Downy Wrinkle Releaser - A Must Have

Are you traveling this holiday season? Then, you won't want to leave without packing a travel size bottle of Downy Wrinkle Releaser.

We have been using this product for years. You can tell by the evolution of the packaging, all of which we have owned. (A little proof that we are loyal users of this product.)

Downy Wrinkle Releaser, Travel Size.

The travel size bottles above  are 3 oz. The most current packaging is on the right. This size currently meets TSA standards for carry-on baggage as long as it's in a clear Ziplock bag and put through security per their instructions. You can find it in the travel item section of Target, or get a large bottle in the laundry aisle.

Downy Wrinkle Releaser

Why We Love It: This product gets the fold marks out of clothes that were tightly packed in a suitcase. It refreshes your clothes, and you don't have to iron. The large bottles work great at home too!

To Use:  Hold bottle a few inches from your garment, and spray. Tug lightly on your clothing to smooth. That's it! The video below made us smile, and illustrates proper use.

Notes: We have tried Downy Wrinkle Releaser on every type of fabric we own: Dry clean only, silks, cotton, denim, and more. We have never had an issue. If you are unsure, test it in an inconspicuous place. The spray has a pleasant, unisex, fresh laundered scent that is not overpowering.

Cons: Downy Wrinkle Releaser won't give you the perfect, crisp look of ironing. It does, however, make your clothes passable and virtually wrinkle-free where you use it.

The first commercial for Downy Wrinkle Releaser (waayyyy back) originally showed a teenage boys spraying it on dirty clothes. We thought it wasn't something we would ever try, until a friend who hates ironing recommended it. We've been using it ever since. People always borrow it when we travel, so get your own bottle (especially if you have teenage boys.) LOL.

This product definitely gets a Glambo Kiss of Approval!

At-Home Haircuts? Get Conair Barber Shears.

Imagine walking into a hair salon and seeing the Cosmetologist pull out a pair of regular household scissors and whack away at someone’s hair. You’d be horrified, right? So, why would you do this at home?

Licensed hair stylists complete well over 1200 hours of education in most U.S. states, sometimes drastically more. They spend hundreds of dollars on their scissors and maintain them with regular sharpening. Some stylists don’t charge for bang trims, and most that do have a minimal fee ($5-$12 in most salons.) So, Glambo is going to recommend that you never take the scissors to your own hair. But… if you do…

Here is some advice for those occasions where you just need a backup plan, like a slight bang trim before a night out or - gasp! - when the pro missed a piece during a recent salon visit. If you are going to cut your own hair (or your child’s or husband’s) don’t ever do it in a hurry. This will surely backfire. Take your time and make the victim family member sit still. And PLEASE, use scissors that are specifically designed for cutting hair.

Conair sells 5 ½ inch barbering shears in fun colors and designs for roughly $12 U.S. at stores like Walmart and Target. These scissors have an extended piece to place your ring finger, which should assist you in steadying your hand and in angling the shears better during the haircut. They also come with a case for the ends, making them easy to store (and hide from your family. You know they’ll try to snag them for another purpose, which is a no-no.) We are not a fan of cutting your hair at home, but if you do, decent hair shears are a must! Conair helps fill that need, and therefore, Conair Barber Shears get a Glambo Kiss of Approval.

Hollywood Accessory Dots

I found this little gizmo, and it saved me big-time when I was going to a wedding last weekend.

With wrap dresses being in style this season and very figure flattering, I tried on several before selecting one to wear to a party. The problem? The wrap dresses seem to be wide open in the front - at least on me. We are not talking about showing a little cleavage here. It shows half the bra. I finally picked a dress that I thought would work with a safety pin, although I hate buying clothes and then having to alter them. Anyway, I walked by these Accessory Dots, and thought I would give them a try.

Love them! They worked like a charm. They are sticky enough to hold everything in place, but are not obnoxious to remove when you go to wash your garment. For less than $6.00 US, you can expand your wardrobe choices, and avoid putting holes in your clothes. So, unlike Cami Secret (which we know does not work,) these nickel sized Hollywood Accessory Dots get a Glambo Kiss of Approval.

Why Does Everyone Love Hempz?

Every time we go to beauty supply, we sample the Hempz moisturizers, but had yet to buy a batch of them to try and review. Last week, we finally got an entire seventeen ounce bottle of the Pomegranate Herbal Body Moisturizer and have been hooked ever since. We knew that the brand was extremely popular, and now understand what all the buzz was about.

Instead of completely regurgitating the praise and information from the Hempz website, we’ll give you a quick synopsis and let you click that link to read more. Basically, all Hempz products contain 100% pure, organic hemp seed oil. They are hydrating, and ‘contain anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties to dramatically moisturize skin while minimizing fine lines and wrinkles’ while remaining 100% vegan, paraben free and gluten free. Add to that the antioxidant properties of pomegranates, along with shea butter and vitamins, and we have a hit.

Hempz Herbal Body Moisturizer has a medium consistency. It’s smooth and dispenses easily without being watery or overly greasy. It has a light, fresh scent; a little fruity-floral with an undertone of a note that we can’t quite place, but not to worry, you won’t end up smelling like pot!

While we procrastinated in reviewing Hempz products, others have not. We just discovered that it was an Allure Editors Favorite of the Week, and celebrities like Katy Perry have been known to use their Herbal Body Moisturizer.

Although we wish the Hempz price point was lower ($16-$24 retail,) we’ll give Hempz Herbal Body Moisturizer a Glambo Kiss of Approval.

Neutrogena One Step Gentle Cleanser

Glambo truly is your girlfriend’s guide to beauty. Even we Glambo Girls consult our dearest friends occasionally for beauty advice. One glamorous diva we know has sensitive skin, and is extremely diligent about her nightly routine. I have never known her to skip a night of removing her make-up, which is more than we can say (especially when we give a new mascara the ‘sleep test.’)

So, we asked this gorgeous honorary Glambo Girl, ‘What are you currently using to remove your make-up at night?’ She responded with a glowing recommendation for Neutrogena One Step Gentle Cleanser.


We bought a bottle to try and review, and we are hooked. We like that it has a pump dispenser, making it convenient to use after a long day. It cleans while removing make-up, and isn‘t too harsh or drying. The bottle states that it removes eye make-up. However, we weren’t talented enough to properly lather the eye area without getting soap in our eyes. It did remove most of our eyeliner, etc., but we still prefer to use eye make-up remover first. We agree with our friend’s overall assessment, and will continue to use it daily.


Neutrogena One Step Gentle Cleanser seems to be a good solution for all ages and skin types, and for that reason, it gets a Glambo Kiss of Approval.

Goody Spin Pin

I've been wanting to try Goody Spin Pins for a while, mainly because it is difficult to find options to secure long, thick hair.  I'm happy to report that these work well. It took longer to get the pins out of the packaging that it did to figure out how to use them. My first attempt was a half-hearted one. After a while, some strands of hair did slip out of the hair style. When I took the time to twist the pins in all the way, everything stayed nicely in place. My 'do' even survived a game of basketball. The pins remain well-hidden within the hair, and do not hurt your head like some hair devices can do. They also don't snag or tangle your locks upon removal. They are easy to take in and out, thanks to the bent portion at the top of the pin. Just remember, 'lefty-loosey, righty-tighty.' For making it easy to anchor any updo painlessly into place, the Goody Spin Pin gets a Glambo Kiss of Approval.

Ped Eggs - Still a Favorite

Ped Eggs have been around for a while, and they have become a product that we love. At first, we resisted the commercials that seemed to be everywhere. We were finally converted when the manicurists at the salon were singing their praises. It's a great way to remove rough, dry skin from heels and other problem areas. If you haven't purchased a Ped Egg yet (or if you have worn out the one you already have,) Easter season might be time to buy this special type of egg. They come with a handle now, which is convenient for those that find it awkward to bend over to use the hand-held style. Ped Eggs are ergonomic, and are easy to use on dry feet before showering. We use a foot file to smooth after each Ped Egg use, and have even been known to use the Ped Egg before a pedicure appointment.

If you are still using a blade (which we were guilty of doing,) the Ped Egg is better. It makes the dry patches more manageable without the risk of cuts. Glambo suggests that you NEVER allow a manicurist to use a blade, since they are against State Board Regulations in most states.

Left side of photo:
 Ped Egg blade. It may look like a cheese grater, but it's a great tool for smoothing heels.

Right side of photo:

Handled blades which are often unsanitary, can cause injury, and are often illegal for professional manicurists to use on clients.


Do you have a Ped Egg? Ours gets a Glambo Kiss of Approval.

Get Your BIG FAT CHECK!!

We here at Glambo love our Beauty Products, but let's face it, in this economy, no one wants to spend a lot of money, but we all want to look and feel beautiful. One of our secret weapons for looking fabulous, and spending less is using EBATES.

It's easy. Just use the button on the top right hand side of our blog, or at the end of this post and it will take you to Ebates, where you can sign up in about 20 seconds flat. Once you're set up, you can shop all of the participating stores, earning rebates, which are paid quarterly. I have personally received many BIG FAT CHECKS in the mail from Ebates, especially after doing my Christmas shopping.

They have tons of participating stores, with substantial rebates. Lancome is 7%, Nordstrom is 5%, Sephora is 4%, and many offer free shipping. It all adds up. Today, their Double Daily Deal (double the rebate) is on Drugstore.com, and the rebate is 12% of your purchase!! So, register today, and make it a habit, whenever shopping online, to go to Ebates first, search for the store you want to shop, then click the link, which takes you to the store website, and keeps track of how much you spent, in order to tally up your BIG FAT CHECK, which you will receive quarterly.

Quick and Easy! This gets a big fat GLAMBO KISS OF APPROVAL!

For a quickstart, they deposit $5 in your rebate account as soon as you join. Just click the button below, or on the righthand top of our blog, and get started! After you sign in, you can even go to Drugstore.com and order some of the awesome eos (Evolution of Smooth) shavecream we reviewed a while back http://glamboblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/evolution-of-smooth-eos.html and get 12% while you get super smooth.

Happy Beauty Shopping!!

Shatter vs. Crackle: Bring it on!

The hype surrounding these nail polishes has been so tremendous that I can almost hear the theme from ‘'Rocky” playing. The contenders: OPI’s Katy Perry Black Shatter vs. China Glaze’s Crackle.

We’ve tried them both, and here is all the info you need to know about the two competitors:

OPI’s Black Shatter is still nearly impossible to get. It’s the first one of it’s kind to hit the market and it’s been extremely popular. (See Glambo post: “Black Shatter, Where are you?”) China Glaze’s crackle -in color! - was just released this week. If you polish your nails with either of these products, people will stop you to look. It’s a very cool effect and is definitely a conversation starter.

One thing we noted is that the OPI version grabs more heavily onto glitter polishes and gives more black coverage. To us, it seemed like more of a leather look than the leopard style spots the ad photos show. My first reaction after putting it over the light and pretty “Teenage Dream” was, “I didn’t want a Goth look.” But the more I looked at it, the more I liked it. The glitter sparkles through in the sun and I just couldn’t stop looking at my nails! Polishes with less glitter allow the Black Shatter to separate more, changing the effect and letting more of the base color show through.

We were curious about the China Glaze version because their polishes tend to be thinner than OPI’s. The China Glaze colors are very appealing as you can see in the video below. They come with packaged with a black nail polish and top coat. The colors crackle over the black base to give the effect.



The China Glaze black base polish was thinner, and I did one set of nails with one coat and one with two. The colored China Glaze Crackle polish went over the black, and it looked great. The Crackle glaze was thinner, which we liked. Using only one coat of black base didn’t seem to make much of a difference, so if you are in a hurry, you can skip that second coat. We like the idea of crackle colors over other colored nail polish. Our advice is that if you want a Black Shatter look, then use the black crackle or shatter over your favorite color - vs. painting your nails black first like China Glaze suggests. Both the OPI Black Shatter and China Glaze Crackle are a matte finish, so a top coat is essential for sheen and longevity.

We wondered, “How will they hold up?” I followed through by taking on the biggest opponent to any manicure: I spent a few hours filing paperwork. My nail polish did eventually chip, and it came off in large, thick chunks along the crackle lines. However, due to the nature of the imperfect shatter look, I was able to put just a little more Black Shatter on the tips, and follow up with another clear coat. It looked great again.

A few other things we noted:

The China Glaze colors appeared to be separating in our brand new bottles. Glambo suggests that you roll the bottle to mix it up well before polishing. Also, make sure that you wipe the top of the bottle after polishing and before you replace the lid. The shatter/crackle effect is drying and it makes the polish build up on the bottle edges. This will lead to a tough time twisting the bottle open later if the bottle isn’t cleaned properly.

We also like that the OPI version has a crackle lid, and the China Glaze clearly says, ‘crackle’ on the bottle. (I could just see myself grabbing a bottle from my polish stash a few months from now, not realizing that it was a crackle effect until it was too late.)

As of today, OPI’s Black Shatter is difficult to find. (Beware of E-Bay sellers that have ‘estimated’ shipment dates as they do not even have the product in stock.) The China Glaze colors are in demand, but seemed a little easier for us to get than the OPI version.

There are subtle differences, and we loved them both! The result: OPI’s Katy Perry Black Shatter and China Glaze’s Crackle each get Glambo’s Kiss of Approval.

Evolution of Smooth (eos)

Okay, ladies, Spring is upon us, and if you are the type to let your legs get all Sasquatch hairy during the winter, it's time to get smooth! Even if you're not that type, I have a product I think you will love.

At first, I was drawn to eos for this reason alone: I love to use shave cream when I shave in the shower. The result is smoother, softer, moisturized skin. However, I DEPLORE this: The nasty RUST RING left in the shower by most shave cream containers.

When I saw eos (evolution of smooth) shave cream, and it's (duh) brilliant, all plastic, recyclable bottle, I was smitten. Even better, it has a PUMP , so I don't have to fiddle with taking off the top, and using 2 hands to dispense the product. This way, I can pump it out in one hand, while wielding my trusty razor in the other!

Love at first sight, and we haven't even tried the product. Well, I really like it. It's thick and creamy (not a foam), the vanilla bliss is fragrant, but not obnoxiously so, and since it's chock full of aloe and shea butter, oat and antioxidants, it leaves my skin super soft. The product is also touted as a cream you can shave with wet or DRY (have yet to try). There are quite a few fragrances to choose from: pomegranate raspberry, lavender jasmine, island blue, cucumber melon, vanilla bliss, and fragrance-free. It's easy to find at your local grocery or drug store, and, at less than $5 a bottle, this is a no brainer. This definitely gets Glambo's KISS OF APPROVAL! Be sure to try it soon, and go from Sasquatch to Baywatch!