Does it Really Work?

Does it Really Work: Dark circle eye treatment

2008-06-24T15:21:00.007-04:00

Claim: This lightweight cream addresses melanin formation and poor microcirculation, two major causes of dark circles.

Product: Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Eye Treatment

I'm ready to experiment and do away with dark circles. So I pat a squirt of Shiseido’s new White Lucent Brightening Eye Treatment around one eye. I do nothing to the other. I check my mirror.

Here’s what I saw: The eye with the Shiseido looked better. The thin skin was less pinky-brown. I don’t have horrific dark circles, but the delicate area around my eyes is slightly less radiant, more weary. White Lucent made it match the brighter skin on my cheekbone.

White Lucent calls to mind moist zinc oxide. It goes on white then sinks in. Titanium Dioxide is the 9th ingredient on the side of the box. That’s white alright. The 36th is Tamarix Chinenis Extract. I googled Tamarix Chinensis. It’s a drought and saline tolerant plant commonly known as salt-cedar. The last and 47th ingredient on the box is Sodium Benzoate. Isn’t that Alka-Seltzer?

beautyblitz bottom line: The stuff does what it says it will do. And that's good enough for me.

Does it Really Work: Waxed dental floss

2008-06-24T14:55:00.000-04:00

Claim: Gentle on gums and easy to insert, so you can reach tight spots

Product: Oral-B Satin Floss

Buy it now!

Do I dare eat a leaf of spinach? I have a friend who flosses in restaurants. We here at beautyblitz endorse dental hygiene, but never, never, never, no, no, NEVER at the table. Ew.

There’s a time and a place for dental floss and in public isn’t it. My old floss came in a witty white tooth-shaped flip-top box. But Oral-B Satin Floss has pretty packaging. Their ergodynamic translucent dispenser feels good in the hand. Oral-B gives you 55 yards. If you use the recommended 18 inches a pop, that gives you 110 flosses.

In a tooth-by-tooth experiment, unwaxed floss does a better job with spinach and poppy seeds, whisking them out on the first try. That said, the rival brand's unwaxed got stuck between my teeth.

beautyblitz bottom line: How do you get a wisp of unwaxed dental floss out of your teeth? Waxed.

Does it Really Work: Anti-aging body cream

2008-06-24T14:48:00.001-04:00

Claim: Helps women address symptoms of hormonally changing skin by locking in moisture to prevent extra dryness and maintaining elasticity.

Product: Curel Life's Stages Skin Fortifying Moisture Lotion for Menopause and Beyond

Buy it now!

Attention! I'm in menopause. Or at least that's what my body lotion says. Condoms don’t come in an Itsy-Bitsy size for a reason. What guy would take them to the cash register? In the interest of beauty science, I bravely buy Curel’s Menopause and Beyond body lotion. I'm a boomer, and I'm curious about what the range of Curel Life Stages moisturizers can do.

I'm not crazy about the name. But I got over it. I love this product. It absorbs stat, doesn’t smell, doesn’t shine, and like the higher-priced spread, has enriching grape-seed oil. After I rub it between my hands, I run the tips of my nails over my palms. I swear this strengthens my nails, too.

beautyblitz bottom line: Regardless of your hormone level, this is a super-rich all-purpose body lotion that saturates well beyond your run-of-the-mill body cream.

Does it Really Work: Aromatherapy

2008-06-18T08:42:00.001-04:00

Claim: Roll this on to power up – breathing in Mandarin and Lime essential oils is known to energize and help you revive.

Product: Bath & Body Works Energy Boost Instant Aromatherapy Roll-On fragrance

Buy it now!

It’s 4 PM. Do you know where your energy is?

Time to test. I read the instructions and do what I’m told: Roll on wrists, rub wrists together. Sniff. Ummm. Deep sniff. Ahhhhh. Lung-filling chest-popping sniff! Wow! Citrusy but happily, not a fruit salad. It smells, well, perky. Do I run around my desk and do 30 push-ups? No. Do I feel energized? Yup.

Here’s why: Energy Boost smells lively enough to make me smile. Mandarin and lime essential oils refresh. Just as important: I broke my routine to do a little something special purely for moi. Will their Crave Relief roll-on work when the dessert cart rolls around? A girl can hope.

beautyblitz bottom line: Smaller then a lipstick, Bath & Body Works Energy Boost Roll-On is worth the space in your handbag or desk drawer. It's a keeper.