Looking Good while Working to Look Better -- Reebok

This year has been the year of the closet clean-out. I've been accused of holding on to clothes well past their expiration date. No where in my closet is this more true than with my gym clothes. Until about 2 months ago, I had tank tops and shorts from high school. Yes, HIGH SCHOOL. As in, *cough cough choke cough cough* years ago. I also had workout pants from college, and sports bras from law school. In a word? My shithangs were OLD.

Shopping is a great motivator, and so for the winter months, my carrot for going to the gym was shopping for new clothes. But since I didn't want to buy clothes which wouldn't fit in just a couple weeks (assuming I stick to diet and exercise plans), my only real option was to purchase workout clothes. Fine by me, because workout clothes have a tendency to be full of bright happy colors, and often comfy materials. Given that I haven't really bought any new clothes in eons* I wasn't sure which brands to start with. By now, everyone has some form of dri-fit** fabric, so I could leave the confines of Nike. And then, there is the often-imitated, often-hated brand Lululemon. Known the world over for their butt-enhancing pants. What's a girl to do?

I'll tell you what this girl did. I headed straight to TJMaxx and Macy's (during a "one-day"/"lowest-prices-of-the-season" sale). And then I went to Lululemon to see what all the fuss was about. And then I posted on Facebook to get feedback from my friends. This? Is my attempt at product review.***

The first pair I tried was Reebok. Now, if I had to guess, I would say they were the Reebok Yoga Capri. But given that this was a TJMaxx purchase, the specific style wasn't readily apparent. Pros? They are purple. I get so tired of wearing black and grey every darn day. Second? They have a wide waistband which is part of what gives Lululemon pants the illusion of bestowing booty-less women everywhere with bubble butts (more on that in a different post). Last, they stay put around the calf.

However, the Reeboks get an overall fail from the kid. I wore them through both a low-impact cardio workout and a weightlifting workout. Through both, the waistband rolled down and refused to stay put. Kinda like Spanx, only less likely to cut off your air supply. And, despite being a pain in the neck to put on because they are so tight, they failed to hug my pear-shaped curves for the duration of the workout. I'm pretty sure that at least 10% of the calories I burned were from continuously trying to avoid indecent exposure.

Now, if you're not pear shaped, or just doing an arm day, then these pants may work for you. For the price, they're workable -- but definitely not the hardest working pants out there.

The verdict? Pretty, but dumb.




*To be fair, I did get an awesome-sauce birthday present from the Youngblood which included all kinds of tops and bottoms for the gym. I wasn't a total failure

**Dri-fit is Nike; Climacool is Adidas; PlayDry is Reebok, and some just call it like it is: "moisture wicking".

***Notice I didn't say it was a triumphant return to blogging. Because I need my life to get a LOT more interesting before any return can be deemed triumphant.

Product Placement

I realized it's been a while since I did a product review. Anyone that's known me for at least 30 seconds knows that I don't like to spend a lot of money on much of anything. Any purchase over $20 needs to be fully vetted. I am particularly discerning when it comes to beauty products. However, today I thought I'd highlight some of my favorite "overpriced" products. These items are all worth the money, I promise! (For ease of searching, all but the Spa Ritual nail lacquers are linked to Sephora's website. They are, of course, available elsewhere.)

philosophy the oxygen peel.
I pride myself on taking care of my skin. As with most African American mothers, my mother was adamant -- militant, frankly -- about cleansing and moisturizing the skin. I got in the habit of cleaning and lotioning every morning and every night. Genes + ritual has left me with skin that is holding up as gravity continues to weigh it down. But, sometimes, my cleansers and lotions need a little help from a magic potion. philosophy's the oxygen peel is my favorite product which helps keep my skin looking glowy and healthy. I've had 2 professional facials and my skin has ended up little more than greasy. Meanwhile, the much more pocket-friendly magic from philosophy has left my skin looking rather than fantastic...and let's be honest, it helps me maintain my reputation for looking young. (Dissenters be damned). The last time someone didn't believe my age? Last week, when Mr. Sunglasses darn near carded me when I revealed my age. You know what I love? Moments like that. (And no, that's not the reason I gave him my number. Shut it.)

Buxom Buxom Lash Mascara.
I am continually befuddled by the origin of mascara. One of these days someone will explain to me why hairy eyeballs is sexy. Whoever thought of it, though, I tip my hat to them. Turns out, I enjoy long and full lashes! I once read in a girly magazine that it's rarely worth it to spend the money on department store brand mascaras. The reasoning was that drugstore companies are constantly trying to one-up each other in the mascara department. Well, SiQ introduced me to Buxom Buxom Lash Mascara when we were in Vegas and I fell in love. My lashes weren't quite to the level you get with false lashes. But they certainly gave me an oversized lash for a doe-eyed day look. Buxom Buxom kicked my drugstore mascaras little ass!

Spa Ritual nail lacquer.
I have sensitive skin, and lots of products cause breakouts or a rash. One product that consistently makes me itch, no matter the brand, is nail polish. Spa Ritual to the rescue! Spa Ritual is a company dedicated to creating eco-friendly products. One such product is vegan nail polish. I haven't got a clue what about it makes it vegan, but whatever it is, thank goodness for it because now I can have colorful nails too!

Korres Quercetin & Oak Age-reversing Primer.
~or~
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer.
One thing I just can't support is having to reapply makeup during the day. And by not support, I mean I am completely opposed to it. Enter primer. The Smashbox primer is meant to be used with a moisturizer, the Korres can be used with or without. I like both of these, the Smashbox is a smidgen better bang for your buck, but the Korres has the added bonus of having some anti-aging mojo. Whichever you choose, be prepared not to reapply your makeup a million times per day. I just feel like it sticks. (Admittedly, my nose still gets shiny, but the first person to invent the solution to that problem gets a gold star -- blotting papers notwithstanding).

I'm always open to falling in love with other products. Suggestions welcome!

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