Tarte Lipsurgence Skintuitive Lip Tint and Lip Gloss

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3 stars

COST: $24 each for full sizes

THE SKINNY: This was one of those random "special offer" items I put into my online Sephora shopping cart to reach the free shipping threshold. The two products are sample sized and sold together.

Tarte's Lipsurgence Skintuitive lip products are supposed to change color, in this case various shades of pink, based on your skin's pH. Mine is sort of a pale magenta pink. The color is kind of meh, mostly because I'm not a loves-pink girl. But I do like the way the products feel on my lips.

The "tint" version is sort of a lip crayon with a Chapstick consistency. It's moisturizing and lasts about as long as my Carmex does. It is a little fragile, though. I've broken off the tip when it gets too warm in my bag and had to smush it back into place.

The "gloss version" is a gooey gloss that leaves a generous coating on my lips and really helped with the late-winter dryness.

So, product great. Color OK. At least it wasn't a really obnoxious pink, right?

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: Tarte Lipsurgence Skintuitive Lip Tint has a lot of moisturizing ingredients in it. Find a complete list online.

-- Tested by Shay

Gucci Guilty Diamond

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3 stars

COST: $80 for 1.7 ounces

THE SKINNY: Proving that you can’t judge a fragrance by its name, Gucci Guilty Diamonds is a medium-bodied spicy powdery scent that’s not too floral interesting enough to make me take notice.

Do I love it? No. But I was surprised that I like it.

The notes are lilac, cardamom and pink pepper (How a colored pepper is supposed to smell, I don’t know). The pink pepper adds the spice that I like in the scent and tones down the floral notes.

KEEP OR TOSS: This one is a toss up for me. I like the scent but I don’t know that I would wear it every day.

CHECK IT OUT: The Gucci Guilty Diamond bottle comes with a sparkly “G,” of course.

-- Tested by Shay

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3.5 stars

COST: $25 for 8 ounces

THE SKINNY: Bumble and Bumble Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner did amazing things to my hair over the three days the sample lasted.

It turned my fine, don't-like-to-hold-a-style locks into healthy, voluminous, bouncy hair. Several people asked me if I'd gotten a trim and a new style.

It didn't matter if I paired the shampoo and conditioner with Bumble and Bumble's Thickening Hairspray or not. I got the same incredible result.

But I could only give this product 3.5 stars because it's harsh on my fine hair, making it feel stiff and brittle when it was wet. The conditioner was a requirement, not a bonus, to make my hair feel soft and almost normal again.

It makes me worry about the long-term effects of using this duo day in and day out.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep, but I wouldn't use this product more than once or twice a week.

CHECK IT OUT: Bumble and Bumble's thickening line includes the hairspray and a leave-in conditioner.

-- Tested by Shay

Cailyn Just Mineral Eye Polish

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3 stars

COST: $15

THE SKINNY: Cailyn Just Mineral Eye Polish is an interesting take on a loose, mineral eye shadow. The bottle comes with its own sponge applicator for the shadow, which is easy to apply when the bottle is full and gets less easy and the bottle grows empty.

The brush is nice and firm and easy to use.

The shadow itself -- mine is in a pale neutral pink called "orchid" -- is decent. It goes on thick enough to stay put for a few hours with primer, and it's easy to blend. it has pearl finish, so just enough sparkle to be interesting.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. The pale color is just enough for a weekend look.

CHECK IT OUT: Cailyn Just Mineral Eye Polish comes in a whopping 40 colors.

-- Tested by Shay

L'Occitane Divine Eyes

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3 stars

COST: $76

THE SKINNY: Like all L'Occitane products I've used, Divine Eyes is rich and creamy goodness.

The gel is designed to smooth fine lines and firm sensitive skin around your eyes. It's so soothing that I don't mind it doesn't fight dark circles.

After a few uses, I can already see the skin around my eyes plumping up and those little lines and wrinkles looking less noticeable. Plus, the gel lotion just feels good on my skin.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: L'Occitane recommends using Divine Eyes morning and night.

-- Tested by Shay

Ole Henriksen Pure Truth Melting Cleanser

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3.5 stars

COST: $34 for 4 ounces

THE SKINNY: Even though "gelee" was on the package, I did not expect Ole Henriksen Pure Truth Melting Cleanser to actually look and feel like jelly.

But that did not last long. As I rubbed the cleanser in my hands, it turned to more of a thick foam wash.

And it smelled so clean -- a great citrus sent -- that I am not sure I would have even noticed if it left makeup behind. Though I am pretty sure it removed almost every trace of foundation, shadow and mascara from the day.

As with the rest of the Pure Truth line, this product is packed with Vitamin C, which we've found here at Beauty Test Dummies that you either love or hate. (Personally, I am a fan.)

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: You can buy direct from Ole Henriksen or at retailers such as Sephora.

-- Tested by Carrie

Clarins UV Plus HP Sunscreen

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3.5 stars

COST: $41 for 1.7 ounces

THE SKINNY: Major SPF power. Check. Glide on formula. Check. Smooth texture with moisture. Check.

The only problem with Clarins UV Plus HP Sunscreen (SPF 40) is that it's not waterproof. Sadly I found myself wiping it off and into my eyes during a run.

On the flip side, this would be a great daily sunscreen (if you makeup is lacking SPF). It glides on so smooth and actually feels great on skin. Nothing like what you imagine from some of the drugstore sunscreens.

I do find it irritating though that something this pricey isn't waterproof. Really?

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: You can find Clarins at Sephora.

-- Tested by Carrie

Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3.5 stars

COST: $18

THE SKINNY: I am becoming a bigger fan of the Bliss line of products every day. Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream is a powerful option that has been able to calm the dry, cracked skin winter has forced on me.

The cream is thick and creamy, but not greasy. It smells light with a hint of lemon.

And I could feel it working for hours. This is the first thing I have found all winter that seems to stick around and work. It can be a little on the pricey side for a hand cream, but the overall value is there.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: You can find Bliss items at retailers such as Ulta or from the company website, Blissworld (gotta love that name!).

-- Tested by Carrie

Suntegrity Face Sunscreen and Primer

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3.5 stars

COST: $45 for 1.7 ounces

THE SKINNY: I need a good sunscreen for my face all year round.

I had never seen or tried Suntegrity Face Sunscreen and Primer until the little packet came in a Sephora grab bag. But it was a great choice for a long run in the winter sun and wind.

The formula is super thick and coats extremely well. It was not greasy at all and my skin actually felt moisturized. (And I came inside after more than two hours without even a hint of redness.)

The formula contains SPF 30 and can be used under makeup as well.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: Suntegrity is an Allure Best of Beauty winner, always a sure sign that a product is worth a try. You can find it online.

-- Tested by Carrie

fresh Black Tea Age-Defy Eye Concentrate

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3 stars

COST: $85

THE SKINNY: Black Tea Age-Defy Eye Concentrate is a nice moisturizer for that tender around-the-eye area, but it doesn't do much else.

That makes the $85 price tag a little hard for me to swallow.

The moisturizer from fresh uses black tea, blackberry leaf extract and lychee seed to create a rich moisturizer that didn't irritate my eyes. It seems to work just fine.

But I want more from an eye cream, especially one with a hefty price tag. I'm like millions of other working adults who don't get enough sleep. My fight is less the fine lines and wrinkles and more the tired eyes with dark circles. If I'm going to pay $85 for a moisturizer, I need it to help me look brighter and awake.

fresh says this moisturizer is "cooling" and will do that, but my sample failed in that area.

On the plus side, a little bit of this moisturizer goes a long way, so the little pot of lotion will last forever.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: fresh says to use Black Tea Age-Defy Eye Concentrate after cleansing day and night. Use with Black Tea Age-Delay Serum and Cream.

-- Tested by Shay

Caudalie Divine Oil

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3.5 stars

COST: $32 for 1.7 ounces

THE SKINNY: I will try anything to beat winter weather dry skin. Caudalie Divine Oil is a "dry oil" that can be used on the body, face or hair.

I stuck to using it as a body oil because it was well ... pretty oily.

Which is not always a bad thing. It was super moisturizing and great on my winter skin. It went on smooth, had a woodsy fragrance and lasted for hours.

That's really all you need to keep winter dryness at bay, right?

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: You can find Caudalie Divine Oil at Sephora. Let me know if you use it on your hair and how that works.

-- Tested by Carrie

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Styling Treatment

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3.5 stars

COST: $26 for 4 ounces

THE SKINNY: Every time I use a Living Proof product, I expect my hair to look like Jennifer Aniston's. Every time I end up disappointed.

But that's not to say I wasn't pretty happy with Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Styling Treatment. It actually works pretty well on my shoulder-length+ hair. Used just on the ends, it smoothed and eliminated a lot of fly-aways.

This stuff does seem a little thick to use anywhere else and I'm not sure how it would feel on short hair.

You use a little (a very little) on damp hair before styling. I still had to use a finishing product to get rid of winter static and get some final hold.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: The Living Proof PHD line also includes shampoo and conditioner.

-- Tested by Carrie

Ralph Lauren Romance Fragrance

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3 stars

COST: $50 for 1 ounce

THE SKINNY: When you see the pale pink packaging and hear the name "Romance," you assume this is going to be girly. This Ralph Lauren fragrance fits that bill for sure, but in a way that I did not mind at all.

From Ralph Lauren: "Romance is the women's fragrance that evokes the timeless essence of falling in love -- discover the sensual essence of velvety woods, extravagant florals and seductive musk."

I don't know if smell is enough to make you fall in love, but this is a nice everyday scent that is feminine but not too overwhelming.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: You can buy the fragrance, gift sets or other Romance items at department stores or direct from Ralph Lauren.

-- Tested by Carrie

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3 stars

COST: $24

THE SKINNY: Bye Bye Under Eye is one of those products that I love but find incredibly frustrating.

The good: This is an amazing concealer that's meant to perform well on that sensitive skin under your eye. It cover and brightens and makes my skin look radiant. It's everything you would hope for in a full-coverage and waterproof concealer.

The bad: It's hard to put on, mostly because it's so thick and a tiny bit goes a long way. I have a lot of trouble, even with a tiny brush, getting the right amount of product.

Put a drop on your finger and it's way too much. I looked spackled. Really.

I get too little on a makeup brush, and then it dries fast and is difficult to blend.

Basically, this product takes some practice. The results are worth the work.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. I'm getting better at using it, and some mornings I really need to use it.

CHECK IT OUT: Bye Bye Under Eye comes in four shades.

-- Tested by Shay

Uberliss Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3 stars

COST: $24 each

THE SKINNY: With a name like Uberliss, I just new this shampoo and conditioner due would be awesome when it arrived in a beauty box.

It was only average.

Neither product really did anything for my hair. They worked fine, they lathered and cleaned well, but generally did not do anything that made this product stand out from anything else.

And if you are going to get me to pay $24 for a bottle of shampoo, I need to really like it.

Sadly, my favorite thing was the design of the bottle. (That skinny little text on the purple container is uber cool.)

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: I had never heard of this brand. You can learn more from the Uberliss website if it's new to you as well.

-- Tested by Carrie

DermaDoctor KP Duty Body Scrub

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3 stars

COST: $46 for 16 ounces

THE SKINNY: DermaDoctor KP Duty Body Scrub works like any other body scrub. It was hard to rank it in any way other than average because nothing about it really stood out at all.

And then I saw that price. That really stood out for a product that did not enthrall me.

What's supposed to be different about this product, according to the manufacturer is that the "dual-action exfoliator combines the benefits of a chemical peel and a microdermabrasion into a single, easy-to-use formulation"

I just don't know. Honestly, all I can see is that price tag.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: You can find this and other DermaDoctor products at retailers such as Sephora.

-- Tested by Carrie

L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3.5 stars

COST: $50 for 16.9 ounces

THE SKINNY: I was not sure what to expect from a shower oil, but with the L'Occitane name on it I knew it would be good. And it was.

The oil transformed into a thick, rich soapy later when it hit my wet skin. It cleaned and made every inch of me feel soft and smooth.

Plus this shower oil smells just as good as the body oil from the same line. I might be in love with almond products this winter!

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: Learn more about this sweet smelling line from L'Occitane.

-- Tested by Carrie

So Susan Cosmetics Universal Blush

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3.5 stars

COST: $27.95

THE SKINNY: Although So Susan Cosmetics is a brand I had never heard of, I was fairly impressed with my first product, universal Blush.

The blush is a pinkish color (as you might expect) but has lots of tiny little shiny flecks throughout. Just a dab on my cheeks added nice color without being too much. The overall look was slightly flushed and "healthy."

The product is designed to work with almost any skin tone -- I am pretty light -- and is OK for sensitive skin.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: You can find this blush and more from So Susan Cosmetics.

-- Tested by Carrie

Vince Camuto Amore Eau De Parfum

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3 stars

COST: $78 for 3.4 ounces

THE SKINNY: With the big flower on the package, I was quite skeptical of Vince Camuto Amore Eau De Parfum. But I was pleasantly surprised.

The fragrance was feminine and light but not too flowery.

From the manufacturer: "Our newest scent is inspired by undying passion and romance. Be the woman you wish in this sweet and tantalizing perfume. Fruity top notes mix with the organic smell of freshly picked flowers"

That description seems a little over the top, but the fragrance works for a day at work without being overwhelming. One downside is that the fragrance does not seem to stick around all that long.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: This limited editor fragrance will only be around for a short time from Vince Camuto.

-- Tested by Carrie

Kate Somerville Restor8

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3.5 stars

COST: $165 for 1 ounce

THE SKINNY: Wow. Products such as Kate Somerville's Restor8 serum are the real reason samples were invented. We get to play around with a product most of us could never afford.

Restor8 is a thick and creamy serum that made my face feel nice and soft and gave it a bit of extra glow. This is a little thicker than I normally like for a daytime moisturizer, but it's perfect for night.

The serum targets eight signs of aging, evens out skin tone and plumps up dull skin.

I was impressed, and then I choked when I saw the price.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: If you have the money for this, Kate Somerville offers an auto-replenish option.

-- Tested by Shay