COPPERTONE CLEARLYSheer--A Pina Colada in the sun

As a BzzAgent, I sometimes get to try stuff for free.  The latest "stuff" is COPPERTONE CLEARLYSheer sunscreens.  In particular, I received the CLEARLYSheer Sunny Days body lotion (SPF 30) and CLEARLYSheer Beach & Pool spray (SPF 50).

I have to admit that most sunscreens do, in fact, manage to screen UV rays.  That is, if I remember to put them on, I'm much less likely to get a sunburn.  Something I wished I had thought of when I was a kid.  But not all of them are created equal.  The trick is not just to block UV rays, it's to block them long enough to be able to do all the fun stuff (and yard chores) you want to do when the sun is out.  Some sunscreens have bonuses, too.  COPPERTONE CLEARLYSheer has bonuses.

Here are some of the claims:

• Absorbs in seconds for a clean and light feel
• Moisturizing formulas help leave your skin soft and smooth
• Won’t clog pores or cause breakouts (clinically tested on acne-prone skin)
• Matte finish is perfect for use under makeup

So, do the CLEARLYSheer sunscreens live up to these promises?  

Well, I did some testing to find out.  In order to test it, I used both versions of the sunscreen for a few activities:

1) Worked in the yard.  There was lots of sweating and dirt involved. I used the lotion on face and spray on the rest of the body.  Except the part in my hair...wish I had.

2) Went to a baseball game.  Lots of sitting involved.  In direct sunlight.  All afternoon.  I used the spray on my part (applied by spraying in my hand and applying with my fingers), and the lotion on the rest of me.

3) Long bike ride.  There was some sweating involved.  No dirt.  Late afternoon/evening sunshine.  I used the spray on my part (sprayed due to inadequate application at the ball game.  Ouch.), and the lotion on the rest of me.

Does it do what it claims?

Does it absorb in seconds?  Yes.  This stuff is the lightest lotion type sunscreen I've ever tried.  It goes on like a lotion and feels dry, not greasy, on the skin.  

Does it moisturize and leave your skin soft and smooth?  Well, that's a little harder to test.  The thing is, I have super dry skin in the winter.  But summer time fixes my dry skin.  I couldn't tell you whether it moisturizes or not, really.

Does it clog pores or cause breakouts?  Surprisingly, no.  This is truly wonderful.  I rarely wear makeup because I can almost be guaranteed that I'll have zits in a day or so afterward.  This stuff hasn't caused any breakouts whatsoever.

Does it have a matte finish?  Initially, yes.  But over time, as you sweat, you're going to get a sheen.  So, this stuff isn't going to keep you from getting sweaty.

Other stuff.

While the lotion is, by far, my favorite for application on my face, it tends to separate from your skin as you sweat.  That is, after sitting in the sun for a while, if you rub your fingers over your leg where you applied it, it will roll off into lotiony little balls.  It still seems to work as a sunscreen, but it does suggest that you might want to apply it again after sweating.

The spray is like other sunscreen sprays--don't spray it directly on your face (no, I didn't test that).  It absorbs too quickly to make it easy to apply to your face by spraying into your hands and rubbing it on.  This, I think, was the problem at the baseball game.  I sprayed it onto my hands and applied it to the part in my hair with my fingers.  I missed a spot because it simply didn't apply to my scalp with my fingers.  The next time I simply sprayed it on my part.  That works.  But, for all the positives, the spray will still leave your hair icky--plan to shower if you are going anywhere after spraying this stuff in your hair.  Also, it smells like a spray sunscreen.  Not necessarily unpleasant, but definitely not exciting.

A huge bonus.

The Sunny Days body lotion...it smells like a pina colada.  You really just kind of want to drink it.  But don't.  It still tastes like sunscreen.  

Overall

I give these sunscreens a thumbs up.  If applied strategically, the CLEARLYSheer sunscreens are definitely one of the best for the extras they provide.

Glade Expressions--a clever prize

Last weekend, my boyfriend and I held a chili cook off. I had planned on giving out a bottle of wine or two as prizes, along with my handmade wine charms, but that didn't seem like enough--or particularly appropriate for a chili cook off.

I had recently joined a BzzCampaign for Glade Expressions Oil Diffusers and Mist, and as I was wandering through Target, I thought "oohhh. A Glade Expression Mist or Diffuser might be good. After all, what happens after chili?" So, I used a couple of the BzzKit coupons to pick up one of each.

I had already tried the fuji apple and cardamom spice oil diffuser.  The scent is extremely strong, so I resorted to putting it in the laundry/cat box room downstairs.  It's really a shame because the container is quite attractive.  That being said, by the time the party rolled around nearly a month later, it actually provided a pretty pleasant scent throughout the lower level of the split level house.  In addition, we'd been using the cotton and Italian mandarin Mist in the bathroom, and that was quite nice (although my boyfriend was initially frustrated by how the bottle design worked).  Yes...these would be a great post-chili prize.

I put the diffuser in with a bottle of my wine and a set of 6 charms in a basket for first place, and the mist with a bottle of wine and 4 charms in a basket for second place. I also put together a third place prize that included a candle. Then, I took some of the remaining coupons and placed one of each of the mist and diffuser coupons into each of the first, second, and third prizes.

When I gave out the prizes later in the night, I joked about how they would need something when they got home to counteract all the chili. Everyone thought that was funny--and a great idea. I told them what I had included in each of the prizes, and if they needed more, I'd included BzzAgent coupons for more.

I offered the remaining coupons to those who hadn't won a prize. Overall, it was a great evening and the Glade Expressions made great prizes.

EVOO Part 2

I received my Filippo Berio olive oil from BzzAgent in the mail the other day, and it immediately found its way into a salad dressing.  Our dressings typically contain lots of garlic, so it may mean little to say that it tasted great.

Still, it seems odd that news is popping up all over the place about olive oil brands.  First, the report on EVOO quality done in California.  Now, today, in an attempt to get me to subscribe to Cooks, I've gotten an ad with a teaser about olive oil brands, which is copied below.

Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Which brand is worth buying? We tested 10 extra-virgin olive oils, selected from the top-selling supermarket brands in the United States, to see if olive origins or price had any correlation to taste. The oils were tasted plain as well as heated and tossed with pasta. None of the brands could best our favorite olive oil, Columela Extra Virgin Olive Oil, which can be found in high-end grocery stores and gourmet shops. Our tasters' comments for the majority of samples ranged from "soapy and metallic" to "smells like kitty litter." We did, however, find two supermarket brands deemed acceptable for their "fruity, peppery finish" and "clean, green taste." Unsurprisingly, these two finishers were the most expensive of the lot—so when it comes to buying this coveted oil, you do get what you pay for. Read the complete ratings to see which brands of olive oil offer the best combination of value and quality—plus access full taste test results for hundreds of other everyday ingredients when you start your FREE TRIAL membership!

Of course, I don't intend to subscribe, even with a free trial.  If you're not careful "free trials" can be very expensive.  And I already subscribe to a cooking magazine.  Though, I was tempted about the teaser for perfect pie crust using vodka...

Anyway, I note that Filippo Berio does not appear to be amongst the images in the Cooks ad.  Interesting, since it was part of an article that Cooks did in 2008 on the same subject (found here), and labeling it as "recommended with reservations".  Of course, I take the reservations with a grain of salt when the taste testers call it both so mild as to be "boring" and "so floral it's almost like eating perfume."

Now, I'm a pretty "super taster."  That is, I can taste and smell things that most people can't, and I don't taste flowers in Filippo Berio.  That being said, I think the average user of EVOO (at least in this country) is not going to be able to discern the qualities being reported by the trained tasters.  It may be more important to recognize the health benefits of using virgin/extra virgin olive oil rather than the flavor.  In fact, I don't recommend any olive oil for use in some recipes, as it tends to overpower the intended flavor.

EVOO

EVOO.  That's fun to say.  Far more fun than extra virgin olive oil, but that's got its own fun.

Well, I have a new BzzCampaign from BzzAgent.  This one is for Filippo Berio, an Italian-imported EVOO.


When I join campaigns, BzzAgent often provides a quick way to report that I've joined a campaign on Facebook.  Well, this time I did, and one of my foodie friends replies with this:

"Hey, that is one of those fraud brands that was found not to qualify for evoo!"

Uh oh!  I hadn't heard about this.  We use a LOT of olive oil, particularly for dressings, but also for marinades and general cooking, and this is one of the brands we frequently purchase.

I looked to the study that my friend referenced.  The study was done by UC Davis Olive Center in conjunction with the Australian Oils Research Laboratory.

They purchased several samples of Italian, Californian, and Australian olive oils labeled as EVOO.  The brands included 6 Italian, 1 Californian, and 1 Australian.  The samples were then tested at both UC Davis and the Australian Oils Research Laboratory.  The testing included oil analysis, including chemical tests and UV inspection that detect degradation of the oils and contamination with lower quality oils, as well as taste-based analysis (by trained professionals--yes, there are professional olive oil tasters).

The results?  Unfortunately, Filippo Berio failed the taste-based testing in 84% of the samples.  Other brands did better or worse.  Notably, both the Australian and Californian EVOOs got perfect tasting scores.  Filippo Berio did pretty good on the chemical tests, with about a third of the samples failing one out of the four chemical tests, and only had the occasional sample fail the UV test.

So, while it often failed the tastebuds of highly trained tasters, the chemical analysis suggests that it's generally still good for you.

Now, after noting to my friend that I found it odd that testing done by a Californian institute and an Australian research lab found only 2 brands to be deserving of the name EVOO, and those 2 brands happened to be Californian and Australian, she mentioned that she had read that the problems with quality were thought to be due to the shipping and storage of the various brands.  That would make sense.  However, an Australian brand that was originally shipped to the US from Australia, and then back to Australia for testing should have some problems, as well.  Interestingly, though, the Australian brand passed with flying colors.

Now, I don't doubt that the testing is probably accurate, so one must ask a handful of questions:
1.  WHY do the Italian oils do so poorly?  My guess is that storage standards are not necessarily great, since shipping clearly can't be the problem.

2.  Are the Italian brands, including Filippo Berio good?  My guess, based on the chemical analysis, is that yes, they're good.  But not as good as they could be.

3.  Should I be buying/using Filippo Berio or some other Italian brand?  My answer would be to go for the Californian brand or the Australian brand IF you live in California.  As someone who lives in the middle of the country, I don't have access to the Californian brand that was tested.  And even if I did, would it have also suffered from poor storage and/or shipping conditions to get it to me?  I think it would require more testing to determine that.  In the meanwhile, buy a brand you like.  It's still pretty good for you.

4.  Should I be disappointed.  Yes.  While the oil is still good for us, it could be better.  However, without a way to identify which brands are better than others, Filippo Berio did pretty well in the chemical and UV tests, even if it frequently failed the taste tests.  That being said, I honestly probably wouldn't know the difference 99% of the time.

A little something for the Catmonsters

I have a pair of catmonsters.  Yes, that's what they are.  They're sweet, smart, loving little brats.  They're spoiled and evil.  They get into stuff they shouldn't and they do it because they know they're not supposed to.  We still love them.

When we adopted them, they were on a high protein diet, something I had never concerned myself with before these guys.  Of course, they were required to keep their claws, too, which I'd never considered before, either.  We slowly switched them over to a high protein food that we preferred, and, after suffering horrendous gas, we were happy at how healthy and active and happy they were.

Until the boy, Gandalf, had urinary tract problems.  We had him at the vet weekly, and sometimes more often, as crystals would plug him up again and again.  He was prescribed a urinary health formula, which was expensive and required an updated prescription every 6 months.  It didn't seem to help, anyway.  In the end, poor Gandalf had surgery to reroute his urinary tract and remove any extraneous bits that might plug up with crystals.

In the aftermath, we decided that we wanted to keep him on a high protein diet, but still be careful of his urinary health.  We discovered that we could do dry food if we added water to it, since both catmonsters are food hounds and don't mind drinking water to get to their food.  We also supplement with a cranberry powder to keep the pH in his urine down.

As a BzzAgent, I often get to check out new products, sometimes for free, in exchange for talking about the products.  When the Hills Science Diet Ideal Balance campaign came out, I admit I had to think about it hard before taking it on.



My experience with Science Diet included the failed attempt at controlling Gandalf's urinary issues with their prescription urinary health diet.  It was expensive and, while recommended by the vet, was not recommended by people who have used it in the past.

That being said, I looked at this product closely before accepting the campaign.  It includes no corn (check), includes cranberry extract (check), and is high protein (check).  It compares itself nutritionally to several common brands, including Wellness (which comes highly recommended by cat lovers) http://www.hillspet.com/ideal-balance/ideal-balance-home.html  Of course, you have to take that with a grain of salt.  After all, their job is to sell pet food.  But still...

Anyway, I will not likely switch my catmonsters over since I've had excellent results with Wynsong (http://www.wysong.net/products/uretic-healthy-natural-cat-food.php), which is reasonably priced.  But I'll see if the catmonsters like it.

If you wish to try the Ideal Balance, there is a rebate available on the comparison page.  Try it and let me know how things go.

Burt's Bees Sensitive

When this BzzCampaign first came up, I thought, "Yeah, why not?  I like some of Burt's Bees stuff."  Plus, I'd been looking for a new facial cleanser, since the stuff I had was quite capable of cleaning my face, but despite being an exfoliating cleanser, left my face as dry as it always was.

My BzzKit came in the mail about a week and a half ago, containing the BzzGuide, as usual, the Natural Skin Solutions for Sensitive Skin Facial Cleanser, the Natural Skin Solutions for Sensitive Skin Daily Moisturizer, a bunch of little daily moisturizer samples, and some $1.00 off coupons.

While I hoped that the cleanser and moisturizer would be beneficial, I didn't hold out any hopes.  I had tried a million different things (maybe not a million, but a lot) to try to keep my face from drying out.  I'd mostly relied on heavier and heavier moisturizers.  They all worked to some degree, but if I ever forgot...

So, I put the cleanser in the shower and the moisturizer where I would remember to use it after the shower.

The next morning, I used the cleanser.  Oh my!  It is the most luxurious cleanser I have ever tried, even considering I've had a few facials at spas.

I hadn't bothered to read the ingredients, but I thought I detected witch hazel.  Sure enough, that miraculous plant had an extract in there.  I use witch hazel as an astringent sometimes, and it works wonders on bug bites.  I also notice that the label of both the cleanser and the moisturizer features cotton extract.  I had initially dismissed this as a marketing ploy, but if it really is a major ingredient in this cleanser, it's wonderful.

Pleased with this experience, I decided that I would definitely continue to use this product, at least, beyond the BzzCampaign.  I even had to tell my hair stylist, who suffers from eczema, that she MUST try this.

I followed up with the moisturizer.  I can't say that I'm as enamored of the moisturizer as I am with the cleanser.  Not by a long shot.  It seems perfectly fine, but that's it.  I will continue to use it to see if there's any synergistic effect with the moisturizer.  I'll probably do a trial with the cleanser and my usual moisturizer to see if there's a difference.  If not, for such a small amount of cleanser in the packaging (1.8 oz), I'll probably stick with my usual, less-than-expensive moisturizer.  I'll follow up with my results on that, later.