Test Drive: John Frieda Anytime Volume Refresher

Friends, have you been loving this new mass market dry shampoo trend as much as I have? It seems drugstore hair care brands are finally getting the memo here and while Klorane will always hold a very special place in my heart, I love that I no longer am condemned to a life of buying $18 cans of dry shampoo every two weeks. I recently tried John Frieda Luxurious Volume Anytime Volume Refresher - read on for the scoop.

The Experience

At first I thought this can looked mighty small - and skinny - but then I realized my beloved Klorane was 3.2oz and this is 3.5 so maybe this is some sort of optical illusion. I tried Anytime Volume Refresher two different ways: on clean hair when I wanted to inject some volume and texture and on actual, unwashed, dirty hair. First thing I noticed and absolutely loved is the complete and total lack of white powdery residue. If you're a dry shampoo vet you know what I'm talking about - the whitish cast on your roots that makes your hair look gray in pics. There was none of that here people. 

When I used this on dirty hair I was really impressed that it absorbed the greasies sans aforementioned white residue, and it definitely injected some life into my locks. This is the perfect dry shampoo to perk up second day hair, but I'm not sure I would use it on say, 4th day hair (but by that point, let's just wash shall we?). 

A quick spritz on freshly washed hair added some texture, volume and hold, so if your strands are baby fine like mine, you'll definitely be reaching for this even if you just shampooed. 

The Verdict

For under $7 this is really an amazing dry shampoo. It houses a lot of product (even though it looks like it doesn't), gets rid of the greasies, adds volume, and, say it with me, leaves NO white residue behind. I highly recommend getting into a relationship with Anytime Volume Refresher stat.

Test Drive: Garnier Moisture Rescue Fresh Cleansing Foam

It may seem like a weird beauty item to be really excited about, but I love shopping for a new cleanser. Most people just grab whatever and go, but I spend many tens of minutes painstakingly walking up and down the drugstore or Sephora aisles carefully inspecting ingredient labels and looking for the words "removes makeup."

I had been a big fan of Garnier's Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream (read up on that here) and decided to give the cleanser a go. One word - love.

The Experience:

The label lists grape and apple water extracts as two key ingredients (the grape protects from external aggressors and the apple maintains skin's moisture barrier) and this cleanser definitely smells light and refreshing. Also, something about the words grape and apple water just made me want to slather this all over my face. A little goes a very long way with this rich foam so just use a little pea sized amount to create major foamy lather. When I rinsed my face felt clean, fresh and hydrated. The best part though is that it removed every last trace of makeup; even eyeliner and mascara. I was majorly impressed because nothing (not even eye makeup remover on a cotton ball) gets all my eye makeup off.

The Verdict:

Two thumbs up on this one. If you're looking for a gentle and refreshing cleanser that won't over dry and removes all traces of dirt, oil and makeup (oh and at the fab price of $5.99) pick up Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Fresh Cleansing Foam.

Availability:

Drugstores nationwide.

Test Drive: Garnier Moisture Rescue

I love gel-based moisturizers because they're so fresh and light, but frankly they sometimes just don't get the job done. I was so excited to try Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream and see if it could give me the moisture I need with the super lightweight, refreshing feeling I crave.

The Experience:

Biggest thing to note: a little goes a long way with this product so no need to glob it all over the place. The cream absorbed super fast and felt like nothing on, but my skin felt incredibly soft and smooth. Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream worked perfectly under makeup and didn't leave me with that greasy, over-moisturized feeling at the end of the day. I also love that it has antioxidant fruit water (that just sounds refreshing, no?) and vitamin E to fight free radicals.

The Verdict:

Love love love. If you're looking for a truly lightweight, but really effective moisturizer that delivers the perfect amount of hydration without that burst of greasiness some rich moisturizers give this is for you. Loved it so much I want to try the rest of the line now!

Test Drive: Neutrogena Deep Clean Invigorating Foaming Scrub

I'm really not big on facial scrubs because they usually feel grainy and scratchy, but I picked up Neutrogena Deep Clean Invigorating Foaming Scrub on a whim when I forgot to pack cleanser on one of my many trips. It was cheap, it was a cool blue color and in the recent heat wave, the word invigorating sounded pretty damn good.

The Experience:

A little goes a long way with this facial scrub - all you need is a pea-sized amount. I loved the fact that it created a rich, foamy lather to take the edge off of the scrubbing beads, which actually felt smooth instead of scratchy and harsh. And thanks to a dose of menthol, this is one of those wake up your senses (and clear your sinuses) type of scrubs. If you're like me - a zombie until a cup of coffee - this is the perfect morning pick me up. 

Due to lots of travel, I had been neglecting my usual facial routine so I was in desperate need of a good exfoliation, and this scrub made my skin feel soft, smooth and decongested. Plus it's gentle enough for daily use.

The Verdict:

If you love the feeling of freshly scrubbed skin everyday this is your gig. The foamy lather combined with the scrubbers really give skin a good deep cleansing, plus the jolt of menthol refreshes skin, and keeps it feeling that way long after rinsing. Pick up at drugstores nationwide.

Test Drive: L'Oreal Sublime Bronze SPF 15

It's been a sad little beachless summer over here at BITNB, and consequently I am paler than the Cullens. Now that I'm on a two week vacay, I've desperately (but safely!) been trying to impart a little glow. Enter L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self Tanning Lotion SPF 15, which is genius to me because you can be outdoors, not get burned, yet still get a (faux) tan.

The Experience

I usually apply my self tanners at night - stained sheets be damned! - because I hate walking around all day with the yucky self tanner feeling and smell. This actually had a nice fresh fragrance that only slightly took on that DHA odor we all know and hate later in the day. The consistency felt like straight sunblock - very rich. It definitely took a few minutes to dry, and I wouldn't recommend wearing your tightest fitting jeans when you have this on. 

I went about my business and by nighttime I was golden brown - seriously, the color that develops is A-Mazing. No orange in sight, it's a lovely natural looking brown shade that even shows up on pale skin. If you need to look tan in a hurry, this is your formula.

The Verdict:

For $9.99 this is a no-brainer. The tan that develops is beautiful, natural looking and rich, and you have the added protection of SPF 15 if you plan on being outdoors all day. Available at drugstores nationwide.

Test Drive: Maybelline The Falsies Mascara

As soon as I started hearing about Maybelline The Falsies mascara I was intrigued. I'm a girl who loves lashes and whenever a new mascara comes out I have to try it. Especially when said mascara promises to mimic the look of false lashes, minus the painstakingly annoying application. 

The Experience:

The first thing I noticed was the swoop design of the brush, which reminds me a little of the Lash Stiletto brush. I tested out the mascara two ways; first by using on a bare eye, then with a whole shadow and liner job. The Falsies created amazing volume and length and I was surprised by how much my eyes stood out with nothing other than mascara. The effect was only amplified of course when I used it with a smoky eye. 

The key is in the brush, the Kera-fiber formula and and the application. This is a buildable formula, which means that you need to get the brush in close to the lash line and wiggle up to the tip and repeat until you create the desired fullness and length. You can put on 20 coats and it won't clump - this formula is amazing!

The Verdict:

Better than false lashes! Maybelline The Falsies creates long, full, feathery lashes that look like you sat and applied individual falsies to your lash line for an hour. And I love that you can create a soft daytime look or major nighttime look with the same mascara simply by adding a few coats. Pick up at drugstores for around $6.99.

Test Drive: L'Oreal EverStrong

I'd been intrigued for some time about L'Oreal's EverStrong line, which promised to inject strength in hair in just one wash. Having fragile hair that's, ah, enhanced with bleach shall we say, I feel like my hair is constantly breaking and splitting and I was hoping EverStrong would be the solution.

The Experience:
Like its predecessor EverPure, EverStrong is free of sulfates and harsh detergents, so it won't strip or fade color. Available in Hydrate, Bodify and Reconstruct, I chose the third formula since highlighting and using heat appliances way too much had done a number on my hair. 

The first thing I noticed when applying was that my hair literally soaked up the thick, rich conditioner and I thought wow, I must have some serious damage. I was also running late that day so I skipped the smoothing serum and after blowdrying I realized I didn't even need it anyway. After just one wash my hair felt strong and had significantly less flyaways, and it's been getting better ever since.

I've also noticed significantly less breakage. Considering I'm the type who sits there forever staring at my strands and snapping off the areas of breakage I know this stuff is working.

The Verdict:
Pick up L'Oreal EverStrong shampoo, conditioner, deep replenishing mask and overnight treatment if you're looking for a gentle, non stripping formula that keeps color in tact but imparts some serious strength to flimsy strands. This works better than most salon brands I've used and it's also a major bargain at under $10

Test Drive: Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation

Friends, I am all sorts of sick today and feel like I want to die. But since a beauty lover never rests, it's business as usual over here with a review of Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15. A good foundation is truly hard to find because you want coverage (why else would you wear foundation) yet you still want your skin to show through, just minus any imperfections. I recently tried Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15, so read on for the dish.

The Experience:
Upon first application, I was surprised by how lightweight and clean this foundation felt, especially since it contains SPF 15, which usually ups the greasy feeling factor. But even smoothing it on with fingers, then blending with a foundation brush, there was no shine or heavy feeling in sight. Skin Foundation is basically that elusive foundation that offers real coverage to erase imperfections, yet has an invisibly finish - read - looks like skin and not makeup. It's almost like this makeup has the ability to suss out what you want covered and what you don't. I have a light dusting of freckles on my nose that I actually like, and that showed through, yet the redness on my cheeks was completely blended away. Plus I love that it's a pump so you can always pump out the perfect amount.

The Verdict:
If you're looking for a lightweight, invisible finish foundation that truly covers what you need covered without having that "foundation finish," then Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 is for you. The SPF 15 is a major bonus and skin looks flawless, yet real - no easy feat. Pick up at major department stores or the Bobbi site for $45.

Test Drive: Pantene Solutions

For years Pantene has been winning magazine reader's choice awards so obviously the masses love it, but I've always been sort of eh about the products. That is, until the brand unveiled its new Solutions collection; various lines of shampoos, conditioners and styling products developed specifically for hair types. 

It always blew my mind that shampoos and conditioners only catered to one hair type - as if hair couldn't be color treated, fine and frizz prone all at the same time. I used to stand in the drugstore forever, debating on which formula I should choose, ultimately creating my own collection of shampoo for color treated hair, conditioner for fine hair, and smoothing serum for frizz prone hair. 

The new Pantene Solutions collection does away with all that by creating lines developed for hair texture, and then within those lines, customized products for specific concerns. For example, within the Medium to Thick collection there are sub-collections such as Frizzy to Smooth, Dry to Moisturized, Breakage to Strength and Flat to Volume. Total genius! So all you have to do is pick your hair type: Color, Fine, Medium to Thick or Curly and then pick the appropriate collection for your hair concerns. Fine haired girls can now have moisturizing shampoos and conditioners that won't weigh hair down, color treated hair can now have a formula for shine. 

I was having a major case of flat hair lately due to the humidity and soft water, so I tried the Flat to Volume shampoo and it gave me lasting volume, without stripping my hair dry. Totally in love. Visit the Pantene website to peruse the collections and pick the right one for you.

Test Drive: Avon Anew Clinical Luminosity Pro Brightening Serum

I've tried a lot of brightening serums in my almost 28 years my friends, and I'll let you in on a secret, not a lot of them work. From my days as a reckless youth sunning myself without abandon, I've incurred some slight sun damage, and the uneven skin tone and texture that usually happens to all of us as we get a little older. I've been seeing the commercials on TV for Avon's new Anew Clinical Luminosity Pro Brightening Serum and I was intrigued by all of the injectable-grade brightener talk, so I was so excited to have the opportunity to try it out for myself. Friends, it's only been day three of use, but I am already in love. Here's why:

The Experience:
First, I love the fact that you only have to put this on once a day, at night, and you get amazing results. I was using a skin brightener that required morning and evening use, and I have a strict morning routine that I cringe at the thought of changing, so right off the bat, I was happy. The texture is great; it's a smooth gel that somehow feels silky and hydrating, and not all drying and gel-like. It did have a little bit of a tingle, nothing unbearable, but then I read the package and it said to wait 15 minutes after cleansing your face to apply if you experience a tingle. I woke up the next morning and thought wow! I can tell a difference already! One time people, no joke. And now that I'm on day three, it's only gotten better. Expect to see an overall skin brightness and clarity (the epitome of youth!), smooth texture and a reduction in fine lines.

The Verdict:
If you're looking for brighter, smoother skin and a product that truly delivers on its claims, scoop up Anew Clinical Luminosity Pro. You will not be disappointed, especially since it's only $54 for such fancy science like Anti-Dark Spot Helix with injectable-grade L'Aspartic Acid. Plus I love the cool packaging with the clear gel surrounding the helix. If you're not in a long term relationship with an Avon lady, click here to find one in your nabe. 

*Disclosure: a sample of this product was provided for editorial consideration.

Test Drive: Aveeno Nourish +

I have a weird obsession with shampoo. I love browsing the salons, drugstore aisles, those stores that sell salon hair care like Rickys, searching for my next shampoo purchase. I read ingredient labels, ponder whether I should buy the color treated or volumizing formula, and rarely finish an entire bottle before I'm on to my next fix. While I have a taste for the more expensive salon brands (a la Redken, bumble and Bumble and Kerastase - trust me, when it comes to hair care, the pricier brands are worth it), but I had been intrigued by Aveeno's Nourish+ line for some time now, so I scooped it up at CVS and took it home for a whirl.

The Experience:

My initial thought was hmmm this is a little on the expensive side for a drugstore shampoo ($7.50 at CVS), but I brought it home and lathered up. I used the Nourish+ Volumize formula, and I was super impressed that it was a rich, creamy lather as opposed to the usual gel formulation of volumizing shampoos that make you feel as though you might as well be washing your hair with Dial Antibacterial bodywash. The smell was delish, and the lather really made me feel like my hair was not being stripped and that when I rinsed it would be nice and clean - and soft. And it was just that. My hair felt strong, soft, nourished and had a nice bounce post blowdry. After several washes, the results keep getting better.

The Verdict: 

A fantastic drugstore shampoo that is perfect for anyone looking to inject some strength and nourishment into their hair. Won't strip or dry out, the lather is decadently creamy and damage is repaired. Choose from Moisturize, Revitalize, Volumize, Soothe and the newest version, Shine. Aveeno Nourish+ is also gentle and won't fade hair color. Pick it up at drugstores and click here for a free sample.

Test Drive: Clean & Clear Finishes Pore Perfecting Moisturizer

I usually associate Clean & Clear as a line for teens, save for my cheapie one step facial, Morning Burst In- Shower Facial (formerly known as STEAM In-Shower Facial), which you can read about here, but on a recent drugstore expedition I stumbled upon Finishes Pore Perfecting Moisturizer, a fairly new product part of the new Finishes line of cleanser, moisturizer and toner. I'm a sucker for anything promising to smooth the appearance of pores, and at around $6.49, I thought why not pick it up and see if it works.

The Experience:

Upon first application the moisturizer felt really light and non-greasy, yet hydrating at the same time. I love the fact that it has SPF 15 as well, yet manages to not have that heavy, SPF moisturizer feeling. I definitely noticed some pore smoothing action on bare skin, which looked even better topped with foundation. The real standout was how this moisturizer performed in natural light, which can be pretty harsh. Pores didn't completely dissappear, but they did look softened and diffused, which is exactly what Finishes promises to do. So how exactly does it work? Light reflecting minerals smooth the appearance of pores and imperfections for healthy looking skin.

The Verdict:

If you're looking for something to smooth imperfections, soften the appearance of pores, protect from the sun, moisturizer without being heavy and work great under makeup, Clean & Clear Finishes is a no brainer - especially at the $6.49 price tag (which is going rate at Target.com). Pick it up at drugstores nationwide.

Test Drive: L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base

With a name like Magic Perfecting Base, I had high hopes when I first tried this product. Most people don't know this, but L'Oreal has a professional hair care division used exclusively in salons. I guess they're taking that approach with makeup and bringing a professional division to the masses a la Studio Secrets, a line of professional makeup available in drugstores that is very reminiscent of Makeup Forever. Even the packaging looks the same to me. 

I had been dying to try Magic Perfecting Base for some time, since I absolutely love primers. A primer is a completely non-sexy makeup product, but I can't get enough of them.

The Experience:

Magic Perfecting Base is definitely not your typical primer, and you'll realize that as soon as you dip your hand into the tub. Now, I have no clue why they opted for a tub instead of an airless pump, because the thought of repeatedly sticking my fingers into something sort of grosses me out, not to mention it's really not the most convenient form of delivery, but all that aside, when you first feel Magic Perfecting Base it's very thick, almost gummy/pasty as opposed to the lotion/serum texture most primers have. Because of the consistency you really have to spread this out, but immediately on contact it feels silky and pores and uneven texture disappear. Skin is left with a natural matte finish. Blotchy areas are even toned down. It's also oil free and non comedogenic. 

The Verdict:

Definitely a go I say. As far as primers go, it's a good one that fills in pores, lines, uneven texture and just generally makes skin look better before you even have foundation on. Also, I have yet to see a decent primer at mass, and at $13, you can't beat the price.