Dove Nutrium Moisture Body Washes

A few weeks ago, a marketing company asked me if I’d like to sample the newest in Dove body washes. I’ve long been a fan of Dove – both for their products and their Real Beauty campaigns – so I agreed; with the stipulation that I be allowed to tell the truth in my review. (Honesty is The Pink Mixers policy!) And so I was mailed three of their newest body washes – Dove’s Body Wash with Nutrium Moisture.

Now, some might say, who cares? A body wash is a body wash is soap, right? Wrong. For one, I always, always opt for body wash over soap. For me, there’s just this thing about soap. It never feels like I’ve got it all washed off and I walk around all day feeling like there’s a layer of wax or something on my skin. No thanks.

But, I will admit, I was a tad skeptical. How could Dove change their body wash, again, I wondered? And yet, it turns out they have. For the better. As I mentioned above I do like Dove’s products – with a caveat. I've never really loved their smell. In the past I’ve actually strayed from their body washes because of this. I have a sensitive sniffer, you see, and there was always something a tad off-putting to my senses. It was just too overpowering, a soapy scent that lingered all day long, making me feel a trail of perfume-giddy tweens were following me around all day long.

But! It seems this might have changed!

Thankfully this round of Dove’s Nutrium Wash seems to have toned down their scent. Oh, it still smells nice, absolutely. The difference is it’s not so darn overpowering that I feel like I’m living inside a bottle of body wash for the day. Phew. So there’s that. And do you know, too? I’ve been using their exfoliating wash for a couple of weeks now and I can actually notice a difference in my skin. We’re deep into Fall here in New England, which is the time of year when my skin swaps to it’s desperately thirsty stage. This exfoliating wash has been leaving my skin feeling smoother, softer, cleaner, and with a good scent to boot. Hoorah. This round? Dove wins a gold star in my book.

Average Price: $7.00/bottle

Rating: 3 out of 5.

KT Collection: Handmade Jewelry

Last March, I went to New York City for a weekend with my girlfriends. While wandering through the Village, we came upon a mini outdoor festival (New Yorkers, they love their outdoor markets). As we strolled from stall to stall we came upon Katie Thompson’s handmade jewelry, known as the KT Collection. My friends and I oohed and aahed over several pieces and I, in particular, developed quite a crush on her elephant necklace charms.

But let’s not stop at elephants. The KT Collection offers a little something for everyone – all delicate, classic, beautifully made pieces. I believe I’m going to become quite the fan.

Still, Mr. Elephant will always have a special spot in my jewelry loving heart, reserved only for him.

Average Price: Varies by piece

Rating: 5 out of 5!

Trader Joes' Liquid Laundry Detergent

It's not often we think of straying from our usual go-to laundry detergent. We like the smell, the price, the fact that it doesn't affect our sometimes sensitive skin, the idea we've been buying the same brand for years. A few weeks ago though we were out running errands, er, stocking up on cheap wine at Trader Joe's when we remembered we were out of laundry detergent. Too tired to make another trip to another grocery store, we decided to give ol' Joe's brand a shot. And ladies, gentleman? We might have fallen in love.

The smell - our sensitive sniffers make this a top priority when picking all things scented - is divine. It's kind of minty, kind of soapy, definitely projects a squeaky clean scent, and thankfully isn't too overpowering. Our clothes feel soft, they wash well, and so far we've got zero color fade.

Bonus points in that the detergent is good for the enviroment too. Just make sure you remember to recycle that plastic bottle it comes in before you go back for more.

Average Price: $4.99

Rating: 3 out of 5

J. Crew Lady Day Coat

I might as well come clean. I am in serious lust mode. I'm fawning, swooning, dreaming about Jcrew's Lady Day Coat.

They offer this beauty in a wide variety of colors - all of which I adore, though my top three favorites come in as sea salt, light pewter, and bright colbalt.

It's a pricey number, to be sure, but I'm thisclose to somehow justifying the purchase. I suppose, living in New England and dealing with brutal winter after brutal winter would be reason enough to treat myself to this beauty don't you think?

Sigh. What else can I say? Sometimes a girl just falls in love at first sight.

Average price: $298.00

Rating: 5 out of 5 (at least in my dreams...)

Bubble Umbrella

Let’s be honest. Singing – or walking - in the rain isn’t all Gene Kelly made it out to be. Unless you’re the lucky owner of a Bubble Umbrella.

The bubble umbrella invention is pretty genius. The umbrella – or bumper shoot as our friends across the Atlantic like to call it – is built to act as, well, a bubble around you. It hangs lower than most umbrellas (ella, ella, ella) and almost wraps around your head and shoulders to keep you dry – especially when that pesky wind starts up mid-storm. Of course, since the brolley is clear, you can see through it and navigate – or sing – your way right through whatever storm is headed your way.

Average Price: $ 20.00

Rating: 5 out of 5!

Maybelline's Line Express Eyeliner

The number one thing we hate in an eyeliner? Stubborn application. It is no fun to pull, tug, rip at the rims of your eyes and eyelids and don’t even get us started on what that does to encourage wrinkles! What could provide a myriad of makeup options (eyeliner, smoky smoldering upper lids, eyebrow definer) won’t do squat if the eyeliner in use won’t glide on so if that’s the case you may as well toss it. Yes, we know. We hate to waste make up and money too.

Thankfully, Maybelline’s New Line Express Eyeliner is smooth and creamy, allowing for easy on and easy off application. We love the built in smudge tip on the opposite end of the pencil as it allows for no hassle touch-ups and blending and we’ve found we’ve used this pencil almost daily since we purchased it. It works great for light eyebrow shaping, intense smoky eyes on our upper lids, and the one fell swoop application from inner to outer corner of our eyes that’s part of our daily “day face” routine.

Personally, we’re partial to the brownish-black color, but the line is so inexpensive we don’t see why you can’t splurge and treat yourself to a few different shades. After all, sometimes a girl just needs a great eyeliner to remind us that good things really can come in small packages.

Average Price: $4.69/pencil

Rating: 5 out of 5!

Crush of the Moment: Flannel

In honor of the new Fall season, we are adding a new edition to our running list of discussion points over here at The Pink Mixer.

It may not be a review per-say, but we’d like to occasionally talk about what new trends, items, and styles have caught our eye. (Really, we can’t help but gush over some new hip, fancy, items but our real life friends only have so much patience for these types of chats…) Perhaps you’d like to hear about our obsessions too. Maybe you even have some of your own you’d like to share.

Well, we’re all ears. Gushing – though encouraged – is not required.

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Trend of the moment? The one we never thought we’d embrace again after spending our adolescence living in the grunge faze that was the early ‘90s?

Flannel.

While a part of us can’t believe it’s back, another side of us can’t believe it ever left. It’s soft, cozy, colorful. Why wouldn’t we want to sport flannel throughout the fall and winter?

The key difference this time around (besides leaving the Doc Martins stuck in the way, way back of our closet) is this is not your father’s flannel. XXL shirts are not the current flannel wave we’re riding. The trend this time around is tapered, tucked, much more feminie. There are ruffles, bows, and darts which means that lumberjack shirt actually looks sexy instead of big, boxy, and unflattering.

Call us crazy but we’re in. After all, it’s going to be a long winter.

Some favorites – recently spotted:
Delia's Elisa Plaid Shirt: $39.50 Gap Plaid Sailor Pencil Skirt: $54.50 Target Junior's Mossimo Boyfriend Flannel: $15.00


Old Navy Plaid Ruffle Flannel Shirt: $24.50