The first product is one that I was really skeptical of. Anyone who knows me knows that, until recently, my sleeping habits were anything but ordinary, because of that, I have definitely noticed an increase in those horrible dark, puffy circles under my eyes. Thankfully, I seem to have remedied the sleep problem (10 years of exhaustion fixed in two weeks, without medication, I might add). But even though I'm sleeping more, or just plain sleeping, the puffiness and the dark circles are still there. So when the Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Puff eye roller came out claiming to help eliminate those problems without any sort of surgery, "too good to be true" immediately popped into my head.
But, I gave it a try and I have to say, it actually does work. My skin is not totally perfect, but the dark circles are definitely lighter and the puffiness is minimized. It's incredibly easy to use, you just roll it across the skin under your eyes from the inner corner to the outer corner. That's it. They have different formulas of the same style (ie the roller instead of a cream) you can use. There's another Skin Renew specifically for dark circles, and an Ultra Lift one for wrinkles. But even though the one I tried is formulated for puffiness, I did notice a positive effect it had on the dark circles (and I don't have a serious problem with wrinkles...yet). The cost is a bit high, averaging around $10 to $11 but it will last you a long time, so I think it would be worth it to invest. And it's available just about everywhere, you can get it basically anywhere skin and beauty products are sold, Walmart, CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Target, your local grocery store, etc.
But, I gave it a try and I have to say, it actually does work. My skin is not totally perfect, but the dark circles are definitely lighter and the puffiness is minimized. It's incredibly easy to use, you just roll it across the skin under your eyes from the inner corner to the outer corner. That's it. They have different formulas of the same style (ie the roller instead of a cream) you can use. There's another Skin Renew specifically for dark circles, and an Ultra Lift one for wrinkles. But even though the one I tried is formulated for puffiness, I did notice a positive effect it had on the dark circles (and I don't have a serious problem with wrinkles...yet). The cost is a bit high, averaging around $10 to $11 but it will last you a long time, so I think it would be worth it to invest. And it's available just about everywhere, you can get it basically anywhere skin and beauty products are sold, Walmart, CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Target, your local grocery store, etc.Product: Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller
Ave. Cost: $11
Eugene's Vote: Must Get It!!
I think every other commercial for the past few weeks has been touting the awesomeness of Tresemme's new line of dry shampoo. Since I'm not fortunate enough to have my mother's hair, which only needs to be washed once or twice a week, a product to help save my hair from dirt and oil and return its 'first day shine' would be WONDERFUL!! Suffice it to say, I was pretty excited to try it.
But sadly, I can't say I was terribly thrilled. It definitely hid the appearance of oil and grease, but my hair felt heavy and the amount of time I spent styling my hair equaled the amount it would take to dry and straighten it, had I just washed it in the first place. I had posted my discontent on twitter and the wonderfully entertaining Tabayag posted how much she liked it, "But I go for the grungy rockstar look." I will say that if I overslept and didn't have time to shower, this would save me for an extra day, but I would definitely put my hair up. The cost was relatively low, averaging around $3 to $6, depending on where you buy it, but again, it's available everywhere. And from the looks of things, Tresemme is pushing this product pretty hard, so you could probably find a coupon pretty easily, either in your weekly Sunday paper or in a store circular.Product: Tresemme Dry Shampoo for Straight Hair*
Ave. Cost: $4
Eugene's Vote: Nice to have in a pinch, but not a necessity.
This next product, I will say, has been flying low on the radar, but the concept is picking up some serious steam. You talk to any hair stylist or watch any video on Youtube from an experienced guru, and I guarantee they will mention a heat-protectant spray. Since my hair has been dyed and blowdryed up the ying-yang in the past year, I'm looking for any way to get it back to its 'virgin hair' health. Now, I will be honest, I picked Suave because when I was in the grocery store, they had the lowest price, but I have used Suave products before, from shampoos to body washes, and been very satisfied.
The satisfaction continues! I LOVED LOVED LOVED Suave's Heat Protection spray. It was lightweight, didn't way down my hair, it smelled great, and it was hugely affordable. Sometimes hair products try too hard to have a distinctly yummy smell that they just become overpowering and you smell like you bathed in your grandmother's perfume. Not pretty. And I will say this, I use a LOT of hair products: leave-in conditioner, hydrating cream, styling cream, shine-boosting oil, and either a finishing wax or hairspray. So the idea of loading on another product was a little scary, but I was pleasantly surprised.
The satisfaction continues! I LOVED LOVED LOVED Suave's Heat Protection spray. It was lightweight, didn't way down my hair, it smelled great, and it was hugely affordable. Sometimes hair products try too hard to have a distinctly yummy smell that they just become overpowering and you smell like you bathed in your grandmother's perfume. Not pretty. And I will say this, I use a LOT of hair products: leave-in conditioner, hydrating cream, styling cream, shine-boosting oil, and either a finishing wax or hairspray. So the idea of loading on another product was a little scary, but I was pleasantly surprised.Product: Suave Heat Protection Spray
Ave. Cost: $4
Eugene's Vote: Must Have (if you use heated styling tools)
The last product is not a new find for me, but I've definitely noticed it's harder to find than last year. Burt's Bees is a pretty well-known brand these days. They're all-natural, which is a HUGE selling point, and they offer a wide variety of beauty products from lip shimmers to bath oils and body washes. My personal favorite is the Mama Bee Body Oil. It has literally changed my life.
For those not 'in the know,' I have a skin disorder called ichthyosis which causes my skin to be, among other things, beyond super dry. I have the mildest and most common form, so most of the time, it's not a hinderance, but when the winter months rolls in, my skin gets so dry that it actually hurts. When I was a baby, my ankles would get so dry it would actually crack open and bleed. When the weather gets colder and dryer, I usually have to slather on lotion five or six times a day. Not just any lotion, because scented ones that actually smell good cause my skin to have an uncomfortable reaction. But then, last winter, my mom found this lovely little product and I'm back to having normal, hydrated skin (well, sort of). Immediately after you turn off the water in the shower, rub a little bit of the oil on your legs, arms, back, anywhere that gets really dry, then pat yourself dry. Then apply lotion like normal. With this lovely, wonderful, magnificent bottle, I only have to put lotion on in the morning after my shower and at night before I go to bed. My skin doesn't feel like it's going to rip open, which, if you ask me, is a REALLY good thing.
Product: Burt's Bees Mama Bee Body Oil
Ave. Cost: $6
Eugene's Vote: ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE IT!!!
These are just a few products that I thought I'd share my opinion on, nothing too earth-shattering, but if you're curious about a product but hesitant to try it, isn't it better if someone else can tell you if they like it or not?
Happy Living!!
