Reviewer: Aurelia
Product: Shiseido Facial Razor
What I love: Facial hair. I don't love it. On myself, that is. 
If you've ever experienced unwanted hair, you know what a bummer it can be. If you've read this far, maybe you, too, have experienced that particular annoyance that is a stray chin whisker, or perhaps you developed a lady 'stache in adolescence that required monthly bleaching, or have been humbled by a fine layer of peach fuzz in your adulthood that knows no shame, taking up root on your cheeks, jawline, or forehead. 

Having experienced all of the above in varying degrees of awefulness, and having investigated (and tried) myriad solutions over the years, I'll start by sharing the bad news: High tech can't help all of us here. Lasers only do their job if the color contrast between hair and skin color is distinct enough, which means having fair skin and very dark hair.

Electrolysis can help, but it's painful, takes a lot of time, and isn't a great solution for a downy layer of fine hair. (Though it will work on pesky moustache hairs if you only have a few.)  

Waxing? Meh. It's OK, but leaves you red for hours and, sometimes, like it did for a friend, ignites skin problems such as rosacea or infections from recycled wax.  

Bleach is OK, though it entails regularly slathering a layer of chemicals on your face. Ditto for hair-removal creams, which i confess to not having actually tried--only because the thought of that much chemical activity seems--on a personal level--extreme to the point of dermal abuse.

Recently, after a series of discreet queries among women- friends, I decided to investigate the facial razor. It sounds awful, right? Shaving? Your face? When you're a woman? Many of us have read or been told that shaving makes hair grow back thick and more bountiful, and whether on your legs, 'pits, or sideburns, will leave tell-tale, stubbly, "I'm-a-lady-who-shaves!" evidence for all the world to point and laugh at. I'm here to say it ain't so!

Just visit YouTube and search "Facial razor for women" and you'll see oodles of videos on the topic. Most all the woman brave enough to document and broadcast their experiences say they use one of the Japanese razors on the market. I bought the Shiseido razor on Amazon, and the pack of three razors arrived in pastel-colored glory about two weeks later (they were coming from Japan, afterall.)

So: How do they work? Well. Very well! 

It's been four days since I tried it and my skin is still smooth and soft and hair-free. I'll report back after the hair starts growing back in to let you know how that part of the experiment works!

Reviewer: Aurelia
Product: Caudalie Eau de Beaute Beauty Elixir 
What I love: There was a perfume that older ladies wore when I was a kid called Youth Dew. The name didn't really match the scent, which was heavy and sweet and a little musky, and would make you feel faint if you were trapped in an elevator or stuck on a long car journey with someone wearing it. The name "Youth Dew" would have been a much better match for this skin spray made by the French company Caudalie. 

This fountain-of-youth-in-a-bottle is made with a variety of pleasant-smelling essential oils (which you'll see floating on the top of the bottle) and, like many products of European origin--where the ingredients standards are a little more stringent than in the US--this spray contains no funky sodium laurel sulfate, parabens, or petroleum-based ingredients. 

What I love about this spray is the gentle sheen it gives my skin; just enough of a dewy glow to look natural and make my skin feel good. What I don't love is the price; a tiny, one-ounce bottle costs around $20 at Sephora, and about half that at French drug stores, so consider stocking up the next time you vacation in France!

Reviewer: Melissa
Product: Benecos Natural Eyeshadow Quattro in Beautiful Eyes 001
What I love: In case we’ve never met, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Melissa and I have a borderline unhealthy obsession with purple eyeshadow. I can’t remember exactly when it started, but for at least a decade, purple has been my go-to color.

I was already well into my purple-propelled passion when a makeup artist told me that this hue is an excellent choice because it complements my green eyes. What luck!

So I could barely contain my excitement when I saw the Benecos Natural Eyeshadow Quattro in Beautiful Eyes 001. This four-pack features two shades of purple (one is a dusty lavender and the other is a deeper, darker eggplant color) and two brownish hues (think the color of a very almond-milk infused cappuccino and a Mexican hot chocolate with little glimmers of cinnamon… is anyone else suddenly craving a coffee?).

Each of the colors glides on smoothly—I barely applied any pressure with my brush and got plenty of product. It’s not overly powdery, but I did get a few specks on my temples, so make sure to tap and/or lightly blow on your brush before you apply it. The luscious color lasted all day, but came off easily with my regular makeup remover. Note that you’ll need your own shadow brushes since none come included with the shadow.

I’m tickled pink (or, uh, purple) that I’ve found a new shadow to keep my lids looking lovely!

Reviewer: Jacqui
Product: True Natural Anti-Aging Rose Night Cream
What I Love: I usually stay away from beauty products labeled for “mature” skin. Yikes! Who wants to be called an old lady when I’ve been told by very reliable sources that I still have it going on?  I attribute my youthful glow to Mediterranean genes, obsessive exfoliation followed by equally obsessive hydration, and a natural curiosity and sense of wonder.

Though True Natural’s night cream is marketed as an anti-aging product for dry/mature skin, this ain’t your grandma’s nightly cold cream.  I have nothing but love for this sophisticated updated version (even though I had two small breakouts when I first starting using it, which is normal for me when I try any new beauty product) and recommend for all skin types.

It looks like a rich and creamy custard, but when applied, it’s oh-so light and velvety smooth.  It absorbs quickly, but leaves a nice glow. Because it’s so light, I tried it for daytime, too, and my makeup stayed intact and my skin felt dewy, not oily, throughout the workday. 

I’m blessed with a sharp sense of smell, and whether stinky or aromatic, my journey through life is enhanced because of my dear nose.  I don’t even have to read the list of ingredients to recognize the natural scent of wild roses in this large jar.  All little goes a long way; after two weeks, the jar is still three-fourths full. 

Reviewer: Melissa
Product: Benecos “Happy Nails” Nail Polish in Vintage Red
What I Love: The name of this vegan, cruelty-free polish is 100% accurate—this “Vintage Red” hue conjures up images of a classic Corvette, a ‘50s pin-up’s heart-shaped lips, a classic movie star’s manicure (and now mine, too!)

Benecos bears the “International Organic and Natural Cosmetics Corporation” seal and its products are free of parabens, silicones, petrochemicals, and synthetic dyes and fragrances. I’m not going to lie—for better or worse it smells exactly like unnatural, synthetic polishes. (But at least you can use it with a clear conscience… I’d just recommend opening a window, too.)

The texture is a little thin going on, and the large cap can be slightly unwieldy at first, but the good news is that two coats was all it took to achieve a lacquered, shiny, rich look. After several days, this polish still looks as luxe as it did the first day I applied it—no chips or fading.

I’m also excited about some of the other colors in the series like the fun and flirty “oh la la” hot pink and the slightly more sophisticated dusty pink “Sharp Rose.”