Topic: product review

Beauty Product Review: Lavanila Laboratories Healthy Deodorant

What it is: The Healthy Deodorant by Lavanila Laboratories

What’s in it: Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Alpha-Glucan oligosaccharide (sugar derived), carrageenan, goji berry, valerian, corn starch, and more – the full list of ingredients varies depending on the scent.

What’s not in it: Aluminum, petrochemicals, phthalates, propylene glycol, mineral oils, silicone, synthetic dyes, sulfates, or parabens.

What it feels like: A little rough going on — the bar is really solid, and pressing hard to apply can be painful to sensitive or razor-burned skin — but once it’s on, you’ll be dry and happy and vanilla-scented.

What it smells like: The bad news? You’re out of luck if you don’t like vanilla. The five available scents — Vanilla Passion Fruit, Vanilla Lavender, Pure Vanilla, Vanilla Coconut, and Vanilla Grapefruit — are all variations on a theme. The good news is that all of the scent combinations are true to their names, so no extraneous chemical or floral scents. More »

Bring Sexy Back Home: Zumba Fitness Video Game

I’m a closeted aerobics lover. I’d rather be learning a dance-y routine than busting my ass on the treadmill, and I even like the awful ’80s music that blares as I lunge. That’s obviously what attracted me to the Zumba Fitness Program. While not a regular Zumba class-goer, I had tried the Latin/urban dance fitness fusion program a few times. So when I heard that Zumba was launching an at-home Zumba Fitness Video Game, I was so excited, I started shimmying. More »

Naya Shoes: Eco-Friendly Footwear That Isn’t Ugly!

We’re all about comfortable shoes at Blisstree, but we don’t want to walk around in orthopedics. And shoes that transition easily from day to night are a bonus, as are ones made from eco-friendly materials. A five-inch-tall order, yes. But Naya Shoes fulfill all these requirements, and then some.

As soon as we laid eyes on the complimentary pair of shoes we got from Naya, we could tell there was something different about them. Yes, they have the chunky heels and soft contours of a “comfort” shoe (ugh). But you know what? That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Just because they don’t have the points and stilettos of other brands doesn’t mean that they’re going to embarrass your entire ensemble. And, your chances of wiping out on the sidewalk are much lower — which we consider a plus. More »

She Essential Beauty: Skin Care to Balance Your Qi (and Acne)

Acupuncture has become far more mainstream in the past few years, but the ancient Chinese practice of using needles, cupping, and herbs to balance your chi, clear your energy pathways, and cure your ailments still intimidates many of us (along with the pricey treatments that are rarely covered by insurance). That’s why I’m a big fan of She Essential Beauty, a line of organic skincare products based on ancient Chinese medicine and are far from intimidating and pretty affordable. More »

Long, Healthy Hair Can Be Yours: Find Out How From an Expert

Want thick, healthy hair? Of course you do. Read Cat Marnell’s Lemondrop <post about how to get the hair of your dreams.

I’ve been obsessed with Long Hair Community — the vaguely creepy site for people who like to take photos of themselves sitting on their long, long hair, then post them on the Internet to brag about it — for years.

Just read the message boards with posts titled things like “I FINALLY HAVE MY FAIRY-TALE HAIR!”. It’s addicting. They’ve got a lot to teach me about growing my hair to levels of Rapunzel-worthy epic-ness, and I can’t get enough. More »