Pantene Restoratives

For the past couple of weeks I've been using the Frizz Control Shampoo and Conditioner from the Pantene Restoratives line.

The duo of the two products is great. They add shine to your hair, and clean it without making it at all dry.
The shampoo is just creamy enough to be conditioning and moisturizing. The conditioner is super thick so it stays in your hair for as long as you need it to. I didn't notice a lot of build up with this shampoo but if you do, using a clarifying shampoo every few days will help. I did notice that I didn't need to use as much serum when I used the pair, and that always makes my life a little easier. Overall, I had shiny smooth hair and frizz was noticeably reduced!

The duo is in drugsotres now so if you've got dry or frizzy hair, try it!

Aveeno Intense Relief Foot Cream

Aveeno Intense Relief Foot Cream is very good. It's minty and refreshing. It moisturizes but absorbs lightly. It really does moisturize for a long time. Plus, it has natural ingredients in it which is always a good thing.

Foot Care

Today I'm talking about foot care products - I've been testing them out for a while, and I have a lot of great tips but first we talk about a product that helps your feet in the inside.

I walk a lot and I love my flats. What that means is that sometimes my feet really hurt because of all the pavement pounding my feet are doing.

I've come to love foot inserts and insoles of all kinds - I've been using them for the past few months and have really noticed the difference. The balls of my feet used to hurt a lot and that's no longer the case. All my shoes are comfortable, regardless of whether they had padding in them or not, and I can walk for a long time comfortably.In most of my shoes, I use Dr. Scholl's Comfort Insoles that are made of a nice gel substance. It gives some great cushioning and fits into the shoes perfectly.

I also like the Dr. Scholl's Ball of Foot cushions - they're great for high heels and if you're going to be standing in them for a while, this will help a lot.

Olay Age Transform Skin Tone Equalizer

This is another one of those self-tanners that is part moisturizer and I thought I'd post this review after hearing from a reader about trying an Olay self-tan product. This one is extremely light in feel and the colour building is gradual.
What I really liked about this Olay Age Transform Skin Tone Equalizer is that it's sheer and it leaves a subtle shimmer on your skin. Your skin really does look glowing with this moisturizer and the tanning that occurs is a nice effect.

I think the thing with most Olay products is that they're reliable and this moisturizer is as well. You won't get too much tanning with this one, it'll be just enough.

Olay Total Effects Eye Cream

99% of the products you read about here are ones that I've tried myself, but this one is not. I gave Olay Total Effects Eye Cream to a friend of mine who had really dark circles under her eyes. I had told her that she should get more sleep and drink more water, but she also wanted to try a cream.
I saw her a month later and the dark circles under her eyes and visibly improved. She said that everything else was the same. She was getting the same amount of rest and the only thing that had changed was that she's now using this cream.

If you have dark circles under your eyes, you should check out the Olay Total Effects Eye Cream. It might make a difference for you too!

Foot Softening Balm

You can find Dr. Scholl's Foot Softening Balm next to the insoles and the like in the Foot Care section of your drugstore.

The balm is good because it's made by a foot care company to help your feet.
The great thing about this balm is that it absorbs quickly and moisturizes your skin without making it too greasy or oily.

I will say that even the best foot balms work best when you use them daily. If you forget to use them for a week then your dry skin will most probably come back. That said, a balm can make a real difference in how you feet look.

Aveeno Continous Radiance Moisturizing Lotion

Since a reader mentioned this in the comment section of discussing self-tanners, I thought I would post my review of Aveeno Continuous Radiance Moisturizing Lotion.

It's found easily at the drugstore, and I'm using the kind for medium skin tones.

The reader is right: this is the most gradual tanning lotion out there. I hardly saw a change in skin colour after the first application, but the build-up after a week of use was noticeable.

I think that this has a lower concentration of active ingredients which also means that the self-tanner smell was minimal! If you're sensitive to the smell or really hate it, then use this!

I do have to say that it was very moisturizing. I never had dry skin when I used this, and I was really pleased with that. The lotion itself is light and absorbs reasonably quickly.

It's also light-weight enough that I could use it on my face, like one of my readers does. It worked beautifully and is the only gradual lotion that I would do this with.

The Aveeno Continuous Radiance Moisturizing Lotion is definitely worth trying and because it's customizable I liked it a lot.

Cleansing Towelettes

Here is a foot care product that may seem a little unconventional to you - cleansing wipes that you probably have around to use on your face.

I use Neutrogena Cleansing Towelettes when I'm too tired to wash my face at night, but these also have another great use.You can use them at the end of your day to clean your feet. It's easier to do than turning on the tap and soaping your feet in the tub, and you'll be able to get into bed with clean feet. They are a must for the summer months, since wearing sandals all day can really make your feet dirty.

They wipes also take of makeup nicely and you can even get rid of mascara with minimal and gentle scrubbing.

Stay Put Eyeliner

One of the most common questions I get is from readers who want an eyeliner that doesn't smudge and can last them the whole entire day.

I know that they can be hard to find, so when I try one that can keep up with my own busy days, I get excited and have to pass on the good news!



This time, it's about Marcelle's Waterproof Eyeliner. It is amazing! Not only does it last through running around on a weekend, but it can get you through a workout too. The liner sets quickly but not too quickly that you can't smudge it if you need to. The great thing is that this is a drugstore eyeliner that comes in a nice range of natural looking colours too - I've been using Indigo and it really makes my brown eyes pop but you can't necessarily tell that I'm wearing a blue mascara.

Crest Health and Radiance

Crest has a great new product out called Crest Health and Radiance. The premise is that you use this system and it gives you stronger and whiter teeth.


The system comes with a Crest toothpaste that helps you build tooth enamel and 4 strips that you just use once a week. The strips whiten your teeth and work the way that regular whitening strips do. I used the system for a week and so far I've noticed an actual difference, which is great! My teeth really are brighter.

As a public service I have to tell you NOT to use the strips right after you've brushed your teeth - doing so will give you horrible tooth sensitivity that's really quite painful. I just ran into someone who had done that and she's been in quite a lot of pain, so take care and follow instructions!

Aveeno Creamy Moisturizing Oil

You may read the title of this and wonder why I am still talking about a moisturizer. It's now a little warmer outside and some of you may not even need one at all!

I bring your attention to Aveeno Creamy Moisturizing Oil because I think that it's perfect for when the weather is a little warmer, but you still want something that can seal the moisture in.


The Creamy Moisturizing Oil has the texture of a light cream and provides sheer moisture. Because it's so light, it absorbs really quickly and sinks right into the skin.

What I love about it is the ingredient list. Water is the first ingredient but following that is a ton of natural oils, from sesame seed to almond. I love that. It smells really good too and isn't overly strong.

Think of this Aveeno product as a sheer moisturizer and don't be scared to try it.

John Frieda WeatherWorks Shampoo and Conditioner

I've been using new John Frieda Weather Works Shampoo and Conditioner. The system claims to protect your hair from the elements and will preserve your style!
I'm not silly enough to walk around in the rain with freshly shampooed hair, but I have to say that I really love this duo. It didn't just give me shiny hair, my hair was seriously glossy when I used it. You really have to use the shampoo and conditioner together to get the best results and the amazing moisturizing formula is great for all hair types. If you wash your hair frequently as I do, you'll love this too.

Marcelle Ultimate Lash Mascara

Today's another day for a mascara roundup, and we start with one from a line that I haven't talked much about: Marcelle!

I've been trying Marcelle's Ultimate Lash Mascara and I'm pleased to say that although it doesn't use the newer trendier wands, it's still a great product that really works well.

I found that it was really easy to use and with a couple of sweeps of the wand I could get a pretty fringe of lashes. The great thing about this mascara is that it both lengthened and thickened and my lashes stayed soft not crispy.

Olay Quench Mousse

Ever since I was little, I've had a bit of an obsession with all things whipped - mousse for your hair, mousse that you eat, cleansing foam, and all the rest. Whipped cream is still my condiment of choice, actually.

In any case, when I saw that Olay had a mousse moisturizer out, I knew that I had to try it! The mousse is basically a light foam and turns into a sort of light oil when you rub it on to your skin. It's light moisturization and skins into your skin so easily. It's easy to use and perfect for the summer.

I do have to say that this is best used sparingly because it gets sticky if you use too much. Other than that, it's fantastic. It even has a little shimmer in it so that your skin looks like it's glowing when you use it. This is another Quench product that I'll be using a lot.

Oh yeah, and you can win a couple of bottles (among other things) in this giveaway.

Olay Definity Penetrating Mousse Cleanser

I love Olay's mousse cleansers! They are all great, and I highly recommend them because the mousse is cushiony on your skin and it washes everything away so easily!
The Olay Definity Mousse Cleanser is a good one because it has little bits in that help exfoliate your skin but very gently! The cleanser is best for oilier skins or used at the end of your day.

If you need a new cleanser, try this one - it is at drugstores everywhere.

Drugstore vs. Department Store Nail Polish

I flipped open a magazine last night and read that the difference between expensive and cheap nail polish is the staying power. If you really want a polish for everyday, you should get the expensive kind and just use drugstore polish to experiment with colour.

To this I say: not true at all.

There is virtually no difference between drugstore polish and salon polish. Each brand has their own formula, and you'll find that even between salon polishes, there are ones that go on smoother and last longer and ones that clump up and are difficult to apply. This applies to polishes across the board - drugstore and salon!
Right now, I'm using L'Oreal Nail Polish in the colour you see: Stroke of Midnight (580)(I know, I just can't let go of the dark colours.)

The quality is really good. It goes on smoothly, gives good colour in two coats, last a long time, and dries really shiny.

(Un)Remarkable

A few months ago, there was a huge craze on Makeup Alley about CeraVe moisturizer. It was said to cure almost every skin illness, and I had quite a few readers email me asking if and when it would be available in Canada. They really wanted to try it.

I ended up emailing CeraVe and never received a response from them.Then, when I was in New York I got a bottle of CeraVe moisturizer in a goody bag and was finally able to try it for myself.

Honestly? It's a fine moisturizer. It did moisturize my skin but it didn't take care of spots that were very dry. I don't think that this is the most amazing moisturizer that I've ever tried. I think that at best, it's a very average moisturizer containing ingredients that work. It's light so it won't clog pores, it's unfragranced so it won't irritate your skin, but it's not the most amazing moisturizer ever invented, and I think that Cetaphil is pretty similar to the whole CeraVe line.

Have you used CeraVe? Weigh in and let me know what you think of it.

Dove Cream Oil Body Wash

I just finished using Dove's Cream Oil Body Wash. I liked it. It wasn't the most moisturizing body wash that I've ever used, but it was moisturizing and I really loved the supremely creamy texture. Pick a scent you love - a little bit goes a long way.

More Moisturizers

I thought that I'd take some time to review a few more moisturizers. I feel that since Spring is almost all but upon us, it would be a good idea to talk about some moisturizers that aren't so... moisturizing.

Up first: Olay Regenerist 14 Day Skin Intervention I was so on board when it came to using this kit. I'm sure most of you will agree that a 14 days commitment to any product isn't really a lot to ask. It's supposed to hydrate the skin, brighten it up, and help get rid of wrinkles.

I can't testify about the last claim, but I will say that it brightened my skin slightly, and it was hydrating. I used this over a time that my skin was very dehydrated and I noticed a difference but not a cure.

I wouldn't rely on this if I had very dry skin, but hopefully your daytime moisturizer could help with dryness instead. I loved that this absorbed very quickly and I didn't have greasy skin in the morning.

It retails for $30, and if you can't find it on your drugstore shelf yet, it's probably because they're clearing out the older stuff first, so you should see it soon.

Listerine Whitening Strips

Listerine Whitening Strips are new to the market, and I got my hands on a box.


These are different from other whitening strips because the whitening agent is on a material that dissolves after some time in your mouth. This means that at the end of use, there's nothing to throw away. The other benefit to these is that they actually do stick to your teeth.

I tried these for a week, and I have to say that I did notice that my teeth are whiter. Moreover, I found them so easy to use. I kept a bunch in my purse and put them on every now and then when I was in the car or going to ride the subway. Since they dissolved in my mouth, by the time I had reached my destination the strips were gone, I had whiter teeth, and I also had fresh breath.

I would definitely recommend these for their ease of use. I don't have particularly stained teeth but I do drink regular cups of coffee so it was nice that I could get a pick me up. Try them, they're on drugstore shelves everywhere.