Wallet-Friendly Wednesdays: Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Intensely Smooth Leave-In Conditioning Cream

Gorgeous hair is always an uphill battle, isn't it? Just when you think you've cleared the hurdle, there's a wrench thrown in the mix -- whether it's humidity, rain, a hair dryer that breaks mid-blowout. Luckily, Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Intensely Smooth Leave-In Conditioning Cream is here to save the day, no matter what obstacles you may come across in your quest for the perfect hair day.

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Two-For Tuesdays: Dior Black Lash Kit

Beauty chicks with lashes in need of help, listen up! Dior may have really knocked it out of the park with this set. Whether you've been blessed with lashes that are darn-near perfect or are longing to make them long and lush, the Dior Black Lash Kit is here to bring you the lashes of your dreams.

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Must-Have Mondays: Keratin Shot at Hiro Haraguchi

No matter how much time we spend on our hair, after awhile it just needs a little TLC. After months of blowdrying, flat ironing and otherwise ruining a perfectly good head of hair, this beauty chick was in serious need of a shot to the head. And that's where the Keratin Shot at Hiro Haraguchi came in handy.

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Shimmer and Glow from Head to Toe: Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact

I have somewhat of an affinity for makeup palettes. No matter how many seem to accrue inside my makeup bag, I'm always trying to squeeze in just one more! But one that gets permanent time and attention both in my bag and in my daily makeup routine is the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact.

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Shameless Plug: Featured on Glam.com Today!

Pardon this beauty chick for a moment while I make a shameless plug for myself. Aside from writing this blog, I do a lot of freelancing in the fashion and beauty arena -- and my favorite gig is definitely as the fashion and beauty blogger for StyleBakery Teen! I write one fashion story (on Mondays) and one beauty story (on Wednesdays) each week. And today my Luscious Lips story is featured on the Glam.com homepage! All right, enough shameless plugging. Consider my luscious lips sealed!

FOTD: Night Out in Good Ol' Cleveland, OH!

Well, I figured after about a year and a half, it was time for my first-ever FOTD! Last week I had the pleasure of a dinner out with my lovely friend Megan, who I've known for a whopping 18 years! We dined at the fabulous Hunan China Sea -- my family's all-time favorite restaurant -- so the look was nothing crazy, just a bit more than my usual moisturizer-mascara-and-lipgloss routine! Here's what I used:

EYES:
Sugar Cosmetics ColorStick in Grape Fizz (swept all over the eyelid)
M.A.C Eye Pencil in Coffee (drawn across the eyelid and at the upper and lower waterlines for a bit of extra smokiness)
Dior Diorshow Mascara in Black (two coats on the top lashes -- brushing from the top and bottom -- and one coat on the bottom lashes)

LIPS:
Lancome Color Fever Shine in Pixel Pink
Stila Lip Glaze in Starfruit

HAIR:
Untouched after getting another amazing haircut from the lovely and talented Jen G. at John Robert's!

Trend-Filled Thursdays: Huge Hair

Walking out the door without havin' your hair all did? Now this is a trend this beauty chick can get on board for! The Fall 2008 shows saw a resurgence of tresses that, rather than hanging limply at models' shoulders, literally rose to new heights. Designers like Diane von Furstenberg and Temperley London and Vera Wang kept it on the tamer side with waves and curls that evoked the sensual seductiveness of a boudoir, while at Luella, Chris Benz and Betsey Johnson, crimping was all the rage. Not to be outdone, Christian Dior and Alexander McQueen introduced a lot of drama into their looks with sky-high pigtails and bouffants. While some of these looks are definitely a lot for daytime -- or, yes, even for nighttime -- in moderation they can all be pulled off brilliantly. Read on to find out how to make the trend work for you!


Evoking The Sexy Provocativeness of Brigitte Bardot
Want that sultry, seductive look that Brigitte Bardot seemed to pull off so effortlessly? It's all in the hair. The key to this look is in the curls.
Start by spritzing hair with a volumizer like Phyto Phytovolume Actif Maximizing Volume Spray ($28), which will make even the finest, limpest locks plump right up.
Next, you'll want to wrap sections of your hair around a curling iron. Look for one with a wider barrel, which will create bigger curls and waves than if you pick one that's 1" or smaller (that will give you tight, Shirley Temple-style ringlets, which isn't quite the look you're going for here). Try one like Conair Infiniti Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Iron ($24.99), whose 1 1/2" barrel will create the bigger, sexier curls you need to make this style work.
Finish with a side part, which will make the look seem more voluminous. And voila! Sultry, seductive bedroom hair. Now you just need the bedroom eyes to go with it!
(Photos: Diane von Furstenberg, Temperley London and Vera Wang)


Bringing Back the 80's with Crimping
This beauty chick was huge into the crimped hair look back in the day, so I'm definitely excited that it's making a comeback! But gals attempting this style should definitely be careful if they don't want to wind up looking like they stepped right out of 1985. The easiest way to do it is to wet your hair, make it into tiny braids and wait until it dries (it's best to do this at night). When you unravel the braids, your hair will be transformed into tons of tiny crimped waves.
However, if you just can't live without styling products -- or you just don't have the time to set all those little braids -- never fear, you can still pull off the look! Start by washing and conditioning hair with volumizing shampoos like Frederic Fekkai Full Volume Shampoo and Full Volume Conditioner ($22 each), which add body and shine without weighing down your strands.
Then it's time to crimp! The Hot Tools Helix Adjustable Deep Waver, Crimping Iron and 3 Barrel Waver ($34.95) has 10 variable heat settings to really make that style set.
(Photos: Betsey Johnson, Chris Benz and Luella)


Not Just Your Normal Long Locks Anymore
So you don't necessarily want to go all out with your tresses ... but you still want a little extra body and wave. Variations on the runway ranged from hair that had been teased at the roots and parted in the center to locks that were straight at the roots and then waved, curled and texturized from about 6 inches below all the way down to the ends, a la Cynthia Rowley. Whichever you choose, these styles are perfect for summer -- because, let's face it, who wants to spend tons of time on their hair when it's just going to frizz in the 95 degree humidity?
Key to any of these looks is a good glossing cream or shine spray. John Frieda Frizz-Ease 100% Shine Glossing Mist ($4.49) will add glistening shine without making your hair greasy. Other than that, the best way to achieve this look is to stay away from blowdrying -- just wash and go, and you'll be left with glossily sleek hair that's got just the tiniest bit of wave!
If you do want the slightest amount of texture in your tresses, however, try Frederic Fekkai Summer Hair Beach Waves ($22) -- it will give the effect of tousled locks that just came from a day in the sand and surf!
(Photos: Wunderkind, Cynthia Rowley, Jean Paul Gaultier and Peter Jensen)


Taking Hair to New Heights
Volume, volume and more volume. Some designers couldn't get enough of the stuff. Is it any surprise that Christian Dior was among them? His bouffants definitely had a flair for the dramatic, as did the updos at Thakoon and Moschino. These styles take a bit more work to pull off, but they all have one thing in common -- boldness! These looks are not for the faint of heart.
To achieve an updo like those at Thakoon and Moschino, you'll need a whole lot of bobby pins. Scunci No-Slip Grip Bobby Pins ($3.29 for 48) will help hold styles in place. The great thing about these two styles is that neither is really too "done." Just twist, curl and pin -- the bigger and higher, the better!
Finish with a hairspray like Pantene Pro-V Classic Unforgettable Hairspray ($4.99), which will set the look in place.
The bouffants at Dior are actually not all that difficult to accomplish. It's really all in the styling products. You'll definitely need a good volumizing shampoo -- try Warren-Tricomi PureStrength Boosting Shampoo for Fine Hair ($22), which is formulated with wheat proteins and tons of vitamins to make your hair healthy and strong.
Then it's a matter of blowdrying and teasing! Flipping your hair over while you blowdry is a sure way to get that added volume you need for this style. Blowdry with the T3 Bespoke Evolution ($300), which not only keeps hair healthy but cuts drying time in half!
(Photos: Thakoon, Moschino and Christian Dior)

Great Mother's Day Gifts: Bulgari Petits et Mamans Soaps 6-Pack

If you're like this beauty chick, chances are you have at least one friend who's expecting. At last count, I have three -- and one of them actually just had her baby girl, Mackenna, last night! (Congrats Mindy!) So if you're on the lookout for great Mother's Day gifts for these lucky new moms, I've got just the thing.

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Wallet-Friendly Wednesdays: H20+ Lemon Lust Shower & Bath Gel

What does this beauty chick lust after? Shower gel, shower gel and more shower gel! (At last count, I had at least 10 overcrowding my tiny stall shower.) No matter how many seem to make their way into my bathroom -- and I do have my favorites among them, as any self-respecting beauty chick should -- I'm always on the lookout for another to add to my stash. A new fantastic find? H20+ Lemon Lust Shower & Bath Gel.

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Making the "O" Face for NARS Orgasm

There's really no super-clean way to talk about NARS Orgasm, is there? No matter how this beauty chick phrases her thoughts and musings on the cult classic, it just comes out sounding a wee bit naughty. But there's seriously nothing naughty about the long-awaited nail polish in the brand's all-time fan favorite hue.

As if NARS Orgasm Lip Gloss weren't enough, now there's NARS Orgasm Nail Polish! And, you guessed it ... they're both the same gorgeous shade of shimmery peachy pink.

NARS Orgasm Lip Gloss retails for $26 at sephora.com. NARS Orgasm Nail Polish retails for $19 at sephora.com.

Two-For Tuesdays: Tweezerman Petite Tweezer Set

Whether you wax, thread or pluck, stray hairs always seem to crop up at the least opportune times. Is this beauty chick right or is she right? Luckily, the Tweezerman Petite Tweezer Set is there to keep those unwanted strays at bay. Small enough to fit in even the tiniest handbag -- yes, even those ridiculous swan purses from Judith Leiber would fit them! -- this duo of tweezers will help you pluck and tweeze to your heart's content.

The set contains one slanted tweezer for your general, every day tweezing practices, and one tweezer with ultra-fine pointed ends to really get in there and yank out the stubbornest, most miniscule of hairs! Best of all, each pair is crafted of durable, substantial stainless steel so they'll really last a long time.

The combo is available for $25 on Sephora's website -- quite a bargain when the ordinary Tweezerman tweezer is $20! So what are you waiting for? Those pesky hairs won't pluck themselves!

Must-Have Mondays: Dior Diorshow Mascara

I tend to be disappointed by cult beauty products. They just never seem to live up to the hype. With the exception of my recent fascination with Smith's Rosebud Salve, my experience with the products everyone knows and loves just doesn't seem to be as profound as theirs seem to be. But then I decided to try Dior Diorshow Mascara, and immediately my life changed.

Yes, I know this verges on the dramatic. But seriously ... this mascara is every bit worth the hype and excitement it's garnered over the last year. Now, let me begin by saying that I am one of the followers of Maybelline Great Lash. Yes, I know not everyone loves it -- in fact, many people despise it. But it's always done the job for this beauty chick, so I haven't felt the need to explore my other options. And plunking down a ton of money for a single tube of mascara seemed not only ridiculous but highly unlikely.

But you know how it is ... you're browsing the many aisles at Sephora, and one by one the items start stacking up in your arms until you're staggering under their weight, and then you think, "Well, what's just one more product?" Such is how I found myself purchasing Diorshow Waterproof Mascara in Black 90 one recent Wednesday afternoon.

I was enamored of the tube, which is quite substantial and holds a mega-wattage brush coated with the often-lusted-after formula. Could this really make me a believer?, I wondered as I began swiping the brush across my lashes. Well, let me tell you something -- I immediately saw the value of this tube. It separated, it lengthened, it curled, it brushed ... and best of all, I didn't even need to comb out any excess or get rid of any clumps! It immediately adhered to my lashes and made them look so amazing in just one coat, my friend David (who was vacationing with me at the time) literally said "Wow!"

I am now a true believer in the amazingness of Diorshow. A mascara that truly lives up to the hype? Well, that's most definitely a must have.

Dior Diorshow Mascara retails for $25 at sephora.com.

First Look Fridays Interview Series: Raychel Wade of Cheek to Chic

I am pleased to present this week's edition of First Look Fridays, featuring Raychel Wade of beauty consulting company Cheek to Chic. Cheek to Chic is, in this beauty chick's opinion, an absolute revolutionary way to approach the makeup artistry profession. Raychel helps women figure out what they really, truly need in their makeup bags and gives her honest opinions about what will work for them. Do you take five minutes to get ready in the morning? Ten? Twenty? Two hours? Are you running after three kids all day? Do you work in an office where glittery makeup is forbidden? Whatever the case, Raychel sits down with you to figure out what you can really use -- and then she takes you shopping at Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys New York or a slew of other fantastic makeup counters in NYC! After your shopping session, you can do a makeup lesson with her -- and believe me when I tell you she is one fantastic makeup artist! Read on for my interview with the fabulously fantastic Raychel Wade!

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Great Mother's Day Gifts: Lisa Hoffman Packettes

Lisa Hoffman Packettes. Each package comes with a bevy of skincare, bath and body products -- all in miniature ampoules of product like Body Wash, Lip Serum and Cleanser -- to make your mom feel like she just got a day at the spa! Best of all, the packettes each cost around $20, so you can buy one of each for Mom and present them all to her in a pretty wrapped package! Here's the skinny on what's included in each packette.

24 Hour Single Packette ($20)
Each resealable pouch comes with 10 mini doses of formulas for cleansing, moisturizing and toning. The interesting fact about this set is that it contains 5 ampoules for daytime and 5 for nighttime -- so your mom's skin will be radiant all day long! Included in this pouch are Day and Night ampoules for Cleanser, Toner, Cream, Eye Cream and Lip Serum.

Spa Bath Packette ($25)
One of these packettes will definitely make your mom feel like she's living in the lap of luxury. One ampoule each of Bath Soak, Body Wash, Body Polisher, Body Cream and Hand & Foot Butter are presented in a resealable package that just oozes the feel of comfort and relaxation.

Spa Shower Packette ($25)
Have your mom spice up her normal lather-rinse-repeat routine with this packette, which contains sweet-smelling ampoules of Cleansing Gel, Body Scrub, Body Lotion, Body Oil and Hand & Foot Cream.

Each of the packettes is available on Lisa Hoffman's website. Isn't this so much better than a day at the spa?

Great Mother's Day Gifts: Space NK Laughter Body Care Essentials Set

Mirth. Amusement. Hilarity. Joviality. Glee. All can be simply translated to "laughter." Having shared countless smiles and moments of joy with my lovely mom, I could think of no better way to show her how much I care than with the Space NK Laughter Body Care Essentials Set.

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Wallet-Friendly Wednesdays: GO SMiLE Lemonade Smile Luxury Toothpaste

Dying for pearly whites that belong on toothpaste commercials? Jealous of the perfect, sparkling white, chiclet-shaped teeth seen all over Hollywood? Look no further than GoSMILE Lemonade Smile Luxury Toothpaste.

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Two-For Tuesdays: Smashbox O-Glow and O-Gloss Kit

"O" wow. Looking for that perfectly pink pout? Dying for that rosy-cheeked glow that comes from being out in the cold air all winter? The new O-Glow and O-Gloss Kit by Smashbox is definitely, well, "O"-inducing.

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Trend-Filled Thursdays: Products with Floral Packaging

Spring is finally here ... and that makes this beauty chick excited to sip margaritas at outdoor happy hours, wear skirts with flip-flops and no tights, and -- of course -- to see pretty flowers! But while I'm waiting for tulips and crocuses to spring up, I can at least content myself with one of the hottest beauty trends for spring -- products with floral packaging! From blush crafted in the shape of blooming peonies to perfume bottles emblazoned with tangling vines, there are gorgeous blooms popping up everywhere. The beauties below simply make me blossom with happiness!

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Wallet-Friendly Wednesdays: Sephora Girls

I like high-end brands like Dior and Guerlain as much as the next beauty chick. But sometimes, I must admit that I long for the uncomplicated days of my youth ... when swiping on that $2 Jane mascara or $1 candy-flavored lipgloss was all I needed. The Sephora Girls line is perfect for when I just need a day of rest from all the more expensive products out there -- because nothing in this line is more than $10! And every single item is totally adorable and actually quite wearable even if you're, well, not a girl anymore. From palettes to train cases, lipgloss to eyeshadow, the packaging is super-cute and the prices just can't be beat. Here are the standouts ... who says only preteens can wear this stuff?

Lip Candy Palette ($4): The clear case is jam-packed with nine mouthwatering glosses in pans shaped like ice cream and candy. Choose from two lollipops (pink glitter and sheer opal), four bonbons (sheer opal, glittery grape, berry and shiny strawberry) and two ice cream duos (sheer glitter/grape sheen and multiglitter/opal sheen). You even get a mini lip brush!

Shower Cap ($2): The unfashionable, unstylish versions are a thing of the past. This one is emblazoned with the Little Darling Sephora Girl and cuter-than-cute puppies to keep you and your hair chicer-than-chic!

Mischievous Travel Accessories Pencil Bag ($4): Keep your eye pencils and makeup brushes safe and secure in a lavender case adorned with the Mischievous Sephora Girl. I love her devilish little wink!

Lip Gloss Bracelet ($2): Jewelry and lipgloss in one? Now that's something worth buying! And this pink cuff, with its two strawberry-scented glosses (in both sparkling and shimmering pink) is just so, so cute.

Two-For Tuesdays: Philosophy Falling In Love Glycerin Soap Duo

I was raised on bar soap ... Dove, to be exact. Until about 1995, I didn't know any other way. Lathering up with shower gel was, until the invention of Caress, the furthest thing from this beauty chick's mind. And while in recent years I have made the switch completely from the trusty old bar of Dove to washes and gels, I still long for those easy days of reaching for that bar. And now I can, with my recent discovery of Philosophy's Falling In Love Glycerin Soap Duo!

Glycerin soap has definitely been a fave of mine ever since the days of those fantastic colored soaps from The Body Shop ... but these babies take glycerin to a whole new level. First of all, the scent is absolutely gorgeous. A blend of vanilla, floral and blackberry notes are sweet yet not cloying, romantic without being overtly sexy, fresh but not too young. The two bars are created in the prettiest pale periwinkle, which along with the beautiful scent just really speak to the message behind Falling in Love --

"Falling in love doesn't begin with falling in love with others. It begins with falling in love with ourselves. Loving ourselves is healthy and as God intended. Learn to deeply and fully cherish your heart, your soul, and your body, and only then will you understand what it is to truly love another."

Each bar is formulated with a mixture of aloe and chamomile extracts to calm, soothe and soften skin. I don't know about you, but the $18 price tag on Philosophy's website is a small price to pay for the air of nostalgia I'll feel lathering up with these!

The Must-Have Product For Your Beauty Arsenal: Smith's Rosebud Salve

If you like lip balm, chances are you've heard of Smith's Rosebud Salve. But for all the amazing things people have told you about it, you still might not have tried it.

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Wallet-Friendly Wednesdays: Bonne Bell Lip Smackers

There's one product in my makeup arsenal that's a constant. Whether I have time to do a full face of makeup or I (gasp!) run out the door with a clean face, this one item never leaves my side. It's in my bathroom, on my desk at work, in my purse, on my kitchen counter, in my makeup bag, on my nightstand. What is this magical product of which I speak? Why, it's none other than Bonne Bell LipSmackers -- yes, the lip balm we all carried around as kids in fun flavors like Dr. Pepper and Root Beer!

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You're Such a Flake

All right, I have to admit it ... sometimes I am really intrigued by QVC, HSN and infomercials promoting beauty and personal care products. Yes, sometimes they're lame or the people are overexcited. But once in awhile, I really do want to try the product being flashed across the screen. Such was the case with the PedEgg. The miniature egg-shaped device purports to remove all the dead, flaky skin from your feet, leaving them irresistibly supple and soft. But could this actually work -- especially when I saw it on one of those commercials offering up two for the price of one? I was fortunate enough to receive one to test out ... here are my findings.

First of all, the PedEgg is amazingly simple to assemble. All you do is take the Precision Micro-File -- it looks kind of like a cheese grater -- and attach it to the egg-shaped top. (All of the dry skin that comes off will be caught inside the egg.) Then, start scraping and filing away -- which is quite easy, as tt comes in an easy-to-hold size that fits right in the palm of your hand. I began with my big toes and my heels, which for some reason seem to get a lot more callused and dry than the rest of my feet. Scraping away didn't hurt in the least -- it actually barely causes any feeling at all! I kept scraping and scraping, and then scraped some more. After about five minutes, I took a look at my feet and was astounded. I haven't seen them this soft and smooth in weeks -- and I just got a pedicure two weeks ago! The only bad part is getting rid of the shavings -- because, let's face it, it's kind of disgusting to contemplate. But aside from that, this is a true miracle product!

If you're intrigued -- and you should be -- you can purchase your very own PedEgg for $10 plus shipping and handling on PedEgg's website. You may even be lucky enough to purchase during the introductory offer, which gets you an extra PedEgg and a tube of Miracle Foot Repair Cream for only $6.99 more. It's time to put your best foot forward.

The Great Philosophy Behind Philosophy

I was recently invited to an event sponsored by Philosophy -- one of this beauty chick's all-time favorite brands -- to learn about everything the brand has to offer and play with some of the greats. The brains behind this brand is a spunky spitfire of a woman named Cristina Carlino, who started the medical skincare brand BioMedic and quickly discovered the greatness in inventing Philosophy.

I learned all sorts of fascinating things at the event, like the fact that the 3-in-1's -- these shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath innovations are my favorite part of the line -- only make up about 8 percent of the total revenue earned by the brand! And I also discovered that the cutesy pictures found on much of Philosophy's packaging are actually baby pictures of Philosophy employees. But my favorite discovery was that every poem written on a Philosophy product is written by Cristina herself -- and that the packaging started because she wrote a poem, printed it out, slapped it on a bottle and was told the packaging was ingenious. (I agree.) Of course, a Philosophy event wouldn't be complete without some products! Here are the ones you should definitely keep your eyes on.

Just Because... ($30): This sweet-smelling trio of 3-in-1's is meant to be that special gift you give someone for no special reason at all. Each bottle contains the deliciously delectable aroma of chocolate in its three forms -- Dark Chocolate, White Chocolate and Milk Chocolate. Better still, the bottles are each emblazoned with the best kinds of each chocolate, such as dark caramel, vanilla bean truffle and milk chocolate peanut butter cup. Mmmmm.

The Oxygen Peel ($50): Yes, the price might sound scary. But this handy-dandy set is seriously AH-MAY-ZING. I tested it on my hand at the event and was so amazed at the results, I ran right home to use it all over my face! The basic principle is this: each set comes with a bottle of 10 enzyme capsules and one tub of oxygen cream, plus an adorable little scraper. Simply toss one enzyme capsule into the enclosed cup, shake it up, spread the gel that forms over your face (avoiding your eyebrows and hairline if you don't want them to be bleached!), cover the gel with the cream, wait 1-3 minutes and scrape it off. You will absolutely love the results. Even on my hand, which was relatively soft and smooth to begin with, I saw a dramatic difference in texture. After one usage on my face, my skin is already smoother, more even and less prone to breakouts. Seriously, your skin will look amazing. Trust me.

Joyful Heart ($20): This huge 16 oz. bottle was created for the Joyful Heart Foundation, founded by Mariska Hargitay to help in the healing and recovery for survivors of sexual assault. The gorgeous turquoise bottle contains a beautiful peony scent that's somehow refreshing and calming at the same time. But my favorite part about this shower gel is that 100 percent of proceeds go toward the Joyful Heart Foundation, which in my book makes it the best product in Philosophy's arsenal.

For more information on Philosophy and to view the rest of the amazing line, visit Philosophy's website.