Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3.5 stars

COST: $28 for 0.28 ounces

THE SKINNY: Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder give you a hint of that sun-kissed look without ever actually having to go out in the sun.

I was a little worried about this product at first. It does not come in different shades and the color on the card look much too dark for my somewhat pale skin.

But it glided on like a charm. The color was super subtle, yet highlighting and natural. I was very pleased with the overall look.

Sadly, this is one of the more expensive bronzers I have tried. As seldom as I use one, I am just not sure $28 is a good value and once I get a touch of a natural tan, I am not sure you would even see results.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. I really liked this product and hope I get a hold of a few more samples.

CHECK IT OUT: Find out more about Hoola or buy direct from Benefit.

-- Tested by Carrie

bareMinerals Ready Eyeshadow

RATING (out of 5 stars): 4 stars

COST: $20 for 2 shades, $30 for 4 shades, $40 for 8 shades

THE SKINNY: I waited a really long time to try this product -- it has been out about 6 months -- because of the price and lack of samples available.

And despite the price tag, I love the new bareMinerals Ready Eyeshadow. (I bought the "Cocktail Hour"palette.)

The colors glide on super smooth and have the gentleness you would expect from bareMinerals. But the compact eye shadows are far superior to any of the loose shadows you may have tried from this brand in the past. Gone is the messy powder application and container. 

The color also lasts all day and my palette came with the perfect combination of colors and highlight shades so I don't have to go digging for something else to pair with it. 

New colors are being added all the time to the formula which claims to help "deliver anti-aging benefits including reduced look of puffines." (You can come to your own conclusion here, but I can't really tell a difference.)

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep and cross your fingers for a sale!

CHECK IT OUT: Check out all the color choices and read what other testers have to say -- there are a lot of happy customers -- on the bareMinerals website. You can also order direct, or find Ready Eyeshadow at Bare Escentuals retailers.

-- Tested by Carrie

Matrix Curl.Life Spray Gel

RATING (out of 5 stars): 4 stars

COST: $17.50 for 5 ounces

THE SKINNY: Matrix Curl.Life Spray Gel is a fun product that delivers.

Just a few sprays of the product on wet hair and you get great bouncy curls with no work. Its a great humid-day, or in-a-hurry hair solution. (My hair does have some natural wave and is a medium thickness.)

I love that Curl.Life was not sticky and did not require a lot of product to get the job done. They only real downside is that the resulting curls were a little "crunchy." But I could remedy that by combing my fingers through after my hair was fully dry.

The waves lasted all day for a perfectly beachy look. I am so glad my stylist gave my this to try!

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. And it was a lot cheaper than I expected for a product from the Matrix line.

CHECK IT OUT: This product gets great reviews from online retailers as well. Find it at a salon or from Drugstore.com or Folica.

-- Tested by Carrie

Garnier Pure Clean Clear 2 in 1

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3.5 stars

COST: $2.99 for 13 oz.

THE SKINNY: Garnier's Pure Clean Clear 2 in 1 shampoo smells like fresh apples. It's a fresh shampoo, too, touted to be a "purer, greener" shampoo than its competitors.

The shampoo is made without silicone, paraben or dye. The bottle is made from 50 percent recycled materials, too.

I found this to be a decent shampoo. As advertised, it's a clear shampoo with a good scent and lots of lather. It rinsed out easily. It left my hair feeling clean and manageable, although with some extra static.

This is supposed to leave hair stronger, but I didn't really notice any difference.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. This is a decent option for a daily shampoo, and I do love the smell.

CHECK IT OUT: This variation is sold as a shampoo, a conditioner and a two-in-one combination. Learn more about all Garnier's shampoos on its website.

-- Tested by Shay

Clear Scalp and Hair Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3.5 stars

COST: $5-7 at grocery, discount and drug stores

THE SKINNY: They have a celebrity spokesperson (Heidi Klum) and a massive marketing campaign, so I know you have seen this stuff around. There are also samples available all over the place for you to grab, plus we are going to give away some here too!

For a grocery store product, this seems to be pretty good stuff.

My hair was very manageable and looked good while I was using it.

But ... I was not a big fan of the scent. Honestly it smelled like cheap shampoo -- a hint of something sweet and a lot of chemical smell. (The scent does not hang around though so you don't have to worry about smelling it during the day.)

Overall, this seems like a great effort for a new product line. I just hope in the new version, the smell is a little nicer.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. I am planning to used the huge box of samples I got through the BzzAgent program.

CHECK IT OUT: Find out more about the Clear brand (they also have a line for men) and take their hair quiz, plus find a place near you where the product is sold.

GIVEAWAY: We are giving away a full-size Clear shampoo and conditioner to one reader. You can enter using the Rafflecopter form below and good luck!!

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