactly picturesque (hello, wedding season!). I'd tried everything I had (face creams too!) and nothing worked. But after a few days of using Malibu Secret, I could see a real improvement, and with 2 weeks of use, the irritation cleared up completely.

This soothing ability was extra-surprising, since the product has a fairly prominent scent. It's very beachy... floral and coconut, with a hint of suntan lotion. If you like coconut scents, you will LOVE this. I'm not much of a coconut fan, but I found the scent pleasant enough.

Thick and moisturizing, but quick to sink in... this generous tube (over 200 mL) is a great summery treat for the skin. Shimmy a bit of this over your shoulders and your legs and you'll feel ready for those patios and clubs in no time! You can order from their website, or find them at these fine Canadian retailers

BC: Beautilicious (South Surrey)
AB: Pink Door (Camrose), Smashing Cosmetica (Banff)
ON: Cosmetique (Hamilton)
Que: Abe & Mary's (Montreal)

If you'd like to see Malibu Secret in your favourite store, just leave a comment below or email the company!



* They look like beautiful TV people. Seriously! Also, the packaging is hilarious... if you look closely, you will see the words "I Love You" scrawled in the sand across the front of the bottle!

Product Review: The Body Shop Brazil Nut Body Scrub & Africa Spa Body Balm

Hey guys and dolls! Not to be harping on a Body Shop theme or anything, but talking about that Q&A yesterday reminded me that I wanted to review their Brazil Nut Body Scrub. Apparently, in some parts of the world, Spring has been sprung for weeks, and you lovely ladies out there have been frolicking in the sunshine and whatnot. But for those of us in Canada (ok, non-BC Canada) and the Eastern parts of the US, the sun has only recently been peeking out from grey skies, and those chilly winds have just begun to calm down.

And so, all of a sudden, I must deal with the dilemma of scaley elbows paired with short-sleeved shirts. My skirts are a-begging to be worn, but my legs are all "Hell no lady, not 'til you get some heavy-duty moisture on us!" What to do when faced with such dermatological unpleasantries and... um, limbs that yell at you?

Scrub and Moisturize!



Let me be the first to say that I hated the Body Shop scrubs of yore. The ones that were in the scent of the Body Butters? They were greasy and oily and sloppy and leaky and just plain not good. But things have changed, my friends! The Brazil Nut Body Scrub, once a sugary hot mess, is now full of creamy, scrubby goodness.

Replacing the sugar granules with crushed walnut shells gives you greater exfoliating power, while the luscious creamy base feels silky and soft. A thin layer of moisture is left on the skin after you rinse off, helping you achieve that healthy, supple glow. And the scent! It's not exactly the same as the Brazil Nut Butter itself, but it is very close, and it's leaps and bounds better than the old one, which had this burnt-sugar and plasticky scent.




To really indulge, I like to slather on some Africa Spa Rich Body Balm after I hop out of the shower. It's fairly light for such a moisturizing product, so it's good for use in the summer (although it does feel a wee bit sticky sometimes). I love this soothing scent (always have), and the $25 price tag doesn't seem so bad now that the regular butters are $22 a pop. (Not that I'm bitter or anything.)








If you have super dry skin and don't mind splurging even more, the thicker Hand and Foot Honey Butter is amazing as an all-over moisturizer. Cute-Helpful-Salesgirl also suggested the Africa Spa Salt Scrub, but I was already sold on the Brazil Nut Butter Scrub. Next time and next paycheque, Salesgirl!


Diligently using these products will banish that scaley, itchy, leftover-Winter skin, leaving you and your gorgeous epidermis to burst forth like... um, some terribly cute animal into some terribly cute springtime scene. And if you've been turned off by some of TBS' products in the past, hop on over there and take another look. Some great classics are still lovely as ever, and some former-losers have been transformed into all-around winners!

Product Review: Eco Tools

As the Glitterati comes crawling back... Sorry guys, I know it's been ages. I hate when life gets in the way of blogging! If you're still here, thanks for your patience and understanding!

Everyone's going Green these days. From grocery stores to cosmetic companies, CEOs are getting the hint: caring about Mother Earth is cool, and it'll also get you a cool chunk of change if you cash in on the trend.

Not to be overly cynical... there are many excellent companies out there who truly wish to minimize their ecological footprint. And if they make dependable, affordable products that are friendlier to the environment, why not buy from them?




Introducing: EcoTools. Launched just a couple of months ago, this company produces bath and beauty accessories made out of renewable & sustainable materials like bamboo, ramie, and recycled plastic. But concerns of the conscience aside, does using these nature-friendly materials result in a better product?

Well, I suppose it depends what you're looking for. I had the chance recently to try the EcoTools line, and I must say that I'm pretty impressed*. The brushes are much softer than any other that I've tried in the drugs-store price range (and softer than some that are much pricier!). The large powder brush is especially lovely -- it's like sweeping your face with a kitten wearing feathers (minus the claws and the allergies). The "floppier" bristles leave just a perfect whisper of loose powder, invisibly setting your makeup. Great for applying all-over shimmer too.

Since the brush handles are made of light-weight bamboo, you might find that the balance / feel is a bit different than what you're used to. But if you're like me and schlepp your brushes (alll your brushes) everywhere with you, then the lighter load will be heartily welcomed.




Another clever product from the line is the Bamboo and Loofa Facial Buffs. Just dampen it and squirt your favourite cleanser on there... one side gently exfoliates your skin (it feels like a rougher face towel), and the other side is covered in terry cloth for cleansing. I leave one in my office drawer; it's great to brighten those post all-nighter complexions. Much more convenient and much less waste than the disposable buffing pads.




And speaking of refreshing, but gentle exfoliation, I really like EcoTools' Ramie Bath & Shower Mitt. Unlike its plasticky brethren, this bath mitt won't rub you raw. It's perfect for those... ahem, more delicate areas that you normally wouldn't go near with an abrasive scrub or loofah.


So if you're looking for brushes and accessories that are environmentally-friendly and wallet-friendly, do give Eco Tools a try. If you're in the US, you can find the line at select Walgreens, K-Mart, and Ulta. Or, you check out their other goodies and place orders from the EcoTools website.




* Even before knowing the impossibly low prices... the largest powder brush is only $8!

Brief Review: Every Man Jack Gift Set

Uh-oh. Valentine's is less than 12 hours away. Were you lost in a fog of chocolate-induced romance, forgetting to snag your guy a great gift? Or maybe you've just run out of time and/or ideas?

Well lucky for you, Every Man Jack has assembled a manly gift pack just in time for the big event. Even luckier, it's available at Target, which is open late tonight and early tomorrow!





Perfectly straddling the line between macho and metro, this kit has all the essentials to get your man lookin' fine. It comes with a Hydrating Shave Gel, Post-Shave Lotion, and Cedarwood-scented body wash and body-bars. The shave gel and post-shave lotion are both fragrance free, and everything in the line is paraben-free. Plus, it's all packaged in a classy looking faux-wood grain box. Definitely a step up from Old Spice!

I've got my own guy testing out some of Every Man Jack's offerings, and his tentative verdict is that everything seems great, but he won't commit to a full review until he's tried it a few more times. (Are we a match made in heaven? Or has he just been overly influenced by my blog-talk? Let's go with the former.) He's been using the shave gel and lotion for a couple of days, and I can at least verify that his skin feels much smoother and more moisturized.

But since I can't keep my hands off fun new products, even if they're not meant for the fairer sex, I nabbed some of the Citrus Scrub that he got. The salt scrub is of a light-to-medium scrubbiness, and the fact that it's mixed in with a shower gel means you cleanse and exfoliate in one zippy step. The scent is very invigorating: it's a lot like the Body Shop's Satsuma scent, but slightly less sweet. A bit deeper, and more unisex. If the Cedarwood line smells as good as the Citrus Scrub, then it'll be a surefire hit.

Look out for a guest post soon by the male guinea pig. And if you are looking to get this for a lucky man in your life, rest assured that the entire kit will only set you back $16 USD!

PSA: Body Shop Body Butters, 2 for $30!

Hello internet! Just a quick post to let you know that there's a sale going on for all the Body Shop Body Butters. 2 for $30! A huge savings, if you consider that they normally sell at $22 a pop. (Which is RIDICULOUS. They've upped the price like $6 in 4 years.)

But 2 for $30 isn't so bad, and they make great gifts because everyone loves them. I'm definitely going to grab a Pink Grapefruit butter, and maybe a Strawberry or a Nut. Or an Olive. Or all 4. (Hey, a girl's gotta stock up, especially if they keep raising the effing price all the time!)



The always popular Cranberry butters are now in stock, plus they have 3 new Holiday ones on the US website that I didn't see in my local store Pomegranate , Rich Plum, and Vanilla Spice. Pomegranate looks like it might only be available in the US, but the other 2 look like they'll be in stores soon, if not now. You can also mix and match with the body scrubs if you like. The sale is on until November 18th in stores and online. So hop to it, before it's too late!

Product Review: Orange Palms Preventor

Things that suck:

- Cancer (I mean, duh, right?)
- The Sens game last night (Started out so strong! All for naught!)
- Streaky, stinky, orange palms after you self-tan

Fortunately, there's something we can do about 2 of those things*. Not that we can reduce the incredible suckiness** that is cancer, but we CAN help support the research and development of cancer treatment, prevention, and care. We at the Beauty Blog Network are making it easy to help. All you have to do is leave a comment on this and other participating blogs (see list below), today and tomorrow! For every comment made on this blog over the next 2 days, I will donate $1 to the Canadian Cancer Society, up to $50. (I'm only at 8 comments so far, let's kick it up a notch!) Plus, commenters get a chance to win a free t-shirt. It doesn't cost you anything other than a couple of seconds, and the comment doesn't have to be anything profoud... just say that you're "Commenting for a Cure" or something. Or share your own stories about how cancer has touched your lives. Or tell a joke. Or share a recipe. Whatever. Just comment! It's fun, I promise!


Okay, so what about those orange palms? Savvy ladies know that sun tanning is a big no-no (cf: cancer sucking), but sometimes you just want a little glow to go with that sassy little sundress. The marvels of modern self-tanning technology have made it a snap to achieve golden skin without the risks of sun damage. In fact, there are so many self-tanners on the market that Kristen over at Beauty Addict is doing a series of very helpful reviews on a whole bunch of tanners. But while good formulas can give you streak-free, natural looking colours, virtually all of them require you to rub it in with your hot lil' hands. Which often means that you end up with palms that are stained orange and reek of the telltale DHA smell.

Soap and water will help, but not much. Even if they get the colour off, I can always still smell the DHA stank, which is especially gross on your hands since it comes into close contact with your nose and mouth so often. Plus, it interferes with perfume if I spritz it on my wrist. This is where this nifty little product comes in to save the day:





Orange Palms Preventor. Not the most original name to be sure, but at least it's obvious what it does. After you apply your tanner, all you need to do is wash your hands with a squirt of this creamy white scrub. It exfoliates away the residual tanner, and the plush formula keeps hands from drying out. Plus it's got this nice vanilla-orange smell to it -- the smell doesn't linger, but somehow, it eliminates the DHA smell from my hands. If you're like me and you just tan your legs (my arms tend to have more colour than my legs... I know, incidental exposure, bad!), you can scrub-up Grey's Anatomy style and use the Preventor all the way up your forearms. (I find I'm always inadvertently resting my arm agains where I've just put tanner). If you self tan your arms, you'll have to be more careful about splashing.

Just 1 squirt of the product will suffice for each use, and the bottle has lasted me through all of last summer and this spring so far (although I only self-tan sporadically). I got mine at Shopper's Drug Mart, but I haven't seen it on store shelves recently. You could try asking their cosmetics manager to order it in for you. You can also try purchasing Orange Palm Preventor from their website, or from this site.

I truly consider this item a summer essential. Check it out and see how you like it... anything to make self-tanning a more pleasant process is good in my books!


Thanks for visiting & commenting today, and please check out the Comments for a Cure website, CaféPress Store, and leave comments for the other participating blogs too!

99 Products
A Touch of Blusher
A Girl's Gotta Spa
Aging Fabulous
All About the Pretty
All Lacquered Up
AZ Spa Girls
Beautiful Makeup Search
Beauty & Fashion Tech
Beauty Hatchery
Beautynomics
eBeautyDaily
GirlPaint
Life of a Ladybug
Lipstick Powder n' Paint
Makeup Minute
Mystical Beauty Musings
Pretty by Nature
Real Self
The Beauty Newsletter Blog
The Makeup Bag
The Makeup Girl
The Product Girl
The Perfume Bee
We Love Beauty
Yummy411


* The Ottawa Senators are, I'm afraid, on their own.
** I sound flippant for such a serious topic, I know. But when it comes down to it, the disease just sucks, plain and simple.

Product Review: Dove Ultimate Clear Antiperspirant in Smooth Cashmere

Hi y'all! Today is the start of the Comments for a Cure campaign! Please leave a comment today, tomorrow, or Wednesday to help me raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society. I'll donate a dollar for every comment made on these days, up to $50. Plus, at the end of it all, I'll do a draw for a cool t-shirt from our Comments for a Cure CaféPress Store. So comment it up and tell your friends!


Many people would not consider antiperspirant or deodorant a beauty item*. I mean, who looks at your armpits? But when the scorching days of summer arrive, and all you want to do is eat popsicles in the lightest tank tops you can find... well, dry, rough, and irritated underarms can really put a damper on the party. So Dove has created an antiperspirant to help you pamper your 'pits as much as you do the rest of your body! Made with Olay moisturizers, it promises to deliver smoother, softer underamrs, and wetness and odour protection that won't leave white marks on your clothes.




I'd tried the original Dove antiperspirant when it first came out, and must admit that I was not the biggest fan. It felt nice and worked fine, but the scent really bugged me. It smelled good on my coworker who also used it, but on me turned kind of sharp and acidic. Just my body chemistry I guess. So I was really excited to see that the Ultimate Clear Antiperspirant came in 7 scents, including the Original version, and a fragrance-free one for sensitive skin.

I got the Smooth Cashmere one to review. Normally I stay away from scents labelled "Cashmere" (usually too warm/spicy for me), but I'm thrilled that I tried this one. The listed notes** are Jasmine, Peach, and Vanilla. None of those individual scents really jump out at me -- instead, it blends into a smooth, soft, elegant floral with powdery clean hints. It's good enough to be a fragrance in its own right, and really doesn't smell like any other deodorant or antiperspirant I've ever tried. Gorgeous.

But let's get down to business -- does it do everything it promises to do? I don't know if it's just because I'm digging the fragrance so much, but I find that Ultimate Clear is really fantastic at stopping odour. I put some on right before I go running, and at the end of it, I still smell all fresh and lovely. (Well, ok, my underarms smell all fresh and lovely, the rest of me is sweaty and gross.) Wetness protection is pretty standard -- nothing earth shattering, but it does a decent job. Same goes for the white marks -- it's ok, but I do get marks on black tops if I'm not careful. I've certainly seen much messier deodorants though.

Finally, the claim that it gives you smoother skin. This antiperspirant goes on so silkily it's almost as if I'm rubbing a cocoa butter stick on my armpits. After about a week of use, I noticed that the few red bumps I had in the area that came from shaving had minimized and looked less red and irritated.

So for the wonderful scent, it's silky feel, and arm-smoothing properties, I would definitely repurchase this one -- I'm especially interested in checking out the other scents!


Thanks for visiting & commenting today, and please check out the Comments for a Cure website, CaféPress Store and leave a comment for the other participating blogs too!

99 Products
A Touch of Blusher
A Girl's Gotta Spa
Aging Fabulous
All About the Pretty
All Lacquered Up
AZ Spa Girls
Beautiful Makeup Search
Beauty & Fashion Tech
Beauty Hatchery
Beautynomics
eBeautyDaily
GirlPaint
Life of a Ladybug
Lipstick Powder n' Paint
Makeup Minute
Mystical Beauty Musings
Pretty by Nature
Real Self
The Beauty Newsletter Blog
The Makeup Bag
The Makeup Girl
The Product Girl
The Perfume Bee
We Love Beauty
Yummy411



* In a survey in some random teen magazine I read a million years ago, when guys snoop around your bathroom, they are apparently most turned on by seeing things like deodorant and toothpaste in your drawers, instead of things like curling irons, medication for yeast infections, or 3 gadzillion lipglosses (damn). The More You Know...

** Notes! In antiperspirant! Love it.

Product Review: Gloves in a Bottle Shielding Lotion & Steps for a Speedy Pedicure

For some odd reason, the more work I have on my plate, the more I want to avoid it*. Some people manifest this avoidance behaviour through sports ("3 term papers and an exam in 2 weeks? Hey, let's join a spin class!"). Others look towards the TV (Arrested Development marathons, anyone?). Still others manically clean and organize everything in sight (these people should come over to my place).

And for me? My attention turns to beauty and beauty-related activities, of course.

Exams to mark? Pedicure!

Presentation to give? Time for a new gloss/eyeshadow/blush!

Paper due? New highlights!

Thesis defense? Major reconstructive surgery! And then flee to Finland and drown sorrows in pickled herring and Aquavit!


Fortunately for me, I've a few years to go before the Thesis defense happens. But, I do have all that other stuff going on, which means that it's Pedicure time, at the very least.

I don't know about you, but I am lazy. I'm certainly not one of those people who exfoliate their soles and keep toes all pretty and polished during the winter months. But inevitably, the call of warm sunshine and cool breezes** gets too much, and the strappy sandals must come out.

Of course, one is rarely prepared for this opportunity. Instead, one finds oneself with nary an hour to go before the sandal-worthy event must happen. In short, one needs a Pedicure In A Hurry.




The choice of the right polish is fodder for another post -- or another blog, for that matter. Today I want to talk about how you can turn those rough, scaley hooves into smooth sandal ready feet, all in about 10 minutes***.

- First, you need a foot file. I really like Dr. Scholl's Contoured foot file, but your favourite file or pumice will do just fine.

- Next, hop in a nice steamy shower. Mmmm. Wash your hair, shave your legs, do your shower 'thang. This would be a great time to use a deep conditioner, since you'll be spending a few extra minutes in there.

- Grab your most moisturizing body wash. I've been using Olay's Creme Ribbons Body Wash which is alright as a wash, but especially good for pedicure purposes. Slather some on the sole of your foot.

- Take the foot file and rub it over any rough spots (ball of foot, sides, heels, tips of toes, etc). The Dr. Scholl's one is great because it's contoured, and small enough so that I can target a specific area without rubbing the rest of the foot raw. The creamy lather from the body wash helps soften skin and protect it from too much abrasion.

- Do this until you are satisfied with the results, or start to get bored and/or pruney. This usually takes me just a couple of minutes. Lather, rinse, and repeat for your other foot.

- Rinse yourself all squeaky clean, and hop out of the shower. Now it's time to get your moisture on.

- This. This is the most important part, and is where the review for today actually starts. Up 'till now, any of your favourite pedicure/bath products would have sufficed, but the next step crucially depends on a shielding lotion like Gloves in a Bottle:




Okay, so it's not the most glamourous looking bottle. But it's exactly what you need. This thin lotion sinks into your just-scrubbed feet, and soothes and smoothes like nothing else. I've tried doing this with body butters, other lotions, and creams, but they just won't work as well. With the other products, your skin gets soft right away, but the feeling fades after an hour, and then you're left with dry flaky skin again. Gloves in a Bottle gives you silky smooth skin that lasts throughout the day. Plus, this sinks in so fast and so thouroughly, while other lotions leave me skidding across our tile floors, picking up random debris along the way (ew).

Now, we're talking about a quick-fix pedicure here, so obviously, results won't be as good as a proper maintence routine (i.e., where you exfoliate and moisturize daily). BUT, if you use Gloves in a Bottle in place of your regular foot cream, you may just find that you need to be much less diligent with that routine, since it locks in moisture so well.

Of course, this lotion works for the skin on the rest of your body as well. You may remember the good results I got with Skin MD Natural, another shielding lotion, and this is certainly a comparable product. There's not much difference between them -- both are soothing, non-irritating, and both absorb quickly. However, I find that while Skin MD has a very light almondy scent, Gloves in a Bottle is truly scentless. There is a fleeting, odd smell of school glue (not really unpleasant, but weird), and then nothing. Due to this, and a slightly better skin-feel during application, I prefer Skin MD. But, if you don't feel like shelling out $25 for 4 oz., take heart: Gloves in a Bottle does pretty much exactly the same thing, and it's only $12.95 for 8 oz. Plus, you can physically go purchase Gloves in a Bottle in Canada AND the US, and the website has a handy retailer locator.

And, if you REALLY love Gloves in a Bottle, you can even order bottles by the gallon! Which sounds crazy, but really isn't if you're using it in a hospital or factory setting, or if your entire family gets hooked on it or something.

Finally, Gloves in a Bottle has this picture on their website. Which makes me think of things like.... um... Farah Fawcett, soaring gloriously. On a dove. Spreading messages of hope and peace and love. And of soft feet!






* Okay, fine, this is not odd. It is the way of the graduate student. Possibly even the way of Life -- the founding rule for all of creation.

** Unless you live in Toronto, apparently. Oh warm weather, why won't you come?

*** OMG, I totally felt like an Infomercial Person right there. "How much would you pay for this amazing talking amazing new cleaning system? $200? $500? $1000 and the left arm of your first-born? Well today, you can have all this for just 3 easy payments of $19.99!" I have career OPTIONS, I tell you!

Product Review: Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion

Oh hello there! How are you? Do you have a fork handy? If so, you need to please stick it in me...


... because I am DONE! This thesis business is OVER! I feel I should muster up more enthusiasm for the occasion, but mostly I am just so very grateful that I'm finished. Because the time spent in your office should not be measured in magnitudes of consecutive days, you know?



It's odd... while I was in my Insane Thesis Fury Mode, I noticed that my skin was really dry. Really really dry. Like flaking-off dry. At first, I thought maybe I had literally become allergic to work. But, as it turns out, other people (who evidently spend a lot more time at work than I do) experienced this too -- our building ventilation just seems to suck every last drop of moisture (and, I'd argue, our souls) out of us. So it's a really good thing that I had a bottle of Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion on hand. My parched-feeling, incessantly-typing, pitiful hand.



Skin MD Natural claims to be different from traditional moisturizers. According to their website, whereas traditional lotions and creams merely lubricate the surface of the skin, this shielding lotion bonds with the skin's outer layer, enhancing the skin's own protective abilities. There is a lot of information on that site, with various testimonials from both regular folks and doctors. There's even a study on there demonstrating Skin MD Natural's effectiveness at creating a moisture barrier.* I'm not qualified (read: not smart enough) to be able to assess the technical claims, but I CAN share with you how this stuff worked for me.

Alright, I'm going to be candid. Did this lotion change my life? Did choirs of angels beam down upon me lovingly, gently fanning me with their cherubian wings? Did I suddently speak in tongues upon application? No.

Did my skin feel softer and more hydrated? YES!

Roomie, Cowgirl Warrior (who lives near the bone-dry Rocky Mountains), and I have all tried Skin MD Natural, and incredibly, we all had the same reaction when we first rubbed the lotion into our hands:


"Woah...". (It's even more fun if you imagine it in a Keanu Reeves circa Bill & Ted days voice)


Skin MD Natural made all our hands feel super silky and smooth. But best of all, it did so without a heavy or greasy feeling. The lotion is light and fluid -- go easy when squeezing it out of the bottle, or you'll end up with way too much, like I did. You'll only need a little bit. It also sinks in fast, which means that keyboards, pens, and siginficant others don't get all lotion-y. This also means that your "Hand Lotion Breaks" at work (the miniature equivalent of a Mental Health Day) can be much shorter, but no one else needs to know that.

As I said, I'm not sure about all that "bonding" science speak, but I did notice that this lotion seems to settle INTO the skin, as opposed to sitting on top of it. I find this especially helpful for the flakey type of dry skin... thicker moisturizers like Cocoa Butter will sort of glaze the skin, while this stuff feels like it's putting moisture in between the flakes, if that makes any sense.

The lotion is listed as unscented, but for some reason, I detect a very light, pleasant almond scent to it. The smell is fleeting anyway. I am fortunate that I don't struggle with eczema or psoriasis or even sensitive skin, but with aloe as a main ingredient, this lotion shoul be soothing to any problem areas. (If you're interested, they have a complete list of ingredients and explanations of their functions on the website -- how many companies will do that?!?!)

A light, non-greasy, moisturizer that leaves skin feeling like silk? I'd say this one's a winner. But don't take my word for it, try it out for yourself! With their 100% moneyback guarantee (it even includes shipping costs!), you really have nothing to lose. Except for that scaley winter skin, that is!



[UPDATE: Another friend tried this today... Her exact words were: "Wow, that is some hand lotion!" Couldn't have said it better myself!]



* Unfortunately, it doesn't look like they compared the lotion to some other lotion -- they just used untreated skin as a baseline. I can't say for sure, as there's only a summary of results posted.

Product Review: Gillette Foamy Shaving Cream in Lemon-Lime

aka: One for the road!!

Hey folks! I'm off to sunny Orlando in about 7 hours, whoopiee! I'm pretty excited... I'm meeting my family there, and we'll be hanging out for a week. Can't wait to take my brother and sister to Disneyworld & Universal Studios! After that, I'm going back home to Calgary for a visit. Super vacationy fun times!

Of course, going to Florida in the middle of the summer means mega heat and humidity. I forsee a lot of flippy skirts and bare legs in my future. Fortunately, I've recently re-discovered a cheapie shave product that is simply amazing: I'm talking about Gillette's Foamy Shaving Cream in the Lemon-Lime scent.




There are all manner of frou-frou shave creams and gels for ladies on the market. Scented, moisturizing, sensitive... and they come in a rainbow of colours. But really, in the end, all we want is a close, smooth shave. The Gillette shaving cream delivers.

I had initially bought this shave cream in a pinch: I was on vacation, and this men's shaving cream was the only one I could find in the hotel convenience store. But man, am I ever grateful to that convenience store. First, let me stress that this will NOT make you smell like a man. Instead, it smells like sweet lemon-lime soda... the scent is zingy and candy-like. It dispenses out of an aerosol can in the form of a creamy white foam, which I prefer to the gel-based ones for women. Because I am so mega-clutz, I keep dropping the gel stuff in the shower. This foam dispenses right into your palm, and smoothes on to legs and underarms very easily. It actually gives better coverage than the gels.

The shave I get with this is so smooth it's a bit ridiculous. While it's not marketed as being moisturizing, it feels very soothing, most likely because it was intended for facial shaving to begin with. Between this and my pink Schick 4-blade razor thingie (is 4 blades a bit ridiculous? Yes! Is it worth it? Yes!), my legs are like buttah.

Really, you must try this. Shaving cream is not usually something I get very excited about... if it prevents me from raking layers of skin off my legs, I'm happy. But I AM very excited about this: it's that good. And the best part? It cost like $2.99 CAD for a big-ass can. Hurray! Oh, and you can pretend to buy it for your boyfriend or husband, and make him carry it on vacations so that you can use it without having to take up precious storage space in the suitcase, which means that you can now squeeze in that 5th pair of strappy sandals you just NEED to bring along.

Speaking of which... I need to finish (okay, start) packing. I'll try to post from the road, but until then, ta-ta!!

Product Review: Monyette Paris Cashmere Body Mist

Today's review is brought to you by Meg's Makeup. Go there to read a condensed version of the review, or to see what other gals thought of the product!

Hey y'all, how've you been? Life is pretty much insane right now in GlitterWorld, as you may have noticed from my lack of posting (it is, for instance, much more entertaining than Water World ever was). And really, if I'm too busy to fawn fanatically over Benji, how much time can I really spare on using those pretty girly products that make me bring out my fabulous self?

Fortunately, the Monyette Paris Cashmere Body Mist is a clever little multitasker. I've been reading about Monyette Paris for about a year now -- a lot of people seem very devoted to it. The scent proper comes in perfume oil form, which is not really my preferred way of wearing fragrance. (Perfume oils tend to stay close to the skin, and I like the 'waft' that I get from eau de toilettes or parfums more.) But this dry oil spray is another story all together.




First, the scent. I can see why Monyette Paris has so many followers... it's a warm, sensuous, feminine smell. The listed notes are Tahitian gardenia, French muguet du bois, and island vanilla orchid. Many reviewers mention that they get a suntan lotion or coconut smell out of it, but fortunately, there's not a hint of coconut to be found when it's on my skin. (I HATE smelling like coconut.) I'm typically not a fan of warm scents, and you'd be hard pressed to find a prominent vanilla note in my perfume collection. But I really do like this fragrance. To me, there's a hint of powder in there that keeps it clean and soft, not sickly or overly sweet. The concentration of scent is lighter in the mist than it would be in the perfume oil, and so I find it very easy to wear.

As for the functionality, the Cashmere Body Mist is tagged as a dry oil spray, and it really does make my skin feel silky smooth. (It is KILLER on freshly-shaved legs. I can stop touching them. Which, I'm sure, makes for a very entertaining visual for any passers-by) It absorbs quickly and doesn't feel slick or greasy. It adds a very soft, subtle sheen to the skin, but that fades after an hour or so. You're just left with supple-looking skin after that. At any rate, you won't have to worry about looking like an oil-slicked Greco-Roman wrestler or muscle mamma. (Of course, if your skin is on the dry side, this alone won't cut it. But for me, I can get by sans moisturizer if I use the oil spray.)

This stuff is great for the summer. For one, the scent is very befitting of a sunset cocktail party on some breezy patio somewhere. It's also super for when you don't want to bother with sticky, heavy moisturizer... just spritz on, smooth out, and go! The slight sheen makes one feel very Hollywood indeed, and the soft fragrance is inviting, classy, and chic.

Props to Monyette Paris Cashmere Body Mist, and mega props to Meg's Makeup for making this review possible, and for introducing me to this yummy smell!

Oh! And IT'S WEDNESDAY-DANCEDAY!!!!!!! Wheeeee!

PSA: The Body Shop sale!

Oh dear, has it been a week already? Sorry folks, I've been uber busy lately, and life is pretty darn exciting right now. But here's another Public Service Announcement:

The Body Shop is having a sale! (You can tell there's new management at work because they NEVER used to have proper sales.) This might be old news to a lot of you, but I picked up an Africa Spa dry oil spray for like $6. This stuff is AWESOME... smells yummy and cozy and divine, and makes skin feel silky smooth, not sticky. Plus, the tall & narrow glass bottle looks classy and unique. They also have the Sesame dry oil spray on sale for the same price. Sadly this means that the 2 items are being discontinued, so stock up while you can!


Other items on sale include assorted Home Fragrance Oils, some LE fragrance line that I didn't even know had been introduced (Spring-something or other? It's pale green, and smells light, fresh, and inoffensive. Nothing too exciting though), and a couple Body Butters (Sesame and Soy, perhaps?). They've also got the Juice It line on sale here, but only have Mango Peach and Coconut Lime. My favourite (Lime & Mint) was missing, and so I gave it all a pass.



Possibly more exciting than the discontinued stock, there's a deal on select Body Care products as well. Until August 1st, you can buy one item and get another at half price. This includes all the Body Butters (full & trial size) and the matching dry oil sprays, body washes, lotions, and scrubs. (Stuff like Vanilla, Oceanus, and those 'classic' scents are not included in this offer.) I picked up a Nut oil spray, because I love how Nut Butter smells, but it's too sticky and heavy to use in the summer. Lip Butters are also included in this sale. I didn't get any because I happen to think that the Lip Butters suck major frog butt, but you may feel differently.



So yeah, if you've got a hankering for some Body Butters or something, get on down to your local Body Shop. But you should know that the they've eff-in' raised their prices YET AGAIN ($19 for a Body Butter?!?! Come on now!). Oh, and they're "re-packaging" the makeup line, for what seems like the 3rd time in 5 years.


But yes, the Africa Spa dry oil spray is killer. I'm very happy with it. I'd be even happier if one Benji Schwimmer smoothed it onto my back after a long soak in the bath, of course, but you probably didn't need to read about that. Sorry.

Product Review: L'Oreal Sublime Bronze

Hello friends! It's been so long.... I've been battling car issues (DON'T get me started) and going to cottages and laying about on beaches and going to jazz shows! Not a whole lot of blogging got done in between all that, I'm afraid.

Let me take a quick moment to thank the lovely Emilie Claire Barlow for putting on an amazing show on Saturday. It's like she picked my brain and found my current favourite songs of hers and performed them all! EC is a jazz singer, quite possibly the best jazz singer in all of history. She's pretty much my favourite musician for ever and ever amen. She's local too, so I get to catch her gigs often, and I think that Saturday night's was the best I've seen yet. It was a warm night, the bar was packed, and the jazz was smokin'! I'd like to especially thank EC for finally hiring a young, goodlooking (and talented!) drummer. Not that I'm into that any more, of course. But it's nice to have nice things to look at, no?

Also! I saw Etta James in concert last night, and she is incredible! That voice hasn't lost any power over the years, and she remains a sassy and engaging entertainer. Plus, Etta looked damn good! She is the hippest, sexiest 70-yr old mamma ever and I envy her grandkids. I actually shed a couple tears (shh! don't tell!) when she sang "At Last". (Bonus: my mascara -- LashExact -- didn't run!)

Anyway, back to the review. Speaking of laying about on beaches, with beach season comes the fear of exposing one's legs and having them mistaken for flourescent light tubes. Fortunately, we now have all manner of self-tanning products to give our skin a healthy-looking glow. I've tried a few of those lotions where there's just a tiny bit of self tanner inside, and they're quite good at what they do (I think Cowgirl Warrior will be doing a review of a bunch of them soon!), but I was starting to miss the faster and more pronounced effects of a proper self tanner.

I've tried a few self tanners in the past... Sally Hansen (ewwww!), the Neutrogena foam (streaky AND stinky!), and the Body Shop's Fake It (alright, but not the best smelling, and pricey for what it is). On the recommendation of the most excellent Mrs. Badger, I picked up a tube of L'Oreal Sublime Bronze. She was careful to add that I wanted the tinted lotion version, not the gel, and not the one with SPF. And so that's what I got.




In a nutshell, this is the BEST self tanner I have tried. (I know this is old news to lots of people, but it's new for ME, so there ya go.) It goes on smoothly, and it's tinted this shimmery bronze colour, so it's clear where you applied it. Also, it means that you get a nice (if temporary) glow right away, if you're in a hurry. It gives great, even colour, and doesn't grab overly on dry skin (To try avoid dark spots, I use a good moisturizer just on my knees and ankles first, and then dab those areas again with a damp tissue after application). I grabbed the Medium-Deep version the first time as it was all the drugstore had, and to my surprise, I found that one application made me quite tan, but not too dark. After a day or two of regular exfoliation and shaving in the shower, it faded to a nice medium tan. I've since tried the Light-Medium, and it's pretty much the same performance-wise, just lighter in shade (duh).

The best part about this tanner is that the DHA-reek is NOT that evident! If I put it on before bed time, by next morning, it's quite subdued. I would say it's on-par with (or even a bit less stinky than) the Jergens Natural Glow lotion. If I put it on in the morning, I do find that it gets a bit smelly during the day, but it's no where NEAR the god-awful stank of the Sally Hansen stuff. I do find that it takes some time to dry ... it feels a bit sticky for the good part of an hour, so if you can arrange to be pants-free for a while after you put it on, all the better. For such an even, natural colour, I'm willing to put up with the slight smell and stickiness. Time to show off those gams!!

Product Review: Neolia Olive Oil Lotion

Can I share an odd fact? I have some kind of bizarre fondness for green body products. I am very much NOT one of those 'embrace nature' girls*, and I have no problem with using beauty products will all sorts of 'artificial' and non-vegan ingredients. But I luuuurve me some green lotion. Cucumber, avocado, lime... whatever, I'll take it. There's just something about the colour green that inherently suggests a certain ... lushness. Vibrancy. Invigoration. All sorts of other catchy advertising words.

One of my absolute favourite green products is the Olive Body Butter from The [sort of evil] Body Shop. You've probably all seen it and/or tried it. Of all the Butters, Olive is probably my favourite. Unless it's the Nut Butter. Or Strawberry. Or... Ok, fine, I have a problem. Whatever, you already knew that. Anyway, the Olive Butter's got this wonderful fresh olive scent, and the texture is light and whipped. Of course, it's also got this earthy green and "organic" look to it. It moisturizes well without feeling heavy, and is just great for summer time.

However, possibly because it feels so whipped, I find that I go through this stuff like crazy. If I use it daily, it probably lasts me about 3 weeks. At $18 CAD a pop, I can't afford to use it up so fast! Reason #31 why The [sort of evil] Body Shop is sort of evil!!!

I've tried a few other "olive" moisturizers on the market... I think Fruits & Passions has one, and a few of our favourite discount retail chains have now lemmed** on with their own (rather substandard) versions. While some of these products are ok at what they do, none have captured that oh-so-important-and-delicious smell of Olive Butter.

Enter.... Costco?!?! That's right folks, Costco! No longer just for 2-gallon tubs of mayonnaise and free food samples! I found this Neolia Olive Oil Moisturizing Lotion there, and exclaimed with surprise and delight*** upon trying it: it smells almost exactly like the Olive Body Butter! And a giant pump bottle (700mL!) cost me just $10 CAD. Oh joys!

Neolia's entire product line (there's also a bar soap and body wash) features "100% Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil" and aloe vera as its star ingredients. I must admit that it doesn't rub in as well or absorb as quickly as the Olive Body Butter, but it feels very moisturizing once you have it rubbed in. It's a medium-thick lotion that I don't find too sticky or anything. And the scent is heavenly of course. It doesn't stay obtrusively on you throughout the day, and it doesn't interfere with perfume, but I can smell it lingering pleasantly on my pajamas sometimes. It's certainly a great way to satiate my Olive Body Butter cravings without breaking the bank.

Sadly, the Neolia lotion is sort of an off-white, not a yummy green. Oh well. They told me that I'd have to make some sacrifices in terms of finances and lifestyle when I became a grad student, and I'm pretty sure this is exactly what they meant. I might buy the Olive Butter again as a treat for myself on occasion, but for every-day use, the Neolia lotion is a worthy substitute.

And now I've got a strange craving for guacamole. Which doesn't even have olive in it. How does that even happen???


As requested, here is the ingredients list for the Neolia Olive Oil Body Lotion:

Aqua, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Cetearyl Acohol, Ceteareth-20, Cetyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Polyacrylamide, Isoparafin C13-C14, Laureth-7, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Gel, Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaen, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben.



[EDIT 09/25/06: I spotted the 236mL tube of the Neolia lotion at Shopper's Drug Mart recently, going for about $8 CAD. So that's good news for us Canadians. I'm afraid this isn't much help for those abroad, although if you do happen to visit our lovely country, SDMs are all over the place, and it should be fairly easy to grab a tube. Or 12.]


* I have nothing against nature, she's a cool mamma. I just don't roll with that crowd, you know?
** Possible new word??? [lemmed -- past tense of 'lemm': To create a faux version of a much hyped item, in accordance with popular opinion. der. 'lemming', ex. "She saw the buzz that the new retro-madras jumper created, and so lemmed up her own from last season's plaid. How very Molly Ringwald of her!"] Yes? No?
*** It probably sounded a bit like "wwhrreeeee!"

Product Review: The Yves Rocher Haul

Hello hello! How are you, internets? You know how sometimes, when you get very little sleep the night before, and you have to be awake and running around all day exhausted, and then you finally come home and can go to sleep? But you can't, even though you're really really tired and really WANT to go to sleep, but you're just too damn wired?

Well that's me! Right now! Thank you Starbucks! Thank you weird-but-nice coffee man at my subway station! Thank you MSG-laden instant cup noodle I had for dinner because I was too tired and spazzy to cook!

Anyway, not much left to do but blog I guess. This post will be all about the haul I got from Yves Rocher a while back. I've already talked about how I liked their Deligloss -- in fact, I went back and got the peach shade too, after my success with the Estee Ginger Fizz. Now that I've been using their other products for a while, I can give you the full report on the Arnica Hand Cream, Phytum Oxygenation Shampoo, and Green Tea Deodorant. (Spoiler: All signs point to Yes! Go Yves Rocher!)


Arnica Daily Moisturizing Hand Cream:


This is my new favourite hand cream, beating out the previous favourite... um... okay, I'm bad, I don't use hand cream regularly. But I will now! This stuff rocks: it's medium-thick and creamy, but sinks in super fast, leaving your skin feeling hydrated and smooth, not slick. The low grease factor makes this a great moisturizer to have at your desk, since you don't have to wait 10 minutes after applying before you can type without leaving smeary fingerprints on your keyboard. The mild soapy scent is pleasant and clean, and does not stick around obtrusively. The lemon-yellow tube contains 75mL (2.5 fl oz.) of product, and usually goes for about $7 CAD, but you can often find it on sale for $3. Oh look, it's on sale right now! Go get some! I just bought an extra tube myself to keep in the car. Good stuff! (Note: the pic is of the Hand & Nail Cream, I can't find one of the regular Hand Cream.)



Phytum Hair Care Oxygenation Pure Air Shampoo:


Gee, for such a long name, this bottle of shampoo is pretty small. Measuring in at a whopping 200 mL (6.7 fl oz.), at least you know this baby won't take up much room in your shower or gym bag. I guess this falls under the category of clarifying shampoos... according to the website, this "purifying shampoo gently eliminates dulling impurities and increases cellular oxygenation to leave hair clean, light and fluffy". I'm not sure about all that cellular oxygenation business, but this IS a great clarifying product. You don't have to use a lot (which is a good thing, considering the tiny bottle!), and the clear light blue gel works up into a nice minty lather. The smell is very unisex and very clean... quite refreshing!

Pure Air Shampoo really did leave my hair feeling clean, light, and fluffy -- a bonus since I am basically on silicone-overload with all the deep conditioners and shine products I use. Also impressive was that it didn't feel too dry or stripping. I DO always pair it with a heavy conditioner though, so keep that in mind. The snap top on the bottle is kind of a bother when your hands are slippery and wet, but the bottle itself is quite cute (which is clearly very important when picking a good shampoo). Normally, this is $7 for the 200 mL, which seems a bit much, but oh g'damn, it's on sale too! I'm going to have to go buy some now. I thought the point of this blog was to inadvertently cause OTHERS to spend money, not cause ME to spend more. Yeesh.



Fraîcheur Végétale Thé Vert Antiperspirant Deodorant:


Okay, this was sort of a random purchase. I wasn't looking for a new deodorant, but I've a soft spot for anything with Green Tea in the name. This stuff sure lived up to its name... it smells wonderfully fresh, like ice-cold sweet green tea with lots of lemon and just the tiniest hint of spice. It's what I wish The Body Shop's Lemon Tea scent smelled like. Instead, TBS' Lemon Tea dries down to Lemon Pledge on me. But I digress. The invigorating scent of this deodorant would work for both guys and gals.

Right, but does it work? Um... sure! I've only used it for normal days (i.e., not crazy active days), and it seems to do a fine job. This deodorant is housed in a stout green bottle with a screw-off top. The clear gel is dispensed via a roll-on ball. The mechanism is kind of pissy... I usually have to shake or otherwise jiggle the roller a bit to get the stuff to come out properly. Not sure if I just have a dud or if they're all like that. But when it smells so divine, I'm willing to forgive. Seriously, I could drink this stuff. Not that I'm saying you should... I actually have it on good authority that licking antiperspirant is a Very Bad Idea. A Very Very Bad Idea. Trust me.

A 60 mL (2.0 fl oz.) bottle normally costs $6.50, but what the hell why is everything I like on sale right now?!?! Seriously people, I just paid tuition, I can't take this kind of pressure!!!


Alright, that's it. I'm ending the post now, I've got some on-line shopping to do. The Visa people are going to love me. And then maybe I can finally get some sleep! Happy long weekend!!

Christening the Office

Relax, this post is safe for work. It's not what you think. For me, christening an office means that for the first time, I...

.
.
.

... pull an all-nighter there. Oooh yeah, it's every bit as fun and sexy as it sounds. Cups of stale cold coffee, discarded food wrappers strewn all about, and napping slumped over my desk and everything. When I do a thing, I go all out people!

Needless to say, the work is still coming at me heavy and strong. I LOVE end-of-term! But because I feel amiss in my blogging duties, and because I need a break from staring at formulas (formulae???) and weird statistical-y symbols that are starting to dance before my eyes, here's a super quick mini review.

Sally Hansen Airbrush Sun. In a word: DON'T.





This is a liquid self tanner. You spray the clear fluid on out of an aerosol can, then rub it in. Then you spray some more on to another part of your leg or arm or torso, then frown in confusion because you can't really tell where you've already sprayed-and-rubbed.

And then you wrinkle your nose in annoyance, because it smells like ... like someone crapped in a Pina Colada. Or something. I don't know, it was just basically awful.

Oh well. The stuff's on now, so you might as well deal with it. So you go off to bed. The next morning, you're greeted by an even WORSE smell. A crapped-in Pina Colada that has now been spiked with that telltale DHA self-tanner stank. Yum!

I couldn't get into the shower fast enough. It's kind of too bad, because the colour was actually okay, if a bit intense. Almost bordering on orange, but not quite. And it did dry really fast after you'd sprayed it on. But the horrible horrible "Tinge Your Pajamas And All Your Sheets" stink makes all of that moot.

I'm glad I only tried it on my legs -- I can't fathom how bad it would have been had I gotten the face version!