Take care of your winter pelt with Gillette Venus and eos!

Gillette Venus Embrace Sensitive Refillable Razor - $14.99 -with 5 closely spaced blades to reduce pressure on each blade and a protective ribbon of moisture with a touch of aloe for a smooth glide - perfect for sensitive skin that usually finds shaving to be an irritating experience!

Gillette Venus Snap with Embrace Portable Razor - $11.99 - a 5 blade razor and activated moisture ribbon  for instant smoothness on the go with a portable compact design that includes a mini handle that is easy to grip and convenient to store and fits easily in your purse or gym bag!

Available now at mass, grocery and drug retailers across Canada.

Even for razors that claim you don't need to use cream with them I still do, I think it gives you a closer shave which helps the shave last longer and prevents razor bumps and burn! My fave is this one, especially for the fact that the bottle is plastic, which means it won't rust like metal cans do!

eos 24-Hour Moisturizing Shave Cream - 207ml - $3.99 - in 3 fragrances: Lavender Jasmine, Pomegranate Raspberry and Vanilla Bliss with a paraben free formula that is packed with natural conditioning oils, aloe,  shea butter, oat and vitamins C & E to keep skin soft, smooth and moisturized for 24 hours, even after rinsing!

Available now at Loblaws, Rexall, London Drugs, Jean Coutu, Uniprix and Lawtons.

- Lisamarie -

Make some hair magic with help from Herbal Essences and Charles Baker Strahan!

Holiday party time is quickly approaching which always begs the question - "What the hell am I going to do with my hair?!" Charles Baker Strahan, celebrity hair stylist for Herbal Essences to the rescue with this easy and super chic updo! Don't have long hair? No problem, the style still works just add some curls to the back instead of doing the whole braiding thing!

1. Wash and condition hair with Herbal Essences Moroccan My Shine Shampoo and Conditioner (300ml - $4.29). Ideally, allow hair to air dry or dry with blow dryer diffuser.
2. Section hair diagonally towards the nape.
3. Take one inch sections to curl with curling iron; release from iron and set with clips.
4. Allow hair to cool and release set.
5. Spray soft bristle brush with Herbal Essences Set Me Up Hairspray and brush through set to integrate waves.
6. Section hair out at the nape of neck to braid across to create a base for the up do. Depending upon length of hair the braid may be doubled.
7. Take smaller slices of hair working from base and back comb these sections then work into braid and secure with pins.
8. Back comb hair at crown to build up body and a pleasing silhouette.
9. Smooth waves around face working back into up do.
10. Add accessory to make the final look fun and festive.

With your hair looking so hot you are sure to pick up some lucky someone tonight so make sure the rest of you is ready too:

Gillette Venus & Olay Sugarberry Razor - $11.99 - with 5 blade close shave and exfoliating action will take care of the winter pelt growing on your legs while Secret Clinical Stress Response Antiperspirant - $10.99 - will help hide the fact that picking up new people freaks you the hell out!

Available at drug, mass and grocery stores across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Bikini trims at home made easy with Philips, Nair, Gillette, eos and Tend Skin!

Dealing with the bikini line has got to be the trickiest part of home hair removal so anything that can make it faster, easier and smoother is a winner in my books like the:

Philips Bikini Genie - $19.99 - offers ease, convenience and affordability for those looking to bikini trim at home. This little number’s small shape and compact design are ideal for taking on-the-go – making it a great option for beach vacations.

Product features include: a unique shape and ergonomic handle that allows for precision trimming; and safe rounded tips on the trimmer head that provide extra comfort and are also detachable to allow for easy cleaning and are fully washable. It even comes with a battery included so you can start using it right away!

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, Personal Edge, Amazon.ca and Jean Coutu

Nair Brazilian Spa Clay PerfectTemp Easy to Use Wax Strips for Face & Bikini - 40 double sided wax strips in 2 sizes and 4 after-use moisturizing towelettes - $9.99 - with innovative Heat-Advanced Technology to ensure the wax is at the perfect temperature so even an idiot like me can figure out when to use - when warming the strip by hand, the Nair logo fades away when the strip is warm, signaling that the strip is now ready to use!

Effective even on short hair with long lasting results for up to 4 weeks.

Available at drug and mass merchandisers.

Or go traditional with:

Gillette Venus Spa Breeze Razor - with 2 refills - $15.99 - offers an easy, close shave thanks to built-in shave gel bars that flex - simply wet the razor for light lather - with an easy to grip handle that won't get away from you in the shower. And even though you don't have to use a separate shave cream, I don't find there is enough lather for my taste so I like to use:

eos 24-Hour Moisturizing Shave Cream - 207ml - $3.99 - in Pomegranate Raspberry, Vanilla Bliss and Fragrance Free Sensitive - in a paraben-free formula packed with natural conditioning oils, shea butter and vitamins C & E for soothes and soften your skin while shaving and afterwards for a full 24 hours. I especially like the bottle is plastic making it rust-free!

Available at Rexall, London Drugs, Loblaws, Jean Coutu and Uniprix.

No matter what you use the downside to de-furring such a delicate area is that you are bound to end up with razor bumps and ingrown hairs - go check the boy's medicine cabinet and steal his:

Tend Skin - 118ml - $20 - for unsightly razor bumps, burn and ingrown hair - what used to be used on the boy's face and neck also works great on our legs, underarms and bikini lines! Apply it morning and night on dry skin until the problem clears up - it feels soothing so the affected area will feel better right away - and then daily to maintain. Outside of hair removal, it's also great on skin irritated for any reason, I've been using it on mosquito bites this summer and it takes the sting right away!

You can grab some when you are perusing the new fall nail colours - Nail Polish Canada is now carrying it - www.nailpolishcanada.com.

- Lisamarie -

Men become even manlier with new products from Vichy, Gillette, L'Oréal, Kérastase, Nivea, Dove, Head & Shoulders, Clear and Vaseline!

I don't know about you, but I hate it when my husband uses my products - for a couple of reasons: a) their girl products so they tend to have girly scents but mostly b) they're freakin' expensive and I know he has no idea/appreciation for the pricey cream that he just slathered twice as much as he needed of all over his face/body/whatever!

By buying the boy his very own products not only do I get good wife brownie points - more importantly, it keeps my own stuff safe! Here are some great choices to hook your own product-stealer up with:

Vichy Code Purete has a new collection of men’s skincare products to help with all the crappy things that happen with men's skin including: shine, blackheads, a few blemishes and shaving cuts - with an easy-to-follow 3 step collection tackles them all, giving him a wonderfully healthy looking complexion.

Purifying Cleansing Gel  - 100ml - $17 - a foaming cleanser that eliminates excess sebum which is known for causing imperfections. Contains a combination of LHA, Salicylic Acid and Glycolic Acid to provide a deep clean and exfoliation to recover skin’s radiance and eliminate blemishes.
Purifying Shaving Foam - 200ml - $13.50 - works to eliminate micro shaving cuts which are a breeding ground for blemish causing bacteria. With a soap-free formula that contains Salicylic Acid as well as Alum which has the ability to stop bleeding from micro cuts immediately and provides anti-bacterial properties.
Purifying Hydrating Fluid - 50ml - $25 - a light, emulsified fluid moisturizer that penetrates deep into the skin leaving it feeling soft, smooth and refreshed.

Gillette Fusion has a new line to help take the suckiness out of shaving:

Fusion 3-in-1 ProGlide Styler - $24.99 - offers one easy tool for all of your styling needs for both face and body: trim - with 3 combs for custom length; shave - with comfort and closeness; and edge - designed for crisp, defined lines.
Fusion ProGlide Clear Shave Gel - 175ml - $7.49 - a non-foaming gel that makes it easy to see where to shave and to edge accurately. Formulated with advanced lubricants for incredible glide, comfort and smoothness.
Fusion ProSeries Intense Cooling Lotion - 100ml - $6.99 - with a hydrating, lightweight formula that helps provide instant cooling relief to just shaved skin.

L'Oréal Men Expert Vita Lift Anti-Age Force Lifting & Fortifying Serum - 50ml - $15.99 - this light-weight and ultra-fresh serum offers an instant lifting effect to the skin as well as providing deep action fortification to help make skin visibly stronger and immediately toned. With hybridur - a dual network of stiff and soft polymers for an immediate tensing effect on skin; hepes - an exfoliating agent to improve skin's quality; botanical extract - to fortify skin's elastic network; LHA - to stimulate cellular regeneration; and ADS - to fortify the skin's natural resistance.

Kérastase Homme offers new products for all of his styling needs:

Ultra-Fixing Densifying Gel - 200ml - $36 - provides control and long-lasting hold for normal to thick hair that is easy to style but never sticky.

Amplifying Sculpting Gum - 150ml - $36 - with an air-light expansive texture that offers  an immediate repulping effect that is great for normal to thinning hair.

Available at Kérastase salons and www.kerastase.ca.

Nivea for Men Active Care Lip Balm - $2.99 - specially developed for men to provide long-lasting protection without leaving any shine on the lips. The fragrance-free formula contains hop extracts which quickly absorbs providing intensive moisturization and protection in all weather.

Dove Men + Care has a new face range with products that come in both Hydrate+ and Sensitive+ formulas including:

Face Wash - 148ml - $9.99 - effectively cleanses while fighting skin dryness
Shave Gel - 198g - $5.99 - with a rich, creamy loather that foams quickly and feels mild and gentle on the skin to help prevent discomfort from dryness
Post Shave Balm - 100ml - $9.99 - provides instant relief from discomfort due to dryness to leave skin feeling smooth and comfortable
Face Lotion - 50ml - $9.99 - with a fast absorbing, non-greasy formula that provides all-day hydration and broad spectrum SPF 15

As well, Dove Men + Care as a new styling range formulated with caffeine so you're hair can be as awake as you are (should be) and includes:

Fortifying Styling Gel - Define & Strong Hold - 207ml - $8.99 - with an alcohol free formula that keeps hair protected and in shape for a smooth finish and resilient hair
Fortifying Styling Paste - Sculpt & Texture - 49g - $8.99 - texturizes hair to keep it smooth and stylish with a matte finish
Fortifying Spray Gel - Control & Medium Hold - 198ml - $8.99 - with an alcohol-free formula that fortifies and provides reworkable hold for a wet look without stiffness or stickiness

Too lazy for both shampoo and conditioner? Then a 2 in 1 is perfect! Try:

Head & Shoulders Men 2 in 1 Deep Clean - 420ml - $5.99 - with citrus and mint extracts for deep cleaning with light conditioning for healthy looking hair that starts at the scalp.

Clear Men Scalp Therapy 2 in 1 Scalp Comfort Anti-Dandruff - 381ml - $7.99 - clinically proven to soothe scalp itch and nourish deeply by hydrating the scalp.

Dove Men + Care Sensitive Scalp 2 in 1 - 355ml - $7.99 - formulated with caffeine and tea tree extract for dry, itchy scalps to gently clean scalp and condition hair

And for the same lazy guy who doesn't want to use more then one product to moisturize both his face and body - Vaseline MEN Fast Absorbing Hydrating Body and Face Lotion - 325ml - $5.99, 600ml - $8.99 - available in regular, unfragranced and extra strength versions that can be used daily on both face and body to relieve dry skin and keep skin resilient and healthy looking.

All products can be found now at drug and/or mass retailers across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Old school hair removal with a modern twist from Venus & Olay, Bic and eos!

With so many hair removal options out there, shaving is something I rarely do anymore other then armpits and for those I usually just use a cheap-o razor and then wonder why they always feel irritated afterwards! Mystery solved - a decent razor and a little shave cream and irritation is a thing of the past! Here are my faves right now:

Gillette Satin Care with a Touch of Olay - $3.49 - contains shea butter which makes it great for dry skin and protects the skin against moisture loss during your shave and Gillette Venus & Olay Razor - $11.99 (replacement cartridges also available - 3 pack - $17.83) - with 5 blades and an Olay moisture bar with skin conditioners that keep your shave from feeling rough. Because of the moisture bar you don't necessarily have to use a separate shave cream but I find it a lot more comfortable when I take advantage of both!

Bic Soleil Bella - 8 pack - $6.99 - offers 4 e-z rinse blades that adjust to all your curves, a pivoting head and rubber grip for ultimate comfort and a soothing moisture strip enriched with coconut milk.

 eos Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream - $3.99 - in 2 fragrances: Pomegranate Raspberry and Vanilla Bliss as well as a Sensitive - Fragrance Free version - and packed with natural aloe, oat, shea butter and antioxidant vitamins E & C for a shave that smells good, is ultra moisturizing and leaves your skin looking radiantly healthy. I really appreciate the plastic bottle - no more nasty rusty bottles in your shower!

Available at London Drugs, Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall, Safeway Pharmacy, Sobeys and Uniprix.

- Lisamarie -