Product Review
Assets by Sarah Blakely Tights: Product Review
What: Angela smooths things over with Assets Tights
The Lowdown: Okay, every celeb and fashionista out there sings the endless praises of Spanx, but at prices ranging from $28-$40 for tights, not all of us have the budget to justify owning a pair. Enter Assets, a budget version of the sin-forgiving body-shapers, from our favorite they-get-that-I-want-to-be-stylish-without-spending-my-kids’-college-fund retailers, Target, and Spanx’s very own Sarah Blakely. So lots of higher-end designers do budget lines for budget retailers these days, but does Assets hold up to the claims of flattening tummy, hips and thighs, lifting the rear, and eliminating panty lines?
In a word, yes. Really, it’s not any more complicated than that. Good quality tights that smooth out the bumps, without making me feel like I’m trapped in a sausage casing (admit it, we’ve all been there). And with Fall upon us, tights that look great, feel comfortable and make me look my best in even my more clingy Fall clothes are, well, pretty priceless.
Yea or Nay: Yea. Sure they’re $14 a pair—but they’ll hold up and do double duty as both an attractive tight AND a shaper.
Premier Comfort Plus Cushion Insoles: Product Review
What: Marilyn reviews Premier (brand) Comfort Plus Cushion Insoles $3(also available in double thickness for $5-6). You can find them online for as low as $.98.
The Lowdown: Maybe it is the onslaught of Fall and hard shoes after a summer of bare feet, sandals, and sneakers, but I am addicted to these. I like every step to be cushioned. Moreover, I have a narrow foot and I like a snug fit. Even narrow shoes can stretch and widen a bit.
I was delighted to find these at a shoe repair shop. (I am delighted to find shoe repair shops, for they are dying breeds.), because they come in sizes that match your shoe size. Most varieties sold in drugstores, Target, etc. come in one size and you have to trim it to fit.
Of course, I also get all of my shoe soles skimmed in rubber (unless they already are rubber). This costs about $22/pair, but it gives my shoes extra more cushion. helps them to last longer, and prevents slips. I’ve broken two (both) feet in the past 2 years and that is enough.
Dove Sensitive Skin Nourishing Body Wash: Product Review
What: Angela attempts to break the moisture barrier with Dove Sensitive Skin Nourishing Body Wash
The Lowdown: I’ve always been leery of body washes that claim to moisturize—I mean, clean and exfoliate? Sure. But, like moisturizing shampoos, I’ve never found that a cleanser can actually deliver enough lasting moisture to truly support the claim. Still, Dove claims their Sensitive Skin Nourishing Body Wash is fortified with “NutriumMoisture” a “breakthrough” formula of 100% natural moisturizers that can actually be absorbed completely to “nourish deep down.” That’s a lot of slightly-vague hype (but hey, what good beauty product marketing isn’t?)—but I’ll try to keep an open mind.
Created for sensitive skin, this particular body wash has no discernible fragrance which, admittedly, I kinda miss being a fan of such things to help clear the fog during my 6 a.m. shower, but for those with truly sensitive skin I’m sure this is a plus. The wash itself is pleasingly creamy—giving me hope that there’s actually some moisture benefit to be had in there somewhere—but doesn’t really lather up quite as much as I’d like (I’m sure this probably means it has less sulfates, which is a good thing, but still makes me feel like I have to use more to get a good result).
So what about the promised “nourishment”? Sure enough, after several days of use, I can’t say my skin is suddenly super-moisturized (not giving up my cocoa butter body lotions just yet) but overall it really does seem softer and, maybe more importantly, less apt to dry out quite as quickly.
Yea or Nay: Yea. I can’t say it’s my top body wash of all time, but for sensitive skin and long-term results, it does seem to do the job—for a price you can’t argue with.
Buy It: Around $6, at Target, Walmart, drugstore beauty aisles.
Aveeno Nourish & Revitalize Shampoo & Conditioner: Product Review
What: Angela trys to get healthy with Aveeno Nourish & Revitalize Shampoo & Conditioner
The Lowdown: Aveeno is one of those brands that’s just slightly more expensive, but comes with a reputation that leads us to expect good value for our hard earned buck. Since my hair is colored regularly and fried with blow dryer and irons (either curling or straightening, depending) daily, I’m always open to a product that will help compensate for some of the inevitable damage.
The Aveeno Nourish & Revitalize line promises to help “protect hair’s intrinsic moisture balance from everyday damage, invigorating it with new life”, and in just three washes to help repair damage and provide the “three key elements that give hair life — strength, softness and shine.” Sounds good.
So after three days use, any difference? Sadly, not so much. Yes, my hair was reasonably soft, but also weighed down which, when you have fine hair like mine, is a big drawback. As for strength and shine—not any more than what I get from my regular shampoo and conditioner (which, for the record, are Dove Go Fresh Energize Therapy Shampoo and Alberto VO5 Shower Works Hot Oil). Perhaps more than three days use would be in order to get maximum results, but with the conditioner being so heavy—and the fact that the shampoo has ammonium laurel sulfate which can strip color—I’m switching back to my regular tried-and-true routine.
The Verdict: Nay. Not terrible, but didn’t deliver the results I’d expect for around $7 a bottle.
Five Bamboo Handbag: Product Review
What: Angela gets eco-friendly by accessorizing with the Five “Night” Bamboo Handbag.
The Lowdown: First things first—“Five” Accessories is an online store specializing in eco-friendly, socially conscious handbags and accessories, with $5 from each handbag purchase and 15 percent of all other sales to each individual artisan’s local cause. At TBF, we’re suckers for anything that mixes fashion with charitable giving, so we were on board from the start. But no matter how much we love giving, we also want to be sure to get the best value for our dollar.
Fortunately, at least in the case of this particular handbag, value is what we got. The bag itself—Balinese-made—is an evening-appropriate clutch style constructed of thin bamboo slats, and features fabric-lining with an inside pocket, a metal clasp and wooden handles. Which may not sound terribly chic or practical, but trust us, it is. The slats are thin enough that the bag folds and bends, the handles are smooth and solid, and the magnetic metal clasp holds tight. It’s lightweight and roomy enough to toss in your lip gloss, compact, phone, credit cards, and then some. And it looks fab. What more could an eco-conscious girl want?
The Verdict: It’s a Yea on all levels, and even better, it’s on sale now $30 for medium (12” wide by 6” tall) and $35 for large (14” wide by 6” tall), online only at Fiveaccessories.com.
American Beauty “Beloved” Perfume: Product Review
What: Angela attempts to get romantic with American Beauty’s “Beloved” perfume spray.
The Lowdown: “Beloved”—apparently the winner of the Fragrance Foundation’s 2009 “Fragrance of the Year” award—is one of those quintessential girly scents: floral, floral, floral, specifically featuring tuberose along with orange flower, stephanotis, and calla lilies. It’s a scent which their marketing team has determined “embodies the exhilaration of being in love.” Good to know they’re not into overstatement.
I’m just going to say it—I’m very picky about perfume, and florals are not my favorite, unless they’re on the very very light side. Unfortunately, “Beloved” is not. It’s actually quite heavy, and while it’s endorsed by the always-lovely and youthful-looking Ashley Judd, the scent itself? Kinda makes me think of lace doilies and hurricane lamps—in other words, leaning towards the senior citizen. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I’m not quite there. As for staying power, should you want it to stick around? No better than average—though I will say, after a little time has passed, the scent is definitely less overwhelming.
The Verdict: Overall, and for the price (about $40 for 1.7 oz.), a nay. If you are a die-hard floral lover, you might want to sample it at the beauty counter, but we think there are much more interesting and modern scents out there, for the same price or less.
Ricky’s NYC Ceramic Fusion Rollers: Product Review
What: Angela attempts to turn up the volume with Ricky’s NYC Ceramic Fusion Rollers
The Lowdown: Having been cursed with thin, fine hair, I’m always looking for ways to amp things up a bit. I’ve never been a big fan of rollers in general, but figured these “ceramic magnetic” rollers sounded pretty high tech, so what have I got to lose?
Turns out, about an hour of my life that I’ll never get back again. First, finding very little information on the package about what makes them so special—or even how to use them—I went online, and found not a whole lot more. We all know “ceramic” is big in the hair tool world at the moment, but I never did find out what the “magnetic” part is all about. And since the rollers themselves appear to be ordinary plastic—with what may or may not be a thin coating of “ceramic”—I can’t even begin to create a theory.
Still, looks aren’t everything, so I gave them a shot. Rolled up some sections of damp hair, pulled out the blow dryer, and did my thing. Unfortunately, the rollers didn’t do their thing. After drying, pulled the rollers out, and all I was left with was, well, my regular hair, with a little bump where the clips required to hold the rollers in place were. Fun.
The Verdict: Nay. Sure, they’re cheap (around $4.99 for a set of three) but you’ll be better off taking that five spot and putting it towards a product that actually works.
Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion
What: Angela smooths things over with Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion hair products
The Lowdown: Pantene is a name you’ll see at the top of a gazillion women’s magazine lists of drugstore beauty products. And like all other beauty products, with each new day comes a new line, new formula, the next big thing. Seems like these days we’ve come full circle—I remember years ago when the Aussie products came out, they had all kinds of “natural” ingredients—evolutionary at the time. The popularity of that waned, but with all our green talk these days natural is back in a big way, and Pantene is on it with their “Nature Fusion” line. Fortified with things like cassia, ginger, calendula, aloe vera, avocado, bamboo, and grapeseed (whew!), they promise smoothness, strength and softness. Well that’s all I’ve ever really wanted from my hair—but do they deliver?
In a word, yes. Now, I have no idea which of the aforementioned ingredients, or any combination thereof, does the trick, but having tried both the “Moisture Balance” conditioner and the smoothing creme, my blow-drying session ended with soft smooth hair that actually has body. And that’s quite a trick, seeing as I rarely dare to use a daily conditioner on my fine thin hair lest it wilt like last weeks lettuce. But the Nature Fusion not only did NOT weigh my hair down, it seems to have added a little life. Which, having lived with this dilemma my entire life, is priceless.
The Verdict: Yea. A product that lives up to its claims, for a budget price.
Buy It: Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion Moisture Balance Conditioner, $4.99, Walgreens.com, and Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion Smoothing Creme, $5.99, Drugstore.com
Neutrogena Nourishing Eye Duo
What: Angela brightens up with Neutrogena Nourishing Eye Duo eyeshadow
The Lowdown: Neutrogena calls it the “next evolution” in eye shadow,which puts up the red flag right away—we know they need to market their product, but overstatements like that always make us a little leery. What’s so evolutionary? The duo consists of a base that not only gives you color but conditioning too, with soy, silk and vitamins A, C and E, and an accent color containing “luminizing pearls” to brighten eyes. Seems that makeup isn’t just about enhancing hues, but keeping your skin healthy too, which admittedly, I’m all about. If it works.
I expect quality from the Neutrogena name, and this duo lives up in terms of ease of application—glides on nice and smooth—and it stays put as long as I’d generally expect, though perhaps not as long as they claim (“fade resistant” to last all day long? not exactly—I did have to touch up, but in all fairness, have yet to find an affordable shadow that does actually make it from dawn to dusk). As far as “conditioning” my eyelids? Honestly, I didn’t notice any difference—I’m not even sure what I’d be looking for. Nice quality color? Yep. Improved the condition of my eyelids? Who knows.
Yea or Nay: Conditioning status notwithstanding, for nice, smooth, reasonably long-lasting color from a quality name for under 10 bucks, it’s a Yea.
Buy It: $8.49 at Drugstore.com
Axe Body Wash
What: Kathryn “borrows” a bottle of AXE Shower Scrub to see how it works on a woman
Kathryn says: Let me start off by saying that I really dislike the Axe commercials. I understand that I’m not their target market, but the idea that a bodywash can make a dude who looks like a cross between Daffy Duck and the guy from the Ernest movies suddenly attractive to a hoard of beautiful women really bugs me. It misogynistic down to its core. Yet, men really like the product.
That being said, we received a big box of AXE products at the office to review for See Jack Shop, the brother site to TBF, and a bottle ended up in our shower at home (it was being reviewed by the hubby). It just happen to be placed in our shower on the day I ran out of my Dove Moisturizing Bodywash (love the Dove) and, being way to lazy to get out of the shower and search for a new bottle of soap, I decided to try out the AXE Snake Peel Shower Scrub with Desert Minerals + Cactus Oil and…..
I liked it. It smelled sort of like spiced oranges, which is a nice smell that wasn’t too “manly”, and the exfoliating beads were gentle- and didn’t make me feel like I was washing my body with liquid sandpaper. I like the bottle design as well cause it was made for someone use in the shower, with plastic grips on the side of the bottle, unlike some “women” centered brands that try to be so cute with the packaging that it misses the mark in terms of functionality. The color was a little too “Mountain Dew” for me, you know that “toxic goo” color, but the lather was thick and foamy, and, thank god, white.
While there were no women racing down 5th Avenue after me, a woman did give me her coupon for an extra 25% off sale merchandise at Macy’s, so maybe there’s something to the Axe scent.
Yea or Nay: Hmm Yea. Sort of. I mean, if you’re in a crunch and/or you really need something to cut through the “post-summer-workout-funk”, this product will do. Buy it for $5.49 at Drugstore.com
Cover Girl Trublend Microminerals Bronzer
What: Angela warms up with Cover Girl Trublend Microminerals Bronzer
The Lowdown: Last year at about this time, mineral make-up was making its mark in the beauty aisle, and since then—even though the hype has died down—mineral products have become a regular feature in just about every drugstore make-up line.
Summer, of course, ‘tis the season for bronzer—so we decided to give Cover Girl’s Trublend Microminerals bronzer a test run. The claims aren’t fancy or over-the-top, which we dig, actually; the product only promises a “natural sun-kissed glow for a luminous look.” Minerals in general, of course, are purported to be better for the skin and long-wearing, so we’d expect that as well.
My first impression? Not bad, particularly when I popped off the handy applicator brush (one thing I’ve noticed recently is that the brushes that come with products are improving—this one is full, soft, and really decent quality on the whole). The bronzer itself? A fine powder, which went on evenly and in reasonably soft layers (meaning no big ugly streak on the first stroke). Warm glow? Yes. Luminous? Actually, yeah - this product has a little sparkle to it (but never fear—it’s not enough to make you feel like a Club Kid). Long-wearing? Eh. Not remarkable, but long enough that I didn’t feel cheated.
The only downside? The only color available—Natural Bronze—is a bit on the dark side. I have an olive complexion, so it worked well on my skin, but I’m not sure it will translate well to every skin tone.
The Verdict: Yea. I still like my Physician’s Formula Organic 2-in-1 Bronzer and Blush better, but for a slightly more inexpensive option, this one’s not bad.
Buy It: $10.99 at Drugstore.com
Cover Girl Queen Lasting Lipliner
What: Angela glides on Cover Girl’s Queen Lasting Lipliner
The Lowdown: Not being a big fan of lipstick, my favorite way to add a little color to my pout is to fill in with lipliner, and glide on some clear gloss. The problem? Like any other lipcolor, staying power is tough to come by. This Queen collection lipliner claims to be “lasting.” Does it live up to that promise? We’ll see.
I’ve found that true pencils (the kind you have to sharpen) generally are longer lasting than the twist up kind, and this Lasting Lipliner is of the latter variety, so I had my doubts. It does, however, glide on easily as promised, something the pencil kind doesn’t always do. So “silky smooth” as the packaging claims? Yep. Soft natural color? Yes. Lasting? Well, not bad, but not much different than any other liner I’ve tried. I will say, however, that maybe it wasn’t a fair test: I went to the movies and noshed on a large popcorn—not many lip colors would last through that, no matter how good.
The Verdict: Yea, though not necessarily for the “lasting” component. But it’s inexpensive, non drying, and the color—in this case “Rose”—looked soft and natural.
Buy It: Drugstore.com, $6.29
Clairol Natural Instincts
What: Angela changes it up with Natural Instincts
The Lowdown: There was a time when coloring your hair at home was a real risk—not only were the results not guaranteed to be great, they were permanent. Natural Instincts was one of the first non-permanent haircolors (lasts through twenty-some shampoos) we can remember on the market, and has managed to stick around for a reason.
If you’ve never colored your hair before, Natural Instincts is super easy to use. Mix it in the applicator bottle, and apply to damp hair. Leave on for somewhere between 10-20 minutes, and rinse and condition. The result? Consistently good color, super soft shiny hair, and a little body boost for good measure.
The downside of Natural Instincts is that for the best result, you need to stay within a range of your own haircolor—so for dramatic transformations, you’ll have to go another route (we’d recommend the salon for anything drastic, natch). And, as someone who has used this product for long stretches, I’ve found that when used repeatedly over long periods of time, it doesn’t completely wash out anymore. But in general, if you’re of a mind to make more subtle haircolor changes (add a little red, tone down the brass) on a regular basis, Natural Instincts is a reliable option.
The Verdict: Yea. The color is in fact natural-looking, lasting, and cheap—even if you use it EVERY month, it’s less than $10 per application.
Buy It: Wal-Mart, Target, Drugstore
RoC Complete Lift & Deep Wrinkle Products
What: Angela fights fine lines with RoC Complete Lift Eye Pen, Complete Lift Daily Moisturizer, and Deep Wrinkle Filler.
The Lowdown: On principle, I rarely spend more than $10 on a beauty product of any kind, so looking at the price points on these RoC products made me skeptical. Nineteen bucks for an “eye pen”? Really? My Vaseline moisturizing routine has served me just fine thus far - and it’s only $2 a tub.
The daily moisturizer and eye pen contain “patent-pending PROTIENT® lifting & firming technology – a high-performance tightening agent” (I wasn’t aware that “technology” could be applied to my face, but ok) and the Deep Wrinkle Filler boasts “Retinol Correxion” (and the name makes me feel like I’ll be applying spackle, but I digress). I’m always hopeful for the kinds of results they promise—firmer tighter skin and less visible lines—but having been around the beauty product block a time or two, I had little expectation that these miracles of modern science would have much impact.
So you can imagine my surprise when, after three or four days of regular use, I looked in the mirror and realized my eyes actually looked, well, better. Less puffy. More rested. Dare I say, younger. After two weeks with the eye pen and wrinkle filler, I’m kinda hooked. I’m even to the point of rationalizing the $19 pricetag, particularly on my new best friend, the eye pen—I mean, it’s still under 20 bucks, and it actually works. I hate to think how much I’ve spent over the years on cheaper products that did zilch ...
As for the moisturizer, I’m sure it probably performs its own small miracles on some skin types, but unfortunately it was waaaay too greasy for my generally oily skin—it felt more like a sun screen (it does contain SPF 30, which is a big plus). After three or four days, I had to discontinue my use lest I ruin my otherwise good results with an unsightly breakout.
The Verdict: Two Yeas for the eye pen alone, a Yea for the Wrinkle Filler, and, for me, a Nay on the moisturizer.
Buy It: Drugstore.com, Walgreens, for around $19 each.
Ouchless Flex Goody Headband
What: Angela accessorizes with an Ouchlessflex Goody headband.
The Lowdown: Upon receiving the aforementioned headband, I was kind of stumped. I mean, I know the purpose of a headband, and I know how to wear one, but how do you review one? If it stays on the head and looks cute, it’s all good. This could be a very short piece indeed.
So here it goes—this Goody headband stayed on my head and looks cute. But there is actually more. I have to admit, having a kind of narrow head (I know, it’s one of those sorely under-recognized afflictions) headbands really don’t fit me all that well in general.The design of this one, however, kept it snuggly in place, without pinching or rubbing. Which actually makes me really happy; with my short hair, headbands should be a great way to mix it up a little, but finding one that fits me right has been an issue. Not any more.
My only complaint? This particular Goody headband only comes in black, gray and tortoiseshell—which are versatile options, but not super fun.
The Verdict: Yea. Cute, functional, and inexpensive.
Buy It: Walgreens, $4.99
Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse: Product Review
What: Angela tries to even things out with Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse
The Lowdown: While we’re busy changing up our fashion with the change of seasons, we need to remember that our make-up needs changing up as well. Heavier, creamier foundations that were fine (even preferable) in the dry winter months will do nothing but weigh us down as the summer heat sets in—which is why now seemed like a good time to lighten up by trying out Maybelline’s Dream Liquid Mousse. Boasting a lightweight “air-whipped” formula that’s oil-free, the product goes so far as to claim an “air-brushed” “poreless” finish. As a girl with oily skin and, well, largish pores, this is a selling point.
So does it live up to such lofty claims? I mean, “poreless”? How is that possible? As it turns out, it’s not. At least not in my case. The make-up did go on smooth, and has a light texture and a nice matte finish, but the pores, alas, just weren’t having it (being hidden and all, that is). So if the “poreless” part is what draws you to this product, I wouldn’t get too excited. If you’re looking for an inexpensive foundation that is light enough for summer and reasonably priced? Perhaps.
The verdict: Because (for me) it didn’t live up to its claim, it’s a nay, even if it is under 10 bucks. Sorry Maybelline—we still love your Great Lash mascara though.
St. Ives Smoothing In-Shower Body Scrub: Product Review
What: Angela softens up with St. Ives Exfoliating In-Shower Body Polish
The Lowdown: Memorial Day is a memory, and since summer’s when we bare the most skin—like it or not—it’s high time that we all take a little inventory of any rough spots we’ve let go through the long winter months. Go ahead, I’ll wait. Okay, now for a remedy ...
Enter the all-over body scrub, in this case the St. Ives Exfoliating In-Shower Body Polish. Mineral beauty products have been a huge beauty trend for some time now, and sugar scrubs have been around forever—so combining the two only makes sense. St. Ives has a pretty good reputation for natural, quality beauty and skin care products (though I have, at times, found some things to be slightly overpriced for what you get) and there’s something about a scrub that just makes me feel so, well, fresh.
In short, the product delivers what it promises—soft, smooth skin, right out of the shower. Easy to use? Yep—just scoop out a glob (that’s the technical term, in case you were wondering), scrub in a circular motion, and rinse. I can’t really say if the whole “mineral” aspect really makes any difference—a good sugar scrub is a good sugar scrub after all, minerals or not. But on the whole, a nice shower experience, and I’m feeling slightly more bikini-ready already. Slightly.
But before I go to the verdict, one thing: a tub of the scrub—which is admittedly a decent-sized 8 oz.—is about $8, which doesn’t seem bad but it takes an awful lot of product to scrub the whole body. If you decide to indulge, I’d suggest using it occasionally for a whole-body exfoliation, with daily only on those rough spots (knees, elbows, heels) to keep things smooth AND protect your budget.
The Verdict: It’s a yea. Okay, no fireworks here but a good solid body scrub for a decent price. If you like St. Ives products, you’ll probably enjoy this one as well.
Buy It: Walgreens.com, $7.99
Dove Ultimate Visibly Smooth Antiperspirant: Product Review
What: Angela attempts to get smooth - and dry - with Dove Ultimate Visibly Smooth Antiperspirant
The Lowdown: All I’ve ever really wanted in an antiperspirant is for it to keep me as dry as possible, for as long as possible (there’s nothing worse than a mid-afternoon summer meltdown in your favorite silky blouse - yuk). But this Dove Ultimate Visibly Smooth gives a little extra incentive to try it, claiming that long-term use will result (through a combination of a “Pro-Epil Complex” with natural extracts and Dove moisturizers) in smoother underarms and less noticeable stubble with regular use. Honestly, I never really thought much about that, but okay, I’m game—but I’m not holding my breath.
I love Dove beauty products in general, so I had pretty high hopes that the antiperspirant part of the deal would be effective—and I was right. But, to tell the truth, it worked even better than I expected. I’m not a particularly sweaty girl but I’ve found that most antiperspirants, even under the best of circumstances, don’t keep you completely dry, all day long. But this one? It actually did—even through an office air-conditioning malfunction on an 85 degree day. Nice. As for the stubble—I haven’t figured out any scientific way to actually measure the effect, but my underarms are definitely more smooth to the touch than in the past and it’s quite possible the stubble is slightly less noticeable. But honestly, just for the effectiveness of the antiperspirant, I’d buy it. In fact, I’m switching from my old brand. Sold.
The Verdict. Yea. Dove puts out quality products at affordable prices, and the Ultimate Visibly Smooth Antiperspirant is no exception.
Buy It: Drugstore, Wal-Mart
, Target, for around $4.
Physicians Formula Organic Wear 2-in-1 Bronzer and Blush: Product Review
What: Angela gets her glow on with Physicians Formula Organic Wear 2-in-1 Bronzer and Blush
The Lowdown: Let me start by saying that, as a rule, I dislike bronzers. And blush. Intensely. In the past, I attributed my distaste for these particular products down to the possibility that I have just never mastered the fine art of bronzing and blushing—because no matter what brand I tried, what color I selected, I always ended up looking like I just stepped out of a bad 80s music video. So it was with great trepidation that I approached Physicians Formula Organic Wear 2-in-1 Bronzer and Blush. Not only is the name faaar too long for my liking, I’ve had too many bad bronzer experiences to be optimistic.
First, a word about the product. It is, as the cumbersome title points out, organic. The packaging ensures that you will not forget this by splashing “100% FREE ...” messages on every square millimeter of free space. For the record, it is free of the following: harsh chemicals, synthetic preservatives, parabens, GMOs (genetically modified organisms, apparently), synthetic colors, synthetic fragrances, and cruelty. Phew. If that’s not enough, it also boasts that 100% of the ingredients are of natural origin, and that 15% of the total ingredients are produced from organic farming, making it ECOCERT certified organic. It also contains an “EcoBlend” of “Organisoy” and “Eco-Olive”. Which is all well and good, except if I still end up looking like Cyndi Lauper, being environmentally responsible just isn’t going to be enough.
Fortunately—and much to my great surprise and delight—I did not. In fact, I ended up looking pretty darn sun-kissed and fabulous, if I do say so myself. And there’s no special trick—I opened up the eco-conscious compact (93% less plastic than a traditional compact, natch) with its handy all-inclusive brush and mirror, and applied the bronzer first—across my cheeks, nose, chin, forehead, where the sun would naturally “kiss” you, and instead of the usual dark-and-blotchy streaks that I must immediately scrub off before disgustedly tossing the product, I just looked like I had a nice little tan going. Feeling emboldened, I went in for the blush, and again, just soft, warm, glowing color. Nice. I was so excited that I spent the next ten minutes looking in the mirror and babbling to my 13-year-old daughter about how fantastic this product is (she seemed unimpressed, but she wasn’t even alive during the 80s).
The Verdict: An unequivocal Yea. It’s not super cheap at around $14 for a compact, but after wasting 5 bucks here and 8 bucks there on bronzers and blushes that went straight into the wastebasket (and were NOT eco-friendly), it’s totally worth it.
Buy It: At Walgreens.com, $13.99
Chemisettes by Anne: Product Review
What: Angela slips on a Chemisette by Anne in place of her usual cami ...
The Lowdown: What exactly is a “chemisette” you ask? Well, according to the packaging, it’s “an ideal lingerie alternative” to the camis and tank tops (and I’d even add shells) that we usually wear under blouses, jackets, and other low cut tops for a little extra coverage and/or interest. It’s a really simple idea, but the ingenious (and yet, also simple) part is how you attach it—with an elastic-and-button-deal that you wrap around your bra straps. Why didn’t we think of this? We’ll never know.
I admit, when I first saw this product, I was reminded of an elderly woman in my family (I decline to mention who) that would safety-pin a handkerchief or some similar scrap of random fabric into the front of her dress to achieve the same effect. Not exactly high fashion. But after trying the chemisette out, I think I’m sold. It’s easy to attach, is substantial, and stays put (unlike the aforementioned handkerchief, on all counts). This time of year it’s especially welcome, as in many locales (I live in St. Louis, for example, which can get a little steamy come July) warmer weather means layering is just SO not desirable. My only complaint? Maybe it’s just my bra, but mine sat a little higher than I would like overall and was a teeny bit scratchy, but it could just be the lace-trimmed style I tried . . .
Verdict: Yea. For $7-9, the Chemisette by Anne is lightweight alternative to wearing a full tank, comes in lots of colors and fabrics, and lives up to its promises. However, if you’re a sewer, you could probably make a version for yourself for free
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