First Impressions: The Dollar Shave Club

It wasn't exactly planned, but I received my first box from the Dollar Shave Club right as No Shave November began. I've been thinking about trying Dollar Shave Club for months. I think I first heard about it on a podcast, and the idea was intriguing to me. I hate spending money on expensive razors, so this seemed like something I needed to try. (Full disclosure: I was in no way compensated for this! The Dollar Shave Club people have no idea who I am. But I had some people express interest in my opinion of my little experiment, so I thought I'd share my thoughts.)

I remember the first Venus razor I ever had. I was in high school, and it came in a "Cheer Pack". Ok, it may not have been called that. But basically it was a free goodie bag aimed at cheerleaders/dancers/pom squads, and the Venus razor was tucked inside. I think our entire team was hooked after that. I tried a few different kinds over the years, but I always went back to the Venus razor. The first one I had was the original turquoise, but since then I've had a range of colors. My current one is purple. 

Sure, it's a great razor. But the replacement blades are PRICEY. So I don't replace them very often, which pretty much makes the razor no better than any other kind. 

My husband uses some sort of Gillette razor, and his replacement blades are just as pricey. Occasionally I use his old blades to shave my legs, especially when I forget/don't want to buy new blades for my Venus. Which led me to realize that the guy vs girl razor issue is pretty much BS. They are essentially the same thing, except the "girl" razors are pastel and the "boy" razors are stainless steel/orange/blue. 

Enter the Dollar Shave Club. I looked at the options and decided to go with the Executive line. It's the most expensive at $9 a month. (There's also $6/mo and $1/mo plans; the $9 and $6 ship free, the $1 does cost $2 in S&H.) The plan comes with one blade handle, but I added another one for $4 so James and I could both try the product. It arrived less than a week after I ordered in a little box. The box had the two handles, 4 razor blades, and a sample of the shave butter. 

I've tried the razor already, and I really liked it. I mean, it wasn't anything fancy. It's a basic handle and razor blade. But it was easy to use (some razors made it hard to get those tough areas around the ankles) and very effective. I felt it gave me a very close shave; it's been two days and I don't feel like I need to shave again yet. I also just used soap to shave with. I think if I used shaving cream it would be even better!

James hasn't tried it yet, but I'll do a follow-up post when he does to share his thoughts. So far I'm pretty sold on it! 

Have you tried it yet? If not, what are you waiting for?

​Previously on Mrs Robbins Sparkles...

When Cutting Expenses Isn't Worth It

Here at Chez Robbins we've been trying to cut back on some expenses. Some of it was a great idea, some not so much. See, I tried to cut back the costs of my beauty routine and it was a disaster!

Ok, maybe you just rolled your eyes. That's ok. But even if you don't believe me, it has been a disaster. I haven't had a breakout like this since junior high. Actually, I don't think I have ever had breakouts this bad!

The problem is that I tried to go back to drugstore brands for face wash, moisturizer, etc. And my skin is NOT HAPPY about it. Apparently my skin was spoiled by the Arbonne products it was used to. For two years I exclusively used Arbonne, specifically the Calm line and the Genius exfoliating pads. And my skin was awesome. Soft, smooth, nary a blemish. Ok, I did have the occasional spot or two. But overall it was fantastic.

So I decided that my skin was ready to go back to drugstore brands. Or at least my wallet was. Arbonne prices are on par with Clinique and department store brands, and I was aiming to keep costs down so I wanted to switch to something I could pick up at Wal-Mart.

I made the switch. And it was not awesome.  Right now I'm using Aveeno Naturals. I don't care for it at all. Well, that's not entirely true. I do like the face wipes (though they are super similar to the Neutrogena wipes) and the facial scrub is alright. But the moisturizer is just awful. It feels heavy and yet not very moisturizing. (If you hate the word moist, I'm sorry for this post!)

While Arbonne products are more expensive than what I'm currently using, I've come to the conclusion that they are worth every penny. And I am anxiously awaiting the delivery of the Calm line to my front door!  I'll find another way to cut expenses - maybe drink beer instead of wine at happy hour for awhile? (#firstworldproblems)

What's your go-to skincare routine? Do you use drugstore brands or department store? Or do you do an Arbonne or Rodan & Fields kinda thing? (Full disclosure: I do still sell Arbonne now and then, so if you're ever interested let me know! Or you can visit my link: http://jenniferbryant.arbonne.com/)

Previously on Mrs Robbins Sparkles...

DIY Toothpaste for the Kinda Crunchy Guy or Gal

Did you know this…

can become this?

Yes, friends, I have stepped into a whole new world. A simpler world. A crunchier world.

I made my own toothpaste for the first time almost three years ago, following this recipe at Crunchy Betty. I don't use it all the time now, but this is by far my favorite DIY toothpaste receipe I've tried. No, it doesn’t taste just like store bought toothpaste. But it is pretty amazing.

The details: You need Coconut Oil, Baking Soda, Peppermint Oil, and Stevia.

I bought my supplies at the local natural grocer, mostly because it felt a little crunchier that way. It is a little pricey to make these initial investments (the organic coconut oil was $8, the peppermint oil was around $6, as was the organic stevia) but all of it has other uses. And ultimately, it will end up being cheaper than the store-bought toothpaste. (I used to spend about $4 a tube.)

To make: take 3 tablespoons of coconut oil and 3 tablespoons of baking soda. Using a fork, mash them up until pretty well blended. Then add 20 to 25 drops of peppermint oil and one packet of stevia. Continue to mash and mix until smooth. You could also add 2 teaspoons of vegetable glycerin to add sweetness and reach a more typical toothpaste consistency, but I don’t think it is necessary.

Et voila! You have made toothpaste. 

As you can see, I put mine in two little jars. One small mason jar and one little jar that used to hold fancy jam. Now to brush my teeth I just dip my toothbrush into the jar. Somehow it seems simpler than having to fight to squeeze toothpaste out of the tube.

So there you go! You are now fully capable of making your own toothpaste. If you have any questions about whether or not coconut oil is good for your teeth, or if you are concerned about the lack of fluoride in this toothpaste, head over to Crunchy Betty’s post. She addresses all of these things, and is probably much more knowledgeable in this area than I am.

Have you ever DIYed your own toothpaste? What is your favorite recipe?

Previously on Mrs Robbins Sparkles...