Sunsilk Hydra TLC

(Photo taken from Walgreens.com without permission.)


So I received a three-pack sample of the Sunsilk Hydra shampoo, conditioner and leave-in-moisturizer thingy. They have been sitting in my room almost all summer until two weeks ago when I actually decided to try it. Some promotions gals were handing them out on North Michigan Avenue and the poor girl that handed me my sample had the most horrible lisp, so it sounded like she said, "Here'th thome Thunthilk thampoo!" Believe me, I'm not mocking her. I felt so embarrassed for her, having been there before with a speech impediment but I have to question the wisdom of her supervisor making her promote a product with so many "s" words, knowing she had a lisp.

Anyhoodle, the products were...okay. My hair didn't feel worse after using it, which is a miracle in and of itself as it tends to be very sensitive to what is put in it. But it didn't feel as great as it has in the past. I wouldn't give up my Pantene Midnight Expressions for the Sunsilk Hydra TLC. However if your hair has been recently damaged by horrible chemical processing, then Sunsilk would do a good enough job at repairing the damage.

Skin MD Natural

I would like to thank Pete Grimaldi at 21st Century Formulations in Beverly Hills, CA for contacting me about Skin MD Natural and sending free samples. I received a 120ml sample and three small sample packs, which I gave to my Mom. I was very anxious to try the lotion on my hands since that is a major problem area for me in terms of dryness.

This review is going to highlight pros and cons of Skin MD Natural since it did not totally work for my hands in the way that I hoped. Yet it is still a great lotion for other dry areas such as my feet and there is no reason to give a negative review just because it didn't work on one of four problem areas; after all nothing is perfect. Keep in mind that your mileage may vary (ymmv).

Pros: Skin MD Natural does live up to its claims of being appropriate for sensitive skin. A product of a five-year collaboration of leading dermatologists, a gynecologist and a cosmetic chemist, the lotion is hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, color-free (milky white), paraben-free, non-comedogenic and is not affliated with animal-testing or by-products. You know how some lotions claim to be fragrance-free but you still pick up a distinct scent? Not with Skin MD. This is fantastic for a variety of reasons, the main one being sensitive skin usually has a negative reaction to fragrance, especially synthetic ones.

Feels great, easy to spread and a little does go a long way in some areas of the body. For example, I used most of the lotion on my feet after a home pedicure and my tootsies felt fantastic. This is a problem area for me since I exercise a lot, so the feet sweat, dry out due to the salt in the sweat and then become very uncomfortable. Skin MD worked better on my feet than other lotions made especially for the feet. After the first day of using the lotion on mis pies, it was another two days of showering and exercising before I had to reapply.

There are very specific instructions to follow so don't disregard them. Skin MD is a shielding lotion that creates a barrier of protection to keep out irritants from anti-bacterial soaps and harsh cleansers. When it works, it works quickly and satisfactorily. But...

Cons: It just didn't deliver the moisture I needed for my hands. I was hoping that it would improve the look and texture of the skin. At first it felt good. The instructions tell you to "apply small amount, initially every 2-8 hours", which I did for a full day and, "then 12-24 hours". Still my hands became as dry as parchment.

I have to wash my hands a lot more than the average person. I am still my mother's caregiver and considering her compromised immune system my hands have to be clean or covered with those awful latex gloves (which also dries out my hands) when handling food for her. Of course also I'm doing a lot of cleaning, especially in the bathroom, with products containing bleach. So I was very excited about this lotion because I noticed my hands looking a lot older than their 26 years. The formula just wasn't strong enough for me.

Instead I use Aubrey Organic's Rosa Mosqueta Luxurious Hand & Body Lotion (which I will review at another time). I put some on last night and have since washed my hands four times and it's still going strong.


As I said, ymmv with this product. In the customer reviews many afflicted with disorders like eczema rave about Skin MD Natural, so don't let my "con" section discourage you from trying it. I am still recommending this product and if I had to give a specific rating, a definite 4 out of 5.

Dame Anita Roddick- 1942-2007

I have to say, learning about this was a shock. If not for Henna, I wouldn't have heard about this loss of a fantastic life and great woman. In case this face is unfamiliar to you, it is Anita Roddick (officially Dame Anita Roddick DBE) founder of The Body Shop. She is a consummate humanitarian and sought to make the world a better place. I used the present tense because the fair trade and humanitarian programs she put into place at The Body Shop (which then influenced many other companies) will continue long after her death and therefore will continue to improve the lives of many.

She stepped down from day-to-day operations about four years ago and I remember feeling apprehensive about the changes made (to products and some practices) in her wake. Well, I was right and I ended up leaving. Besides, the pay was absolute crap and body butters, while great, don't put food on the table.

Nonetheless, one couldn't help but become better versed in world affairs, especially concerning trade, HIV/AIDS and domestic violence, while in the employ of TBS and we have Anita to thank for that.

Thank you Anita.

Must Read: Lucky- October 2007

(used with permission from JJ at MooreofMandy.com)

Look at how gorgeous Mandy Moore is! I have to say, this is one of the best magazine covers I've seen in a while. I actually said, "Wow!" when I saw it. She is just glowing and I love that skirt on her. Maybe The Glow comes from her soaring career. Maybe The Glow comes from the lights and makeup. Or because she actually eats, which goes a long way to putting a smile on my face.

L'Oreal cosmetics were used on Mandy for the cover in neutral shades such as Geranium in their Infallible Lip Colour and the Pink Glow blush. This is a great everyday look for anyone and shows how well you can emphasize what Mama Nature gave you. On Mandy you can appreciate her green eyes and golden-brown hair. What a sophisticated young lady.

Also of note in the issue: beautiful eyes. Makeup artist Jemma Kidd, founder of the Makeup School product line, details three steps to obtaining beautiful eyes. The emphasis is on false eyelashes, which are so popular now it's amazing to think it used to be the exclusive province of runway models and drag queens. However the look can still be achieved without the use of false eyelashes for ladies who are still a little hesitant about that much glue being so close to the peepers. Jemma Kidd does recommend, for those using falsies, to use a dark glue because the look is more natural.

Silver Screen Beauty for Fall

This MSN slide show highlights the Hollywood-inspired beauty trends on the Fall runway. My favorites shown are Elizabeth Taylor's Cleopatra and Audrey Hepburn's Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Cleopatra, of course known in both her time and ours for her aesthetic expressions, has a very dramatic look and so many women may be intimidated to imitate. MSN does have a suggestion on a subtle yet no less stunning version of Cleo's famous cat eyes.






Holly Golightly's face is easier to put on every day and is the epitome of elegance. Other women shown were Ingrid Bergman as Joan D'Arc, Veronica Lake as Joyce Harwood in The Blue Dahlia, Raquel Welch as Constance de Bonacieux in The Three Musketeers, Snow White (yes, that Snow White), and Milla Jovovich as Leeloo in The Fifth Element (one of my fave sci-fi flicks). I don't really care for Leeloo's makeup and, except for Snow White, all the other pictures are in black and white, which makes it impossible to see the recommended colors for the look on the actresses.

Still, the blips on the slide show give thorough instructions so recreating the look should not be too difficult.

Must Read: Slate.com

One of my favorite online news sources, Slate, published several articles concerning suntanning and sunscreen. The best article is the one about how SPF in products is gaged. Here are the links:

Is tanning addictive? By Amanda Schaffer
How do they measure SPF? By Juliet Lapidos
Which sunscreens work best? By Douglas Wolk
Tanning Your Hide By Emily Yoffe

Must Read: Allure- August 2007

This is a must buy issue. I'm usually not a reader of mags like Allure or Cosmo or Glamour, et al. but with the always fabulous, incredibly talented, stunningly beautiful Welsh triple-threat on the cover, how could I say no? Yes, CZJ is one of my favorite actresses in case you couldn't tell. Anyway, Allure has a list of must-have red lipsticks for every skin tone. Even better, some of them are being given away by the magazine throughout the month of August along with other beauty products.

August was a huge beauty issue for Allure, hence the giveaway. Each day a bevy of items are available to win for whatever number of people who signup at the website on the given day at a given time. Buy the magazine for more information and for the good, if fluffy, article on Catherine Zeta-Jones.