Review: Artemis Woman “Heel Smoother Pro HS-1000”

What They Say: "This revolutionary pedicure appliance smoothes calluses and removes dry skin on heels and toes in seconds, without the use of harsh chemicals or dangerous blades. Perfect for today’s fashion of sandals and open heeled shoes. Comes with a full 1oz jar of the exclusive Healing Gems® Topaz Foot Butter, with rich, nourishing shea butter, purifying aromatherapy essential oils, and uplifting Topaz crystals to soften feet and revitalize the spirit!

Approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association."

Jamie’s Thoughts: You would be shocked to hear some of the things I have done to keep my dancer feet comfortable and in working order. I won’t waste your time listing them, especially since you might be reading this on your lunch break and let’s face it – foot talk can get gross. Let’s just say I was a prime candidate to review a product like this.

And wouldn’t you know it – a battery operated beauty gadget that actually works! The smoother is lightweight – roughly the size of a hairbrush, and comes with two buffing heads (one large and rounded, one smaller and pointed). The larger buffing head worked well for my hardened heels, calluses, and around the outer edge of my big toes. The smaller, more refined head was fantastic for cuticles and other more sensitive areas. You can officially throw away your nail files, pumice stones, and other assorted devices of podiatric torture.

This little baby isn’t, however, for the faint of heart. You will have to be comfortable with the noise (which isn’t awful, but is akin to a very quiet buzzsaw), as well as the sensation of your own skin being rubbed away. Anything is better, in my book, than sitting down to a pedicure and having the esthetician look at your feet in horror and dismay. (Just me? Anybody? Okay then. Moving along.) Once you get the hang of the angles and speeds, you’ll never have to be embarrassed at the salon again. Just a quick maintenance buff, a dab of the Bergamot and Lemon-scented Topaz Butter Lotion, and you’re done. Take the money you would have spent on a salon pedicure, and put it towards a fabulous new pair of shoes that show off your brand-new feet!

Retail Price: $29.99 for the HS-1000 w/Topaz Butter (at "http://artemiswoman.com/Heel_Smoother_Pro.html"target-_blank"">www.artemiswoman.com)

DeLush Rating:

Review: Sof Soles Chill Moisturizing Foot Gel

What They Say: "Provides instant cooling relief after any workout. A special
blend of Vitamin E and Aloe nourishes your skin completely so you get ready to hit it again."

Jen's Experience: I torture my feet on a daily basis with high heels and pointy toes and adorably cute shoes that are really not my size, so calluses are par for the course for me. I've made no secret of my general disdain for putting ooey, gooey creams on my feet. And part of that comes from the fact that when I use do use foot creams, after I've put my heels back on for a few hours, all the effects of the cream go away.

Needless to say, when I started using this, I didn't have high hopes. But I was completely won over by the fast-absorbing gel that doesn't leave an oily mess on my sheets, that tingles when I put it on, and that actually moisturizes my feet for more than a few hours. I never would have expected this, but I LOVE this stuff. I highly recommend it.

Retail Price: $7.99 (CosmeticMall.com - available 7/07/07)

Rating:

Reviews: Airplus For Her Pedistone, Sugar Scrub, Foot Creme and Aloe Infused Socks

About the Pedistone: "Ergonomically designed for a woman’s hand, the Spalina 2-sided Pedistone is 100% pure Indonesian pumice. Medium and heavy coarseness layers gently remove dry and calloused skin to keep feet soft and beautiful."

About the Sugar Scrub: "Gentle exfoliant blends natural raw sugar with special emulsifiers to create a soft, effective, stable-state scrub. Free of harsh salt and nut shell agents, Sugar Scrub is the ultimate luxury for foot beauty care."

About the Foot Creme: "Spalina Heal® hydrating foot crème is a special blend of mineral oils and oat kernel, designed for daily super-hydrating treatments. Liquefied paraffin acts as a bonding agent for long-lasting adherence."

About the Aloe Infused Socks: "Airplus Aloe Infused Sock is the perfect relaxation accessory. Use it to retain hydration from home pedicures or just lounging around the house."

Jen's Experience: I am always embarrassed when I go in for a pedicure. All my towering stilettos, pointy toes, strappy shoes and towering platforms equals some formidable calluses and blisters. I thought since I have an afternoon at the spa planned today that I might try to help them out a little bit by doing some of the work in advance. On the other hand, I hate scrubbing my feet, but nevertheless, I hopped in the tub with my Pedistone and Sugar Scrub and went to work.

I tried the Pedistone alone at first, and started scrubbing. And scrubbing. And scrubbing. And eventually I gave up and moved on to the sugar scrub. With the sugar scrub alone, it at least made my feet all uniformly pink and clean looking, although still no dent in the dead skin. The Pedistone and the Sugar Scrub together worked better than either product alone, although I think my calluses wore down the Pedistone more than it wore down my calluses.

The first time I tried all this, I took my nice clean tootsies straight to bed without using the Foot Creme (I dislike having ooey gooey cream all over my feet when I'm walking around on my hardwoods even more than I dislike scrubbing my feet). A miscalculation on my part, since the next day I woke up and my feet looked almost the same as before I did all that scrubbing.

So after that, I've started using the Foot Creme along with the Socks and the sum of all the products makes the process somewhat worthwhile. The Foot Creme alone does have a really nice texture that does seem to stay put a little longer than other foot creams I've used. I can't say I would wear the socks to bed on a regular basis though. They're not exactly sexy, and it is getting quite toasty outside. They seem to come off pretty easily when I move around, but just for lounging on the couch, they do my feet a lot of good.

Overall, my feet were perhaps a bit too much of a project for this collection of products, but based on the results I've seen, I'm optimistic that when I return from the spa today that I can maintain my soft feet with a little occasional work.

Ratings:
Pedistone
Sugar Scrub
Foot Creme
Aloe-Infused Spa Socks

Review: Sally Hansen JUST FEET Spa Foot Mask

What They Say: "Restore! Intensive revitalizing treatment comforts, soothes & restores tired feet.
* French Lavender & Tea Tree Oil gently soothe and hydrate tired feet.
* Feet feel rejuvenated & refreshed."

Melissa Says: Oh, boy. This one did not impress me in the least. The smell was a bit much, and not all that pleasant; the formula felt thin and unsubstantial while applying; and it dried quickly to a strange powdery texture. Afterward, I felt no added softness, but instead my feet looked somewhat dry and still had a powdery feel. Basically, I didn't get anything out of it except a scent that wouldn't leave for a while. Meh.

Retail Price: app. $6.00 (at drugstores and superstores)

DeLush Rating:

Review: DHC AHA Body Silker

What They Say: " New skin. Elbows, knees, and heels get particularly padded with dead skin and rough spots. Now you can take care of your flaky, bumpy bod with this exfoliating cream that’s made to moisturize and assured to soften. Alphahydroxy acids from lactic acid (found naturally in milk) sweep away the dusty, musty layer so your body glows from shoulder to toe.

The FDA recommends using a sunscreen and limiting sun exposure while using any AHA product and for one week after use is discontinued."

Melissa Says: Just as the description explains, this is a chemical exfoliant (as opposed to a scrub) and not a simple moisturizing lotion, so when you use this you do need to be extra-vigilant about protecting your skin with sunscreen during and a week after you use it (honestly, we should all be doing this even when we aren't exfoliating, right?).

I have to say, this definitely worked miracles on my feet, elbows and hands, not to mention the rest of my body. You just smooth it on after bath or shower and then wait a minute or two for it to fully absorb before dressing. It's barely got a scent at all, and what's perceptible is a gently fresh scent. Skin is indeed left glowing and crazy smooth.

*I especially love how effective this is on dry, cracked heels and thicker skin on feet, knees and elbows. You wouldn't believe the difference!

Retail Price: $32.00, 8.4 oz. (at dhccare.com - and on sale until 3/31/07 for $24.00)

DeLush Rating:

Review: Propoline Pedi Care Cream with AHA & Olive Oil

What They Say: “Propoline Pedi Care exfoliating cream for heels, knees and elbows helps remove hardened skin with a single stroke. Highly effective AHA fruit acids help soften skin, while olive oil and other emollient, healing components contribute to the hydration and regeneration of the skin.”

Toya’s Take: The important thing to know is that this is not a lotion. It comes in a lotion-like tube, but it is an exfoliant, which means that it can increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun, so it is imperative that you use sunscreen when using this product on any area of your body that will have sun exposure. That said, this stuff is beyond awesome! It requires no massaging in – simply swipe the cream onto your skin and your skin instantly is glowing and smooth. I used it on my dancer’s feet – which, if you’ve ever been a dancer or been close to one, you know how rough our feet can get – and they were smooth as a baby’s butt. Even my husband’s rusty, crusty feet were soft and touchable afterward. That, my dears, is a miracle. And it is why both he and I have fallen in love with this product.

Retail Price: $14.00/3.55 ozs. (at apivita.us or go here to find a retail location near you)

DeLush Rating:

Review: Freeman Barefoot New Formula Peppermint & Plum Softening Foot Soak, Shea Butter Heel & Callus Balm and and Softening Foot Lotion

What They Say: (about the Softening Foot Soak) "Softens rough skin. Revives tired feet. This pedicure soak, infused with peppermint and plum extracts, softens rough, dry patches on soles and heels, preparing feet for exfoliation.
Usage: Pour a dime sized dollop of soak into warm running water. Soak feet for 5 - 10 minutes. Rinse well. 5.3 FL OZ (156mL)"

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Think of these products in degrees going from special occasion to everyday as we go down the list. For instance, I think this foot soak is for those days when you just need an extra dose of "me time", when you're prepping for a special event or the getting your feet ready for the beginning of sandal season. It smells wonderful and bubbles up a bit like a little bubble bath. Just put a little (I admit, I used more like a quarter-sized amount) into a running bath, and then fill it just enough to cover your feet. While I'm not completely convinced about how much more softening this would be than being in the bath for a period of time, it did seem to make it a bit easier to exfoliate rough patches in the bath I took afterward.

What They Say: (about the Shea Butter Heel & Callus Balm) "Relieves and repairs dry skin, cracked heels and calluses. Relieve and repair dry skin with this rich balm that is made with extracts of peppermint and plum and shea butter along with tea tree oil to soothe and relax tired feet.
Usage: Massage on feet, focusing on heels and rough areas. 5.3 FL OZ (156mL)"

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Okay, now THIS balm is really luxurious AND I can see myself using it more often than the foot soak. When you massage it into heels and other dry spots, the minty-fruit scent is very relaxing, and you can feel it penetrate through the top layer of skin to really soften those areas and create a nice cooling sensation.

What They Say: (about the Softening Foot Lotion) "Restores moisture and softness. Stimulates tired feet. This invigorating lotion, with extracts of plum and peppermint, energizes aching legs and feet while smoothing dry skin on tough soles and heels. Now with tea tree oil to soothe and relax tired feet.
Usage: Massage on feet and legs, focusing on rough areas. 5.3 FL OZ (156mL)"

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: This is, of course, a more everyday lotion for the entire foot and ankle area. It's great as a quick moisturizer before slipping on those sexy foot-baring shoes, and it reall DOES invigorate - you get a bit of a mood boost from the scent, and also you'll notice that about a minute or two after you apply it, you'll feel a wonderful stimulating yet cooling sensation. I like to use this all the way up my calves, because it really feels SO good, especially at the end of the day.

Retail Price: $3.99 for each (at freemanbeauty.com or at drugstores and superstores everywhere) - you simply can't beat that price!

DeLush Ratings:
(Softening Foot Soak)
(Shea Butter Heel & Callus Balm)
(Softening Foot Lotion)

Review: Essencia Aromatics Heel Butter

What They Say: “Packed with botanical butters … both shea and mango. Your dry heels (and feet) will benefit greatly from a daily application of this balm rich in nourishing ingredients. Our exclusive Essential Oil blend includes oils highly regarded for their anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties … perfect for natural foot care.”

How To Use: Most beneficial when used after exfoliating your feet (use a natural pumice stone or our Rosemary Mint Foot Scrub) at the end of a bath or shower. Pat feet dry and apply a dime-sized portion to each foot or heel. Best results are obtained if you slip into a pair of comfortable socks for a few minutes to give the Heel Butter an opportunity to work its benefit. Used regularly for a week, you’ll see amazing results!

Toya’s Take: I used a pumice stone on my feet before applying, as directed, then applied the Heel Butter and slipped on a pair of white cotton socks. The Heel Butter has a pleasant, if strong, herbal scent and the texture is soft, with tiny granules like a smoother sugar scrub. It sank nicely into my skin and, the next morning, my feet were beautifully soft and smooth. I think this Heel Butter would work well on any part of your body that’s extra dry or cracked. This will be a good product to get you through the winter months, if you don’t mind the strong scent.

Retail Price: $19.00 for 1.5 oz. (at essenciaonline.com or go here to find retail locations near you)

DeLush Rating: - taking off a bit for the strong scent and the price. I think you can find an equally effective product at a better price point.

Review: Arbonne Intelligence Hand Cream and Herbal Foot Cream

What They Say: (about the Hand Cream) "Get a grip on dry hands with this thick, rich, hand treatment formula that is blended with key anti-aging elements. It moisturizes skin while reducing the visible signs of aging on hands." (about the Herbal Foot Cream) "Walk away feeling refreshed with this stimulating and soothing, non-greasy herbal foot care formula. It’s blended with alpha hydroxy acids to help keep feet soft and supple."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: (about the Hand Cream) With a very subtle fragrance that won't say to the world "I just put on hand lotion, can you smell it?!?", this formula provides light, non-greasy softness that soaks into the skin right away and feels like it seals in moisture. (about the Herbal Foot Cream) Also a light, quickly-absorbing formula that has a fresh scent. I love that it's non-greasy but I do think I'd like it to be a little more intensive.

Retail Prices: Hand Cream $14.00, Herbal Foot Cream $16.00 (available from you Arbonne representative...DeLush got our samples from Shelley Belin at sbelin@houston.rr.com - Thanks Shelley!)

DeLush Rating: Arbonne Intelligence Hand Cream
Arbonne Intelligence Herbal Foot Cream

Review: Bella il Fiore Pedicure Set

What They Say: "Everything you need for do it yourself well-groomed toes is in this super-sassy gift box. Pedicure set includes Bella nail polish in babydoll, foxy and top/base coat and pink flower toe-separators."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I have to say, Bella definitely has their packaging DOWN. It's all so pretty and has such sweet details, you feel incredibly pampered just pulling out the products to use them. That aside, this little pedicure set has the basics all put together for you. Keep in mind, there are no tools in the kit, unless you consider the toe separators that is. You're really just looking at color and a base & top coat (which may not seem like much), but these are not only full-sized polishes, they are incredibly smooth, glossy formulas that suit your needs whether you want to go bold and bright (Foxy red) or neutral and pastel (Baby Doll barely-there pink). Then there's the clear formula, for base & top coats. Just make sure to let your color COMPLETELY dry before applying the top coat to ensure a smooth finish with no little bubbles.

Retail Price: $20.00 (bellabeauty.com)

DeLush Rating:

Hey, If It's Good Enough for Tony Danza...

A new Foot Care Product, introduced by a Natasha Londer, the founder of PureZeal LLC and a Celebrity Nail Care Expert at Paul Labrecque Salon & Spa/Reebok Sports Club New York, puts emphasis on care for the feet. A Treatment with PureZealBeauty™ Foot Care Tablets utilizes the power of properties of essential oils to rejuvenate tired and aching feet, eliminate foot odor, soften and ease the removal of calluses, reduce swelling in feet, provide a relaxing and antiseptic effect, reduce the proliferation of fungi and bacteria in moist environment, soothe calm and moisturize the feet, luxuriate the senses and ease the mind.

See Tony sing the praises of PureZealBeauty™ Foot Care Tablets (AND demonstrate, we might add) on his show by going to PureZealBeauty's site.

New York (PRWEB) April 4, 2006 -- A new Foot Care Product, introduced by a Natasha Londer, the founder of PureZeal LLC and a Celebrity Nail Care Expert at Paul Labrecque Salon & Spa/Reebok Sports Club New York, puts emphasis on care for the feet. A Treatment with PureZealBeauty™ Foot Care Tablets utilizes the power of properties of essential oils to rejuvenate tired and aching feet, eliminate foot odor, soften and ease the removal of calluses, reduce swelling in feet, provide a relaxing and antiseptic effect, reduce the proliferation of fungi and bacteria in moist environment, soothe calm and moisturize the feet, luxuriate the senses and ease the mind.

Freshly featured on The Tony Danza Show on March 23 2006, PureZealBeauty™ Foot Care Tablets are quickly becoming a stylish trend. “My feet have never been smoother” says Tony Danza “PureZealBeauty™ Foot Care Tablets just make your feet feel great". ...

Read more about the special Mother's Day Giveaway by PureZealBeauty™ and specifics about the product in the full press release.