Spring Flirt!

All girls love a good lip gloss right? With summer coming we want them in all sorts of shades or at least I do, enter Flirt! Cosmetics to save the day!

Flirt!'s new Squeeze Me Super Shiny Lipgloss is just the thing to show off your pretty pucker this spring. They come in 26 fabulously delicious purse ready colors. These beauties are bursting with color and they wear on all day. They give you fabulous shine at a moment's notice and they are never sticky.I tested them out on the toughest of customers, my best friend, and two of my coworkers.

Suzanne loved the Cherries Jubilee and couldn't wait to get it on. It was a great color for her and she was excited about its compact go-anywhere packaging. Michette tried out Nectar Fizz, she loved this neutral but shiny shade and promised to wear it often. Tandis sampled Radical Raspberry and fell in love instantly, she ran around the office puckering up (which I advised against) excited about her new beautiful gloss.

I loved them all and they are just what I needed to get Spring Fever! Test out Flirt! Squeeze Me Super Shiny Lipgloss at your local Khol's and get pretty. They are super affordable at $10 a tube, and they last forever.

In addition, Vanessa Minnillo host of MTV's Total Request Live (and Nick Lachey's main squeeze) is developing a new Limited Edition make-up collection for Flirt! that will be released in August.

You can experience the entire line of beauty products over at Flirt!

The Best Styling Iron EVER!!

I use a lot of things on my hair, and I gotta tell you most of it isn't good. I am always complaining that it wont grow fast enough or that it looks pretty dry or just lacks that oompfh that ever girl loves. Its my fault, and I know this. My hair is only as good as I treat it and frankly I treat it awful. Its already a curly monster that I beat into submission every day with various heated appliances.

I have issues with sleeping with my hair wrapped up or tied down in any way, which contributes to a ton of my hair woes. So every morning I have to get up and straighten out what looks like a jungle of curls and fly aways. Some mornings I just cant deal with the daily straightening and curling and I coat it with some curl product and run to the office. I don't mind it curly but I prefer it straight and days I think my hair cant handle my straightening addiction. Too much heat is the enemy ladies and bad heat is by far the worst.

After almost a year of reading personal accounts and reviews on Folica.com of different styling irons. When styling irons became popular a few years ago I rushed out and bought a mid-priced ceramic styler. It straightened as much as it burned but I just kept using it, thinking I just needed to be more careful. I got fed up after a particularly bad singeing and tossed it.

I was ready for something new, something that wouldn't leave me half bald and pissed off and then my prayers were answered. Sedu who I have realized to be one of the top names in straightening and styling rolled out their brand new Sedu Revolution Professional Nano Tourmaline Ionic Styling Iron and you know I had to have one.

I am truly in love with this iron. The plates are infused with Tourmaline which releases negative ions and seals moisture into the hair's cuticle. It gently glides through my hair leaving it both shiny and straight and not at all singed. In fact, I control the amount of heat my hair needs. There is no 1,2, or 3 setting here ladies. You get the real temperatures and everything in between.

Most of us don't have the same texture hair all over our heads anyway, so isn't is great to be able to switch the dial. Less heat for fragile bangs, or more heat for thicker wavier strands in the back. I just love the plates curved edges but I also love how versatile it is. Yeah, I bet you thought this thing only straightened right? Guess again.

I have been using it for two solid weeks now and I have yet to run out of new styles. I can go from curly to silky in less than 15 minutes. There is nothing this iron cant handle. You want curls? Sedu's got you. Just twirl small sections of hair around the iron for bouncy beautiful curls. You want it flippy? Go for it! Its super easy. You want big waves? Its all possible with the Sedu Revolution Professional Nano Tourmaline Ionic Styling Iron.

I know you are thinking all that heat cant be good for my hair and you are right, so I use Sedu's Moisturizing Protecting Boost. Its a leave in protectant that wont weigh your hair down and locks in moisture with just a few quick sprays.

So, now you want to know what it costs right? Well, I won't take you to Olive Garden and call it Italy okay, the iron isn't cheap and frankly you wouldn't want it to be. Didn't you read my account of the hair frying incident??? Mid priced is gonna get you medium results and possibly fried ends. The Sedu is a steal at $129.00 for a 1' styler at Folica.com and frankly it is worth every penny. Don't believe me? Check out some of the reviews of the iron posted at Folica.com I guarantee you wont be disappointed by this iron in any way shape or form.

You can get the iron, the Protecting Boost and your money's worth right there at Folica.com

Hurry, stop burning out your hair already!

Gloves In A Bottle

I recently tried a shielding lotion called Gloves In A Bottle. Its one of two shielding lotions I've tested recently. Shielding lotions act as a barrier against environmental factors that may serve to dry out your delicate skin. It locks in moisture in and helps your skin to look and feel its best.

Gloves In A Bottle does all this and its pretty affordable too. Its $12.95 a bottle and a little goes a long way. If you like shielding lotions and you have difficulty keeping your hands from drying out due to washing, this may be the product for you.

My Visit To Maryam's Soap Nook

Pure genius is what I call it when you create something so versatile and classic that everyone loves. I love finding a great product, and this time I have found a whole line. Maryam Diaab of Maryam's Soap Nook has found the formula, or several actually.

Created for and inspired by her daughter, Maryam created her Soap Nook with handmade products in her kitchen. There are over 50 types of all natural products made by hand, with love blending aroma therapy with healthy ingredients.

I decided to test out a few different products in the Soap Nook line. I started with Maryam's Exfoliating Body Wash with Kukui Nut Oil & Jojoba beads in Ocean Spray. Ocean Spray is one of the cleanest most soothing scents I have ever smelled. I love how squeaky clean you feel after using it, and how soft and pretty it leaves your skin.

I also tried out the Shea Butter and Dead Sea Salt Glow Scrub in Tropical Paradise. Its amazing seriously and when she says its a glow scrub, your skin truly does glow after you use it. It gently sloughs off dead skin as it imparts smoothing moisturizing oils to your skin. The results are healthy soft glowing skin scented like the tropics.

There is also an ultra luxurious Whipped Shea Monoi Body Butter that smells amazing and moisturizes like no other. I put it on in the morning after my shower, and I could still smell it that evening when I returned home. My skin was super soft without being oily or greasy. There are also beautiful handmade soaps, body mists, body oils and lots of other great products.

As natural products go these are top of the line. Packaged beautifully but without all the extra fuss. You know how sometimes beautiful packaging means extra money out of the consumer's pocket? Well with Maryam's Soap Nook that's not the case. Her products stand out, and they speak for themselves. They are affordable, they are waiting for you at Maryam's Soap Nook.

Birthday Care Packages

So I recently had a birthday, and no I don't think I will say which one as a lady must keep some mystery about her...I've probably already said somewhere on this blog so much for mystery. I received lots of really great things for my birthday, such as flowers, red wine, a fabulous set of luggage and a special care package from my favorite Mary Kay associate. We all know how much I love cosmetics and when they come from the ultra fabulous Ms. Carol I know they are not only special, but they come straight from the heart. She sent one of my favorite sets to keep my hands busy and soft for that matter.

Satin Hands is something I discovered through my mother. Good old mom went to a Mary Kay party and brought home Satin Hands, and I am sure she never saw it again after that. Satin hands has come a long way since I swiped it...I mean discovered it years ago. Satin Hands is now a part of Mary Kay's Private Spa Collection. They have amped up the packaging and the ingredients and who couldn't love that?

Satin Hands is a three piece set consisting of Mary Kay Extra Emollient Night Cream, Satin Hands Satin Smoothie Hand Scrub and Satin Hands Hand Cream. The set works together to pamper your hands as they exfoliate, moisturize and protect in three easy steps.

I love this set and its a fabulous gift for for just about anyone. It has a light peach scent and it comes in a extra cute little carry pouch. I love how my hands feel after using the trio and I might let my mom use it on occasion, its only fair. Check out Satin Hands for yourself or for a friend's birthday care package at Mary Kay's website, your hands will thank you for it.

Dove Day Two

In keeping with my Dove Day's theme this week, I wanted to talk about a new Dove product I tried out recently. I love the feeling of clean, beautiful skin. I also love a hard working product like Dove. Dove is always packed with moisturizers and gently cleanses my skin to a flawless finish.

When I was in the store the other day I spied Dove Skin Vitalizer on the shelf. Skin Vitalizer is a facial cleanser/massager that uses soft cleansing pillows that massage away dirt, oil and makeup. The Skin Vitalizer came with three double sided cleansing pillows. There is a textured side for exfoliation and a soft side for gentle cleansing. You wet the pillow just slightly and you are off and running the Skin Vitalizer does the work.

The wand is easy to hold and you don't have to hold down the button for operation. Just one press and it cleans and massages your skin until you are ready to stop. You can even use the same pad to exfoliate first, and then softly cleanse, just flip it over. When you are finished, toss the pillow and rinse your face with warm water.

You can use it with or without removing your makeup first, but when I attempted to use it with a fully made up face, I found myself with what looked like cappuccino foam on the pad. This made me re-think using the other side as I didn't want to re-distribute any of what I removed. I also think I used a little too much water the first time to activate the pillow. A few drops of warm water is sufficient, any more than a 1/2 teaspoon is going to be way too much, and will dribble down your chin. Once I got the hang of things it was beyond easy.

The result is glowing soft skin that looks and feels renewed. I love the ease of use, but I am really a fan of how beautiful my skin was after just one use, my skin felt squeaky clean and fresh. You can even buy refill pillows for gentle exfoliation or Dove Energy Glow. This is basically my new skin ritual and it literally takes me 3 minutes. If I want to exfoliate my skin, I don't have to dig around for several different products, I can just grab the Skin Vitalizer.

Pick one up where you purchase any of your favorite Dove products and of course its affordable because its Dove, and you know they never force you to pay a whole lot for great skin.

Dove Day's

I won't get into excuses about my disappearing act here at 99 Products, I will only tell you that I am trying to do better. Managing my time has proved to be quite challenging recently.

On to the reviews! As some of you may know, I have declared this (and probably next) month Amy Winehouse Month over at that "other" blog. While I love, love, love Ms. Amy and her music, I can not condone her reckless use of eye makeup. Let's just go back to the basics, and what better way to start than to get ourselves a beautiful glowing complexion.

I know you've recently seen the ad's for Dove Pro-Age products. They are beautifully packaged in deep rose colored tubes and jars and they have been on the TV and in your favorite beauty magazines. Even Oprah had a feature on Dove Pro Age. While its been created as a line for Maturing women, I have no problems giving anything a test run, or subjecting my mother to a test run. Who could go wrong with a product that purports to give back what your skin needs right now?

Even as a little girl I loved the ad's for Dove skincare. That 1/4 cup of moisturizing cream seemed so special and wonderful. No other soap was doing that at the time, and years later Dove is still adding it to their products. The Dove Pro-Age line offers Hair Care, Facial Care, Hand, Body, and even antiperspirants. I decided the best choice to try out was their Foaming Facial Cleanser.


The cleanser is light and easy to use. I love how clean my skin feels and its great light scent. My skin never feels tight or dry after using it, and I've noticed improved moisture and softness. My mother felt that it really gave her more moisture than the average facial cleanser. I have yet to try out any of the other products, but the strength of the Facial Cleanser is enough to make me try out the whole line. You can find Pro-Age products at your local grocery or drugstore and they are affordable so you wont break your bank being fabulous!