In addition to this week's newsletter of new reviews, be sure to check the site for brand new reviews from Panelist Debbie of June Jacobs and Tony & Tina, plus a handy Foundation Favorite report. Enjoy!

John Frieda Sheer Blonde
In a perfect world, I like to still think of myself as a blonde. My hairdresser tells me my hair is blonde - albeit dark blonde - but I know the truth: it's just not as "blonde" as it was before I had kids. Something about those pregnancy hormones turned it into blonde dark enough to be considered brown. Now, brown hair is lovely and I have nothing against it. It's just not what I expect to see when I look at myself in the mirror. To this end, I decided to see if John Frieda's Sheer Blonde line could breathe a little life back into these ol' tresses. For the most part, I found that these styling products can be used on any color of hair, which is good because they can work for anyone, but is also negative because they really don't do much to boost blonde hair.

Spotlight Hi-Beam Glosser and Power Detangler ($5.79 for 2.4oz tube)
For wet hair that won't untangle, this is the best stuff! Before you start to comb your hair out, after shampooing and conditioning, work a dollop of this gel into your hair, then comb. Buh-bye tangles! You can also use Spotlight when your hair dry and styled to give it more shine, but this can be tricky because the hair can get greasy-looking if you use too much. Start with a small amount and add more if you have to. Because Spotlight is clear, it can work on any color of hair, and pretty much any thickness - just use less for fine hair so it's not weighed down. I found Spotlight for this price at ULTA.com; it's also available in drugstores and supermarkets.

Funky Chunky Sheer Veneer Texturizer ($5.49 for 4oz bottle)
I'm not sure what tempted me to try this, but I can tell you that it's simply not for my style of hair. I imagine Funky Chunky is best for a short or medium length layered style that be either smooth and controlled, or tousled and a bit wild, which is where this product comes in. On my long, almost-middle-of-my-back hair, there are no layers to play with, nothing to funk out. This ends up being just another hair gel that might give the hair a little polish, but that's about it. If you have a more versatile hair style, I can see how this lightweight liquid could be great for creating texture. You can find Funky Chunky at drugstore.com and in supermarkets and drugstores.

Dream Creme Instant Silkener ($6.49 for 4.4oz tube)
Frizzy hair, in my opinion, is just about the most annoying hair problem. Some days it seems that no amount of product or styling technique can win against frizzy hair's natural tendency to frizz. If you suffer from it like I do, you've probably tried more products than you care to admit to, just like I have, but this is not one I will recommend. The concept is good - instant relief from frizz. The reality is sketchy - sometimes it manages to get rid of the frizz for a short time, but mostly it either does nothing or it makes the hair look greasy. Getting the right amount of product and distributing it though evenly seems simple enough, but it's very easy to use a little too much and end up with a greasy mess. Every time I tried this, I ended up pulling my hair back or putting it up because I couldn't get it to make my hair look like the label promises: "the perfectly silky, supple, lustrous hair of your dreams". You can find Dream Creme at drugstore.com and in supermarkets and drugstores.

Clarins Gentle Care Deodorant ($12.50 for 1.7oz)
I don't typically review personal care products like deodorant, but when Clarins sent me samples of theirs, and I tried them, I couldn't resist writing about them.

I can tell you in one short phrase why you should try Clarins' $12.50 deodorants instead of the $3-4 ones in the supermarket: these work! I have tried just about every brand there is and have never been happy. Either the protection is lacking, the stick is too crumbly, the roll-on is too wet, the fragrance is too strong, and on and on. I like Clarins because the protection from wetness and odor actually works, the stick is smooth and light, the roll-on dries quickly and works invisibly, and the fragrance is light and pleasant. I am definitely a repeat customer with these (the roll-on particularly).

You can find Clarins at department stores and online at Gloss.com.

I hope you enjoyed this issue of The Cosmetic Report!