It takes a leap of faith to invest in a new beauty buy and of course, it’s disappointing to get stuck with a product that’s not quite right for you. That’s why – in addition to our members’ spot-on critiques – we like to bring you expert reviews: so you know exactly what you’re in for, before you part with your hard-earned cash. Whether you’re in the market for a hair removal product, a hair styling wonder, a fab new mascara or an exercise tool, here’s what we had to say about four new finds…
“I’m all for time-saving beauty products, especially when it comes to those not-so-fun tasks like hair removal. When I heard that the Nair Shower Power Max Hair Removal Cream works while you shower, I couldn’t wait to give it a go. After smoothing the cream over both legs, I left it on for one minute before stepping into the shower. The scent was really subtle, and I needed to use about three pumps to cover both legs completely. The cream is water-resistant, so I wasn’t worried about water running over my legs in the shower. After three minutes, I used a washcloth to gently remove the cream using circular motions. The results? Smooth, soft, fuzz free pins!”
“I’ve been using the TONI&GUY Hair Care Casual Rough Texturiser for about a fortnight now and I seriously wonder how I ever lived without it before. It’s perfect for adding texture to your hair and eliminating any greasiness. I’ve got fine, flat and oily hair, so I always need something on hand to give me a bit of oomph. This is the ideal product because it’s halfway between a dry shampoo and a hairspray. It perks up my second-day hair (bye, bye grease!) and makes the styling process much easier.”
“I use an eyelash curler every day and although my lashes look super curly right after I use it, they tend to droop as the day progresses. While I wouldn’t give up using the curler to get that initial curl, this mascara definitely helped to keep the curl all day long, which was fantastic. As far as volume goes, I didn’t notice much with my usual two coats (I’m generally too lazy to apply three), but when I had time to build it up a bit more, my lashes looked really thick and luscious – without the dreaded clumps. The wand has a large, curved brush, which makes it easy to reach all your lashes. I also love the bright orange tube – such a nice point of difference to the nondescript mascaras I’m used to!”
Gym And Fitness Freeform Walker and Light Runner Treadmill ($399, gymandfitness.com.au)
bh’s Sam says…
“I am the queen of excuses when it comes to exercise. So for the sake of my health, I was pretty excited to have a treadmill in the office, to render the usual ‘I have a dinner on tonight’ or ‘I would, but it’s raining’ excuses invalid. This way, I could exercise on my lunch break, no matter the weather. The treadmill itself is pretty compact. It was easy to set up (I’d say it takes about 20-30 minutes to set up from start to finish) and doesn’t take up too much room. But since it’s a little on the small side, the running strip is quite narrow, so it’s best for walking or light jogging (which was totally fine by me). The best thing about working out on the treadmill was knowing how far I’d run, how long for and how many calories I’d burned. These numbers showed up on the screen as I ran – it was very motivating! There are also buttons on the handles so I could easily adjust the speed and press stop without losing concentration. Overall, I think this treadmill would be ideal for people of a moderate fitness level who are keen to fit in a workout every day.”
