In the interest of full disclosure, I am a brand ambassador for Tree Hut. As an ambassador, I receive samples of products that haven’t been released yet, and after using them, I give them my feedback. Recently I received two samples of their Moisturizing Shaving Cream. It will be available in two fragrances, Coffee and Cream, and Pink Grapefruit.

The Tree Hut Moisturizing Shaving Cream is a thick, glossy cream that has the consistency of a moisturizer. It’s not the whipped, airy consistency usually found with shaving creams that come in an aerosol can. The Tree Hut shaving cream will be packaged in a tube, so it’s better for the environment. I didn’t use it on my legs, but I used it on that unwanted facial hair that we all have (because, ladies, we do all have it, even if we’re reluctant to admit it). Usually, I take a razor and remove the hair when I’m washing my face in the morning. I either use soap or whatever cleanser I’m using on my face.

Using the Tree Hut shaving cream instead of soap or a facial cleanser made for a much more pleasant shaving experience. I got a smoother, closer shave, and my skin felt moisturized afterwards. And the packaging is so pretty that it looks like it should belong in the medicine cabinet amongst your skin care products (so your Significant Other won’t suspect you shave your face every morning). Both the Coffee and Cream and the Pink Grapefruit smell delicious, but my favorite is the Coffee and Cream. I would definitely purchase a tube of this when it’s released. Heck, I might even try it on my legs.

Tree Hut products are available at Ulta and Walmart.

My last post about Avon, Estee Lauder, and Mary Kay allegedly testing on animals made me angry enough to delve further into the issue of these companies’ stance on animal testing. I discovered on their websites pledges from all three companies to end the practice of testing cosmetics on animals (the ares in bold italics are highlights added by me):

From Avon’s own Frequently Asked Questions page:

Does Avon test on animals?
Commitment to Science –
Respect for Animal Welfare

The safety of our consumers is of primary concern to Avon. We are committed to selling only safe products, using only safe ingredients in our cosmetics products and complying with applicable regulations in every country in which Avon products are sold.

• On June 2, 1989, Avon announced a permanent end to all animal testing of our products, including testing done in outside laboratories. Avon was the first major cosmetic company in the world to end animal testing.
• Our approach to safety evaluation utilizes data from in vitro (test tube/cell culture) or clinical tests (on human volunteers) as well as referencing existing animal-testing data.
• Avon does not conduct animal testing on any of its products or raw ingredients and does not require that suppliers of raw ingredients and finished products produced for Avon conduct animal testing on our behalf.
• Avon will conduct animal testing only when required by law, at the request of government health or medical authorities, and only after having first attempted to persuade the requesting authority to accept non-animal test data.

Avon has been at the forefront of the development and implementation of alternative test methods since the 1980’s. Our efforts were recognized in 1993 at the World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences: Education, Research and Testing. In 1993, Avon was also presented with a Recognition Award from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing. We received this Award for our commitment and dedication to the principles of the 3 R’s (refinement, reduction, replacement) and the use of alternative tests for safety evaluation.

Development of Non-Animal (Alternative) Tests

Avon will continue in our leadership role to support the development and validation of new alternatives to animal testing. To this end, Avon is a partner with other cosmetic companies in efforts organized by the European cosmetic industry trade association (COLIPA) to identify and develop new alternatives. Similarly, Avon is a long-time supporter of research into alternatives conducted by the Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments (FRAME) in the UK and the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing at Johns Hopkins University in the United States. Ongoing research on new/existing alternative methods is conducted by scientists in our Cell Biology and In Vitro Toxicology Laboratory at our Global Research & Development Center in Suffern, NY.

From Estee Lauder’s Customer Service FAQs:

DOES YOUR COMPANY TEST ON ANIMALS?
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is committed to the elimination of animal testing. We are equally committed to consumer health and safety, and bringing to market products that comply with applicable regulations in every country in which our products are sold. We do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on our behalf, except when required by law. We evaluate our finished products in clinical tests on volunteer panels. Estée Lauder fully supports the development and global acceptance of non-animal testing alternatives. To this end, the Company works extensively with the industry at large and the global scientific community to research and fund these alternatives.

From Mary Kay’s Company Quick Facts:

Mary Kay® does not support animal testing. Mary Kay® is committed to the elimination of animal testing and is a strong advocate of utilizing alternative methods to substantiate the safety of ingredients and products. We do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to do so on our behalf, except when absolutely required by law. For more than two decades, we have been a global leader in helping to develop alternative testing methods for product safety. This commitment continues today, in partnership with global regulatory agencies that manage cosmetic safety, with animal advocacy groups and with leading animal alternative researchers, in an effort to gain global acceptance of these new approaches.

Note all three companies admit they will test on animals only “when required by law,” as certain categories such as pharmaceuticals and other health-care related industries still require testing on animals, but this seemed to serve merely as a disclaimer. In my opinion, the desire to sell products in a foreign country that requires animal testing by law doesn’t count. An article in today’s Daily Mail gives Avon’s side of the story as well. Technically, Avon is staying true to their commitment as stated above: “Avon will conduct animal testing only when required by law, at the request of government health or medical authorities, and only after having first attempted to persuade the requesting authority to accept non-animal test data.” Since China won’t accept non-animal test data, does it make it okay for these American companies to test on animals again?

It’s sad that these companies would backtrack from the commitments they made just to sell their products to a country with a less-than-stellar human-rights record, that still doesn’t support a democratic government at home and who supports dictatorships abroad in their fights against democracy. China has a population of one billion people. One billion people who need moisturizer and lipstick and fragrance. I guess that’s good enough reason in the minds of company executives to decide to start testing on animals again. But China has a huge gender-imbalance due to China’s one-child-per-couple policy, with men vastly outnumbering women. In a few generations’ time, where will the target demographics that appeal to Avon, Estee Lauder, and Mary Kay be then?

The Huffington Post is reporting that cosmetic companies Avon, Estee Lauder, and Mary Kay are allegedly testing on animals. Since it is now possible to produce cosmetics that can safely be used on people without resorting to testing on animals, it looks like these companies are reverting back to practices that were once necessary but today are considered largely unacceptable. And the reason why is even more shocking: to satisfy the Chinese government. The Chinese government still mandates that cosmetics need to be tested on animals, as backwards as that is in the Western world. I guess Avon, Estee Lauder, and Mary Kay don’t want to lose their customer base in this growing market, despite alienating millions more customers at home and around the world.

You can read the full details here. I know I’m going to be more diligent in looking for the cruelty-free symbol on anything that I buy from now on.

I finally picked up a bottle of Dior Vernis Garden Party nail polish in Forget-Me-Not (above). The Dior website describes it as a “flowerly lilac,” but to me it’s more of an “Easter Egg Purple.” Waterlily, the mint green color, was sold out in every store that I tried. It’s also sold out online. The Garden Party nail polishes are limited editions for spring. When the color is dry, the nail polish is supposed to smell like roses. The Dior Vernis nail polishes are usually $19, but the Garden Party colors are $23. Are the Garden Party polishes worth the extra $4 for the “intoxicating rose fragrance?”

The answer is “No.” The nail polish smelled faintly of roses, combined with the usual (and literally intoxicating) nail polish fragrance, as it was drying. But once it was completely dry, the rose fragrance was gone. I kind of knew that the fragrance was a gimmick, but I really liked the color. That being said, however, the Dior Vernis nail polishes in general are worth the $19-$23 for other reasons, even though the bottle is smaller than those of other brands of nail polish at .33 ounces. For one thing, the applicator brush is wider, flatter, and more tapered than standard nail polish brushes. This made for an easier, more accurate application.

But the main reason why I was so impressed with Dior Vernis is that it went for three whole days without chipping. I don’t mind telling you that I’ve purchased quite a few Chanel nail polishes, only to have them chip by the next day. My Dior Vernis manicure lasted a full week before it chipped to the point where I had to remove it.

The next time I decide to splurge on a department store nail polish, I’ll definitely try the Dior counter again. Now if only I could get my well-manicured talons on Waterlily.

Pop sensations Nikki Minaj and Ricky Martin are the newest faces of MAC’s Viva Glam campaign. This year the Viva Glam collection introduces a lip conditioner as well as a new pink lipstick shade. Ricky’s Lip Conditioner ($15) is a clear lip balm in a tube.

Nicki’s Lipstick ($14.50) is a “bright yellow pink.” It reminds me of those ultra-feminine retro pink lipsticks, the kind worn with angora sweaters and pearl necklaces. Or, alternately, fishnets and high heels. So both good girls and bad girls can wear it!

As with all Viva Glam products, 100% of the proceeds go towards women, men, and children living with AIDS. So you can do some good (while being bad).

Today is my birthday, and I’ve come to the unsettling yet inevitable conclusion that I’m getting old. It happens to all of us. But I’m more concerned about it than usual because (gasp) I’m starting to look my age.

In past years, I took more than a little pride in looking about 5 to 8 years younger than my age, at least that’s what other people thought. I’ve used eye cream since I was 21, as a preventative measure, and it paid off. For someone in her mid-Forties, I have no crow’s feet, and only a few tiny lines under my eyes. I have virtually no wrinkles on my forehead either, a blessing that I attribute to the fact that I’ve worn bangs my entire life. My bangs acted as a barrier against the sun, I rationalize. Yes, for many years I coasted through life secure in the knowledge that I looked younger than my age.

But all that changed this past year. The good news is that my skin, once acne-prone and oily (another possible reason why I have few lines in my face) stopped breaking out. The bad news is that it suddenly became dehydrated. I can’t wear powder foundation anymore because it makes my face look chalky and emphasizes fine lines. My eyelids look crepey when I wear powder eyeshadow. Although I don’t have the “elevens” between my eyes, I do have the “one” (which, thankfully, my bangs hide). I developed those little lines above my upper lip, and wearing lipstick accentuates them. I’ve also noticed marionette lines (also known as nasal labial folds). In a panic at my seemingly sudden loss of elasticity, I’ve turned to certain products to hydrate my skin – products that, until now, I thought of as “old lady” products.

My first step was to stop using foaming cleansers and switch to heavy cream cleansers. I discovered Jergen’s All Purpose Face Cream ($5 for 15 oz.). You get a huge tub of it for $5 (and Wal-Mart has a two-pack for $6). The Jergen’s isn’t quite cold cream. It contains all of the ingredients of cold cream with a few extra ingredients thrown in. It’s pink and it smells floral, but I like it. I also use a little as moisturizer in a pinch.

I’ve been following the Jergen’s cream with Revlon’s Eterna “27″ Moisture Cream with Progenitin ($16.99). The Eterna 27 is so thick with mineral oil, petrolatum, and beeswax (three ingredients that many people avoid but which I’ve reconciled myself to using) that it keeps my face moisturized for a long time. Unfortunately another thing that lasts a long time is the fragrance – a heavy, cloying fragrance that stinks to high heaven and screams “old lady.” I can tolerate most fragrances in products, but this is the first product with a fragrance that I have to struggle to put up with. It’s smokey and sweet, like an overwhelming incense. It makes me think “What cosmetic chemist decided that this fragrance was a good idea?”

Both the Jergens and the Eterna 27 have been around for decades. Every review I read for them extolls their virtues and evokes memories of grandmothers using it years ago. Grandmothers who, I should point out, apparently had remarkable skin and looked years younger than their true age.

I also noticed, just in the past few months, that I’m starting to go gray. Sure, we all have the occasional white hair or two. But now I can see my hair is starting to come in gray at the roots in a few places. It’s only a matter of time before I have to reach for the hair dye.

And for all you Blondie fans out there (though I wouldn’t recommend taking their advice):

Could her colors be any wilder than OPI’s Muppet Collection?

A couple of months ago I reviewed Josie Maran’s Argan Oil. I concluded that, while I really liked it, I couldn’t justify the $48 price tag for 1.7 ounces when there are other, less expensive brands of argan oil. I have to admit I was wrong.

After I ran out of my Josie Maran Argan Oil, I started to use the less expensive brand that I purchased. I thought all argan oil was alike, but it’s not. While I’m sure the benefits are the same, the quality of the oil can differ. It depends on which pressing it is. I’ve watched Josie selling her argan oil on QVC, talking about how hers is first-pressed argan oil. I thought this was just a marketing ploy until I used the cheaper brand. The cheaper brand has a nutty fragrance (argan is a nut) that Josie’s doesn’t have. Argan oil has been used in salads for years, but only recently as a beauty treatment. With the cheaper brand of argan oil, I feel like I’m putting salad oil on my face, even though it’s the cosmetic-grade oil. Josie’s argan oil is drier and absorbs more quickly into my skin than the cheaper brand. Suffice to say, Josie’s argan oil is worth the price. I’m sorry Josie. I was wrong.

Being so impressed with Josie’s argan oil, I purchased the Josie Maran Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation ($42) (above). It’s a self-adjusting foundation that looks white in the bottle but changes to adjust to your skin tone upon contact. According to the company, Matchmaker foundation is

“A serum foundation formulated with chameleon pigments, an innovative color-match technology that goes on white and instantly adjusts to match your unique and changing natural skin tone as it balances and nourishes the skin.

This is the only foundation you’ll need year-round to provide age-defying undetectable coverage. The breakthrough serum foundation suspends over fine lines and wrinkles to smooth and correct visible signs of aging. The one-of-a-kind Organic Argan Oil infused formula strengthens and balances your skin while keeping oily areas shine-free, and dry spots naturally moisturized for totally flawless, younger looking skin.”

Matchmaker is available in three shades: fair/light, light/medium and medium/dark. I purchased fair/light. I was skeptical it would work until I tried it. It stays white on the skin until I start blending it in. Then it miraculously adjusts to my skin tone. It’s a true match, it provides medium coverage, and the color doesn’t turn on me. It contains argan oil to moisturize my skin while I’m wearing it. Another pricey product that I feel is worth the extra money. I only need one pump for my entire face. The first time I used it I put way too much on my face, and the coverage looked obvious. One pump more than adequately covers my face when I spread it out. With this foundation, less truly is more, so one $42 bottle should last a long time.

Like all Josie Maran products, Matchmaker is formulated without parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, petrochemicals, GMOs, and Triclosan. I’ll happily slash my budget for other beauty and skin care items in order to keep using Josie Maran’s Argan Oil and Matchmaker foundation.

Have you tried the Matchmaker foundation from Josie Maran? Does it work for you too?

Yesterday I went to the Bath and Body Work’s Valentine’s Day event to introduce their newest fragrance, Pink Chiffon. They also launched their Fine Fragrance Mist Collection, featuring twenty of their fragrances in a new body mist. So I bought the Pink Chiffon Body Mist ($14).

Pink Chiffon is “an ultra-feminine blend of Sparkling Red Pear, Vanilla Orchid and Whipped Chiffon Musk inspired by the effortless grace and beauty of a master ballerina.”

Top Notes: Mandarin, Sparkling Red Pear, Peach Nectar, Wild Berries
Mid Notes: Tiare Flower, Jasmine Petals, Water Lily, Apple Blossom
Dry Down: Coconut Milk, Vanilla Orchid, Creamy Sandalwood, Heliotrope, Chiffon Musk

I don’t usually wear Bath and Body Works fragrances because I find them too sweet or overpowering. I am, however, a big fan of body mists. While I wouldn’t wear the full perfume of Pink Chiffon, I do like it in the lighter body mist. It’s sweet and uplifting. I could definitely wear it everyday.

Pink Chiffon is also available in a body lotion and shower gel. It’s available at www.bathandbodyworks.com

The Body Shop is celebrating Valentine’s Day with their limited edition Chocomania collection of bath and body products. I went a little crazy today. My haul included the Chocomania Body Butter, Body Scrub, Lip Butter, and Soap (above).

The Chocomania soap ($4) is a large chocolate-scented heart. It contains real cocoa butter and exfoliating coconut shell. It really does exfoliate, so use it gently. It lathers well and smells divine. It’s sold out online, and the store that I went to was down to its last handful, so if you want to get one, it might not make it until Valentine’s Day.

The Chocomania Body Scrub ($18) contains real cocoa butter and organic cane sugar as well as soya oil. It looks and smells like brownie batter:

The scrub smells delicious, but the chocolate is messy. It left my bathtub with chocolate smudges everywhere that my knees and elbows touched the side of the tub. But this is by far my favorite product from the Chocomania line, so I don’t mind a little extra cleaning. The soya oil in the scrub didn’t make the bathtub slippery, and left my skin feeling soft and moisturized. So much so that I could have skipped the body butter, but I didn’t.

The Chocomania Body Butter ($18) contains Community Fair Trade Soya Oil, Babassu Oil, and Cocoa Butter. I like the Body Shop’s Body Butters, and eagerly snapped up this tub of chocolatey goodness. It was the perfect end to the indulgent, chocolate-themed bath that I took tonight.

After my bath, I applied a liberal helping of the Chocomania Lip Butter ($6 each or 2 for $10). It contains real cocoa butter and tastes like a chocolate Tootsie Roll. Yum!

If you want to give (or get) chocolate this Valentine’s Day, The Body Shop’s Chocomania Line will satisfy that craving for chocolate but without the calories.