bath and body

L'Occitane Eau des Baux Stick Deodorant had two things going for it: it's an alcohol-free formula which I thought would be great for the husband's sensitive skin, and the scent- a blend of cypress and cool incense- is beautiful.

 I picked the deodorant the last time I was at my local L'Occitane store and happily gave it to the Blond. He was delighted with the scent and eager to try it on. The good news is that his armpits have never smelled so good. The bad news is that it only lasted for a few hours before nature took its course. I tried the Eau des Baux Stick myself on a day I was not going to leave the house (a lesson learned from other deodorant testings) and had to agree- it doesn't work unless you're willing and able to reapply every three to four hours.

Bottom Line: Get the shower gel instead.

L'Occitane Eau des Baux Stick Deodorant ($16) is available at every L'Occitane store and online.

Photo: esquire.com

Yes, I know women don't sweat. They glisten. Whatever you call it, we are all familiar with the good fight against stink and underarm stains. Frankly, there are very few topics more boring than this, which is why I rarely blog about deodorants. I go to Target, scan the shelves to see if there's anything new and usually end up buying a solid or a gel from the men's section. The masculine products are usually quite effective and they tend to smell better than those tropical cucumber orchard things manufactured for women.

But I got curious enough about the idea of Secret's Clinical Strength line which promises to be comparable to prescription strength products. These deodorants/antiperspirants contain a high dosage (20%) of the active ingredient and a supposedly more effective formula. The instructions say to apply the product at night, right before bedtime because during the night the sweating mechanism slows down and the formula was designed to be activated and take advantage of the body’s natural temperature variations and react with the skin for an improved performance.  They claim it  will protect you the whole next day even if you bathe or shower the next morning.

I was a bit wary, but surprisingly they were right. Not that it matters much when I ignore the instructions and apply right after showering, but it's definitely very effective when applied the night before, no matter what you do the next day or how warm the weather gets. Ever since I started using Clinical Strength, I no longer had to think about my deodorant and never experienced wetness, ripeness and all the other joys that come with having underarms.

Bottom Line: If only there was a cure to the white deodorant residue on black camisoles my world be that much more complete.

Secret Clinical Strength Advanced Solid Antiperspirant/Deodorant is available from most drugstores for about $11.50. It might be found online for a little less.

Image: A 1977 ad for Secret deodorant featuring Cheryl Tiegs from pzrservices.typepad.com

It's becoming pretty clear that if one is looking for good anti-aging hand lotions, the place to find them is at companies and brands that specialize in serious skin care and produce the best treatments for your face. it makes sense, after all. While greasy creams and petroleum gel-based products have their place when you need a buffer between harsh conditions and your skin, they don't nourish or restore your hands, and definitely have no anti-aging properties.

I've been going through sample tubes of Cellular Performance Intensive Hand Treatment by Kanebo Sensai and have nothing but praise for it. It actually plumps the skin and makes my hand not just feel better but also look smoother. The best part is how the cream sink right in leaving no residue on the surface. It's not greasy at all- I can thoroughly slather my hands and then pet the fluffiest of my cats and no hair would stick to me (I have creative testing methods).

I'm often asked about age spots, but I don't have any on my hands so I can't tell you if this Kanebo cream would make a significant difference. What I definitely see is that it keeps my skin very soft and nicely textured even in this weather. Considering I'm prone to scary parching, I'm very happy with it. Not seeing a dry cuticle in weeks has also been a very nice bonus.

Bottom line: Worth the price.

Sensai by Kanebo Cellular Performance Intensive Hand Treatment ($90 for 3.4 oz) is exclusive to Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. I've received several samples as GWP and from the company's PR team.

Photo by Rene Zuber, 1930

It's the time of the year the skin on my body and I become estranged and try to crawl out of each other. It ain't pretty. I fight the good fight. I take my vitamins, slather, grease, beg and plead, and for the most part manage to avoid turning into a creepy crawler, but it takes work and products, and come January and February I turn to the big guns. I've already tried some of the most amazing products on the market, those priced in the three digit range and they really work (they'd better). I was considering buying a jar or two when I decided to give Lancome a chance and ordered their Nutrix Royal Body Cream. I can't help it- I hear something contains royal jelly and I must try it. Not sure where this fixation came from.

My one and only issue with Lancome body products has always been the scent. They smell synthetic and fruity, and Nutrix Royal Body Cream isn't different in that regard, though by the time I get dressed it's mostly gone. The important part, though, is performance. Nutrix Royal delivers like a cream that costs three times as much and continuous use has lingering effect. I haven't touched any other body cream in more than three weeks and haven't seen that ugly dry earth pattern on my legs since then.

Bottom line: I don't know if its the royal jelly, but this cream is made of awesome.

Lancôme Nutrix Royal Body Cream ($34) is available from Lancome counters everywhere and the company's website. I ordered it online.

Photo: images.com