The Love Handler: Does It Work?

Six weeks ago I received a nice little package from @BlissSpa and in it was a free bottle of The Love Handler.

I wrote here that I would try the beauty product daily for six weeks and report back.

Well...

It does not work. Granted, I'm a cynic in whether or not a cream would actually help tighten your skin and I'm probably not their target audience, but it does not work.

It smells good. It feels tingly. But it is not the cure for lazy abdominals. It does not whittle your wiggly waist, tone your tummy pudge, or keep back fat at bay.

You know what does?

Sit ups.

Try that instead.

It's Time for Bronzers!

Guest blog written by Lois Arbogast (@loisatvistage)

There is only one reason for making this my #1 beauty product. It's the best.

Down here in SoCal, most women have 24/7/365 perma-tan that I just don't seem to embrace. I love the look of that "glowing" skin, but skin cancer runs in my family and my best friend is a dermatologist, so I'm pretty much a Nicole Kidman when it comes to laying out.

But that doesn't mean I have to look pasty white when the temperatures are soaring into the 90's. Instead, I use my Cargo bronzer everywhere. On my cheeks, forehead, and yes, occasionally even my chest. It's safe, looks natural, and gives just enough of that sun-kissed look without all the sparkles.

Want Shiny Hair? Advice for Two Products Here!

Guest blog written by Molli Megasko (@mollimegasko)

When choosing a hair gloss for my thin, over-bleached hair, I am more than picky. I've tried them before and they always weigh down my hair and make it look dirty. I've been using beauty products such as Bed Head's Superficial spray gloss for the past few years, which to me is like a classic movie - you watch it when nothing else is on. But I'm looking for something with a little more drama.

I can't wash my hair every day because it dries out my ends, so I need to find a gloss that would not make my hair look greasy or oily.

When the saleslady told me that Frederic Fekkai Salon Glaze Clear Shine Rinse was just what I needed, I jumped on board!

I've been using the gloss in the shower every time I wash my hair (every other day) for a little more than a week now, and I do see a difference. It's not a huge difference; people are not coming up to me, asking me how I got my hair so shiny. But there is a difference.

My wispies (baby bangs, as I call them) and my fly-aways are not as out of control as usual! It does make the roots feel thicker when blow drying. It doesn't weigh it down at all and provides a nice, subtle shine.

Would I recommend the product? Sure. But I'm always up for new suggestions on hair shine.

*Editor's Note: I have very thick, straight hair and have been using Frederic Fekkai Three-Minute Mask twice a week for nearly a year. My hair is healthy, strong, and shiny...and strangers do ask me what I use for the shine. But the saleslady at Sephora told Molli the mask would be too heavy for her hair.

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

I have sensitive combination skin so I’ve never been able to find an exfoliant that wasn’t too harsh or didn’t make me feel like I was rubbing a handful of rocks on my face. They would eventually turn my face red or make me break out. I desperately wanted my skin to feel extra soft, smooth and refreshed. And I loved the feeling of washing away that layer of dead cells that is necessary to achieve a healthy glow. That is exactly what Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant ($49) does. My healthy glow may not be apparent ALL the time but I do promise it makes your skin feel oh so good.

You add water to this fine, rice-powder substance to make a non-abrasive scrub/paste. You feel the tiny granules enough so you know it’s effective but gentle enough to not irritate your skin. And it's loaded with good-for-you ingredients like grapefruit, which brightens skin, and green tea to soothe.

The only downside is that the bottle is like a salt shaker so if the holes are exposed to too much moisture then

the bottle may clog up. I have had my bottle over a year though and still works great.

The best part is that when they say you can use it daily, they really mean it. It’s like getting a mini-facial every day. No wonder it won InStyle’s Best Beauty Buy award.

Wake Up Beautiful Without Doing Your Hair

My sister-in-law has naturally curly hair that she washes at night, piles on top of her head, and wakes up beautiful every morning. I've always been pretty envious of that. My hair is really thick (therefore, lots of layers) and stick straight so I didn't think it would work for me.

But in the April issue of InStyle, they claim you can go to bed with wet hair, no matter the type, you'll wake up beautiful.

They recommend finding your inner ballerina by piling your hair into a twist on the top of your head and to use a scrunchie to avoid crimping.

Well, I don't own a scrunchie (didn't they go out of style in the 80s?). So I asked Angela what she uses and she said, "A cheap barrette I bought at Walgreens."

I have to use a cheat barrette and lots of bobby pins, but this is how the experiment has worked:

1. Monday morning I woke up with waves, but had to rewash my bangs and run a curling iron through my hair. I think it's because I did a deep condition on Sunday night.

2. Tuesday morning I woke up in all sorts of disarray and had to pull it back. I did not wash it (only wet it down under the faucet) and I did not use product.

3. Wednesday morning I was fed up and just did it normally.

4. Last night I took a shower before bed, but I did not wash my hair. I just made sure it was super soaked through. Then I added some product and piled it all on top of my head, including my bangs.

This morning I woke up and my hair was still a bit damp. But I ran the hair dryer through it quickly and used a comb instead of a brush. I had one little spot that was sticking up that I couldn't control so I just pulled pieces of my hair at the crown back into bobby pins. I even have a nice little wave in my bangs. It took my 20 minutes to get ready this morning.

I think I'm sold.

Dior Mascara

Everyone knows I love my mascara. I mean LOVE MY MASCARA. I think you all also know that my all-time favorite is Givenchy Phenomenon Eyes ($28). It's my favorite because it works for all types of eyelashes and works especially well on the tiny lashes closest to the corner of your eyes.

That being said, I just bought some Dior Black Out ($24) on a recommendation from @spoiledpretty.

You know that trick I showed you? The one wear you apply mascara to the tops of your eyelashes and then fill in the empty spots (see it here)? The Dior is PERFECT for this trick!

It's worth throwing into your mascara rotation. I try a new one every three or four times. I'll be back to the Givenchy in six weeks.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer

I live in Chicago so the real sun time I'm going to get each year is about three months. Not a lot of time, plus it's bad for my skin. So I'm always looked for beauty products that don't make me look pasty white, even in the dead of winter. I also hate foundation and wouldn't wear it, even if I had really bad skin.

That's why I love Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer. It's sheer and very lightweight. It provides just enough color that my face glows. Plus it contains SPF 20 so I wear it over my moisturizer and get double the coverage.

The look of sun-kissed skin without the fine lines and sun spots!