Glam Gams: Jergens BB Body Skin Perfecting Cream Review

If you've been following along lately, then you know that I'm currently living in squalor renovating my sunroom, and that it hasn't been going exactly according to plan. This has, unfortunately, cut into my blogging time, and for that, I offer my sincerest apologies to all four of you.

In all honesty, I have more pictures than I care to count, ready and waiting to be pasted into a post. I would really like to get them off of my phone at some point in the near future.

That day is not today.

Anyhoo, in the .7 seconds I have to write this, I wanted to pop in and tell you about a new(-ish) product that I am really excited about: Jergens BB Body Skin Perfecting Cream. (Oh--incidentally, after months of not being able to click inside the "compose" box on Blogger, I can finally link, highlight, and basically function again. Miraculously. Things should be a lot different from here on. Thank God.)

Believe it or not, sundress season is around the corner. Heck, I wore one Tuesday. I also wore a heavy sweatshirt on Wednesday. Mother Nature is having hot flashes, but I digress. Sundress season is around the corner, and that means bare legs and arms and whatnot, and I'm not ready for that. In the past, I made up for my pale, patchy legs by slathering on this stuff from Super by Perricone, Supermodel Legs, which is, basically, tinted body lotion that's infused with capsacin to temporarily tighten up the calves. It's magic, and I love it, and it has been woefully discontinued. Of course, it has.

When I heard about the Jergens and its claims, I had to test it out, so I picked up a travel size for about three bucks at Walgreens. They only had the light skin tone version, so that's what I went with. In case you're wondering, here's what it's supposed to do (from the Walgreen's website):

Instantly:

• Hydrates & Smoothes
• Illuminates & Brightens

In 5 Days:

• Evens Skin Tone
• Visibly Firms Skin
• Helps Reduce the Appearance of Imperfections

I started using the cream last Saturday, so six days have passed. Did it work? Yeah, I kind of think so. Let's break it down:

The Good
The first thing I noticed (okay, second, but I'll get to that in a bit) was that this stuff is thick. It's not an opaque leg makeup, but it does make me think a lot of Too Faced Primed and Poreless face primer, as far as color and texture go. The product blurs, but does not cover imperfections, and isn't sparkly or shimmery. You won't look like a Cullen. The most impressive result of using this, however, was that I was legitimately taken aback this morning when I looked in the mirror and noticed that my cottage cheese thighs appeared smoother. Don't get me wrong, there's still some serious cellulite going on, but there's definitely been some improvement. I would say that it's just wishful thinking on my part, except that I didn't realize that was one of the claims until I started writing this review. I'd misread the package, and only expected temporary results, like I saw with the Perricone. Surprise!

The Bad
The price. It's up there. A full-sized tube runs anywhere from $10-$13 (or $23, if you're nuts. Thanks, ebay!), depending on where you buy it. That's a bit much for a drugstore lotion, especially considering how often you're going to have to repurchase. See, since this is such a thick lotion, you have to use a pretty generous amount each time you apply. My travel-size tube will have lasted a week, if I can eke out enough for tomorrow, and I only use it on my legs, arms, and occasionally my chest. Full-body, this might have lasted three days, at best. To put this into perspective, in my entire adult life (no exaggeration), I think I've finished one full-sized and two travel-sized lotions, and it took months each time. Heck, I think the full-sized might have taken a year. Normally, my lotion expires before I finish the bottle.

And the More You Know
Here's the real first thing I noticed, and depending on how you feel about scents, this could go either way: bottom line, it smells exactly like Bath and Body Works' Twilight Woods. When I say "exact", I mean, I used the Jergens and then used the BBW hand sanitizer and could not tell a difference. It is spot. on. Now, Twilight Woods is a favorite of mine, so I'm absolutely OK with the fragrance, but take heed if you're not a fan of the BBW version, or of scents in general. I will say that I don't find it to be overpowering, and it doesn't seem to linger. Okay, now here's the part where I say, "and if you do like Twilight Woods, you might be able to save some cash by buying this at the drugstore!" No, wait--nope. You can't. The BBW version is $12.50. It's entirely possible that you might spend more on the drugstore "dupe". It won't have the same skin-enhancement properties, but if you're only after moisture and a nice fragrance, you can save money by going to the specialty store in the mall. For once. Wow...

Final Verdict: 8.3 out of 10. Absolutely does what it claims. I just wish it were more affordable.

'Ip, 'Ip, 'Ooray!: October Ipsy Unboxing

Dear Lord, this month is flying by. It's ten days until Halloween. That's insane, y'all.

Over the weekend, my October ipsy bag made it in, and I thought I'd share what was sent. For those just joining us, ipsy (formerly myglam) is a monthly beauty sample subscription service. For ten bucks a month (less, if you sign up for multiple months at a time), you'll receive a makeup bag filled with four or five deluxe- to full-sized beauty products to play with, as well as a list of discounts to the participating brands. There's always a theme, and this month's was "The Art of Beauty". I was hoping for a Halloween-y, or at least, Fall-ish theme, but I'm actually surprisingly pleased with this choice.

No, the stuff isn't floating. I have a glass-top table, and didn't realize how weird that looked until just now. Oops.

This month, I received a full-sized Zoya nail polish, a most-likely deluxe-sample size of Be Delectable by Cake Beauty hand cream, a travel-sized set of La Fresh face wipes, a deluxe-sample size of Buxom lip polish, a deluxe-sample size of Big Sexy Hair Blow Dry Volumizing Gel, and, of course, the makeup bag.

The bag contents vary from person to person, but each subscriber received a Zoya polish in either Mason (fuschia), Neve (navy), or Giovanna (emerald). I ended up with Giovanna, and did a slap-dash manicure so I could show you swatches. Please forgive the god-awful job I did on these nails. There's not even a topcoat.

The color is what I would call a classic Christmas green. Emerald is the color of the year, and supposedly a hot hue for Fall, but you could definitely wear this one well into the holiday season. The formula is a little messier than I usually find with Zoya. It's very opaque, but I did notice some streaking, and sort of felt like I had to glob it on. It does look fantastic on, though, and seems resistant to chipping. I'll have to let you know for sure after a few days. Here, I'm wearing it with Deborah Lippman's Happy Birthday glitter on the accent nail. Above is an indoor shot, and below is in natural light.

Terrible manicure; gorgeous color.

Since we're talking about hands, let's move on the hand cream. I'd never heard of this brand, but I simply adore the scent. I got Coconut & Cream, and it smells exactly like coconut custard pie. I mean, exactly. That was one of my grandmother's favorite desserts, and she and I were the only ones in the family who liked it. This lotion stirs up a ton of memories, so for that, I give it two thumbs up. On it's own merits, though, as a hand cream...it's okay. It's about on par with Bath and Body Works, but not anywhere near as hydrating as the Eucerin my husband uses. Then again, this smells a heckuvalot better, so I guess it's a trade-off.

My camera hates shiny.

I was so excited to get this!! Buxom, as those of you who have been following for a while may know, is one of my all-time favorite brands for both lip gloss and mascara. Buxom lip polish in Clair is one of the very few glosses I've ever used up! This gloss is in the shade Dolly, which is a dusty mauve with itty-bitty, eensy-weensy, teeny-tiny gold shimmers. On me, with my day-glo white skin, it shows up as a shade or two darker than the natural flush my lips make when they've pressed together for a bit. On medium-light skin and darker, this would make a gorgeous nude. Already, this has become one of my go-to Fall lip colors.

The color is stunning, but the formula can be a deal-breaker for a lot of folks. It's a slightly sticky (stickier than E.L.F. mineral gloss, but nowhere near as sticky as MAC lipglass), super shiny, plumping gloss. There is a definite sting to this gloss when you apply it. It feels kind of like Icy/Hot, where it's ice cold, but still sort of burns. It can be uncomfortable to some people. I don't mind it, but I would recommend trying a sample size before plunking down the cash for a full version. It does earn points with me for smelling like vanilla mint.

Big Sexy Hair has been almost omni-present in ipsy bags, here lately. I've gotten three or four items since I joined in April, and I think that's the most repetition I've had of a brand. I certainly don't mind, because everything I've tried has been wonderful, but I feel like I need to put that out there for those trying to decide on subscribing.

This is hair gel. It looks like hair gel. It smells like hair salon (you know what I'm talking about). You run it through damp hair and blow dry. On paper, this is nothing special. In practice, it's freaking awesome. I've blown my hair dry with all sorts of gels, but this one gave me more volume alone than my other gels and mousses combined. I actually had to figure out how to de-pouf it before I could leave the house. I'm not 100% sold on it, but I'm definitely keeping my eye on this.

And then we have the La Fresh wipes. I just...I just really don't like these. I do like that they're oil-free. I do like that they're mostly natural and good for the environment. I don't like that they burned and didn't remove my makeup. I'm sure there are people out there who love them, and I'd be happy to try something else from this brand. I'm just not digging these wipes in particular. Maybe I can use them for removing swatches, or something like that.

Finally, here's the monthly makeup bag. It's a plain white bag made from an almost-rubberized fabric that I could not identify if my life depended on it. The bag is trimmed with a dark pink zipper, and bears an uncredited quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson. According to ipsy, the bag is mostly bare so that subscribers can add their own designs. It's a cute idea. I'm not going to do it, but I like the reasoning.

In conclusion, I thought this month's offerings hit a home run. Flat-out. For giggles, I'll leave you with a laughably horrible, low-res selfie I snapped a couple of hours after what I'm dubbing "The Volumizing Incident of 2013". By this point, I'd brushed and pinned it into submission, but the bangs were still standing out from my forehead, and the crown was a good inch higher than my scalp. I felt just like one of those poor kids on Toddlers & Tiaras, and I didn't even have to use my teasing comb. Where is my teasing comb, anyway? Huh...I probably need to find that...

Putting the Lime (or Vanilla) in the Coconut: E.L.F. Studio Lotion Wipes First Impression

Did you know that Walmart carried E.L.F. now? Surprise!! I had to run in the store yesterday, and was greeted by a really nice display, filled with all sorts of essential and studio line goodies. As it happened, I had used up the last of my beloved Pacifica Island Coconut body lotion that morning, and was (and am) not in any real position to replace it anytime soon, so I called it kismet and picked up a pack of the E.L.F. Studio Lotion Wipes in the only available scent (it's fate, I tell you), Vanilla & Coconut. Today, I thought I'd give them a whirl and share my first impression of the product.

Honestly...it's kind of neat.

I'm going to start this off by saying that I will totally be replacing my Pacifica as soon as I can. There is absolutely no comparison between the two items. However, I do have some definite use for the E.L.F. wipes...just not necessarily as a moisturizer...let me 'splain:

The wipes smell lovely. The sweet vanilla and sweeter coconut give off an almost dessert-like fragrance, but the scent is so light that it's not cloying. It's downright dreamy, actually. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), the scent doesn't last very long. Truthfully, I don't think it lasted much past application. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though. If you're a perfume wearer, you don't have to worry about competing; if you're going to be in a tight space with a lot of people (like an office cubical setting), you won't kill anyone allergies.

The formula, itself, is fairly dry, which is a plus in my book. The humidity down here is ridiculous, so anything greasy or thick flat-out melts off of your skin and feels disgusting. You can leave little lotion puddles on your car seats. It's not pretty; I don't enjoy it. This is nice and cool, sinks in quickly and leaves your skin feeling smooth, but dry to the touch. Its hydrating properties aren't bad, either. It's not the "World's Best Moisturizer" (TM), but it does the job. I applied after shaving, and that gross itchy feeling that you get after a close shave went away immediately, and I haven't experienced any irritation.

Now, the application is a bit tricky. You would think that a wipe would just, you know, wipe on. Um...no. Not quite. These wipes are super-soft, which sounds fantastic--who wants to rub something rough on their skin? Unfortunately, the texture causes the wipes to bunch up while you rub, effectively cutting the application surface by about 75%. It's workable, but a little annoying. Still, I'd rather have soft than scratchy any day.

This appears to be a nice product. It does what it claims. For three bucks, I couldn't be happier. That said, when I repurchase these (which I will), it will be to toss the very convenient little package in my theme park bag. I know, I know, that sounds odd, but again, let me 'splain:

I hate the smell of baby wipes. Well, actually, that's not entirely true. I adore the smell of baby wipes on a baby. I detest using them on myself. I'm 33, not three. I would like to smell like a grown-up, thank you. Normally, when we go to Disney or Universal, part way through the day I begin to feel less like a girl and more like a swamp thing. It's nice to be able to pop in the restroom and freshen up a bit before, say, going in a restaurant. I don't like to carry a ton in the parks, but a travel brush, some blotting papers or a little powder, some lipgloss...and a pack of baby wipes...go a long way toward making me feel human again. Now, these lotion wipes don't have the same cleaning properties as the baby wipes, but I'm not necessarily trying to clean anything. I just want to wipe off the sweat, cool down, and hopefully smell a little less theme park-y. This should do the trick nicely, and I won't have to go into Be Our Guest smelling like a pre-school.

Verdict (thus far): 8 out of 10. Good in a pinch, and great in a park.

How Glossy Is Your Box?: July Glossybox Opening

*WARNING! This post is really picture-heavy. Grab a popcorn and coke and settle in for the long-haul. If you are interested in any of the products, click here.

Hey! My July Glossybox arrived, and we're still in the first week of August! That's progress! As you may recall, I wasn't thrilled with last month's Glossybox. It was extremely slow arriving, the products were somewhat lackluster, and there were billing/customer service issues out the wazoo. A lot of boxes were also ruined in shipping, due to a lack of safety seals and an abundance of loose caps. This month, happily, things went much more smoothly, and I'm very happy to show you the box, the products, and give you brief, first impression reviews of everything. I hope you enjoy!

Alrighty! Let's start with the outer box. It's black and pink again! Granted, it also says it's from Denmark, but let's not quibble.

Inside, we have this month's Glossy Mag. I may be in the minority, here, but I'm just not a fan. The information isn't very detailed, so it reads more like a long advertisement. If it dealt with each month's products, that would be awesome. As it is, it's just not necessary, and ends up getting tossed out with the outer box.  

The pink box. It's now holding my sunscreens and sunless tanners, and making the bottom of my medicine cabinet look much more organized than it has any right to be.

Ooooh...all wrapped up with a bow! 

Close up of the product card. 

Sealed up and ready to be opened.

The Prize Inside!

From left to right: Sebastian Shampoo for color-treated hair, Figs and Rouge Sweet Geranium lip and body balm, Pedix Feet heel balm, Sebastian Conditioner for color-treated hair, Blushed perfumed towelette, Senna double-ended lip bloss in Luminous.

Let's start with the shampoo/conditioner. These are, on the outset, generous travel sizes. Sadly, when you go to use the products, it takes so much shampoo to make a lather that you might not make it through a week-long trip without having to break down and use the hotel stuff. Then again, I have very long hair, so that probably contributed. That said, the conditioner is a foam, and the instructions actually say to use a "tennis-ball" sized amount, and that is a lot of product for one use.

Overall, I don't care for these. The conditioner had a nutty scent that I really didn't like, and my hair felt very dry after using both products. If you check the ingredients, they're both full of sulfates, as well. (Side note: I also found out today that my Pantene for color-treated hair is, too, so it's back to L'oreal EverPure I go.)  

Next up is the FULL-SIZED Figs and Rouge balm, and I love it. It's very similar to the Rosebud Perfume Co. Rosebud Salve that I've been using for years, but has a much drier texture. The one thing I've always disliked about the Rosebud is the greasy feel. If this works as well, I may have to switch.  

I've only used the Pedix Feet Heel Rescue Balm once, but I really like it. I can't tell too much of a difference in the roughness of my callouses, but the creamy texture and minty cool feel and scent have won me over, so far. Plus, the size is large enough to supply several uses, while being small enough to travel well. This is going with me to Disney, no doubt about it.

BONUS POINTS for being sealed for my protection!

This is really cool. It's an individual perfumed towelette in the scent "Blushed", and it smells like cotton candy and magic. It's a very, very, very, extremely girly scent that reminds me of a cross between Sensual Amber from Bath and Body Words and Pink Sugar by Aquolina. Actually, if you can think way back to when Avon's Mark line had Hollywood Pink bath products, that's where my scent memory takes me. I want to bathe in it. 

Full disclosure: my packet was slightly open. However, the towelette inside is still sealed. I can smell it through the packaging, though. I'm considering getting a box of these to take on vacation, and also to have some to leave in the fridge. I think it would feel so good to come in on a hot day and rub on a cold fragrance towelette.

Lastly, we have the FULL-SIZED Senna double-ended lip gloss in Luminous. Now, I need another gloss like I need a hole in the head, but I lucked out and got a gorgeous color for me. The right side is a plummy dusty rose with golden shimmer, and the left side is pearlescent gold gloss. It is very sticky. So sticky, in fact, that I felt the need to bold that part. When you put this on, it's not going anywhere. I wore it today, actually, and applied the gloss around 10:00 am. It is now after 3:00, and I have eaten lunch, had a snack, drunk a coke (out of a bottle!), talked and talked and talked, and the gloss is still there. It's faded a bit, mind you, but it's still on my lips. If you need something very longwearing for a photo shoot, theatre, film, or television, I highly recommend this. It's also fairly comfortable, considering the stickiness. I did make sure to wear my hair in a ponytail, though, since it's windy. I also didn't kiss my husband, or give my puppy a peck on the top of the head.

Here are swatches of the gloss. The top swatch is the pink, and the bottom is the gold.

Here's just the gold, by itself:

Here is just the pink:

And here they are layered, with the gold over the pink. That's my favorite look of the three:

There you have it, folks--the unveiling of the July Glossybox. All in all, I'm very pleased with this month's offering, and with how the company seems to be pulling it to together now. I'm sticking with it for another month, to see how it goes. What do you think of Glossybox, so far? Let me know in the comments.

Summer Lovin': Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar Body Butter

Photo Credit: Sephora

Um...I think I may possibly have found the quintessential Summer scent.

You're welcome.

The last time I placed a Sephora order, a little impulse buy popped up on the checkout screen. For five bucks, I could try a 2.5 oz tube of Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar Body Butter. Now, lately I've been a Jergen's girl with Victoria's Secret dabblings. However, it's practically Summer (heck, we're already hitting 90s down here. It is Summer), and nothing screams beach-chic like coconut. Considering how much I was already spending, I figured, why not?

I have not been disappointed.

Here's what Sephora has to say about it:

Pacifica's Indian Coconut Nectar is full of good-for-you organic ingredients and natural essential oils. Inspired by travels to faraway destinations, this warm fragrance is at once sensuous and fresh. It blends coconut, delicate vanilla, and creamy vetiver with exotic floral accords of ambrosia to leave skin beautifully scented.

*Fun fact: Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar products are 100% vegan.

Now, for my take:

Let's start with the packaging, first. The tube is really pretty. It's decorated in gold, turquoise, and an orangey-red, in a style that, while I'm sure they were going for Indian-inspired, really just makes me think of "It's a Small World" at Disney World. Not that that's a bad thing. I happen to like the ride. The design is very sweet, and adds a little bit of exotic spice to my dresser. I'm still not a big fan of tube dispensers for lotion, but if I'm stuck with one, at least it's cute.

The lightweight lotion goes on very dry, but a little bit covers a lot of real estate. You don't need a handful of lotion to cover a thigh. Really, the equivalent of about two fingertips takes care of mine. Also, don't let the dryness of the lotion fool you into thinking it isn't moisturizing. It is. Trust me. My arms and legs feel like satin, and I didn't have to wait forever before getting dressed. I also haven't worried about it sweating or sliding off in the crazy heat and humidity. In this case, the dryness is a plus.

I adore this lotion's scent. It's really more of a spicy vanilla than coconut, but there's enough coconut to give off a sexy, tropical vibe. Thomas said he really liked it, and that I smelled like cookies. I'm guessing coconut macaroons. The scent is not overpowering, but it is noticeable, and lasts for hours. I'd suggest tossing it in a beach bag for after your post-swim shower. That way, after the suntan lotion is gone, you can have a similar, slightly more sophisticated scent for the rest of the day.

Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar also comes in solid, roll-on, and spray perfume forms, as well as an 8 oz. tube of body butter. $5-$22, Sephora.

Ah, the magic bag o' samples! How I thought I missed you. Turns out, not so much. You see, while most samples are either lovely or simply ineffective, a few have turned out to be truly awful. Today, I experienced such a...treat...

I pulled Fresh Soy Face Serum out of the magic bag. I now hate the magic bag. Here's what Sephora has to say about the serum:

This fast-absorbing formula is packed with amino-acid-rich soy proteins, which retain moisture, stimulate collagen synthesis, and encourage cell turnover to encourage smoother, firmer, more radiant skin. It is further enriched with hibiscus peptides to soften expression lines, anise fruit extract to smooth the skin, and cucumber extract to calm and soothe. Soy Face Serum is clinically proven to immediately reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and provide long-term firming, hydrating, smoothing, and brightening effects.

Here's what I have to say:

I have no idea if this stuff works. It could be the freaking Fountain of Youth, and I'd never know because it smells too bad to use regularly. I opened the little foil packet, fully intending to only use a small amount so I could experiment over the course of a few days. As soon as I tore open the package, I was hit with the smell. I can't properly describe this smell with words. It wasn't chemical. This was a rotting, rancid, completely organic smell. Think of an old salad that's been in the trash can too long. I smeared some on my face, started to put the rest of the serum away, and just said, "to heck with it," and threw it out. It was too disgusting to keep. I will say that the serum absorbed quickly, as I was able to immediately coat my face down with moisturizer in an attempt to mask the odor. Maybe it works; maybe it doesn't. I'm not spending my money on rotten salad juice to find out. $45, Sephora.

A Dilemma...Now With Extra Sparkles!

Photo Credit: Beauty Advisor Lounge

Hawaiian Tropic has a new product out, just in time for Summer. On a lark, I thought I'd give it a shot and fill you in on the results. So, I did, and here they are.

I'm torn. There, I said it. I really don't know how I feel about this stuff.

The Hawaiian Tropic Shimmer Effect Lotion Sunscreen with SPF 20 ($7.99, Target) was designed to give you plenty of sun protection, while at the same time imparting a subtle shimmer to highlight your skin tone. Talk about a win-win. You get to stay safe and look pretty doing so. Twi-hards, you can actually sparkle in the sunlight. How cool.

And you do. The sunscreen is chock-a-block with itty-bitty mica flakes that practically coat your skin. This is not chunky glitter, mind you. This is very finely-milled, so your skin glistens. You gleam. It even looks beautiful in low-light. In fact, I daresay I like it best in low-light. The highlighting effect is gorgeous, and this should be my very favorite body product ever. I'm already a huge fan of Olay Ribbons Tone Enriching body wash, and this puts it's mica quotient to shame.

Here's my problem: I hate the smell. Totally. It's not that it's an unpleasant smell. It's just very persistent, and after a while, ennervating. It's one thing to get the occasional whiff of your floral perfume or fruity body splash. That's nice. That's welcome. It's a whole 'nother bag of cats to be constantly aware that you are, in fact, wearing a very chemically-smelling sunscreen. It's supposedly coconut-scented, but I've smelt a coconut before, and you, dear sunscreen, are no coconut.

So, I ask you, dear readers: What's a girl to do?

Final Verdict: Right now, I'm going with 8 out of 10. It's fantastic, and Hawaiian Tropic is a brand I trust, but the smell is really killing me.

Going For the Bronze

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I am blindingly white. In fact, hey, Chlorox! If you need a spokesperson, I'm perfect and available!! Call me!! Now, normally, I'm quite proud of my "Southern Belle" complexion (Why, yes, I have been under a parasol all day. Why do you ask?), but "fishbelly white", as my Daddy used to call it, is not a good look for legs in shorts and sundresses. Then again, neither is "Oompa Loompa orange". I can tell you that from experience. *shudder*

Tanning beds scare the crud out of me. Laying out in the sun only makes me burn, and it's not exactly "healthy". (oh, I am big on quotation marks today!) I'm not quite up for sunless tanner, yet, and finding a good one is like finding the Holy Grail. Basically, what I needed was something that would give me just a little color, so you could tell where my white tanks and light khaki capris stopped and I started. Was that asking too much?

Photo Credit: Walgreens

Thankfully, the folks at Jergen's didn't think so. This year, I snapped up a bottle of the perennially popular Natural Glow Firming Daily Moisturizer ($8.99, Walgreens) and the companion Face Moisturizer ($8.19, Amazon) before they sold out. There are pros and cons to these; the pros being that they deposit just enough buildable, streak-free color to give you a little glow, but not scream, "I'VE USED A TANNER!!!!!" They dry quickly, don't transfer to clothing easily, are long-lasting, and the body lotion really does firm well. You can actually feel it working as you apply the lotion. The cons are a little rough, though: there is a definite fragrance, and not one I find particularly pleasant. It's a far cry better than the original fragrance from when the products launched a few years ago, but it's still fairly awful and doesn't fade. They're a little sticky, too, but the worst thing about the products is the packaging. They only come in tube form, which means that you'll be picking up the tubes and trying to squeeze out lotion with greasy, slippery hands. The tanner gets all over the outsides of the bottles, which leaves streaks on your counters. A pump would be greatly appreciated, at least by this user. Final Verdict: 8 out of 10. Fantastic product with just a couple of kinks to work out.

Photo Credit: Sephora

Now, I don't know about you, but the first thing I notice after I use a tanner of any sort, even one this light and natural-looking, is that my makeup is too light. Not much, but enough to look a little chalky. I recently had the opportunity to sample Too Faced's new Primed & Poreless SPF 20 Bronze Tint Skin Smoothing Face Primer ($30, Sephora), and I have to say, it helps.

At first, I was really concerned over how dark and sparkly the product was coming out of the tube. It honestly looked like metallic copper fabric paint. In fact, the first thing I thought (okay, said out loud. To myself. Because I'm crazy like that) was, "Oh, my God, I can't put that on my face." However, for the sake of you guys, I went through with it. Almost as if by magic, the primer disappeared into my skin, leaving only a very subtle glow and an evened skin-tone. My pores do appear smaller, and my skin looked radiant. The primer is silicone-based, which gives it a silky texture, but it's also very lightweight. I don't feel bogged down under a mask, and that's fantastic in this humidity. When I put my usual foundation over it (lightly, I must add), the color came through just a bit, which aided in making my light foundation work on my darker skin. Best of all, it's SPF 20, which alleviates the extra step (and cost) of sunscreen. I also noticed that my makeup stayed fresh throughout the day, including my eyeshadow, and I had forgotten to use my eye primer. I wish the price was a little lower, but it's a large tube, so you do get what you pay for. Final Verdict: 9 out of 10. This is a Summertime life-saver, and a winner all around.

Photo Credit: Sephora

Lastly, for those of you who like a little extra oomph around the cheekbones, I can not recommend enough the (again) Too Faced The Bronze and the Beautiful Bronzing Powder palette ($38, Sephora). This palette gives you three increasingly potent bronzers in a beautiful mirrored package, complete with the softest, most wonderful bronzing brush I've ever encountered. It delivers the precise amount of product and blends effortlessly. The bronzers begin with Snow Bunny, the lightest, that deposits a minimal amount of color, but a maximum amount of highlighting shimmer. Next in line is Sun Bunny, a medium shade that works for even the lightest complexion. Lastly, we have Pink Leopard, which looks fabulous over a tan, and also works for sculpting. I like to brush a little Snow Bunny over the other shades for a little extra shimmer. The price may seem a bit much, but each bronzer runs $28 individually, and this way you get all three, plus brush. The sizes are marginally smaller than if bought individually, but after months of daily use, I've barely made in a dent in my set, and have the option of blending shades for a custom look. This stuff, to put it bluntly, rocks. Final Verdict: 10 out of 10. It's on my list of products I can't live without.

Sweet Temptations: Victoria's Secret Attractions Body Care

Spring is a cruel mistress. Down here in Hel--I mean, er, the Deep South--we're already experiencing temperatures in the 80s and humidity so high that you practically need a straw to breathe. It's hot. It's miserable, and it's time to show some skin.

Now, my skin is lily-white, and may cause blindness when looked upon in direct sunlight, but I'll save that rant for another day. Before I could even think about slathering on sunless tanner, I needed to get this parched, scaly mess I call "skin" (and I use that term loosely. "Leather" or "Reptile Hide" might be more appropriate) in tip-top condition. MOISTURIZE ME!!!!!

Just as I began to research all the different lotions and potions available (besides the Jergen's I'm currently using to try to reduce the appearance of cellulite--which is still working, by the way. Yay!), an advertisement for Victoria's Secret Attractions Body Care hit my inbox. For $25, I could pick up three products instore (it's 2/$24 and 3/$30 online, for some unknown reason), get a Secrets Reward Card, and walk away with yet another free tote bag that will collect dust on my closet shelf. Well, shoot, let's do that!

The line is broken down into four collections: Wild One, Sweet Cravings, Glam Goddess, and Love Bitten. Each collection consists of a Daily Body Wash, Indulgent Body Cream, Nourishing Body Lotion, and Fragrance Mist. I decided to get the body wash, mist, and the body lotion. I considered the body cream, but as hot as it gets down here, I worried that it might just end up sliding off of me by the end of the day.

Once I decided on my products, I needed to settle on a scent. Wild One is raspberry and lily, Sweet Cravings is vanilla and praline, Glam Goddess is freesia, and Love Bitten is "forbidden" apple. I can only assume that last one is for the Twi-hards. My gut reaction was to go with Sweet Cravings, but once I sampled it, I realized that was more of a Fall scent. I ended up with Wild One, since I love raspberry, and thought it would go nicely with my Givenchy Hot Couture perfume.

The packaging is precious. All products come in clear bottles, and the lotion boasts a wonderfully convenient pump. There's nothing like trying to squeeze lotion out of tube when your hands are greasy. Each product is labeled with a screenprint of a colorful leopard-print background, edged in black lace. Wild One is pink, Sweet Cravings is a golden cream, Glam Goddess is lavender, and Love Bitten is bright baby blue.

Before I go any further, I feel I should point out that all VS Attractions products contain something called EverTempt. This is basically a synthetic pheremone created from ingredients that, when tested, were found to be the most alluring to men. Out of 40 scents tested, the five that make up EverTempt were proven to create the most, ahem, excitement. This "pheremone" also reacts to your body chemistry for a custom scent that changes as your mood fluctuates. I'm a skeptic, myself, but that's the information. Do with it what you will.

Alrighty, back to the review.

Scent: It's a little chemical for my taste, but not so much that I can't wear it. I just can't wear my Givenchy with it because the raspberry scents will clash. Honestly, though, once you layer the mist over the lotion over the body wash, you don't need anything else. It's a lot of fragrance, but not so strong as to annoy your co-workers. I did find myself re-applying lotion or fragrance mist (not both!) during the day as the scent faded. On the plus side, Thomas said I smelled good. 7 out of 10.

Body Wash: I'm not a fan. I will not "like" this on Facebook. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I can not get this to lather, no matter what. I've used hot water, copious amounts of product, held my tongue just so...doesn't matter. All I can say is that it smells nice, and I think it's getting me clean. If nothing else, the pouf I'm using is helping to exfoliate my skin. 4 out of 10.

Body Lotion: Easily my favorite of the group. This is light, so it doesn't sweat off in the humidity, and incredibly moisturizing. I love the way my skin feels after I use it, and that it lasts all day. 9 out of 10.

Fragrance Mist: I really like this, too. It's an easy, quick way to refresh the scent as it fades. It also, as it turns out, makes a lovely air freshener if you happen to turn the nozzle the wrong direction. Not that I would ever do something so moronic. 8 out of 10.

EverTempt: I'm not scoring this. I just, out of curiosity, wondered if it would work. Not that I expected results similar to an Axe Body Spray commercial (in reverse, of course), but I was interested to see if men treated me any differently when I wore these products. Now, I'm a happily married woman with a husband who adores me (I'm a lucky girl), so I'm not, by any means, looking or flirting or anything else like that. I was on the look out for chivalry; common courtesy from the male gender.

I have no idea if this stuff works. Yeah, a couple of gentlemen held doors for me, but that's nothing unusual. I had pleasant conversations with some male friends, but again, that's not new. They're friends, for crying out loud. Most of our conversations are pleasant. What I will say is this product line makes me feel sexier. I feel more attractive, therefore I exude more confidence. If there is anything sexier than confidence, I haven't run across it, yet. Maybe there's something to this EverTempt. Maybe it's the most potent fragrance blend ever invented. Then again, maybe it's one really fantastic placebo effect. I'm banking on the latter, but I'm not complaining.

Final Verdict: 7 out of 10. It's flawed, but makes me happy. If you're a fan of normal VS lotions, give it a shot.

Slim Pickings

Photo Credit: drugstore.com

The other day, I walked through Target's sliding glass doors, and immediately felt a cold chill shimmy up and down my spine. As I shivered, I looked to my left and saw row upon row of multi-colored sugary chicks, ducks, and bunnies. To my right, a half-dozen racks of the skimpiest bathing suits known to man. Spring is here. I'm going to have to wear *gulp* SHORTS! ARGH!!!

Before you argue that I might be able to get away with capris or something in a nice linen, let me remind you that I live about as far South as one can get without swimming or entering another country. We have what is known as a "semi-tropical" climate. That sounds nice, doesn't it? "Semi-tropical". It makes you think of relaxing on sugar-sand beaches, sipping a fruity, rum-filled concoction while the sound of tin drums lilts past on a breeze. IT'S A LIE! Yes, we have a gorgeous beach and plenty of rum, but there is no breeze. None. Ever. We occasionally have wind, but that's a whole 'nother deal. There is heat. There is humidity. There is sweatin--er, glowing, and praying the air-conditioner doesn't go out like it did last year. There is the knowledge that you will have to change clothes at least once during the day, and most likely take two showers. I honestly believe that the Alabama Welcome Center should issue all tourists a pair of flip-flops and a personal fan upon crossing the border, along with a heartfelt, "Good luck, you're gonna need it." And that's just May. By August, it's a wonder we're all not in jail for indecent exposure.

No, shorts, skirts, rompers, and sundresses make up my closet during the Spring and Summer months. As I've already broken out the capris and tank tops, it's becoming painfully obvious that the next step will be sunless tanner and an increased diet and exercise regimen. I also thought that it might be a good time to address the, admittedly minor, cellulite on the thighs. It's not bad, but it's got to go.

After a few minutes of research on Total Beauty (my go-to site for user reviews), I had my skin-firming cream choices down to four: Nivea, Almay, Olay, and Jegens. Each had great reviews and was featured on the site's top skin-firming creams list, and they were all in the very budget-friendly $7-$12 range. Whichever was in stock was the one I'd go with.

That turned out to be the Jergens ($7.49, drugstore.com). I took it home, and used it the very next day after my shower. According to Jergens, this product:

"Reduces the appearance of cellulite for visibly firmer skin. Jergens^® Skin Firming Daily Toning Moisturizer gives cellulite-prone skin a more toned and tightened look.

• Clinically proven to reduce the appearance of cellulite
• Exclusive anti-cellulite Firm Perfecting^® Complex is comprised of six key ingredients known to improve skin's resiliency, elasticity and firmness including collagen, elastin and ginseng."

According to me: I have been using this product for a week. Obviously, that's not enough time to see full results, but it is enough time to evaluate the rest of the products attributes. So, let's do that.

Texture: This is a very lightweight lotion, which is perfect for this climate. The last thing you want is a heavy cream melting and dripping down your thighs. It's un-ladylike. However, for such a light lotion, it is very moisturizing. My skin feels hydrated and fresh. My one qualm would be that, while the lotion is not at all sticky or tacky, it does give your skin a slight amount of traction. I had a devil of a time pulling my jeans on this morning. They weren't tight jeans, and I'd given the lotion a good ten minutes, or so to dry. Verdict: 8.5 out 10. (Would have been 9, but I was late for my voice lesson because of it. That's not cool.)

Scent: There's not one, really. If you try very hard, you can almost smell a vague, but fresh and clean fragrance. I love this, because it doesn't compete with my perfume. Verdict: 10 out of 10.

Skin-Firming Properties: Now, as I said, a week isn't long enough to truly make a stand on this. Also, there is nothing, aside from surgery, that will truly remove cellulite. The best I can hope for is some smoothing, so the dimples aren't as noticeable. Please note, I'm nowhere near the "cottage cheese" level of cellulite. I'm more like a nice brie: a little soft, a little squishy, but relatively smooth. Plus, brie just sounds nicer (and tastes amazing baked with a little strawberry preserves or caramel sauce and some pecans...which is probably why my legs look like this to begin with). Anyhoo, I've applied the lotion to my entire body once daily, taking extra care to massage a little extra into problem areas (thighs, bum, stomach, and upper arms). I can honestly say that I have notice a slight difference. My skin feels smoother in those areas, and the overall tone is improved. Are the dimples still there? Well, yes, of course, but I can tell that there is hope for the overall appearance. The dimples may never go away, but at least there's a chance they'll lighten up enough to not be embarrassing. Verdict (for the moment): a very optimistic 6 out of 10.


Temporary Verdict (as I will update this in the future): 8.2 out of 10. Very promising, and a darn good lotion either way.

Who Knew the Dark Side Was So Cute?

Yeah, I'm late to the party (as per usual), but I couldn't help but talk about little Max Page, the baby Vader in the Volkswagen Super Bowl ad.

 

In case you're even more behind than I am, here's the spot:

Now, I'm sure you'll be shocked to know that Thomas and I skipped watching the Super Bowl (*gasp*), so I actually stumbled across this thanks to a friend's Facebook post. After about two solid minutes of cracking up, I calmed down, caught my breath, and found Thomas to show him. The commercial's cute, but it's this kid's reactions that really sold it for me. Thomas was convinced it was a very small adult, and that a child couldn't possibly have pulled that off. How wrong he was...

 

Max Page is six years old, and just as cute as a bug. It should come as no surprise that he's a veteran actor, with commercial spots for Walgreen's and Clear Channel under his...um, hood, and a recurring role as Reed Hellstrom on The Young and the Restless. His mother told Today that she originally thought this would be his first national commercial spot. It wasn't until halfway through filming that the family was told Max would be in a Super Bowl ad. The popularity of the ad has been a pleasant, albeit overwhelming surprise.  

 

"I can't even keep up with the messages and the calls," says Jennifer, Max's mom. "It's just overwhelming. The first night, [web hits] were at 60,000. I went to bed and the next morning it was at 1 million. My mind couldn't comprehend!"

 

A couple of interesting facts about young Padawan Max are that he has a congenital heart defect, and has used a pacemaker since he was three months old. He also has, believe it or not, NEVER SEEN A STAR WARS MOVIE!!! How can this be? Someone get this child a copy of Episode IV, stat!!

 

Also, who's with me in thinking he looks a bit like a tiny Mark Hamil? Anyone? Bueller?

Photo Credit: Today

 

Okay, so on a totally unrelated note, I think I may have finally found a shaving cream that I like almost as much as the Soap & Glory that is now, unfortunately, no longer available in the states. (You may recall my overly melodramatic lamentations here.) However, I do have an update that S&G may be back in the good ol' U.S. of A. in September 2011. No word on who's distributing, but they promise to keep the shelves fully stocked, unlike Target. Apparently, my local stores weren't the only ones with empty shelves.

 

Anyhoo, until the S&G shows back up, I'm really enjoying eos (Evolution of Smooth) Shave Cream in Pomegranate Raspberry. For this review, I thought I'd go with a Pro/Con list. There's so much good about this, but the bad is, well, really bad.

 

PRO:

Lovely texture. It's silky, like a body lotion, and leaves almost a light glaze on your legs. It shaves away easily, and leaves no residue.

 

Wonderful scent. I love raspberry, so this was a nice treat. However, it's not so overpowering that you can't use your favorite moisturizer or perfume later for fear of mixing. (Vanilla is wonderful, too, but I've not tried any of the other varieties). 

 

Close shave. I am smooth and soft, with nary a nick. Really, I think this is the most important part.

 

Heavy duty plastic container. I love the design of this container. The lid stays on tightly, the pump is large enough for wet fingers to manage, and the shatterproof bottle has grips hewn into the side. Most shaving cream cans tend to be metal, and leave little rust rings on your tub. This won't do that. Plus, it's just darling to look at.

 

So...basically, it's a fantastic shaving cream in a really easy to use pump that won't leave rust on your tub. So far, so good.

 

BAD:

Clogs blades. However, you can rinse it out fairly easily. Bad, but not horrible.

 

Can't tell when you're running low. The container is solid plastic and not see-through, so there's no way to tell, by looking, if you need to add another one to the shopping list. The cream itself is very lightweight, so there's also no real difference in the heft of the bottle as it runs out. I've found myself in a pickle before, from running out with zero notice. I now keep a spare in the cabinet, just in case.

 

Bottle doesn't hold a lot of product. You only need one pump per leg, but one bottle won't get you very far. I'd estimate I replace a bottle every three weeks, give or take. I replaced my S&G about twice a year.

 

Price point. The actual price varies (widely) by store. I've purchased bottles at both Target and Walgreen's brick and mortar shops for somewhere in the $3-$4 range, which I think is a little high. Drugstore.com has it listed at $5.29, which is flat-out ridiculous for such a small amount of shaving cream, especially if you have to buy two at a time to keep from being left in a lurch. The best deal I've found is actually on the eos website. You can buy any of the scents you want for $3.49 each, and they'll throw in a free Bic Soleil razor. Keep in mind, though, shipping is a flat rate of $2.75, so if you only buy one bottle, it'll cost you $6.24. Of course, if you buy more than one at a time (recommended) it's not so bad.

 

All in all, it's the best shaving cream I've been able to find since the whole S&G debacle. I've been able to live with the flaws because the actual product itself is exactly what I wanted: a light, non-foaming, non-greasy, moisturizing lotion that gives a clean, nick-free shave. Final Verdict: 6.5 out of 10, but come September, the real judgement will commence.

The Most Dangerous Bathroom

Well, folks, the big move (two miles away, maybe?) is in less than two weeks!  That means that we've been packing like fiends, Thomas has a sinus infection from all the dust, and you can't walk through the house for all the boxes.  It also means that the decorating bug has latched onto me, and I've been scouring the Internets for all things art deco for the new place.  Somehow, that search led me to this:

Photo by BustedTees

It's a ninja toothbrush sanitizer!!  $29.95 at BustedTees.  After you brush your teeth and rinse your brush, place the head of the brush into the sanitizer, and a special germicidal UV light ninjas away 99.9% of germs.  I want one.  It doesn't go with a darn thing in my house, but it's so cute, and Thomas would love it.

Since I had ninjas on the brain, anyway, I thought I'd see if I could find any more decor to go along with this.  Oddly enough, I could.

Photo by ThinkGeek

Throwing star coat hooks!  Perfect for hanging up bathrobes!  They screw right into the wall, so you don't need any tools (awesome, since I can't hammer worth a flip).  $12.99, ThinkGeek.  I'm going to be in so much trouble if Thomas reads this post.

Photo by Mystake

Okay, nobody panic!  These are not real!!  You're actually supposed to light these little guys--they're candles!  Just don't open the package in front of the mail carrier.  $12.00, Mystake.

Well, that's enough of that.  On to the magic bag o' samples!  Today, class, we're going to discuss First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream.  $28 for 6oz, Sephora.com.

According to Sephora:

This Ultra Repair Cream is a thick, rich, emollient product that hydrates deep down with exceptional penetration. This cream is for anyone with severely dry, scaly skin due to harsh winter weather, aggressive cosmetic treatments, or any of the following conditions: atopic dermatitis, irritant eczema, allergic eczema, and keratosis pilaris. With the help of colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, soothing eucalyptus oil, and ceramides, Ultra Repair Cream provides immediate relief and visible improvement for distressed skin. The FAB Antioxidant Booster defends skin from free radical damage and the cream deeply hydrates with exceptional penetration, providing immediate relief and visible improvement. The cream is immediately absorbed into the skin and can be used all over the body and on the face.

Now, my skin isn't that bad.  It's just a little dry from all the dust that packing's stirred up, and a little broken out from stress.  Really, nothing a little scrubbing and some moisturizer couldn't handle.  Still, I thought, now might be a good time to give this a whirl.

I'll be honest with you, it put me off a tad bit at first, because it feels like diaper cream.  The cream has a very thick, whipped texture, and almost no scent, whatsoever.  I started to apply a very light layer, and it immediately sank into my skin.  I mean, "shluurrp", it's gone.  I applied a thicker coat, rubbed it in, and by this point, I really didn't want to stop rubbing my face.  This cream feels amazing.  My skin looked about 80% better than before, too.  The dry patches were gone, my tone was more even, and my skin feels petal soft.  This stuff is pretty darn awesome.

I'm not thrilled with the packaging of the full-size product.  It comes in a tub, which would make traveling with it a pain, and there's not a travel size.  It also seems a little unsanitary, but that could just be me.  The tub is really cute, though, and there is a travel kit available with four other moisturizers and cleansers for $15, that, while I haven't tried it, has gotten some wonderful user reviews. 

With the Fall upon us and Winter approaching, we're all going to need a little extra protection from wind and dryness.  This is definitely a moisturizer to consider.

A Little Blarney and Some Petty Theft

Last night, I stole my husband's heart.  Now, before you go all sweet and mushy on me, take note that I mean this literally.  You see, we're moving in a couple of weeks, so we spent a good chunk of yesterday going through closets and drawers, packing up and throwing away.  Somewhere, mixed in with a pile of fake body parts, tombstones and lone socks, was an old, tarnished Claddagh ring. 

Me:  Oooh!  A Claddagh!
Thomas:  Oh, yeah, that's from my Angel costume.
Me:  (furiously trying it on every finger and totally ignoring my chance to mock him for dressing up like David Boreanaz for--God, I hope--Halloween)  It fits me!  I'm stealing it. 
Thomas:  That's fine.  It was just going in the thrift store pile, anyway.

Gosh, he's so romantical when he talks purty.

For those of you who are trying to figure out what the heck I'm talking about, a Claddagh (CLAW-duh) is an Irish symbol, given as a token of love and committment.  It consists of two hands holding a crowned heart--a design based upon the Italian Fede ring (showing clasped hands as a sign of trust)--and stands for friendship, love, and loyalty.  The design is attributed to a Galway man by the name of Richard Joyce.

Claddagh wedding set.  14 kt. white gold, $2,795.
Photo by Linda Clifford Rings

Now, kids, settle in and I'll tell you a story.  A long, long time ago, back in the late 17th century, there lived a man named Richard Joyce.  He worked as a fisherman in the small town of Claddagh, and was all set to marry the woman of his dreams.  Lo and behold, a week before the wedding, his ship was overtaken by pirates, and the crew were all sold as slaves!  Richard was sold to a goldsmith who taught him his craft. As years went by, Richard became a master goldsmith, himself, and forged a ring for the woman he'd left behind.  When King William III came into power, he released all the slaves, meaning Richard could go home!  The goldsmith offered Richard his daughter's hand and half of his riches and property if he would stay with him, but Richard wanted to know what had happened to the love of his life.  He returned to Claddagh, found the girl, and learned that she had never married, but had waited for him.  Richard gave her the ring, and the two were married.  Together, they opened a goldsmith's shop, and lived happily ever after.

Modern Gentleman's wedding band.  $145.50.
Photo by IrishShop.com 

There are rules to wearing a Claddagh.  Traditionally, if you are single, you wear the ring on your right hand, with the heart pointing outward.  If you are "taken", you wear it on the right hand, heart pointing in (toward your own heart).  When you become engaged, you wear the ring on your left ring finger, heart pointing out, and flip it around when you get married.  In some wedding ceremonies, the groom flips the ring around for the bride when he slides on the wedding band.

As for me, I'm not swapping my engagement ring for a costume remnant, so I have it on my right hand, facing inward.  The strangest thing happened, though.  You know how I said the ring was old and tarnished?  Well, this morning, it was shiny and sparkly and good as new.  It was probably just the tarnish rubbing off on my sheets while I slept, but I like to think there was some good old fashioned Irish magic at work.  Maybe some ancestors giving their approval.  I don't know, but it made me smile.

And now, the magic bag o' samples!  Today's vict--I mean, pick, is Aquolina Pink Sugar Body Mousse.  $30 for 8.5oz., Sephora.com.

According to Sephora, this is:

Stylish and lively, with a distinctive personality, Pink Sugar takes you on a journey through the pleasures and flavors of childhood with a playful blend of vanilla and caramel.

It also contains notes of Bergamot, Sicilian Orange, Raspberry, Fig Leaves, Lily of the Valley, Licorice, Strawberry, Red Fruit, Cotton Candy, Vanilla, Caramel, Musk, Wood, and Powder. 

Well, I got the baby powder and sugar scents.  This stuff is a complete sugar rush, and one I was actually really scared to try.  See, I opened the lid when the sample first came in, and a drop got on my finger.  It just about knocked me over!  The fragrance tends to mellow out as you apply the mousse--kind of like how the first stroke of wall paint always looks like neon, but the color calms down once the entire wall is covered--but it's still not a subtle fragrance.  No, sir.  I put it on around 9:00 this morning.  It's after 4:00, and it's still strong, and it's kind of getting on my nerves.  Do not wear this if you are going to be in cramped spaces, because the people around you will want to kill you.  I also would not suggest layering this scent.  One coat is enough, folks.  One light coat is more than enough.  A little dab'll do ya.

As for the mousse, itself, it's okay.  I generally prefer body butter, but on a hot day like today, the mousse is a nice, light alternative.  It's non-greasy, absorbs quickly, and leaves your skin feeling powder soft.  The problem lies in the fact that you really can't put this all over your entire body.  I only put it on my legs, arms and chest, and that was more than enough scent.  It's also, frankly, not a scent I really care for.  It's aiming for flirtatious girliness, but I think it's missed the mark.  It's not sophisticated enough to be sexy.  It's sweet, but almost saccharin.  It's girly, but little girly. 

Final verdict:  It's mediocre and too strong.  The perfume version might be better, since you can adjust how much you use and pinpoint its location, but it's just too much scent for all-over.  If you love Vanilla, Bergamot Orange, and Musk, I suggest trying Bath and Body Works Vanilla Noir.  At $10.50, there's less sugar, more moisturizers, and you're out a lot less money.