hair therapy: heal and repair with Dove

we all know heat styling is a great way to create fabulous hairstyles. if you battle with dry, lackluster hair, you know keeping heat to a minimum is important for your hair's health. and when temps are high {as they currently are here in so cal}, it's beyond understandable to want to avoid extra heat by any means necessary.

so when you're choosing to avoid heat, for whatever reason, it's important to have products around that will give hair a fresh, healthy appearance between washes. i was given some new hair goodies from Dove that not only combat over-stressed, flat, and hair desperate for attention, but can help to extend the life of your style, thus avoiding added heat…

Oxygen Moisture Leave In Foam is formulated for those days when you want to skip blow-drying. with just a couple of pumps, it helps to freshen up my hair; it provides a light, flexible hold, while leaving my hair feeling soft and manageable, without added weight.

the fine mist of Dove Oxygen Moisture Root Lift Spray can be used on wet or dry hair. it adds just the right amount of texture to give my hair a boost, adds fullness and also gives hair a soft hold.

summer is a good time to skip shampooing from time to time. of course, good-looking {and smelling} hair is a must. that's where Dove Refresh+Care Volume Dry Shampoo comes in. i love that it's invisible on my dark hair, smells beautiful and adds fullness so i can wait another day {or two} more before washing my hair.

when frizz rears it's ugly head on icky, humid days, Dove Nourishing Oil Care Anti-Frizz Serum is the key to keeping it at bay. this nourishing oil is rich yet lightweight and smells fabulous! it adds shine, tames flyaways and cares for hair {thanks to argan oil}, an always appreciated benefit.


do you have any favorite Dove hair products? you can find these and the rest of the range of products at  your favorite mass retailer and dove.com

products featured provided by Dove' all pinions my own; pics taken my me:)

3 cleansing products i'm loving right now

have you been to the drugstore or your favorite mass retailer recently? if you're like me, i'm quite sure you have {LOL!}; i personally visit my local Walgreens, Target {and the like} multiple times a week, and of course with these visits come the stops to certain {cough, cough} departments that showcase a beauty girl's favorite things.

"i'm-just-going-to-look" is always what i say to myself, but …

hey, i'm only human!

in any case, the following items are very much a necessity in my beauty arsenal; they're all about cleansing {and we all know how important that is!}. 2 were purchased by me {yes, on a store visit that had no items regarding their function on my shopping list}; they are fabulous and keep me {and for one product, my beauty tools} fresh and clean.

take a look…

Rimmel London Gentle Eye Makeup Remover was a purchase made because i'm already a fan of their makeup and had never tried it, and also i was out of my fave Mary Kay eye makeup remover. it was the perfect opportunity for me to find out if Rimmel's remover was a drugstore version that would work just as well. like eye makeup removers from Clinique, Mary Kay and Lancome, i love that this beauty isn't oily, removes all eye makeup {yes, even waterproof!} and there's not a hint of sting when i use it.

keeping makeup brushes clean is important for many reasons and Sonia Kashuk Brush and Sponge Cleanser makes it super easy to do {saturate your brush bristles or sponge completely under running water, spray on cleanser, working up a lather ~ rinse under water until water runs clear. repeat as necessary; lay fat to dry}. from the first time i used it to now, i absolutely love it. it works on both synthetic and natural bristles, kills bacteria, breaks up oils and residue with ease {i use long-wearing products, so this was especially impressive}, and the scent, while strong at first, is surprisingly refreshing {i'm not sure of the exact scent, but lavender is definitely involved}.

finally, Dove Purely Pampering Nourishing Body Wash* creates the luxurious, uber-foamy lather that makes me feel so fancy and pampered. the scent is a long-time favorite {when i comes to sweet scents}: fabulous, warm pistachio. it's blended with magnolia, so it keeps the overall scent on the lighter side {so amazingly refreshing}. it comes in bar form as well, and as is the case with all Dove products, this body wash contains the brand's signature NutriumMoisture® ; my skin is always so soft and pampered after using this!


what special cleansing-type goodies are getting your love these days? do tell!

*product sent to me for review consideration; pics taken by me :)

review: Dove Advanced Care with Nutrium Moisture

bonjour, loves! hope you're enjoying your day…

so...the fabulous folks at Dove sent me a few of their new Advanced Care products to treat myself to a piticure {yes, i'm referring to my armpits} and, needless to say, i happily obliged. i know {from experience with their other formulations} that Dove products are super moisturizing and gentle yet still keep me dry and smelling fresh. the ingredients in the new Advanced Care also nourish underarm skin and i love that they've managed to take a somewhat uncomfortable topic and make it beautiful.

after all, each armpit has skin that needs to be take care of just as much as any other part of the skin on our bodies!

the varieties they sent to me were:
Nourished Beauty ~ a floral, powdery fragrance with notes of jasmine and rose
Cool Essentials ~ a delightful blend of cucumber and green tea
Beauty Finish ~ a sparkling, sophisticated scent with notes of watery florals, sandalwood and amber musk.

check out my video review, below, and tell me if you've tried the new Dove Advanced care!



by the way, i don't post every video here on BGM, so if you'd like to see more videos, subscribe to my channel on youtube! if you have any products, tutorials {how-to's, demos, etc} or topics you'd like to suggest i try, share or discuss, please leave me a comment and let me know!

in the meantime, please visit dove.us for more info about the fabulous line of anti-perspirant deodorants...

products featured sent to me for review consideration; all thoughts and opinions are my own; pics taken by me :)

beauty on a budget: Dove Go Fresh body wash

do yourself a favor this weekend and treat yourself to a fabulous, inexpensive treat:
Dove Go Fresh Body Wash 

 the gorgeous-scented Plum & Sakura Blossom i have is Rebalance {other Go Fresh products, in various scents, include Revive and Restore}, and i can't say i love it any more than i do. it just smells fabulous! plus, like all of their body washes, it's infused with their signature NutriumMoisture, a blend of gentle, skin-moisturizing lipids; after using it my skin feels soft, beautiful, lightly scented, and at the risk of sounding super cliche and cheesy...

 fresh!

find the entire line of Dove body washes, including Go Fresh, in drug and mass retailers {i bought mine at Target}; visit dove.com for more info. 

pic taken by me :)

beauty review: Dove Go Sleeveless 5 day challenge

let's be honest, underarms aren't the most glamorous topic. they are, however, covered with skin, so it's  still important to take care of this area of our bodies. since many of us shave the hair that grows there {another not-so-glamorous subject}, we can experience roughness and bumps, typically caused by ingrown hairs and harsh ingredients found in our antiperspirants {eewww}...

enter Dove Go Sleeveless...

i personally exfoliate before shaving {also helpful if you wax} to ensure i keep razor bumps and ingrown hairs at bay, so my underarms are relatively smooth. since i was challenged by Dove to try their 5 day challenge using Go Sleeveless, i figured it was worth a try to discover for myself what it had to offer...

the Go Sleeveless deodorant formula contains vitamins E and F plus Dove 1/4 moisturizers, promising  to care for delicate underarm skin, thus making it softer and better looking. they range in light fragrances, from unscented to citrus and floral scents, and i'm happy to report that yes, after 5 days, my underarms really felt and looked softer and smoother! this is especially happy-making, but i also appreciate that they also do the other thing they promise: keep underarms dry and smelling fresh {through everyday tasks and workouts like yoga to ballet barre, and even spin class}. with warmer weather on its way, this is definitely a good thing. 

why not take the challenge yourself?? find out more at dove.com. :)

hair therapy: leave-in conditioners from Alberto VO5 and Dove

there's nothing i love more than a good leave-in conditioner ~ they're key to keeping parched hair in shape! i've been using two in particular from the very well-known brands, Alberto VO5 and Dove, and let's just say they've been making this beauty girl quite happy...

Alberto VO5's new Simply Stunning Leave-In Conditioner is said to be an all-in-one leave-in miracle conditioner...the secret weapon for smoother styling and manageability for all hair types. well, i'm happy to report that my experience with this has been true. my hair loved it the first time i used it, and continues to do so even after using it a few more times over the past week and a half {and i'm pretty sure yours will, too}! this vitamin-enriched formula packs a serious moisture punch without weighing hair down and also protects against damage caused by heat styling. another plus ~ it can be used on wet or dry hair. simply stunning indeed...

Color Care Leave On Conditioner is the other gem of a leave-in that comes from Dove. it not only gives my tresses a soft, beautiful look and feel, but it's specially formulated to protect color-treated hair with its Vibrant Color Lock technology and UV complex {while i haven't been coloring my hair for almost a year, i plan to again in the near future, and uv protection is good for all hair}. this is recommended for use only on damp hair. i found it makes for the perfect extra boost of moisture when i don't have time in the shower for a longer deep condition.

the new Alberto VO5 {vo5haircare.com} Salon Series includes shampoos, conditioners, treatments and styling aids i highly recommend you give some attention to. find more info about the  Dove Color Care collection {i've also been using the shampoo and conditioner, by the way ~ love!} by visiting dove.com

products featured sent to me for review consideration; pics taken by me :)

Dove Color Care celebrates at Sundance + premieres new video short

happy wednesday, beauties!

while i enjoyed the past {3-day} weekend at home, many were in park city, utah, taking part in a pretty big event: Sundance Film Festival. it was there that Dove stylists, including Matt Fugate, primped and pampered attendees and celebs {so fun!}; they also premiered a brilliant new video short featuring Dove Color Care Collection.

many stopped by the Dove Hair gifting suite, including celebs Jane Lynch, Octavia Spencer, Jennifer Coolidge, Troian Bellisario, Mario Lopez and wife Courtney, AnnaLynne McCord, Karina Smirnoff, Arden Myrin and Kate Voegele.

"just like films have the power to enthuse viewers with their vibrant and colorful storytelling, the Dove Color Care collection inspires women to experience the vibrant feeling of color," said David Rubin, director of Unilever Hair Care. "this makes the park city film festival the ideal backdrop for introducing women to our new Dove Color Care collection and video short."


the short features Kate Crofts {a real woman} as she describes what different colors represent to her and how they make her feel. explaining how changing her hair color brings out various sides of her personality, as well as how the feeling of freshly-colored hair can make even normal things seem more vibrant, is quite inspiring.

but probably not for the reason you may think.

take a look at how Kate experiences color...




stay tuned, beauties, as i'll be bringing you my personal review of these Dove Hair goodies soon...

Dove Giveaway Winner!!

thank you so much for your entries! i always wish i could reward all of you who enter. in any case, the winner of the Dove Giveaway is...


Cecilia Katz!

congrats Cecilia! i have sent your info to the Dove reps, and your prize should be sent out sometime in the next week.

thank you again everyone! if you haven't already, be sure to enter the AXE giveaway!

xo

review: Dove Ultimate Visibly Smooth (and a giveaway!)

it's always an unpleasant subject, but underarm hair is annoying. what's even more annoying is having to shave to keep armpits smooth (i could wax, but i don't like having to grow out the hair. and yes, i said it, armpit, LOL!). Dove Visibly Smooth antiperspirant/deodorant was created to not only give fabulous wetness and odor protection, as well as soothe skin with their signature Dove moisturizers, but to also provide the user with a Pro-Epil complex that helps soften and minimize the appearance of underarm hair over time. this makes for easier removal and longer time between shaves.

so does it work?

from my experience over the last couple of weeks, it is beginning to! i've noticed, in addition to no odor and very little wetness, it has become easier to shave my underarm hair (the Wild Rose scent-- sent to me by Dove's PR-- smells beautiful). i have had no irritation after shaving, as has happened in the past, and hopefully, i'll be shaving less and less the longer i use it.

i think you'll love Dove's new Visibly Smooth (you can buy it online here), and am offering you the chance to win a full-size for yourself. of course, Dove wants to pamper you more, so they are throwing in a plush robe and an adorable stainless steel razor, too! this complete package is worth over $100-- do you want it?


click on the images to enlarge


here's how to enter:

*email me, bgmcontests@gmail.com with "Dove Giveaway" in the subject line

*please provide your full name and mailing address

*U.S. residents only

* deadline to enter is 11pm, pacific time on july 17, 2009

best of luck!

xo
**read please: entering this contest means you are giving me permission to forward your name, email and mailing address to representatives of Dove for fulfillment and mailing of contest prize. failure to include all information requested will disqualify your entry. one (1) winner, chosen at random, will receive the prize mentioned. duplicate entries will not improve your chances of winning. giveaway sponsored by Dove. some restrictions apply. open only to US residents only. entries will be accepted through 11pm, pacific time. on friday, july 17. thank you. :)

my favorite drugstore beauty buys 3.27.09

this week flew by! did it do the same for you? wow...if things keep going like this for me, it will be 2010 before i know it...yowza!

this week's beauty buys, i have just realized, are all moisturizing. i didn't even plan it to be that way-- funy, huh?-- but here they are. enjoy...




Neutrogena Moistureshine Lipgloss comes in an excellent selection of glitterless colors that make my lips feel like butter. i love that these lippies aren't overly pigmented, but still leaves a good amount of color on my lips. the formula is soft and uber-moisturizing-- love these!



Dove Cool Moisture Body Wash is scented with refreshing cucumber (ahh) and is oh so lovely to use, especially when the weather warms up, because the scent is so light and airy-- it just helps keep my mind off of the heat, if only for a short amount of time- ha! it moisturizes well, too, and leaves behind its yummy scent on my skin...ahhhh



Sunsilk Hydra TLC Conditioner is one product that shocked me when i first tried it. mainly because i wasn't expecting too much. i don't know why-- i should know better!-- but i just didn't think it would be all that great. well, i was proven (way) wrong, and i tell you: this stuff is amazing!it leaves my thirsty hair feeling silky smooth and manageable. my hair loves this conditioner (and the shampoo is great, too).


have a great weekend!

xo

my favorite drugstore beauty buys 9.5.08

hello my fabulous readers! how was your week?

well, not matter what, today is friday, so you have the weekend to look forward to!

my kids went back to school this week, so it was a little chaotic getting back into the swing of things. i was able to spend time alone and indulged in some fun outings alone (a mani/pedi, bookstore browsing, a trip to the MAC counter for a mini makeover...)- so fun!

this week's drugstore beauty buys are all new-to-me products that i have been sampling for the last week and have found them to be fabulous!

Nivea Lip Care A Kiss of Shine gives a sheer hint of color (comes in pink, natural or red) while leaving lips looking super shiny without being sticky. it moisturizes very well, and i love it!







L'Oreal RevitLift Radiant Smoothing Wet Cleansing Towelettes have been there for me in times that i was too tired to wash my face in the traditional way. these towelettes removed all of my makeup and the makeup on my eyes, mascara included. as far as the anti-aging results, i have no clue, but i know it didn't irritate my skin or sting my eyes.




Dove Advanced Care Daily Moisture Therapy is a leave-in conditioner that can be applied to wet or dry hair. i love the way it leaves my hair feeling soft with no greasiness when i put it on dry hair, and helps me to comb though my hair when it's damp.






have you tried any new products this week? let me know in the comments!

i hope you have a fabulous weekend!

xo

photos: drugstore.com

my favorite drugstore beauty buys 7.25.08

friday, friday...aren't you glad it's friday?

Dove Cream Oil Body Wash is a fabulous way to moisturize your skin. i picked this up last week, and after i used it, i actually forgot to put on lotion because it left my skin feeling so soft!

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Cracked Heel Treatment is the best formula i have ever used for my dry feet! plus, it has no strong odor, which is always a good thing to me.

Revlon Custom Creations Spf 15 gives you two shades of foundation that can be blended to your perfect shade. just adjust the dial to the number that is the closest match to your skin, and if it is too light or dark, just adjust. it's fabulous!


this week, i didn't choose a reader, rather i asked my daughter to contribute her thoughts on her favorite beauty items (keep in mind she's eight). here's what she chose:

Rolly Lip Smackers in Strawberry and Cotton Candy "smell and taste really good and make my lips look pretty."

CoverGirl Boundless Color nail polish "is fun to wear, and i like the sparkles!"

St. Ives Whipped Silk Intense Body Moisturizer "is what i have to use everyday because my skin gets really dry. it keeps my skin soft..."

isn't she sweet? a little beauty expert in the making...

i hope everyone has a fabulous weekend! can you believe it's the last one of july?


xo

help me win a spa expereince and featured review!