Hello everyone! I have a lovely skincare giveaway from KMR Communication and Y.E.S. today to share with you!

Y.E.S. (Young Essential Skincare) is offering their newly developed Anti-Aging Serum and Rejuvenating Moisture cream as a duo set that prevents damage, protects against free radicals and rejuvenates all skin types. The products are formulated to improve skin firmness, tone and texture, and also to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Could this be your next fountain of youth? We sure hope so!

The Dynamic Duo set by Y.E.S., valued at $98., is available now on their website, or free to one lucky winner here at Shop With a Vengeance! Fill out the form below to be entered to win!

Read more about Y.E.S.'s Dynamic Duo here.

Good luck and best wishes!

As part of my haul yesterday, I picked up Eucerin's new Calming Body Wash Daily Shower Oil. This product claims to "Gently cleanse with a mild lather while natural omega oils soothe and protect" and that it is "Clinically proven effective for dry, itchy skin".

I saw this product in a magazine a few months back and I've been dying to try it! I must say, it was sliiiightly disappointing. Granted, I don't have really dry, itchy skin, but this product to me fell a little short than I had hoped for. Essentially, it is an oil that lightly foams into a creamy lather when wet. It is a little difficult to operate in the shower because it gets so slippery, and you need quite a bit to cover large surface areas (ie. your body). I did like the fact that it was fragrance free; a very important factor in my book. That being said, it sort of has a light, earthy fragrance that is likely attributed to the Soybean Oil (ingredient number one) it contains.

This product falls under the category of Cetaphil for me: great for really sensitive skin -- but I don't feel like it really cleansed all so well. HOWEVER, all hope was not lost! After abandoning this as a cleanser, I decided to use it as a shave gel. GREAT IDEA! It worked wonders! My skin feels smooth and supple, and it allowed me to actually see what I was shaving since there is just a light lather. I will definitely be using this as my shave gel, er... oil, for now on.

I recently ordered some Pure Luxe Eye Shadow samples and a Soothing Calamine Facial Bar (rec'd by Vanessa of Nessasary Makeup) from the Pure Luxe website. My goodies arrived today so I took some pictures and swatches to share with you all!

Here is my Pure Luxe Haul:


Shadow swatches (the combination reminds me of NYX's Hippie Chic Trio!) applied wet, with flash:

Earrings from Amuse:


What do you think of the new site layout, by the way? Are there any categories you would like to see more of, or less of? Let me know!

A long time ago I wrote in for free samples from Mario Badescu. My samples arrived and after reading a few negative reviews on MakeupAlley, I decided I didn't want to try them right away. I wasn't really in love with any of the products, so I tossed them aside to review later. Recently, in response to a pretty bad breakout, I revisited Mario Badescu's Drying Cream, and I am so glad I did.

I have previously written about using a sulfur-based soap to treat acne, so it comes to no surprise that Mario Badescu's Drying Cream, which contains sulfur in its ingredients, would work wonders. I used this as a nighttime treatment, just dotting it on areas such as raised bumps or whiteheads, as well as a couple cystic pimples I was having. My skin cleared up so nicely!

I am really, really pleased with this product. I just make sure to dot it on at night because it doesn't really sink in and it looks sort of silly. It also smells kind of bad because of the sulfur, but it works, so I'm not complaining. It works on those painful cystic bumps as well as to dry out regular pimples. I have been using this in conjunction with Cerave Moisturizing Lotion, Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Castile Soap (which I also gave a second chance), and Clean & Clear Maximum Strength Gel. I ordered Pure Luxe's Calamine Soap last week and I can't wait to try that also!

Anyway, the sample I got for free from the Mario Badescu website seems like it will last a super long time because you don't need to use much of this stuff, but if I wanted to buy a new one, its only $12! Definitely worth it, and I'm sure when I run out, I will be repurchasing.

Try it!

Hello ladies, today I am writing to share with you a brand of Japanese skincare called Noevir. I had the opportunity to sample the Noevir Herbal Skincare (or NHS) set, which included a Foaming Cleanser, Deep Cleansing Cream, Balancing Lotion, and Moisture Lotion. They even threw in some extra sample packets for me, and a free "Lip Conditioner S".


I have been using the products for a few days now, and I must say I really do like a few of them. I like the Moisture Lotion because it is very lightweight, has an almost milky texture, yet leaves my skin feeling pampered and hydrated. I also like the Balancing Lotion, which is more of a toner.

The products have a light fragrance of Linden, Sage, and Jojoba leaf extract. The Lip Conditioner S is awesome, but it does have a slight lipstick-y smell. They definitely fall in to the category of "splurge", for me at least, as the products run between $20-$40 each. The website, however, is very customer friendly as they often have promotions or gift with purchase items. Right now, the Lip Conditioner is free with purchase.

If you are looking to start a new skincare regimen, check out Noevir!

Wanna sample it for yourself? For free samples and a skin care consultation, just fill out this form!

This baby comes in a super chic-Bliss white pump packaging, and starts off as a shimmering pink, slighly citrusy gel. Then, with a quick swipe, it foams up like shaving cream and you can spread it all over your face, neck, wherever! You are supposed to leave it on for 5 minutes to get the full effect of the vitamin C, free-radical resisting, oxygenating foam. During that five minutes, an awesome, tingling, alka-seltzer sensation goes on... waking up your skin cells!

The packaging says to use a maximum of 3x weekly, and there is no need to leave the product on any longer than 5 minutes because that is as long as it takes for all the oxygen to release. Basically, when it stops fizzing and seems to sink in to your skin, wash it off. As for results, I am yet to notice anything dramatic. But it just feels so cool on that I enjoy using it anyway.

Since it is more of a perky mask than a treatment mask, I would suggest doing this as an addition to your morning routine. It really is like a "breath of fresh air" for your face!

I'd say it's definitely overpriced at $52, but if you are one to splurge on skincare, it could be worth a shot!

Thanks, Total Beauty, For the opportunity to review this :)

What beauty-obsessed product junkie doesn't love scouring MakeupAlley's forums and review section for tips? This girl certainly does!

I was looking for some do-it-yourself beauty ideas in their review section, and I came across some interesting ones that I've tried or plan on trying very soon!

Under the Skincare review section, the Aspirin mask is highly rated. If you haven't tried this mask yet, I highly suggest that you do! I do this all the time and it is great. I think I posted about this before, but just to recap, I'll repeat myself. Just sprinkle a few uncoated aspirin tablets with warm water to dissolve into a paste, add a squirt of honey, and smear on for a few minutes. If you're feeling fiesty, mix the aspirin paste in with your favorite pre-made mask, such as Queen Helene's Mint Julep Mask (also highly rated), and leave on for about 10-15 minutes. Love it!

Another cool tip is to use Milk of Magnesia (or Mylanta) very lightly as a primer, after moisturizer, under mineral makeup. This is apparently very good at absorbing excess oil. I plan on trying MoM as an on-the-spot blemish treatment, as it supposedly has anti-inflamatory and antibacterial properties. Plain ol' honey has very high ratings as a facial treatment as well, although most of the readers seem to be mixing it with something to apply or to use as an exfoliator or mask (with brown sugar, cornmeal, or green clay).

Over 200 reviewers suggested Extra Virgin Olive Oil as a body or hair moisturizer, while around 100 recommended Coconut Oil. Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar apparently makes an awesome toner, but make sure you dilute it first!

One of my favorite tips is to sprinkle a little baking soda on your toothbrush along with your toothpaste before brushing in order to get your teeth feeling super clean and white.

What are some of your favorite beauty tips? Have you tried any of these?

Lily Organics is an amazing organic and natural product line. I recently had the opportunity to sample some items and I must say I was very impressed.

Usually, products I have tried from Organic lines seem to be very high quality, so I already had high hopes for this line. Lily definitely delivers! All of her products are chock full of organic herbs and botanicals grown at Lily's very own organic farm. The products come in glass containers that are stylish and reusable. Also, Lily Organics products are completely free of synthetic preservatives, so get your hands on this stuff and start using it fast!

My very favorite product that I got to test out was Lily Organics Organic Moisture Mist. This is the ultimate skin friendly pick-me-up for dry or normal skin. You can use this product after cleansing as a toner or just several times a day to continuously hydrate your skin. The ingredients are: Purified water, certified organic comfrey, seaweeds, lily, certified organic chamomile, certified organic calendula, kosher vegetable glycerin, essential oils of ylang ylang and lavender, and pure citrus seed extract.

Although none of Lily's products contain synthetic chemicals, as you should do with most products, I was sure to patch test this before spraying all over my face. Luckily, this product was kind to my sensitive skin and there were no reactions of any negative kind. This is truly a great facial mist!

My mom is currently using the Organic Moisture Cream and she really is enjoying the moisturizing properties of an all-organic cream, the first organic one she has tried! I would have tested this myself but for fear of a reaction on my sensitive skin I decided to let her try it for me. She says it keeps her skin moisturized throughout the night and it feels very nice in the morning. Her complexion does appear noticeably brighter and healthier since using this product, so thank you Lily Organics!

In addition to those wonderful products, I also like Lily Organics Kissable Lips lip balm as a natural and healthy way to moisturize my lips... it feels wonderful on.

Oh, also, PR representative from Lily Organics sent me Lily's book, Beauty, Health and Happiness, which I am currently reading and enjoying. I like how the book integrates personal notes from Lily's life along with details about her products and organic beauty in general. I highly reccommend picking this book up if you get a chance!

Do you like organic skin care? Why or why not?

Looking for natural or handmade bath and body products? If you haven't done so already, you should really check out Peeptoad Hollow (previously reviewed here)!

Luckily for us skincare junkies, Peeptoad Hollow is offering a discount code just for Shop With a Vengeance readers. Just enter one of these codes into the voucher section of your shopping cart and hit recalculate to see your savings!

Peeptoad Hollow's products are perfect for pampering yourself or for a gift. Happy shopping :)

Peeptoad Hollow is an independent bath and body company that offers decadently rich handmade soaps and other skincare products. I recently had an opportunity to try some of their wonderful creations, and I really like the different scents they have available.


I am currently using their 98% natural Vanilla Spearmint Handmade Soap as a hand soap in my bathroom... love it. It feels a little bit different than other soaps because the butters and oils in it seem to coat and hydrate your hands while washing.

Another one of my favorite scents of theirs is the Dreamy Buttercream Goat Milk Glycerin Soap. It smells delicious! -- Like an almost foodie scent that just warms you up.

If you are thinking of escaping the chemicals and boring scents of regular soaps, you should really consider treating yourself to a natural soap, or buying some as a gift. Peeptoad Hollow offers some nice, affordable gift sets that would surely be appreciated by all.

Check 'em out!

I have recently been using AminoGenesis Photolagen-AGF Penetrating Repair Serum. This product is a very tall order, as it claims to be an intensive treatment for sun damage, photo depletion, and prematurely aged skin. I don't really feel that my skin is prematurely aged, but a few years in the tanning booths I'm sure could have done some photo depletion and definite sun damage. I suppose they are all in one, really.

The patented peptide technology in this serum is proven to dramatically reduce fine linces and wrinkles up to 68%, infuse moisture deep into the skin, reverse damage caused by the sun, diminish age spots, reduce the appearance of dark circles, improve skin firmness, texture and feel. Like most people, I am skeptical of any product that says it can/will do so much! To be 100% honest, I am not sure if this product lives up to its claims. I have been applying it fairly often, concentrating on my somewhat dark undereye circles, due to those late college nights.

The serum is like a milky lotion in texture, and comes in a futuristic silver bottle. Unfortunately, you can't see how much product you've used. But regardless, you only need a little bit. It has a very light, almost undetectable fragrance.

Luckily, since product testing sometimes does me more harm than good, this serum is doctor approved, hospital tested, hypoallergenic, and non-comedogenic. I experienced no breakouts or redness from this serum. I have noticed a slight reduction in my undereye darkness. I haven't really seen any other difference in my skin, but I have yet to experience a dreaded wrinkle or age spot in my lifetime, so perhaps I am not really the target audience here.

If you suffer from wrinkles or age spots and want to try an amino acid serum with a lot of potential, definitely try out AminoGenesis. I am going to continue using it, just to see if I notice any other differences in my skin. So far, so good.

Get your bottle of AminoGenesis at a location near you!

Do you have any miracle products you swear by? Used or want to try AminoGenesis? Let me know!

Attention sun lovers! As we all know, Summer is in full force, so your sun protection should be as well. On my last trip to the beach, I tested out a pretty cool product by MelanSol.

Instead of sticking with Banana Boat or Hawaiian Tropic, I chose to use the 100% Natural Antioxidant Sunscreen Lotion by MelanSol. This sunscreen was SPF25, so I got a nice tan even while using it. It is for face and body, but I decided to play it safe and only apply to my body to try it. Their website even explains that according to contrary belief, you don't need a super-high SPF to fully protect yourself from the sun. MelanSol uses natural mineral zinc-oxide pigments to shield your skin, similar to the mineral powder sunblock I use on my face by Peter Thomas Roth (see full review here).

As the "Antioxidant" part of the name suggests, this sunscreen is loaded with goodies like Grean Tea, Vitamin E, and Bio-Melanin! I love the fact that it doesn't contain any unknown chemicals. Also, it has a very unique, earthy smell, probably due to ingredients such as "Lemon Oil and Lavender, Oregano, Thyme, and Rosemary Extracts". It absorbed quickly, leaving a nice sheen to my skin, and seemed to moisturize while protecting.

All in all, I will be using this natural product again! If you are looking for an all-natural alternative to beat the sun this summer, check out MelanSol!

Have you tried an all-natural sunscreen before?

What is your favorite sunblock?

"I have incredibly sensitive skin; a good skin care line?"

Shop With a Vengeance Response:

Hi Misti!

Are you looking for a higher-end line, or a drugstore line? I know it's frustrating to have sensitive skin, especially with so many enticing products out there you must want to try them all! My skin is part-sensitive too, so I feel your pain.

To start off, a couple really gentle drugstore picks I could recommend are the Purpose line by Johnson & Johnson. The cleanser is fragrance free and very gentle, but at the same time cleans a lot better than Cetaphil, which I will not bother to recommend. Although Cetaphil is super-gentle, I have found it ineffective as a cleanser and not too exciting as a moisturizer either. I do like CeraVe, another drugstore find, for their Lotion.

However, another product that I like is the Redness Control Calming Gel Cleanser from the Skin Effects line by Jeffrey Dover (available at CVS). This is a product that feels great to apply, washes clean, and takes off most makeup. It is thicker in consistency than Cetaphil, but I liked it even though it did not foam. It is also fragrance free. I believe there might be a dye in there though to give it its blue color, which is meant to offset the effects of Rosecea. The Redness Control line also has a corresponding SPF 30 face cream, which I thought was okay as well. Overall, the line didn't do too much for my skin because I am acne-prone, but it also did not irritate me. It's slightly pricey for a drugstore brand (products are around $13-$20 each).

Lastly, if you are looking for a high end line, I would suggest DDF (or Doctor's Dermatologic Formula). I have yet to actually try their products, but they were recommended to me by another reader. They make a Sensitive Skin Cleansing Gel which has received good reviews on MakeupAlley and should likely have other products that are okay for sensitive skin as well.

Most importantly, be sure to read your labels. Anything that contains too many ingredients is likely to upset your skin! Stay away from Origins, too, because they overload their products with irritating fragrant oils. One Origins counter woman even tried to convince me that their oils are not the kind that make you break out, after I tried to explain that I had an ALLERGIC reaction. Whatever. Anyway, try to stick to products that are fragrance free and dye free.

OH, also... I noticed a small allergic/itchy rash on the side of my face a few weeks ago, and upon reading some recommendations online, I applied Boudreaux's Butt Paste - a diaper rash cream, to the rash (yes, I put Butt Paste on my head) for a few days straight, and it completely got rid of the rash. I was surprised because the ingredients on the Butt Paste said mineral oil, petroleum, etc, so I wasn't expecting much... but it settled down right away. I'm not joking, this stuff is amazing for irritation.

Anyway, I hope that helped out somewhat! Good luck, Misti!

Any more recommendations for a sensitive skinned lady?

Feel free to share :)

Congratulations go out to Melissa, winner of the Affordable Mineral Makeup Giveaway! You've got a week to respond to my email in order to claim your prize :)

Moving on, my first giveaway for Reader Appreciation Week is this lovely package from our friends over at Eclipse Spa!

In case you missed it, I posted earlier about some of Eclipse Spa's wonderful goodies that they were kind enough to send me to review. Eclipse Spa's products are truly awesome and luxurious, and I'm absolutely delighted to be able to share them with you! As an added bonus, all of their products are natural and organic.


The prize for this giveaway consists of Eclipse Spa's amazing "Escape Package", a $69 value!

The beautiful spa set contains: A Lavender Drawer Sachet, Organic Sugar Soy & Tea Bath, Organic Lavender Body Moisturizer, a Lavender Candle Votive, and Escape Vol. 1 CD. This package comes gift wrapped in a handmade green leaf box made from banana leaves, how cool is that?!

I can't wait to share this prize with you! All you have to do is fill out this form with your name and e-mail, and you could win it!

Standard Disclaimer: This giveaway is limited to U.S. participants only. All complete entries, via the form, are valid until the closing of the contest, at 12:00 AM on 7/20/2008. Multiple entries under the same name/e-mail do not increase your chance of winning. One winner will be selected at random at the date of the contest closing. If the winner, chosen at random, does not respond to my e-mail by one week after the contest closing, another winner will be chosen!

To learn more, check out Eclipse Spa's website, here.

Good luck!

I was recently given the opportunity to test out Microdermx, a medical-grade microdermabrasion product from Nikkel Holistic Skincare. Unlike many other at-home microdermabrasion products, Nikkel's Microdermx uses medical grade corundrum crystals with concentrated amounts of natural botanicals, nutrients, and active enzymes to exfoliate and pamper your skin. It is a completely safe, natural, and affordable alternative to microdermabrasion treatments at a doctor's office or salon.


Although I do not have a lot of experience with microdermabrasion products or treatments, I found this product very easy to use and very effective. Microdermx comes in two formulas, Step One and Step Two. Step One is the microdermabrasion corundum crystal formula, which has a light and pleasant lemony floral fragrance. Using this product, you can actually see your dead skin cells sloughing off, so you know it is working! I thought it was really cool how you can actually see the process as it is going on. After you are done, you just apply Step Two to replenish and moisturize your skin. I have been using it just as a regular facial lotion as well on my acne-prone skin, and it hasn't broken me out at all. In fact, I've already noticed slight benefits to my skin after using this system only once!

Microdermx contains no synthetic or chemical additives, such as parabens, minerals oil, or propylene glycol. It claims to even skin tone, diminish pores, fade wrinkles, fine lines, acne scars, and brown spots... and although that is a tall order, I find it believable because I think it is truly a spectacular product that I will certainly continue using. Even on my skin, which can be sensitive at times, this product did not irritate or cause any breakouts. I was impressed!


I have illustrated the process to show everyone how cool this product is! In the first photo, I applied a dab of Step One to the back of my hand. When doing your face, in order to be most effective, you are supposed to work in sections. Then, you are supposed to rub in the product (as shown in photo 2) until the lotion portion absorbs mainly and you can feel the grainy corundum crystals exfoliating. Keep rubbing the product until you see these "balled up" pills of dead skin cells mixed with the crystals. See photo 3. Gross, right?! But really awesome at the same time!

After you see the pills of skin balling up, wash the product off and apply Step Two to replenish. As with any microdermabrasion process, you are not supposed to apply your regular treatments or lotions as your skin is highly sensitive at this point. I found Step Two to be very healing and soothing on my skin, with no clogged pores or problems because of it.

Microdermx can be purchased off the Nikkel Holistic Skincare website at http://www.microdermx.com. The two step process can be purchased for $79, and since you only use a small dab each time, it's quite a deal!

I was recently given an opportunity to try out MiN New York's "Solution2" post-shaving treatment. This product offers an advanced blend of liquid aspirin and spearmint to prevent redness, alleviate razor bumps, ingrown hairs, and general skin irritation. It comes in a really easy to use rollerball that makes it simple to just apply wherever needed.

I did happen to have a somewhat unpleasant ingrown hair that I figured would be an awesome place to test out this product. I applied it after showering. Right when I applied it it felt cooling, but then it started to sting over the ingrown spot. A lot. It was tolerable but I was concerned that I was going to have a reaction or something... until I read the ingredients and discovered that alcohol was on there. That was definitely what was causing the stinging on my ingrown hair. Nevertheless, in the name of beauty, I went to bed and awaited the results.

The next morning I was pleased to notice no problematic reactions and that actually the ingrown hair bump had reduced and "healed" quite a bit. I was skeptical at first, but I think I will continue using this to see if the area will completely clear up, which I feel that it will. I think it is probably a good idea to use it preventatively after shaving as well. I wish I had known about this when I wrote my Reader Feedback about ingrown hairs!

If you find yourself with the ingrown hair problem frequently, definitely check this product out! You can use it right after shaving or after waxing as well, perfect for bikini season! This is really great for healing and helping the area, and it is fairly affordable. MiN New York is sold in spas and online at their website, and you can find Solution2 for around $20.

What do you use to combat ingrown hairs? Would you try MiN's Solution 2?

Summer is upon us and all that salt water, wind, and sun can really irritate your sensitive skin. If you're like me, chapped lips are a thing of all seasons, leaving you to rely on various balms and products year-round to temporarily moisturize before having to reapply excessively. So then, in the summer, your problem just gets worse as the sun beats down on your poor lips! Well... not anymore, folks!

Enter ChopSaver. This awesome lip balm is made of organic and all-natural ingredients and contains no petroleum or harsh chemicals. Instead, ChopSaver balm is infused with soothing shea butter, mango butter, vitamin E, and aloe. ChopSaver uses the comforting goodness of arnica, comfrey, calendula, and white willow to regenerate and nurture your dry lips back to life all season long!

The best part... it stays on for hours without reapplying. I kid you not. I was reapplying by force of habit but it really lasts and lasts. The reason it is so durable is because ChopSaver lip balm was invented for musicians who play wind and brass instruments, as their lips generally get easily chapped, inflammed, and sore. You may have noticed all that musician talk on the packaging. The balm was designed to soothe these issues and quickly heal your lips, while protecting them for an extended period of time. It would probably be great under lipstick as a primer as well!

ChopSaver is beloved by the musician community and is slowly but surely easing its way into the beauty and dermatology world! This product stays on forever and feels great on. It smells light and natural, and feels like your lips are truly protected when you glide it on. The scent is wonderful but not overwhelming or so exceedingly delicious that it will make you lick the product off your lips. Dermatologists recommend this product for people who have dry lips due to Accutane, or just chronically dry and chapped lips. Oh, goodness, this stuff is just great.

So, I am currently carrying the SPF version in my purse and it is likely that I'll be using it all summer long. I truly am in love with this balm. It really speaks for itself so I urge that you try it ASAP! I promise you will likely THROW AWAY your Burt's Bees or Chapstick after using this product! You can find ChopSaver at music stores in the U.S. and abroad! Check out their website :)

Thank you ChopSaver!

What are your favorite balms this summer? Have you ever tried ChopSaver?

Recently, I was given an opportunity to test out the Every Man Jack brand mens' skincare 'Beginner's Luck' Kit! This brand has been received by celebrities such as: Brendan Fraser, David Arquette, John Travolta, Ben Affleck, Matthew Broderick, Matt Damon, Jim Carey, Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Adam Sandler, Tim McGraw, and more... so needless to say I was pretty excited.


The Every Man Jack kit is a very chic, sustainable, and stylish way to introduce the man in your life to finer grooming. It is affordably priced at $24.99 (at EveryManJack.com or Target.com), and comes in two pleasantly masculine fragrances, Cedarwood and Signature Mint.

I tested out the Signature Mint scent, which was a gentle mint fragrance that had an extra air of masculinity, like a soft mint cologne.

This kit comes with several items. The first of which that caught my eye was the Shave Gel, which has Chamomile extract to soothe your skin, Aloe and Vitamin E to protect, and Glycerin to help retain moisture. All Every Man Jack items are packaged in a simple, fun, but manly way that will appeal to even the pickiest of males.

Both the Face Wash and Body Wash are clear, oil free, sulfate free, dye free, and paraben free so as to not irritate your guy's skin. The Body Wash contains an extra kick of peppermint oil to leave you skin feeling cool and refreshed. If you prefer bar soap, Every Man Jack's Body Bars are vitamin enriched and are 100% vegetable based.

The face lotion deeply hydrates and soothes without feeling heavy, and will not block pores. All these products are wrapped up in a manly gift box, emulating the look of wood. This would be a great gift idea for the dad who wants to look and smell good without putting too much time or effort into his grooming regimen.

Last minute shopper? Pick one up for Father's Day!

I recently got the chance to review Gloves In A Bottle, a shielding lotion which rapidly absorbs into and bonds with the outer layer of skin, creating a protective layer... like gloves!

I am not usually in need of excessive hand creams, but from time-to-time, like everyone else, my hands feel a bit rough. When I'm not blogging or at school, I work part-time in a small retail store. From moving around clothes, cleaning, organizing, and working at the computer, my hands do get a little dry.

I decided to carry my Gloves In A Bottle with me to work, and I've been using it there ever since! I like that there is no distinct fragrance to this product, so it isn't apparent that you just slathered your hands in lotion. The lotion dries super fast, so you aren't greasing up your keyboard either!

This product comes in a simple, deep blue bottle, and has a diagram on the back to show how it "keeps the good stuff in" and "protects from the bad stuff". It's easy to understand, and it works. Who could ask for more?

I think Gloves In A Bottle is an awesome product if you work somewhere where you use your hands a lot, like a retail store or a desk job or even a medical office. Also, perhaps if you are a swimmer or gardener, this would be good to protect your hands. Overall, if you need a serious hand lotion and protector, I'd say Gloves In A Bottle is a great bet to help you out, and I'd recommend it!

Attention Bloggers! If you want to try Gloves In A Bottle and are willing to post a review on your blog, send your blog URL and mailing address to Pete Grimaldi for info and free samples!

Oh my gosh. From the moment this package arrived, I knew I was in for a treat! Eclipse Spa sent over some samples for me to review and I must say, I was highly impressed. The products they sent over were from their Men's line of soaps and lotions, called "Sexy Men". Although it was targeted to men, I could not stop smelling this box of goodies... it just smelled so refreshing and natural and good! Like a woodsy, comforting, fresh scent. Mmm.

I recruited the boyfriend and headed to work testing all these fabulous potions. First, he tested out their "Woody Soap" which is an organic, all-natural, handmade soap made with cold-pressed olive oil and herbs. The soaps themselves come in a paper wrapper with a little explanation of the product, and they are cut into bars so that one edge is still rough and "natural" looking. They aren't girly or frilly looking at all. The "Woody" soap was practically bursting with delicious smelling cedarwood and fir needle oils that just so happen to be antimicrobial and deodorizing. Well, the deodorizing part was great because he was sweating a lot that day!

The natural ingredients used in the soap have traditionally been used to relieve joint and muscle pain. This was also nice, because he helped my parents move out some heavy furniture beforehand. He told me he liked the scent of this soap and that it lathered up quite nicely in the shower. He liked the roughness of the bar itself, which has scrubbies (perhaps sea salt or cedar bits) in it to help exfoliate your skin.

After testing out the soap, the boyfriend also tried out Eclipse Spa's Energy Lotion for Men, which is a fantastic concoction of natural and organic plant oils and extracts. Oh my gosh, it smelled amazing. This product also contains a natural sunscreen (SPF 18), which is awesome for day-to-day wear out in the sun. The lotion can be used on both your face and body, and is loaded with mandarin, tangerine, and peppermint essential oils that smell fresh and vibrant. Instead of being strong and manly, the lotion has more of a natural, fresh, and minty smell that I, personally, adore. I would love to smell this on a guy. I actually kept the lotion for myself!

I also tried out the "Eucalyptus Sandalwood" Soap, which is antibacterial, antiviral, balancing, and grounding. The scent was strongly minty (probably the Eucalyptus) and fresh, but also welcoming and warm. The lather felt soft and excellent on my skin, and the bar was VERY exfoliating... there were little bits in there that felt almost like sandpaper on my skin. It may have even been a bit too exfoliating on my skin if I had scrubbed hard enough. But I'm a delicate flower, and this is a "Manly Man" soap! I'm sure it gets all the dirt and sweat and dead skin off, without a doubt. I know I felt super-squeaky-clean afterwards! No wonder my boyfriend loved its gritty texture.

If you are looking for a soap or a lotion that both you and your boyfriend can share, I highly recommend looking into the Eclipse Spa line. These products have an extremely pleasant unisex vibe and amazing fragrances that aren't too girly, or excessively macho either. They are just wonderful. These are a great gift idea for the man in your life (Dad, Boyfriend, Hubby), as well.

Check out these products and more at EclipseSpa.com!