Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars

COST: $22 for a rollerball

THE SKINNY: I have to giggle when I read Sephora's description of Elizabeth and James' Nirvana Black, brought to you by Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen.

"Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black is an addictive blend of alluring violet, sensual sandalwood, and rich vanilla that strike the perfect balance between masculine and feminine," according to the Sephora website.

To me, it's none of those things. Instead, it reminds me of the heavy incense used in Catholic churches during the high holidays.

That's really not a scent I want to wear -- heavy and sweet.

On a good note, the scent lingered for a whole workday.

KEEP OR TOSS: Toss. This one isn't for me.

CHECK IT OUT: See all the bottle sizes available at the Sephora site.

-- Tested by Shay

Shaveworks The Cool Fix Gel

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars

COST: $25 for 5.3 ounces

THE SKINNY: So I used this stuff for a week and never really figured it out. The Cool Fix by Shaveworks is supposed to sooth skin after shaving to waxing and reduce redness and ingrown hairs.

I just did not see any results. And I felt like I was just adding on way too many products. (On days I shave my legs, lotion is a necessity.)

I did not notice a reduction in ingrown hairs either. I'm just not finding a benefit here.

KEEP OR TOSS: Toss.

CHECK IT OUT: Sephora shoppers seem to like Shaveworks The Cool Fix Gel. Maybe it works better with waxing than shaving?

-- Tested by Carrie

Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2.5 stars

COST: $75 for 4.1 ounces

THE SKINNY: I didn't really think anything about Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser. It was very average.

And then I saw the price tag -- $75 for a cleanser! I had to be missing something, right?

From the manufacturer: "This gentle exfoliating cleansing treatment acts as a 4-in-1 product to thoroughly cleanse and improve glow while purifying, minimizing the appearance of pores and helping to protect the skin’s natural hydration balance. Free of soaps, alcohols and detergents, this cleanser clarifies with fresh enzymes, clays and essential oils, while microspherical beads polish the skin and reduce appearance of blackheads – all without stripping the skin of moisture."

Maybe I just did not get all that from a little packet. I have been a lot happier with $20 options. (Plus this one also seems a little difficult to find.)

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep, but I won't buy.

CHECK IT OUT: You can find Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser and more from the brand online.

-- Tested by Carrie

Chloe Love Story

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars

COST: $75 for 1 ounce

THE SKINNY: Chloe Love Story is very classic scent that’s not for me. It reminds me of a fresh cut bouquet with some roses in it, even though the official notes include orange blossom oil, jasmine and cedar wood.

This is a heavy scent that lingers in your nostrils, so a little dab will go a long way.

KEEP OR TOSS: I like perfumes with citrus or woodsy scents, so this much floral isn’t for me.

CHECK IT OUT: Love Story's bottle design is based on the locks used throughout the Chloe brand.

-- Tested by Shay

Tory Burch

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars

COST: $28 for a rollerball

THE SKINNY: You know those "find your perfect scent" tools or quizzes you can fill out? When I do one, Tory Burch's fragrance always appears at the top of the perfume list that's generated.

I didn't like it, although you'd think otherwise if you look at the list of scents that blend together to make Tory Burch's signature fragrance.

Orange blossom. Grapefruit. Jasmine. All of my favorites.

But I found this perfume to be overly sweet in an almost turn-my-stomach sort of way. Instead of citrus, the tone is much more flowery.

It was a disappointing experience for me.

KEEP OR TOSS: Toss. I love the idea of this perfume, but not the actual scent.

CHECK IT OUT: If you do like Tory Burch, it comes in perfume, lotion and shower gel.

-- Tested by Shay

Aussie Sun-Touched Shine Spray

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2.5 stars

COST: $3.49

THE SKINNY: Aussie recently changed the name of this product to "You Can Shine." Regardless, this hair spray offers flexible hold and a little bit of shine.

It does a decent job on my fine hair, which often has trouble holding any kind of style. It doesn't leave my hair feeling sticky or crunchy.

This gets a lower score because of two issues.

1. I expected a little more shine, especially on my dirty blonde hair.

2. After a few weeks on the bathroom shelf, the hairspray did start showering me with little droplets of product -- maybe that's the shine part.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. It does a decent job of helping my hair hold its style.

CHECK IT OUT: Aussie's You Can Shine line includes shampoo, conditioner and styling products.

-- Tested by Shay

Nude Detox Brightening Powder Wash

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2.5 stars

COST: $42

THE SKINNY: I liked the idea of a powder cleanser that fizzes and foams after you get it wet, but the reality is that the product falls way short.

It does fizz and foam, but there was still a lot of gritty product left behind. It was also tough to keep the powder from washing away before it fizzed enough to use.

It seemed to clean well enough, aside from the leftover grit. But it also had a somewhat unpleasant smell to it.

The idea of this product is a lot nicer than it really is.

KEEP OR TOSS: Toss.

CHECK IT OUT: The Nude brand is new to me; you can find it at Sephora.

-- Tested by Carrie

Olay Regenerist Luminous

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars

COST: $25.99

THE SKINNY: Designed to help fade dark spots and firm skin, Olay's Regenerist Luminous seems like a great idea. Too bad the sample is too small to tell.

Seriously what is the point of giving away a one-time-use packet if the stuff takes EIGHT WEEKS to work. How do I know if this stuff is worth the price?

What I can say is that the cream is silky and glides on. The smell was pleasant.

Overall though, it did not moisturize as much as I would hope. (That's a must for something that is more than $25.)

KEEP OR TOSS: I might try it again.

CHECK IT OUT: This is part of a complete Olay Regenerist line that you can find at drugstores.

-- Tested by Carrie

Ole Henriksen Grease Relief Cleansing Cloths

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2.5 stars

COST: $8 for 10 cloths

THE SKINNY: I grabbed a sample pack of these cleansing cloths thinking they would be good after a lunchtime workout. They're OK but not nearly as useful as I had hoped.

These are made with eucalyptus, which you can really smell, as well as witch hazel, aloe and a few other ingredients meant to help remove excess oil from your skin.

The smell is a little off-putting, and the clean isn't as tangy as I wanted. They do a good job of removing grime and oil. But I'm not enamored by them.

The cloths are textured on one side to help with cleansing.

If you're looking for something to cleanse, exfoliate and calm your skin, these are worth a try.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. They do work.

CHECK IT OUT: Ole Henriksen recommends Grease Relief Cleansing Cloths for oily or blemish-prone skin.

-- Tested by Shay

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush (Fearless)

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars

COST: $26

THE SKINNY: A lot of people love Tarte's Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush, but I was not a fan.

The color -- Fearless -- was too pink. And the powder formula was too hard to keep light. (I tried with a brush and with my fingertips and it just seemed to apply heavy.)

But the caveat to all of this is that I don't particularly like blush. My skin already has a pinkish tone and blush always puts me over the line.

The good elements of the product are that is does stick on skin for a while and it kept my face from getting as oily as normal during the course of the day. Both major bonuses.

If you a re a blush wearer, this product might be a good option. Let us know in the comments if you like it.

KEEP OR TOSS: Toss.

CHECK IT OUT: Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush is listed as a bestselling item and comes in 16 shades.

-- Tested by Carrie

Julep Luxe Lip (Sheer Coral)

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2.5 stars

COST: $24 ($19.20 for Mavens)

THE SKINNY: Julep's new Luxe Lip treatment is more than just a lip conditioner, it contains a nice gloss color as well. The lip glosses were introduced in a recent monthly box and online.

I liked the color a lot (Sheer Coral). It was not sticky and lasted as long as you would expect from a gloss.

But the metal tip applicator was a little odd. First, it was cold. (Not something I want in mid-January.) Second, the color was super sheer. I liked that, but if you are looking for color, this is not the product for you. (It's also something buyers have complained about on the Julep website.)

After a few days, I am not sure about the "treatment" part either. It works fine, it feels fine, but my lips are not any smoother or less dry.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: Julep's new Luxe Lip line comes in four colors.

-- Tested by Carrie

Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Treatment

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars

COST: $45

THE SKINNY: Ole Henriksen's Invigorating Night Treatment is a gel that you slather onto your face in the evenings and is supposed to do a lot of good stuff while you sleep.

The gel is cold and slimy, and I wasn't convinced that it did much of anything.

According to Ole Henriksen, the product "resurfaces" your skin, smooths fine lines and minimizes pore. It's made with purified algae and Vitamin E.

After a few weeks, I didn't see much difference. Plus, I really didn't like the texture.

KEEP OR TOSS: Toss

CHECK IT OUT: Find a complete list of ingredients online at Ole Henriksen.

-- Tested by Shay

Rogue Underground Make-Up Sealant

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars

COST: $28.99

THE SKINNY: I'll be honest: I've never quite understood the real purpose of makeup setting spray but I don't mind the idea of helping my makeup stay on a little longer.

Rogue Underground's Make-Up Sealant didn't do anything for me, other than to make my face feel wet. I never noticed any difference in the lifespan of any makeup -- eye shadow, foundation or powder.

This one is supposed to be waterproof, sweat-proof and non-transferable. But after a few sprays, I could still pull makeup off with a tissue.

KEEP OR TOSS: Toss.

CHECK IT OUT: Who knew? You can find this product at Target.

-- Tested by Shay

Kneipp Herbal Bath (Lavender)

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2.5 stars

COST: $20 for 3.38 ounces

THE SKINNY: The first things I will tell you about Kneipp Herbal Bath (Lavender) is that the bottle is not made of blue glass. It's actually clear and the coloring is from the bath product.

It is so blue in fact that it turns your bathwater blue. And it has a warning not to pour it right against the tub because it might stain.

But the aroma was wonderful. The bathroom was filled with a clean, lavender scent that was relaxing. The bath gel or oil -- I'm not quite sure what to call it really -- has no bubbling or foam action. It did not feel quite as luxurious as I really wanted the bath to be.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. (The bottle is only enough for two baths.)

CHECK IT OUT: You can find Kneipp Herbal Bath from a variety of retailers and buy a sample size direct from the company.

-- Tested by Carrie

Weil for Origins Mega-Bright Dark Circle Minimizer

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars

COST: $41

THE SKINNY: I'll admit I'm not a big Origins fan because I find their products always seem a little, well, dingy, for lack of a better word. Mega-Bright is no exception.

The yellowish lotion quickly turned gloopy and gritty. And while it was OK as a moisturizer, it didn't really do much to brighten or soothe dark circles under my eyes. (With two puppies in the house, I have a lot of dark-circle mornings.)

Meh.

KEEP OR TOSS: Toss.

CHECK IT OUT: Origins' Mega-Bright line includes a serum, cleanser and moisturizer.

-- Tested by Shay

Clean Cool Cotton

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars

COST: Starting at $20 for a rollerball

THE SKINNY: Clean's Cool Cotton fragrance is a light, fruity scent that would probably be better as an air freshener than a perfume.

The top notes are orange, apple and lemon, and it's almost an off-putting combination.

Luckily, the scent doesn't overpower and fades fairly quickly.

KEEP OR TOSS: Toss. It's not for me and probably not for winter, either.

CHECK IT OUT: Explore all the sizes available at the Clean website.

-- Tested by Shay

Laura Geller Spackle Supercharged

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars

COST: $30

THE SKINNY: There's a disconnect here.

To me, spackle is thick. It needs to be to cover nail holes and other imperfections on a wall, right?

I had the same hope for Laura Geller Spackle Supercharged, that the primer would go waxy thick and cover fine lines and other imperfections on my face.

Instead, Spackle Supercharged is wet and goes on like a lotion. It provided some coverage, but not the "ready-for-closeup" coverage I wanted.

The so-called "supercharge" for this primer is more ingredients to soothe aging skin. But when I use a lotion or a serum to do that, it's not something I need from a primer.

KEEP OR TOSS: Toss.

CHECK IT OUT: Laura Geller suggests that you can wear this primer without makeup for a "fresh" look.

-- Tested by Shay

Camille Beckman Platinume Gold Hand Therapy

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2.5 stars

COST: $20 for 6 ounces

THE SKINNY: So there is absolutely nothing special about this hand cream.

It moisturizes ok. It has no fragrance so to speak and it's overall bland. Plus, at $20 for 6 ounces, Camille Beckman Platinume Gold Hand Therapy is pretty pricey.

I can't justify that for a product that leaves nothing behind in my memory.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep ... if you don't really have anything else.

CHECK IT OUT: This brand carries hand creams in quite a few varieties.

-- Tested by Carrie

Starlooks Lip Gloss

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2.5 stars

COST: $12

THE SKINNY: Starlooks Lip Gloss in "Guilty Pleasure" is a decent, quiet pink color. It has just enough shimmer to it to make the color interesting without making you look like a teenager.

But this gloss has that texture that threatens to turn gritty in a few weeks. It offers a little moisturizing ability, but the color doesn't last more than an hour.

KEEP OR TOSS: Toss.

CHECK IT OUT: Starlooks Lip Gloss comes in 47 colors.

-- Tested by Shay

Hikari lipstick

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars

COST: $13

THE SKINNY: Hikari's lipstick in the shade "cabernet" came in a recent Ipsy bag, and it's one of the driest lipsticks I've tried in a while.

This is billed as a long-lasting matte lipstick, and it is that. It's just not very comfortable on the lips.

The color lasted for several hours, even with multiple coats of Carmex (which didn't help as much as I wanted them to).

KEEP OR TOSS: Toss.

CHECK IT OUT: Hikari lipstick is available in six shades.

-- Tested by Shay