Product Review: The Body Shop Vitamin E Serum

Hi folks! After a week of blessedly balmy spring-like weather, we're getting hit with some chilly, depressing winds today. But this cold snap DID remind me that I wanted to talk about my new skin-saviour, The Body Shop's Vitamin E Serum. (See? I told you there was a reason I kept harping on about Body Shop sales!)

Normally I'm not much for serums. I mean, I love them and all their luxe goodness, but I don't tend to see them as a necessary part of a skincare routine. Well that all changed when my skin started flipping out for no reason last month. Red splotches, irritation, dryness... and don't even get me started on how difficult it was to put on SPF in the morning (yeeowtch!). I was baffled... I hadn't changed anything, wasn't trying new makeup, my makeup brushes were clean... and yet there I was. I even started breaking out a bit (which rarely happens anymore). I switched up my moisturizers... stopped using silica powder... I even bought a new "sensitive-skin" night cream, but nothing worked.

Then I remembered that I had tried TBS' Vit. E serum a while back (when my skin was normal), and how soft and supple it made my face. So I dashed out in a hurry to buy another bottle, and God, it's like a cool drink of water. Within days (like, overnight, really), it soothed the red splotches and irritation, and started to take care of the dry flakes. I still need to use moisturizer over it (the new one I bought from Nivea seems to be working well), but now I can bear to wear sunscreen again. Plus, my skin's stopped breaking out, which is a big relief.

For $20 CAD, this baby's a bargain. (Of course, it's even better when there's a sale!) The airless pump is sanitary, and a tube lasts about 2 months for me with daily and nightly use. It sinks in fast, with a light, clean, slightly floral scent that I like. This isn't your fancy-ass, peptide-collagen-transfolipid-speed-of-light kind of serum. But for adding a soothing boost of moisture to your skin, you can't ask for much more!

Product Review: Dove Bar

aka: In which Dove totally saves the heck out of my skin.

You guys ever go through a time when nothing seems to go right? Those things that you thought were so steadfast and reliable fail you, and when you try to fix it, everything just seems to screw up more?

Well I have. Just recently, in fact. Of course, I am talking about my skin here. For weeks (months?) I'd been battling these weird dry itchy patches on my torso. (Hot image, I know). They recur from time to time, for no discernible reason. It might be mild eczema, or just the frustratingly vague "contact dermatitis". I don't know, it's never bothered me enough to go get it diagnosed. I don't know what triggers it... it usually appears on my neck or torso, and it can happen during any season. I haven't changed my skincare routine or even laundry detergent recently. But when these patches flare up, they're super irritating, never mind the gross scaly appearance and feel. Ugh!

Anyway. Because these incidents don't seem to be tied to any changes in my skincare routine, I never bothered changing my showergel to try stop the irritation. I mean, I'd used the same stuff for months without problem, so why should I switch? Luckily for me, the kind folks at Dove decided to send me a Dove Bar to try out.

An unassuming looking little thing, right? In the age of fancy body washes which promise to exfoliate, and moisturize, and turn back the hands of time, and make your skin glow like Jennifer Garner's (as if!), it's easy to forget about the plain ol' "beauty bar". But maybe it's time we gave it another look!

Dove's big claim is that the Dove Bar doesn't leave the filmy soap scum on your skin that regular soap does. Well, as someone who doesn't typically use regular soap, I didn't think this was a big deal. But maybe "soap scum" is code for "irritating weirdness", because ever since I've started using the Dove Bar, my annoyingly itchy skin has started to fade! I've been ultra lazy lately, and haven't been moisturizing much. But despite this, my skin is feeling remarkably normal, and those itchy patches seem to have gone into remission. Could Dove Bar be the secret weapon against irritated skin?

Okay folks, let's be good critical thinkers here. It *could* be the case that the skin irritation would have stopped on its own, and that the Dove Bar had nothing to do with it. After all, in the past, the patches do eventually disappear on their own. On the other hand, I've been using fancy moisturizers and healing oils on the dry patches, and no permanent relief happened until I started using Dove. And, the Classic bar I've been using isn't even the Sensitive Skin (fragrance-free) one, which would presumably be even more soothing for problem areas.

Personally, if the shoe ain't broke, I'm not going to fix it. That is to say, the Dove Bar is going to be my "gentle" cleanser of choice now unless some other problem crops up. Sure, it's not fancy or incredibly indulgent, but it works. I'd even be willing to use it on my face in a pinch, which is something I would have hesitated to do with my old body washes. (Incidentally, bar soap doesn't count as a "liquid" during air travel, which makes it a great choice for the travel toilettries kit.)

And bonus? It's really affordable, and the bar makes my bathroom smell nice even when I'm not using it. So yeah, that's pretty much a no-brainer for me. Good for the wallet, and for the skin!

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!

PSA & Review: Shopper's Sale on Revlon ColorStay Top Coat, + Soap & Glory

Hey guys! A quick post today to tell you about Shopper's Drug Mart's sale on Revlon's ColourStay Top Coat. Only $4 a pop, compared to the regular $7 or $8, a total steal! In the states, this Top Coat appears to be mostly sold in a set along with a coloured polish (more on that below), but for once, we Canadians have the advantage and can buy it separately.

This topcoat is thick, but dries quickly enough under OPI's Drip Dry (another awesome product that deserves a post of its own). It's perhaps not the shiniest top coat... it gives moree the glossiness of hard plastic than the bright shine of vinyl or crystal, but I like the look. It somehow manages to hide my polish mistakes... minor bubbles or dragging (from me not being patient enough to wait for the 1st coat of colour to dry) are disguised. The best part is that it makes my nail colour last and last.... I am NOT a gentle person when it comes to my hands (basically because I am a klutz), and this stuff actually allows me to keep colour on for more than a day without looking like a Derelicte reject.

Given my newfound obsession with nail colour, my bottle of Color Stay Top Coat is about 2/3 gone, so I'll definitely have to stock up.

A note on the actual coloured polishes in this line: While the wear is no doubt great, I found it impossible to do a manicure with the shade I got (Always Vintage). The polish is thick, goopy, and stringy, even from a brand-new bottle. It's ok for doing toes, since I can use my dominant hand for everything, and you don't have to be as precise. But nails? No way I can pull that off. If you have better polishing skills than I do, you may find them ok to use, but I think a lot of people have experienced similar issues with this line. Plus, it stinks something fierce.


Speaking of things that stink... it looks like Shoppers will start carrying Soap & Glory stuff! I saw some on a recent trip to the States, and was charmed by the packaging and cute names. I bought the travel sized version of Great Shakes Hand Cream, but while it felt really nice, I was appalled by the strong, sickly scent. It is headachingly cloying and sweet, like the strawberry+patchouli scent that is Miss Dior Cherie. (Which I hate, but if you love it, you will probably love Great Shakes.) Still, I haven't given hope for the rest of the line, and am glad we're finally getting access to it! Look out for Soap & Glory at your friendly neighbourhood Shoppers!

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!

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!

Perfect Presents: Stocking Stuffers!

I have several friends who swear that the stockings are the best part of Christmas. (I am certain they mean aside from the spirit of love and generosity and gratitude and all that) I can kind of see their point... opening up your stocking is like getting surprise present after surprise present, and the usually-copious amounts of chocolate in there don't hurt none neither!

But of course, some of the best treats don't play havoc with your blood sugar levels. Here are some of my top picks for stocking stuffing, sure to delight your favourite beauty junkie on Christmas morning!



Bourjois Kisses From Paris mini-lipgloss set. I've written about these cute mini glosses before, and now Bourjois is offering them as a set for the holidays, with a keychain instead of the cell phone lanyard (hooray!). In flattering shades of pink and beige, these glosses are smooth, long-lasting, and relatively non-sticky. And they come with itty-bitty brush applicators that are perfect for application.

If you can't get to a Sephora, I've seen similar glosses from Rimmel at Shopper's Drug Mart. They are sheerer than the normal Vinyl Lip glosses, but have the same nice texture. They don't have the outrageous orange scent, so if that's prevented you from enjoying Rimmel glosses before, give these mini's a try!


L'Oreal's also gotten on the palette bandwagon, but at a much cheaper price than you'd find at Sephora or Ulta. Released as part of the Star Secrets line, you too can look like Eva, or Andie, or Penelope with lip, eye, and cheek colours, all in one slim package. Apx. $17 CAD at drugstores.


You all know of my love for The Body Shop's Pink Grapefruit Body Butter. But it can get kind of pricey for a stocking stuffer. I am pleasantly surprised to report that the WalMart version of this stuff is actually pretty good! Not the body butter itself, which has this odd rubbery texture to it. But the hand lotion and regular lotion are decent, and while the scent is not quite as mouth-watering as the Body Shop's version, it is zippy and refreshing and delicious. Not bad for $2 for the mini/travel sizes!

Of course, I must give a shout-out to Crazy Rumours lipbalm. The Apple Spice flavour is especially festive. I finally tried the Orange Bergamot, and it's incredible! Perfect for keeping those cracked winter lips at bay.


Okay, I know this is not a beauty item per se, but it's so awesome it must have a mention: Jergen's Green Tea Handsoap. It smells INCREDIBLE. Fresh and uplifting and just how you'd want your handsoap to smell. The smell lingers a bit after using too. Who knew washing your hands could be this much fun??








Voluspa's Vervain Olive Leaf candles are a wonderful way to brighten up a room. The crisp bright lemony fragrance is grounded by a bit of earthiness. It awakens the senses and just makes a room seem cleaner and bigger. It comes in the depicted full size, but I prefer the little travel candle in a sleek black tin. Perfect for the frequent flyer, to make all those hotel rooms seem a little bit more homey. $10 at Chapters or Indigo stores (not online), and they come in several other scents as well.




Wow, I could go on for ages! I guess size really doesn't matter, little gifts can rock as much as big ones! :)

This review was posted for me by the ever-fabulous Ex-Roomie, who is kindly administering the blog while I am gallivanting around Asia. I will respond to comments and emails when I get back. Promise!

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: 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: L'Oreal HappyDerm & L'Oreal HydraFresh

Quick! TriBond time! What do the following 3 things have in common? (The links are tips... it's like Brain Spam: Scavenger Hunt Ed. around here!)

~ Winston Churchill's martinis

~ "Classical Music: The Era of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven", by Phillp G. Downs*

~ Calgary (aka: my home town)**

Answer?
These things are all drier than the Sahara.



Those of you familiar with the Canadian praries will know that "humidity" is pretty much a foreign concept there, especially in the winter time. When 82%*** of the precipitation you get comes in frozen form... well, lets just say that you buy a LOT of rich moisturizers.

Now that I live in "Blame-It-On-The-Lake-Effect" Toronto though, I've been getting by with just using one lightweight moisturizer for day and night.
L'Oreal HappyDerm (for Normal/Oily skin, SPF 15) is simply lovely. It's non-greasy and sinks in fast, but keeps my face from feeling tight or scaley. It doesn't break me out, feels fantastic & smooth going on, and actually seems to improve the condition of my skin. Plus, the citrus-ginger scent and bright colour perk me up, and the SPF 15 is, of course, essential.

As of late though, the skin on my cheeks started to feel kind of flakey and rough. Could it be that I had acclimatized to the Toronto air, and that my beloved HappyDerm wasn't going to cut it in the winter any more?


This was quite the dilemma. Heavier creams have broken me out in the past. Plus, I don't have time in the mornings to wait minutes for my moisturizer to sink in before applying foundation. What to do?



Since HappyDerm had worked so well for me, I decided to try another L'Oreal product. I'd actually purchased the HydraFresh Moisturizer in the summer, when it was on sale. But when I tried it then, I found it too sticky, even when used at night. But 5 months later, it's just the ticket. (Sorry for the not-so-professional picture, I wanted to show the texture, which I think is unique and awesome.)

The Combo/Oily version of this is a cool sorbet-green, and has an airy gel/cream consistency. (The Sensitive/Dry version is pink) Right now, my skin is drinking this stuff up. When I put it on at night, my skin is silky soft the next morning. I don't seem to have the stickiness problem that I did in the summer -- primers and foundation glide on with no problems. It doesn't leave the smooth matte finish that HappyDerm does, but it's still quite nice.

The scent is not peppy like HappyDerm's, but is rather a pleasant soapy fragrance. It doesn't linger after application, but if this bugs you, I suspect that the pink version would be scent free. Best of all, it's done away with the dry patches on my cheeks... my skin feels moisturized, with no breakouts!


Both of these products can be easily found at drugstores or Wal*Mart-type places. Happy Derm goes for about $14 CAD, and Hydra Fresh for about $18. Both have SPF 15 and a light texture, making it ideal for either day or night use.

I still prefer Happy Derm slightly, for the velvety finish and the wicked bottle with the locking pump, but I'll definitely be reaching for Hydra Fresh on those cold blustery days that are looming on the horizon.



PS: For those of you wondering about the SPF-ness of HappyDerm, in Canada, there are 2 versions -- with SPF 15, and without. The pic above is of the version without SPF. The box for the version that I use is shown here (click for bigness). The difference in packaging is really minimal, so make sure to double check which kind you're getting. If you are outside of Canada, I'm not sure that you can get the SPF version. In fact, HappyDerm isn't even on the US site any more, although it does show up on the French site and some other European sites. It was available in Australia a few years ago, but I'm not sure if it's still there now.






* I've never read this. It could be a sparkling and lively tome, for all I know. But somehow I doubt it.
** Much love, Flames! You can make it into the play-offs still! All is not lost! (maybe)
*** This percentage may or may not be correct. I made it up in my head just now.

Product Review: DERMAdoctor Wrinkle REVENGE eye balm

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

aka: The Road to Recovery, and a Farewell... For Now.

Hello fellow BrainSpammers! It's been a while, hasn't it? It looks like it's gonna get worse before it gets better, but first, a way super long-overdue review!

The kind folks over at Meg's Makeup sent over this lovely little jar of eye cream aeons ago. And I sure have taken my sweet time getting around to talking about it. But look! What lovely packaging! The glass jar feels sturdy, and its smooth curves convey both a clean modern sexiness and the sense of "Hey look, I was designed by an MD!" which makes me very happy indeed.




See, the thing is, with a skincare product, I like to use it a fair bit before reviewing it. Unlike a lipstick or a perfume, I can't really tell right away how effective it is. Add this to the fact that at 23, eye-cream has not quite made it into my daily routine yet*, and well... you can see that it took a while to get to know DERMAdoctor's Wrinkle REVENGE eye balm**.

Anyway. What with my recent late nights and vaguely jet-setting (car-setting??) behaviour, I was in need of some serious skincare repair. Constantly sleeping in makeup (BAD G!!) will result in unfortunate breakouts, and melodramatic evenings will result in itchy, puffy, and otherwise irritated eyes, no matter how valiant one's mascara may be.

As such, I found myself reaching for Wrinkle REVENGE quite often these past few days. I've used a few other eye-creams before, but none have felt as luxurious as this one. Wrinkle REVENGE goes on thick like butter, but doesn't feel heavy or greasy. It sinks in fairly quickly, and after 5 minutes or so, I'm good to go with putting on concealer and all that shebazz.

The best part about this stuff has to be how soothing it feels. I wasn't expecting this level of comfort from a cream... usually, I look to eye gels to soothe tired eyes. But Wrinkle REVENGE is truly a comforting balm for weary lids. It is also supposed to decrease puffiness (well yes, it does a bit, although I was not mega-puffy to begin with) and reduce dark circles (sadly, not so much that I've seen).

Wrinkle REVENGE is scent-free and seems like it'd be great for sensitive skins. And it has extracts of White Tea and Grape Seed, so that makes me feel all healthy-nature-goddess and stuff inside, which is good***. I vaguely recall that these things are hawked as good cancer-busting ingredients, although I don't quite know about that. The important thing is that I really love how it feels on my skin, because in all honesty, isn't that 7/9ths of the battle?

Oh, and for the breakouts? Clean & Clear's Advantage Acne Spot Treatment. It's not magic, but it's as close to it as I have found. Plus, it smells nice. Those of you in the States are lucky to be paying just $6 for it; up here, it's in the $10-$12 range. But it does work like nothing else I've tried, so it's well worth it.



It is with a tear in my well-moisturized eye-area, my friends, that I bid you adieu temporarily. Life (more specifically: thesis deadline and the new school term) is getting in the way of blogging. The nerve! Anyway, I will no doubt be back to blather away about all things makeup and Benji, but you will have to kindly allow 4 to 6 weeks for new posts to arrive. In the mean time, take care of yourselves! I will miss you, but I will see you soon!


Much love,
~Glitterati


* Yes yes, I know, "prevention". Dudes, I am LAY-ZEE, you know? But an eye cream this nice sure makes it easier to hop on that bandwagon.

** I do love the random CAPS in the title. I honestly do. I am of the firm belief that "revenge" should always be represented typographically as "REVENGE", with optional excalimation marks for atmosphere.

*** Holy sweet syrupy Moses, I just found out that 1 oz. of this is $68-freakin' dollars!!! AMERICAN!!! For that price, I should also be feeling WonderWoman-esque super powers. The bonus is that I am now compelled to use it every day, morning and night, as the though of letting such a pricey product go to waste is just appalling to me. Silky smooth eyelids, here I come!

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!"