No More Blackheads?: Clean & Clear Advantage Blackhead Eraser

Okay, so I went to Ulta the other day and I was meandering the aisles aimlessly as most beauty junkies like myself would. Then, this lady from the salon portion of the store came out of nowhere and starts trying to sell me her facial treatments. I was taken aback, but I decided to see what she was offering. It turns out they had this contraption which was basically a camera that gives extreme close-ups of your skin, so they can diagnose what is wrong and what products you might need. I was scared to see my skin zoomed times 1 million, but I figured, why not?

It wasn't that bad until the lady got the camera to my nose. She was like, "when was the last time you got a facial!" My blackheads were waving at her, I guess.

I got my first and only facial about a year ago. She sounded appalled when I told her. She said you are supposed to get them monthly. At that point, I knew that my solution would not be getting regular facials because they are $55 a pop. So... that brings me to the quest for a solution to blackheads!

I decided to try the Clean & Clear Advantage Blackhead Eraser ($18). If it does what it promises, I'm sure we will all be happier women.

At first the device was a bit confusing to me, so here's how it works.

The little machine itself is cute and compact enough for travel, but it's a bit on the large side if you are trying to get rid of blackheads on your nose and in other smaller areas of your face.
First, you have to put in the battery, which comes with the machine. Then, you twist the cap shut. The cap is also the on-off switch.
Put on one of the blackhead removing sponge pads at the velcro-like end of the machine. These pads come with it, but you have to buy re-fills.
Wet the end of the sponge, until it starts to get foamy.
Finally, turn on the Blackhead Eraser and run it on your face in slow, circular motions. Focus it on areas that you want to target. For me, that would be my nose.

I think that this product is okay, but it doesn't really get you instant results. My face was smooth after I used this, but I could still see my blackheads clear as day. This is good for overall facial exfoliation, but if you have very sensitive skin, it could irritate your face.

If you are looking for a quick fix, this is not the product for you. Skip it.

[Healthy Hair]: Redken Extreme Anti-Snap

Have you finished washing, drying and ironing - basically full-on abusing- your hair to find that the bathroom floor is covered with broken ends? Yeah, it really sucks. It turns out that this kind of breakage is what keeps your hair from growing longer! However, there is hope yet!

Redken Extreme Anti-Snap is the solution to help stave off breakage. This product was recommended to me by a hair consultant at JCPenney salon, so I decided to give it a try. She said it was perfect for dry hair that has split or brittle ends.

Why It Works:

• Helps fortify hair that's prone to breaking, splitting or snapping off
• Gently smoothes the cuticle
• Reduces friction from brushing and helps prevent further damage
• Leaves hair healthy, shiny and resilient

Source

In my experience, I found that this was the perfect leave-in conditioner. I really liked that it was lightweight and didn't make my hair sticky. I hate when a product leaves my hair with residue, making it feel heavy. Anti-Snap was just the opposite. Also, I noticed significantly less breakage. My barometer was my bathroom floor and hairbrush.

I applied Anti-Snap after my normal shampoo and deep conditioner, then proceeded with the "abuse" of blow drying and ironing my hair. I noticed that my hair was softer and my ends were still intact! Also, I really like how Redken products smell. It leaves your hair with that clean, yet not overly fragranced smell.

When I finish my travel bottle, I will definitely be purchasing the full-size bottle. The verdict is... Get It!

The full size, 8.5 oz bottle is available at basically any salon that you go to. It ranges in price from $13.99 to $17.69 or so. It is kinda pricey, but it is worth your hair's health to purchase this product. A way to beat the system is to buy the travel size bottle, available at Ulta for $3.95. It is a non-committal way to see if you really like Anti-Snap before buying the big size. The travel size will last you a while if you use it once a week as a fortifying treatment.

Check out some more reviews at Epinions.

[The Verdict]: Milani Brow Kit

With the economy as bad as it is nowadays, sometimes it's hard to splurge on luxury makeup products that we really don't technically need. Yet, sometimes drugstore makeup just isn't the same no matter how hard you try to squint in the mirror.

I've made it one of the missions of TB to help you out by testing and narrowing down the best products of the drugstore bunch, and also by finding the products that you should splurge on. This way you save both time and money.

The first review is for Milani "Brow Fix" Brow Kit.

As you know from my previous post, I'm an eyebrow maniac! I love to keep my brows looking as fresh as possible at all times. I've always been curious about those "miracle" eyebrow kits, which can supposedly give you spectacular looking eyebrows, like the ones by the guru Anastasia, which can be up to $65! One day, as I was perusing the aisles of my local CVS, I spotted this kit by Milani. Now, I know Milani isn't the best drugstore brand, but this product seemed different. It has the same contents as the more expensive kits but in a tiny pocket-sized version. At only $6.95, it's perfect, right? Maybe not....

The small compact contains 6 items:
A straight edged, steel tweezer, slanted brow brush, brow bone sponge applicator, 1 brow bone highlighter and 2 brow powders (light & dark) to fill & shape brows.

The company describes the product as a "brow grooming-shaping kit that will help you create a perfect set of arches."

With these kinds of claims, I decided to give it a go and try this product. I tried using the tweezer that it comes with, only to find that it was of horrible quality! I had to try to pluck the same eyebrow hair several times - a tell-tale sign that you need a new tweezer. I tried the brow powder and highlighter and my eyebrows looked like Frida Kahlo's, which defeats the whole purpose of even buying such a product!

The powder did not blend well at all. It made me look like I needed a wax! Also, the highlighter didn't do it's job. I had to sigh in annoyance after using this product, because I have to take it right back from whence it came... CVS, here I come... again.

The only pro about the Milani Brow "Fix(?)" Kit is the small packaging. It fits in the palm of my hand and would be PERFECT for a beauty 911 kit, if only the product itself worked.

I will be trying out department store brow kits to see if those are worth the money. I'm willing to bet that they probably are because of the better quality ingredients and formulation.

The verdict for this product?

Skip it.

Banish Dry Skin & Ash: The Best Drug-Store Body Moisturizers

Dry skin sucks! Have you ever rushed out of the house only to find that you forgot to lotion up? I hate it when that happens (though, that's only second to the horror of forgetting deodorant)! Anyway, dry skin is the bane of human existence. Contrary to popular belief, dry skin or xerosis (yes, it is a medical condition!) is a year-round problem, not one only emerging in the cold, winter months.

Even in the summer, there is nothing worse than being itchy and looking down and seeing thirsty, dry skin cells shriveling up for lack of moisture. Okay, that was dramatic...but it's true!

Also, some lotions don't even work for people with extremely dry skin or common skin conditions such as eczema. There is nothing more frustrating than having a cabinet full of lotions that barely do the job - a true waste of space and money.

Let's banish parched skin and allow soft, beautiful skin to show through! Here are the absolute best body moisturizers and moisturizing techniques that will end your dry spell for good.

Johnson's Baby Oil Gel in Lavender, $4.29, is definitely not just for the little ones. This product will give you moisturized skin that lasts all day (and maybe even into the next!). After you shower, while water is still on your skin, apply a small amount of the gel to your body. Then towel off as normal, and voila! The water on your skin will seal the moisture from the gel into your skin cells.

Olay Quench, $9.99, is one of the best body lotions out there for the summertime. It is a very light formulation, but it packs a punch of moisture! Your skin will feel so smooth and luxurious after you apply this lotion. It is worth the price because you will definitely be trying to beat the last drop out of this bottle.

When you use Aveeno Stress Relief Moisturizing Lotion, $7.99, you will feel like you are being pampered like a queen in a spa. The aromatherapy in this lotion is the selling point. The scent is not overpowering, but it is enough to soothe the senses. Also, this lotion is very emollient and will keep your skin feeling VERY soft.

Okay, I know you were intrigued by the really cool commercial too. I admit that I was lured in to buy Vaseline Intensive Rescue because of the ingenious marketing campaign, but I was pleased to learn that this lotion is the best that Vaseline has to offer! It costs $7.89 for the large bottle, so it's perfect if you're on a budget. It goes on very smoothly and isn't too heavy at all! It's extreme moisturization and you really will feel a big difference in your skin.

If you follow this guide, you will be able to skip the junk on the drugstore shelves and zone in on the products that REALLY work, tried and tested by yours truly.

[Cheap & Chic]: Napoleon Perdis Makeup on SALE

You know when there is this one beauty product that you desperately want to try but it's waaaay beyond your budget? Well, you can stop living off of free samples (I do it too...) and buy the real thing!

The entire Napoleon Perdis make-up line is on clearance at Sephora! You might be wondering: 'Who the heck is Napoleon Perdis?' I did too, but it barely matters who he is because his products are so amazing.

"Napoleon Perdis, Australia's leading makeup artist, created his line of products back in 1993 to explore and experiment his way to new beauty heights. Today, he has a cult following that's as illustrious as his can't-live-without face and body collections. Perdis' line of simple yet luxurious makeup celebrates and empowers natural beauty, and allows you to easily turn the latest runway trends into your own reality. Epitomized by the brand's butterfly emblem, Perdis encourages women to experience a beauty metamorphosis." - Sephora.com

I reviewed his Lip Lacquer, which I find to be his best product, in a previous article. Normally retailing for $20, this lacquer is on sale for $10! 50% off. However, colors extremely limited. Sephora.com only has one shade left called 'Baby Lips' which is a pinkish-reddish-mauve color with a slight gold shimmer.

It looks like this against my skin tone, but I think it is universally flattering.

"Ultimate lip service. Create a chandelier shine for your lips. Conjure up the perfect pout with this lush lip nectar. Double beauty duty, drenching lips in a sparkling too-good-to-be-true shine, while providing real treatment benefits. Protects, conditions, and locks in moisture with an extensive blend of Avocado, Jojoba, Chamomile, and Hazelnut oils. Healing benefits come courtesy of Vitamin E and the exotic Kukui Nut to protect lips from sun, surf, and neglect. Size: 0.75 oz" - Sephora.com

Get the lip lacquer and some of his other products on the cheap while you still can, before they are discontinued in U.S. retailers! It's horrib of me to say this, but we are definitely benefiting from poor Napoleon's misfortune in this case.