http://www.thisnext.com/list/3949C26E/Top-10-Beauty-Must-Haves-of/ http://www.thisnext.com/item/DBE0848F/3639B505/Clarins-UV-Plus-Day-Screen-SPF

Recommended by palacinka on Jul 22, 2008

Ah, sunscreen, so many choices…and so little time. For my face, I am very finicky about the texture, the smell, the staying power and also the convenience level of the packaging (must be travel/gym ready). This new Clarins sunscreen was a relief in a sea of sunscreen I have been testing for the last month or so.

I love the little cylinder tube which is super portable. The formula itself is very lightweight and on the thin side, but so concentrated I didn’t need much to cover my face (so it is very long lasting). There is a light fragrance, which dissipated quickly. The lotion glided on my skin without a trace of stickiness, white cast, or oil. The finish was matte. I found that it was light enough to be layered over my favorite serum and under my liquid bronzer or tinted moisturizer that I tend to favor in the summer months. As a matter of fact, this is actually the perfect skin primer before makeup application. The lasting power was fantastic on days I was working, running around outside or actually sunning at the beach. I had no breakouts or irritation from the product and it didn’t run or melt on my skin. It also left my skin soft and moisturized without feeling oily, so on the weekends I would just wear this with a little mascara and lip color and I was good to go!

This is a non-chemical sunscreen which many of you will also appreciate. It’s made from 100% minerals. Yes, this is another product that is indeed worth every penny and I will be stockpiling!

Note: As an added bonus if you are like me and always around computer screens, Clarins has added protection against electromagnetic waves in this formula. (via Palacinka)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Plane Approved Beauty, Sun, Summer & Suncare, Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: beauty, Beauty Editor, best sun screens, Clarins, Clarins sun, day screen, face, Face Primer, french, skin care, spf, suncare, sun protection, sunscreen, top sunscreens, uva, uvb

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/DBE0848F/3639B505/ Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:50:24 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/DB619963/67459EFB/ModelCo-ExfoliateBody-Wipes

Recommended by palacinka on Jul 22, 2008

These body wipes by ModelCo take the “Wet Wipes” concept to the next level. They are Uber Chic wet wipes for adults – and they were super effective.

Before my shower I would pull out one of the rectangular-shaped wipes and use the textured side (with several rows of exfoliating granules built into the wipe) and applied it to my major trouble spots – my elbows and knees. It should be noted that the textured side is not painfully rough, but it is very abrasive, and not as wet as a normal wet wipe. This is what makes it a good choice for those who have skin that is not very sensitive and prefer a more aggressive scrub. The fragrance is a pleasant pink grapefruit that does not linger.

I was very impressed with how easily the wipes got rid of the dead skin and made these areas feel nice and soft. I then turned it over to the softer, buffing side of the wipe and applied that in the circular motion for a minute or two. When I was finished, my skin looked much, much, better, and after using them several times a week for several weeks, my skin was absolutely glowing.

While the container itself is a tad bulky for travel, I simply put them in a zip lock bag for packing, and then kept the container at home or the gym. Just remember that since they are a drier wipe, it’s essential that you remember to close the lid completely.

I love innovation, effectiveness, and the bright pink spoke to me as well. This is a winner in my book.

Note: This is NOT a product for those with sensitive skin! (via Palacinka)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: Aussie, australian, beauty, Beauty Editor, bodycare, body scrub, body wipes, buffing, cute, dry skin, exfoliation, hot pink, modelco, pink, tone, wipes

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/DB619963/67459EFB/ Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:44:18 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/18E7E013/94FA5261/Kanebo-Relaxing-Body-Wash

Recommended by palacinka on Jul 11, 2008

Kanebo makes one of the best body care brands in the world. Why? Because their products combine great ingredients which really care for skin, feature a subtle yet still memorable fresh fragrance and create a “luxury” cleansing feeling.

The relaxing body wash is a smooth, silky, pearlescent light mint green color (as is the actual packaging). With a gentle press on the bottle the concentrated wash came out and was so soft and refreshing on my skin. (The fragrance actually brought me back to a wonderful business trip I took to Tokyo a few years ago where I had a “feeding frenzy” trying amazing Japanese skin care products). It was the green tea and bamboo extract fragrance that took me back. It a really is a light, relaxing scent.

I loved using this at the end of the day, especially after a hot, humid day, as this removed every trace of city dirt and grime, and left my skin soft and supple. If you have very dry skin, you will need a bit of lotion on key points like elbows, knees and legs, but otherwise, this provided a great amount of light moisture without feeling like there was any film or residue left on my skin.

A pampering treat that every beauty lover should have in their body care collection! (via Palacinka)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Sun, Summer & Suncare, Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: beauty, Beauty Editor, best body care, bodycare, Body Gel, body wash, Kanebo, kanebo body care, mint green, shower gel, skin care

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/18E7E013/94FA5261/ Fri, 11 Jul 2008 07:22:40 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/55090F8E/AA9C193B/Kanebo-Relaxing-Foaming-Body

Recommended by palacinka on Jul 11, 2008

This smooth (yet fairly large) grained, foaming body scrub is the perfect complement to the body wash (see review above). I used this about 3x week before the body wash. After working all my critical spots (elbows, knees, feet, décolletage), and then rinsing, it left my skin smooth and super soft. The grains in the scrub are cushioned in a soft, fresh smelling gel/cream emulsion, which was very effective at exfoliating but not harsh on my skin at all.

The tube itself is a fairly large size, and I used for several weeks and did not even get half way though it. The fragrance mimics that of the body wash, again a green tea infusion. Its lovely pale mint green packaging looks nice in the shower as well for all you packaging junkies out there too! (via Palacinka)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Sun, Summer & Suncare, Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: beauty, Beauty Editor, best body care, body scrub, exfoliator, japanese body care, japanese skin care, Kanebo, mint green, relaxing, skin care

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/55090F8E/AA9C193B/ Fri, 11 Jul 2008 07:13:24 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/D9B77F62/82D10FAB/Sonia-Kashuk-Eliminate-Shine

Recommended by palacinka on Jul 11, 2008

The afternoon “glow” – which is really a nice word for shine, is something that I look to avoid at all costs. In the summer heat, it’s usually an uphill battle, with various products producing so-so-to-good results.

Sonia Kashuk has created a product which goes in the very good category. It’s a spray powder which I sprayed directly on to my powder brush as per the instructions. Within seconds I could see my t-zone shine disappearing. My skin felt soft and smooth and the powder has a nice, subtle scent.

During a few of the days I tested this, I was in 90+ degree heat/humidity and on those days I did need to give myself another spritz during the afternoon, but all in all, I was really pleased with how it tamed my oilies without breaking me out. It also worked really well with both my foundation and tinted moisturizer. It didn’t change the color, ball up or create dry patches. The powder is fine and mostly translucent, but there is still a lightly colored pigment in this powder, so this will work best on women up to a Kerry Washington shade. Great for travel too & fantastic price to boot! (via Palacinka)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Beauty on a Budget, Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: beauty, Beauty Editor, face powder, makeup artist, mattifying, mattifying spray, powder, sonia kashuk, spray powder, Summer Beauty

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/D9B77F62/82D10FAB/ Fri, 11 Jul 2008 06:46:57 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/A7A91800/09695703/Stella-McCartney-Stella-Eau-de

Recommended by palacinka on Jun 18, 2008

I tried this fragrance a few years ago and recently picked it up again in Sephora because this cute, slim, sophisticated Roll-On bottle caught my eye!

This is a fragrance that I really do enjoy. Its rose based, but in no way a “Rose” perfume. The opening notes are of roses, but quickly the mandarin and amber come into play to give it such a soft, fresh and sexy twist. It really is a one of a kind fragrance. The lasting power is fantastic and the scent continued to develop nicely on me throughout the day even without reapplying with the peony notes melding with the amber. I got several compliments while I wore this one! When combined with this modern roll-on packaging, it is a big winner in my book.

I carried this everywhere I went – it’s a perfect size (about 4 ½ in” long). Since it’s slim it also easily fit in my jeans and the slimmest of evening bags. In addition to the lovely scent and modern, convenient packaging; this has a fantastic price. This is perfect for a little summer wedding favor gift for a bridal party, or graduation gift for the beauty/fragrance lover in your life.

Tip: If you roll a bit behind you knees in the morning on a hot day, the scent will rise with your body temperature during the day. Nothing else needed!

Notes: Rose, Peony Flower, Mandarin, Rose Absolute, Amber. (via Palacinka)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Plane Approved Beauty, Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: beauty, Beauty Editor, fragrance, roller ball fragrance, Roll On, roll on fragrance, rose, rose fragrance, roses, stella, stella eau de parfume, Stella McCartney, stella perfume

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/A7A91800/09695703/ Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:43:07 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/10024853/5ED44B96/Murad-Acne-Spot-Treatment

Recommended by palacinka on May 30, 2008

This little wonder came into my life the very day that a pimple cropped up in my t- zone (usual) and under my eye! (not usual at all!). Needless to say I was expecting great results from this product as I wanted these pimples out of my life -- pronto!

I applied my first application in the evening. I cleansed with a gentle cleanser first and then applied the treatment using the applicator tip (no fingers really helps with keeping the area clean). The texture is fairly thick with a gel/cream feel. I only needed press lightly on the tube to release enough cream for my blemishes. It took about a minute to dry completely and then I was off to bed…

In the morning I was simply stunned. The redness of the pimples was significantly reduced and the pimples themselves had almost completely disappeared. I did not experience any flaking around the trouble spots either. I applied a bit more in the morning and by the end of the day I could barely see the pimples!

This is an excellent spot treatment for those of you who even have drier skin, since the formula is not super drying. In short, this is effective, convenient and the perfect size for travel/gym! (via Palacinka)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Sleeping Beauty-Best Products for Overnight, Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: acne, Acne spot treatment, acne treaments, beauty, Beauty Editor, best skin care, Break Outs, Murad, murad-skin-care, oily skin, pimples, plane beauty, skin care, skin treatments, Summer Beauty

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/10024853/5ED44B96/ Fri, 30 May 2008 07:20:45 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/F5D966F4/1D2052E7/Tarte-4-Day-Stay-Lash-Stain

Recommended by palacinka on May 30, 2008

Tarte is always on the forefront of product innovation, and this product is their most recent example of this. It should be noted however, as in life; everything is not for everybody, no matter how good it might be.

Case in point: This is a lash stain (not really a lash enhancing mascara) and therein lies the beauty and/or frustration of this product, depending on your needs.

For someone like me with lashes that are not truly dark, and very fine, this stain was perfect to give me a nice, enhanced, natural look that was truly trouble free and long lasting. The stain deepened my lashes and gave me a more defined look (perfect for running around on the weekends or going to the gym). My lashes were lengthened slightly and had nice separation. I also liked the curved brush and the non-clumpy formula.

The stain did not flake or run (and I even went to the pool/sauna with it) which was great. However, it did not really increase the volume of my lashes (no Va Va Voom lash effect in other words). For this natural effect, it did indeed last about 4 days. I was very careful about applying it, since this is a stain (so take care that it does not touch your under eye area or face). Of course, it is possible to take off, with a generous amount of oil-based makeup remover and a Q-Tip.)

It should be noted that I also tried this with along with a Volumizing mascara and it did work well, but I did not get the 4 day results. It only lasted about two days. All in all, this is a great choice for those of you who want a natural look, love to apply a product and forget about it, and don’t need/want much lash “enhancement.

Note: When wearing this formula you cannot use any oil based product near the eye area or when removing makeup, as it will cause the stain to come off. (via Palacinka)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Lash Out!!-Best Mascaras, Sun, Summer & Suncare, Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: beauty, Beauty Editor, cosmetics, cute packaging, eye cosmetics, eye makeup, eye, lashes, lash stain, mascara, Summer Beauty, Tarte, Tarte Cosmetics, waterproof, waterproof beauty, water proof mascara

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/F5D966F4/1D2052E7/ Fri, 30 May 2008 07:04:02 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/DD2E23D7/B8D145C0/Yves-Saint-Laurent-Everlong

Recommended by palacinka on May 30, 2008

This is probably one of the most luxurious waterproof mascara’s I’ve ever used.

Of course, being YSL, the packaging is super glamorous (yes it’s one you just like to look at!). The fragrance is also lovely (I liked the decadence of this).

As a mascara, it is also fantastic, but it should be noted that this formula is for a lengthening effect rather than an overall volume and curling effect. I found that it gave me a very long but natural look. The brush barrel is very large and the brush itself is quite different than most on the market, made with tons of very short, thin rubber bristles on all sides which attached itself and “grabbed” on to my lashes very well.

The shade of burgundy was lovely for a chance of pace. The burgundy was noticeable and very flattering with my eye color. I found it was perfectly appropriate for day time, since it’s not over the top. (This color will be more pronounced if you have lighter lashes). Most importantly, it did make my lashes look significantly longer. My lashes were not hard and brittle; they were soft and flexible. The staying power was also impressive, and it was truly waterproof. It did not run or flake when I was in humid weather, which I loved! The mascara really stayed on until I removed it with makeup remover. I will note however, that the formula is a drier one, so I had to make sure that I closed it completely after each use, as I noticed that additional air did make it drier. (via Palacinka)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Lash Out!!-Best Mascaras, Oh so classy Classics, Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: beauty, beuaty editor, eye makeup, eyes, french, gold, lashes, luxury, mascara, mascara brush, waterproof, water proof mascara, YSL, yves st laurent

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/DD2E23D7/B8D145C0/ Fri, 30 May 2008 06:59:25 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/256500E9/053E0473/Givenchy-Prismissime-Mat-Glow

Recommended by palacinka on May 30, 2008

This is a fabulous palette that also works to cut down on the amount of products you need to use/pack to achieve a really nice, sexy “glow”.

I loved the sleek and modern packaging, with a cute little brush included in the bottom compartment. Although when I used it at home I applied with my bronzer brushes. As a nice little touch it also includes the names some of the most glamorous vacation destinations on the front of the pack in bold pink– Monaco, Tokyo, Ibiza, Capri, etc…

The compact has nine color cubes in all: three shimmery powders (gold, chocolate, bronze); three light to medium tan powders with a bit of a peach undertone; and three medium to chocolate brown powders with some gold elements.

The shimmery shades are separated from the matte shades, which makes it very easy to pick the type of look that you want. During the day I tended to use the mat shades and apply the shimmer as a subtle highlight on my cheekbones and as a highlighter on my eyes. At night I would swirl the brush over all the cubes and build up to much more noticeable shimmery bronzed look on my cheeks and my eyes. The texture of all the shades are silky smooth and the lasting power is very good.

This compact will work best for eyes and cheeks up to a Kerry Washington complexion, however, if used just for eyes and as a highlighter this will work on all skin tones, even as deep as Alex Wek, for example. (via Palacinka)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Bronze Ambition-Bronzers & Shimmers, Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: beauty, Beauty Editor, blush, bronzer, compact, cosmetics, Givenchy, luxury, makeup, Makeup Reviews, travel

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/256500E9/053E0473/ Fri, 30 May 2008 06:49:19 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/A50AB4D0/1BE235C9/Phyto-PHYTOPLAGE-Moisturizing

Recommended by palacinka on May 30, 2008

This is a fantastic, luxurious 2-in1 product that is perfect for summer trips to the beach or just trips in general! From Phyto I would expect no less, since I am a big fan of their hair products which also work very well for me.

The wash is a smooth silky liquid that is thick and rich. It’s very concentrated so just a few squirts of the tube produced all I needed to cleanse both my body and my hair. The lather is super creamy with a rich fragrance that I loved. It’s a lovely, decadent spicy, slightly floral scent that was not too overpowering, but did linger on my body and hair nicely after rinsing off.

Post shower my skin was very soft and hydrated and I skipped using lotion on most days (very dry skins will still need an after shower moisturizer). My hair was soft, shiny and not weighed down at all. All traces of chlorine/sand from the beach were gone from my as well.

Note: As a shampoo, this formula works best on naturally straight, wavy and healthy relaxed hair. (via Palacinka)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Hair Scare!!-Combating Frizzies and unruly hair, Sun, Summer & Suncare, Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: beauty, Beauty Editor, best body care, best skin care, body wash, conditioning, dry skin, french, luxury, moisturizing, Phyto, Phyto Plage, shampoo, shower gel

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/A50AB4D0/1BE235C9/ Fri, 30 May 2008 06:40:03 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/FD3F5CB0/15AF8C8F/Avene-Thermal-Spring-Water

Recommended by palacinka on May 23, 2008

Many people would say water is water, but I think that it’s not always the case. In Asia and Europe most of my friends and associates always have a water spray on hand and use it regularly. They also have great skin!

I loved this thermal water and can say that it is one of the best water sprays I have used. I think it worked wonders for setting my makeup and also when I wanted to dampen my cosmetic sponge to apply my foundation for a natural, dewy effect. It’s a very convenient sized tube that’s perfect for any bag, the plane or the office/gym. It was so refreshing during the day or after work before touching up my makeup for an evening out. This was also wonderful to use in power masks or cloth masks as opposed to regular water.

It was also wonderful to use on my body after a gym workout or day at the beach – it left my skin soft and hydrated and also more soothed. The nozzle on the bottle is small but spray is a very strong fine mist (only a press or two is enough for the entire face), and there is no fragrance. This also made the perfect starting point to applying my richer night creams before bed. I found that my skin really absorbed the creams better, and after using it this way for several weeks, my skin has never looked better! This is a must have product for everyone’s skin care routine. (via Palacinka)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Sun, Summer & Suncare, Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: avene, beauty, Beauty Editor, facial, facial mist, french, french water, mist, skin care, Skin Care Reviews, thermal water, water, water bottle, water spray

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/FD3F5CB0/15AF8C8F/ Fri, 23 May 2008 06:50:00 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/A6E4BF7E/79D2F0DC/Murad-Age-Proof-Suncare

Recommended by palacinka on May 23, 2008

This was my first time using a Murad product and I was very pleased. This sunblock has a light lemony scent, which I liked. It was not greasy, and didn’t flake or ball up in the heat. I also found it very moisturizing for my drier areas of my face and small lines around my eyes, and even my legs and elbows. The tone and texture of my skin was fantastic after using this daily!

I used this successfully on both my face and my body and I did not experience any irritation or break outs. For the face, it does leave a sheen however, so if you want a more matte look, then it will be necessary to blot it and then apply a little pressed or loose powder over it. I usually wore this during a recent vacation without much other makeup and didn’t mind the sheen. I also liked that the Sunblock didn’t leave a sticky or grayish cast to my skin (which I hate!).

It was definitely water resistant, but after going in and out of the water several times I did reapply as most experts say is necessary. However, when I was home and used it for everyday wear I found that even through very hot days it stayed put and was effective. A little goes a long way with this product which also makes it a great buy. (via Palacinka)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Sun, Summer & Suncare, Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: anti aging, beauty, Beauty Editor, best sun screens, Murad, skin care, spf, sunblock, suncare, sunscreen, sun screen reviews

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/A6E4BF7E/79D2F0DC/ Fri, 23 May 2008 06:23:12 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/6F50957D/5FBDEDD2/Murad-Clarifying-Body-Spray

Recommended by palacinka on May 14, 2008

This is one of those products that made me say “How could I have lived without this before?” This spray is incredibly effective. After using for just one week my chest and back was smoother, my little bumps were reduced significantly and the overall tone was better.

I used it each morning after my shower and it also reduced the number of new breakouts I got. After using regularly for several weeks I also saw an improvement in the lightness of darker marks left from previous breakouts. It has a slight eucalyptus/medicinal fragrance, which I will surely live with for these great results.

The design of spray bottle is great and very well thought out. I was able to reach any part of my back with it because it’s a 360˚degree nozzle. It was also quick drying (less than a minute for it to dry). Note: it did continue to have a slightly sticky finish on my body when it dried. However, it didn’t cause my skin to flake or any other irritations during the day.

I let my husband also try this because every year when the weather starts to get warm he gets pimples on his back. He used this every day for a week and was amazed that the pimples were not only gone but after continuing to use, they did not come back! My husband and I are won over and this will be stockpiled in our house for the summer season! (via Palacinka)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Sun, Summer & Suncare, Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: acne, Back, beauty, Beauty Editor, best body care, bodycare, Break Outs, chest, Murad, oily skin, skin care

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/6F50957D/5FBDEDD2/ Wed, 14 May 2008 08:30:25 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/7D0BB39B/6C2ED18B/CleanWell-Natural-Hand

Recommended by palacinka on Apr 25, 2008

You know the feeling...you've been traveling, or shaking a lot of hands, or playing with the kids all day but you just don't happen to be near any soap and water! There are hand sanitizing wipes and gels on the market, but without a doubt this product is a dream come true!

Clean Well hand sanitizers are made with all-natural Ingenium which is a patented formula proven to kill 99.99% of harmful germs that can make you sick including Samonella, resistent Staph, and Listeria. The travel sized version (pictured left) is what I used, and it was a great size -- no more than 5 in" long and superlight. The spray pump is tucked away under a flip top cap which snaps closed.

The biggest plus for me was that no water is required. Wherever I needed it, I could whip this out of my bag or my jacket pocket, spray once and I was all set. What I also loved was that is dries quickly but didn't dry out my hands. It still left them soft with a nice pleasant fresh/citrus scent. My hands felt clean, soft and fresh! I am stockpiling these! (via Palacinka)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Sun, Summer & Suncare, Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: beauty, Beauty Editor, clean hands, cleaning, clean well, dirty, germs, green beauty, hand sanitizer, hand spray, health, organic, organic beauty, spray, springdesign, travel, washing, wellness

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/7D0BB39B/6C2ED18B/ Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:43:39 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/129E5790/C95B934A/Juice-Beauty-SPF-20-Mineral

Recommended by palacinka on Apr 25, 2008

This is a great tinted moisturizer that doesn't contain any chemical sunscreens (it does contain titanium dioxide). It has a nice, light feel and was not oily or greasy feeling. The Mineral Medium is a great sheer bronze color which looks darker in the bottle, but worked with my skin tone perfectly (this will work best up to a Rihanna complexion).

It was very sheer, and it gave my skin a warm glow and provided just enough moisture throughout the day. I had no problems with breakouts or irritations which also made me very happy. It only took a small amount to cover my face and it has a light fragrance to boot. This is perfect for the warmer weather and after going to the gym to go out. (via Palacinka)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Sun, Summer & Suncare, Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: beauty, Beauty Editor, cosmetics, green beauty, juice, juice beauty, minerals, organic, organic beauty, springdesign, tinted moisturizer

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/129E5790/C95B934A/ Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:32:12 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/023E65A4/45625F8A/CHANEL-Inimitable-Waterproof

Recommended by palacinka on Apr 3, 2008

This my first time trying a CHANEL mascara in which I stepped out of my “comfort zone” to try a colored formula. This was amazing!

It made my lashes look long, luscious and thick. I really did do a double take in the mirror the first morning I used it. It didn’t clump and held a curl better than almost mascaras I’ve tried. There was no smudging or flaking and it IS truly waterproof – I went swimming and into a sauna with it, and it stayed put, and looked incredible.

The color of the mascara is a beautiful jade green color, which looks a little deeper on the brush than it did on my lashes – and I liked that it gave a definite hint of green to my lashes, but was still subtle. This is a great color that will work on all skin tones and for those of you who want to change up your eye look. For me, it really did bring out the dimension of my brown eyes as well, which was another plus! This is a beautiful luxury mascara with a color twist that is worth the price. (via Palacinka)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Best of CHANEL, Lash Out!!-Best Mascaras, Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: beauty, Beauty Editor, best mascaras, Chanel, CHANEL Beaute, cosmetics, eyelashes, green, jade, jade green, lashes, makeup artist, mascara, spring beauty, Summer Beauty, summer collection, waterproof, water proof mascara

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/023E65A4/45625F8A/ Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:07:00 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/A4B00692/C3082530/Olay-Quench-Mousse-in-Active

Recommended by palacinka on Feb 12, 2008

Well, body lotion is one category in which I’m always willing to try something new, and Olay’s newest Quench product (I loved the original lotion) did not disappoint! When I took a look at the Olay Quench body mousse, I knew that I was going to love it. I used the Active hydration formula with green tea and vitamin complex for normal to dry skin. A few quick shakes and a gentle press of the nozzle and I got a nice puff of mousse.

The texture is light and airy of course, but also felt just as light on my skin. I applied daily after my shower. I loved that it offered sheer coverage, instant absorption, and kept my skin hydrated all day. It does have a prominent fragrance upon application, which I would describe as “fresh/slightly fruity”, but it dissipates after a few minutes (for those of you who don’t like lingering body lotions fragrance).

I should note that it is does have a slight bit of shimmer (light reflecting particles to enhance the skin appearance), which is not distracting. It was not sticky (but I only used two or three puffs of mousse for my upper and lower body just to be on the safe side (a little goes a long way!).

I loved the sleek packaging and this is going to be my new body care favorite - especially in the summer (perhaps they will also introduce one with sunscreen?).

Note: For those of you with dry/very dry skin or traveling and living in very dry, cold climates, I would recommend their other formulation with shea butter called Ultra Moisturize. (via Palacinka)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: air, beauty, Beauty Editor, bodycare, body lotion, dry skin, lotion, mousse, Oil of Olay, Olay, Quench, skin care

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/A4B00692/C3082530/ Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:12:14 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/D746A360/885B5EEF/Bobbi-Brown-Cosmetics

Recommended by palacinka on May 5, 2007

First off, I am a bit biased because I LOVE Bobbi Brown products! However, I've actually never used a palette before, because I always figured there would only be just a few colors that actually worked for me, and the rest would be a waste of money...but that's all changed with this product. The packaging is ideal - a top compartment with the 3 lips colors and 1 lip gloss, that cleverly slides out sideways to reveal...three very neutral eye shadows on the bottom. This palette also comes with two mini (3-4 inches long) brushes. One brush is double-ended with a smudge-brush, which I used to apply the chocolate/gray shadow and at the other end a basic shadow brush. The other brush is for the lipcolor. A very nice sized mirror is included at the top as well.

Now on the colors - eyeshadows are included: Bone, a yellowish white (great for highlighting the brown bone area), Cement, a med. matte brown, and Chocolate, a slightly brownish dark gray. All shadows are matte finish. 4 lipcolors are included: Cashmere lip gloss, a light caramel color, Brownie lipcolor, a med. pink with some brown in it, Soft Rose a deeper pink with some brown, and Rum Raisin lipcolor, a brown with some wine in it that was my everyday - go to-YLBB color. All lipsticks are matte; the lip gloss is dewy but not shimmery. I had a lot of fun mixing and matching the lip colors - everything can be combined for some really nice lip looks. Even with all of these products, it's still very light, so this is perfect to toss into my bag for the office and for travel. I will get a lot of use from this palette! (via Bobbi Brown)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Best of Bobbi Brown, Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: beauty, Bobbi Brown, brown, cosmetics, eyeshadow, gloss, lip color, lip, palette, pink, rose

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/D746A360/885B5EEF/ Sat, 05 May 2007 19:57:07 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/0BFF7905/280E4F33/supersmile-Advanced-Formula-in

Recommended by palacinka on May 5, 2007

What a great product! Each one of the little flat packets holds a powdered version of the mouthrise which not only refreshed my mouth but also worked with the supersmile Whitening Fluoride Toothpaste to increase my whitening! The packets can be thrown into even the smallest of bags and just need a little water to create the mouthrinse.


You actually use the packet to hold the mouthrinse and then can simply throw it away after you are done! The flavor is minty (but a little on the salty tasting side) and I used these at least 1x during the day and sometimes again in the evening if I was going out after work. There are 60 packets included so I think these are also pretty cost effective as well. These will always be close to me now matter where I go now! (via palacinka)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: beauty, dental, dental beauty, dental health, mouth rinse, mouthwash, Smile!, supersmile, teeth, teeth whitner

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/0BFF7905/280E4F33/ Sat, 05 May 2007 19:03:52 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/B5E0254E/CC7C50DE/Softlips-Lip-Protectant-with

Recommended by palacinka on May 5, 2007

What a lovely little product! It has a delicious true vanilla scent, SPF 20, left my lips soft and never chapped, and was perfect as a lipstick base. One of my friends went out and bought one for herself, because she loved the scent when I used it, and now she adores it too. I absolutely reach for this product first when thinking about moisturizing my lips, and I am a total product junkie.

Soft Lips provides just the right amount of "grease" - you actually feel like your lips are being moisturized when you put it on - but not so much that it looks like an oil slick. It leaves the lips with a nice sheen and works well under lipstick or on it's own for a natural look.

This nice slim tube is also great to stick in your jeans, the smallest bag and keep at the office or gym of course. Best of all, my boyfriend, says I smell like yummy freshly baked goods when I wear Soft Lips - yeah!" (via drugstore)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: beauty, Chapstick, lip balm, lip protectant, lips, moisturizing, soft, Soft Lips, spf, vanilla

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/B5E0254E/CC7C50DE/ Sat, 05 May 2007 18:37:04 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/98925D48/749FB789/Sephora-Matte-Blotting-Film

Recommended by palacinka on May 5, 2007

I just fell in love with these sheets. Especially the fact that they don't have a powder on them like so many other blotting tissues. They just remove the oil without leaving anything behind. These work really well--you just press them against your skin (no need to rub) and when you lift off the sheet a few seconds later, you'll see big transparent spots where it's soaked up oil from your skin.

It's gross but kind of cool if that makes sense! The sheets themselves have a nice texture-- they feel really soft and silky, and I like the Robin's Egg blue color too! Of course these fit just about anywhere and I kept them at work and in my bag. (via Sephora)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: beauty, blotting, blotting papers, blue, face, matte, Sephora, sheets, skin, skin care

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/98925D48/749FB789/ Sat, 05 May 2007 18:29:34 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/D542AFB4/179D32F1/LUMENE-SUN-ON-THE-GO

Recommended by palacinka on Apr 27, 2007

I have to say that the packaging drew me in. What a great idea that this sunscreen is held in a slim little tube and the cap has a little lip balm dome built into it--very clever and convenient for slipping into one's purse.

The sunscreen itself is a little on the heavy side but I found that for drier skin like mine this is just the thing I need. It also has a very prominent floral fragrance which again did not bother me but should be kept in mind.

It’s the lip balm that is the gem of this product – it has a great, smooth, creamy texture and a nice, creamy vanilla scent, (but if you have darker/more pigmented lip take care not to layer too much as it will begin to look white and obvious. I used this product on my face, hands and neck on a recent trip to a very hot climate and was very pleased with the protection and the convenience.

Lumene products are now available in the U.S. at most CVS stores. (via Palacinka)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Sun, Summer & Suncare, Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: beauty, Finland, lip care, lips, lumene, protection, skin care, Skin Protection, spf, sun, suncare, suntan

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/D542AFB4/179D32F1/ Fri, 27 Apr 2007 11:41:51 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/9F787B03/E4B6ABD5/Fusion-Beauty-GlowFusion-Micro

Recommended by palacinka on Apr 23, 2007

Awesome product! I love bronzers. I used Golden, a definite golden shade with little red/brown tones. I have brown skin with extremely yellow undertones and this shade looks like my skin with a tan (but different than bronzed). It has a little shimmer, not too much, but enough to give the skin a nice dewy look without being metallic.

Overall, the texture is very smooth (even with fingers), it made my skin look silky and very natural, but enhanced. It didn’t irritate my skin or cause breakouts, and the color stayed true during the day when I got a little more oil on my skin. Very nice! This particular shade will work best up to about a Whitney Houston shade, but they have a third darker one, Sunshine, that will work up to an Iman shade (via Palacinka)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Bronze Ambition-Bronzers & Shimmers, Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: beauty, bronzer, cosmetics, cute, fusion, makeup, powder, tan, tanning, tint

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/9F787B03/E4B6ABD5/ Mon, 23 Apr 2007 12:53:22 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/20B83CAA/37D4607A/Bobbi-Brown-BATH-Fragrance

Recommended by palacinka on Apr 13, 2007

I fell in love with this scent on the spot. I wanted a fresh, spring-like fragrance that was a subtle clean essence – but did not to smell like laundry detergent, dryer sheets or Irish Spring. Now I’ve found it!

I achieved out-of-the-shower-clean smell with my morning spritzes and the dry down was sweet but subtle. While the base sweetness reminds me of melons, apricots or peaches, it is not candy-like in the least. It worked extremely well with my skin chemistry, and for a split second I got a nice "Ivory Soap"- like layer which made me smile every day.

It's a perfect everyday scent, and the packaging is simple & appealing.

I would love to see this fragrance expand into a shower gel, scrub, lotion and larger fragrance bottle too! This is a great all-around scent.

Note: For drier skins you will have to apply this more often during the day to maintain the intensity if desired. (via Palacinka.com)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Best of Bobbi Brown, Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: bath, beauty, Bobbi Brown, eau de toilette, fragrance, fresh, light, perfume, scent

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PermaLink ]]> palacinka http://www.thisnext.com/item/20B83CAA/37D4607A/ Fri, 13 Apr 2007 07:05:47 PDT http://www.thisnext.com/item/9788CBF8/6C81934B/PHYTO-PLAGE-Protective-Sun

Recommended by palacinka on Mar 29, 2007

This gel offers very light control. On humid days, my thick hair goes bonkers. This definitely keeps the frizzies from taking over while keeping my hair looking natural and not at all styled with gobs of products.

My favorite way of using this gel is to apply it to wet hair and then let my hair dry naturally. It has a very subtle lovely scent that is almost imperceptible. I can't really tell if it actually protects my hair from the sun but it definitely helps keep my hair healthy looking. I will use every summer or beach vacation (via Palacinka)

This Review is: Smart Funny Useful

Lists: Sun, Summer & Suncare, Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer
Tags: beauty, dry hair, hair care, Hair Reviews, Phyto, Salon, summer, suncare