Nuance Salma Hayek Renewed Radiance Nutrifying Night Cream

So ever since Lancome stopped making it's Hydra Zen for dry skin moisturizer, I've been on the hunt for a new way to soothe my dry skin. I know previously, I posted about Nivia's Skins So Soft... and while that is a great moisturizer for my hands, arms, and legs... it just wasn't quite doing the trick as a face moisturizer.

Recently, I had seen that Salma Hayek had come out with a beauty / skin care line, and honestly my first thought was "Oh great, more marked-up-in-price celebrity garbage!" (Because let's face it, I am never going to buyer Justin Bieber's perfumes) However, I came across some coupons for her products and tied together with a really great deal at CVS, I was able to pick up her Nuance, Renewed Radiance Nutrifying Night Cream, and a Nuance Renewed Radiance Day Cream.

The day cream was alright, it moisturizers, it doesn't smell awful, and it has 15 SPF. All good things. But it doesn't really impress either. It's pretty much the same stuff as a $5 bottle of Dove or Oil of Olay, so don't waste your money there.

The night cream is amazing however. It smells fantastic, and is thick and rich, and really feels like it sinks down into your skin to prevent dryness and cracking. I've been using the night cream (for both day and night) now for about two weeks, and it really lives up to the hype, my skins feels much more hydrated and I'm even having fewer breakouts.

Head & Shoulders Intensive Care Shampoo

So my normally dry scalp is usually even more of a mess during the winter. So this winter months, in order to ensure my scalp didn't look like a snake shedding it's skin... I went on the hunt for a dandruff shampoo and conditioner pair that really packed a punch.

After trying a number of different options, I decided the best shampoo to get rid of stubborn dandruff is Head & Shoulders Intensive Care shampoo.

Head & Shoulders has recently made more of an effort to make their shampoos and conditioners smell more "woman-friendly" as it were... but I should warn you, they did not succeed here. Head & Shoulders Intensive Care shampoo still smells like the Head & Shoulder of the 1980s; however, the demolition of all evidence of dandruff makes the not-so-pleasant smell totally worth it. I usually pair the Intensive Care shampoo with one of the more pleasing smelling Head & Shoulder conditioners, in order to come out with a result that is good for my dry scalp as well as my nostrils.

Not the cheapest shampoo on the market, I usually try to hunt for coupons in the Sunday paper or stock up when I see it on clearance. But if you've got stubborn dandruff, you should give Head & Shoulders Intensive Care shampoo a try, you'll be amazed with the results!

Head & Shoulders Smooth & Silky Conditioner

Back in the day, you could only get Head & Shoulders in one variety, and while it dealt effectively with dandruff problems, it also stunk to the high heavens, and not in a good way. I used to use Head & Shoulders shampoo and conditioner and then go over my hair again with a cheap conditioner that had a pleasant smell, so my hair would not smell funky throughout the day.

However, these days, Head & Shoulders has a whole product line of different kinds of Head & Shoulders: silky & smoother, color treated, for curly hair, etc. etc. etc. I personally prefer the Silky & Smooth, as my hair is sometimes frizzy and gets tones of flyaways.

Now the smell has gotten MUCH better than the Head & Shoulders of the 1990s, but it still isn't the greatest. However, I don't have to use a second conditioner these days, which is a plus.

Another pro, is that it really does well on removing dandruff. I alternate this condition with my regular condition, every other day, and I really do see an improvement in the amount of flakes and dry scalp I have. So it delivers what it promises... the only thing I could wish for is further improvement in the scent department.

Gillette Venus Embrace Disposable Razor

I am not normally a fan of disposable razors. I'm a bit of a tree hugger and think that the fewer "disposable" products society has the better. I own a Venus razor and normally just buy the replaceable cartridges for it, because even though these are disposable cartridges as well, I feel like they are less of a waste, and as a lady, shave the old fashioned way would most likely be tedious, time consuming, and possibly just a littly ridiculous.

However, there are certain situations where having a disposable razor is key. Mainly, travelling. Boyfriend and I often go on trips, and while I used to take my permanent razor on these trips, I have been know to leave it places (such as cruise ship cabins) where I know it won't ever be returned to me. Or, I've stupidly packed in it one of my carry ons, and the airport kindly confiscated it.

Another down side to disposable razors is that I do not feel that they work as well as a regular razor does. But these Venus Embrace ones appear to be the exception to the rule. These disposables are ALMOST as good as my regular razor, my legs are left silky and smooth and no razor burn is created.

The cost, for the fact that these razors are meant to be thrown out, is a little off-putting. However, I can usually find a coupon or two, when combined with something like my CVS xtra bucks, makes the price a little more reasonable.

Clinique - Superpowder Double Face Makeup

Clinique has a reputation for being the not-expensive, "expensive" cosmetic. Their little cases give women and girls a one-up on their cohorts and they fish their little green status symbol out of their make-up cases.

However, the reason for the price shows when you try the product. It's a standard drug store powder. It works about the same as any $5 powder I can get in cheaper packaging from CVS or Wal-mart. You have to hand it to Clinique for a billirant marketing campaign though, they are probably raking it in hand over fist on this product.

Granted, when purchasing this product from a department store, you can usually wait until the Clinique counter goes into gift, so that you can get a pile of free make-up goodies with your purchase. And I am actually quite fond of some of Clinique's mascaras and mascara prep products, and some of their multi-colored blushes and bronzers.

So while I don't frown upon the whole Clinique brand, (as you remember, I adore their All About Eyes Moisturizer) I feel like their powders are primarily a rip off, and you're paying for the brand at this point. Because this product is no better or worse than a Revlon or Rimmel powder.

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion

So you would think from the name, that Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, would be dramtically different than the rest of the moisturizers on the market. Sadly, it is not. Now granted, it is less expensive that many of the department store moisturizers out there, but it is still significantly more expensive than a drug store moisturizer.

My main problem with this moisturizer is that it is SUPER greasy, it almost feels almost sticky, both on my fingers when I apply, as well as on my face. And even after I have rubbed this moisturizer into my skin, it feels most like bug repellant than moisturizer.

And another turn-off is that there are artificial colors added to this moisturizer. And any reason the creators might have chosen to do that is absolutely beyond me. I prefer my moisturizer to not have any color.

I prefer Nivea's skin so soft or any of the Dove or Neutrogena moisturizers to this. For about one third the price, you can get a moisturizer that actually feels like it is hydrating your skin. And of course, you all know that my FAVORITE moisturizer is Lancome's Hydra Zen for Dry Skin ... but that of course, comes with a steeper price tag.

The one upside, is that I purchased this program, as I do all of my department store moisturizer purchases, when Clinique was in gift. So I did accumulate a bunch of free make-up when I bought this product, which made me feel a little bit better about wasting money on this over-promising product.

Olay Daily Facials Cleansing Cloths

As most of you know, I am a coupon-diva, and as per usual, this is one of the products I tried because I had a coupon for it. A buy-one-get-one no less. And it's a good thing I did try this product, because they are WONDERFUL for travelling.

These cloths are packaged dry and soap up when wet. You merely have to take one cloth out of the box, apply a little water and later. The cloth makes enough lather to thoroughly clean your face and then you can rinse the cloth out and use it to rinse your face as well.

I don't feel that I get as good of a clean from this as when I use my normal exfoliating cleansing products, but I feel like these cloths make an excellent travelling cleanser. There's nothing about them that can spill or explode in your luggage, and they do well enough, they remove all of your make-up and leave your face feeling clean. And while I may not get as deep of a clean from this as I do my favorite cleanser, it does not dry out my face as much as exfoliating products often do.

One other downside might be that without a coupon, these cloths can be a little pricey. But I find coupons for this product fairly often, so it doesn't appear hard to find a way to make them less expensive.

Lancome Absolute Replenishing Cream Foundation

Lancome's Absolute Replenishing Cream Foundation is my favourite foundation for when pictures are going to be taken of me. It is a rich, creamy foundation which allows for full coverage without feeling cakey. Of course, one should always apply it with a brush or a sponge, because it may get a little cakey if applied with your fingers.

It will last all night, and comes off easily with soap and water. More importantly, when wearing it, your face does not come out all shiny in photos, which I think is super important.

And if you have somewhere to go during the day, this foundation also boasts SPF 20, so that you won't damage your skin or get skin cancer while out in the sun.

The one downfall of this product is that it is relatively pricey, coming it at $57 a tub. The tub will late you awhile. And again, I usually try to buy mine at Macys or Lord and Taylor or another department store while Lancome is in gift, so that a bunch of additional free make-up and a purse will sweeten the deal and make my wallet feel a little less beaten up.