The
Team of Testers either had too much spiked eggnog over the holidays, putting them in a heightened state of happiness, or these products surpassed expectations! I am delighted to report it's the latter. I've never seen so many
As.
Twisted Silver: Esmerelda Necklace Funky cool, those are the words that come to mind when describing this necklace. The chain is silver, but has on antiqued quality that makes it versatile enough to go with just about anything. The piece is interspersed with gems and small discs, and can be worn long, or wrapped two, three or even four times for a multitude of looks. I wore it long with both a turtleneck and an open neck blouse. I wrapped it three times to get that bunched at the neck look that is so hot right now. I have yet to wear it wrapped 4 times as a choker, but I plan to do it soon. I will go to this piece over and over again as it can be both sophisticated and bohemian depending upon my outfit or my mood. Can't wait to browse the other items Twisted Silver has available. I admire the uniqueness of the materials and styling in this necklace and its high quality workmanship. Twisted Silver Rocks!
Product Junkie gives this an A!
The Gap: Real Straight Cords in Snow WhiteI love cords in the fall and winter. They’re a nice alternative to jeans on a cold day. Plus, they add some color to your wardrobe. These have a super straight leg with a flattering fit. And the fit is dead on — like they were made just for me. The rise on the waist is slightly high and they’re super comfy thanks to some stretch. They come in a variety of colors with a great price point to boot! Great with boots or flats.
MamaQueen gives this an A.
Anastasia Skincare: Line Erasing Serum, Hydrating Oil, Sheer Moisture Cream SPF 30 We've all heard of Anastasia's amazing talents with brows. As of late, her mascara has been making headlines as well. And now, skincare. The
line erasing serum's signature ingredient is Tibetan Goji Berry. Goji berries are rich in antioxidants and have health benefits that protect the liver, aid eyesight, boost immune function and promote longevity, to name a few. I have been using this serum for two weeks, morning and evening and have noticed a difference in the appearance of my crow's feet (
yes, sadly, they are there, but happily, I got them from smiling!) and overall hydration in the eye and mouth area. The product comes in a dropper bottle and a little dab will do. It sinks into the skin immediately. My problem areas are softer and smoother. The perfect prelude to Step 2 in the line, the
hydrating oil. I have to admit, this product daunted me a bit. Using an oil on my face for hydration seemed extreme and I didn't think it would sink in. Boy was I wrong. This oil is amazing. It goes on smooth, absorbs quickly and left my face feeling super hydrated. With an ingredient list including Jojoba, Borage, Black Currant, Rosehips & Meadowfoam Seed Oil I felt like I was doing something really good for my skin. Even though this is an oil, it isn't greasy. As with the Line Erasing Serum, you apply it with a dropper, so you can easily control the amount. Using it morning and evening as part of my skin care routine left my skin feeling supple and fabulous. The
creme is ultra light. I used it after the line erasing serum and hydrating oil, and needed only light coverage. We all need sunscreen every day and I love that this creme carries an SPF 30 rating. The formula is fragrance free and comes in a jar where the dispensing pump ensures that a small amount of 'clean' creme comes out each time. The creme is never exposed to the air with this packaging. Light and airy, a small amount of the creme provided great coverage and working in concert with the other products in the line my skin is smoother, more hydrated and brighter. Anastasia does it again.
Product Junkie gives this an A!
T3: Bespoke Featherweight Blow DryerAnother timesaver! Yes! Tourmaline technology makes all the difference —cutting the time of blow drying to almost half! And the results are smooth, silky hair. While my frizz didn't go away completely (
without using hair product), this blow dryer definitely decreased the amount of frizz I typically encounter. I love the rhinestone detail on the handle, too! Style and function! Another A from the
Aficionado.
Mittenberry: Thumbless GlovesPractical and edgy. What a great girly accessory to have in your arsenal of unique items to turn heads and have people think you are very cleaver. The softness of the fabric made it very easy to use the buttons on my blackberry with my thumbs while keeping my hands toasty. Not only were the mittens practical for blackberry usage but for my touch phone and other electronic gadgets. The small buttons on the thumbs gave me flexibility by allowing me to cover my thumbs, making it look like any other mitten. The price of the mittens is a little more than I would pay for a simple pair but these are anything but simple because they are trend setters and great conversation items.
Shopaholic gives the Mittenberry gloves two thumbs up and an A for fun and warmth!
L'eggs Profiles: Tummy Toner Black Opaque Tights, firm controlAs somebody who hates the winter cold, black tights are a staple in my wardrobe. With a firm control panel, you can forgo your shaper with these tights (13% spandex)! The fit and feel were great and they were pretty comfortable despite its heavy-duty control panel. They not only shaped my waist, they smoothed my hips and thighs. Everything stayed sucked in. The tights also have all-natural ingredients claiming to reduce the appearance of cellulite (
I'm not so sure about that), but they're a great tight!
MamaQueen gives these an A.
Diptyque Paris: Savon Perfumed SoapI love a creamy soap in my shower in the morning. Let me just say, when I put this pretty box of French soap (
boxed and wrapped suitably for gift giving—think hostess gift!) in my bathroom, the entire room filled with its sweet French fragrance. With sweet almond oil, it leaves your skin feeling silky with a nice light fragrance that stays with you all day. If you know anything about Paris, you know only the very best comes from the Saint Germain neighborhood and this soap does not disappoint.
MamaQueen gives this an A.
YOYO Lip Gloss Mini*: Cha-Cha Chocolate What a great way to say "I am always prepared". The Chocolate Mint flavor made for a wonderful taste and tingly feeling on my lips in the cold winder air. The nice shimmery tone was an added touch. The retractable cord extended just enough to add the product if clipped on the inside of your jacket collar. The lip gloss itself was small enough to not create a bulky or intrusive look on your person and can be worn with any casual outfit. I also found the clip to be very functional by clipping it to the inside of my oversized purse which made it very easy to locate the gloss without having to empty the content of my bag to freshen up my lips. The cost was so great that I purchased several flavors for friends and family as stocking stuffers this past holiday season. The lip gloss is a creative and great feature for ladies on the go who enjoy a little fun on a string. The staying power of the gloss was no better than the average gloss in the $3 price range. What made it different was the retractable clip which also made it easier for me to keep up.
Shopaholic gives the lip gloss an A.
*Big Bounce Bubblegum
This mini lip gloss is functional and fun! It comes in a cute clip on package and you can pull the cord to apply your gloss on the go. The gloss has serious shine, a touch of sparkle and a great flavor. It did go on a bit sticky, but one blot and it was perfect and still shiny. I have been applying this over my lip color to make it pop and shine with great results. I loved my yo-yo as a kid and now that I'm all grown up I have a new YOYO to love.
Product Junkie gives this an A.Rowenta: Steamium IronDefinitely my iron of choice, Rowenta's latest iron to use the new Steam Force injection system rocks! Funny how household chores become fun with a fabulous product such as this ... and this coming from someone who loathes ironing. The built-in pump injection system combines steam and power to deliver incredible results in a shorter amount of time. It also has an electronic thermostat and digital temperature display which alert you when the desired temperature is reached. Thank you, Rowenta, for making the process of ironing easier and giving me back some of my life.
Aficionado gives this an A!
Billy Reid: Lurleen Equestrian BootsOn the hunt for true riding boots with style, it doesn't get any better than the Lurleen, by Billy Reid. This classic benchmade riding boot is made by hand in Italy from black cordovan leather with an all leather outsole. You can smell the leather a mile away. I love the full length antique brass back zipper secured at the top by a leather snap latch. And comfort — tons. I am on my feet all day and these meet my high standards. You can tell these will look even better over time. No doubt, an A from the
Aficionado.
enPointe Skin Solutions: Éclairci C SerumWhile I don't care for the smell of this serum, I know I am delivering great ingredients to my skin every morning when I apply this product. The serum builds
collagen, reduces pigmentation, and helps eliminates the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Layer this under your moisturizer in the morning — and don't forget your sunblock.
Aficionado gives this an B!
LiftKits: For ChicksWhile our very own
Soul Man is giving the male version of the LiftKits a whirl, I put these to the test myself. The idea of the LiftKits is to provide height (
up to 1 inch) via an insole, versus raising the heel of a shoe. They come in a Lo Top full insert version, as well as a universal insole (
just the heel). The Lo Top needed to be trimmed to fit into my boots. And while they are super comfy to walk in, they take space away from the toe bed (
due to the added height in the heel, lifting your foot). The universal lift worked much better for me. However, I am not sure how they would work in anything other than a boot (
I imagine my feet coming right out of a shoe). If you are a high-top sneaker or boot wearer and would love the extra height, then this is be a great option for you.
Aficionado gives these a B-.
Kinerase: Pro+Therapy c8 Pepetide Intensive Treatment with Kinetin and Zeatin, Cream, Advanced Repair SerumI have to say, I was surprised by the power of this gentle anti-aging treatment
treatment serum. Applied only in the mornings, I noticed visible improvements in the appearance of my skin — wrinkles, skin tone and texture — much sooner than the typical 28 days. My skin felt and looked fresh and young. Other ingredients in this product are Snap-8, Stabilized Vitamin C, Beta-Glucan, Green Tea and Vitamin E. Truly an exceptional treatment! The
Cream is luxurious and moisturizing infused with Kinetin, a plant based technology, to deliver superior hydration while improving the appearance of wrinkles, aging and sun-damaged skin without irritation. It held the moisture in so well I stopped having to carry my back-up moisturizer in my purse for emergency flaking skin. The
repair serum plumps skin to fill in fine lines and wrinkles from the inside out. It creates a smooth skin texture while improving discoloration and blotchiness. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this line!
Aficionado gives these an A.
The msf team of testers were not paid to review these products. However, the products were supplied as samples for review purposes.