Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Shampoo and Conditioner

RATING (out of 5 stars): 4 stars, but for occasional use only

COST: $3.99

THE SKINNY: I've had good results with Garnier's Sleek & Shine shampoo and conditioner, but it's not a product I can use regularly.

This pairing uses argon and apricot oils to add extra moisture and extra shine to your hair. Because I have baby fine dark blonde hair, I was a little skeptical. Most products with oils in them just leave my hair looking greasy. That's not the case with Garnier's shampoo and conditioner, but I won't use them more than a few times a week. Everyday use would definitely overwhelm my locks.

This shampoo doesn't have a lot of lather, thanks to the oily base, so it's not something I would use if I really needed to clean my hair after a workout. But it smells nice and did leave my hair incredibly shiny.

These are not products that will straighten your hair automatically. Mine tends to be pretty straight anyway, so this helped tame static and those summer flyaways.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. It's affordable enough to be a once-a-week shampoo in my shower.

CHECK IT OUT: See all the products in this line, including styling options, at Garnier's website.

-- Tested by Shay

Boscia Oil-free Daily Hydration

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2.5 stars

COST: $36 for 1.4 fl. oz.

THE SKINNY: Boscia's Oil-free Daily Hydration is a lightweight moisturizer that I think smells like raw green peppers.

That's right. Green peppers.

It's an OK moisturizer, but it did leave some random sticky spots on my face that I could never explain. It left my skin feeling reasonably soft. It didn't cause any breakouts. It's SPF 15.

But the smell? No thanks.

KEEP OR TOSS: I'm on the fence. Maybe I can use the rest of the sample when I have a cold and can't smell the product?

CHECK IT OUT: Get a complete list of ingredients at the Boscia site.

-- Tested by Shay

Origins VitaZing Energy-Boosting Moisturizer

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars

COST: $35 for 1.7 fl. oz.

THE SKINNY: Origins bills this as a multitasking moisturizer that hydrates skin, revs it up with a shot of antioxidant-rich mangosteen and has a slight tint to give you something akin to "the glow you get from a week's vacation." 

Mangosteen, Google says, is an exotic, island fruit, just in case you were wondering.

I wasn't a fan of this moisturizer, mostly because it made my pores look huge, something I can usually attribute to an odd color tint. I didn't look at all like I was glowing. I thought the tint made my skin look a little blah.

It does an adequate job as a moisturizer, but I wasn't impressed. And when moisturizer costs $35, I think I should be impressed.

KEEP OR TOSS: Toss.

CHECK IT OUT: VitaZing is SPF 15. Get more details on the Origins website.

-- Tested by Shay

Julep Essential Cuticle Oil

RATING (out of 5 stars): 2 stars

COST: $18

THE SKINNY: Julep's Essential Cuticle Oil is made of essential oils and Vitamin E and, like any cuticle oil, is designed to combat dryness around the nails and extend the life of a manicure.

This is a rollerball application. Glide the oil onto your cuticles and let it soak in.

I used it nightly for a few weeks. My cuticles appeared healthier and moisturized on the day I used the oil, but I found it to have little lasting benefit.

Once I stopped using the oil nightly, my cuticles went back to their normal, slightly dry, state.

KEEP OR TOSS: Toss and find a better product.

CHECK IT OUT: Maybe it's just me? Allure magazine made Essential Cuticle Oil one of the "Editor's Favorite" products in July 2010.

-- Tested by Shay

Julep Pout Popper

RATING (out of 5 stars): 0 stars

COST: N/A

THE SKINNY: This product is no longer available on the Julep site, but consider this fair warning if you ever come across it. (My tube came in a Julep mystery box in June 2012.)

This lip gloss/plumper is painful.

I don't mind a little tingle from a little cayenne extract worked into a gloss such as Buxom's Big & Healthy. But about two minutes after I applied Julep's Pout Popper, my lips and the skin around my lips began to burn.

And by burn, I mean BURN. I looked in the mirror expecting to see blisters. Luckily, I did not.

It took about 20 minutes for the burn to go away once I scrubbed off the lip gloss. It never made my lips plumper, just redder from being irritated.

KEEP OR TOSS: Toss. Once was an awful experience. Twice would just be stupid.

-- Tested by Shay