Does it work? Well, yes and no. I used it under my arms, and did okay for the first day, though by the end it had a faint, strange, slightly spicy scent, like your car the day after bringing home Indian food. I started to feel a bit ripe when I woke up the next day, but I pushed on. At the end of day two, I had pilates class, and the deodorant crapped out entirely. I was heinously embarrassed when, halfway through class, my stench began to offend me. I did try a touch of Lavilin in my cleavage, where I am prone to sweating, and it works like a charm. One application, once a week prevents boob stank entirely.

Pros: Hypo-allergenic for those prone to allergies. Once-a-week application will save money. Once-a-week application will also be a life saver for those rushed mornings where, in the past, you forgot to put on deodorant (don’t lie; we’ve all done it once).

Cons: Success rate is suspect. Instructions suggest disuse of other deodorants 48 hours prior to using Lavilin (sorry, I just can’t bring myself to go 48 hours with nothing). The product comes in pots that require you to apply with a bare finger. This just grosses me on levels (that can’t be sanitary, and if it is water-proof, how do you wash it off your finger?)

Verdict: Worth every cent just for its success in the cleavage area. Lavilin is a new staple on the vanity.

Truly the standout feature is the packaging. Nestled inside a black box subtly embossed with the iconic R&R logo in purple, is a small, flat compact, about the size of three silver dollars stacked together. The compact, made of metal, is cool, sleek, chic, with a satisfying heft. Rather than fumbling with a classic snap case, a tiny magnet holds the lid closed. I worry that it will open in my purse. So far it hasn’t, but I only carried it for a day. The compact doesn’t seal like a traditional compact, so the potential for leakage in warm climes exists. The compact comes with a retractable lip brush that opens and closes with one quick movement, and seals the tip in, making it purse-safe.

Sadly, the gloss couldn’t live up to its exterior. Confession, the shade we checked out, was a beautiful, flattering, shimmering neutral pink. The gloss is very creamy, not sticky at all, which feels nice on, but doesn’t make for a lasting gloss. I applied some as I was leaving the house; it was gone by the time I arrived at dinner, a mere 20 minutes later. My lips were left bare and a touch on the dry side.

I definitely want to try a couple other products from R&R Cosmetics, in hopes of finding a product where the insides match the outsides.

My new go-to eyeshadow of the summer? Givenchy’s limited edition Prisme Again eyeshadow quartet in Sun Reflection. The four powder shadows are so rich velvety that they almost go on like cream. The shimmery colors - steely gold, icy silver, blue-silver, and warm bronzy gold - pack a punch of pigment, but can also be sheered out for an ethereal glow. The shadow lasts through sun and sweat, without needed a primer.

Regardless of what people say about books and their covers, let’s face it: packaging on beauty products is nearly as important as what is inside. I love Givenchy’s summer packaging: a square, dense compact with shadows nestled safely inside like gemstones on black velvet. It seems sturdier than many other compacts (*ahem* Stila *ahem*). A seperate bottom compartment keeps applicators clean. And the golden holographic Givenchy logo on top is icing.

I tested out the Three-Step Program, which contains a Renewing Cleanser, Revitalizing Toner, and Repairing Lotion.

Renewing Cleanser is a creamy face cleanser with micro-exfoliant beads. I love it when I can combine two steps in one - anything to speed up my morning routine. I find that it did a good job cleaning, and it didn’t dry out my skin.

Revitalizing Toner is good for a mid-day pick-me-up, but I suspect it could be drying if used too frequently.

Repairing Lotion is a moisturizer. I wasn’t particularly fond of this moisturizer. It wasn’t very moisturizing, and used in conjunction with the cleanser, I found it to be downright drying. I am also surprised that the moisturizer does not include SPF, especially because the enclosed literature warns to always use a sunblock and avoid too much sun exposure.

Thoughts - a decent cleansing system, but quite frankly, I think this is better left to acne-prone skin. It cleansed well enough, though it is not my favorite cleanser, and I wasn’t a fan of the moisturizer. It did nothing for my skin tone or texture.

To order your own Proactiv kit, visit Proactiv.com

Beau Bain bath bombs are created way, way better than equal. The solid bombs fizz like crazy and come in a variety of boutique-y fragrances like white tea and ginger, rosemary and lavender, and coconut verbena. They are packaged in pretty glassine boxes, ready for gifting (if you can bear to part with one), but beware: the bombs are also wrapped tightly in plastic, so be sure to slice it open before hopping into the tub - I speak from experience.

Beau Bain bath bombs are loaded with a fantastic blend of natural moisturizers: vitamin E, grape seed oil, sweet almond oil, coconut oil, macadamia nut oil, avocado oil, olive oil, and shea butter. Sounds good enough to eat! I wasn’t particularly fond of the mild oil film it left on my body, but after about an hour, it absorbed into my skin, and was left with skin so soft I didn’t need to moisturizers for days.

To purchase, visit BeauBain.com

How: Apply polish remover to cotton ball. Hold on nail for 30 seconds to soften the polish, then rub until polish is removed.

Pros: Besides all the reasons above? Well, it truly has no foul odor, just a clean, minty. Don’t get me wrong - it is a strong scent - but it won’t give you a headache or make your throat hurt. It doesn’t leave my skin puckered or my nails brittle. And yes, it actually removes the polish…

Cons: …but not that well. After the 30 seconds of “softening,” you are in for a good minute of rubbing. Per nail. The whole process took me about 25 minutes, and even then, there was still a hint or staining on my nails and fingers (I was wearing dark, dark red polish).

Bonus: PeaceKeeper pays fair wages, does not test on animals, and is the first cosmetics company to donate all of its after-tax, distributable profits to various women’s health and human rights foundations.

Cost: At $10 per 4oz. bottle, it won’t break the bank. Until you remember that you can get twice as much for $2 for the chemical laden stuff.

Verdict? Worth it. It’s a little pricier, and a little more time-consuming, but not getting sick while using it trumps the cons.

Buy: IAmAPeacekeeper.com

For eyes, Jouer presents two new powder shadows: Peach, a shimmer neutral pinky-peach, and Chestnut, a matte honey brown. The texture is heavenly - light, silky, and creaseless. The color is soft, so if you are looking for a strong pop of color, this is not the way to go. It is easily buildable, without getting cakey.

For lips, there new shades of their gloss, lipstick, and lip definer. Blush is a perfect pink gloss. Kiki is a nude pink shimmer lipstick, loaded with Cupuau butter from Brazil for incredible hydration. Rose Pale lip definer matches Kiki wonderfully, and the jojoba oil, shea butter, and vitamins A & E make it creamy enough to wear on its own.

Bonus fun: all Jouer eyeshadows, blushes, powders, and lip glosses are grooved so they can be linked together to create your own custom palette.

Jouer cosmetics are only available online at JouerCosmetics.com or at Henri Bendel department stores. From May 10th through May 16th, buy any three Jouer products from Henri Bendel, and get the fourth free!

In this corner, weighing in at .34 fl oz and $120 is LashFood! In this corner, weighing in at .139 fl oz and $150 is Revitalash! Let’s check out some vitals.

Lashfood Eyelash Conditioner

LashFood is a natural formula using amino acids and iris extract. When applied at lash or brow line, it promises “thicker, darker, and longer” lashes and brows, and can also make brittle lashes strong.

Revitalash boasts the same results. It was created by a doctor for his wife who had lost her eyelashes to chemotherapy. The website does not offer contents.

RevitaLash Eyelash Conditioner

I definitely saw results with both products. Revitalash offered quicker results, but LashFood offered more long-lasting results. I noticed results after just a few days with Revitalash. My lashes were longer and came in more densely, but they were thin and light. LashFood took a couple weeks for noticeable results, but I liked my lashes on the LashFood eye better. The lashes were dark, thick, and felt stronger than my lashes had previously been. When I got lazy and stopped applying the potions every day, the results from LashFood lasted longer.

Both products are pricey, and both have their benefits, but if I had the spare cash for one over the other, I would choose LashFood.

Ramy’s Lip Oil is just that: sweet almond, grape seed, jojoba, and corn oil. Beware - this is not 100% natural, but I have allergy-prone lips, and this does not inflame them. The company says the Lip Oil also contains collagen for instant plumping action, but I did not notice this. It is available in three flavors: mint, rose, and orange.

I tried out the mint flavor. It isn’t like typical flavored lip products, loaded with sweetness. It’s just a hint, so you get the feeling of mint more than the taste. I find that the oil absorbed quickly, which is good and bad. Good - no greasiness. Bad - can sometimes absorb and disappear too quickly, requiring another coat. Bonus - not sticky at all. So many companies claim their lip product isn’t sticky, but your hair truly will not stick to this lip oil.

My only complaint is the packaging. Not only is the bottle glass, the applicator is a dropper. You are supposed to apply a few drops to your lips and, I assume, mush your lips together to spread the oil evenly. I usually use the glass applicator to rub it across my lips like any other lipgloss, but it is not ideal.

At $18 a bottle, Ramy Lip Oil isn’t cheap, but a little goes a long way and I feel like I am getting my money’s worth.

The set comes with the Lip Stamp (with mirrored cap!) and 10 different lip shapes. Select your lip shape, peel it off its card, and affix it to the ergonomic Lip Stamp. Each lip shape is a thick makeup sponge with an adhesive backing. The lip shapes range from small and pouty to large and bowed. Once your lip shape is affixed, coat it edge to edge with your favorite lipstick, and press it against your lips. Be forewarned - the lip pads are not really reusable and as far as I can tell, you cannot order replacement pads at this time.

I used Urban Decay’s Love Junkie lipstick to test this out, and I was surprised at how much lipstick it took to get good coverage. Since the lip shape was a makeup sponge, it absorbs a lot of lipstick. Application was surprisingly easy - I didn’t have a problem lining it up with my lips.

As you can see from the pictures, it works, but looks a little clownish. The shape was pretty much perfect, but I think this is really meant for makeup artists, or for playing dress-up. Without doing any other steps (i.e. using some foundation to cover up exposed lip, etc) the entire process took about 10 minutes. If you wanted a specific, artistic lip shape for a photo shoot, Lip Stamp does the trick. But for every day use, you are better off applying your lipstick the old fashioned way.

Lip Stamp retails for $24.95 and can be purchased at AlconeCo.com