THE most universally appealing scent. Ever.

It must have been 1996. I walked into a colleague's office and smelled the scent of fresh lavender. She told me she had just put on her favorite Thymes Lavender Hand Lotion, so of course I grabbed the bottle to take a peek. It was this magical cream by a company I had never heard of before and the bottle was so beautiful. Thus began my longtime love affair with Thymes.

Over the years I've seen Thymes products in many boutiques, beauty supplies, gift shops, bookstores, campus shops and even at the San Diego Zoo. Every time I see Thymes, I must buy something. It's just one of those brands that you may not seek out, but when you see their products you're instantly drawn to them and you think, "How did I forget about these??"

So you can imagine my delight when I was recently sent some products from their newest line, "Naia". I was literally jumping up and down when I opened the package.

I've got to say that from the moment I smelled the soap, I was in love. This is one of those universally appealing scents that screams "fresh". It's one of the most inviting, welcoming, soothing and clean scents I've smelled in a good long while. It might be my favorite scent of all time and here's why: It smells naturally beautiful. There's not even a hint of anything fake or synthetic here. Just natural, wholesome goodness.

The fragrance of Naia was actually developed by Thymes' in-house perfumer and their team of independent fragrance testers granted this scent recipe the highest rating to date. These folks aren't fooling around. Naia is a combination of water lily and cyclamen with subtle hints of citrus and lychee. When I smell it, I just want to keep on smelling it with my eyes closed in total bliss.

And as if the amazing scent wasn't enough, Naia products are also SLS/SLES and paraben free. Plus, they contain natural and beneficial ingredients such as yerba mate extract and shea butter.

Now, I understand that the prices of Thymes products may not be in keeping with the budget-friendly theme of my blog, however let me explain that one bar of Naia soap ($14) is triple-milled, meaning it will last you a very, very long time. I have been using this soap every single day for a month straight and it's not even half its original size yet. Plus, for $14, you are getting THE most indulgent bar soap you could ever use (and trust me, I've tried many, many high-end soaps in my time, such as Claus Porto, Fresh, Mistral and Laura Mercier to name just a few). Run this bar under your shower for a second and then rub it into a bath pouf and you will see it produce the most thick, luxurious lather ever. And the way it leaves your skin? Clean, almost squeaky clean, yet extremely well-moisturized and oh so fresh. I"m in love with this soap, I tell you.

Also, you can purchase travel size bottles ($6) of lotion and shower wash and because of the high quality of these products, they will last you a long time because you only need a tiny bit. I am absolutely loving the body lotion because it leaves your skin baby smooth and again, you've got that lingering Naia fragrance which only adds to the experience.

The bath salts ($6) are an absolute delight because they contain yerba mate extract, espon salt and sea salt to give you a wonderfully natural and skin-friendly bath experience. Confession: I only used half the packet because I wanted to keep the rest in my dresser drawer so that my clothes can smell like Naia too. :)

One final comment: If you'd like to give someone a bath & body gift but you're not exactly sure what type of scents they're drawn to, get them some Naia products. Not only do I love this scent, but the boyfriend is absolutely nuts about it as well. We agree that *anyone* would love this fragrance including aunts, uncles, co-workers, teachers, you name it. Trust me, you can't go wrong with Thymes Naia.

PS: If any of my friends or family are reading this, YES, please get me the cologne for my birthday (and yes, I'm aware that my birthday's not until December). :)

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and gratis samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.

Breaking News: P&G to stop selling Max Factor in the US by 2010

Say it ain't so!!!!!!!!

Thanks to Amber at BeautyJunkiesUnite for breaking this news:

P&G Ends Max Factor US Sales

Citing a sustained slump in sales in the US, P&G will continue selling Max Factor in the global market but not in the U.S. as of 2010.

I can't tell you how saddened I am by this news! Max Factor Pan-Stick was my very first foundation and, to this day, NOTHING compares to Max Factor Volume Couture Mascara for me. It has been my holy grail mascara since it was first released, due the fact that it separates, lengthens, adds volume, doesn't run or smear (even in the non-waterproof version!) and it removes easily with soap and water. It just cannot be beat, as far as I'm concerned, and I really don't want to have to purchase this from out of the country and pay enormous shipping fees.

Sad, sad, sad day for U.S. drugstore makeup fans.

Which Max Factor products will you be stocking up on?

What's in my bag?

Time again for my monthly "What's in my Bag?" feature where I tell you about the beauty products in my purse at the moment. The handbag above is actually not my bag (this is a Fossil bag that you can find here for $142) but I have a very similar hobo in brown that I got at Mervyn's (RIP) before it closed for about $15.

So, not too many additions or subtractions from last month's bag, however I do want to tell you about some new things that I'm liking very much at the moment.

1) Revlon ColorStay Pressed Powder in "Light". Why did it take me so long to try this? This powder leaves such a lovely finish on the skin and even though it does have pigment, it doesn't leave too much color on the skin (it really wears more like a translucent powder) and it sets your foundation no matter what product you're using. I've used it with Cover Girl Aqua Smooth foundation, I've used it with Prestige Wet/Dry Powder Foundation, and I've of course used it with ColorStay foundations and the result is always the same. It's never cakey, it's never chalky; it's just a nice, smooth "seal" to your foundation. "Light" is a perfect match for my NC20 skin, and I highly recommend giving this a try, especially in the warm months ahead when makeup tends to melt.

Also: Definitely throw away the horrible puff that comes with the compact and use a nice makeup sponge instead. I like getting my sponges at Japanese specialty stores such as Marukai and Mitsuwa. They have the BEST sponges and you can get a 2-pack for $1. These sponges are far better than any kind I've purchased at the drugstore because they never shed (even after several washings) and they help apply your makeup very evenly.

2) I really struggled with mentioning this next product but I feel that I must. I hope it doesn't offend anyone, but really my goal for this blog is to help my readers in any way possible, and I think that this just might help some out so I'm going for it.

I was a product-tester for a while, and a few years ago I was given a "toilet drop" product to review. At first I thought, "toilet drop?" What the? But then after reading the fine print, I understood its use. You add a few drops of this liquid into the toilet before you do your business and all odors are eliminated. Now, I hope I haven't offended anyone by mentioning this, but if you are new to a job and share a small restroom with your fellow employees, this can be a potential lifesaver. Or what if you're a guest at someone's home and someone's waiting outside in the hall to use the restroom after you? I can think of many scenarios where something like this could come in handy, so that's why I'm sharing it. :)

Some of the "toilet drop" products currently on the market have some really awful names (given the tacky name of the product I tested, it's no surprise that I cannot even locate that product on the internet now). But one of them, "One Drop" sold at Marukaiestore.com, is probably the least obnoxious of all, and actually has the lowest price of any toilet drop product I could locate on the internet ($4.85). I don't know about you, but "One Drop" sounds a heck of a lot better than Poo-pourri (no, I'm not joking), Poof Drops or Fresh Throne. "One Drop" is pretty simple: It's a tiny bottle that slips discreetly in your bag, it smells like mint and one or two drops is all you need to avoid an embarrassing moment.

Moving on...

3) New Orbit Mist Gum. I am an absolute sucker for any and all new chewing gums. I've tried every flavor of Orbit on the market (Mint Mojito and Sangria Fresca being my favorites) so when "Orbit Mist" came out I was embarrassingly excited to give it a whirl.

Um, what a letdown! According to the ads, Orbit Mist "contains Micro-Bursts(TM) to deliver a hydrating sensation to consumers". I guess I was expecting some kind of mini-explosion in my mouth, but all I got was regular Orbit gum with a few sand-like particles mixed in. Ick. Yes, I'm still going to chew it until I'm finished with the pack, but I will not repurchase. Just wanted to pass that along to my fellow gum junkies out there.

That's it for this month. If you've tried any of these products, leave me a comment and tell me what you think!

Bargains of the Month

Time once again for my recap of what I feel to be the best bargains I've uncovered in the world of beauty in the past month.

For more information on these products, just click on the links to go to my original reviews.

1) In the number one spot is my new favorite facial cleanser: Clean & Clear Makeup Dissolving Foaming Cleanser. For around $7, this bottle will last you a good long while and it truly removes all traces of makeup (even Revlon ColorStay foundation). And the best part? It's never once been drying on my skin. I should warn you that I do have oily skin, however I've yet to hear a complaint from dry-skin users so hopefully those with less oily skin can use this with success as well.

2) Tropez Sunrise to Sunset Eyeshadow Palettes For $3.99 (for 6 colors!), you just cannot get a more gorgeous selection of colors in a drugstore eyeshadow palette. Some of the shades rival high-end brands in terms of color and performance, and even the ones with less pigmentation are good for when you want a sheer wash of color. Worth every penny...and then some.

3) V05 Passion Fruit Smoothie Shampoo and Conditioner What else could you want for 99 cents? Great scent? Check. Non-drying? Check. Good lather? Check. Leaves hair springy, shiny and free of flyaways? Check, check check.

Honorable Mention: Starbucks Napkins used as oil blotting sheets. Beyond a bargain (how about free?) these babies have made me never again consider purchasing "real" blotting sheets. Try one and you'll see why.

Pics of my China Glaze OMG giveaway winner's nails

Back in April I was lucky enough to host a giveaway for a set of China Glaze OMG! Nail Polishes sponsored by BeautyTicket.com. My dear reader, Stacey, won the giveaway and not only was she super sweet to talk to, but she even emailed me pics of each color on her *gorgeous* nails! I thought I'd share these with you because, really, who doens't like looking at pretty nail colors?

Also, look how neat the holographic effect is on her nails! Thanks, Stacey, for capturing these in the sunlight and for sharing your pics with us!

The colors, in order of the pics above, are as follows: QT, TTYL, TMI, L8R G8R, GR8, FYI.

Another quick Marshalls Alert!

I forgot to mention in my previous post that I also spotted several 1 oz bottles of Clean "Lather" eau de toilette (retail $38) for $7.99 at Marshalls the other day! This is less than 1/4 the retail price! Now you should know that I did NOT see these in the regular fragrance section--I spotted them in the bath and body product section (I think maybe someone mistook these for bath products since the name of the scent is "Lather").

To my nose, "Lather" smells almost identical to Ivory Soap. It's probably the cleanest, soapiest fragrance you could ever wear, so if you're not a perfume person and prefer to smell like you just stepped out of the shower, this is definitely a product you'll want to consider (if you're not a fan already). I have never seen a Clean fragrance at such a low price. Ever. Even if this is not for you, you might want to pick one up as a gift for someone else.

A Marshalls Alert and some new Ardell products at Rite-Aid

I seem to be doing a lot of non-reviews lately but I keep finding things that I want to bring to your attention as quickly as possible, so please stay tuned for more actual reviews in the next few days.

That said, I want to tell you that I spotted HUGE pump bottles of Giovanni shampoos and conditioners (33 oz) for $12.99 at Marshalls yesterday (I didn't even know they made Giovanni products in this size!). This is a substantial savings considering an 8.5 oz bottle costs around $8 at Target, Rite-Aid and CVS. If you're unfamiliar with Giovanni products, they are vegan, they don't contain SLS, they're cruelty-free and--here's the best part--they actually work (that's more than I can say for some other all-natural lines).

Now they didn't have my favorite Direct Leave-in conditioner, however they did have the much-coveted Tea Tree Triple Treat Invigorating Shampoo and Conditioner which soooo many people love (the shampoo is great for clarifying because it doesn't strip your color and yet somehow it still manages to actually clarify). They also had the Smooth as Silk Deep Conditioning Shampoo & Conditioner, which I actually have yet to try personally but have heard good things about.

I intentionally took the picture so that you could see the "normal" sized products to the left-hand side of the Giovanni products, just to show you how huge these bottles are...I'm still blown away that they even sell these products in super-size bottles!

Next up: I spotted some new Ardell products at my local Rite-Aid and one of them makes me SO happy! Now, excuse the pics but I had to take them quickly and in a stealth-like manner because the security guy at Rite-Aid thought I was trying to shoplift and was watching me like a hawk. Somehow I don't think he would have believed me if I tried to explain to him that I was actually doing product research and that I spend MORE than enough money in his store to have earned the right to meander through the cosmetics aisles, and that I'm actually the type of person who drives back to a store to return money (when I see that I've been given back too much in change) to prevent the clerk's register from coming up short and having that money taken out of his/her paycheck...but anyway...

I'm super excited to FINALLY see Ardell Brow & Lash Growth Accelerator at my local Rite-Aid because of the complete and total frenzy about this product a few years back (third picture, bottom product, second row on the left, $4.19). I actually ordered a tube of it online during the frenzy but for one reason or another I just never got around to using it consistently to see if it would actually work on my lashes. So now I have my chance and I don't have to pay shipping fees!

Also, another new product I spotted was the Ardell LashMagic Blending Mascara which is designed to be used to blend your false lashes in with your real lashes, making the false lashes "virtually undetectable" (second picture, product on the far right for $4.99). Brilliant idea, but I wonder if it works? If you've tried it, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

That's it for now, but please stay tuned because it's the beginning of the month and time for my monthly installments of "What's in my bag?" and "Bargains of the Month" which I will post in the next day or two :)

Pics of new products by Maybelline, Sally Hansen and Styli-Style!

OK so I went to CVS today and was astounded by the amount of brand new products they had on the shelves! I haven't purchased any of these yet, so for now I'm just sharing pics. Here we go:

1) Maybelline Stylish Smokes eyeshadow quads. These come in silver, plum, green and neutral palettes. For a fantastic, in-depth review of these, check out Pink Train Case's post here.

2) Styli-Style Nano Liners. I literally just did a post about how much I love Styli-Style but I had no idea they had come out with a new product! These liquid liners come in black, brown and gray, and the gimmick seems to be that they're small enough for your pocket but contain the same amount of product as a full-size liner. What's funny to me is, if you read the display, it says that these last 24 hours, yet they also state that they can easily fit in your pocket. Now, why would you need to carry one in your pocket if this liner is going to stay on for 24 hours? Anyway, I like small products and I love the heavy-duty staying power of Styli-Style, so I'm sure I'll buy one soon and review (plus I'm always on a quest for the perfect gray liner).

3) Sally Hansen HD Hi-Definition Nail Color. Um, WOW! Look at these cute summertime colors! I don't particularly like the price tag (almost $7 a bottle. Ouch!) but of course I'm sure we'll all wait until these go on sale anyway before making a purchase. Looking at these bottles up close, I don't really see any "new" technology here...they just look like shimmery polishes to me. But maybe you have to apply the polish to your nails to really see what's going on. Either way, my curiosity level is pretty high on these so I'm sure I'll eventually make a purchase and review.

If you've already tried any of these products, please leave a comment and tell us what's up! And if you haven't tried any of these, feel free to leave a comment and tell me if anything here interests you.

I'm telling you, use that Rite-Aid coupon...

Here's a pic of my Rite-Aid haul from yesterday and I just have to say that using the printable coupon I posted a few days ago really helped out with the savings.

1) I picked up some Daisy Fuentes shampoo and conditioner (I'll be testing and reviewing these here shortly) because Rite-Aid is currently having a buy one, get one 50% off sale (so I got one bottle for $7.99 and the other for $3.99). This line is SLS and paraben free and I'm super excited to finally have the chance to try them out.

2) I picked up one of the new Maybelline Flash of Gold polishes for $3.33 (regularly $4.19 but there are $1.00 off coupons at the display). I will definitely be reviewing this soon so stay tuned.

3) If you read my exfoliation issues post, you know that Josi at The Daily Beauty Break suggested I try the Neutrogena Acne Stress Control scrub. Well Josi, I got it and I can't wait to use it. I'll post my results next week! (BTW, Rite-Aid is having a buy one, get one 50% off sale on Neutrogena right now).

4) Those darn commercials sucked me in. I just had to get the new "Aquafresh Advanced" when I noticed it was on sale for $2.49 (regularly $3.89). Also, there's a rebate for $2.49 so you get it for FREE (my favorite kind of deal).

5) Lastly, there's a L'Oreal BOGO 1/2 off going on right now, so you know I had to pick up the new Extra Volume Collagen Mascara (especially after reading Shakeup *your* Makeup's review) which I got for $3.97 (normally $7.95) because I also picked up a L'Oreal Color Riche Lipstick in the shade of "Pink Tranquilo" which is one of the few very light pinky-peach shades that actually looks nice on my NC20 skin.

So with all of the BOGO 1/2 off deals, the Maybelline coupon and the Rite-Aid printable coupon, I got $50 worth of product for around $30. Not bad. I'm telling you, watch the Rite-Aid sales and use that coupon when you know it can make a difference (it expires 6/30, so print it out and put it in your wallet!). It can come in mighty handy when you combine it with their other sales. :)

A follow-up to that bizarre beauty product post...

I love how many of you, my dear readers, weighed in on my post about using toilet seat covers as blotting paper, and I think it was Beda who first brought up the alternate idea of using Starbucks napkins instead.

While I haven't yet had the courage to try the toilet seat covers (I know, I know) I did ask the boyfriend to swipe an extra napkin for me the other day at Starbucks (and I cannot believe he actually remembered to do so).

So after I was in possession of a napkin (fun fact: After the boyfriend brought me a napkin, he promptly reminded me that I usually have about 20 or so in my glove box and SURPRISE! It turns out I do. Doh!), I patiently waited for the greasies to make their way to my t-zone. Funny how you get oily so quickly when you're not paying attention, but when you actually want to get oily, it takes forever. A watched pot never boils...

Anyway, when I was finally a bit "shiny" I busted out the Starbucks napkin and lo and behold, it worked like a charm! I blotted my nose first and the napkin looked like I had used it to hold a french fry for a few seconds (sorry for the icky analogy but it's true). I cannot believe how much oil this napkin absorbed! And the best part? It didn't take my makeup away with it. My foundation was still intact and the oil was gone.

I tried my forehead and chin next, and BAM! Oil gone, makeup still there. Also, there was absolutely zero residue left behind (not that I was expecting there to be, but you never know). My face was fresh, oil-free and good to go.

So thank you to all of the ladies who introduced me to this little gem. I no longer have to feel so guilty about spending money on an iced Cinnamon Dolce Soy Latte.

79-cent shampoo & conditioner that doesn't suck

So I've heard some great things about Vo5 Passion Fruit Smoothie Shampoo and Conditioner lately and when I saw it on sale at CVS for 79 cents a bottle about a month ago, I figured I'd finally give it a try (regular price is 99 cents, I believe).

I've got to say that if you have fine, straight or wavy hair, these products are pretty awesome for the price. I've got fine hair (but lots of it) and it's oily at the roots, dry on the ends. I'm constantly looking for products that cleanse well, but gently, and don't weight my hair down or leave it frizzy. It's a tall order, especially for a 79-cent product, but these products happen to meet all of my needs.

The shampoo produces a nice, thick lather and the smell is delish (exactly what you would imagine a passion fruit smoothie to smell like). It rinses well and your hair doesn't feel like straw afterward.

The conditioner is thin and runny but it works well considering the texture. It conditions to the point where you feel like you actually used conditioner, but it definitely doesn't deep conditioner. The detangling properties aren't amazing, but I wasn't expecting much in that area anyway. (Plus, I always use my secret weapon after cleansing my hair, which helps with detangling and the general appearance of my hair in any situation.)

One other thing I'd like to note: I wasn't expecting these products to help with my curls, but WOW, I can't believe how curly my hair is after using them. Added bonus! I think that because these products don't weight down the hair, it helps enable your curls to be springy and full of life. I really believe that they could add "curl enhancing" to the label on these.

Final Analysis: I've been using both the shampoo and conditioner off and on for about a month now and I can honestly say that they leave my hair shiny, soft, and super manageable. My curls are springy and defined, but when I straighten my hair the results are fabulous as well. Either way, I'm left with soft, shiny hair that is easy to work with and I've never had frizzies or flyaways when using these products. I'm not sure how they would work if your hair is thick and coarse, or if you have very dry hair, but on my hair it doesn't seem to add any dryness, which is all you can really hope for in such an inexpensive product anyway, right?