July/August 2016 Empties: Hits & Misses

Purchased by Me | Press Sample | Affiliate Links

Spotted: New Products from Yes To, Burt's Bees, EOS and Secret

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More new Suave products (dry oil, self-tanner, dry shampoos and more!)

In addition to the new Suave Natural Infusion haircare products I showed you here (which I'll be reviewing soon), there are some other new-for-2014 Suave products now popping up in stores. I have press info for you today, as well as some photos of products that I've spotted in stores recently. Also, I want to thank everyone who took the time to let me know about these new products via social media--it is much appreciated! So let's get started:

 NEW Suave Naturals Creamy Almond & Verbena Body Wash

(retail: around $2.50, 12 oz)

First up, I spotted the brand new Almond & Verbena Body Wash at Kmart the other day and it went straight into my cart. It smells amazing, but I'll save the details for my review (coming soon!).

New Degree Natureffects Absorbant Sea Salt

Many of you know by now that I'm a huge, longtime fan of Degree. In fact, I've reviewed several of their previous collections here on the blog over the past few years and, just last fall, the Olive Leaf & Pink Pepper scent from the Degree Natureffects collection made my What I'm Loving Right Now list (looove that fragrance!). 

So I'm excited to share with my fellow Degree fans the newest addition to the Natureffects collection:

Degree Women Natureffects Absorbent Sea Salt

• Inspired by Natural Ingredients - Degree Women Natureffects infuses Degree’s 24-hour top odor and wetness protection formula with fragrances inspired by natural ingredients.

• Absorbent Sea Salt harnesses natural sea minerals proven to absorb wetness and eliminate odor-causing bacteria, and comes in a light and refreshing fragrance with crisp, floral notes.

• Tea tree oil is known for its natural odor fighting properties.

• New Fragrance - Absorbent Sea Salt. Available March 2012

I actually spotted Absorbent Sea Salt at my local Super Target last week, and I can't wait to try it (and review it). I'm so curious about the fragrance!

Are you a Degree fan? If so, are you curious about the newest member of the Natureffects family?

Enter to win daily & weekly prizes with Degree Women's new MotionMILES

If you caught my review of the new Degree MotionSENSE, you know it's my new favorite antiperspirant and deodorant. I literally have not used another product since I began testing Degree MotionSENSE back in April!

If you're a Degree fan too, I want to make sure you know about this fun new opportunity to win instant prizes, weekly prizes and even a grand prize, compliments of Degree Women! I just received the following info directly from Degree:

Here's how to participate:

1. Register for the Degree® Women “Get into the Move” application on Facebook (facebook.com/degreewomen) or on mobile devices (m.degreewomen.com)
2. Earn motionMILES (virtual currency redeemable towards chances to win thousands of prizes) for various ways women move, including checking in with Facebook places and logging activities

• Eligible activities include going to the gym, dancing, yoga and various other activities women already do, like grocery shopping or catching the bus

3. Redeem motionMILES for chances to win instant and weekly prizes or enter for a chance to win the grand prize sweepstakes

• Prizes include a surfing trip in Hawaii, designer shoes and much more
• Fans can also choose to donate motionMILES in a dollar amount to one of two charities: The Challenged Athletes Foundation and Girls in The Game

I think this is such a fun program and you literally just have to MOVE (in one way or another) to earn motionMILES. I also love that you have the option to redeem your motionMILES for yourself, or donate them to charity.

If you participate in this program, I'd love to know what you think of it, so please come back and let us know!

First look and review: New Degree MotionSENSE Motion Activated Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant

I'm thrilled to be able to give you a first look at the newest antiperspirant-deodorant from Degree before it hits store shelves. I was fortunate enough to receive this new product for review recently, and boy did it come in handy with the current heat wave we're experiencing in Southern California. I was really able to put it to the test, so I'd love to share my thoughts with you.

I've been a huge fan of Degree for many years (decades, actually), because when it comes to serious protection, I consider Degree the "big guns". Sure, I can use other deodorants when the weather's cooler, but if I need to step things up during hot weather, I find that no other brand gives me the confidence I need quite like Degree. Plus, I just so happen to love their fragrances, which is always an added bonus.

Degree MotionSENSE Motion Activated

Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant in Fresh Energy

This is a new technology from Degree, and the product contains "microencapsulated fragrance technology that gives an instant release of freshness when you move." Looking at the above photo, you can't see the microcapsules, but trust me, they're there.

The scent, Fresh Energy, is a lovely, soapy fragrance that, to my nose, just smells fresh and clean. Since that's my favorite type of fragrance for deodorant, I was quite happy to use it.

At first swipe, I can really smell this product, but once it adjusts to my skin, it's not an in-your-face fragrance. For testing purposes, I used this during both hot and cold weather and I was sure to stay active and pay close attention to any changes. I can now confirm that when I really start to use my arms (cleaning the house, taking out the trash, etc.) I can notice a little burst of fragrance. It's not jarring in a "wow, what's the smell?" type of way, but if my nose is anywhere close to my under-arm region, I can smell this product and it's both pleasant and reassuring.

When I'm in a resting position, I don't notice it, but once I start moving around, I can actually tell it's working if I "take a sniff". I even had Mr. G take several random sniffs (poor guy--the things I ask him to do all in the name of this blog!) and he never once detected anything unpleasant.

FINAL VERDICT: In all types of weather, I find that I can go a full 24 hours using the new Degree MotionSENSE Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant and feel confident in doing so. As the day goes on, I can detect the fragrance of this product when I'm active, and it comes in light bursts which are pleasant and reassuring. I think this is a nice new addition to the Degree range of products, and definitely one that I will use when I need the "big guns" in terms of protection. It keeps me dry and worry-free, and if you're the type of person who would like an extra bit of "reassurance" when wearing an anti-perspirant, I would definitely consider giving this product a whirl.

Do you use Degree products? Are you curious about trying the MotionSENSE?

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 editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.

Review: New Degree Natureffects Body Mists and Deodorants

As you all probably know by now, I am a huge Degree fan. And I'm afraid I've only gotten more obsessed with Degree since I heard that they were releasing a new collection called Natureffects, which features some amazing new deodorants and body mists. I was recently given the opportunity to try these fragrances, so you know I jumped at that chance and I cannot wait to share them with you!

Ann Gottlieb, the world-renowned fragrance expert who is the nose behind such iconic perfumes such as Ck be, Euphoria, Secret Obsession and so many more (not to mention the Degree Fine Fragrance Collection, which I reviewed here) has done it again! And this time, she looked to natural ingredients for her inspiration in creating the Degree Natureffects collection.

Natureffects Orange Flower + Cranberry contains orange flower, which is known for its natural deodorizing properties. To my nose, this is a tart, sweet, uplifting fragrance, and I can really smell both the orange flower and cranberry equally. This fragrance is so feminine, so sweet and tart, and yet so delicate at the same time--it just might be my favorite of the bunch.

Natureffects Olive Leaf + Pink Pepper contains pink pepper, which is known for its natural deodorizing properties. To my nose, I first smell the earthy yet clean olive leaf note, but then the spicy pink pepper makes its way to the surface and what I'm left with is a clean, slightly earthy, slightly sweet and spicy scent that I find myself drawn to when I'm feeling a little playful. Love it!

Last but certainly not least, we have Natureffects Honeysuckle + Tea Tree Oil, which contains tea tree oil, (known for its natural deodorizing properties). I have to say, when I first saw the name of this one, I thought, "That seems like an odd combo." I don't think I've ever seen honeysuckle and tea tree blended into a fragrance together, but you know what? It TOTALLY works. This fragrance is expertly blended, because I think it brings out the very best qualities of both honeysuckle and tea tree (which, on their own, can be a little overwhelming). Ann Gottlieb managed to bring out the very best of each note, and what I'm left with is a clean, sweet, uplifting fragrance that is just so feminine and soft. If you're a honeysuckle fan, you must give this one a whiff!

The new Degree Natureffects collection debuts in stores this month, and both the deodorants and body mists will retail for $3.99 each. To me, that's a fabulous price for a collection of new and unique nature-inspired fragrances! One whiff of these and I hope you'll agree with me that they all smell far more expensive than their price tag. I am so excited to have some new, affordable fragrance treats at our fingertips!

Are you a Degree fan? Are you curious about the Natureffects collection? As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

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 editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.

Review: Degree Ultra Clear Red Satin

I will happily admit that I'm a long-time Degree deodorant lover. I think I wore Degree Shower Clean for about five years straight in the 90s, and you've heard me rave about the Degree Fine Fragrance Collection several times on this blog. For me, Degree products are just really reliable, they never irritate my skin, and they always seem to smell amazingly fresh and wonderful to me.

So when Degree recently released a new fragrance, Degree Red Satin, I jumped at the chance to try it for review (and keep reading for your chance to get a $1 coupon so that you can try it too!).

First let's talk about this fragrance. If you are a "Shower Clean" lover like me, I think you will adore this one. To me, it's the epitome of fresh and clean, but in the background there's a slight floral note to it that keeps it from veering too far into the unisex catagory.

Funny story: Mr. Recessionista ran out of deodorant recently and, as men are known to do, forgot to purchase a new stick and needed something ASAP before he went to work. So in an early-morning daze, I handed him Degree Red Satin and just said, "use this" and went back to bed. Later that night, we were sitting on the couch and I kept getting whiffs of such a nice, fresh scent. I finally figured out that is was Degree Red Satin, and it wasn't coming from me! LOL! This product lasted Mr. R all day (and night) and even though he said it smelled a "bit too feminine" for him, he managed to pull it off just fine and no one gave him strange looks while he was at work. :)

So yes, I LOVE the fragrance, but that's the not the best part about Degree Red Satin. As the Degree website says, this deodorant is "Little Red Dress Approved" and I have to agree.

Even though it's a white stick, it goes on clear, and I have not experienced one white mark on any of my clothing since using this product. In fact, I tried swiping it on my hand to show you that it goes on clear, but I couldn't photograph it because, well, it was clear! And the finish is powdery, yet silky, which feels very nice on my skin as well. There's definitely no tugging or dragging when you apply this to your underarm area.

If you are someone who, like me, can't wear the clear gel-type anti-perspirants because they sting and/or irritate your skin, I think that Degree Red Satin might be just the ticket for you. It's dependable, it smells fantastic, and it contains skin conditioners for a soft and silky application.

And you can snag a $1 coupon on the Degree site by clicking here.

So, are you a fellow Degree fan? What's your favorite scent from Degree? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

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 editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.

What do Mad Men, Degree deodorant and red dresses have in common?

I am a HUGE fan of the TV series Mad Men (how can you resist the brooding Don Draper and that smooth 60s style?).  So when Degree Deodorant recently contacted me about "Dare to Make a Statement", I jumped at the chance to promote it.

Here's the deal: Christina Hendricks (the amazing Joan Holloway on Mad Men) would like us to decide which beautiful red gown she's going to wear to the SAG Awards (this Saturday, Jan. 23 at 8PM on TNT).  If you click on the badge below, you can vote for the dress you'd like her to wear, and each vote helps support Degree Women Ultra Clear's donation of $50,000 to Clothes Off Our Back, an organization that hosts charity auctions showcasing celebrity attire and raises money to help improve the lives of woman and children across the globe.

But it doesn't end there! Each person who votes will have an opportunity to receive a Degree product coupon, and also be entered for a chance to win some stylish swag!

Click this badge to view the dresses and cast your vote:

After the SAG Awards, Christina Hendricks' red dress (the one selected by you, the voters) will be auctioned off by Clothes Off Our Back on ClothesOffOurBack.org.

One click can make all the different in the lives of others who need our help, so please take a moment to vote. I'll be putting the badge at top of my homepage until this Saturday so if you don't have time to vote now, you can always do it a little later.

PS: If you vote, please leave a comment on this post and let us know which dress you picked (my vote went to "Classic Romance").

Review: Degree Clinical Protection for Women

What better time to test a new, heavy-duty antiperspirant product than during a heatwave in San Diego? It has been miserable here these past few weeks so when I was sent the new Degree Clinical Protection to test, it was kind of like when someone hands you an Altoid after you've just eaten garlic shrimp. I knew I needed it and I could not have been more grateful.

Now there are some old habits that I had to work very hard to break when testing this product. Because it's not like regular deodorants, you don't need to slather it on. I don't know about you, but I always feel like I'm not applying enough deodorant to my armpits until I swipe the stick up and down several times. But with this product, you truly only need a thin layer so I had to keep telling myself, "Less is more" when I applied it. I should also add that this is not a stick deodorant: It is a cream-like product that comes out of a series of holes at the top of the applicator.

Another habit I had to break was knowing when to apply this. Most of the population likes to apply their deodorant in the morning after a shower. No no no! Not so with Degree Clinical. It is suggested that you apply this product at night, right before bed, so that "the formula adjusts to your body, forming a deep level of product that lasts throughout the following day, even after a shower."

The third habit I had to break was the sense that this product wasn't working, just because I couldn't feel it. Again, I'm conditioned to think that my armpits need to feel slick and almost "lotiony" (my word) to know that I am wearing deodorant and that the deodorant is really doing its job. This is not how Degree Clinical works, let me tell you. As the product works it magic, it forms such a thin layer on your skin that you literally cannot feel that it's on. The great thing about this is that you won't have white marks on your clothes or embarrassing little balls of product on your skin. Another great thing is that your armpits don't feel sticky, either. You can't see this product and you sure as heck can't feel it.

So does it work? YES YES YES! For the sake of this blog and my dear readers, I made the supreme sacrifice of not showering for 24 hours during a heatwave. I really wanted to push this product to its limit and see how it performed. I can honestly say that after being outside in 100 degree weather in the daytime and then being inside in 99 degree weather in my non-air-conditioned home at night (OK, it probably wasn't 99 degrees in my home at night but it sure felt that way), this deodorant did not budge. I never once felt wetness and I never once smelled even a trace of odor. At first I could smell the fragrance of the deodorant itself--I'm using the "Classic Romance" scent, which I already loooove (click here to read my full review of the Degree Fine Fragrance Collection). And then when the fragrance wore off, I simply didn't smell anything at all. No odor, no fragrance, no wetness, nothing. How's that for fabulous?

Now, for those of you who can't break the habit of applying deodorant in the morning, I can tell you that this product works just fine when applied in the morning instead of at night. I think that it just takes more time to adjust to your body this way, but the results are the same. No odor, even after 24 hours.

Finally, I'd like to add that my underarm skin feels softer after using this product for a few weeks. I'm not sure how or why, but I've noticed that it's much more pleasant to shave in that area now, as my razor seems to glide on my skin without any tugging.

The retail price of Degree Clinical Protection retails for $9.99 but you can print a $2 off coupon at the Degree website (click here). Degree Clinical Protection is available wherever Degree products are sold.

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.

Quick update on Degree Fine Fragrance Collection

(For my full review of this line, please click here)

Just a quick update: I officially like Delicious Bliss in the deodorant form (not body mist) more than Classic Romance and Sexy Intrigue.

Why? Hard to explain. I guess I just like smelling something fruity, sweet, and light in my armpit area as opposed to something with more classical perfume notes :)

So if anyone's keeping score:

Favorite Body Mist: Classic Romance
Favorite Deodorant: Delicious Bliss

If you have favorites in this line, please leave your comments here. I'd love to know!

Degree Fine Fragrance Collection, Part III: Mission Accomplished!!

If you read this post, and this post, then you know that I was excited beyond words to find out about the new Fine Fragrance Collection by Degree, and then sadly disappointed to discover that I could only find two of the three fragrances in my area.

Thanks to the wonderful and helpful PR firm that works for Degree, I now possess all three body mists and deodorants! Yes!! I actually received this lovely package about a week ago but I wanted to give everything a good test-run before writing what will now be a proper and complete review.

Let's start with the deodorants. Now, I'm a looong-time fan of Degree deodorant (it's actually the only brand my mom will wear and I think I used "Shower Clean" for five years straight in the '90s), so there was nothing surprising here. Each stick of deodorant delivers in the way that only Degree can. Utterly dependable, not irritating in any way, and they all smell pleasant. The bad? They do all have that underlying "deodorant" base note that makes them all smell a little alike. Yes, you can smell the distinctive fragrance of each, but the "deodorant smell" comes through on each of them, which is not unpleasant but just makes them smell like what they are: Deodorant.

Next, the body mists. After trying each mist for a full day and night, my stand-out favorite of them all is the exact one that I loved when I first saw this collection at Target a few weeks ago: Classic Romance (the pink bottle, first pic above). It is definitely the most unique, soft, feminine and lovely fragrance of the three. In fact, the longer it's on my skin, the more I love it. At first sniff, it's a clean, watery floral, but as it develops it turns into a complex, soft, velvety fragrance that's super feminine and very classy. In fact, at first I thought it reminded me of Estee Lauder Pleasures, but now I'm going to make a claim that I didn't think I'd make: I like this MORE than Pleasures because Pleasures can tend to be too powdery for my taste. Classic Romance has got everything I love about Pleasures but none of the stuff that bugs me. Perfection in a 3 oz bottle.

Next up: Delicious Bliss. This is the one that, for some reason unknown to me, is not available anywhere in my city. In fact, I was just at Walgreen's yesterday and I saw a lovely end-cap display of the Fine Fragrance Collection but with only Sexy Intrigue and Classic Romance. WTH? Anyway...OK, since this is the one I had been eagerly trying to get my hands on, I was hoping to be blown away. Yes, it's very nice but no, I don't love it more than Classic Romance. I see teenage girls loving Delicious Bliss because it's light, playful, and fruity. But it's not ALL fruit--there are floral notes (hyacinth and magnolia)--but mainly it's a fun, fruity fragrance that sort of reminds me of Clinique Happy. If you're in a fun, light mood, this one fits the bill. But for me, it's just not unique or multi-dimensional enough. But remember, I'm a 38-yr-old woman with refined tastes. HA!

Lastly, we have Sexy Intrigue. I'm not sure if it's the jasmine and rose combination or something else about this, but it just reminds me of several Victoria's Secret fragrances of the past. There's nothing that "pops" about this one, but it's not un-likable. I think that if you're a fan of VS Dream Angels, et al, you will probably be drawn to this.

For all of my fellow recessionista fragrance junkies out there, the Degree Fine Fragrance Collection was made for us. Anne Gottlieb created these scents, for heaven's sake! That alone is reason to get out there and check these out. To have quality fragrances that are affordable ($5.49 per item) and widely available is just crazy. You'd be a fool to not at least give these a sniff.

PS: My CBC didn't do these justice, but the packaging of these products is sooo pretty! Also, the size of the bottles makes them super easy to carry in your bag. Yay!

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.

Update: Degree Fine Fragrance Collection

So I went to Target today because I was on a mission to find these and write a proper review. And like every other new product that comes out in San Diego, my Target had TWO of the fragrances, not all three. Because, you see, offering all three scents in a three-scent-collection would be too easy. That would actually make sense. I don't know why the stores in San Diego do this with EVERYTHING, but they do. If someone can explain that to me, I'd love to hear a logical answer.

So anyway, I got to sniff Sexy Intrigue and Classic Romance, causing me to believe that the true star of the collection is, of course, Delicious Bliss (which will probably make its appearance at my Target in 2010).

My thoughts on Classic Romance:

It's light. I had to put a couple of mists on my hand to really get a good whiff. But once I did, I liked it. I didn't love it right off the bat, but now, some hours later, it's growing on me. I'm partial to muguet (AKA lily of the valley), which is one of the top and middle notes in this fragrance, so it's no surprise that I like this. It's soft, feminine, floral, and clean. It definitely reminds me of Estee Lauder Pleasures. But a toned down, softer, more subtle Pleasures (and not as powdery as Pleasures). If you like fresh, clean, soft florals, you will definitely love this one.

My thoughts on Sexy Intrigue:

This one didn't do a thing for me. This is a light fragrance as well, but I really wasn't too bummed that I couldn't smell it on my wrist an hour later. For me, it was utterly forgettable. Not awful, not cloying, just...there. It reminded me of about half a dozen Victoria's Secret fragrances of the past. I think that pretty much sums it up.

All in all, I'd say that because of the minimal intensity and sillage of these fragrances, it would be difficult to use them as you would perfume. But as a quick refresher, or for the days when you need or want a more subtle fragrance (or if you're just a subtle fragrance kind of gal) these body mists fit the bill.

I'll write part 3 on this topic once I get my hands on Delicious Bliss...

ATTN: All fragrance lovers! This is BIG NEWS

I always get excited when I write a post on this blog, but I have never gotten THIS excited to share something with you, dear readers.

If you are a fragrance junkie like myself, and you are on a strict budget, also like myself, you need to know about this.

Anne Gottlieb. Ever heard of her? If not, you've certainly sniffed her creations. She's the mastermind behind some of the most popular fragrances in the world, such as Calvin Klein's Obsession, Eternity, CK Be, and Euphoria, as well as Christian Dior's J'Adore and Sarah Jessica Parker's Covet. The list is endless! So THE Anne Gottlieb has partnered with Degree Deodorant (yes, DEGREE) to create three new fragrances for them, which will be offered in the form of deodorant and body mists.

On the Degree website they are calling this their "Fine Fragrance Collection" and it contains three fragrance options (more on that below). They are really pushing this as a way to get fine fragrance at a fraction of the cost with the following tagline: The New Afforable Luxury.

I'm in!! And the packaging is soooo cute. On the Degree website it appears that the labels are foil but the pic above, from drugstore.com, has a slightly different look.

OK, on to the fragrances:

Sexy Intrigue
Base note: Vanilla
Middle notes: Vanilla, Strawberry, Pink Grapefruit
Top notes: Jasmine, Rose, Blackberry

Classic Romance
Top notes: Peony, Muguet, Bergamot, Orange
Middle notes: Muguet, Peony, Rose

Delicious Bliss
Base note: Musk
Middle notes: Magnolia, Jasmine, Hyacinth
Top notes: Muguet, Apple, Peach, Raspberry

Take a look here for more info: Degree Fine Fragrance Collection

I hear through the grapevine that someone spotted these at Target but I can't confirm that since I haven't seen these babies anywhere yet. Have you? If so, you MUST let me know what you think.