REVIEW: My First Girl Razor, the Gillette Venus Swirl

My 13 year old daughter just began shaving and I'm happy to say, the Gillette® Venus® Swirl is her first razor. I've been shaving for 35 years and... don't laugh... it's MY first girl razor too!

Disclosure: ChiIL Mama's thrilled to ChiIL out this summer in Chi, IL and beyond with the Gillette® Venus® Swirl™! Thanks to Influenster & Gillette Venus for the complimentary review sample. As always, all opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any other way for this review.

When I turned 12, many of my peers began to shave their legs and the kids in junior high began to make fun of the girls who still had hairy legs or (gasp) fuzzy arm pits. My very first razor was a generic, navy blue disposable, and I nicked, gouged and scraped myself more times than I can count while learning to shave with that. 

In the intervening decades I moved to better quality razors and away from disposables entirely, but most of the "girl razors" were cheesy, more expensive than the boys versions, and a heinous shade of pink plastic that reminded me more of a flu remedy than something I'd ever want to shave with. I went with the cool, black or silver metal ones instead. When I married, my husband and I each had our own metal boy Gillette® razors and shared the blades. 

Now that my daughter's ready to join the ranks of the shaving, I stared at the razor displays till I went cross eyed, trying to find out if the girl razors' claims of curves, colors, control and motion actually made one wit of difference in actual shaving quality. Do the wider handle, swivel ball and five smaller blades really help while balancing flamingo like on one soapy foot and contorting to shave shin bones, ankles and knees? I really couldn't tell in the store.

That's why I was elated to be chosen to try out and review the Gillette® Venus® Swirl. My daughter and I were both able to shave easily without drawing blood. The swivel ball actually does glide over those tough, bony spots easier. Thankfully technology has improved quite a bit in the field of razors since the early 80's, and not just superficially, like curves and freakin' pastel pink! 

We both dig the blues of the Gillette® Venus® Swirl™ and the cool color palette of the packaging with purples and multiple blues. The fan detailing is fun. And most importantly, it works great. Highly recommended.

Disclosure: ChiIL Mama's thrilled to ChiIL out this summer in Chi, IL and beyond with the Gillette® Venus® Swirl™! Thanks to Influenster & Gillette Venus for the complimentary review sample. As always, all opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any other way for this review.

PRODUCT REVIEW: Dove Dry Spray for Men and Women

I was genuinely surprised and pleased with Dove's new spray antiperspirant. I'm a solid kind of girl and the last time I used a spray was back in the sticky, wet days and I hated it. This one truly goes on instantly dry and keeps on working for two days! It's super easy to apply, too, just shake twice and spray on. 

Disclosure: Thanks to Influenster for choosing me to review Dove's new men's and women's dry spray on deodorant. I was given a complimentary sample for review purposes. I was not compensated in any other way. As always, all opinions are my own.

I tried the cucumber scent and love it! I avoid heavy, perfume scents and generally like unscented or a light, natural scent and this one's great. I tend to give antiperspirants a work out and need something strong. This one passed the smell and wetness test with ease.

My 14 year old son and husband both tried the Men Care version. My son is like me and needs something strong. My husband can get away with deodorant and freakishly he barely sweats, even when he's working hard or it's hot out. It worked well for both of them. We like that this is long lasting and doesn't leave white marks or stains on clothes. 

Choose from six unique fragrances: Nourished Beauty, Plus Cool Essentials, Revive, Beauty Finish, Skin Renew or Sensitive.

Disclosure: Thanks to Influenster for choosing me to review Dove's new men's and women's dry spray on deodorant. I was given a complimentary sample for review purposes. I was not compensated in any other way. As always, all opinions are my own.

Beauty Review Dessange Shampoo #JAdoreDessange #InfluensterVox #Beauty #Dessange

Over the years, it's been our pleasure to be part of Influenster. They've sent us numerous Vox Boxes of fun products to review. This time, we got to review Dessange Shampoo, Conditioner and Color Correcting Cream for blonde hair. This fabulous French brand is new to the US, but they've been a European favorite for years.




Disclaimer: Thanks to Influenster and Dessange for sending review samples our way. As always, all opinions are our own. I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

I'm a natural blonde, but decided to go over to the "dark side" for a few years with a blueblack dye. So the past year I've had to bleach my hair repeatedly to strip out the black, then re dye it as close to my medium blonde natural color as I could find. Dessange helped my hair shine, and look amazing, on the parts that were damaged by the treatments AND my own natural color that's grown in.

The color correcting worked fast and well to eliminate any harsh or brassy look.

DESSANGE Paris California Blonde Brass Color Correcting Creme

Product description

DESSANGE Paris introduces the California Blonde collection, a nourishing hair care system designed to moisturize and protect color treated blonde hair. Blonde is a fragile shade that can lose its luster, fade, and weaken with time, so it is important to protect your shade as soon as you color. The special formula, enriched with passion flower extract, delivers infallible shine and luminosity for a radiant blonde color.

A weekly in-shower treatment formulated with Linseed oil and blue pigments to neutralize brassiness and nourish the hair.

You can see the shine from this "illuminating" shampoo and conditioner. They smell luxurious, too.

DESSANGE Paris California Blonde Illuminating Shampoo

Product description

DESSANGE Paris introduces the California Blonde collection, a nourishing hair care system designed to moisturize and protect color treated blonde hair. Blonde is a fragile shade that can lose its luster, fade, and weaken with time, so it is important to protect your shade as soon as you color. The special formula, enriched with passion flower extract, delivers infallible shine and luminosity for a radiant blonde color.

This brightening shampoo gently cleanses and nourishes hair to enhance shine, color radiance and softness. 

Check it out for yourself! I'm glad I did.

DESSANGE Paris California Blonde Illuminating Conditioner

Product description

DESSANGE Paris introduces the California Blonde collection, a nourishing hair care system designed to moisturize and protect color treated blonde hair. Blonde is a fragile shade that can lose its luster, fade, and weaken with time, so it is important to protect your shade as soon as you color. The special formula, enriched with passion flower extract, delivers infallible shine and luminosity for a radiant blonde color.

This ultra-nourishing conditioner wraps hair with moisture from root to tip, smoothing and taming dry, unruly strands. 

Disclaimer: Once again, thanks to Influenster and Dessange for sending review samples our way. As always, all opinions are our own. I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.