First things first: a good hair conditioner is a good hair conditioner—regardless of scent. But we all love it when our hair products smell nice, don’t we? In addition to passing the smell test with its refreshing, sweet-yet-minty scent, this one leaves my hair silky-smooth and hydrated in spite of all the heat-styling and chemical processing I subject it to. I’ve tried (and loved!) other products from the Nick Chavez family and I have to say that, as amazing as all of them are, this is my new favorite. The condition of my hair has really and truly improved.

Another helpful hint for ladies hoping to maintain long, luscious locks: take it easy with the shampoo! At first it may seem weird, the idea of washing every other day or (gasp) once or twice a week. But I’m telling you, it’s really one of the best things you can do for your hair. I know the idea sounds all the more crazy if you’re an avid worker-outer. How can I possibly skip a day of shampoo when I’m covered in sweat? you ask. Just rinse your hair with water and apply a good hair conditioner like this one to your ends. Give it a few months and I guarantee you your hair will be shinier, softer and just better in general.

Did you receive Nick Chavez Ultra Shine Honey-Peppermint Conditioner in your Beautyfix kit this season? What did you think?

If you’ve never used any of the wonderful formulations Kelly Teegarden Organics has to offer, well, you’re in for a treat. (I’m a huge fan of The Royal Healthy Body Lotion.) And the story behind the brand is quite an inspirational one. After battling cancer, Kelly wanted beauty consumers everywhere to have access to products free of chemicals and potentially harmful ingredients. Her eponymous line—featuring an array of products for the face and body—utilizes natural ingredients and natural preservatives only.

As for the eye cream, along with soothing rose and cucumber, it contains essential oils, rosemary, horse chestnut and calendula. Dark circles and puffiness don’t stand a chance! It also works to smooth stubborn lines and wrinkles, imparting a plump, youthful glow. I like it so much, I carry it around with me and re-apply throughout the day. It’s a great antidote to the dry weather California gets this time of year. As soon as I smooth it on, I notice a difference—it’s a great pick-me-up for my delicate eye orbital area, which is quite prone to dark circles and puffiness.

Did you receive Kelly Teegarden Organics Vitality Rose and Cucumber Eye Cream in your Beautyfix kit this season? What do you think about it?

In addition to completely winning over the rest of the Beautyfix panel—pretty much everyone agrees it’s a keeper!—this soap-free cleanser is one of the highest-rated Shopper’s Choice picks on DermStore.com. Here’s taste of what actual customers have to say about this affordable, amazing, effective gem of a product:

“This is the best cleanser I’ve tried, and like others I feel like I have tried them all. My skin is sensitive and acne-prone. I will for sure continue to use this product.” from Broomfield, CO

“I love this product! Not only is it great at keeping my rosacea at bay, but my face always feels clean and clear in the morning without feeling dry.” from Delray Beach, FL

“I have had sensitive and oily/combo acne prone skin ever since I can remember. Effaclar is a great blender than keeps my skin feeling clean and helps prevent breakouts. It is tough and gentle all at the same time and does not irritate your skin like other acne products. I love Effaclar and HIGHLY reccomend this to anyone who is having trouble with your skin. I have been using this for almost 5 years now and will never go back to another cleanser!” from Houston, TX

Dr. Goldfaden is without a doubt one of the skin care industry’s foremost authorities. That’s why we’re thrilled to let you know that we’ll be hosting a live Q &A with him on Facebook on Friday, December 9^th! Log in from 12pm-1pm PST and post your questions for Dr. Goldfaden on our Facebook wall. If you’d like, you can even leave a question for Dr. Goldfaden on our Facebook wall now! And remember, if you have any medical questions, you should always consult your personal care physician.

Dermaquest Skin Therapy Skin Vitalight brightens the skin with Vitamin C, making it appear more radiant and protecting against free radicals. Kojic Acid inhibits melanin production and Sodium Hyaluronate (An essential dermal hydrator which plumps and smoothes the skin) improves skin hydration levels. This is a great, preventative skincare product for looming pigmentation! This skin lightening formula treats skin discolorations as well as inflammation that lead to pigmentation.

Now I use sunscreen on my face every day, but that isn’t always enough. Being in my 30’s, I already have discoloration from sun damage that needs to be treated and incorporating this skin lightening formula into my skin care regimen will not only fade the spots I currently have, but it will prevent new ones from forming and existing ones from becoming darker. This can also help treat acne related scars/spots. Simply smooth a dab of this onto your skin and allow it to penetrate before applying your next treatment product. It’s that easy and you will ‘see the light’ in the results. Gentle enough for all skin types, if you want to improve the overall radiance of your skin, fade dark spots and achieve more even-toned skin, this is a good selection for you to try!

Don’t let the info on the bottle fool you. Belli skin care is a luxurious skin care line formulated for expecting and new mothers and anyone who’s wanting a good skin pampering. They combine medically proven treatments with holistic benefits of aroma taste and of course massage. Belli Skin Care is physician-formulated and tested for prenatal safety but their amazing formulations can benefit anyone. In this season’s kit, like OB-GYNs and mothers, we’ve fallen in love with their All Day Moisture Body Lotion.

The first reason I fell in love with this hand and body lotion is the smell. The smell is heavenly, lemony fresh and is present immediately upon application. The citrus scent is lovely, not overpowering or too heavy, but just enough to awaken your senses.

Any body lotion has pass three tests to make my beauty shelf. It has to smell good, rub in well while hydrating and help alleviate dry, itchy skin in any season. Belli’s Body Lotion does all three and more with its non-greasy formula. Its texture is uber buttery and absorbs quickly into your skin while giving you a little glow without the grease, making it all the more luxurious. This moisturizing body lotion is made with Shea butter, chamomile and lemon oil that soothes and hydrates in any weather. This body lotion has been my go-to lotion every day since the weather has changed. Personally,  I find it to be an amazing complement to my morning skin care routine. Pre-warned, tried and Beautyfix tested, this mommy friendly body lotion is a perfect addition to any woman’s beauty cabinet.

As we age, our lips lose their plumpness and youthful appearance, much like the face, due to the loss of fat and collagen. It is important to implement an anti-aging skin care regimen for the lips as part of an everyday beauty routine. Without proper care, lips can age faster than other areas of our skin but greater care of your lips can reverse the signs of aging and trauma.

SkinMedica’s TNS Lip Plumping System decreases the look of fine lines and wrinkles, improves contour and increases lip volume within minutes of application. This two step, age defense lip treatment system is easy to use and applied topically just like an ordinary lip gloss. It combines the rejuvenating strength of the patented growth factor blend TNS and collagen-filling spheres to enhance fullness and smooth surface imperfections. Ingredients such as Niacin, increase circulation in the skin, conditions with soybean oil and further prevents water loss with Hydrogenated Polyisobutene.

 I love this lip plumper because there is only a slight tingling sensation, it works as a lip moisturizer and it enhances lip color. There is a slight tingle, but nothing overpowering or uncomfortable.  The results are soft, smooth lips and a perfect pout! If you are going out for the night with the girls or just going to the office, you can plump up those lips quickly with SkinMedica’s TNS Lip Plumping System. Go ahead, give it a try and tell us how you like your new lips!

Pop beauty has always been a standout brand because of their conveniently-cute packaging and their electric colors. From color cosmetics to nail polish, Pop Beauty brings influences straight from fashion forward London. You’ll find their new Glitz Blitz eyeliners in the latest season of Beautyfix just in time for fall to add a little glitz and glam to your makeup routine. All of Pop’s formulas are long-lasting and silky that also incorporates step-by-step instructions for foolproof makeup application.

What I love about Glitz Blitz is how each color is mixed with added sparkle for that little extra glam.  These eyeliners deliver intense color along with soothing Vitamin E all while being water resistant. In Beautyfix you have your choice of Blue Beam, Wine Wink, Olive Oomph, Black Blitz, Teal Twinkle and Brown Brilliance to help highlight your gorgeous peepers. I was pleasantly surprised at how long the eyeliner lasts after application! Although I’m a little iffy on the exact texture of the eyeliners, the stand out color they deliver is a great addition to my normal eye makeup routine.

With any of the colors, you can create either a subtle thin line for subtle sparkle or a thick line for all around glamour. Using any color form the Glitz Blitz collection will complement your eyes for a day or night look. Add the perfect amount of drama for fall and the holiday season by using a creamy eyelid primer first, and one of the Glitz Blitz colors on top. Slowly fill in your lid with the glittery color and blend with a brush. Most importantly, have fun!

Girls who received Kinerase Photofacials Night Moisturizer in their recent Beautyfix kit know what to do. This awesome product—packed with kinetin and peptides—happens to be one of the industry’s most effective weapons in the battle against sun damage. It poses deeply restorative powers, and, when used every night will help diminish all those dreaded signs of sun damage.

I think I’m pretty good about SPF. Every day I wear an SPF of at least 50 on my face, but since I do enjoy time spent outdoors, sun damage remains something I can’t fully escape. For the last few weeks I’ve been using Photofacials Night Moisturizer before bed—and I can honestly say that it’s made a huge improvement in the look and feel of my complexion already. Dark spots are getting lighter, the weathered look has been calmed and my fine lines and wrinkles are becoming less and less noticeable. Did I mention that my skin is super-sensitive and this awesome anti-aging product does NOT cause any irritation?

Did you receive Kinerase PhotoFacials Night Moisturizer in your Beautyfix Kit this season? If you did, leave a comment and let us know how it’s working for your complexion!

Though the tube makes the eye gloss look like it’s literally a gloss for your eyes, don’t be alarmed—it’s actually a beautiful, sheer, long-lasting eye shadow that comes out in liquid form and dries to a sheer finish, leaving a buildable—and blendable—wash of color. This shade of the eye gloss is as versatile as they come and will complement a variety of skin tones while working with every eye color. If you’re a blue-eyed gal (like me!) the warmth of the eye gloss will contrast nicely against your peepers, giving you a standout look that takes very minimal effort. I mean, makeup application really doesn’t get much easier than this.

During the day time, I use this eye gloss to give my eyes some depth, and I do so by gently patting a few drops in the creases of my eyelids, after I apply concealer and loose powder as a primer. Then I throw on some brown eyeliner and black mascara and I’m good to go! At night, I create a bit more of a dramatic eye makeup look by applying it below my bottom lashlines (I use an eyeliner brush for that) and topping it off with jet black liquid eyeliner on the top lids, black kohl eyeliner on the bottom.

What’s even better than the fact that this eye gloss is so easy to apply, you can practically put it on without even using a mirror? Its ingredients, that’s what! Like all the awesome products in the jane Iredale family, this eye gloss is chock-full of nourishing ingredients like macadamia nut oil, but free of the bad stuff, like fillers, synthetic dyes and chemical preservatives. An all-around win!

Did you receive jane iredale’s eye gloss in your Beautyfix kit this season? Leave a comment and let us know how you’re liking it!