Schick Quattro For Women Razor ($9.19 @ Drugstore.com) puts the disposable razor to shame. The head of the razor has two conditioning strips that contain aloe and vitamin E, and it is probably one of my favorite parts about this genre of razors. You just know your legs will feel just that much smoother when you’re done. I’m sure you figured out that “Quattro” refers to its four blades, which are positioned closely together. But you know why I really liked this razor? Because it comes with a shower hanging doo-dad. There’s a suction cup on one side that you attach to your shower wall, and then the razor hangs in it. Awesome, so awesome. No more razor on the tub sides, precariously positioned! I use this kind of razor on my legs, underarms, etc. (I save disposables for bikini area–only because you want to have a super sharp, brand-new edge all of the time, so disposable is way cheaper). My legs are lovin’ it. By the by, that $9.19 price includes two replacement cartridges, so it’s not a bad deal at all. If you’re a tech geky, check out www.quattroforwomen.com for all the goodness on it.

What razor do you use? Do you just wax? How do you keep your legs smooth and non-Chewbacca-like?

P.S. I know it’s “Friday” for a lot of people, so if you’ve got the Friday jitters, send a friend (or yourself) a dream date courtesy of Shick.  Just head over to www.schickdreamdate.com.  Or enter to win their Dream Date II Sweepstakes!

When I first heard about Neutrogena’s skinID, I got very, very excited.  I have suffered mild to moderate acne for many years, and it has worsened since owning a puppy (something about dogs…).  Despite washing my hands too often, avoiding touching my face, and all the other tricks of the trade–it still plagues me a bit.  I’ve never tried ProActive, though I have been tempted, but this is something I can’t wait to try.  Neutrogena makes a host of good products, and they are one of the drugstore brands that I trust.  You’ll definitely hear from me about this in the future!  www.skinid.com

In a clinical trial testing 500 people with different skin, acne and lifestyles, 100% of people using skin iD got clearer, healthier-looking skin. skin iD is currently the only non-prescription acne solution on the market that has conducted a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial — the “gold standard” in testing methodology. This clinical trial demonstrated skin iD’s power to work significantly better than the top selling acne regimen in treating 16 different signs of acne. 
 
skin iD was developed by Neutrogena® Dermatologics with a group of leading dermatologists, scientists and market researchers, charged to create a customized skin-clearing solution specifically designed to treat acne on a case-by-case basis without a prescription.  skin iD is comprised of a skin evaluation, an exclusive product line and a comprehensive Web site to treat each individual’s acne needs. 
 
Exclusively available on skiniD.com, and showcased through a series of infomercials, skin iD is the first proposition of its kind on the market. “We wanted to create a highly effective acne solution to meet the needs of individuals who are not satisfied with their existing acne regimen,” states Jim Colleran, President, Neutrogena Corporation. “skin iD was developed with an innovative one-on-one approach.  We determined that offering consumers access to skin iD through a dedicated Web site or by phone would allow for the dialogue necessary to evaluate their unique skincare needs and provide a personalized regimen.”
 
skin iD utilizes a breakthrough skin and lifestyle evaluation tool, which contains a patent-pending algorithm that provides a personalized skincare regimen based on the specific skincare needs of each individual consumer.  skin iD is formulated with two leading acne-fighting medicines, Salicylic Acid and Benzoyl Peroxide, included in more than 25 customized acne skincare regimens that cleanse, treat and protect for significantly improved skin.

Aveeno is one of my favorite drugstore brands, because it is soothing, gentle, and works when it comes to healing and dealing with incredibly dry skin. My sister and I both suffered from ridiculously dry skin as babies, and this is what our dermatologist recommended (in addition to a prescription medicine–yes, it was that bad!). My sister suffers from dry skin even now, while I’ve lucked out with mostly normal skin (though my legs can get scaly). Aveeno is a brand I trust to help me cope with making sure my legs are dragonscale-free so I can show ‘em off all summer long without scaring away the children!

This summer, I am really loving their Eczema Care Body Wash & Moisturizing Cream ($9.99 each) (not pictured), because these two products are meant to soothe and help with the most intense skin issues. I use these and my legs feel SO soft and hydrated, even as the day wears on. I actually feel pretty good just using the body wash, surprisingly! If I’m running late, I imagine I could probably skip lotioning up if I had to and be okay. Their Stress Relief Foaming Bath ($5.99) is a soothing bath additive to help you come down from the excitement of the day, and the soft notes of lavender and chamomile, along with ylang-ylang, definitely turn a terrible day into one you can cope with. And you know me, I’m a total lip balm junkie, and we often forget to put SPF on our lips, so here’s Essential Moisture ($3.49) to save the day with SPF 15 in a product that keeps my lips moisturized for hours.

Find more Aveeno products at www.aveeno.com.

Have you used Aveeno products?  Do you like them?

What’s my new favorite product to use in the shower? Clean & Clear’s In-Shower Facial ($6.99). When I initially used this product, I was immediately reminded of my Prescriptives Instant Gratification must-have. It gives me very similar results (though I do feel that Px’s is a bit more intense and the effect of soft skin lasts longer, but it is also much, much more expensive).

The In-Shower Facial is a gritty gray scrub that you apply to your face, let it sit for a minute, and then gently scrub for about thirty seconds and rinse off with warm water. It’s designed to be used in the shower, so that the steam and heat help the product to work. Clean & Clear boasts about its usage of glycolic acid, which is an exfoliant to help in cell turnover, matched with clay that helps to remove dirt and oil out of skin and pores. They have also opted for a moisturizing complex that is designed for younger skin, which makes this product great for teenagers (although I love it, and I’m out of my teen years, even if I feel 12 most of the time!).

This product is meant to be used once every other day or so, between one and three times a week. I used it as much as three times per week, and my skin didn’t have any adverse reactions, so it’s definitely worth using that often. At $5.99, I consider it a skincare bargain, but the truth is, you don’t need more than a pea size or so amount to cover your face, so this product lasts. I think mine has been in my shower for about two months now, and I do use it regularly. It has definitely earned its spot in my shower caddy (which is overflowing, so only the best of the best make it in there!).  Because of its bargain price, I have to urge you to at least give it a shot.  Your skin will feel like the smoothest silk!

Have you tried this product?  What did you think?

One of the few things I miss about southern California is CVS/Pharmacy, which is a national drugstore chain, but there just aren’t many locations (I think there is just one or two) in northern California.  Let me first rave about CVS’ fabulous return policy–all beauty products are refundable, any time, no matter what; there is a 100% money back guarantee on all beauty products.  This is one of the crucial reasons why I have preferred shopping at a department store beauty counter, because I could try and not worry about whether or not I can return.  Well, times are changing, and CVS has made it easier to go drugstore by making returns easy as pie.

Why should you go store brand? Read the rest of this entry »

Physician’s Formula Giveaway!  Starting at 12:00pm EST on Wednesday, March 26th, visit http://physiciansformula.com/OrganicWearBlushGiveaway/ and enter to win a free Organic Wear Blush. Winners will receive an email with a printable coupon that they can bring to any participating Physicians Formula mass market and drugstore retailers to select their Organic Wear Blush shade – and will then walk out of the store with a free blush.  There will be 1,000 blushes given away, so your chances are pretty good!

Good luck everyone!

Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub ($6.99) is an anti-acne facial scrub that utilizes salicylic acid while exfoliating with microbeads to help slough away dead skin cells. This product is alcohol-free (alcohol is a huge no-no in skin products!), which is always a big plus when considering an exfoliant and regular skin product. It does have menthol in it, which gives the product its tingling sensation when used. I find I keep this in my shower caddy and reach for it occasionally. It does tickle my nose a bit, because of the menthol, but I know I’m a bit overly sensitive when it comes to that kind of thing. The microbeads are incredibly gentle, and I feel like this is a good abrasiveness level for an everyday or every other day scrub.

Get yours at drugstore.com or your local drugstore!

Biore Mandarin Blossom Nose Strips ($6.99 for 8) is a twist on their traditional deep cleansing nose strips, because they are now lightly scented with a citrusy scent of mandarin blossom (this is a limited edition offering). These strips bond with dirt and help remove build-up after wearing the strip for ten to fifteen minutes. It is recommended that these strips are used once a week to help remove weekly build-up from deep within the skin (which means those eight strips will last you two months, not bad for the price!). It is really important that you follow directions (cleanse thoroughly, dampen the nose, and wait!) to maximize the results. Just a helpful FYI based on experience, HA!  I find these work well enough to merit the weekly usage, and they are perfect for my weekly pamper-me-day.  The scent of mandarin blossom is really light and reminds me a bit of taking a jaunt the spa - not at all a heady or overwhelming scent at all.

Get yours at drugstore.com or at your local drugstore.

Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Natural Origin Blush in Pink Organics ($11.95) is a gorgeous shade of subtle berry pink with a cute leaf imprint in the middle of it (a few shades lighter than the outer color). The color goes on smoothly, and the texture is like velvet, not chalky. As part of the Organic Wear line, it is 100% free of synthetic preservatives, parabens, GMOs, and it is cruelty-free. It is made with 16% certified organic ingredients for those who are trying to be more eco-friendly with their beauty. The packaging is biodegradable, making it economical and good for the environment. You can learn more about this line by going to www.organicwearmakeup.com.
Find these at www.weieast.com or www.hsn.com.

Physician’s Formula Mineral Wear™ Talc-Free Mineral Lip Sheen in Quartz ($7.95)

What I liked:  It comes in a hand-dandy lip tube with the applicator being a curved plastic “lipstick shape.”  It’s convenient to apply on-the-go and when you don’t have a mirror nearby.  I found the sheen that it gives you to be pleasant, nothing frosty or over-the-top, which makes it a great gloss for everyday wear or just to add glossiness to any lipstick.  The shade I tried was “Quartz,” which is obviously a sheer, non-color option.  I can’t speak for intensity of the other variations (five colored ones) and whether they add much color to lips or not.

What I disliked:  There was nothing really that I disliked, but I find that it doesn’t meet a need that I have, which is why it is just so-so.  The price seems a little high to me, for a drugstore gloss, that really just adds a touch of shimmer/glossiness.