Shaped like an electric razor, the Emjoi has two interchangeable textured rollers: one for coarse skin, and one for extra-coarse skin. The rollers are incredibly easy to swap out. With a flick of the switch, the roller spins at 30 revolutions per second, and gently “sands” away the dead skin on your feet. It is powerful enough to get the job done (unlike other devices that often run out of steam), and it doesn’t chew up your feet like certain “cheese grater” devices. After only a few minutes use, my feet were noticeably softer and smoother – and they stayed that way (at least, in the three days since I first tested it). The Emjoi was completely painless.

Emjoi will never replace a professional pedicure, but it is amazing for between-pedi touch-ups. I am genuinely impressed.

www.emjoi.com

As promised, the SwirliDo held hair tightly in place, even during a workout. It did not tangle and it didn’t leave “pony lines” or give me a headache from too-tight elastics. Because it doesn’t hold too tight, it is great for a sexy-messy ponytail. I noticed two drawbacks. First, the SwirlDo is bulky, making it impractical to keep on your wrist (as I am prone to do) or to sleep in. Second, after a weeks worth of wear, the SwirliDo gets stretched out, making your updos gradually looser and looser. Ultimately, SwirliDo will not replace my standard elastic bands, but it will certainly compliment them.

$5.99 at FacialWork.com

Clarisonic’s sonic skin cleansing system looked a little scary at first. You know those sonic toothbrushes? This is like a giant one for your face. I love my sonic toothbrush, but I was worried it would be too hard for my skin. My worry was misplaced – this thing is awesome.

We checked out the Mia, which is a compact, single-speed model that is perfect for travel. It’s simple: put a bit of facial cleanser on the brush head, turn it on, and work over the skin in circles. The Clarisonic will automatically shut off after 60 seconds. A full charge will last about 2-3 weeks of daily use. And of course, all the Clarisonics are water proof, which is perfect because I always do my face cleansing in the shower.

My major concern, that the bristles would be harsh, was unfounded. The brush was the perfect texture – soft and comfortable, but still offering good exfoliation. The product promises that the sonic waves loosen deep-down dirt, leaving a better clean. I believe it – after just one use, my skin felt infinitely softer and looked brighter with a more even tone.

The Clarisonic Mia came with a sample tube of their Gentle Hydro Cleanser, and frankly, I wasn’t a fan. I felt that I got much better results with this Juice Beauty cleanser.

Michael Marcus demonstrates his innovative brush kit

There are a zillion and one makeup brush kits out there: complete kits, mini kits, travel kits, pro kits, synthetic kits, natural kits, kits in super-cute pouches… it’s a bit daunting. I admit that about 90% of my brush-buying decisions are determined by looks.

This Michael Marcus brush set is a no-brainer. The sable brush kit includes nine essentials in a compact (yet easy-to-grip) size that are packed into a hard case that is the size of a passport and less than an inch thick. The grown-up in me loves the high-quality brushes; the kid in me loves the presentation. When you flip open the case like a compact, the brushes fan up and out. They each have their own slot attatched to a center hinge. Every time you open the compact, your brushes are presented perfectly. Each brush has a designated slot, making it a breeze to find what you need. When you are done, the compact folds into itself easily without bristles getting bent or tangled.

Plus, I really like playing with it.

To order, visit MichaelMarcus.com

Unii cosmetics has come up with something to completely change the way you palette. Their palette does not have predetermined slots. Instead, the Unii palette is completely empty, allowing you to fit in whatever size makeup pans your heart desires. Even square pans, or the elusive rectangular pan, fit in Unii with ease.

The creators of Unii have literally thought of everything to make this product one of the most innovative I have ever seen.

UniiCosmetics.com

I’ve never had threading done, but I’m game to give it a go. Normally, threading is the domain of estheticians and only available at salons. But now, SunMaita has developed a system for home use. The apparatus is specially angled to make threading easy, even for a newbie, the company promises. Replaceable threads are pre-cut and attached to tiny plastic nubs. The nubs allow the organic cotton-blend threads to snap into place. Two threads of different length essentially twist around each other. Squeezing the trigger on the threader causes the threads to twist back and forth, catching the hair and rolling it from the skin. This method is supposed to have the same benefits of waxing – slower regrowth, less chance of ingrown hairs – without the pain of waxing.

The SunMaita threader is not meant for eyebrows. I gave it a shot on my ankle, mainly because that was the easiest place for me to test it out. It does take multiple uses to get the hang of – finding the right angle, tension, speed, and pressure. Once I got it down, it was reasonably easy to remove hair. It is less painful than waxing, slower than shaving, and less precise than tweezing. Ultimately, I could see myself most often using the threader on ankles, knees, and underarms: small-ish areas that are too large to pluck and tough to shave.

SunMaita Threader Kit includes the threader, 40 organic cotton-blend replacement threads, pre- and post-threading lotions, and chalk to make the hairs more visible. Each kit costs $150 and can be purchased at SunMaita.com

The set comes with the Lip Stamp (with mirrored cap!) and 10 different lip shapes. Select your lip shape, peel it off its card, and affix it to the ergonomic Lip Stamp. Each lip shape is a thick makeup sponge with an adhesive backing. The lip shapes range from small and pouty to large and bowed. Once your lip shape is affixed, coat it edge to edge with your favorite lipstick, and press it against your lips. Be forewarned – the lip pads are not really reusable and as far as I can tell, you cannot order replacement pads at this time.

I used Urban Decay’s Love Junkie lipstick to test this out, and I was surprised at how much lipstick it took to get good coverage. Since the lip shape was a makeup sponge, it absorbs a lot of lipstick. Application was surprisingly easy – I didn’t have a problem lining it up with my lips.

As you can see from the pictures, it works, but looks a little clownish. The shape was pretty much perfect, but I think this is really meant for makeup artists, or for playing dress-up. Without doing any other steps (i.e. using some foundation to cover up exposed lip, etc) the entire process took about 10 minutes. If you wanted a specific, artistic lip shape for a photo shoot, Lip Stamp does the trick. But for every day use, you are better off applying your lipstick the old fashioned way.

Lip Stamp retails for $24.95 and can be purchased at AlconeCo.com

Artemis Woman has a solution for you: the Artemis Heel Smoother. It is a battery-operated, dual-speed device with interchangeable tips. The tips are made of aluminum oxide crystals. I have no idea if this is better than a traditional pumice stone, but it does a good job. My feet are especially tough and damaged due to years of figure skating. Short of a foot transplant, I don’t think I will ever fully have the calloused, damaged areas of my feet fixed. But on the “normal” callouses, it does smooth them down. Dead slivers of skin kind of “peeled” off. Ok, I’m starting to gross myself out.

A great companion with this the Topaz Foot Butter. Yes, it has actual topaz dust in it. No, it does not make the cream shimmery. Apparently the topaz is supposed to give strength. It’s got shea butter and sesame oil, which leaves my feet so smooth and silky soft. I really love it. Beware though – it makes your feet slippery! Essential bergamot, tea tree, and lemon oils make it a tiny spa for your feet.

When I clip my nails, I generally do it carefully so I can easily collect all the clippings. Easily one of the most disgusting things is to step on an errant nail clipping. Mr. Spork, like any typical guy, does not seem to worry about this, leading to some unpleasant discoveries and unpleasant conversations.

Artemis Woman has recently launched a set of nail clippers to help solve this problem. The high-quality precision clippers are nestled into a plastic catcher. When a nail is clipped, the refuse slips down into catcher. Now you can walk barefoot without fear! It isn’t 100% fool-proof though. If you tip the clippers upside-down, the clippings can slide out between the clipper’s teeth.

And, of course, good luck getting your boy to empty it. One thing at a time, I suppose.

I’m sure you have seen the No! No! hair removal system at Sephora: the small handheld device that promises hair removal without the pain. But, like me, you have wondered if it is worth the hefty $250 price tag. I haven’t quite decided yet.

No! No! uses “revolutionary Thermicon technology” that utilizes both heat and light to remove hair and slow the growth process. You simply plug in the palm-sized device and sweep it slowly over your skin. Do this 2-3 times a week, and it will keep your legs smooth and lessen hair regrowth. Piece o’ cake.

Ok, it’s not quite as simple as all that. It takes some practice to get the right sweep speed (don’t worry, there is a light to guide you – solid green means good, flickering green or no light is not-so-good). Rounded areas such as knees and ankles take more practice. There are two attachments: one for stubble, and one for longer growth. If you have longer growth, you need to use that attachment first, then follow over with the stubble attachment. As you finish sections, buff the skin with the included pad.

The process is not entirely pain-free. If you hit a rounded area at a bad angle, or pause too long, there is a sharp little burning sensation. I felt this several times, but don’t see any marks or scars. I have whiter-than-white skin, and am extremely prone to razor burn. Despite the little burning sensations, I seem to be free of “razor” burn.

The other complaint I have is that it is not a quick process. It has taken me about an hour total (stubble only, from ankle to knee). The system promises that if you keep up with it, it will slow the growth of new hair eventually. Unfortunately I have only had time to do the process two or three times.

Like with everything, there are pros and cons. If you have the dedication and the time, then I recommend this product – it’s very effective with little to no “side effects.”