The Coolest Toothpaste EVER.

Honestly, I never thought I'd see the day where I would be writing about....toothpaste! Yet, here I am. So, the other day.. well.. it was really about 2 a.m., I was in CVS browsing the aisles. I needed toothpaste, but I HAD to check out the makeup wall. It would be a sin not to. Anyway, after a while, I went to get the boring, old toothpaste I used before.

As I was walking to the front to pay for my items, I noticed a shiny display off to the side. Now, I'm one to be easily distracted by anything shiny or interesting, so of course I took a detour. On the display I found a new toothpaste line from Colgate called Max Fresh. It has tiny breath strips in it to give fresh breath that literally lasts for hours. But.. that's not what sold me.

The tube is clear! I think that's the most ingenious and cool, yet painfully obvious innovation I've seen in a long time. Don't you get frustrated trying to squeeze the life out of normal toothpaste tubes? At least with this, you can see that there is none left and judge when you need a new one. They have had those little toothpaste bottles, but I'm an old fashioned gal and prefer the normal squeezable tube. Way to bring toothpaste to the 21st century!

Bravo, Colgate.

The Best, Cheapest Facial Around

On a college student's budget (well, most budgets nowadays), maintaining yourself is THAT much more difficult. Between hair appointments, nails and eyebrow waxing, keeping up your image can be pricey. However, Clean & Clear Soft In-Shower Facial is making life just that much easier for all of us by bringing a professional facial feel to your shower.

"The In-Shower Facial treatment is applied to skin while steam produced by the hot water allows the ingredients to deep cleanse pores while infusing moisture into the skin. The SOFT In-Shower Facial is left on skin for one minute, then gently massaged into skin to exfoliate dead skin cells and extract impurities from pores. Skin is left feeling smooth and soft after just one minute. The SOFT In-Shower Facial features Glycolic Acid, an exfoliant that promotes gentle cell turnover, as well as clay, which draws the dirt and oil out..."

Source

I haven't used Clean & Clear products since I switched to Proactiv back in high school, but something about the attractive packaging and the promise of a great facial baited me in. Facials get pretty pricey. They can range from $60 to over $100 with extractions of blackheads. They also say that you should get them every month or two. Not practical.

I decided to give this product a try and I absolutely love it and recommend it. It might be slightly harsh for extremely sensitive skin, but if you only use it once a week or so, it shouldn't be too bad. It makes my skin feel deep cleaned and soft. This will definitely hold you over until you can afford the real thing.

TB Exclusive: Bath & Body Works Sexy, New Fragrance + Some New Old Favorites

Bath and Body Works has long since been a favorite at-home-spa destination of women all over the world, and a go-to store when looking to buy somebody a nice gift on the cheap. Nowhere else can you find such a broad assortment of lotions, body washes and everything else you could possibly ever need in your favorite fragrances! Lately, I've been trying to tear myself away from Sweet Pea and Moonlight Path and try something fresh and new.

I was pleasantly surprised by my two new favorite B&BW scents! I decided to try Sensual Amber and Enchanted Orchid.
Sensual Amber is a lovely "oriental" and "woody" fragrance. The top notes are: Bergamot, Wild Berries and Succulent Plum. The mid-notes are: White Rose, Orange Flower, Lotus Petals and Iris. Finally, the base notes consist of Amber, Creamy Sandalwood, Vanilla, Patchouli, Praline and Musk Captive. Basically, it is an extremely seductive scent because it has such a deep, sexy base scent but fades into floral and fruity delight. Luckily, I recently received the entire collection as a gift! I was soooo overjoyed. I love this fragrance!
My other fave is Enchanted Orchid. I love all things floral and exotic and the orchid is one of my favorite flowers. Now, it has turned out to be one of my fave scents. You will love it too if you love subtle, floral and citrusy fragrances that aren't too overbearing. The fragrance top notes are: Pink Grapefruit, Wet Greens, Waterlily and Crisp Apple. The mid-notes are: Calypso Orchid, Fresh Gardenia, Delicate Iris and Violet Petals. The base notes include Vanilla Orchid, Heliotrope, Creamy Amber and Skin Musk. Like Sensual Amber, Enchanted Orchid has a deep base, but is softened up even more with an abundance of floral extracts and fragrances.

The moral of the story is... try something new and you may just be pleasantly surprised!

P.S. Speaking of new, B&BW is revealing its "sexiest fragrance ever," dubbed Black Amethyst. Sounds sexy, right? The name reminds me of Black Orchid by Tom Ford. Anyway, the new line drops into stores on September 3rd or you can order it online NOW at "BOGO 50% off." It is "a hypnotic scent inspired by chic, sensual and confident women."


Fragrance top notes: Bergamot Italian Oprur, Juicy Mandarin, Sparkling Tangerine, Zesty Orange, Waterfruits, Crisp Melon
Fragrance mid notes: Lily of the Valley, Magnolia Blossom, Sheer Gardenia, Tuberose, Freesia, Peony Petals, Camellia
Fragrance base notes: Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Vanilla, Musk

[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.

[Product Junkie]: Neon-Bright Nails

'Tis the season to wear bold, bright colors! All of the new summer nail polish collections from OPI, Essie, Chanel and more feature the latest trend - neon brights. Rihanna was the first celebrity to start wearing daring nail colors such as bright orange, green, blue, yellow and fuchsia. However, now the entire world is catching on.

The other day, I was browsing through my new favorite haunt - Ulta - and I stopped at the nail polish section. I needed sunglasses, those polishes were so bright! I love bright colors, but I just can't see myself with bright yellow nails...

I was, however, drawn to fuchsia and the other hot pink shades. Fuchsia nail polish looks great on all skin tones, and will still give you the look that's hot this summer.

These are some of my favorite shades of pink/fuchsia that I saw and tried on in the store. From left to right, they are: Essie, "Bachelorette Bash"; Essie, "Short Shorts"; OPI, "Dutch Tulips"; OPI, "La Paz-itively Hot"; OPI, "Fuschia Fever"; OPI, "I'm Indi-a Mood for Love"; and Sally Hansen Salon Nail Lacquer in "Cherry Nice."

TIP: When you wear bright nail polish, make sure to wear a base coat and a topcoat to keep your manicure looking fresh. There is nothing worse than neon nail polish that's chipped up! There is definitely no hiding that...

What are your favorite nail polish shades?

[Product Junkie]: Beauty 911 Kit

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July! Take this time to have fun with your family and friends, relax or do whatever makes you happiest.

In a previous post, I mentioned the importance of looking presentable at all times. One of the easiest ways to do this is by always having a "Beauty 911 Kit" that you can transfer from your school bag to your handbag and more. Here are my picks for the essential products that can fit in every purse you own!




The "Beauty 911 Kit" gives you a sense of empowerment and versatility. Even if you decide to leave the house without makeup, if you get invited to dinner or have to run to a last-minute meeting, you can quickly give yourself a boost with these items, or similar products of your choosing.

[Product Junkie]: Coral Craze

Coral has been one of my favorite colors forever and I'm so elated to see that it is one of the hottest beauty trends for the summer. Coral was dubbed "Every woman's prettiest lip color" in the July issue of Glamour Magazine. I can assure you that it is. There are several different shades and textures out on the market - from glossy to matte. Wear it for a fun daytime look or a sassy night-on-the-town. No matter what, this shade will set you apart from the crowd.


Celebrities wearing the look:

Rihanna

Rachel Bilson

Here are some coral-toned beauty products that have the Truly Beautiful stamp of approval:

L'Oreal Pro Manicure Nail Polish in 'Salmon Sarong', $4.99, is a beautiful orange-y coral shade that is great for the summer. It is universally flattering on any skin tone. At $4.99, you can afford to take a risk on such a bright color!

MAC Lipstick (Amplified Creme) in 'Vegas Volt', $14, is described on maccosmetics.com as "full power coral." It definitely is! It is a high-charged shot of semi-matte coral pink for the lips. It goes on smoothly, and can be applied lightly for daytime or more intensely for a night-time look. It should be worn with very simple eye-makeup because the color is bright. This is not for the faint at heart or for shrinking daisies.

MAC Lipgelee in 'Glosspitality', $14, is one of my favorite lip glosses! This is my #1 pick for a summer lip gloss. MAC has Lipgelee available in several shades, so there is a one for everyone's taste. This color, a lovely peachy-coral, is a nice way to ease into the bright lip trend.

Other recommendations:

MAC Tinted Lipglass in Lychee Luxe is a "bright pinky-coral with golden shimmer"

MAC Lipstick in Ramblin' Rose (Frost) is a "floralesque, pinky-coral rose"