Dud of the Month: Organix Tea tree Mint Shampoo

We want to love Organix's Hydrating Tea tree Mint Shampoo. We do. It's all natural, organic, and sulfate free. It comes in an aesthetically pleasing bottle, it smells delightful. It's supposed to provide hydrating oils that nourish, moisture, and strengthen hair.

Really, we want to make it work. This shampoo's resume is so impressive and it sounds like pairing it with our fine, long hair would be a match made in heaven. Alas, like any relationship if there's no spark, there's no spark...even if it all works perfectly on paper.

Instead of moisturizing and hydrating, this shampoo leaves our hair feeling dried out and nappy and we're often reaching for more conditioner post hair-wash to compensate. Even though we've given it several chances, (dates) we tend to be left feeling disappointed after each and every use.

Which leaves us no choice but to head back out into the wild world of our local drugstore's shampoo isles. Good thing there's plenty of men bottles in the sea.

Average Price: $5/bottle
Rating: 2 out of 5

Dud of the Month: Schicks Intution Razor

The idea behind the Schick Intuition (Plus!) Razor is a good one. There is a "wall" of a combo shave gel and moisturizer built around the razor blade allowing you to shave without using any sort of shave gel, bodywash, or soap.

Like so many people we date in this world, it works perfectly on paper, but in real life? Meh, not so much.

The problem lies in the "wall" (for lack of a better word) of soap. This wall is supposed to moisturize while you shave but it's just too darn thick to let the razor get in as close to your skin as it should. With four blades, my legs outta feel as smooth as silk the minute we finish shaving. Instead? While toweling off post-shower my legs feel like I've gone a day or two without shaving at all.

Let's face it. When it comes to shaving, closeness counts. And unfortunately this little razor product just doesn't (wait for it...) cut it.

Average Price:$6.00
Rating 2 out of 5

Dud of the Month: Vivanno Smoothies at Starbucks

As the temps soar higher and higher and the beaches, pools, and lakes call us away from the hot mess of the city, a few of us poor working stiffs remain stuck among the buildings and pavement, schlepping to and from the office.

This does not make us happy.

We work any angle we can to make it feel just a bit more like the lazy, hazy, dog days of summer we remember from our youth – popsicles, ice cream, sunburns, ponytails, and when we’re too hot to handle a lunch but need something to get us through the rest of the workday? Smoothies.

Have you ever noticed there aren’t enough smoothie joints in Boston?

In a desperate attempt to fill this smoothie craving last week we headed toward Starbucks, the only smoothie selling store for miles around. We realize Starbucks IS a coffee shop and we know we shouldn’t have expected the worlds greatest smoothie. But still. If you put it on the menu you best be able to deliver right?

Well, let’s just say after trying the Vivanno Smoothies, we’d love our $4.20 back.

We opted for the orange/mango/banana smoothie. Sounds light and refreshing, right? Try again. The banana taste is far to over powering, thus making it feel like you’re sipping nothing more than a liquid banana. The after taste? Ugh. Like we said, we’ll take our $4.20 back. And we’ll carry on as usual, slogging through the sweltering streets just praying a Jamba Juice appears before us.

Average Price: Around $4.00

Rating: 1 out of 5

Dud of the Month: Crocs

'Tis been a while since we focused on any duds here at The Pink Mixer. To make up for this oversight, we thought we'd really pack a punch and discuss what we personally feel might be one of the biggest fashion duds of all time, a style statement summed up in one little word: Crocs.

These shoes tend to divide people into two camps: the lovers and the haters.

We best not beat around the bush. Apologies to those offended, but we fall on the hater side when it comes to these shoes. Clarification: we hate these shoes when they're not worn as originally intended - mucking about the garden, in the yard, or around the house. We hate seeing them displayed in every store window about town, we loathe seeing men and women alike strolling through urban streets with these adorning their feet. (And don't get us started on those little do-dad charms that can be affixed to the tops of the shoes.)

To be fair, the Crocs brand does make a cute looking ballet flat called the Prima which is a shoe that doesn't make us cover our eyes and cringe. But these clogs? Well, we'll leave it at this. They should not be worn, with the following exceptions:

1.) You are under the age of 13. If you're a kid (especially a toddler) these look cute - even the crazy colored crocs are okay. Extra points awarded if the child is under the age of being able to tie their own shoes. We understand the value of hassle-free.

2.) You're over the age of 65. If you're retired, you're allowed to wear anything you darn well please. We'll forgive you.

3.) You are working in a garden, digging up dirt, cutting the grass, pruning shrubbery, or performing any other sort of yard-work, house maintance type activity. That's why these shoes were invented, after all.

4.) You slip them on when heading to a boat, a lake house, the beach, the mailbox. You then slip them off the moment you arrive at given outdoorsy location.

In summary, we'd just like to say, Crocs: not for the fashion-forward mavens, nor for the downtown pounding the urban pavement workday. Plus, there's a reason flip-flops were invented.

Average Price: $18.00/pair
Rating: 2 out of 5

Dud of the Month: Method Dish Soap (Pink Grapefruit)

We've talked about Method products before. As much as I am dying to tell you that I'm head over heels for Method's Pink Grapefruit Dish Soap, I can't. It's not the actual soap, nor the scent, nor even the color (who doesn't like pink soap?!) that we have issues with. No, instead, it's the darn bottle the stuff comes in!

Sure, it looks cool. The sleek design is fun and it holds a lot of dish soap. But. That funky aero-dynamic looking top? Well, it's just the pits. It clogs with soap left and right no matter how careful you are to wipe it down from time to time. And, if say, you have a friend who is kind enough to wash the dishes in your apartment while you're in the other room entertaining guests? They might accidentally break the whole darn top just in an effort to get a dollop or two of soap out of the bottle.

This time around The Pink Mixer has no issue with the actual product. But color us frustrated in that we can't actually access that product and we'll quickly label you Dud of the Month.

Average Price: $4/bottle
Rating: 3 out of 5.

Dud of the Month: Listerine "Less Intense" Vanilla Mint Mouthwash

I can still picture the bottle of original Listerine that always sat by the sink in the bathroom, used daily by my Mom and Dad. As I got older and that whole killing germs, plaque, and bad breath became important to me, I opted for the peppermint flavored Listerine mouthwash, hoping a minty flavor would cut some of the burning sensation that this mouthwash is notorious for. (The more it burns, the harder it’s working??)

While I do put some faith in the whole “no pain, no gain” adage, a mouthwash that makes my eyes water is a bit too much to take each night. When I saw Listerine had created a new Vanilla Mint “flavor” that promised to be less intense, I decided I’d give it a shot.

Hmmm.

This might be less intense to someone who thinks “intense” means sky diving, bungee jumping, or getting a weekly tattoo. For little old me though, this Vanilla Mint is just as intense – if not more – than the peppermint flavor I remember. It’s a double edge sword really. I don’t want plaque build-up or gingivitis, but I also don’t like the sensation that my mouth is always on fire. Know of some great, truly less intense mouthwash brands that do the trick? The Pink Mixer would love to hear about them. As soon as she’s done wiping these tears of pain from her eyes…

Average Price: $7.00/50 oz.
Rating: 1 out of 5

Dud of the Month: Sally Hansen Hair Remover Wax Strips

The fact that these hair remover wax strips do not work is probably not Sally Hansen’s fault. I’m sure Sally is a very nice lady who wants us all to be hairless and happy. I’m guessing she’s so nice, in fact, that she decided to help us all save a buck by inventing these strips with the hopes we’d get to stop heading to the beauty salon for our monthly waxing session.

It seems however, that little Sally forgot to test these strips herself before sending them off to drugstore shelves. Luckily, The Pink Mixer picked up Sally’s slack and can tell you with complete honesty that you should not buy these strips. Ever. Oh, sure, Sally wants to tell you how easy they are to use and that you are minutes away from being 1-2-3-Hair free! Unfortunately, she’s lying. These strips never warm in your hands like they’re supposed to and when you try and remove hair you end up doing nothing but applying a sticky glue-like-paste to your nether-regions. So, now, Miss Sally we’re covered in gluey gunk, haven’t removed any hair, and are even less bikini ready then we were five minutes ago. Thanks. Heaps.

The Pink Mixer loves to embrace a bargain but is here to tell you that the $7 you’d spend on this “at home” kit? You are much better off putting it toward your next visit with your esthetician. Promise.

Average Price: $7/Box of 34 strips
Rating: 0 out of 5

Dud of the Month: Natural Long-Lasting Deodorant Stick

Here at The Pink Mixer, it seems a natural tendency to review products we really, really like. Once you find something that delivers what it says it will you want to share it with all who care to listen, right?

Sadly, not all products, devices, appliances, lotions, potions, and bibbity bobbity boos live up to their promises so; The Pink Mixer is rolling out a new addition to this reviewing site called, Dud of the Month.

It is with mixed feelings that I announce the inaugural Dud of the Month– Tom’s of Maine Natural Long-Lasting Deodorant Stick – because I really want this deodorant to work. It’s natural! Aluminum free! It comes in a Lavender scent which happens to be one of my favorite smells! I’ve enjoyed using other Tom’s of Maine products!

Sadly though, when push comes to shove or, one might say, sweat comes to pores this deodorant stick just doesn’t cut it. You can probably get by using it on those days when you don’t plan to exert any more energy than what is needed to lift the remote control and grab a pint of ice cream from the freezer but on days when you plan on walking long distances or lifting heavy objects or going on a nerve-wracking blind date or making a big, important presentation at your office or…basically, days you don’t want to stink? I think those should be the moments you reach for the hardcore (not so all-natural) deodorants that wipe out body odor. Because let’s face it, sweat happens. We’d just rather not have to smell it.

Average price: $4.60/Stick
Rating: 2 out of 5
(The trying to live green woman in me wouldn’t let me rank it at a 1! Use it on your lazy days!)