Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Review Series: Final Results

Finally, it is coming to an end. The Kiehl's Clearly Corrective review series in which I continually place unaltered, closeup pics of my skin, sans makeup, on the internet. My husband keeps saying "how long are you going to do that? I can't believe you are posting those pictures!" Truthfully, I'm a bit shocked that I started to do it as well (I won't leave the house without my makeup on usually, and I'm sure there are a lot more people reading these posts than in my local tiny town coffee shop!)

Anyways, I've decided to end the series because I'm basically out of product. It has been just 4 days shy of 2 months, which is a pretty good length of time to see results. Read on to see how it has worked for me.

Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash: Hydrate and Cleanse at the Same Time

Last summer I started a little series called Shower Shakeup. I found that I was using the same products in my shower, continually repurchasing the same things over and over. The horror! This is hard for most beauty bloggers to imagine. The reason? These products worked for me. They worked really well. I forced myself out of the box for a week, and I've (sometimes) written about new items in my shower since that time. But I have to admit that there was a reason I was repurchasing those items over and over. They work for me and are just amazing. The first one I returned to? The Olay body wash that I'm a *tad* obsessed with, Ultra Moisture. So, when Olay asked to sponsor a review post about the product, I figured that it was probably high time that I actually fully address this product in my blog.

A quick (30-second) check of my bathroom found 4 full-sized bottles of this stuff currently being used and/or stashed for future use. Not pictured are the bottle currently in my trash (aka the bottle I just finished; I thought fishing it out was a bit odd), and the 2 smaller bottles in my drawer of products for travel.

At first glance, you might think that this is just another body wash. It has a light floral perfume fragrance that is pleasant in the shower but I can't smell it on myself later. (In my book, this is good. I want to smell my perfume, not my soap.) It has a great lather, which I love, even though it doesn't mean anything about how well it cleans me. It rinses off easily and I don't feel anything other than clean.

So, why do I keep going back to this body wash? Because I can't find another one that is remotely close in terms of moisturizing my skin. During the summer I barely need to add lotion (only to my eczema-prone legs). During the winter, if I'm not using this body wash, I need to add a layer of body oil under my moisturizer. There's a whole process involved in sealing moisture into my skin. Olay Ultra Moisture makes things much easier; I can just slather some lotion on right after patting dry--a big time-saver!

Ultra Moisture is definitely very different from other moisturizing body washes. What the sticker on the bottle says in true: there is more than a jar of moisturizer in every bottle. I first started using this product when my dad (also a pediatrician) told me he recommends it to his eczema patients because it has the highest amount of hydrating ingredients of any product on the market. He'd heard this from the dermatologist that he sends patients to, and I've heard it from others as well.

I've tested many other "moisturizing" body washes since then, and very few have ended up being reviewed on 15 Minute Beauty. None of them has been as hydrating as Ultra Moisture. So, yes, this body wash has taken up residence in my bathroom. I'm sure I'll continue to return to it in between all of my product testings.


Sweepstakes!
Olay and BlogHer are offering a $50 Visa gift card! To be entered for a chance to win, leave a comment telling me "What are some of the ways you simplify your routine?" Include your email address in the comment as well.
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You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

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d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 3/20 - 4/17.

Be sure to visit the Olay Body Wash page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers reviews and find more chances to win!

While weíre on the subject of looking good, you might want to check out the "Looking Your Best" posts in the Life Well Lived section of BlogHer.com. There are some great tips and expert posts!

Full disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I was provided with a product sample and then paid to write about this product. I was encouraged to give my own opinion and to be honest in my review. Prior to this review I had purchased this product for my own use too many times to count. For any further questions please see my disclosure policy.
Prize provided by BlogHer and Olay.

Pixi's Take on Tinker Bell: PixiGlow Review and Swatches

I'm a big Disney fan. I did a lot of my training at the children's hospital very close to Disneyland. I've been a season pass holder. I went to Disneyworld for Spring Break in college when others were on the beach getting wasted. You get a bit of the picture. So, when I heard about the new Pixi collaboration with Disney, I was beyond excited!

I have to say that this new collection was even better than I thought it would be! Pixi creator and Target beauty design partner Petra Strand worked closely with Disney character artist John Quinn to create a collection inspired by Tink. They used the Tinker Bell that we all remember from our childhoods, an idealized and timeless beauty that is sure to flatter almost any woman.

The products were created to complement the current Pixi line. I fully admit that I haven't used many Pixi products, and I was really impressed. I definitely need to buy a few more Tinted Brilliance Balms for sure, though there will be a list.

Read on to see the products in this collection with swatches.

Lippie Love: Milani Haute Flash in In A Flash

Milani Cosmetics

Milani Runway Lashes Review: Still Debating

I have to admit that I'm still undecided about this mascara. Yes, it adds volume. Milani claims that it is long lasting (yup), smear-proof (that too), but non-clumping. This is my issue, since for me this mascara really was clump-city.

After applying, I had to spend quite a bit of time using my lash brush pulling things apart. Note, I skip that step on picture days since about 99.99% of women don't do this. I try to show how it will work for you. So, here are some clumps! This was actually a somewhat clump free day.

BUT.... once the clumps were gone, I did like this mascara. It adds some volume. It adds some length. It keeps the curl pretty much all day, about the 12 hour mark (this pic was at 14 hours) things do start to disappear. Until then, it looks pretty much the same as right after application. I'm just not too sure about the time I spent to keep things clump free. If you figure out the trick, let me know!


Milani