Product Review: Neutrogena Nourishing Lip Balm, A

I love me some Neutrogena. Back in the days when I used the famous yellow-orange, jelly-like face bar, this brand has come a long way from simply fighting acne. That's why I was pretty pumped to be part of a recent BzzAgent Campaign with a handful of Neutrogena goodies. First item up for review is the Revitalizing Lip Balm. Other BzzAgent Neutrogena product reviews to come soon!

Deets from Neutrogena:
Revitalizing Lip Balm helps make lips softer, rosier and healthier-looking, even after you take it off! This sheer tinted balm with exclusive ion2complex™ instantly moisturizes lips, leaving them looking fuller and more defined. In just one week, it helps improve lips' texture and restores the look of rosiness. SPF 20 helps protect lips and keeps them looking healthy.

Give your lips the revitalized look and feel they deserve.

• SPF 20
• Sheer tint
• 6 shades

My Review:

The Good: It smells like SweetTarts and leaves a lovely swath of color on your lips. Be aware that it's not like a sheer lipbalm, this balm packs a punch of color! And I lurve it. The product most certainly keep my kisser soft and smooth, too.

The Bad: Honestly, the only less than desirable point is that $8.99 for a lipbalm may seem a bit steep, but this is closer to a sheer lipstick in both size and quality. Do you best to balm your lips within the lines!

The Verdict: A all the way. I dig this product - the scent, the result on the lips, the staying power and the lovely shades it is offered in. The Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm is a win for me and a definite rebuy.

Product Review: Garnier BB Cream, C

Happy Friday, y'all! Up on the product review docket is Garnier's new BB Cream. I received this pretty little tube as a BzzAgent and was pretty jacked to give it a go. You can find this product in a multitude of drugstores for $9-$12 per 2.5 oz. tube. Let's discuss, shall we?

About Garnier BB Cream Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector:

Is it right for me?
Skin concerns, such as discoloration, dullness, blotchiness and dryness can come from a number of different sources. It's hard to find just one product that addresses them all. Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream immediately and effectively fullfills your skincare expectations with just one multi-benefit product that combines intense moisturizing skincare + immediate skin perfecting coverage for skin that looks naturally more even, radiant and smooth.

How is it different?
It’s a new idea in skincare. B.B. Cream is a hybrid formula that offers advanced skincare + immediate skin perfecting coverage in one single beauty product.

How do I use it?
Gently apply Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream to face and neck prior to sun exposure for instant coverage and correction as well as for protection. Reapply as needed.

My Review:

The Good: I fully appreciate a multi-use product. This cream has SPF, good-for-your-skin ingredients and simply packaging. The fewer steps I have to take to prep my skin, the better. Plus, the price is affordable considering all the perceived benefits and uses.

The Bad: The product was pretty thick and felt like a mask on my face, i.e., my skin couldn't breathe. And I did experience a few breakouts from it. Plus, the coverage is minimal, so don't think this will replace your foundation or even your tinted moisturizer. There's also a pretty heavy scent.

The Verdict: C from me. I wanted to like it, but the cream is too heavy for my skin and I felt like my pores were suffocating and thus, suffering. Perhaps this would work better on someone with less sensitive skin?

Product Review: Burt's Bees Sensitive Facial Cleanser, B

It's product review time, friends! Today I'm reviewing one of the two products I received in a recent Burt's Bees BzzAgent kit - Burt's Bees Sensitive Facial Cleanser. This kit came at a very opportune time...I just finished up my evening cleanser and was looking for another option with the cooler weather coming in!

Details from Burt's Bees:

This soap-free cream cleanser is clinically proven to moisturize sensitive skin while gently cleansing away dirt, oil and make-up without over drying or causing redness. Distinctly formulated with softening Cotton Extract to help skin replenish its outer layer and minimize the effects of potential irritants such as harsh soaps or cleansers, it also moisturizes with Rice Extract and soothes with Aloe. Naturally gentle and skin-friendly for daily use, it’s what every sensitive product should be.

* Softens and helps replenish skin's outer layer with Cotton Extract
* Gently removes dirt, oil and make-up without over drying or causing redness
* Formulated with Quillaja and Yucca Extracts to help remove impurities without stripping essential moisture
* Fragrance-free and hypo-allergenic
* Allergy-tested and dermatologist-tested

6 oz, retails for $10

My review:

The Good: This is a super rich cream cleanser that is incredibly gentle on the skin. It left my face very soft and well moisturized - a nice set up for night cream! I also really appreciate the natural ingredients and affordable price.

The Bad: You *really* have to rinse over and over again to ensure you don't leave any residue on your face. This took quite a bit of getting used to! Also, it isn't formulated extraordinary well to take off makeup.

The Verdict: This product earns a solid B. It's a rich cream cleanser - great for the colder months ahead. And for those with dry or sensitive skin, this could be your go to face wash!

Product Review: Got2b Smooth Operator Lustre Lotion, A

Hi all! Yet another Bzzagent review coming your way! I received a bunch of samples of the Got2b Smooth Operator Lustre Lotion a few weeks ago and I'm a big, big fan! For 6.8 ounces this sweet little silkening product retails for $5-$7 at drugstores.

Here are the deets from the manufacturer...

4: touchable styles: control, silken splurge
Charmed Life Lesson #18

Know when to skimp and when to splurge -- but it's always more fun to splurge!

Don't cheat your hair -- give it the royal treatment with got2b smooth operator smoothing lustre lotion. This decadent lotion shapes, imparts an amazing weightless lustre and softness. Protects against damage from heat styling and contains a UV protectant.

And onto my review...

The Good: I have pretty well-behaved hair as it is, but this product made it super manageable. It made my hair soft and swingy and definitely cut down on the flyaways. Proof is in the product - I used it for a few weeks, put a bit into towel dried hair and did nothing else, just to see how my mane fared - and no flyaways, no frizz! That's amazing, especially in insanely hot weather.

The Bad: No bad points, here! I see that the full sized version has charms...it's not bad, but I don't think it's necessary. The product speaks for itself.

The Verdict: A all the way! This product is supremely affordable, silkens my hair and definitely hinders the flyaways. Oh - and it smells great! I will certainly buy it once my samples are finished.

Product Review: CoverGirl Shineblast Lipgloss, C-

Hi all - today's product review revolves around one of the two CoverGirl products I received through a BzzAgent campaign - next week I'll feature the other product!

Today's review covers (ha) CoverGirl Shineblast Lipgloss in Sparkler. This little baby retails for $8.49 and each gloss tube contains .13 oz. of shiny goodness.

Details from walgreens.com:

Light reflecting shimmer layered under a high-gloss finish gives you 4x more noticeable shine.* Plus, our breakthrough applicator, the ShineSculpt, hugs the curves of your lips for a sculpted shimmer behind the shine.

*vs. bare lips

Made in USA

Instructions:
To make your lip gloss last longer: Apply a thin layer of lip liner in your natural lip shade, all over your lip. This will help the gloss wear longer.

And onto my review...

The Good: It's shiny. Yay for shiny.

The Bad: The scent is a bit "manufactured" - it emotes that saccharine-y sweetness. The gloss itself is a bit watery and this particular shade didn't deposit any color onto my lips. Also, considering this gloss is $8.49 for .13 oz., I'll stick with my Revlon Super Lustrous lipgloss - it gives better color, more staying power and more gloss for my money.

The Verdict: C- for me. While I appreciate the shininess of the gloss, the product itself didn't impress me. I like CoverGirl, but I think they need to go back to the product development team and tweak this little gloss.

Product Review: Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner, B

Hi everyone!

Today's product review is quite a departure from my typical product reviews, but I received a Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner Kit through a Bzz Campaign (where I am an Buzz Agent).

No one really likes cleaning their shower - and I am no exception; it's probably my least favorite cleaning chore throughout the house. So, naturally, I was pretty stoked to get this little gadget and try it out for a few weeks.

Here are the deets from the manufacturer:

When it comes to cleaning, it’s easy to feel like it’s all up to you. But with the Scrubbing Bubbles® Automatic Shower Cleaner, you’ve got a cleaning partner that takes care of the tough stuff for you. Simply touch the button and walk away—the dual sprayer spins 360 degrees to spray a penetrating cleaner on all four walls and tub, eliminating soap scum and mold & mildew stains and keeping your shower cleaner, longer.

The benefits of the Scrubbing Bubbles® Automatic Shower Cleaner:

• Works automatically
• Provides overall and targeted coverage with the dual sprayer
• Cleans dirty shower in days
• Shower remains clean every days
• Eliminates odors as it cleans

And my review...

The Good: It cleans most of my shower. I will note, though, that I have a longer shower - thus this could be the problem, as the sprayer can't reach every nook and cranny. The scent is nice and my shower definitely looks cleaner overall.

The Bad: The kit itself is fairly pricey - retailing at $21.99 at Walgreens. The kit includes one bottle of cleaner and the actual apparatus (no batteries are included). The 34 oz. bottle of refill cleaner costs $5.79 - and each bottle lasts 3-4 weeks with daily use. Not bad if the product really cleans your shower well - but it didn't reach every crevice of my longer shower.

The Verdict: This baby gets a B from me. I really love the idea of pushing one little button and never cleaning my shower - but even with this little gadget, I'll still have to clean it every once in a while. Maybe I'll move the cleaner to my standard sized shower and see if it's worth it!

If you want to give this product a try, you can find coupons for the starter kit and the refills right here.

Have a great day!