Schick’s latest disposable razor – the eco-friendly edition of Xtreme 3 – is not your average razor.  Nor is Project ReMAKE your average online contest.

It’s the first razor in the market designed to “shave down landfills” with a handle made of 100% recycled plastic and packaging made of 100% recycled paper.  But that’s not all, Schick’s Milford operation in Connecticut (USA) is proud to boast that they are 99.9% landfill free.  See it for yourself in their behind-the-scenes video clip here.

Schick together with MAKE Magazine are hosting Project ReMAKE, an online contest that asks you to share your most creative ways of reusing everyday objects and materials into something useful, beautiful or just plain cool.

What makes this contest even more interesting is the prize involved.   In case you haven’t heard of 3D Printing before (which I came across via TED.com only in January), it’s about to be the next big thing that will revolutionize the manufacturing landscape.  Project ReMAKE offers the eco-conscious a chance to win this innovative technology into your own homes with the MakerBot Replicator, where you can design your own or download thousands of models online and turn them into physical 3D objects.

So if you’ve been sitting on your next great invention, or maybe you have an amazing talent for turning the ordinary into something extraordinary.  Whatever your talent is, share your creative recycling DIY idea for the chance to be one of five winners of a MakerBot Replicator or to win a trip to the Maker Faire in New York to show off your project!

Win one of five MakerBot Replicators or a trip to the 2012 Maker Faire in New York City

• Enter via the Schick Xtreme 3 Eco Facebook page.
• Describe your remake project idea in 100 words or less, and include an original photograph of what it looked like before and after it was completed.
• Entries close on May 14 2012, and public voting begins May 30, 2012 ending on June 26, 2012.
• Open only to US residents aged 18 years or older.
• For more details, here is the link to the full contest rules.

Eco-conscious newlyweds Carter Oosterhouse and Amy Smart introduce the Schick Xtreme 3 Eco.
Click “play” to start the video.

Sponsored post. For more information visit our Disclosure Policy.

Back in December & January when I had six weeks off, I spent most of that time in northern China chillin’ with my in-laws. And I literally mean chillin‘.   Whilst the rest of Europe were whinging about the cold snap,  winter in this part of China was just the usual – maximum -5 degrees, minimum -15 to -25 degrees.  Humidity levels were so low that laundry could dry indoors in half a day, and my lips and nose needed balm once every hour!

At least I knew to expect these weather conditions, this being my second trip there.  It didn’t help that I also needed pack skincare for 40 degree summer heat prior to reaching China, so I needed a skincare regime that I could streamline for the heat, and layer on in the cold.

My skin ended up being a topic of many conversations during my trip, as it had the glow and clarity of hydrated, dewy and clean skin.  Here’s what was in my suitcase:

Step 1. Hydrate with a leave in mask

Hydrating mists were no contender for the climate.  Instead I used a leave-in mask as the first step in my skincare routine.  HANAJIRUSHI Super Moisture Face Mask (Amino Acid) looks like a gel-cream, but transforms into water droplets once massaged into skin.  My skin looked like it had bathed in a facial cloth mask for 20 minutes, except this mask only took 30 seconds to achieve the same result.  No greasiness, no stickiness, just water soaked skin.  There are also other masks in the range to stimulate collagen and refine pores. I bought this from Watsons, China.

Step 2. Hydrate with serum

As my skin has lately decided it was on BFF terms with Clarins and Estee Lauder skincare, I decided to try ESTEE LAUDER Hydrationist Moisture Barrier Fortifier Serum.  Without having read any prior reviews, I was sucked into words likes “Moisture Barrier Fortifier” and the blue bottle packaging and within seconds it was added to cart.  It’s hydrating and absorbs easily without residue, leaving skin feeling like it just had a drink of water.  In normal conditions, I need only one pump for the whole face.  During the trip I needed two pumps to achieve the same effect.   This is another winner from Estee Lauder, but I’m feeling nervous that I can’t see this listed on the Australian Estee Lauder website, even though it was stocked in Australian duty free.

Step 3. Soothe with face treatment oils

During winter, I don’t believe in slapping on thicker layers of moisturiser as excess moisturiser tends to sit on the skin & cause blending issues with makeup later on. Instead I’m a believer in layering on facials oils after serum, as they absorb much more easily to keep dry skin elastic and moisturised.  I brought JURLIQUE Skin Balancing Oil with me, which in hindsight is better for normal/combination skin in dry conditions, or dry skin in moderate winter climates.  Since coming back, I have been loving CLARINS Face Treatment Oils* as they have a wider range to suit each skin type. I am currently trialling “Santal”, which soothes and comforts dry skin that’s prone to redness.  There’s also “Blue Orchid” for dehydrated skin, and “Lotus” to balance oily skin.

Step 4. Replenish with comfort cream

If the thought of rich and greasy comes to mind with comfort creams, Estee Lauder proves us wrong with their Re-Nutriv  Replenishing Comfort Cream*. It’s hard to imagine such a highly moisturising cream would absorb completely and so quickly into skin, leaving no residue whatsoever, especially when those with dry skin are so used to the dewy finish of rich moisturisers.  The same goes for the eye cream*.  But once you apply your makeup, you’ll notice your skin moisture is indeed there & dehydration lines are nowhere to be seen even hours later.  I can vouch for the fact that this worked both day, night, summer and winter. Highly impressed & two thumbs up for this all rounder.

Step 5.  Protect skin with barrier cream

I know ELIZABETH ARDEN 8 Hour Skin Protectant is not strictly a barrier cream, but I wanted to pack light & chose this for its multi-purpose use.  The humidity was so dry that my skin looked matte even when I had slathered on hydrating mask, serum, oil and comfort cream.  I applied 8 Hour Cream along my cheekbones to “fake dewiness”, and also protect my cheeks (the only exposed area on my face in winter) against dry harsh winds. Trust me, winds in minus 25 degrees feel like sharp ice cubes slashing your face.  Also works well as a daytime protectant for lips and nose, and as an overnight salve for hands and feet.

And lastly, the product I wish I had with me… 

is LANOLIPS Golden Ointment. Unlike 8 Hour Cream which has a high petroleum content, Golden Ointment is a 100% natural super rich ointment featuring over 60% lanolin, Manuka honey and Vitamin E to moisturise and protect skin.   Whilst I wouldn’t apply Golden Ointment on my cheeks, I find it provides longer lasting moisture than 8 Hour Cream on hands, feet and legs. Plus Golden Ointment tastes better on the lips than 8 Hour Cream.

What are your favourite skincare products for surviving a cold winter snap?
Leave a comment below or tweet me @beautyswatch! 

Products marked with * were provided for consideration.  All other products mentioned were purchased by me.

Source: Pin Interest / Getty Images

• OLAY Regenerist Anti-Aging Eye Roller - absorbs instantly & my lips looks like they just had a “lip facial”.
• JURLIQUE Purely Age Defying Eye Cream – after prepping your eyes, prep your lips also with this silicone based cream which smoothes lip lines and creates an even canvas for even the trickiest lip textures.
• Facial Oils – when pressing face oil onto your face with your palms, pat some also over the entire mouth area.
• KIEHL’S Double Strength Deep Wrinkle Filler – this miracle product is marketed for lines on the face, but is actually a great lip base to prevent lipsticks from sinking into deep lip lines.

• In the morning, slather on a thick (almost excessive) layer of lip balm in the morning while you apply your skincare / makeup
• Maintain lips during the day by applying lip balm hourly or whenever you feel it has completely absorbed into lips.
• Soap & Glory Extreme Plump XL is the best at reviving tired lips at the end of the day & can also be worn over lipstick.
• If lipstick just isn’t working for you that day, use a pigmented smoothing lipgloss instead.

Do you have a favourite lip balm?
What’s your routine for keeping lips in top condition? 

For those that have met me in person, you will know that I am rarely seen baring my legs.   Not even a dress code on a hot day will deter me, and I cover my legs up 99% of the time with leggings, tights or pants.  The reason?  Nature and genetics have “blessed” me with sensitive skin that doesn’t like to be shaved, and any hair removal or regrowth sets off dermatitis that leaves scarring.  I’m also “blessed” with thick dark hair on my legs, so much that they are visible even after shaving.

Over the years I’ve resorted to epilation, but the trouble is that this method causes my hair to grow at it’s own pace – which in my case, is less than 2 weeks for some parts and 4 weeks for other parts of my leg.   Effectively this means I need epilate every 10 days to constantly keep up with it all.

Last winter, I began my mission to get my scarred legs back to they once were.  My mission started with the trial of E-One, the first epilator designed for home use that uses professional IPL technology, designed by Dr Yves-Vincent Brottier, a French expert in hair removal technologies.    For more information about E-One, visit their website which contains in depth information about how it works, user testimonials and the benefits of IPL over laser treatments.

For someone that had no prior experience with laser hair removal, I was nervous to say the least, but my fears were overcome by how easy it was to use & how minimal the pain was.

Pros:

• Easy to use.  Mark your legs with white pencil into ‘zones’, apply each zone with gel, and put on the safety glasses.  Once the machine is charged, the device will beep and you can start zapping the gel area.  It took me around 20 minutes for just the front of the legs.
• Minimal Pain. I tried the lowest and highest intensities, and both felt similar.  The pain level is as minimal as a rubber band flicking on your skin.  Having said that, some sensitive areas (eg. inner calves) felt more painful than other parts.
• User friendly, with customised settings to adjust the intensity based on your hair type, hair length and gender.
• Cost effective, especially if you regularly visit a salon for waxing or professional laser hair removal.
• Medically certified & safe to use on any part of the bodies, with few exceptions like tattoos and dark areas.
• Convenience & privacy.  Great for those who are time-poor, prefer the privacy of their own home, and are looking to save money from salon services.
• Compact: The device is roughly the same size as a back pack.

Cons:

• Requires assistance with hard to reach places (eg. back of the thighs), and both users require goggles.
• The delay between each light emission is minimal (approx 5 seconds), but when added up it becomes time consuming.
• Requires a well ventilated room.  The device emits hot hair, and by the time I’m done with both legs my room feels hot and stuffy.
• The safety glasses do not sit well over my glasses.   Since I don’t wear contacts, I had to close my eyes for peace of mind.
• Only suitable for those with fair skin and dark hair.

Results

• Hair fallout: After each session, I did not experience hair “falling out”, nor did I have the patience to wait for it to fall out by itself.  I tweezed a few hairs and it removed so easily without pain that I chose to epilate immediately after each E-One session.  Epilation felt totally painless & the hairs removed seamlessly without breakage.
• Reduced hair growth:  After just 4 sessions, only 30% of my leg hair grew back, and at a much slower rate and much more sparse.  Unfortunately my trial period ended, but I’m confident additional sessions would have achieved better results.
• Reduced hair thickness: The other impressive result was the significantly reduced hair thickness – to the point that I had to look intensely to find them.  My hair has never thinned from waxing or epilation (another “blessing”), so you can imagine how glad I was at this result!
• According to the E-One website, after 10-12 treatments, only 1 or 2 uses per year should be required to keep skin hair free.

E-One costs $2,495 AUD, and includes a complete pack of accessories which are detailed here.There is currently an exclusive offer until February 14 which features:

• Duo Pack includes extra: safety glasses, gel, spray, patches, guide plates & pencil.
• 6 month money back guarantee
• 2 year manufacturers warranty
• 5 x $499 installments

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this post next week!

The E-One device was offered for trial for consideration.

If you still haven’t decided on which lipstick to celebrate Valentines’ Day, here are my top 5 picks that make lips look seductive yet are incredibly low maintenance.  Why low maintenance? Because one really shouldn’t be interrupting a romantic dinner, checking up on the status of your lipstick every 48 seconds.  Ditch lipgloss (not kiss-friendly) for this special occasion and indulge yourself in one of these lipsticks this Valentines’ Day.

• Matte Velvet - CHANEL Rouge Allure Velvet is matte yet non-drying, pigmented yet buildable.  Incredibly comfortable without accentuating lip lines.  Although it is versatile enough to be worn both sheer and bold, a lightweight stain is not only lower maintenance but also more kissable and you’ll waste less of it on a napkin (or on your date’s face).  Matte textures look best on bold reds, fuchsias and bold corals.

• Diamond Shine – For a juicy coral high shine finish, you can’t go past MAYBELLINE Colour Sensational Lipcolour in “Mango Diamonds”.  Moisturising, high in shine and shimmer.  Although you won’t need a separate lip balm, pop this over a layer of Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm and it’ll look even juicier that you might just get bitten.

• Glossy / Bitten Stain – Slick in application and high in shine, YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain is a long lasting stain that will fade gracefuly into a stain after a meal.  You’re spoilt for choice with 19 shades with everything from reds, corals, nudes, pinks, to mauves and violets.

• Juicy Shine – If the thought of bold lips is too much to bear, DIOR Addict Lipsticks are incredibly sheer, lightweight with tinted popsicle colours.  It’s also quite smoothing and moisturising on its own & has a slight plumping effect that you won’t need a separate lip balm.   Looks bright in the tube, but trust me – it goes on very sheer.

• Luminous Veil – Some guys find veil-like translucent lip shades more alluring, especially when paired with smokey eyes (eg. smokey chocolate).  Seduce him with a luminous lip veil such as BURBERRY Lip Mist Natural Sheer Lipstick, which has a lightweight smooth finish that dresses lips with a moist dewy veil.  The models in the Burberry campaign apparently use shade #2 Copper, but my favourite shade is #9 Feather Pink.