We found the best reviews for Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel in Paula Begoun's book Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, where Begoun rates and compares thousands of beauty products. Washingtonian Magazine doesn't review nearly as many products, but it does thoroughly rate and compare seven self-tanners. We also found good reviews in beauty magazines Allure and Elle, where numerous products are tested and reviewed by editors and readers alike. User reviews at MakeupAlley.com are consistent, as well, in their praise of the tanning gel.
Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel
We found the best reviews for Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel in Paula Begoun's book Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, where Begoun rates and compares thousands of beauty products. Washingtonian Magazine doesn't review nearly as many products, but it does thoroughly rate and compare seven self-tanners. We also found good reviews in beauty magazines Allure and Elle, where numerous products are tested and reviewed by editors and readers alike. User reviews at MakeupAlley.com are consistent, as well, in their praise of the tanning gel.
Head & Shoulders Classic Clean
We found the most reviews for Head & Shoulders shampoos at iVillage.com, which has more than 80 owner-written reviews. We found a smattering of reviews on other sites. About.com also provides a list of top inexpensive shampoos. Head & Shoulders shampoos are also extensively covered by skin- and hair-care expert Paula Begoun in her excellent book, "Don't Go Shopping for Hair-Care Products Without Me."
Dove Shampoo
Dove shampoos come in a variety of formulas including moisturizing, volumizing and intense therapy. There are also Dove shampoos for light- and dark-colored treated hair. Neutrogena Anti-Residue (*est. $6 for 6 ounces) is a better choice, but costs significantly more. If you need an anti-dandruff shampoo, reviewers recommend Head & Shoulders Classic Clean (*est. $5 for 14 ounces).
There are more than 100 consumer reviews for Dove shampoos at Amazon.com, Epinions.com and the Walgreens website. These user reviews are a great source of information about how well the Dove shampoos work. Choice, an Australian magazine, includes Dove Shampoo in its blind test, where 500 home testers evaluated 41 varieties. In her book on hair care, expert Paula Begoun discusses the ingredients in Dove shampoos.
Gillette Mach3 Turbo
Even though it has been on the market for over 10 years - and now competes against razors that have four or five blades - the three-blade Gillette Mach3 Turbo manual razor is the clear favorite of owners and experts. Reviewers say the Mach3 provides a close, comfortable shave for men and women, and they like the reasonable price of its replacement cartridges. Most sources that have compared the Mach3 against either the five-bladed Gillette Fusion (*est. $11 for razor, $3 each for replacement cartridges) or the four-bladed Schick Quattro (*est. $9 for razor, $1.50 each for replacement cartridges) say the slightly closer shave isn't worth any increase in expense. If you're in the market for a five-blade razor, though, reviewers prefer the Fusion to the Quattro.
First Response Early Result
Reviews say that First Response Early Result is the most sensitive home pregnancy test and it delivers the earliest possible results. In tests, First Response consistently detects 12.5 mIU of, hCG, an early pregnancy hormone. In product testing, First Response Early Result detected pregnancy on the first day of a missed period 95% of the time. Experts recommend that you buy First Response Early Result in two-strip kits, since most women will want to test twice, waiting a week between tests. All home pregnancy tests, including this one, receive user complaints about false positives and false negatives, and some women find the colored lines hard to interpret. Digital tests like Clearblue Easy Digital Pregnancy Test (*est. $19 for two-test kit) are more expensive and less sensitive but do clearly say "pregnant" or "not pregnant."
We found the best coverage at Consumer Reports. You'll need a subscription to read the results. We also found a study by the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, which discusses the accuracy of home pregnancy tests. Users at Drugstore.com and Amazon.com discuss their personal experiences with pregnancy tests.
Centrum from A to Zinc
We found the best information at ConsumerLab.com, which does extensive laboratory testing of multivitamins for dosage accuracy, dissolvability and contaminants. Choice.com.au is an Australian publication that tries to accomplish Consumer Reports-style testing and objectivity. It recommends Centrum from A to Zinc as the best value for women. The free section of Consumer Reports' coverage of multivitamins is really all most people need to know - that you can count on acceptable quality with brand-name or store-label multivitamins. Pharmacy Times' picks are a straight popularity contest - more pharmacists recommend Centrum than other multivitamins.
Vitamins for men and women differ in content, as do vitamins for premenopausal women and older women. Women lose iron during the menstrual cycle, and women who expect to have children need folic acid to prevent neural tube defects. Reviews suggest Centrum from A to Zinc multivitamins for premenopausal women because there are 18 milligrams of iron and 500 micrograms of folic acid. User reviews mainly say this multivitamin is easy to swallow. Reviews suggest Stuart Prenatal (*est. $30 for 100 tablets) for pregnant and lactating women - it has increased folic acid and a higher percentage of vitamin A (in the safer form of beta-carotene) to help prevent birth defects. For older women, experts suggest Centrum Silver (*est. $15 for 150 tablets), which has more B12 and Vitamin K (which can help reduce hip injuries).
One-A-Day Mens Health Formula
Experts say most men can get all the iron they need from diet -- no more than nine milligrams per day - and reviews recommend One-A-Day Men's Health Formula multivitamins because they contain no iron. Studies are ongoing about the value of selenium and vitamin E in preventing prostate problems, and One-A-Day Men's Formula has 150 percent of the recommended Daily Value (DV) of both. Some user reviews note difficulty swallowing One-A-Day Men's Health Formula. The amount of iron is a major difference between men's and women's vitamins; premenopausal women lose iron during menstruation cycles, so for women, reviewers prefer Centrum from A to Zinc (*est. $13 for 180 tablets) which does contain iron. The major differences between vitamins for men under age 50 and older men are the levels of B12 and Vitamin K, the latter being helpful in avoiding hip fractures. If you're over 50, reviews recommend Centrum Silver (*est. $15 for 150 tablets).
Braun Series 7 760cc
The verdict on the Braun Series 7 (previously called the Braun Pulsonic) is that it has a unique gimmick: Its foil head vibrates laterally, producing a pulsating effect that makes the skin of the user's face ripple (and presumably causes the hairs to stick out a little straighter). Popular Mechanics says the Series 7 delivers a "smoother, less painful" shave, but can't cut as close as an ordinary, non-electric razor, while The Times of London says it's still the "king of shavers," even if it's only a marginal advance on its predecessor. Owners posting to Amazon.com are mostly upbeat about the Braun Series 7 shaver, but the cleaning system draws some criticism, including the cost of refill cartridges (*est. $6 each), which must be replaced about once a month. The 760cc is the most basic of the Series 7 shavers. But while it has a few less bells and whistles, it delivers the same shaving performance as the more expensive Series 7 790cc (*est. $270). If you prefer a rotary shaver, you may also want to consider the Philips Norelco arcitec 1050X (*est. $140). It offers an innovative cutting head design that looks strange, but that experts say works well.
Burt's Bees Super Shiny Lip Gloss
Paula Begoun offers the most thorough review of Burt's Bees Super Shiny Lip Gloss at her website, Beautypedia.com. User reviews at MakeupAlley.com and TotalBeauty.com, on the other hand, provide real-world consumer perspective. Skin Deep rates the safety of this and other cosmetic products based on their ingredients.
Chanel Glossimer
Although her review is critical, we found Paula Begoun's analysis of Chanel Glossimer at Beautypedia.com to be the most thorough. User reviews at MakeupAlley.com and TotalBeauty.com are plentiful. InStyle magazine tests Glossimer and compares it to other lip glosses for the magazine's annual beauty awards.
CoverGirl Outlast All-Day Lip Color
We found the best review of CoverGirl Outlast All-Day Lip Color at Beautypedia.com, where Paula Begoun rates beauty products on the basis of their ingredients and effectiveness. Consumer Reports also performs thorough testing in their report on long-lasting lipsticks. User reviews at MakeupAlley.com illustrate the pros and cons of the lipstick in a real-world setting. Readers of Self magazine rate several beauty products for the magazine's annual beauty awards.
MAC Matte Lipstick
Paula Begoun provides the most thorough review of MAC Matte Lipstick in her detailed analysis at Beautypedia.com. The hundreds of user reviews at MakeupAlley.com and TotalBeauty.com offer consumers' day-to-day experiences with the lipstick. Allure magazine compares the lipstick to hundreds of others tested for their annual beauty awards.
3M Ultrathon Insect Repellent 12 Lotion
If you're going to be outdoors for long periods of time, reviews indicate that 3M Ultrathon Insect Repellent 12 Lotion is a good choice for insect repellent. The high concentration of DEET (34 percent) found in 3M Ultrathon helps it last for up to five hours. 3M Ultrathon uses a controlled-release form of DEET; the DEET is encapsulated in a polymer, which means the amount of chemical absorbed into the skin is limited, making it safer to use. As is the case with all products containing DEET, 3M Ultrathon is not recommended for use on babies and should be washed off after returning indoors. Products containing DEET can also damage plastic or painted surfaces. For those who prefer a DEET-free insect repellent, the picaridin-based Cutter Advanced (*est. $6 for 6 oz.) is effective for about 2.5 hours.
Cutter Advanced
Cutter Advanced has a 7 percent concentration of picaridin, a synthetic ingredient that is said to be comparable to DEET in effectiveness but is considered safer to use. Reviews say that Cutter Advanced protects for up to 2.5 hours and may be applied up to three times a day. It is odorless and non-sticky once applied. The biggest drawback to this, or any picaridin-based product, is that it is not as consistently effective as products that contain DEET. DEET-based 3M Ultrathon (*est. $10 for 2 oz.) is effective for up to five hours. Repellents containing DEET, however, are not recommended for young children; repellents containing picaridin can be used on babies as young as two months. It's worth noting that eye irritation has been reported by some users of Cutter Advanced.
Propecia (finasteride)
Reviewers say that Propecia, available only by prescription, is one of the most effective, proven treatments for male-pattern baldness. Researchers say that only hair-transplant surgery is more effective, but still recommend Propecia first because it is much more affordable and is better suited to the beginning stages of hair loss. Experts claim, in fact, that Propecia is most effective when it is taken at the first signs of thinning hair. Studies show that it is superior to minoxidil (the active ingredient in Rogaine), but many people use both products for maximum results. Experts warn that a small percentage of men will experience sexual side effects, namely loss of libido, but suggest that all side effects disappear completely when treatment is discontinued. Propecia is not safe for women who are or may become pregnant, as even handling the tablets can result in serious birth defects.
Mens Rogaine Extra Strength Hair Regrowth Treatment (5% minoxidil)
The best minoxidil research comes from medical journals, such as the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology and the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, where clinical trials and studies of minoxidil (the active ingredient in Rogaine) are reported. Paula Begoun uses scientific studies and research as the basis of her opinions of Rogaine and other hair-loss products in her book "Don't Go Shopping for Hair-Care Products Without Me." The American Hair Loss Association provides an in-depth look at minoxidil -- and balding in general -- on its website. User reviews are minimal but seem to confirm experts' opinions of efficacy.
Reviewers say that Men's Rogaine Extra Strength Hair Regrowth Treatment is an excellent starting place for both men and women experiencing genetic hair loss (known as androgenetic alopecia, or AGA), but reviews suggest that generic versions of 5 percent minoxidil (the active ingredient in Rogaine) may be just as effective. Experts say that Rogaine at least slows the progression of hair loss for most that use it, and minoxidil completely stops the progression for some and actually regrows hair for others. Experts add that the best results usually occur when users begin the regimen at the first sign of hair loss. Studies show that Rogaine is not as effective as doctor-prescribed Propecia. Rogaine doesn't require a prescription and is safe for women, although only the original strength (2 percent minoxidil) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use by women. Experts suggest that men use both treatments for the best results.
Andis 1875 Folding Dryer
We found one professional review of the Andis 1875 Watts Professional Ceramic Ionic hair dryer at Good Housekeeping TV. However, nearly 70 owner reviews can be found at Amazon.com.
Revlon RV544 Tourmaline Ionic
We found the best review for the Revlon RV544 Tourmaline Ionic at Good Housekeeping, where it was compared with two other popular, but expensive tourmaline hair dryers. User reviews at Amazon.com and TotalBeauty.com also provide a view of consumer "real world" experience.
Revlon Frost & Glow
Prevention magazine recommends Revlon Frost & Glow, but it isn't clear if any testing was done. User reviews at MakeupAlley.com and TotalBeauty.com provide the best insight into consumer experience.
Clairol Natural Instincts Loving Care
The best reviews of Clairol Natural Instincts Loving Care come from experts at Shape and GoodHousekeeping.com, where semi-permanent hair-color products are recommended for more shine. Owner-written reviews at MakeupAlley.com give good insight into consumer opinion.
Clairol Nice 'n Easy Perfect 10
We found the best reviews for Clairol Nice 'n Easy Perfect 10 hair color in Shape magazine, where hundreds of beauty products are tested for their annual beauty awards. Good Housekeeping also performs extensive product reviews. Other beauty magazines offer useful professional opinions. User reviews at MakeupAlley.com give real-world perspective.
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream
Reviewers say that Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream is one of the best retinol treatments available at the drugstore and is comparable to significantly pricier department store brands. Experts say retinol -- a form of vitamin A -- can help soften the appearance of fine lines over time, though they also point out no moisturizer can eliminate them completely. Critics point out that the best protection against wrinkles comes from broad-spectrum UV protection, which this cream does not contain. Experts therefore recommend using Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream at night or in conjunction with a broad-spectrum sunscreen. For a lightweight all-purpose daily moisturizer, we found the best reviews for Olay Regenerist UV Defense Regenerating Lotion (*est. $18 for 2.5 oz.).
Olay Regenerist UV Defense Regenerating Lotion SPF 15
Reviewers say Olay Regenerist UV Defense Regenerating Lotion is one of the best facial moisturizers on the market because it provides broad-spectrum UV protection and is loaded with antioxidants and amino-peptides. Experts explain that these ingredients work together to protect skin from damage and early signs of aging. It won't do much for existing wrinkles, though; studies show improvements of that sort are minimal at best, so Olay Regenerist UV Defense Regenerating Lotion works best at preventing further damage. Because the lotion contains fragrance, specialists warn it might not be suitable for those with allergies or sensitive skin. For those individuals, we found the best reviews for Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15 (*est. $15 for 4 oz.)
Olay Daily Facials Cleansing Cloths
We found the best review for Olay Daily Facials Cleansing Cloths in Paula Begoun's book "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me." Begoun bases all of her ratings on documented scientific research as well as thorough product testing. Consumer Reports also performs extensive testing of products for all of their reports, including those for facial cleansers. It isn't clear whether products are tested for Cosmo Girl's annual beauty awards, but the overall favorites of editors, readers and celebrities are listed as the best in their respective categories. User reviews posted at MakeupAlley.com and Drugstore.com give insight into consumer perspective.
Reviewers love the convenience of Olay Daily Facial Cleansing Cloths and say that they do a pretty decent job of cleansing the face and removing makeup, too. Specialists and consumers alike say that the cloths are especially great for travel. Convenience is the main selling point of these cloths, though, and critics are quick to point out that a gentle liquid cleanser, such as Cetaphil Gentle Daily Cleanser (*est. $9 for 16 ounces) is equally effective.
Cetaphil Gentle Daily Cleanser
The best review for Cetaphil Gentle Daily Cleanser is found in Paula Begoun's book, "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me." Begoun bases her rating of this and other products on documented research and verifiable tests. Allure magazine also puts recommended products through testing in order to find the best. Essence magazine does not rate or compare products but provides useful information on how to choose the right facial cleanser for your skin type. Consumer reviews at MakeupAlley.com and Drugstore.com are in agreement, for the most part, with expert opinion.
Reviewers say that Cetaphil Gentle Daily Cleanser is one of the best facial cleansers on the market; it is also among the more affordable brands. Experts rave about Cetaphil because it is extremely gentle and is suitable for all but oily skin types. Critics point out that the cleanser does not lather up, but is a non-drying lotion-type formula that is soothing to dry, irritated and sensitive skin. The most common complaint about Cetaphil Gentle Daily Cleanser, among experts and consumers alike, is that it does not remove makeup well. For better makeup removal, we found good reviews for Aveeno Positively Ageless Daily Exfoliating Cleanser (*est. $8 for 5 ounces).