Even though the Beauty Brains don’t do traditional reviews, from time to time we like to share new products that we’re trying. We want you to know that we received free samples in exchange for a mention on our blog and that we’re not necessarily recommending you buy anything. We’re just sharing new product news; please do your own research before you buy.

Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick

Here’s what the manufacturer says: “Lasting Finish Lipstick by Rimmel London locks colour to lips for up to 8 hours wear. 50% more colour. Soft, smooth, comfortable formula.”  It contains an “added Black Diamond Pigment Complex for even more radiant color.”

Technical assessment: Aesthetically this is a very nice lipstick. It has great application properties, feels great on the lips, and it even tastes great! Technically it’s interesting for the inclusion of “Diamond Powder.” Apparently this ingredient is the latest rage in mineral makeup products. I assume from the product claims (as stated above) that the diamond powder is part of the “Black Diamond Pigment Complex” since diamond dust alone would not increase the radiance of the color. I also assume the dust is present at very low levels because 1) cost and 2) abrasivity. A lot of diamond dust would feel grainy and scratchy.

Ingredients

RICINUS COMMUNIS (CASTOR) SEED OIL, CANDELILLA CERA/EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX/CIRE DE CANDELILLA, OCTYLDODECANOL, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, MYRISTYL LACTATE, VP/ HEXADECENE COPOLYMER, OZOKERITE, LANOLIN, CASTOR OIL/IPDI COPOLYMER, MEADOWFOAM ESTOLIDE, MYRISTYL MYRISTATE, PARFUM/ FRAGRANCE, SILICA, BENZYL BENZOATE, DI-PPG-3 MYRISTYL ETHER ADIPATE, DIPENTAERYTHRITYL HEXA C5-9 ACID ESTERS, SORBITAN SESQUIOLEATE, TOCOPHEROL, PROPYLPARABEN, COPERNICIA CERIFERA CERA/ COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX/CIREDE CARNAUBA, DIAMOND POWDER, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, BENZYL SALICYLATE, BENZYL CINNAMATE, LINALOOL, AQUA/WATER/EAU, CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA (MATRICARIA) FLOWER/ LEAF EXTRACT, CUCUMIS SATIVUS (CUCUMBER) FRUIT EXTRACT, TIN OXIDE, CINNAMYL ALCOHOL, EUGENOL. [MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR/+/-: MICA, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), D&C RED NO. 7 CALCIUM LAKE (CI 15850), D&C RED NO. 6 BARIUM LAKE (CI 15850), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), FD&C YELLOW NO. 5 ALUMINUM LAKE (CI 19140), FD&C YELLOW NO. 6 ALUMINUM LAKE (CI 15985), D&C RED NO. 27 ALUMINUM LAKE (CI 45410), D&C RED NO. 6 (CI 15850), D&C RED NO. 28 ALUMINUM LAKE (CI 45410), D&C RED NO. 33 ALUMINUM LAKE (CI 17200), FD&C BLUE NO. 1 ALUMINUM LAKE (CI 42090), CARMINE (CI 75470)].

Image credit: rimmellondon.com

Hairbanglez

Hairbanglez (Hairbanglez.com) is a brand new product launching this month (January 2012). Here’s the scoop:  Almost every girl never leaves with a hair elastic wrapped around her wrist. When you’re having a bad hair day or just need to put it up for convenience, that elastic on your wrist is indispensable! Unfortunately, that same hair elastic that saves you in a pinch can leave you with an unsightly red mark.  Hairbanglez is a chic way to carry your spare hair elastic.  Each glossy lucite plastic Hairbangle has an indented groove designed to hold one elastic hair band. You simply pop the band in and out.

We did our own mini-consumer research (very mini!) by sharing the bangles with 3 different ages (30-something, 20-something, and teen-something.) The consensus was that this product  really does solve the “red-marked wrist problem.”  Those who already wear regular bangles thinks it’s a great idea; those with normally naked wrists thought it was clever but not compelling enough to make them change their habits and start wearing bangles.

BTW,  the Left Brain wanted to evaluate the elastic limit of bands worn with and without the Hairbanglez to determine the yield strength of the elastic material, ie., if the relationship between stress and strain had become nonlinear.  (I think someone’s been watching too much Big Bang Theory!)

What do YOU think. Would you wear an extra bangle to get rid of the pony tail holder around your wrist? Leave a comment and share your thoughts with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.

Some weeks ago the good folks at Philips sent the Beauty Brains a free electric shaver (Philips Norelco) to try out and write about what we think. This is a little different than other types of posts we do but shaving is not a topic that we cover very often and it is definitely beauty related. As a long time blade user, I was a bit skeptical about the benefits of an electric shaver but thought I’d give it a try. Here are some of the obvious benefits.

Benefits of an electric shaver

There are a number of benefits that an electric shaver has over a standard blade. These include.

1. More convenient – To use an electric shaver you don’t even need a sink. You can do it on a dry skin surface and where you are doesn’t really matter. Definitely a plus for people on the go.

2. Less chance of cutting yourself – I nick myself all the time with blades so it is nice to not have to worry about that. It would be pretty difficult to cut yourself with this Phillips.

3. Faster – Since you don’t need to have a sink and shaving cream, the electric shaver is arguably faster. However, it can take longer to get a close shave so while it might be faster, it’s not a lot faster.

4. Lasts longer – The electric shaver will definitely last longer than a bag full of blades. But will this be worth it over the long run? We’ll look at that in a moment.

5. Feels better – Unless it’s the first time I’m using a blade, shaving with a blade hurts. The electric shaver definitely feels better and more gentle on skin.

Downside to an electric shaver

But it’s not all peaches and cream with this shaver. Consider the negatives.

1. Not as close – No matter how hard I try, the shave I get with the electric shaver is not as close as with a blade. Having said that it still gives a close enough shave so this isn’t a huge problem.  And maybe it’s because I’m getting older but it was tricky to shave on my neck as the skin moves around too much.  A blade is a little easier.

2. Needs to be charged – This is a disadvantage if you happen to be somewhere without an outlet. Of course there aren’t too many bathrooms without electricity so this also isn’t a huge problem.

3. Less portable – While you can certainly travel with this Phillips shaver it is not nearly as easy as traveling with a blade.

4. More expensive – This is perhaps the biggest problem with the electric shaver.

Worth the price?

This is the biggest question about the product. Yes, it is a good shaver and yes it has some benefits over the blades. But are the benefits worth the cost?

Here’s how I figure it.

Blades that I use cost about $9 for a three-pack or $3 a blade. A single blade lasts just about 15-20 shaves. That calculates out to 15 – 20 cents per shave. Add in the cost of shaving cream and it gets closer to 23 cents a shave.

The Norelco Sensotouch costs $189 through Drugstore.com. If you shave every day that comes out to ~51 cents per shave in one year. If the product lasts you 2 years, your costs go down to approximately 25 cents a shave. This is closer to what blades will cost.

Beauty Brains bottom line

In the end, the Norelco Sensotouch is slightly more expensive. But when you consider some of the other benefits (less chance of cutting, speed, ease) it may be worth it for you to purchase for the man in your life. Overall, this Philips Norelco 3D Sensotouch is a good product which I’ll probably incorporate into my daily routine.

Image credit: Indiavilas.com

Here’s a good example of beauty and brains coming together: a gadget that allows you to attach lip balm to your watch, your cell phone, your pager, or other portable electronic device. It even works on sunglasses!

It’s called “Care4lipz” and you can read about it here. The manufacturer, First Dutch Europe B.V., offers this tiny techy tub with lip balm or lip gloss and with UV sunscreen in a variety of flavors.

It makes us wonder what opportunities there are for other miniature marvels. How about small packs of breath mints? Maybe a tiny tube of mascara?

It’s not exactly nanotechnology, but it is pretty cool! Of course, it would be cooler if they made it in pink.

Note: I just found out that  Care4Lipz went out of business and that the the original US inventor Erik Nordskog, Promo Lip Balm has re-branded the original Zebug for the North American retail market.  The product now sells under the brand name Lip Pods. Details can be found at http://www.lippods.com.

While the Beauty Brains focuses on dispelling myths about beauty products here are some others trying to burst the bogus bubble in other areas.

1. On Nutrition: See Medical News Today – Dispelling the Top 10 Nutrition Myths.

2. On Exercise: See About.com – Fitness Myths.

3. On General Science: See Livescience – Most Popular Myths in Science.

4. On Urban Legends: Try Snopes.com

5. On the Environment: Discover Magazine – Environmental Myths.

And let’s not forget one of our favorite shows on TV. Mythbusters! We love Adam and Jamie.