Pida Exfoliating Gel (Review and Giveaway)

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3.5 stars

COST: $40

THE SKINNY: Exfoliation is good for skin; you can't really argue that fact.

Pida Exfoliating Gel makes it a little easier to exfoliate with a product that is simple to use and is not rough or smell harsh (issues that sometimes arise with exfoliators).

The Pida gel is a scent-free, clear liquid that you rub on skin. It's not rough and is just a little thicker than water. As you rub it in, you can actually see skin sloughing off. (Which admittedly is both a little gross and awesome at the same time.)

I used the sample on my face and it felt fantastically smooth. And because of the texture of the gel, my face was not red or irritated after use. (A problem I can often have with harsher exfoliators because of my somewhat sensitive skin.) The formula contains aloe vera, antioxidants and Vitamin C, which are all great for skin.

Pida is advertised to help with rough patches, acne and dull skin.

The only thing that really scares me about this product is the price tag. If it were a little less pricey, I would seriously consider adding it to my skin care routine.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. It really does brighten skin.

CHECK IT OUT: Learn more about Pida online and buy from Beauty Army or Urban Outfitters.

-- Tested by Carrie 

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PIDA GIVEAWAY

Want to try Pida for yourself? We are giving one Beauty Test Dummies reader a full-size bottle ($54 value)! Just enter using the Rafflecopter below. Tweet daily plus "LIKE" this post on Facebook for extra entries. Good luck! We'll pick a winner on Sept. 30. 

DISCLOSURE: Pida provided a sample for review and the full size item for this giveaway. The opinions stated are those of Beauty Test Dummies alone.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

MicaBeauty Mineral Eye Shadow in Bronze

RATING (out of 5 stars): 4 stars

COST: $14.95

THE SKINNY: This is a gorgeous color that's just perfect for late summer and early fall. This loose eye shadow delivers long-lasting color that's metallic but not quite as glittery as you might expect. It pairs nicely with brown, black and steel gray eyeliner (I've tried all three combinations).

The color easily lasted eight hours with primer and didn't crease at all.

My only complaint is with the packaging. The plastic cover over the loose eye shadow only has three small holes. That makes it really difficult to get the product out. It's really difficult to pull the plastic piece out of the container.

This eye shadow comes in 20+ colors.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep

CHECK IT OUT: Reviewers on the Ipsy website (this came in a recent bag) used this product as a highlighter and bronzer, as well as an eye shadow.

-- Tested by Shay

Ole Henriksen Perfect Truth CC Creme

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3 stars

COST: $26

THE SKINNY: Ole Henriksen Perfect Truth is the first CC cream I've tried that has an aroma. It smells like citrus, and it's a strange thing to put on makeup and smell it on your skin for the first five or 10 minutes.

That being said, this is a decent CC cream that provides good coverage for blemishes and stays in place all day. A little dusting of powder was all I needed to be ready for work.

It didn't irritate my skin or clog my pores.

Ole Henricksen says over time this CC cream will help fade dark sports, fight fine lines and reduce redness. My sample wasn't big enough to test any of that. But, as someone who has tried a lot of CC creams this summer, this is a decent one.

It's SPF 30, too.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep. I used up the sample and would like some more, please.

CHECK IT OUT: This CC cream contains a healthy does of Vitamin C from five sources, according to the Ole Henriksen website.

-- Tested by Shay

Dr. Brandt BB Matte BB Cream with Shinerase

RATING (out of 5 stars): 4 stars

COST: $39 for 1 ounce

THE SKINNY: I judged this product by the package and let it sit on the counter for a long time before trying it.

What a mistake that was.

Dr. Brandt's BB Matte BB Cream with Shinerase is a great product. The BB cream goes on easy and the light/medium color was perfect. And the matte finish is perfect. Not a speck of shine ... all day long ... in the summer heat. Wow.

This BB cream also contains SPF 30 and is recommended for oily or acne-prone skin. 9If you have pretty good skin or dryness, this is probably not the product for you.)

Now the downside. Just a single ounce of this stuff is $39. It might not be a great year-round option, but is a must-have if you want to look great and plan to be out in the heat or have skin that tends to be a bit on the oily side.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep! Thank you Glossybox for this great find.

CHECK IT OUT: Dr. Brandt BB Matte BB Cream with Shinerase is available from Sephora, where buyers love it too.

-- Tested by Carrie

Living Proof No Fizz Nourishing Styling Cream

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3.5 stars

COST: $26 for 4 ounces

THE SKINNY: As one of my favorite shampoo/conditioner brands, I was excited to get this sample from Living Proof.

The No Fizz Nourishing Styling Cream claims to block humidity and frizz.

It went on thick and creamy, almost as you would expect. But be warned a small dab goes a long way.

My hair was shiny and smooth all day and laid nice and flat. And while I really liked it, this is probably designed for someone with more frizz or curls than me. The cream seemed a little too heavy for my hair and weighed it down some by the end of the day.

KEEP OR TOSS: Keep.

CHECK IT OUT: Living Proof is available online and through select retailers.

-- Tested by Carrie