Guiltless Goodies: FITNESS award winners - the 'safe' products

Read full feature at www.fitnessmagazine.com


Hi all!

Here are the details of the products that passed GiGi's safety test!

You don't have to be cruel to be kind,

GiGi

Face Finds:
BEST SERUM - Estee Lauder item removed because company tests on animals.

BEST MOISTURIZER - Philosophy Divine Illumination, $85, qvc.com - This antiager contains light-reflecting mica for instant radiance. "It gave a dewy glow without too much shine," says Judi Roode of Wrentham, Massachusetts. Over time, ingredients like niacinamide work to wipe out wrinkles.

BEST MAKEUP REMOVER - Wet N Wild Eye Makeup Remover, $1.99, drugstores - Oil-free and enriched with aloe vera, this gentle formula whisks away waterproof mascara from lids and lashes. Bonus: "I love that it comes in a small, easy-to-pack bottle," says Abigail Oesterling of Butler, Pennsylvania.

Complexion Correctors:
BEST PORE MINIMIZER - Boscia Skin Perfecting Primer, $28, sephora.com - Pores look larger when they're filled with oil, which temporarily stretches them. This gel is made with peppermint and vitamin B5, which absorb sebum, leaving a "matte surface that lasted all day," says Cassandra TenBrink of Goodrich, Michigan.

BEST MASK - Clarins HydraQuench Cream-Mask, $35, clarins.com - Hyaluronic acid helps prevent moisture loss, restoring your glow, while sorbier, a tree-bud extract, boosts circulation, helping sun-damaged skin look even more vibrant. It can even bolster your budget: "It softened my skin so much, I was able to use less night cream and save money," says Izabela Szabo of Chicago.

BEST SKIN REFRESHER - HydroPeptide Polish and Plump Peel, $68, hydropeptide.com - In this two-step treatment, peptides reduce fine lines and wrinkles, while lactic acid and vitamin C whisk away dullness. "It left my skin smoother and visibly brighter," says Susan Payment of Colorado Springs.

Best Base:
BEST NAIL POLISH - Essie Spring 2009 Color Collection, $8 per bottle, essie.com - Finally - a one-minute manicure. These shades looked perfect with just one quick coat. "My usual polishes chip within days," says Andrea Woodward of Omaha. "This one lasted nearly a week."

BEST EYE DEFINER - N.Y.C. New York Color Metro Quartet, $3.99, drugstores - This smart eye quad, smaller than a credit card, clears up the what-goes-where confusion. The four long-lasting powders - designed for lids, creases, brow bones and lash lines - "come with how-to-apply instructions, making them oops-proof," Warren says.

BEST BLUSH - Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Blush & Highlighter, $11.95, drugstores - This palette works several ways. Blend the five waves of color for a sun-kissed glow. Or "use them separately as highlighter or even an eye shadow," says Alina Yakovenko of Vancouver, Washington.

Body and Sun Standouts:
BEST CLEANSER - Nivea item removed as Nivea is owned by Beiersdorf, who do test on animals.

BEST FOOT FIXER - Sephora Super Foot Scrub, $22, sephora.com - Get silky spa-pedicure soles at home. The sugar scrub, paired with its brushlike applicator, makes it a cinch to slough off dead, dry skin from heels and toes. "It's instant callus control in a bottle," says Daphne LaSalle of Altus, Oklahoma.

BEST EVERYDAY FACE PROTECTOR - Murad Oil Control Mattifier SPF 15, $39.50, murad.com - This broad-spectrum UVA/UVB shield is infused with willow-bark and argan extracts, which reduce oil production all day. Plus, "it's a great primer for makeup," says Caitlyn Beacham of Oklahoma City.

BEST SCRUB - C.O. Bigelow Lemon & Pomegranate Body Scrub, $15, bathandbodyworks.com - Skin-brightening lemon extract and pomegranate, a super-antioxidant, join forces in this cream exfoliator, which "leaves skin looking radiant from neck to toe," says dermatologist tester Hema Sundaram, M.D.

Hair Helpers:
BEST SHAMPOO - Nexxus Dualiste Color Protection + Volume Shampoo, $11.99, nexxus.com for info - This wash coats hair with shine-inducing ginseng and flaxseed oil. And its hydrophobic formula prevents water from sinking into the shaft and washing away dye. "It also removed all traces of styling product," says Caron Gross of Hagerstown, Maryland.

Workout Bag Winners:
BEST PALETTE - Smashbox Cosmetics Beauty Guru Palette, $47, smashbox.com - This houses three swiveling tiers, packed with 10 makeup must-haves, from bronzer to gloss. "It has everything I need, including a mirror," says Bobbi Wessels of Jacksonville, North Carolina.

BEST CLEANSING WIPES - mark Make It Go Away Makeup Remover Wipes, $8, meetmark.com - Use these cloths before hitting the gym to wipe away potentially pore-clogging foundation, and afterward to erase sweat and oil "They left my face feeling refreshed," says Aronda Dent of Stafford, Virginia.