Gillette Venus and Olay Shower and Shave Cream Review

Product Sent for Review




Last year I got laser hair removal, which was great as I no longer felt like Chewbacca's sister. However, I'm not 100% hair free and I do still need to shave every few days. My hair is much more sparse than before the laser, and it grows very slowly, but I do prefer to be super smooth if I'm swimming or wearing shorts.

Which means I still shave every few days, but I can be much sloppier about it! I fully admit that I'll often just go over my lower legs with a razor when I'm lathered up with body wash. It isn't quite as smooth as when I use an actual shave gel, but it's all that I need most of the time in the winter. I've found that using body wash is about 75% as smooth as a shave gel.

So, I was pretty interested when Venus & Olay sent me their Shower and Shave Cream! It's a body wash that's meant to do exactly what I've been doing, help you shave with just the body wash. Except that this product is formulated to work that way.



I want to point out the fine print that I found on the bottle. This product is sold under two names, this is apparently one of the Olay Moisture Ribbons body washes, just repackaged. As long as you're aware of this, it's fine. I checked the price of the product at a few local stores (Meijer, Target and Walmart) and the price per ounce was always within a few cents of each other.

This is a very moisturizing body wash, and it does have a nice light vanilla scent. I found that it has a great lather, and yes, that lather can be used to help you shave. And it actually is a closer shave than with my "normal" Olay body wash, though not quite as close as with a regular shaving gel. It is smooth though! It works well enough that on a recent trip I didn't bring any shave gel, despite planning to wear shorts and swim every day. It saved me time in the shower and room in my suitcase.

At home I'm swapping my previous Olay body wash to this one for the summer, though I'll still keep some shave gel in my shower in case I feel the need to be extra smooth.

You can find it at Target, Walmart, or ULTA
Product Sent for Review

0

Finally, A Razor That Travels Easily: Gillette Venus Snap Review

Product Sent for Review, Affiliate Links


So yes. I spent a lot of money on laser hair removal last year, but that just means that I'm no longer a Wookie. I still have to shave, but it's about once every week or so. In the summer when I swim a lot, I shave a little more often (about every 4-5 days) simply because I like to be super smooth in the pool. Which means that I still take a razor with me when I travel.



Have you seen this amazing little razor from Gillette? I admit that I'm a razor snob, I only use Venus blades, usually the ones with Olay integrated into them. This small handle works perfectly with my regular Venus blades, but is smaller and easier to pack up. Despite the small size, it fits well in my hand and I don't feel like it's difficult to maneuver.

1

Alba Botanica Very Emollient Foam Shave Review

Product Sent for Review


I'm always up for trying new products, and I admit that I've been "stuck" for a while with my typical Skintimate shave gel and Venus razors. I very rarely deviate, and it has been years! Alba Botanica sent me their Very Emollient Foam Shave to try out, and I have to say that I've finally found a product that makes me rethink my perpetual repurchasing of the Skintimate.

The first thing to know about the Alba Botanica is that it is aerosol free. So, instead of a metal can putting who knows what out into the environment, this is a plastic bottle, which using an air pump will give you a light loose foam. It's foamy enough that you can easily spread the product on your skin. But, it isn't very well formed, it dissipates pretty quickly. Which really doesn't have anything to do with how well it works. Just don't expect crazy foam that sticks around.

The next thing that's important is actually my favorite part. It. Smells. Amazing. Yes. Like, I wish it was a perfume. Or at least a smelly lotion. This is Mango Vanilla, and it is definitely more mango than vanilla. It isn't too sweet, not fake at all, it's something that if offered in smoothie form I would drink down very quickly. Yum!

Finally, does this stuff actually work? Yes, it does. I'm used to the super thick foam from my Skintimate, so this was something to adjust to. But, it does lubricate shaving. It doesn't hurt, it definitely helps me get a close shave and my skin feels super soft afterwards.

I will have to go a bit out of my way to keep buying the Alba Botanica (they don't sell this product at some of my more typical stores), but I like the idea of a close shave without aerosols. And that smell.... mmmmmmm....

Alba Botanica
Product Sent for Review

0

Is It Really that Painful? I try out the Silk Epil 7

Product Sent for Review
Recently, the nice people from Braun asked me if I'd be willing to let them send me an Epil. And then I'd have to use it. I agreed, but I have to admit that it was a hard decision to make. I had tried epilation in the past, and while it was nice that most of the hairs were taken care of for a few weeks, I prefer to be smoother (so I was still shaving) and it just hurt too much to keep up with.

But, in the name of beauty I decided I would try it and report back on how it went. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, actually it was quite a bit better than last time.

13

Silk'n Flash and Go Update: Did At Home Laser Hair Removal Work?

Product Sent for Review Affiliate Links

A few years ago I bought my first at home laser hair removal machine, the Silk'n Sens Epil. I used it for a while and was getting great results... and then I was pregnant and not able to continue using the machine. While I've yet to really find the time to pick the machine back up and treat everything, I really wanted to at least treat a few areas on my face. But, that big machine was a bit of a pain to drag out and even though treating my face would take only a few seconds, it was just a bit too much hassle.

So, recently I was sent the Flash and Go from Silk'n, which features the same technology at the Sens Epil machine, but with only 3 intensity settings instead of 5, and a much smaller and compact size. Yes, it is pretty much the size and set up of a phaser that Captain Kirk would use. It's also small enough that I've just left it in the corner of my makeup vanity area, quickly plug it in when I am going to use it, so it takes about 1-2 minutes at the most to do a treatment. Love that!

It does take a while to see results. I have treated myself about every 2 weeks since November, and I'm just now starting to see a decrease in hair. I think it did take longer to see results than with the Sens Epil, simply because I had that on setting 5 and this was setting 3. Also, I'm sure that my hair is all in very different phases of growth due to continual waxing/plucking, and things were just going in and out of phase. This is much more true on my face than on my legs (where I mostly used the Sens Epil, and which I typically just shave).

I'll definitely be continuing with the Flash and Go. I love how quick and easy it is to use, and I'm already seeing results. While not super cheap at $299, it is much less than the $500-750 that a friend was recently quoted for professional laser hair removal in the same area. (ote that neither pro or at home laser hair removal are completely permanent. You'll need touch ups no matter which way you go. My touch ups are just done at home with the same machine, no appointments needed!

If you're thinking about using an at home hair removal laser, you should definitely go and read my post about how at home laser hair removal works and figure out if you're a good candidate first!


Read more:
Silk'n Sens Epil Review and Overview of the science behind at home laser hair removal
Flash & Go and Sens Epil comparision



Silk'n
Product Sent for Review Affiliate Links

56

At Home Laser Hair Removal Part Dos: Silk'n Flash&Go Review

Product Sent for Review Affiliate Links


A few years ago, I became fed up with shaving. I decided to try out at home laser hair removal. Luckily, my husband was on board with this, and let me go and spend a ton of money on a Silk'n SensEpil. (Read my original at home laser hair removal post) While I had good results with the SensEpil, I was pregnant a few months later, and since it is a no-no to use it while pregnant, I stopped. Pregnancy hormones lost all the ground I had made with my laser (meaning, while I had been down to shaving once a week, I was now super hairy again. Thanks hormones), and after having my baby I had no time to restart with the laser due to blog, job, and new tiny human.

Recently, I decided that I needed to start using my machine again, though I wouldn't have time to do everything, like I want to. I'd start with my facial hair. However, that SensEpil is a bit big and cumbersome to drag out. Then the at home laser hair removal fairy came to visit me (meaning, Silk'n emailed me to see if I'd review a product), and I now have an amazing new at home laser! Luckily, this one is way easier to pull out and spend 2 or 3 minutes zapping away.

And yes, it definitely looks like a Star Trek phaser. Just don't try making me wear the red shirt. Nope.

I'm just starting to use it this week, so it will be a while before I can tell you if this one works as well as the SensEpil did for me. (FYI, that SensEpil Review reviews the SensEpil and goes over how it works.) The Flash&Go works exactly the same way, except it is a little smaller.

I thought I'd go over the differences between the machines. Since they're both available on the market, hopefully this will help a few people decide which machine to buy.



Yes, I'm a nerd and still store my SensEpil over 2 years later in the original box (those boxes are the exact same size, by the way). My Flash&Go came with an extra bulb insert, I don't remember if my SensEpil did as well.


When you pull them out, you can immediately see how much smaller and more simple the Flash&Go is than the SensEpil.

I didn't include the pictures, but the Flash&Go actually came with 2 different plugs. It's the same power cord, but there are 2 inserts, 1 for US plugs and 1 for... somewhere else. It is 2 long and skinny round pegs. I'm not sure where it works. It's likely most of Western Europe, because I'm pretty sure my friends the Canadians use the same plugs as us, though I haven't been there for a long time so maybe I'm remembering something wrong.

The controls are much easier to use than they look. Turn it on, then hit + or - to go up and down between the 5 levels of intensity. The other lights are warnings about your skin being too dark (which it sometimes tells me even though I'm super pale), or to warn you that you're getting towards the end of your bulb life.

In addition to being smaller and easier to set up, the light bulb area on the Flash&Go is smaller than the SensEpil (4 cm vs 6 cm). The life of the bulb is also different, the Flash&Go has 1000 charges and SensEpil has only 750. So, while there are more charges, and that Flash&Go window is bigger than other at home laser hair removal devices on the market.... If you're looking to do a lot of hair removal in larger areas such as your legs, the SensEpil is probably a better choice for you. When I have time to start treating my legs again I'll definitely be breaking that one out. In the meantime, I want to treat my face, so the Flash&Go is perfect!


I'll update in a few weeks to let you know how it is going with the Flash&Go.

Read more:
Silk'n Sens Epil Review and Overview of the science behind at home laser hair removal
Flash & Go Update!




Silk'n
Product Sent for Review Affiliate Links
I purchased the SensEpil and Silk'N sent me the Flash&Go

5

Nair Face Roll On Facial Wax Review: I Am Confused by the Lack of Pain

Yesterday I shared a Nair Brazilian Spa Clay Face Cream Hair Remover review, today I'm featuring the other popular option from Nair, the Roll on Facial Wax.

Not everyone wants to use a depilatory cream. I'm a wax girl myself. But, I usually use the wax strips that are ready to use, not the heat up wax. This is pretty easy to use. There is a little tube of wax, just throw it in a sink of hot water for about 3 minutes. When it's nice and melted, it will feel more liquidy, BUT the wax is not hot. It isn't going to burn you. Just unscrew the top and put on the little roller pictured here, which allows you to direct where the wax will go. The box includes a little wooden stick if you're very particular about where the wax goes (aka- if you're applying anywhere near your brows). I didn't need to use it since I was doing my upper lip. I just rolled it on and it went on in a perfect layer, super simple.

I did wait about 1 minute, and then I used the included cotton strips. They're thick and more like a fabric than a cotton swab, it was hard to describe. I just pushed down on it, and pulled back. I really felt like... nothing happened. It didn't hurt. I barely felt it. Huh? Why didn't it hurt? It should have in order to remove the hair, right?

I next washed my face to remove residual wax. The sugar wax can just be rinsed off with water, and it was really easy to get all traces of the wax to vanish. You'd never know it was there!

The real test was sitting in front of my magnifying mirror. Yes, I have one of those crazy ones with daylight bulbs and 10x magnification. This baby shows everything. I was a bit shocked to see that the only thing left was a few hairs that were really too short to be grabbed by the wax. Everything else was gone. I really was expecting a massive failure after the lack of horrible pain that I associate with waxing. What is this craziness???


Nair

8

Nair Brazilian Spa Clay Face Cream Hair Remover Review

In the past I may have had less than fun experiences with this brand. Why? I don't really have sensitive skin, but I've had issues with painful tingling, redness, irritation and even welts after using regular formulations. And yet... the hair was still there. So, I was a bit nervous about applying this product.

But, I shouldn't have been so nervous! This is a light peach-ivory cream that comes out of a tube that to me looks very much like a lip balm tube. It even has the angled tip! You just need to spread it a little in a light layer, no need to rub it into the skin.

Now, this is the part that is usually horrible for me. This is when my skin starts tingling, and then it tingles more, and then it starts to hurt, and then I can barely stand it any more and wipe everything off right at the minimum time. And, oh look! I reveal red and irritated skin (sometimes with welts) and there is... still... hair there. Arg.

But, that's all in the past. This stuff tingled very mildly, and really it was just enough that I knew something was on but not any more than that. It didn't escalate and it didn't hurt. I tested an area at the 5 minute mark (the box recommended 5 to 10 minutes) and guess what? Everything came off. Revealing clear, non-irritated skin that didn't have hair on it.

Oh, and yes, this still smells like a hair depilatory product. (I think it's just the active ingredient and can really only be somewhat hidden, despite the best efforts of many companies.) The smell isn't overwhelming, it really didn't seem too bad to me. I could only smell it while the product was on and didn't linger on my skin.


Nair

8

Gillette Venus with Olay Razor Review: Finally an All In One that Works!

Recently I shared the news that there was a new Venus razor with Olay, and while I was excited about it... As usual I was a bit worried that the hydrating/razor gel strip things wouldn't be quite as good as a regular shave gel, and that they'd simply get in the way of a decent shave. This is usually a good idea that isn't well executed. I try them out only to revert to my normal razor and shave gel within the week.

Well, after having used this razor for about 2 weeks I can definitely that it is about time that someone figured out how to do this right! The Olay strips are every bit as good as a regular shave gel. They are hydrating, helped me get a smooth shave and they move so freely that they only got a bit in the way in the very tightest of corners (aka, near my bikini line a little), but it didn't make a big difference. That Olay strip actually lasts for the entire life of the razor as well. At the 2 week mark I need to change out my blade, but I still have about half of the Olay strips left. And, the 5 blades, in combination with the Olay strips, did give me a very close and smooth shave.

There really are 2 downsides to this razor. The first is that because the strips get moved a bit too much in tight spots (again, bikini line) they aren't as helpful there. I recommend still using a shave product there since that's the last place you want razor burn.

Second is obviously price. These things are a bit pricy. I'm planning to pick up a few more blades and use them throughout the summer. The results were definitely smoother than with my usual 3 bladed Venus razor heads, and I know I'll love it when running around in skirts and dresses.

Gillette Venus

0

More Hydration from your Razor? Olay in your Venus Razor

In the past I've been a bit ambivalent about those strips of product that appear on my razor. Have you ever noticed that they don't really do much? Except maybe make your razor harder to navigate in tighter areas like your underarm?

So, Gillette is releasing a new version of the product sandwiched razor. What makes this different is that they've teamed up with Olay to make the moisturizer actually work.

Why does this matter?

Venus did a little research, and they discovered that 60% of women claim skin concerns when it comes to shaving, including dryness, irritation, nicks and cuts. Even worse, 82% of women are "somewhat to extremely bothered by dry skin". That's a lot of women! So, every little bit of moisture will help.

Inside those bars you'll find some of Olay's typical ingredients, Petrolatum (an occlusive to help seal in moisture) and Glycerin (a humectant that helps to pull moisture to the skin). Satin Care, Gillette's shave gel, is releasing a new product with an Olay tie in as well, though it will contain Shea Butter.

I haven't tried the razor (or shave gel) yet. What do you think? To me it does sound more promising than many of those other razors with stuff on the sides.


Gillette Venus

0

Olay Facial Hair Remover Duo Review: Don't Be a Scary Hairy Person!

So...facial hair removal. This isn't something I address very often. Really, who wants to announce to the whole internet beauty blogging world that they have facial hair issues? Not me.

Though I do have some issues. I've mostly had problems since I had my daughter last year. Things just seem a bit thicker and darker than usual. I think this is mostly something that bugs me, and no one else notices. How often do you notice if the woman next to you in the checkout lane has one stray hair? Unless that hair is about six inches long, not very often. But if I'm the one with the single stray hair, I really notice that hair!

My self confidence definitely takes a hit.

Things I've tried in the past for hair removal on my face include hair removal creams, home waxing strips, and of course just tweezing away any strays. I'd love to just laser away everything, though that is expensive, and since most of my hair is fine and blonde I'm not an ideal candidate. I fully confess that I do sometimes use my at home laser hair removal system on it, though not often enough to have really seen much difference.

None of those previous hair removal methods have been ideal. All of the creams have caused major irritation issues such as redness, uncomfortable skin, and even blemishes. The burning is so uncomfortable for me that I usually end up removing them before their time is up, which means I just end up with icky skin and still have hair. And yes, I just used the word icky.

After all of my trial and error with facial hair removal, I usually stick to home waxing strips. They work pretty well, though they do leave hair behind that I then need to tweeze. The tweezing can take quite a while, so waxing can be pretty time consuming. At least the wax strips don't leave me red and blotchy for a few days afterwards.

How Do Depilatories Work?

New Olay Smooth Finish Facial Hair Removal Duo is a depilatory cream. It works like other depilatory creams (the main active ingredient is calcium thioglycolate hydroxide), so the hair removal action really isn't anything revolutionary. What is different is the Skin Guarding Balm, but I'll get to that later. First, I'll review how a depilatory cream actually works.

If you head over to my post about hair structure, you'll read about how the outer layer of the hair (the cuticle) is basically made up of shingles of dead protein called keratin. Within the keratin you'll find the amino acid cysteine. The cysteines within keratin have special bonds (called di-sulfide bonds, in teal above) holding them to each other, giving the hair strength and structure.

All depilatories work at the site of that bond, breaking it and splitting apart the keratin. As the disulfide bonds are broken, the hair structure basically falls apart. Apply a little pressure and the hair will break apart and basically dissolve wherever it has been exposed to the cream. This mostly means the hair that has already reached the surface of the skin, though a little bit of the hair beneath the skin's surface will be affected as well. However, the cream can't reach all the way down the hair shaft and dissolve the root of the hair.

Depilatory creams don't only work on hair. Because you find a lot of keratin in the skin as well as fingernails, the creams will also break disulfide bonds in those keratins as well. So, you'll weaken your nails if you don't wash the cream off of your hands, and any skin exposed to a depilatory will have irritation.

Since all depilatory creams work with the same basic reaction, breaking those disulfide bonds, aren't they really all the same? Well, not so much. There are a few active ingredients out there, and some of them, such as thioglycolic acid, require the presence of other chemicals to ensure that the reaction takes place. So, thioglycolic acid products should also contain calcium hydroxide. That's not exactly a skin friendly ingredient. There are also different strengths available, so I recommend using a body depilatory on your body and a facial depilatory only on your face.

So, That's Really Interesting...Get To The Point. Did You Like The New Olay Smooth Finish Facial Hair Removal Duo?

Now that you're all educated about how depilatories work, you should know that the Olay product works basically the same as all other depilatory products on the market. It goes in there and takes care of that disulfide bond. I don't have any specifics such as % active ingredient or anything, but this is a facial hair removal product from Olay, so you know they've formulated it for the face.

Duh.

What sets this product apart from say, the Nair you used on your bikini line in high school, is that this is a system. Rather than simply having that hair removing depilatory cream, there's a first step that is amazing. Love it.

The first step in this system is a Skin Guarding Balm that adds a protective layer over your skin to protect it from the cream. It comes in a stick, and truthfully it looks and feels exactly like the lip balm that comes with the two step 12-hour lippies from CoverGirl, Revlon and the like.

It is a white stick that when applied to your skin melts easily into an oily balm that is very much like vaseline (but it isn't, rather than petrolatum it is mostly sucrose polycottonseedate and beeswax). You lightly rub the stick over the areas you'll be treating and then rub it into your skin for 20 seconds using light circular movements. You'll have a oily sheen across your skin, but the balm will be much less noticeable.

Next you use the Hair Removal Cream. It's a basic white cream, and the most noticeable thing about it is that there is no gross smell as you apply! Instead, it is a floral/herbal/citrus scent that is light and fresh, though I can't really describe it any more in detail. You rub a layer of the cream over the balm, and about a minute later you will notice that the typical chemical smell associated with depilatories does come out. The smell isn't horrible, just noticeable.

Now, here's the part where I fully admit that I messed up and did put a little bit of the removal cream on a little bit of skin that had no balm. I didn't do it on purpose, though it did serve as a nice control, so let's pretend that I did this on purpose.

The areas that had balm applied to them felt fine. I could feel the cream was on, but there were absolutely no sensation associated with it. No burning, tingling, itchiness or warmth. Just a feeling that a cream was over the balm.

On the small bit of skin without balm (under my chin), there was burning and itching after a few minutes. It wasn't unbearable, but it wasn't exactly comfortable either. This area did have a bit of redness later after the treatment, so make sure you use the balm everywhere!

After 6-8 minutes, it is time to remove the cream. Using a cotton or tissue, wipe the cream off of your face. A little bit of pressure here will help, since you're effectively breaking the hairs apart in their new disulfide bond free state. Once you've wiped everything off just wash your face!

I really loved that when I wiped my face clean at 6 minutes, everything went with the cream. Seriously. I was super smooth, my face was not at all irritated and I felt like me again, instead of some hairy monster person. There was no clean up needed since it got every hair, so a definite time saver.

Would I use this again and actually spend money on it?

YES. It definitely saved me time, let me be the hair free person that I love to be, and my skin loved it.

Sweepstakes! Olay and BlogHer are offering a $50 gift card!

To be entered for a chance to win, leave a comment telling me how you use your beauty routine to express your inner beauty. Be sure to visit the Promotions & Prizes page on BlogHer.com for more reviews, and more chances to win!

Rules:

To enter this contest, you can pick from the entry methods below but only 2 will count (and no duplicate comments). So, pick 2!

- Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

- Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

- Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

- For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.

Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.

You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

This sweepstakes runs from 1/3/2012 - 2/3/2012.

While we're on the subject of looking good, you might want to check out the "Looking Your Best" posts in the Life Well Lived section of BlogHer.com. There are some great tips and expert posts!

Full disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I was provided with a product sample and then paid to write about this product (oh, and to do so in at least 350 words. I think I'm a *bit* over that, don't you?). I was encouraged to give my own opinion and to be honest in my review. I have written this piece on my own, and all opinions are mine and mine alone. Though I did have my PhD in Chemical Engineering hubby double check my chemical reaction picture. For any further questions please see my disclosure policy.

105

Whish Shave Crave: A Cream to Save Your Skin?

First, I have to fully admit that I've used this product many times in the past, but not written about it. I have gotten samples at blogging events over the years and I think I've had samples sent to me to review a few times as well. It hasn't appeared on the blog previously because I really wasn't sure how I felt about it. You'll see why in a bit.

Whish's shave cream looks more like a moisturizer than a shaving product when you look at the ingredient list. You'll see ingredients like squalene, shea butter and even raspberry butter. The product is the consistency of a thick body lotion and it feels just like one as well. It doesn't really whip itself up or foam or do any of the typical things that us lather obsessed consumers are used to and expect from a shave product. Instead, it just looks and feels like a body lotion that is sitting on top of the skin.

Using this product is definitely hydrating. It feels much better post-shave than many other shaving products in terms of hydration. Love this part, especially during the winter when I'm scrambling to keep every bit of moisture in my skin that I can.

Here is the part that I'm not really sure about. All of that added moisture comes at a bit of a price. All the hydrating ingredients do make it easy for this product to get gunked up in my razor. I'm not such a big fan of that. I like being able to just shave both legs and then worrying about rinsing out my razor. With Whish I rinse after each swipe and still have a few issues. By the end of the shave I can barely see the razor's blades they are so gunked up with shave cream and hair. I do wonder if part of the issue is my shower head- I have one of those really big "rain" style shower heads, so I don't have very high pressure to rinse everything out of the blades. I don't have a problem with any other shave product, only Whish. It also seems to be unrelated to new or old razor blades, length of time since last shave, etc.

The end result of using Whish is a clean shave with well hydrated skin. So, the result is great. I just am not quite sure about the razor clogging.





Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream

1

Pure Silk Shaving Cream: Super Foaming Action to Protect and Soothe Your Legs

Another day, another product I've been secretly loving in my morning shower.

Pure Silk is made by the same people that make Barbasol, so they obviously know shaving. It comes out as a somewhat stiff foam, tons of bubbles everywhere. It spreads very easily and I like that it stays really foamy. This is definitely the best choice for those of us that are addicted to foam. It stays put and I found it helps a lot with my shave.

The whole shaving process is definitely well lubricated. I've yet to have a nick while using Pure Silk. I've also noticed that my shave is very smooth, though I'm not sure that it is any smoother than when I was using Skintimates. As well, one of my biggest complaints against Skintimates is the can. I swear it gets rusty in about 12 hours of being in the shower. Pure Silk is in a rust free can, love that!

Pure Silk is made in the US. I've been somewhat appalled as I watch the ABC News Made in America series. I'm trying to make more of an effort to buy things made in the US, though I fully admit that it can be really difficult to find some things made in the US.

Pure Silk Shave Cream

4

Philips Bikini Perfect

Yesterday I shared the Schick Quattro Trim Style, which is one big honkin' razor with a bikini trimmer. Yes, I used the word honkin'. And for the second day in a row I'm covering a topic that I usually avoid because... Well, because my dad sometimes reads my blog. Dad, go away, you are still supportive. Go grill some meat or something, Andy and I need more dinner ideas.

Everyone who is not my dad can read on for more about this trimmer.

2

Schick Quattro Trim Style: Yes, It's for That Too

So, I got a bit sidetracked with my Shower Shakeup Week last week. Work, baby and family stuff got in the way, so the second part of the week will be this week (and maybe a bit next week as well). Really, it's more of a very extended week.

Anyways, today I'm breaking out of my typical Gillette Venus rut to try out the Schick Quattro Trim Style. I've tried out the Schick Quattro in the past. I did have great results with this 4 bladed razor.

I prefer the Venus as my "normal" razor only because the blades are more readily available in my area. I swear that Quattro blades are frequently in short supply at my normal shopping locations like Target, and the availability of Venus at my Sam's Club was the tipping point. However, recently I haven't been very happy with the Venus. My shave hasn't been quite as smooth, and surely the fact that Sam's Club version of the Venus blades were the regular old 3 bladed version meant I could do better?

6

Eco-Armour: A New Way to Shave

Eco-Armour is a new shaving foam created by a husband and wife team. Rather than my typical shaving gel/foam that comes in a decidedly non-green aerosol canister, this is a liquid that comes with a pump. Depressing the pump gives you a light foam, definitely not "dense", but with some decent body to it.

According to the directions, you should apply this foam to all desired areas and let it sit there for a minute to let it do its thing. This part kind of sucks-I had to move out of my lovely hot water to avoid washing it down the drain and that induced a bunch of non-shaving friendly goose bumps. During this time the foam/bubbles disappear pretty quickly, but you can feel that it is still on if you touch your skin. Then apply a second layer and shave away. This second layer does seem to disappear quickly too, but you do not need to reapply. The product is still there and will work, I really think the bubbles mainly help to spread the product in a thin layer.

During shaving I swear I was thinking... is this stuff there? Is it working? The razor did run pretty smoothly over my skin, but without the huge amount of foam I've grown accustomed to, I wasn't sure what to think. Once I had rinsed off, it was immediately apparent that the Eco-Armour had done its job. My legs were insanely, insanely smooth. Loved it!

Eco-Armour also is formulated to help save your razor blade. Applying a little product over the razor before you get out of the shower is meant to help keep the blade in good shape. I've been doing this for a week or so, though I haven't noticed a difference yet.

The product comes in Eucamint2 or Pomango. Eucamint is a eucalyptus, pepperminty and herbal scent that I found to be refreshing but not overpowering. Pomango is just what it sounds like- a yummy pomegranate and mango blend that I also loved. The product comes in 7.4 ounce or a TSA approved 3 ounce size. While that doesn't sound like a lot, this product seems to go a looong way with just a little product.

Eco-Armour

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J Lo and the New Gillette Venus ProSkin: A Match Made in Idol Heaven?

Gillette sure did pick an amazing new spokesperson. J Lo seems to do no wrong lately with her hit song and overall amazingness on American Idol. I love having her on the show, and seriously could the woman look any more amazing each week? I think they should put a feature on the website (similar to the one on the Regis & Kelly website) where they cover what she is wearing. I want to know down to the color of nail polish she's wearing!

Regardless, have you noticed the Gillette ads that have been on tv lately? I have only seem them during Idol (I admit to watching very little tv since the arrival of baby Megan. Pretty much Idol, Big Bang Theory and some news are all we watch). She is amazing in the commercials. Legs for miles. This is the razor she's promoting.

So, what's the deal with this razor? It has 3 blades and on either side of the blades are those built-in shave gel things that companies keep adding to razors. Usually they just make the whole thing bulky and don't work, in my opinion.

So, is this razor any different? It does seem to be a more successful attempt at the sidelined instant shave gel thing. This time the lubrication they provide is quite a bit better. Previously if I had a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being "ouchies, shaving with just water" to a 10 being "super smooth, love my Gillette shave gel", the older razors would be a... 2.5. This one is more like a 7.5 or 8. So, not like my razor gel, but definitely up there. As well, the shave is almost as close with this razor alone, but not quite.

As well, a quick note about the bulkiness factor. In the past this type of razor was too bulky for me to do anything other than shave my legs. So, no underarms, etc. This razor seems to be able to fit in much smaller areas easily due to a different design for the solid gel. This time it seems to move back and forth, molding more easily to your body. So, I can shave my underarm area without problems.

This razor won't replace my normal routine of Gillette Venus Embrace and shave gel, but it's almost just as good. I can definitely see myself bringing this razor (without gel! Saving room in the 3-1-1 bag) on a trip. It would also be great for those that go to the gym quite often.

Gillette ProSkin Razor

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Laser Hair Removal At Home? I Try Out the Silk'n Sens Epil

I Bought It Affiliate Links


First of all, let me start this post by stating that I am spoiled rotten by my husband. I did not get this product for free, a discount, or even as a loaner. My husband let me go to Sephora.com and spend big bucks on the Silk'n SensEpil (which was cool, because I got Sephora VIB status with this purchase). He knew how tired I was of shaving every day, that I wanted to try laser hair removal at some point, and that at home laser hair removal was a cheaper option. So, you all have my hubby to thank for this review!

I think before I explain how to use this little wonder machine at home, some explanation about hair follicles and how laser hair removal works are in order. Then you'll understand why you may (or may not be) a good candidate to use this, and why it will take a long time (weeks) before you see results. This isn't instant hair removal and you'll need more treatments than when you go to a pro for laser hair removal.

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The No!No! Hair Removal System Review

I remember when this first came out in the fall, the blog-osphere was all abuzz, Sephora was going to sell something that offered permanent hair removal. For about $225. When you add up all of your razors and creams and such for a year or two that is actually quite the bargain. Unfortunately it isn't quite that easy. It takes time, it isn't painless and it does require refill cartridges. But, apparently it really does decrease your hair over time!

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Braun's Silk-épil Xpressive Epilator Review

I know what you are thinking. Is Christine really writing about the Epilator, that torture device that so many of us are afraid of using? Yup, and it really is not as bad as everyone thinks.

First, what exactly is "epilation"? Really, it's pulling each hair out from the root. That's exactly what you do when you wax, except the epilator is basically a rotating collection of tweezers that grab each hair. Since the hair below the skin is also removed your skin will be hair free and smooth longer than with shaving. Over time your hair will grow back finer and weaker.

For me, removing hair below the skin surface is very appealing. I have very pale skin with darker leg hair. I can see the hair below the skin when I wear shorts, which I hate! I also tend to get cold, and with goose bumps I swear that the hair comes out! I get stubble a few hours after shaving because of this. Removing hair below the surface is just the answer I needed for these problems.

The epilator is pretty easy to use. I run my hands up and down my legs to "rough up" any little hairs so they will be easier to grab. The hair can be pretty short actually, as small as 0.5 mm long (you need 2-5 mm for waxing by comparison). Braun includes some Soothing Wipes which they developed with Olay for pre-treatment. I'm not sure that these actually helped me at all. Run the epilator against the direction of hair growth to remove.

The epilator comes with a huge array of heads to use, each pivot by 15 degrees to make them easier to use, they lift the hair up to be grabbed and there are even heads to be used in sensitive areas like the underarm area. I especially liked that on the epilator itself there is a "SmartLight," which was basically a very bright light that really showed me where the hairs were.

I'm not going to lie to you. This process definitely hurts. At first it hurts a lot and it takes a few treatments to get used to it. The pain does lessen with treatments, and it is helped quite a bit by epilating after a bath or shower (so skin is softer) and by holding down your skin. In the end, the pain is well worth it though, you will be surprised by how much hair is removed. Even with short subtle it looks like you have removed quite a bit of hair.

My skin did have a bit of irritation after epilation, really it looked like each hair follicle was red and irritated and would just hurt if touched for about an hour afterwards. But, with a bit of cream or lotion (I liked my Cetaphil cream for this) the irritation was better and even without cream the irritation was gone within the hour.

I did not achieve perfectly smooth legs with this process. If I was planning to wear shorts or a skirt that day I did need to shave a few missed areas to have the perfectly smooth legs that I want. However, my legs definitely stayed smoother longer when epilated and I will continue to use it as with each use it hurts less. I loved not having subtle a few hours after I shaved just because I was cold!

The newest version of the epilator is available this month, the model numbers are 7280 and 7681 (the difference is added caps in the 7681 for facial and underarm hair). If you have the same issues I do, I really do recommend using the epilator in combination with shaving, I know I'll be using this more often!

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