What They Say: "Protects dry, cracked or irritated skin to help enhance the natural healing process and restore smooth, healthy skin. High-quality ingredients and clinically-proven formulas that help keep your skin healthy...safe for sensitive skin and so effective that it's been trusted by dermatologists for years."

Jamie's Thoughts: I am thrilled to tell you that this product is totally Delush! Aquaphor is possibly one of the best personal products in the drugstore aisles today. There a million and one uses - so many, in fact, that it has it's own website - www.aquaphoruses.com.

That said, I've used this for chapped lips, chafed skin, cracked/dry winter hands and feet, post-wax calming therapy, on my eyelids for some shine...I swear, the list just goes on and on. Flyaway and frizzy hair! Eczema! Aquaphor Ointment has all the benefits of standard Vaseline, but none of the weight, greasiness, or density.

I've been using Aquaphor for years, and I cannot imagine NOT having it in my makeup bag/first aid kit/bathroom drawer/purse. It comes in every size imaginable - which is good, because that means I'll never be without it.

Retail Price: $2-$10, varies by size (available at your local drugstore)

Delush Rating:

What They Say: The polisher provides 2 actions to intensely smooth the skin and boost the efficiency of your anti-aging care.

- Mechanical action: the mineral micro-particles gently remove dead cells, and effectively polish the skin texture.
- Biological effect action: the biological effect peeling system helps to gently improve skin's natural cellular renewal process in order to optimize the action of your anti-wrinkle skincare.

Apply 2 to 3 times a week on wet skin. Avoid eye contours. Massage and rinse. Then apply your daily RIDES REPAIR skincare products.

What Lisa Says: I love, love, LOVE this product! I will tell you in advance that I really think this product is a "must" before using some of the other RIDES REPAIR products. When I received my box of products to test, for some reason, I overlooked this little gem until it was about 5 weeks into the testing period. At the time, I was testing another RIDES REPAIR product (look for that review next week) and not having much success. Once I started using this Resurfacing Polish, my results with this other product just took off! In essence, I can vouch for the claim that it boosts the effectiveness of follow up anti-wrinkle products.

This apricot-scented skin polish leaves your skin feeling and looking so exfoliated, smooth, vibrant and fresh. After putting on moisturizer and foundation my skin was glowing. It did allow deeper penetration of product but since I got started on it late it's difficult for me to judge cell turnover. I usually opt for chemical exfoliation but found that I have really enjoyed this product. Like the RIDES eye cream, a very small amount goes a long way. This product should last quite a while and I'm glad. Gee, did I already say how much I loved this product?

Retail Price: 2.5 fl. Oz./ $29.00 (available here)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "This gel facial cleanser combines oil-controlling salicylic acid and pear to help keep skin clean and clear while reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Your skin will feel soft, supple and fresh."

What Lisa Says: I have had the pleasure of reviewing a couple of Freeman products in the past and loved them both so my expectation of this product was already high. The first thing I was impressed with is that it takes a tiny amount of product to do the job. A pea-sized dollop

of this fragrant green gel is all that's needed to lather up and cleanse your entire face, neck and décolleté area. Like most of Freeman's products, the fragrance is divine! Yes, it smells of pear but it's a clean scent and does not linger once the skin is dry. This is probably best for oily to combination skin and I can verify that it's great at decongesting the skin. I've been testing some other skin care products that resulted in some congestion, which is unusual for me. After using this cleanser, the congestion cleared quickly and easily. Even a, rare for me, milia became easy to extract over a short amount of time. I have not used this long enough to see any wrinkle reduction but my guess is that those serious about wrinkles are going to look elsewhere.

Packaging is true to Freeman form - an easy to travel with tube with a large opening for this fragrant gel cleanser. And for the price, I don't think you can find many drugstore products to beat it. It's a very nice product and another winner for the Freeman Family of skincare products.

Retail Price: 6 fl oz /$3.99 (available at Drugstore.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: " This practical 3-in-1 product is tailored to suit modern women's lifestyles and provide them with healthier and more radiant skin.

This exclusive formula removes eye make-up, cleanses the skin and tones the skin with oligo-minerals and mineral salts, offering your skin all the mineral elements needed for its daily regeneration.

In just one step, skin is purified, detoxified, clearer, fresher and more luminous."

Jen's Experience: I have probably mentioned this before, but when it comes to cleaning my skin every day, I am L-A-A-A-A-A-Z-Y. So, it's no surprise then that I absolutely love this new cleanser from Biotherm that does the work of three products all in one with no rinsing needed. And since no water is needed, just a cotton pad or a good tissue, it's perfect for traveling, camping or whatever your summer plans bring. A single cotton pad soaked with this stuff is enough to remove my highest-coverage foundations, so not only is it easy to use and convenient, most importantly, it works.

Retail Price: $26.00 (Biotherm.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "Ashy or scaly skin? Nevermore with Figs and Leaves handmade soap. Tiny fig seeds brimming with nutrition and gentle exfoliation yield to a creamy, aloe vera conditioning lather and a bouquet of fresh garden aromas. The scent of oranges and earthy ylang ylang linger on your silky, smooth skin as a tempting reminder of sweet cleanliness."

Melissa Says: This is perhaps my favorite offering from LUSH so far. I absolutely am in love with the velvety, fresh scent. It's actually quite a bit more complex than the description sounds, and the orange isn't necessarily predominant at all (which I was happy about). It lingers on the skin beautifully, and even though personally I'd be more than happy to smell like this each day, I imagine for some of you this will be more well-suited as a hand soap (guests will probably love it, and so will you). In that capacity, it still gives you a kiss of scent but also lasts a bit longer. It's not overly-moisturizing, but not drying.

Retail Price: $7.60 (at LUSH online or go here to find a retail store near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Our Whipped Shea Butter is 100% shea, with no additives or fillers (just a light fragrance). It's double-whipped to the consistency of frosting making applying it not only easy but enjoyable (it feels incredible).

Well known to help with a whole host of skin problems, our Pure Shea Butter melts at skin temperature and soothes troubled skin anywhere. Use it on hands, elbows, lips, or anywhere else a little loving touch is needed.

Scent offerings change from day to day or week to week, depending upon what our freshest batches of product are. If your favorite isn't here now, try something new, or check back from time to time. You can always email us to ask about your faves. NEW!! Net weight 2.5 ounces.

Note: Our shea butter is imported from Africa and is the freshest that we can get our hands on. Due to seasonal and crop differences, the color can vary from white to a light creamy yellow. Be assured that whatever color shea you get, it's fresh, pure and ultra refined using natural clays. Yum."

Melissa Says: I tried this out in the Chocolate-Dipped Orange scent (which I highly recommend), and just couldn't get enough of it. Though the consistency was a little bit more thick than I anticipated from the description, it still spread nicely on my skin and made it SUPER soft. I would mostly suggest this for hands, elbows, feet...anywhere that could use the extra softening this luxurious blend provides. Though you can still use it on your arms and legs to create babysoft touchable skin (however it does take about 10 minutes or so to completely soak in because of its concentration).

Retail Price: $16.00 / 2.5 oz jar (at productbody.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Neutrogena® Energizing Sugar Body Scrub's natural sugar crystals gently smooth away dry, dull surface skin cells to reveal a fresh glow while botanical oil pampers skin, leaving it beautifully soft and smooth. The fresh citrus scent invigorates your senses to help start the day off right.

This energizing scrub uses thick natural sugar crystals for soft yet intense exfoliation. Because sugar crystals are natural, they gradually dissolve to avoid over-exfoliation. Its botanical oil conditions skin, leaving it soft and silky-smooth, and the fresh citrus scent awakens your sleepy senses."

Jen's Experience: I love citrus-y scents, so this product practically had me at "hello", but there's more to love besides the scent. A lot of body exfoliators are rough and grainy, but this one feels soft enough to use even on my face. The sugar grains are suspended in a nice oil that leaves my skin feeling super soft hours after I leave the shower. While the price may seem high for a drugstore product, there's a lot in the little tub, and what's there is so fantastic, this product is a big winner in my book.

Retail Price: $9.99 (Drugstore.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "We've got a crush on you...and we'll do anything for someone we love. So we've formulated a unique and amazing exfoliating and moisturizing skin cleanser that you're gonna want to marry.

Crush On You is like nothing you've ever felt (unless you've run your hands through a bowl of extra moist sugar cookie batter). It's loaded with sugar that not only scrubs you clean but sloughs off dead dry skin cells. The macadamia nut oil and fresh shea butter we whip in moisturize your skin, leaving it soft and supple. Finally, the incredibly gentle body wash that holds it all together rinses you off as clean as a whistle, leaving your skin soft, clean and fresh feeling.

Scent offerings change from day to day or week to week, depending upon what our freshest batches of product are. If your favorite isn't here now, try something new, or check back from time to time. You can always email us to ask about your faves."

Melissa Says: I tested this in an absolutely scrumptious scent, Pecan Praline. It's exactly as they describe - a wonderful whipped consistency, full of skin-scrubbing sugar, that leaves you soft, ever-so-lightly moisturized (not oily!) and smelling yummy. In my bath-junkie opinion, this is a no-brainer. In terms of scrubs of this quality, this one is worth every penny.

Shopping Tip: The 4.75 oz. "try me" container is MORE than ample to last more than a few baths or showers, and get you to fall in love. If you aren't sure, go ahead and order that size. If you know you'll love it, you'll be super-happy to get your larger 9 oz. jar.

Retail Price: $22.00, 9 oz. / $9.00, 4.75 oz. (at Product Body's Shop online)

DeLush Rating:

About the Facial Moisturizer: "A richly hydrating face cream that helps moisturize and protect facial skin. Provides instant, long-lasting moisture. Leaves skin soft while lush formula helps balance skin's natural barrier and alleviate dry skin. Silky to apply, glides on easily. Helps create an even surface for a smooth, more perfect makeup application."

 

About the Eye Cream: "A richly hydrating eye cream with optical effects. Rejuvenates, reconditions and refreshes. Visibly lifts and firms skin around the eyes: helps reduce early morning/late night puffiness and balance the skin's moisture levels. Provides long-lasting moisture. "

Jen's Experience: I spend a lot of time at make-up counters, trying out the latest foundation or eyeshadows or concealer. Typically, the person helping me whips out a container of their most expensive moisturizers as a base layer and then tell me the importance of, say, a great eye cream underneath their concealer. And then I leave with just the thing I came for, telling myself that my  moisturizers at home are just fine.

Well, I just want to say that I now see the value of a good moisture layer under my make-up, and also, that these two products from M·A·C's new MoistureLush collection are just that. The eye cream in particular does an amazing job of freshening up the skin under my eyes to minimize the tiny little lines that are starting to pop up and the puffiness that comes with not getting enough sleep. Now all of the concealers I have in my repetoire apply like an absolute dream, and I even need less of them to cover. The facial moisturizer does a similar trick, although I wish it would keep my face just a little more moisturized. I also wish that it came with some SPF for day time use. In addition to using it under my make-up, I have found that a little bit of the facial moisturizer on the top of my cheekbones works as a light highlighter, very much like the M·A·C Strobe Cream.

I am absolutely in love with this new collection from M·A·C. I'm not sure if this is going to become a permanent part of the line-up, though, so be sure to pick up some now and try it so that you'll have time to stockpile it if you like it!

Retail Prices:
Facial Moisturizer $32.00
Eye Cream            $30.00 (both available at MACCosmetics.com or your local department store)

Ratings:
Facial Moisturizer
Eye Cream

What They Say: "...the ideal 2-in-1 body wash and shave gel! Enjoy gentle cleansing and silky-smooth shaving in one simple step.

As a body wash, this fresh, marine-scented gel is enriched with ingredients that clean and moisturize your skin without leaving behind a heavy residue. As a shave gel, the silky lubrication helps your razor glide smoothly over your skin while soothing aloe helps prevent dryness and irritation. This clean-rinsing formula won't build up on your razor--or your skin."

Melissa Says: I can't believe I hadn't tried this before. It leaves skin wonderfully soft with a subtle fresh, clean scent. The fact that it doesn't create an oily feeling on your skin is the plus side to it not being super-moisturizing, and yet it manages to leave your skin very comfortable. It's an easy, light body cleanser.

As a shave gel, only two good pumps is plenty to provide lather on each leg. The result is a close shave that doesn't leave any redness or itchy irritation at all on my legs, which are very sensitive to shaving products.

I absolutely love this do-it-all product, and so does my skin!

Retail Price: $7.99 (at drugstores everywhere)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Thoroughly cleanse and refresh your skin with this oil-free mineral clay masque. It opens pores and draws out excess oil to help control oil and shine. Scented with a refreshing honeydew-blossom fragrance. Use as needed, 1-3 times per week. Ideal for combination-to-oily skin."

Melissa Says: I am in love. This mask smells amazingly refreshing (yet not too strong), which helps add to the feeling that you're pampering yourself. Even when you leave it on for the full 15 minutes, it doesn't dry into a hard, cracked, uncomfortably tight substance that you have to scrub at madly to get off. It still remains supple and therefore comfortable, and rinses cleanly. I was in desperate need for some blackhead intervention when I received this product to test, and was very pleased with the immediate results - cleaner-looking pores and refreshed skin. I would definitely recommend this to a friend.

Retail Price: $20.65 (at Quixtar.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Helps restore moisture and softness to skin, protects against moisture loss and free radical damage. Absorbs quickly. For all skin types.

When it comes to softening and soothing, rough, dry faces, is there anything quite like Organic Shea Butter (extracted from naturally harvested Karite Nuts) blended with Organic Cocoa Butter (from high quality beans)! Processed without chemicals, these two weightless butters have a super smooth texture, plus vital nutrients and antioxidant benefits. There's also Organic Glycerin from vegetable oil and Linoleic acid-rich Organic Sunflower Oil to hydrate and soothe and Organic Coconut Oil to help skin dodge signs of dehydration. Patent Pending Formula.

Origins own blend of Organic Clove, Rose, Lavender, Patchouli and Red Thyme Essential Oils helps protect the purity of this product.

HOW TO USE: Apply twice daily after cleansing."

Melissa Says: As a general purpose face lotion, this is a winner. You will still need a sunscreen if you want to use this as your main facial lotion, but if using something that is pure and organic is important to you, you'll be glad to know that this hydrates the skin without leaving it greasy - instead it is soft and supple. The clove and other ingredients do create a significant scent which you may or may not love, so if you aren't sure check it out in the store first before buying it. In all other respects, there's a good possibility you will be very glad to have this new option when looking for organic skincare to nourish your face. The price tag isn't low, but it may very well be worth it to you.

Retail Price: $42.50 / 1 fl. oz. (at origins.com or at a retail location near you)

DeLush Rating:  

What They Say: "This lightweight, gentle facial moisturizer is CLINICALLY shown to reduce redness in just one week1 while it protects your face with broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen. Its unique moisturizing complex begins to soothe dry skin on contact and works to improve overall skin tone and texture.

PURPOSE® Redness Reducing Moisturizer with SPF 30 absorbs quickly for long-lasting moisturization and is gentle enough to use every day, even on sensitive skin."

Jamie's Thoughts: Because of the nature of my skin (combination with areas of blotchy redness, particularly around my nose and mouth), I wanted to give this lotion the best chance to be effective. I started using it a month or so before I had to actually sit down and write this review.

In short, this product is fantastic. It is completely scent-free, does everything S.C. Johnson claims it does, it is reasonably priced, and with SPF 30, you cannot go wrong. It may not be fancy, but it works so who really cares?

I noticed redness reduction about 4-5 days after I started using this (mornings only - I use a non-SPF cream at night). After a week or so, I stopped applying my usual dabs of green concealer on my red areas altogether - I didn't need it anymore. This formula would be perfect for men or women with red, troubled skin. If you don't believe me, check out the user reviews on www.drugstore.com. (Delush is not affiliated with Drugstore.com - just a suggestion from me to you)

If you have chronic redness on any level, you owe it to yourself to give this product a try.

Retail Price: app $15.00 (varies from store to store - available online and in major drugstores)

Delush Rating: TOTALLY DELUSH

What They Say:

• It is suitable for all skin types.

• A luxurious and fast absorbing hydrating moisture cream with advanced UV protect. The new generation UVA and UVB filter helps protect the skin against sun radiation and delay premature skin aging due to noxious sunrays.

• Hydrating moisture cream also acts as an SPF booster and enables the achievement of an excellent protection by a synergistic effect while offering good tolerance.

• It contains exceptional ingredients, Palmityol Pentapeptide smoothes wrinkles and restores the cutaneous barrier, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carrageenan and Plant Ceramides have strong moisturizing and film-forming properties, thus preserve the most important characteristics of youthful and healthy skin.

What Lisa Says: Straight to the point - this feels like a facial in a jar. This moisturizer left my skin looking hydrated, refreshed, and glowing. I know where the trouble spots on my skin are and I could almost feel this product going to work on them. Over the course of usage, my skin felt quite a bit softer and any trace of dullness on the face & décolleté were removed. I had excellent protection from the sun and, oh, did I say, my skin was glowing?

It's been over a month since I started using this moisture cream and the fine lines around my eyes are measurably diminished. My skin looks well exfoliated, nicely hydrated and looks as if it's had the recent benefit of a facial massage. The thick, white cream looks as if it will sit on top of your skin for a while but instead, it just melts in leaving that "after a facial" clean & hydrated feeling for hours after application each day. The fragrance is herbaceous with a small hint of floral that is soothing and relaxing.

Kiwi extract is reported to have powerful antioxidant properties as well as helping to improve skin radiance. This, combined with the healing properties of the chamomile and lavender oils, an SPF of 15, along with the other active ingredients make this beautifully packaged cream definitely worth the price tag.

Retail Price: $108.80/1.7 oz. (available at PirCosmetics.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Professionals around the world claim ICT (Intensive Clarifying Therapy) to be the only perfect remedy to essential skincare for all skin types because ICT's unique system produces fresh oxygen that optimally clearifies skin. ICT is a mixture of 23 Certified Organically Grown LevensESSENTIE™ herbs, essential oils, naturally derived ceramides from sunflowers, antioxidants and vitamins A and E. Two individually packed ICT product components must be mixed prior to each treatment. You wish great and vibrant looking skin? Best results are guaranteed by regular use of Paul Penders exclusive ICT."

Jen's Experience: When I first opened up the package and saw the lengthy instructions for using this product, I have to say, I was a little intimidated. On closer look, most of the instructions were related to the facial massage that you give yourself in conjunction with the treatment. So while it looked very complicated, the process of mixing the mask, giving myself the facial massage, and applying the mixure, it was all relatively simple and quick to do.

On first application, the mask is very strong. The tingle was just on the edge of feeling like it was burning my skin, although that feeling died down after the mask hardened a bit, one or two minutes at most. What lasted longer was the strong menthol scent that, while clearing my nasal passages, made my eyes water for a good ten minutes.

I tested this for the full 30 minutes it recommended. After 10-15 minutes, the mask hardened to a normal clay-type mask that made moving my facial muscles kind of dificult. This is not a pretty mask. I would recommend saving this one for a night where it's just you, your PJs, and a cheesy chick flick.

When time was up, I found the mask very easy to remove with water and a washcloth. It was immediately easy to see why this product gets the big bucks -- my skin looked spectacular, and the results lasted a several days after using the product. My skin tone looked a lot more even and my skin just looked brighter. If I got these results from a spa facial, I'd be turning cartwheels. I will definitely be adding this to my skincare regimen.

Tip: If you have dry or sensitive skin, I STRONGLY recommend following their suggestion to apply a good moisturizer before applying the mask. Otherwise, it will cause some excessive drying. It does not inhibit the mask from working in any way.

Retail Price: $76.50 (8 treatments) (PaulPenders.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "Give your days a Purpose. Dermatologists recommend this Gentle Cleansing Wash because its soap-free, oil-free formula is gentle, nondrying, and nonirritating. It quickly and effectively whisks away traces of the day with a creamy lather. You simply massage onto wet skin, rinse off, and pat your face dry. And the pump dispenser is a nice convenience to keep in the shower or next to the sink."

Jen's Experience: This cooling weather wants to leave my skin extra dry, so this is time of year when I would go for super-luxe moisturizers and cleansers. When my skin becomes extra irritated, I sometimes even give up the cleanser and just go for straight water.

Combined with a good moisturizer, I can see where this moisturizer might allow me to get through the winter months without my normal dry, irritated skin. This cleanser really does seem to be as gentle as water, but it does a fantastic job of removing all of my make up and daily build-up, while leaving my skin clear, moisturized, and non-irritated. Overall, I've tried facial cleansers from lots of brands at lots of prices, and this one ranks very high on my list. I highly recommend this cleanser for daily use.

Retail Price: $5.99 (Drugstore.com, or your local drugstore)

Rating:

What They Say:
(about the Exfoliating Cleanser) "Deep cleansing to gently slough and moisturize. Almond, naturally high in minerals, removes impurities. Brown Sugar & Oat calm and heal. This non-irritating light buffing cleanser clears away dull and damaged skin. Use Every Day to give yourself a mini facial."

(about the Lip Exfoliator) "Banish the effects of daily stress on your lips. While enhancing their natural color, Pineapple enzymes exfoliate and reveal fresh new skin for soft baby lips. Contains emollients, botanical extracts and vitamins to deliver smoothness, condition and moisturize. Wash Lips every day."

What Melissa Says: (about the Exfoliating Cleanser) I like that this cleanser is really efficient at getting all that dry, dead skin sloughed off easily without irritating my skin. The formula isn't the most gentle I've ever used, but that is compared with jojoba beads, so this is really quite acceptable. The only think I would say is a slight negative is that the scent is a little bit like cereal, and I don't love it...but I don't hate it, either. Overall, an effective product that produced no negative side effects for me.

(about the Lip Exfoliator) I love this stuff. While in the past I didn't see much need for a lip exfoliant, more and more I'm realizing the nice little luxury of taking just a moment to create super-soft, smooth lips that feel moisturized and rejuvenated. That's what this product does, with no negative taste or super-strong smell. It's a little tube of lip-pampering. I like it!

Retail Price:
(Exfoliating Cleanser) -$15.99
(Lip Exfoliator) - $19.99
(in CVS stores or at CVS online or shop at the BeFine online store after their shopping area is complete)

DeLush Ratings:
(Exfoliating Cleanser) -
(Lip Exfoliator) -

"Our natural bath salts smooth skin and lift your spirits. Natural sea salts soothe and help release tension. Vitamin and protein-rich almond oil nourishes skin and locks in moisture." ($14.50)

Jen's Experience: I have tried a lot of bath salts in the past, and some have had a nice moisturizing effect in the water, and some have had a pleasant scent when I pull out the cork. I have never tried any bath salts as dreamy as these. The scent I tried was Peace Train, a lightly perfumed scent that makes my water smell fabulous throughout my marathon baths, and leave my skin so soft I barely need to apply any moisturizer. I think they're a little pricey for the tiny container, sure, but seriously? If I go to the GAP store and these are on sale, I think I am going to have to buy a case. This is my favorite product in the whole line.

 

"Our lightweight, everyday formula is enriched with moisturizing ingredients that leave your skin soft and supple. Sunflower and hazel seed oil moisturize. Vitamins A, C and E keep skin nourished." ($12.50)

Jen's Experience: I am a little less impressed with the body lotion. The glass container is pretty on my bathroom counter, and the scent I tried, Moonwalk, is pleasant enough (although it has nothing on Peace Train), But the lotion was like Keri with a more potent scent. Perhaps on it's own this one would be more of a stand-out, but in the full line-up, this one falls a little flat.

 

"Give your hands a little extra TLC. Keep them healthy, hydrated and beautiful with our super emoillent cream. Cocoa seed butter softens and lubricates. Hazel seed oil and milk thistle moisturize and protect." ($10.50)

Jen's Experience: I loved the scent I tried in the handcream, NightFall. There was a time when I wasn't so much into musky scents. The scent in this handcream had some musky undertones, but wasn't so overpowering that it conflicted with the perfume I was wearing. The hand cream itself is more luxurious than the body lotion and really keeps my hands feeling moisturized without being too greasy. This is another product in the GAP Body line that I highly recommend.

 

 

"Get the perfect glow with exfoliating natural sugars, sea salts and soy bean oil. Sea salts and sugar smooth away rough, dull skin. Soybean oil gives your skin a silky sheen."  ($11.50)

Jen's Experience: This body scrub from GAP Body is in close contention with the bath salt for my favorite product in the line. The scent I tried, Sugar Snap, is a bright, happy, little scent that helps me to wake up in the morning. I also love the texture of the scrub. The salt isn't overly abrasive, and mixed with the oils in the blend, it leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft and smelling great. This is yet another winner from GAP Body that is worth checking out.

 

DeLush Ratings:
Bath Salt
Body Lotion
Hand Cream
Body Scrub

What They Say: (about the Foaming Cleanser) "This lightweight cleanser for all skin types deep-cleans pores, removes excess oils and clears surface impurities leaving the skin feeling completely refreshed. Perfect for removing makeup and preparing the skin for SkinCeuticals advanced antioxidant treatments. This mild, non-drying, fragrance-free cleanser contains gentle non-allergenic ingredients to prevent irritation."

Jamie's Thoughts: This cleanser is interesting. It goes on a dry face, which is something I have never experimented with. It is very gentle, quite light, and totally free of any scents, dyes, or perfumes. It didn't do much of a job removing my makeup, however, so if you are looking for a true 2-in-1, you won't find that here. One would think all the "science" behind the SkinCeuticals line would make this product a cut above the rest. Meh. I didn't see an enormous improvement in my skin tone, but I didn't hate it.

Overall, it left my face feeling clean and refreshed. I took off a smooch on the rating because something this expensive should really knock my socks off.

Retail Price: $26.00 (at skinstore.com or check skinceuticals.com for a list of retailers near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: (about Serum 15 AOX) "Designed for all but the most sensitive skin types to help restore healthy looking skin, Serum 15 neutralizes free radicals, defends against environmental damage, and helps prevent premature signs of aging. Now formulated with AOX+ advanced antioxidant technology, this lightweight, fast-absorbing serum combines ferulic acid with 15% pure vitamin C to enhance antioxidant performance."

Jamie's Thoughts: Oh man, how do I say this? I guess I'll just come out with it.

I love this product, but it smells really strange. (sigh) There, I said it.

Let's get the bad new out of the way first, shall we? This serum smells very lightly of refried beans. Put another way, the serum smells JUST like the vitamin liquid that is added to the water bottle of domesticated rodents. (Don't laugh like that - I had a guinea pig in junior high. Sheesh.) I apologize if these descriptions border on crass, but I cannot find the words to accurately portray the smell! If you've read any of my other reviews, you'll remember that scents can be a deal-breaker for me.

Fortunately, this product is SO PHENOMENAL that I can actually overlook the fact that it smells like beans. I used it for two straight weeks - right after washing my face in the morning, I applied 6 drops worth to my face and followed it with my regular moisturizer. I even risked it on the eye area a couple times, even though it's not specifically designed for that, with no adverse reaction. BONUS! After consistent use, my pores looked smaller, my crow's feet were minimized considerably, and I was less blotchy in general.

In the end, the bean smell fades after a couple minutes. But great skin lasts forever. Or until you stop using this serum.

Retail Price: $85.00 (at skinstore.com or check skinceuticals.com for a list of retailers near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: “Nourish dry skin while cleansing impurities out of maturing skin. With amazing antioxidants and moisture retention ingredients, skin will show a visible improvement. Besides the skin being the largest organ, it is also the largest organ of elimination, so cleansing is one of the most critical steps in maintaining a healthy complexion.”

*Note the Absolute Facial Line is “designed for women suffering from both wrinkles and acne. It works to help smooth the appearance of wrinkles and to clarify, soften, refine and rejuvenate the skin.”

What Lisa Says: This is an interesting cleanser. For those wanting a soap and water, lot o’ bubbles, squeaky clean kind of feeling, this is NOT for you but then, most mature clients aren’t looking for that. It looks, feels and smells like the green clay masks I used to use when I was 16 and my skin was oily. This minty green creamy cleanser does a great job of cleaning your skin and leaves it feeling extremely hydrated but not oily. You can actually see the difference in your pre and post wash.

The finer lines around my eyes and lips were diminished within about a week to 10 days leaving an over all softer look around my eyes. I don’t have acne so I cannot verify those claims but the ingredients in this product lead me to believe that there’s nothing in it that would hurt those who are acne prone. In fact, for the price, I would definitely give it a try if that were one of the things you want to address. It certainly has all the ingredients (including phytoestrogens) to clean and soothe acne prone skin. You can check them out on their website.

Also of note regarding this product: they are cruelty free, certified vegan, non-comedogenic/toxin free, sulfate/paraben free and are made here in the United States.

Retail Price: $37.99 4 oz. (at vonNatur)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "This revolutionary pedicure appliance smoothes calluses and removes dry skin on heels and toes in seconds, without the use of harsh chemicals or dangerous blades. Perfect for today’s fashion of sandals and open heeled shoes. Comes with a full 1oz jar of the exclusive Healing Gems® Topaz Foot Butter, with rich, nourishing shea butter, purifying aromatherapy essential oils, and uplifting Topaz crystals to soften feet and revitalize the spirit!

Approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association."

Jamie’s Thoughts: You would be shocked to hear some of the things I have done to keep my dancer feet comfortable and in working order. I won’t waste your time listing them, especially since you might be reading this on your lunch break and let’s face it – foot talk can get gross. Let’s just say I was a prime candidate to review a product like this.

And wouldn’t you know it – a battery operated beauty gadget that actually works! The smoother is lightweight – roughly the size of a hairbrush, and comes with two buffing heads (one large and rounded, one smaller and pointed). The larger buffing head worked well for my hardened heels, calluses, and around the outer edge of my big toes. The smaller, more refined head was fantastic for cuticles and other more sensitive areas. You can officially throw away your nail files, pumice stones, and other assorted devices of podiatric torture.

This little baby isn’t, however, for the faint of heart. You will have to be comfortable with the noise (which isn’t awful, but is akin to a very quiet buzzsaw), as well as the sensation of your own skin being rubbed away. Anything is better, in my book, than sitting down to a pedicure and having the esthetician look at your feet in horror and dismay. (Just me? Anybody? Okay then. Moving along.) Once you get the hang of the angles and speeds, you’ll never have to be embarrassed at the salon again. Just a quick maintenance buff, a dab of the Bergamot and Lemon-scented Topaz Butter Lotion, and you’re done. Take the money you would have spent on a salon pedicure, and put it towards a fabulous new pair of shoes that show off your brand-new feet!

Retail Price: $29.99 for the HS-1000 w/Topaz Butter (at "http://artemiswoman.com/Heel_Smoother_Pro.html"target-_blank"">www.artemiswoman.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Provides instant cooling relief after any workout. A special
blend of Vitamin E and Aloe nourishes your skin completely so you get ready to hit it again."

Jen's Experience: I torture my feet on a daily basis with high heels and pointy toes and adorably cute shoes that are really not my size, so calluses are par for the course for me. I've made no secret of my general disdain for putting ooey, gooey creams on my feet. And part of that comes from the fact that when I use do use foot creams, after I've put my heels back on for a few hours, all the effects of the cream go away.

Needless to say, when I started using this, I didn't have high hopes. But I was completely won over by the fast-absorbing gel that doesn't leave an oily mess on my sheets, that tingles when I put it on, and that actually moisturizes my feet for more than a few hours. I never would have expected this, but I LOVE this stuff. I highly recommend it.

Retail Price: $7.99 (CosmeticMall.com - available 7/07/07)

Rating:

What They Say: “Von Natur’s Exquisite Bath Line is vegan-certified, phthalate, gluten, paraben, and sulfate free, and naturally derived.”

About the Blue Green Algae Body Polish: “All the ingredients in this amazing Body Polish help to: repair, tone, firm, reduce photo and free radical damage, improve skin hydration and elasticity, smooth and soften with great penetrating ability, help inflamed or acne skin, cleanse, refresh, absorb moisture, increase local blood circulation, and aid in healing minor wounds and irritated skin. Need we say more?”

Alissa’s Opinion: The color of this body polish makes a gorgeous first impression, as does the thick consistency and fresh, minty fragrance. Scrubbing down with this blend of olive oil and sea salt is definitely a good way to start the day. I can’t say whether or not this scrub has repaired or firmed my skin, but I always feel smooth and soft after using it. It also works great as a foot scrub for home pedicures.

About the Headthrob Bath Soak: “The natural cleansing, toning, refreshing, astringent, antiseptic and moisture absorption properties of Real Salt along with MSM’s ability to detoxify the body, increase blood circulation, reduce muscle cramps, help muscles heal and relieve stress, arthritis, inflammation, and back pain, and a beautiful blend of specialized essential oils for head and body aches, make your bath experience relaxing while it benefits your entire body.”

Alissa’s Opinion: Personally, I prefer bubble baths to salt soaks. But this salt is intended for a specific kind of bath (i.e. the stress and pain relieving kind) and it accomplishes its objective quite well. After a long day on your feet, a strenuous workout or an emotionally taxing occasion, immersing yourself in a richly fragranced Von Natur Headthrob bath is so therapeutic. The scent is a little on the medicinal side, but I like how it clears the mind (along with the nasal passages).

Retail Prices:
Body Polish $25.99
Bath Soak $21.99
(both available at vonnatur.com or go here to find a retail location that sells Von Natur near you)

DeLush Ratings:
Body Polish

Bath Soak

What They Say: "The NEW Dove™ SkinVitalizer is a first-of-its-kind, daily face cleansing tool with a technologically advanced method that delivers a deep clean as well as massaging and exfolitating benefits for healthy, beautiful skin. The NEW Dove™ SkinVitalizer is designed for use with Dove® Cleansing Pillows. Available in two formulas, these pillows are gentle on all skin types and leave skin feeling wonderfully clean, soft and radiant."

Jen's Experience: Sometimes when it's time to go to bed and it's really late, I have a hard time motivating myself to wash my face. But now that I've got this tool, I really don't have any excuses any more. All I have to do is put the facial cleansing pillow on the Skinvitalizer, hit the 'go' button, and not only do I get to wash my face without a whole lot of effort, but I actually get a better clean than when I use a washcloth and a cleanser. I use the cleansing side rather than the more rough exfoliating side since my skin is sensitive, but all the same, I've never had an issue with breakout out after using it. I'm just so impressed. This is one drugstore item that's absolutely worth trying.

Retail Price: $11.99 (Drugstore.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "Created by Ms. Marjorie Moutari, the Kazam line of natural body care was a combination of 'travel and knowledge, experience and creative ideas for bath and body formulas to create a range of truly indulgent products to delight and soothe your body'. Only the finest ingredients nature has to offer goes into the making of our products, and specially selected for their skin nourishing qualities.

• RELAXING, NOURISHING, HYDRATING.
• RELIEVES DRYNESS TO WIND AND SUN DRIED SKIN.
• BOIS DE ROSE, YLANG, PALMAROSA, JASMINE, SANDALWOOD.
• ENCOURAGES SKIN RENEWAL AND TISSUE REGENERATION.
• A GREAT MOISTURIZER FOR MATURE SKIN

Ms. Moutari feels 'passionately about producing beautiful skin care without the use of harsh chemicals, parabensas, artificial preservatives and artificial fragrances.'”

What Lisa Says: Compared to other lotions I’ve tested, Kazam Hand and Body Lotion has to be near or at the top of my “Love it!” list. This product does everything it promises and a bit more. Whether applying just after the shower or mid-day this product sinks in almost immediately leaving an absolute trace of nothing on your skin – no waxiness, oiliness, nada! The only thing I was left with was visibly hydrated, soft, skin that lasted most of the day along with a lingering fragrance of ylang, sandalwood and jasmine. I did apply it twice daily but that’s all I needed. While the fragrance is lovely it is a bit stronger than most lotions but that’s part of the Kazam experience: nut butters, extracts and essential oils. Best of all, there was absolutely nothing on the label I couldn’t pronounce or wasn’t familiar with.

Retail Price: $10.00 (at Kazam Natural Body Care)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Revolutionary new formula won’t leave white marks on clothes! Contains ¼ translucent moisturizers to care for your underarm skin. Provides powerful 24 hour protection."

Toya’s Take: With summertime here (unofficially), the heat and humidity are starting to go through the roof here in lovely Charm City. It’s time to gear up for the next few sweaty, sticky months. I’m not a heavy sweat-er, but anyone can look forward to perspiration if you try to make it through the summer months around here. For years, Secret has been my deodorant of choice, but I’ve found something better. Folks, meet Dove Ultimate Clear. It is the most awesome deodorant ever! It applies in a silky smooth manner and doesn’t sting like heck when you use it on freshly shaved armpits. It gives unbelievable protection – I remain fresh and dry all day. And the best part? No nasty white marks on my black tops! (I still haven’t figured out how to get those things off – I hear baby wipes are a good trick, I’ll have to try those.) This product has me sounding like a deodorant commercial! I’m telling you – this stuff is great.

Retail Price: $4.49 (at drugstores and superstores everywhere, and online at drugstore.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "BABOR CLEANSING is the first step to beautiful skin. BABOR has combined the natural cleansing power of oil and water to create a unique signature bi-phase cleansing system that ensures mild but thorough deep-cleansing. This Jubilee Cleansing Box Set contains HY-OL 200ml, suitable for all skin types, and Phytoactive Reactivating 100ml formulated to revitalize and thoroughly moisturize demanding skin or skin in need of regeneration. Also delays the effects of light-induced aging."

Toya’s Take: As an oily-skinned gal, I quite skeptically viewed the box of Babor Cleansing Oil. It just didn’t make sense to me to use an oil-based cleanser – wouldn’t that just exacerbate the oiliness of my skin? From all I’ve read from other beauty bloggers and in magazines, these oil-based cleansers are whizzes at cutting through dirt, make-up and, surprisingly, oil. I decided to put that to the test. So, after a recent photo shoot, when I was in full tribal make-up, I used the Babor Cleansing Oil products to remove my make-up.

Following the instructions on the box, I applied four pumps of the HY-OL cleansing oil to my face, rubbing in a circular motion; followed by two pumps of the Phytoactive Sensitive, which is a water soluble cleanser. I then wet my fingers and massaged it all into my skin. Well, consider me flabbergasted and proven wrong, y’all! I swear, that stuff cut through the fifteen layers of make-up instantly and it all washed clean away – no further washings or toner required! Truly, I was amazed. Afterward, my face just felt clean and soft – no tightness like I experience after using powerful cleansers, nor any added oiliness. Just clean. Wow. This is wonderful, wonderful stuff – I will keep it to use for whenever I need to remove stage make-up. I haven’t found anything that works better.

Retail Price: $44 for the box set (at babor.com, and in addition to there you can also get products individually at spalook.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say:

• Won't clog pores or cause breakouts
  
• Non-greasy, hypoallergenic, and non-irritating
  
• Fragrance-free
  
• Dermatologist-tested
  
• Helps prevent premature skin aging from the sun
  
• Contains antioxidant vitamins A & E
  
• Water resistant
  
• Broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection, with Avobenzone
  
• Available in 3 oz. size

Melissa Says: I cannot rave enough about this. What can I say? It's inexepensive, effective, lighter than you can IMAGINE (think close to whipped cream airy-ness) and soaks into the skin leaving absolutely no trace of slickness or shine, therefore having no effect on your makeup. I completely love this stuff. There is no reason to shy away from applying sunscreen every single morning with something this hassle-free sitting right there.

(I took a picture of my tube because it's a new packaging design that isn't reflected on the online sites yet. I wouldn't want you to be looking for the wrong tube when you go to the store! You might still find the old version with a red and black label.)

Retail Price: app. $9.50 (at drugstores and superstores everywhere)

DeLush Rating:

Occasionally, I find a new product that redefines the concept of "Totally DeLush", the designation given to our highest rated products. With Tocca's Bath and Body products, I've found a whole line that is so fabulous it should have a category all it's own. Note that Stella, a blood orange scent, is also available in perfume. I will definitely be getting some of the fragrance to round out this line of products!

--Jen

Tocca Body Wash in Stella
"An ultra-luxurious foaming bath gel that contains natural cleansing agents from olive oil, calendula flower extracts and honey. In the shower or in the tub, Bagno Profumato gently washes and thoroughly hydrates all skin types. Also available in Cleopatra and Florence."

Jen's Experience: I can't wait to use this product every day in the shower. The absolutely delicious citrus scent wakes me up and brightens my morning. The cleanser has a great lather that makes my skin feel clean. The hydrating ingredients feel like they really moisturize my skin, but they wash away nicely. And did I mention the fantastic scent?

Retail Price: $19.00 (Tocca.com)

Tocca Rich Body Cream
"A sumptuously rich body cream combining the benefits of natural ingredients such as cocoa butter and shea butter with our signature fragrances. Absorbs easily and leaves the skin soft and supple with a dewy glow. Also available in Cleopatra and Florence."

Jen's Experience: As with the body wash, the scent is a major selling point for this product. But that's not the only reason this product is fantastic. When I use it right out of the shower, the moisturizer melts right into my skin. It doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy at all -- I can put my clothes on moments after I apply it -- yet it works throughout the day. The scent lasts throughout the day as well. And the beautiful glass jar just tops off the whole package. This is handsdown my favorite body moisturizer. I feel like I should save it for special occasions or something, but I just can't resist using it every day.

Retail Price: $45.00 (Tocca.com)

Tocca Soap
"A gentle, moisture-rich bar soap that uses key ingredients like Kukui Nut oil, blue-green algae extract and vitamin E to hydrate, firm and repair skin, leaving it soft and glowing. Available in Cleopatra, Stella and Florence."

Jen's Experience: The first thing I noticed about this soap is that the bar is gigantic! And unlike other specialty soaps I've tried, it really lasts a long time and doesn't fall apart. The scent, as with the other products, is still heavenly, although not as noticable as with the body wash. The hydrating effects are just as good as that of the body wash, though. Had I tried this product alone, I would probably be raving about it, but I think I prefer the body wash if given a choice between the two.

Retail Price: $12.00 (Tocca.com)

Ratings:
Body Wash
Body Cream
Soap

What They Say: Unravel the strains of the day with this dedicated muscle therapy created to restore a tense, weary body. Enriched with dynamic thermal salts and active extracts of linden and birch. Helps to flush toxins, soothe the muscles and boost skin condition, while a fresh woody aroma lifts the spirit.

Our thermal salts originate from 250 million year old seawater deposits in the German Leine Valley and are an extremely rich and concentrated source of active minerals.

What Lisa Says: Being the time of year that I tend to get outside and weed, plant and hack away at the garden, I saved this product for when I knew I’d be needing a soothing soak for aching muscles. This product was just what I had hoped it would be! A blend of linden and birch, the fragrance alone was strong but relaxing leaving a fresh forest-like scent that stayed on the skin long past my evening bath and into the next morning. My muscles did feel less sore and I noticed that it also reduced some swelling in my feet & ankles. It also seemed that small cuts and bruises that I’d received were immediately less sore and bothersome and I couldn’t help but wonder if this was the work of the extract and mineral-rich formula of these small turquoise crystals.

I definitely recommend this product for those wanting a stress-busting, muscle-easing soak. Would be a lovely gift item as well.

Retail Price: $29.00/10 oz. (Spalook.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Gloves in a Bottle is a shielding lotion that rapidly absorbs into, and bonds with, the outer layer of skin creating a protective layer while retaining the natural moisture from within. This makes it the perfect dry skin care product.

It does not wash off, but comes off naturally with exfoliated skin cells. Just reapply every four hours for continued protection.

It's greaseless, non-sticky, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, completely safe and non-toxic.

Used and recommended daily for dry skin conditions by a wide range of healthcare professionals."

Melissa Says: This lotion, quite simply, does exactly what it says. I love the way it instantly makes my hands feel less dry, and then soaks in within a minute for a completely greaseless, non-sticky layer of protection. It only has a very slight scent (not unpleasant) which is barely noticeable, so I think those who are sensitive to smells should be able to wear this and not worry about lingering fragrance. Also, the bottle is generously-sized and should last for several weeks or months, depending on your use.

Retail Price: $12.95 for 8 oz. (at glovesinabottle.com or go here for store locations in the U.S. and Canada)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: " New skin. Elbows, knees, and heels get particularly padded with dead skin and rough spots. Now you can take care of your flaky, bumpy bod with this exfoliating cream that’s made to moisturize and assured to soften. Alphahydroxy acids from lactic acid (found naturally in milk) sweep away the dusty, musty layer so your body glows from shoulder to toe.

The FDA recommends using a sunscreen and limiting sun exposure while using any AHA product and for one week after use is discontinued."

Melissa Says: Just as the description explains, this is a chemical exfoliant (as opposed to a scrub) and not a simple moisturizing lotion, so when you use this you do need to be extra-vigilant about protecting your skin with sunscreen during and a week after you use it (honestly, we should all be doing this even when we aren't exfoliating, right?).

I have to say, this definitely worked miracles on my feet, elbows and hands, not to mention the rest of my body. You just smooth it on after bath or shower and then wait a minute or two for it to fully absorb before dressing. It's barely got a scent at all, and what's perceptible is a gently fresh scent. Skin is indeed left glowing and crazy smooth.

*I especially love how effective this is on dry, cracked heels and thicker skin on feet, knees and elbows. You wouldn't believe the difference!

Retail Price: $32.00, 8.4 oz. (at dhccare.com - and on sale until 3/31/07 for $24.00)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: “Propoline Pedi Care exfoliating cream for heels, knees and elbows helps remove hardened skin with a single stroke. Highly effective AHA fruit acids help soften skin, while olive oil and other emollient, healing components contribute to the hydration and regeneration of the skin.”

Toya’s Take: The important thing to know is that this is not a lotion. It comes in a lotion-like tube, but it is an exfoliant, which means that it can increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun, so it is imperative that you use sunscreen when using this product on any area of your body that will have sun exposure. That said, this stuff is beyond awesome! It requires no massaging in – simply swipe the cream onto your skin and your skin instantly is glowing and smooth. I used it on my dancer’s feet – which, if you’ve ever been a dancer or been close to one, you know how rough our feet can get – and they were smooth as a baby’s butt. Even my husband’s rusty, crusty feet were soft and touchable afterward. That, my dears, is a miracle. And it is why both he and I have fallen in love with this product.

Retail Price: $14.00/3.55 ozs. (at apivita.us or go here to find a retail location near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Moisture-rich formula diminishes the look of undereye circles, shadows, puffs and fine lines—immediately and over time. Helps boost natural collagen production. De-puffs with calming botanicals. Even strengthens skin’s moisture barrier against common irritants."

Jen's Experience: I've used a lot of Clinique's moisturizers before with kind of mediocre results, but when I saw this new eye cream advertised in all the mags, I wanted to give this a whirl. I'm so glad I did. I was just hoping for a really nice thick moisturizer since my undereyes get the brunt of my dry facial skin. What I got was actually much more. This cream has perfectly complemented my Murad Eye Brightening Serum that I reviewed earlier this month to remove my dark circles. I have also been impressed with how much the fine lines under my eyes have improved. I barely need to use concealer anymore on most mornings, but this cream makes an excellent base to foundation and concealer. It keeps my undereyes moisturized without being greasy and making everything slip. I am truly impressed with this cream, and I recommend it to anyone with dry skin.

Retail Price: $27.50 (Clinique.com or department stores)

Rating:

About the deep hydrating hand & elbow butter: This thick, rich cream, with botanical extracts of cucumber and water lily, provides concentrated hydration and seals in moisture, leaving skin soft and smooth.

* Deep hydrating
* Ultra rich for extra-dry skin

Lisa’s Experience: Freeman’s has a winner in this truly deep hydrating product! Whether it’s hands, elbows, knees or feet, I put this butter on any extra dry and rough spot on my body and was excited to see this product deliver. The fragrance is more green than floral and while it seems strong at first, within minutes it’s soft and mute. Some days I’d forego perfume and just enjoy the fragrance that, despite the chill, reminds me of spring. The thick, white butter sinks in quickly without leaving any greasy or waxy feeling. Within days I noticed a distinct difference in my elbows hands and, though Freeman has some excellent foot products, I did use this on my dry winter feet and they were smooth and hydrated within a week. It’s great after a nice warm bath/shower.

About bare hands skin firming hand lotion: "Enriched with extracts of grapefruit and honeysuckle, this moisturizing, non-greasy lotion absorbs quickly and
smoothes fine lines, noticeably improving skin tone
and texture. Leaves hands silky smooth.

* Moisturizes
* Evens out skin tone and firms"

Lisa’s experience: This is my favorite of the two Bare Hands products. First of all I have always loved the scent of fresh grapefruit and it was a perfect combo to go with the honeysuckle. The hand lotion turned out to be more of an every day (or several times a day) product for me and not only for the fragrance. My skin felt like silk after each application. My hands stay wet or moist much of the day at work and tend to become dry and a little scratchy. This lotion knocked that out in days! Even my husband commented on how smooth my hands were and that’s saying a lot. He rarely notices things like that. As far as the firming, I haven’t noticed as much of that as I have the evening out of skin tone. During the time that I was testing this product I was nursing a nasty burn on the top of my left hand. After using this cream there’s barely a scar. I’m definitely impressed!

A tidbit about grapefruit: According to Alan B. Hirsch of the Smell & Taste Research Foundation in Chicago, "In the presence of the smell of pink grapefruit, women appear to be six years younger than their real age," says Hirsch.

Retail Price: $3.99 for each (Freemanbeauty.com or at drugstores and superstores everywhere) – you can’t find a better beauty bargain!

Delush Ratings:
Hand and Elbow Butter
Skin Firming Hand Lotion

What They Say: "Moisturize & exfoliate with our whipped kiwi sugar scrub. Filled with kiwi seeds, sugar, cocoa butter, and coconut oil your skin will never be the same!

To Use: Gently massage over skin while showering, and rinse. This one is a house favorite"

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I tried this scrub in the Isla Dulce scent, which I have to tell you is fantastic. It's described as a "sweet island blend of lemon candy, a touch of green and creamy vanilla", which really doesn't even do it justice. It's actually lighter than it sounds, but is mood-lifting with the hint of sweet lemon and delicious vanilla. (You can check out the rest of the fragrances Scuba Bath Shop come in here).

The texture is light and the exfoliation is gentle yet effective, and it leaves just enough moisture on your skin after drying to keep it amazingly soft without a slick residue (in the bath or shower you might wonder about that, but the formula actually sinks into your skin quickly and leaves an incredible silky-to-the-touch feeling after you dry off). This scrub definitely delivers on the two most important scrub duties: incredibly soft and healthy-feeling skin and a lingering scent that will leave you happy for hours afterward.

*Since I tried samples, I'm not sure what the current size is of the regular containers. The website says they are "now larger". However, I'll be getting that information in the next day or two and post it here.
UPDATE: They're a very respectable 8 ounces - definitely worth the splurge!

Retail Price: $20.00 (at scubabathshop.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Everything you need to try 8 of our 100% natural, holistic skin care products or give as a sensual, healthful gift! This mini kit is an antioxidant blend for those with normal to dry, fragile, or combination skin in winter months or going through a dry phase.

Inside:
Comes with exfoliating lemongrass cleanser, moisture-rich cleansing lotion, concentrated facial toner-shitake, facial moisture serum-carrot, complexion brighteining cream, delicate mositure body oil, hand & body velvet creme, & hand & body butter creme."

Jen's Experience: Let me just start by saying that I haven't been as excited about skin care since I tried Sevi cosmetics a few months back. This little mini-care set let's you try out (and fall in love with) several of Suki's products.

The exfoliating lemongrass cleanser smells fantastic in addition to being perhaps the best exfoliating cleanser I've ever used. The grains are large and seemed rough at first, but rubbed in gently do wonders. The grains are mixed in with a soap that effectively removes all the make-up on my face. I've been using this a few days a week. On other days, I use the moisture-rich cleansing lotion, which is much gentler and feels like a soothing lotion on my face. After both cleansers, I used the facial toner to remove the last traces of make-up and cleanser (although I rarely see any make-up on the cotton pad since the cleansers work so well). Sadly, I ran out of the toner quickly since you need to use quite a bit each time.

After cleansing, I have been using the carrot facial serum, which is an oil that smells (unsurprisingly) like carrots. Although the smell is a bit sweet and strong, the product itself is great for replenishing the moisture from my skin. It sinks in quickly but makes my skin look moisturized and radiant right after I use it. I follow the facial serum with the complexion brightening cream, which feels so good on my face. With all of the other products in the set, it's hard to determine if this product truly makes my complexion brighter, but between the cleansing and the moisturizing products, the result is that my skin looks the best it's looked in ages.

I've also been using the body products on occasion, but I wasn't able to get as much use out of them. The packet of hand and body cream was so tiny that in one use I was just able to get my elbows and ankles (which felt great that day as a result). The body oil was gone in just two uses, but it did a fantastic job of making my pale white legs at least look well-moisturized here in the middle of winter. I used the velvet cream mostly on my hands and got a lot more uses out of that. I liked it because it wasn't greasy and moisturized well without leaving my hands slick.

If you want to skip the mini-kit and go right for the products, I thought the lemon-grass exfoliator and the carrot facial serum are real standouts, but I think the entire spectrum of products work so well together that I hesitate to recommend buying just a few.

Overall, this is a great kit to test out the Suki products (most of them lasted about 2 weeks). It would be a fantastic travel kit, particularly for the facial products. I wish, actually, that instead of including the hand and body products that they'd made the facial toner vial a lot larger and included some daytime moisturizer with sun protection and an eye cream. I really can't complain, though. These products are totally top-notch and I am uber-impressed with this company.

Retail Price: $22.50 (SukiNaturals.com)

Rating:

What They Say: (about the Softening Foot Soak) "Softens rough skin. Revives tired feet. This pedicure soak, infused with peppermint and plum extracts, softens rough, dry patches on soles and heels, preparing feet for exfoliation.
Usage: Pour a dime sized dollop of soak into warm running water. Soak feet for 5 - 10 minutes. Rinse well. 5.3 FL OZ (156mL)"

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Think of these products in degrees going from special occasion to everyday as we go down the list. For instance, I think this foot soak is for those days when you just need an extra dose of "me time", when you're prepping for a special event or the getting your feet ready for the beginning of sandal season. It smells wonderful and bubbles up a bit like a little bubble bath. Just put a little (I admit, I used more like a quarter-sized amount) into a running bath, and then fill it just enough to cover your feet. While I'm not completely convinced about how much more softening this would be than being in the bath for a period of time, it did seem to make it a bit easier to exfoliate rough patches in the bath I took afterward.

What They Say: (about the Shea Butter Heel & Callus Balm) "Relieves and repairs dry skin, cracked heels and calluses. Relieve and repair dry skin with this rich balm that is made with extracts of peppermint and plum and shea butter along with tea tree oil to soothe and relax tired feet.
Usage: Massage on feet, focusing on heels and rough areas. 5.3 FL OZ (156mL)"

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Okay, now THIS balm is really luxurious AND I can see myself using it more often than the foot soak. When you massage it into heels and other dry spots, the minty-fruit scent is very relaxing, and you can feel it penetrate through the top layer of skin to really soften those areas and create a nice cooling sensation.

What They Say: (about the Softening Foot Lotion) "Restores moisture and softness. Stimulates tired feet. This invigorating lotion, with extracts of plum and peppermint, energizes aching legs and feet while smoothing dry skin on tough soles and heels. Now with tea tree oil to soothe and relax tired feet.
Usage: Massage on feet and legs, focusing on rough areas. 5.3 FL OZ (156mL)"

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: This is, of course, a more everyday lotion for the entire foot and ankle area. It's great as a quick moisturizer before slipping on those sexy foot-baring shoes, and it reall DOES invigorate - you get a bit of a mood boost from the scent, and also you'll notice that about a minute or two after you apply it, you'll feel a wonderful stimulating yet cooling sensation. I like to use this all the way up my calves, because it really feels SO good, especially at the end of the day.

Retail Price: $3.99 for each (at freemanbeauty.com or at drugstores and superstores everywhere) - you simply can't beat that price!

DeLush Ratings:
(Softening Foot Soak)
(Shea Butter Heel & Callus Balm)
(Softening Foot Lotion)

What They Say: Lighten and Brighten Eye Treatment for environmentally damaged skin. Dramatically reduce dark circles by an average of 59%* and under-eye bags and puffiness by up to 50%** with this scientifically proven treatment. Patented, triple-action formula targets the signs of environmental damage around the delicate eye area.

Additional features and benefits:

• Hydroquinone lightens skin and diminishes the appearance of dark circles


• Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3, together with other firming and conditioning ingredients, reduces the appearance of the slackening of the skin while relieving puffiness and under-eye bags


• Olive Extract and Manganese Gluconate help neutralize the effects of the most abundant pollutants, thereby enhancing firmness and reducing dryness.

*In 8-week statistically significant scientific study.
**Among 55% of participants in 8-week scientific study.

Jen's Experience: For those of you who have seen over and over in magazines that there isn't much you can do about your dark undereye circles, this product may change your view on things. I saw that this treatment won the Self awards, and was dying to try it, at least until I saw the price tag. I've had so little luck effecting any noticable difference and $75 is a big chunk of change, especially considering that this is in addition to my eye cream. Well, I've been using it for over a month now, and I think that their clinical studies are pretty much on track. My friends noticed the difference within days, and I've greatly reduced the amount of concealer that I use. My circles aren't exactly gone, but they're at least 50% lighter, if not more. And taking a night off from using this treatment doesn't immediately make the circles return, which tells me that this is different from any other products I've tried.

As far as undereye dryness goes, I definitely think that's improved as well, but I'm also using a richer eye cream now than I was previously. And I don't generally have a problem with puffiness and bags, so I can't really speak to that claim. But to me, the improvement in the dark circles alone make this product an absolute winner.

Notes: You must use an undereye cream with SPF when using this product to avoid causing additional problems with discoloration from the sun's rays. Also, hydroquinone is considered to be possibly carcinogenic (always the stuff that works, right?) and so the FDA is considering a ban of over-the-counter formulas such as this one.

Retail Price: $75.00 (Murad.com or Sephora )

Rating:

What They Say:

• Foaming daily cleanser and mild exfoliant
  
• Power-packed with exfoliating pumpkin, papaya and pineapple enzymes; plus, antioxidant-rich green tea extract and moisture-boosting vitamin B5
  
• Dissolves dirt, dead cells and makeup in one step
  
• No artificial colorants, synthetic fragrance or animal by-products. Not tested on animals
  

Jamie’s Thoughts: My skin is relatively low-maintenance, so I have always given more thought to the residual elements I use – moisturizers, serums, etc., than I have to what I’m using to cleanse my skin. Now I know better.

Two quick pumps is all you need, and after only a few days I had already begun noticing that my skin looked more even. The enzymatic exfoliants do a really nice job of sloughing off dull, dead skin and bringing fresh skin to the surface – no gritty face paste here! The cleanser is soft, light, reduces the medium sized pores on my nose considerably, and rinses clean. Oh, and it does a fantastic job of taking makeup off, just like it claims.

Even though it’s 4 degrees below zero outside, I still have skin that looks bright, flush, hydrated, and healthy.

Retail Price: $32.00 USD
Can be purchased at www.bioelements.com, or call 800-433-6650 for locations.

Rating:

What They Say: "A Shielding Lotion is far more effective as a dry skin care treatment than mere moisturizing lotions or protective creams. If you suffer from dry skin, you know that just using a moisturizing lotion doesn't solve the problem.

Skin MD Natural™ is promptly absorbed, without the slightest hint of any greasy or oily feeling or residue, transforming the outer layer of skin into a hydrating invisible shield.

Glycerin has been the standard against which all humectants are measured. Until now no other humectant drew in as much moisture from the air as glycerin. But the proprietary formulation in Skin MD Natural™ has a moisturizing factor of at least 6 times greater than glycerin.
Skin MD Natural™ utilizes the finest effective natural skin care ingredients for dry skin treatment along with the latest advances in dry skin care technology to hydrate and protect the skin.

This is an entirely new concept in skin care requiring a new classification: "Shielding Lotion". A shielding lotion keeps moisture-robbing irritants away from the skin while the proprietary "super" humectants hydrate the skin throughout the day.

An accumulated effect of Skin MD Natural is fully realized after only a few days of daily use. Depending on how dry your skin is the first few days may require reapplications after only a few hours. Usually, after a few days of continuous use, only one or two daily applications are necessary for complete dry skin care.

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: At first, I just applied this lotion thinking, "Okay, it's a normal, lightweight lotion. I don't get it." But after massaging it into my hands for a few seconds I started to see part of what makes this lotion different. It suddenly dried to a (slightly) slick, non-greasy feeling that's hard to describe. Let's just say I could rub my thumb and index finger together and they'd sort of squeak! It's not uncomfortable - in fact, it's very comfortable. You can literally feel this very thin sort of protective "coating" on your skin. I do want to emphasize though, that there is no greasiness, nothing in the way of you performing daily activities.

Another thing to note is that if you have very dry skin, it may still be dry for a few days. This doesn't exactly soften those spots immediately, but in fact protects your skin to give it a chance to heal. For instance, I have this nasty habit of picking at my cuticles. This gets especially worse during winter, when the dry air and hot water I use makes my hands have rough cuticles and also often dry, rough palms. When my cuticles are dry, I can't stop myself from picking at those spots. I know, it's gross.

My point is, I noticed that while using this as directed (every 2-8 hours at first, then every 12-48 hours), washing my hands didn't dry them out as badly (I could feel it almost beading on my skin) and even though the spots I'd picked at weren't very soft right away, they were soothed enough that I didn't have the urge to make it worse and they had a chance to begin to heal.

Although this won't make your skin magically silky immediately, it WILL help your skin to maintain its own moisture and help restore it. The directions also say it can be used on the face if needed, but I would only recommend applying it to the occasional persistent patch of dry skin. There is a very light scent, but it should be barely noticeable to most users (no fragrance is added).

Retail Price: $25.00 (at skinmdnatural.com) or if you're curious and want to try it out first, order samples for $2.00

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "This water-based moisturizing formula filters both UVA and UVB rays and provides the SPF 15 protection recommended by dermatologists. It absorbs quickly and is a non-comedogenic product so it won't clog pores. Its light formula is ideal to use every day, even on sensitive skin."

Jen's Experience: For those of you with sensitive, dry skin looking for a nice moisturizer that isn't too heavy but doesn't leave your skin dry or irritated, this drugstore moisturizer may just be what you're looking for. I love the pump dispenser, which doles out the perfect amount for my face in a single pump. It absorbs into my face enough to moisturize and keep my make-up from sliding off, but retains just enough slip to make my foundation glide on. It is completely fragrance-free, too, which is a quality I like in my facial products. Overall, this is a big winner in my book and one of the best drugstore products I've tried in a long time.

Retail Price: $8.99 (Drugstore.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "A super-quick-fix for dull, tired, sallow, ‘I’m sick of my’ skin. Engineered to mimic the effects of our spa’s famous triple oxygen™ facial (but in seconds), this fabulous new complexion brightening formula uses every ‘tech’ in the book to work to furnish you with a fresher, younger-looking face.

• engineered as a stand-in for our spas' world-famous triple oxygen facial treatment
• releases oxygen molecules and detoxifiers
• a super quick fix for dull, tired, sallow skin

During our spas' most famous facial- the triple oxygen treatment- a skilled esthetician, having massaged, deep-cleaned and purified your pores, will hover gracefully over your head waving a thin plastic hose, directing pure pressurized oxygen through a customized blend of micro-molecular skin rehydrators, vitamins and antioxidants, all in a heroic effort to rapidly revitalize and reenergize your (choose one or more of the following):

• tired
  
• acne-riddled
  
• aging
  
• smoke-ridden
  
• 'all of the above' skin

Why?
Studies show that as we age, the natural oxygen levels circulating in our facial skin decline, and along with them, goes the energy needed to keep our cells functioning like the cells on a ‘fresh’ face. More oxygen (and vitamin C, and hydration) means more energy for all of the biochemical processes required by your body to keep your skin functioning like it’s ‘young’.

With?
The Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask is also formulated with:
a) FluidO2TM, a special ‘liquid ventilation’ system, to carry stable oxygen molecules and release them on your skin’s surface
b) Sodium PCA, a fantastic humectant molecule that keeps your skin hydrated without ever getting greasy
c) BV-OSC, the most multi-active powerful form of vitamin C available

Who?
1. Those who feel that the get up and go in their skin has got up and gone.
2. Anyone who is pushing thirty, or who just can’t pinpoint why they don’t look as lively in family photos these days.
3. Men who suffer from ingrown hairs or ‘beard bumps’
4. Acne sufferers, who should substitute a smattering of this for their everyday ‘cleanser’, to wage a continual mini war on the anaerobic bacteria that leads to the bumps, swollen follicles, and white blood cell build-up that causes breakouts.

How?
Instructions for use: Massage a generous layer of Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask onto damp skin. Wait five minutes, until a full froth forms, then rinse well and follow with toner and/or moisturizer. NOTE: Our Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask is formulated for fast (5 minutes) action and oxygen release, so there’s no need to leave it on longer. Use whenever your skin needs a boost, a maximum of 3x weekly."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: What an amazing (and fun-to-use) mask! When you apply the gel-like formula, it begins to foam almost immediately and you then begin to feel a very mild tingle (more like a tickle) as the oxygenating foam does its magic.

After rinsing it off, you will immediately notice that there is still a comfortable layer of moisture on your skin that doesn't go away after you pat your skin dry. This doesn't make my skin feel tight or itchy at ALL. Not only that, but I can see a distinct difference in my previously tired-looking skin each time I use it. Any redness or dullness seem alleviated, and my undereye circles appear diminished. Also, my skin feels and looks more smooth and awake.

One morning after I'd been sick during Christmas vacation and then passed it on to my husband, we both managed to sleep through our alarms (the three combined between us!) and both woke up abruptly (in a scene that looked like the one from Home Alone) literally one minute before I typically left my house for work. I threw on some clothes, brushed my hair, and quickly dotted on some concealer and mascara, saving the blush and lipstick for the car (I know - but I did it at the stoplight) and left the house three minutes later. My point is, somehow with that little time to do my typical getting-ready routine I must say I looked pretty okay that day. You would have never guessed how quickly I got ready. And I SWEAR that I only managed to look refreshed and radiant that day because the night before, I had used this mask for the very first time. Otherwise, I would typically see myself looking really blotchy and sallow after a morning like that!

If you have the means, give this mask a try. It is truly a miracle-worker in my book.

Retail Price: $52.00 (at blissworld.com , Bliss Spas, or go here to find a retail location near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: “Used for curling lashes. Extra pad.”

Toya’s Take: Um, okay. Yes, an eyelash curler is used for curling lashes. And it came with an extra pad, which I think is a good idea. I like this because it didn’t tug at the skin on my eyelids and it did its job in curling my lashes. My eyes instantly looked more open and awake. Good job!

Retail Price: $13.50 (at www.estheticplus.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Biggs & Featherbelle soaps are handmade with unique recipes to meet the needs of different skin types, using the properties of natural resources to heal and nourish. Every ingredient is purposeful and free from synthetic fragrances, dyes and additives."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: These not only come cleverly and cutely packaged, but the soap bars themselves are attractive with each formula featuring swirls, exfoliating bits, or other special additions along with lovely soap colors. There are several unique formulas and scents for different skin types and with different benefits. I tried the Chai Latte, which is a holiday version with a spicy, peppery fragrance and super soft suds.

Many Biggs & Featherbelle soaps are vegan and all are vegetarian.

Whether you want a unique hand soap for the bathroom or want to indulge in the special feeling of gentle, natural handmade bar soap in the bath or shower, this is a line you might want to check out.

Retail Price: $4.49 each (at biggsandfeather.com or go here for retail locations)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Originally created over 12 years ago, this is one of the first Body Butters made in the Carol's Daughter kitchen by founder, Lisa Price. A creamy mix of cocoa butter, shea butter and natural oils, blended to a smooth texture that is easily absorbed into the skin. This buttery treat, leaves skin super smooth and velvety. The fragrance is just how you remembered it: mango, vanilla and essential oil of patchouli for a soft sexy scent."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I knew that Toya had reviewed some of Carol's Daughter body butters in the past, and was excited to give this re-issued original formula a try. And let me say, I was NOT DISAPPOINTED.

The scent? Only slightly intense in the container, but on your skin it's very luscious. The texture is thick but spreadable and smooth. This is serious hydration for your skin, and lasts a very long time.

User Tip: Apply this in the evening or at bedtime, as it can take a little while to completely soak into your skin (make sure to rub it in really well). If you do it at night, your skin will feel absolutely amazing in the morning. This has also worked WONDERS on my dry cuticles (I rub on a tiny amount on a few times throughout the day), and this would also make a wonderful overnight foot moisturizer - just apply, put on cotton socks, and go to bed!

Retail Price: $25.00 (at carolsdaughter.com or go here to find a retail location near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "This soothing body wash helps to calm and relax you in the shower while cleansing and moisturizing, so your skin feels soft and smooth all day long. This unique formula combines natural colloidal oatmeal — long known for its skin-soothing benefits — with lavender and essential chamomile and ylang-ylang oils, which are known for their calming benefits. The creamy body wash gently lathers to cleanse, hydrate and soothe dry skin, leaving skin softer and smoother all day long. And, it's even gentle enough for sensitive skin.

Additional Product Benefits Include: lightly fragranced, soap free, dye free."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: This is, simply put, a fabulous body wash. Add in the bonus of the low price and availability, and you really can't go wrong. The formula suds up incredibly soft, smells SO nice (not a "perfumey" lavender scent, but instead very subtle and soothing) and leaves skin softly conditioned.

Retail Price: $5.99 (at drugstores and superstores everywhere)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: “Excess, dead cells build up, causing skin to look less radiant at any age. Complexions can look dull when the light reflecting quality that smooth skin has is diminished by cell layers waiting to be sloughed off. While exfoliation can give skin a boost in several ways, it is super efficient at eliminating dead-cell build up, excess sebum and debris. Regular, but not overly aggressive, exfoliating can uncover a smoother, more radiant complexion. It can also help your other treatment products to penetrate faster and do their job better.

Superb and exclusive facial exfoliating formula containing micro-fine polyethylene particles., which penetrates below the surface by removing cellular debris that clogs pores and leads to breakouts and scarring. Features congestion fighting alpha and beta hydroxy acids complex and patented Soy Doctor Natural Blend.

Recommended for normal, combination and oily skin, NatPure Retexturizing Soy Polisher leaves complexions smooth, soft and polished to perfection.”

Alissa’s Opinion: I love exfoliation. I use a scrub on some part of my body every single day, so I’ve used quite a few on the market. This cleanser is the best I’ve tried for the face. It contains no fragrances or dyes, so the luxurious feeling comes solely from the texture. The beads are extremely fine, so there is none of the scratchiness that some exfoliating cleansers tend to have. After using this scrub every 3 days for a couple of weeks, I noticed that my skin was clearer and softer than usual. This is one bottle I will definitely keep in my shower.

Retail Price: $45.00 (at naturepurespa.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: (about The Bronzer) "Now, your skin and your senses are under the influence of Tom Ford. The message is nude. A makeup collection that reflects Tom Ford's provocative philosophy. Real gold in the makeup gives it a gilded, glamorous edge. Tom Ford on the collection: 'This collection is very much my philosophy of beauty. I've concentrated only on nude shades for the lips and nails. This is what I always really like...a neutral mouth, beautiful skin and a dramatic, strong eye. One look that works for many skintones.'" (about The Brush) *We don't have an official description at press time.

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: From the excitedly-anticipated Amber Nude II collection, this bronzer is more Fall-appropriate than the Azurée bronzer from this summer. This one is more tan and less tawny, and fairly subtle. The color doesn't turn orange at all as the day wears on and it stays put. Also, the compact is very generously-sized - about 50% wider in diameter than normal compacts.

The brush is incredibly soft and easy-to-handle. It helps to apply the bronzer evenly in just a few swipes. It's gentle on your face and just using it adds some glamour to the process of getting ready.

Retail Prices:
(The Bronzer) $60.00
(The Brush) $35.00
(both available at esteelauder.com)

DeLush Rating:
(The Bronzer)
(The Brush)

What They Say: "The ultimate in skin rejuvenation starts with one unique plant-the Vanilla Planifolia-unearthed in the farthest reaches of Madagascar.

A specific patent-pending polyfractioning technique created by CHANEL Research results in powerful anti-aging: Wrinkles, loss of firmness, dehydration, lack of radiance and inconsistency in pigmentation are pinpointed at once for regenerating action.

Skin becomes beautifully taut. Silken and supple. Glowing with the look of good health."

Jen's Experience: I was in Saks Fifth Avenue in Birmingham, AL one day and the sky fell out, leaving me trapped in my favorite department store (the horror!). I had been looking at nail polish at the Chanel counter, but when the rain started, it turned into a mini-makeover session with their Chanel representative. We started talking about skin care products, and she told me about this new product that would be coming on the market in September, Chanel Sublimage. As I was paying for my order (which grew in proportion to my time at the counter that day), she handed me a gold box with 0.2 ounces of Sublimage and said, "treat this like gold."

After getting the moisturizer home, I discovered that her imperative could be taken several ways. It was like gold because the product was still months away from market (this was June), and not many people had access to the samples of it yet. It was also valuable just from the sheer price tag. The tiny portion I received was worth approximately $42, but a full-sized container available for purchase is $350. Now, those are valid reasons why this product should be treated like gold, but I found the most value in Sublimage because it's really an amazing product.

I have never used La Mer or Sisley or any of the others that approach this price range, so I have nothing to compare this to, but here is my experience. First off, this high-quality moisturizer lasts a very long time. I've worn it to bed nightly for over a month, and I still have some moisturizer left in my container. If you regularly buy department store moisturizer and spend $40-50 per container, you may find that even with the price tag that it's not a bad value.

The moisturizer itself smells of roses. A small amount spread on the face imparts just enough moisture to hydrate the skin without feeling greasy or tacky. I get a rosy glow right after I put it on, which tells me the product is penetrating the surface and working. My dry, sensitive skin loves this product, but even if your face is oily, I can't see where this product would impart oil to your face.

I am such a fan of this moisturizer, I would recommend it to anyone who can afford the price tag. This is a splurge that is worth every penny.

Retail Price: $350/1.7 oz (Chanel)

Rating:

What They Say: (about the line) "Finally, a unisex natural body care line that has everything you need to promote wellness and is beneficial to both men and women." (about the Natural Liquid Powder) "Experience the luxurious consistency of a light lotion with the matte properties of a loose powder. Calendula and burdock extract soothe tired skin and helps prevent chaffing without the powder mess. Unscented 6oz."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: A truly gentle lotion, this absorbs excess moisture instantly and creates a smooth touch and a slight cooling sensation. What a perfect product for the upcoming hot and sticky days of late summer! No perfumes or dyes, not tested on animals, and non-comedogenic. It also comes in recyclable packaging.

I'm looking forward to trying out some of Harpswell Naturals' other products in the future.

Retail Price: The entire line will range from $8-12 and will be available in Wild Oats markets in several weeks. There will also be a website up soon for more information. For now, you can still purchase products from this line by contacting Maine Shave at razor@maineshave.com or call 207-353-5080.

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: Belli Elasticity Belly Oil is an advanced blend of pure plant extracts that prepares skin for stretching. Tocopherol (Vitamin E) and Go-To-Kola extract have been shown in medical research to help prevent stretchmarks. Lavender and sweet almond oil soothe and calm the senses while nourishing and moisturizing to help skin stretch without the damage.

Use morning and night throughout pregnancy. Rubbing in a circular motion, apply to stomach, breasts, hips, and buttocks.

Polina’s Experience: I love everything about the Belli Elasticity Belly Oil! The scent, the packaging, the feel of the product on my skin and it’s effect! Now I know that scents are a highly subjective thing, but if you are a fan of lavender, you will love the way this stuff smells. Over the years I have used a variety of products – lotions, body washes, soaps, shampoos – that had lavender as the predominant aroma. Let me just say that some manufacturers out there clearly have no idea what lavender smells like! Belli’s oil captures the essence of lavender in the most wonderful way. It’s easy to tell that they use high quality essential oils in the product and they don’t skimp. A good 50% of my enjoyment of this product and why I would buy it again has been it’s intoxicating aroma.

The packaging is great. I love the dispenser pump. It makes it so easy to control how much of the oil comes out and minimizes spills and unnecessary waste.

Because this is an oil, of course initially, things are a little more greasy than if you were to use a lotion. But this is not a bad thing. Hopefully, some of you ladies who are pregnant or can recall being pregnant can relate, but it’s kind of fun and enjoyable to rub oil on that ever expanding belly and other parts of your weary pregnant body. It’s just so, dare I say, decadent?? And the truth in, this oil is not like Baby Oil – it actually sinks in and is absorbed within 5-7 minutes of application, leaving behind soft, supple and fragrant skin. Ahh!

But what of its purported ability to minimize/prevent stretchmarks? Well, here’s the honest truth: I don’t know! I did not use this oil with my first pregnancy and did not develop any stretchmarks. I have been using it with this pregnancy and still do not have any stretchmarks. What to make of this? I’d say that ultimately things like genetics, the rate at which you gain your pregnancy weight and the extent to which your belly grows and probably a few other factors, including your moisturizing routine, all play into whether you develop the dreaded striations or not. So am I proposing that you just leave things to chance? Not at all, just cautioning you to be realistic is all.

The bottom line is this: If you are looking for a great moisturizer to use during and post pregnancy, you enjoy the smell of lavender and the feel of luxurious oil on your skin, then Belli’s Elasticity Belly Oil is absolutely the way to go. The odds are very good that if you baby your skin through your pregnancy that it’ll be kind to you in return and I can’t think of a better way to do that than with this product.

Retail Price: 1.7oz - $48.00; 3.4oz - $26.00 (at bellicosmetics.com or go here to find other retail locations)
*Or, buy it in the DeLush Delights store now!

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "This moisturizing sunscreen permits minimal tanning, protecting the skin with antioxidant micellized vitamins A and E and an SPF 30. Fragrance free, PABA free, non-comedogenic."

Jen's Experience: I first tried this sunblock when I received it as a sample with a Sephora order. I put it in my stash of facial moisturizers and then ended up taking it on a trip with me. Even though I believe this product is designed to be for the body, I used it on my face, and found that I really liked its cool, creamy feel when I applied it and the ongoing moisture it gave to my face. I've used it since by the pool and by the beach, and found it really easy to apply without looking white like a ghost, but that it gives excellent sun protection as well.

I'm now using this as my every day facial moisturizer and I'm loving it. It gives an excellent base to my make-up, gives my dry skin just the right amount of moisture, and provides all the sun protection I need on a daily basis. It's even gentle enough to use under the eyes, and actually turns out to be a very good eye cream! This is a product I highly recommend for its all-around use as sun protection as well as for your general moisturizing needs. It's not often that I find such a versatile product for such a reasonable price.

Retail Price: $26.00 (Peter Thomas Roth)

Rating:

What They Say: (about the Road Wash)"Wash me here, wash me there! You are no longer at the mercy of public (or hotel or restaurant) soap! Road Wash™ pH- balanced body wash goes everywhere you do. Who says you can't take it with you? Road Wash™ is the Mini-Me version of our incredible soft- solid, frothy & mild body wash."

(about the Cream)"Product Cream is an incredibly rich emollient body cream infused with shea butter that sinks quickly into the skin to nurture and revive without feeling greasy. Completely cold-processed so there's no unpleasant waxiness, Cream is infused with sweet almond oil as well as the shea for the ultimate Cream dream. Use it as a hand cream, use after shaving, rub it on your elbows, knees, legs, arms, neck...get the picture? Wherever the need for some extra loving for skin exists, our wonderful and lightly scented Cream is ready to answer the call! Available in Sweet Vanilla Mango, Chocolate Dipped Orange, Pink Grapefruit and unscented. Net weight 6 ounces."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Oh my goodness. I'm going to cut to the chase and tell you that I am really glad to have discovered Product Body. (About the Road Wash) Imagine a very softened bar soap that you could easily scoop out of a jar and lather into softnes onto your skin. Oh, and add a luscious scent that you wish you could eat. That's the Road Wash (and the regular-sized Wash, which comes in a much bigger container and lasts a long time). How often do you skip packing soap and take the risk of using what you find at a hotel or your host's home because you don't like those flimsy travel plastic soap containers and are afraid body wash will leak all over your clothes? Now just toss this jar (which takes up as much room as a small jar of face cream) into your bag and you will always have fabulous-smelling, gentle soap with you.

(About the Cream) This is a light, whipped-feeling skin nourisher that also smells as fabulous as the Wash. It soaks quickly into the skin and adds softness without greasiness. This is a good option for daily use when you just want to add a little moisture but are in need of a mood-boost.

Retail Prices:Product Body Road Wash - $14.00 (1.5 oz)
Product Body Cream - $22.00 (available at Amazon here)

DeLush Ratings: Product Body Road Wash
Product Body Cream

Note:This product is not yet on the shelves, but rumour has it that it will be stocked at Victoria's Secret stores this fall. More details about pricing and where to get it when it's released!

What They Say: "Experience a shaving cream that's as effective as waxing yet extraordinarily gentle. A shaving cream made from pure and natural ingredients that leaves skin softer, silkier, sexier than you ever dreamed it could be. A shaving cream especially created for your most intimate encounters.

From ankles to underarms to bikini area, this shaving cream helps you take it all off. A rich, gentle base of shea butter and palm oil sugar softens delicate skin, while natural nutrients protect against rashes and ingrown hairs. All that's left after shaving is your skin -- soft, sexy and smooth.

Because Intimate Moments Shaving Cream is 100% natural, it doesn't lather. Instead, just a tiny dab creates a rich, creamy base that glides over skin, and makes it easy to see where you're shavig. Best of all, Intimate Moments Shaving Cream has no harsh artificial ingredients -- only the soft, subtle scent of its all-natural ingredients.

Jen's Experience: There's something about specialty shaving products that I find really luxurious, and this one in particular really sets the bar high. From the pretty packaging to the light but clean scent, this product wins a permanent place in the precious real estate of my shower shelves. The cream is rich and applies like a thick body moisturizer, but since only a small amount is needed, it's easy to see what needs to be shaved. It will leave your skin feeling super smooth; it seems to deliver a much closer shave than my drugstore standard, Skintimate. Strangely, I haven't noticed that I have to shave less frequently due to the close shave, but I will say, my shaving schedule is a lot more pleasant with this cream on hand!

Retail Price: TBD

Rating:

What They Say: "The exfoliating action of this sea salt scrub — enhanced with the Awaken Essential Oil Blend — sloughs away dead surface cells revealing brighter, healthier-looking skin.
Key Ingredients: Avocado and sweet almond extract"

Jen's Experience: Last week, I told you about my great experience with the Awaken Body Lotion. Here's another item in the Aromassentials Awaken line that I absolutely love. I often use scrubs in the shower to brighten my skin (and to prepare for applying sunless tanning products). The sea salt is mixed with an oil to saturate your skin with moisture as you exfoliate. When I get out, I don't feel coated with baby oil, just nicely moisturized. This is a great product for my dry skin, but since it doesn't leave a trace of oil on my skin, I would recommend this product for any skin type.

The scrub seems to have a stronger scent than the body lotion, but I don't mind. It's clean smelling and a little citrus-y, and really does wake me up in the morning.

Retail Price: $26.00 (Shelley Belin, Arbonne International rep)

Rating:

What They Say: "Now more than ever your tired, swollen legs and feet need relief! With its cooling, soothing feel, this lotion provides the perfect lift after a long day. Basq blends green tea, eucalyptus, cucumber, lavender, aloe vera and menthol to energize and soothe fatigued feet and legs during pregnancy. Perfect after a long walk or gentle workout. The refreshing lavender aromatherapy and gentle tingling make putting your feet up a pleasure. Smooth it on and relax, you’ll feel the difference immediately!"

Polina’s Experience: I love the fresh fragrance of this lotion! It is both refreshing and soothing . Application is easy – the lotion is light with an almost gel-like quality and glides onto feet and legs with a delicious, cool tingle. It absorbs quickly and leaves no residue, just soft, fragrant skin. Very, very nice! Slather your tootsies, elevate and aaahhh!

Retail Price: $19.50 (basqnyc.com or go here for retail locations)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Wake up to a bright new day with this rich moisturizer and conditioner — formulated with the Awaken Essential Oil Blend — to uplift and refresh skin and senses. Proprietary Blend: Awaken Essential Oil Blend Key Ingredients: Orchid, nettle and aloe extracts, sunflower and safflower oils"

Jen's Experience: I am usually really bad about putting on body lotion unless my legs look like they're dry as a bone. But this body lotion from Arbonne International smells so wonderful, I look forward to putting it on after my shower every day. It doesn't smell overly fruity or perfume-y, but is just pleasant and clean.

As a lotion, it keeps my legs and arms feeling healthy and moisturized, but is much less greasy than a lot of body lotions out there. I can put it on after my shower and put on jeans in 5 minutes without being conscious of the tacky feel of a lotion. At the end of the day when I climb into my bath, my legs still feel moisturized.

This body lotion is an absolute winner. It works for my dry skin, but since it's non-greasy, I would recommend it for all skin types who are looking for a totally wearable body lotion with a fantastic scent.

Retail Price: $18.50 (Shelley Belin, Arbonne International rep)

Rating:

What They Say: "A blend of nine different oils and waxes, this product is super-targeted moisture. Designed to rid you of those obscure little dry patches (a weird side-effect of pregnancy), our Wonder-Full Balm soon became an obsession with all of us – it is the handiest product to keep in a handbag and rub on anything that needs a bit of glow or a hit of super-moisture.

Use on lips, cuticles, hands, elbows, heels, knees; pretty much anywhere that moisture is needed.

The ingredients are so lovely:
Gold of Pleasure Oil
Meadowfoam Seed Oil
Avocado Oil
Evening Primrose Oil
Carrot Oil
Sweet Almond Oil
Manuka Oil
Carnauba Wax and Beeswax

It is the dream team to have on your side when you and your skin are parched."

Polina's Experience: When I reviewed another one of Mama Mio's products here earlier, I forgot to give you the scoop on the talent behind the products. Here's a little background info:

Mama Mio was conceived in London by three friends (Kathy, Sian and Tanya) who have worked in skincare for ten years. In that time they have had 7 babies between them and realized a need for specific, luxurious and safe creams that help skin with the nine month s-t-r-e-t-c-h! They have worked with their favourite chemists and aromatherapists to create perfect pregnancy salvation products.

I gotta give these ladies the props! Wonderf-Full Balm is indeed wonderful! Packaged in a fun container and easy to dispense, this super moisturizer is a pleasure to use. It comes out thick, almost Vaseiline-like and sinks in with some gentle coaxing as you massage it into whatever feels dry. All you're left with is touchable, soft skin. And like the other products from this line, this one, too, smells great! Ahhh!

One complaint: At 1 fluid ounce, there is not a whole lot of balm to go around, so I certainly wouldn't use it daily on any large part of my body, ie. legs or belly or arms, at least not if I want the stuff to last more than two weeks. So yes, hands, elbows, knees - the places where you need an extra dose of moisture - this product does the job and does it with style.

Retail Price: $25.00 (at www.mamamio.com or go here to find retail locations near you)

DeLush Rating:

Today's review of The Body Tint is just the first of many reviews of products from the Tom Ford for Estee Lauder Azuree Collection that we'll be featuring this week. Want to try some of the Azuree products for yourself? Register for DeLush Delivered and you'll be entered in this month's giveaway.

What They Say: "Experience the look, the feel, the beauty of azurée, Summer 2006, from the Tom Ford Estée Lauder Collection. Three color palettes, and a body collection that captures the spirit of sultry afternoons that go on forever, and wraps you in the seductive glow of summer. The Body Tint is a liquid body bronzer to smooth over legs and body for the look of summer--all over. Lightly fragranced with the provocative, modern scent of the azurée body collection."

Jen's Experience: I have so many great things to say about this product, I hardly know where to start. Straight out of the bottle, the ginger-colored bronzer is a thick liquid that is easy to control as I spread it on my arms, legs and chest. I found that it's easier to make the color even when I worked with smaller amounts, but I had no trouble correcting areas of over and under-application. This product can also be used to cover up streaks from your self-tanner or even light tan lines. Be sure to wait until the tint is completely dry before putting on your clothing. Luckily, it seems to dry fairly quickly.

The tint itself is very natural, not at all orange, and seems to last a long time even in heat and humidity. I wouldn't recommend it for wearing to the beach or to the pool, but I had no problems dining outdoors on a steamy July evening. And if you're worried about the color sweating into your clothes, I'd recommend testing it at home to get a feel for how it reacts to your body chemistry.

The scent of this bronzer is worlds above any of the self-tanners in my cabinet. In fact, it has the scent of a high-end perfume. I can't help feeling gorgeous when I'm wearing it. It's one of the most exciting products I've tested in a long time.

Retail Price: $28.50 (Saks Fifth Avenue)

Rating:

What They Say: (about the Body Cleanser) "Discover how radiant your body can be with Maine Shave Natural Daily Body Cleanser. It contains all-natural extracts of cucumber, rose, linden and witch hazel to gently exfoliate away impurities, and refreshes your skin leaving it with a brisk clean feeling. Clay and wheat protein help improve skin's elasticity." (about the Body Splash) "All natural Maine Shave Daily Body Splash astringent refreshes skin as it tightens pores, controls shine, and restores normal skin pH. Linden petals anti-inflammatory properties leave skin feeling fresh and calm. Birch extract soothes shaving irritation while increasing skin elasticity. Rose petal extract is the finish note for that smooth, soft, cool touch." (about the Moisturizer) "Maine Shave Natural Daily Body Moisturizer uses nothing but all-natural ingredients. It contains allantoin to heal and soften skin by rejuvenating skin cells. Sweet almond oil, olive oil and shea butter, preserve skin from moisture loss. Lemon and orange extract is quickly absorbed leaving your skin feeling clean, refreshed, and hydrated. Chamomile soothes skin leaving it soft and silky smooth."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: When we got these products from Maine Shave, we had never heard of them before. So I really had no idea what to expect. It seems this company offering high-quality shaving products for men also have something for us women to try. Off I toted the three handsomely-packaged products to the bathroom later to test them.

The cleanser comes out creamy and the scent is comforting like oatmeal and lavendar (even though those aren't the components, but hey, that's what I got out of it) with a bit of yummy yet clean freshness that made me happy with it right away. It lathers up only a bit (but that's not a bad thing) and leaves skin clean-feeling but not tight and dry.

I've never really understood the concept of body splashes and their significance. But hey, if you dig it then this one will probably make you happy. It also has a wonderful subtle scent that isn't at all perfume-y and doesn't have the bite-like twinge of alcohol in your nostrils like some of these products do. It is refreshing and cool.

Finally, the moisturizer is substantial but not too thick to easily rub into the skin. It's one of those things that I think I'd pull out any time after bath or shower when I'm craving a feeling of comfort and relaxation. It also has the same high-quality pump that's on the cleanser bottle, which makes it easy to use and control the amount dispensed.

Overall, I've been very happy with my introduction to Maine Shave for Women, and I think you will, too. With soothing scents that don't overpower and well-made packaging that makes you feel truly pampered, these products are something I'd definitely recommend to a friend or as nice gifts for the Bath Product Fanatic you know.

Retail Prices:
Natural Daily Body Cleanser $20.00
Natural Daily Body Splash $20.00
Natural Daily Body Moisturizer $28.00
(at maineshave.com)

DeLush Rating: (for all three products)

What They Say: "Experience the look, the feel, the beauty of Azurée, Summer 2006, from the Tom Ford Estée Lauder Collection. Tom Ford on the Azurée makeup collection: "This is a collection for the woman whose fantasy takes her away to sexy, remote beaches." Smooth on wherever the sun would naturally give you color, in this order:

• Forehead
  
• Cheekbone
  
• Bridge of nose
  
• Sides of nose"

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Of the powder bronzers I've been trying recently, this is one of the most realistic and non-scary to use. The color is truly a bronze-y tan, with no orange tint at all and only an incredibly subtle hint of shimmer. It also goes on sheer and builds, so you don't have to worry about accidentally putting a big blotch on your face if you don't blow the excess off the brush after you swirl it on the product. The color stays true during the day and doesn't irritate skin. In my opinion this is a truly reliable and user-friendly bronzer, especially for those with fair and medium skin tones.

Retail Price: $50.00 (saksfifthavenue.com and select department stores)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Cleanse, clear, soak out all the toxins that bombarded you during the day. Let the organic and wild-crafted essential oils of Ginger Root, Juniper Berry, Grapefruit, Fennel Seed, Cypress, Lemon and Rose Geranium release what is weighing you down, and return you to a place of clarity. These oils are blended into a carefully selected combination of salts that include Dead Sea Salts imported from Israel and Si Salts from Baja California."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Unlike some (and in my opinion far too many) bath salts, this actually smells PLEASANT. I was really glad, because believe me this makes the testing a lot more enjoyable. It's a little citrusy (but not too much) and in the bath the scent diffuses in a subtle, non-overpowering way. I found the aroma really relaxing, and the oils in the formula actually conditioned my skin a little bit without any slickness afterward.

If you're a bath nut, and like the idea of trying salts, this will be a very nice introduction to them. If you're already into salts, I think you'll find this one to be worth it.

Retail Price: $20.00 (buddhanose.com or go here for LOTS of retail options, international sellers, and other online stores where Buddha Nose is available.)

DeLush Rating:

Naturals Foaming Face Wash
"Nurture your skin with sea-based minerals and nutrients combined with mild antibacterial agents that leave you clean and free of breakouts. Sea Breeze Naturals reaches down into pores, washing away problem-causing dirt, oil and the germs that cause blemishes without drying or irritating your skin.

This daily cleanser provides a foamy lather that helps keep skin balanced and super clean. It removes dirt, oil and make-up and the dead skin cells that can dull your complexion, without over-drying."
Did you have some SeaBreeze astringent under your counter as a teenager when you first started to get acne? Well, I did, and I remember how much that stuff stung, so when I first got this to review, I thought all of the products would kill my sensitive skin. Turns out this product, which isn't even their product formulated for sensitive skin, is great for my skin. It doesn't seem to be very foamy to me, but it really does provide a good clean that works to remove make-up, even stubborn under-the-eye make-up and lip stains. I wish it were a little more viscous so that it would be easier to apply, but that's s a small wish for a terrific all-around drugstore cleanser.

Naturals Purifying Clay Cleanser

"Nurture your skin with sea-based minerals and nutrients combined with mild antibacterial agents that leave you clean and free of breakouts. Sea Breeze Naturals reaches down into pores, washing away problem-causing dirt, oil and the germs that cause blemishes without drying or irritating your skin.

This unique facial cleanser provides a light lather that purifies by reducing oil while it gently exfoliates for clean, smooth skin. It removes dirt, oil and make-up and the dead skin cells that can dull your complexion, without over-drying."
I like to think of this product as a clay mask for the impatient. This thick cleanser is certainly the consistency of clay, and provides that deep, down clean feeling in my pores without having to wait 10 or 15 minutes. I also like the clean, ocean smell of this product as opposed to the strong smell of a traditional clay mask. Now, this isn't one that you'll want to use around your eyes, so I don't actually use this every day, but more when I feel that I need a little more intense clean, 2-3 times a week. At that frequency, it's great for preventing little breakouts and also doesn't irritate my sensitive skin.

Naturals Oil Removing Astringent

"This is going to make a splash! Only NEW Sea Breeze Naturals captures the nutrient power of the sea in a new skin care line with cleansing, healing, super-hydrating sea minerals to optimize your skin's performance and make it healthier than ever before.

-Five natural sea minerals help draw in moisture for continuous condition.
-Ion-balanced to boost cellular metabolism, restore health function.
-A protective barrier neutralizes free radicals, allergens, and pollutants.

See what your skin can be...Acne Prevention Formula with Sea Minerals & Nutrients"
This isn't the same astringent that graced your countertop when you were 15. Although it still stings a little bit, and the strong smell could pull someone out of a fainting spell, this particular version strikes me as being much more gentle than previous versions. It always surprises me when I use a toner or astringent how much makeup I missed with my regular cleanser on the sides of my nose or on the edges of my face. This is the final step in making my face clean and blemish-free.

I just want to say one more thing: I've been jumping around between a lot of cleansers lately, so I may have desensitized by skin to a degree. But normally, starting a new skin care routine like this with all new products would cause some degree of irritation. I think it's a testament to the quality of these products that I've been irritation and blemish-free since I started using them.

Naturals Hydrating Moisturizer

"Sea Breeze Naturals Hydrating Moisturizer completes your skincare regimen by keeping your skin nourished and in perfect balance. The special blend of Sea Minerals and Nutrients combined with Vitamin E, work to thoroughly hydrate your skin where it needs it most to improve its overall condition and texture. Natural, oil controlling ingredients reduce shine, for a clean, matte finish without clogging pores. "
This thick moisturizer is terrific for my dry, sensitive skin. It feels light and soothing and its soft scent is very clean. I'm always surprised at how thick it is when I apply it, but how well it sinks into my skin, leaving it soft and moisturized but not at all greasy. This makes it a great moisturizer to use under make-up. I would love to see a version of this with some SPF built-in so I could use this in the daytime!

All products retail price: $5.99

Ratings:
Naturals Foaming Face Wash
Naturals Purifying Clay Cleanser
Naturals Oil Removing Astringent
Naturals Hydrating Moisturizer

What They Say: "Quench your skin's thirst with this hydrating moisturizer. The combination of certified organic jojoba oil, olive oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter will leave your skin pampered and fully satisfied."

Jen's Experience: I like using Kiss My Face products in general because of their extensive use of natural ingredients and their stance against animal testing. But this product brings my love to an all-new level. Here's a body moisturizer that is designed for dry skin that really works without leaving my skin greasy at all. You may notice when you apply it that the white lotion doesn't really sink in all that quickly, but given a few minutes, it soaked in and left my legs feeling silky smooth. And did I mention the smell? Really fantastic. Bottom line? This body moisturizer is a winner for my dry skin, and I think for anyone out there with normal to dry skin that this is a product you will love.

Retail Price: $10.00 (Kiss My Face)

Rating:

This product is not yet out on the market. Stay tuned for more details about when it will become available and the retail price!

What They Say: "You're born with smooth, perfect skin. But as you get older, skin's ability to renew itself begins to slow down dramatically. Gradually, the fine, even texture becomes rough and uneven as skin is less able to shed dull, dead cells and regenerate new ones. The result? Skin looks lifeless. Lines, wrinkles, and age spots look more visible. Your skin needs a jump start.

While scrubs and masks do a good job of smoothing the surface of the skin, Glycolic Peels, now a standard procedure in the dermatologist's office, offer the true revolution in skin re-smoothing. A single treatment can clear away dead surface cells, unstop clogged pores and leave skin looking dramatically more radiant, fresher and smoother.

Now, with just one treatment, you can achieve the same results as a 30% professional Glycolic Acid peel in the privacy and convenience of your own home with this advanced DermSolution from Estee Lauder."

Jen's Experience: Normally, I get a new mask or scrub from the store over the weekend, and I'll settle into a nice bubble bath so that I can enjoy the process. My skin will tingle a little when I put it on and when I remove it, my face feels like it can breathe, but my face doesn't necessarily look all that different.

My experience with this product was totally different.

I spread a thin layer of the Thermal Facial Peel all over my moist face after I washed it. Immediately, it felt very warm on my face. Over the 15 minutes I relaxed with it on my face, it went from warm to a little tingly, to feeling like it was making its way deep into my pores.

Once the 15 minutes were up, I removed the peel using the Calming neutralizer pads. I felt like the neutralizer pads weren't really all that calming, but they did a great job removing the peel and really making my face feel clean.

Immediately afterwards, my face was very rosy. By morning, it was back to its normal shade, but definitely had more of a glow. My skin tone seems to be much more even. I've even contemplated not wearing foundation to work days after using the peel!

I am really a big fan of this product alread in the short time that I've used it. It may not be as inexpensive as some of the peels you'll find in the drugstore, but there are 10-15 applications in the packaging for the Perfectionist Peel, and I think you'll find the results closer to that of a professional facial rather than your every day mud mask.

Rating:

Update: I spoke with an Estee Lauder representative today in my local department store. The peels are now arriving in stores, but, at least in her case, they were sold immediately. You can place an order with them and they will hold one for you as they arrive. The retail price will be $85.

What They Say: "Everything you need for do it yourself well-groomed toes is in this super-sassy gift box. Pedicure set includes Bella nail polish in babydoll, foxy and top/base coat and pink flower toe-separators."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I have to say, Bella definitely has their packaging DOWN. It's all so pretty and has such sweet details, you feel incredibly pampered just pulling out the products to use them. That aside, this little pedicure set has the basics all put together for you. Keep in mind, there are no tools in the kit, unless you consider the toe separators that is. You're really just looking at color and a base & top coat (which may not seem like much), but these are not only full-sized polishes, they are incredibly smooth, glossy formulas that suit your needs whether you want to go bold and bright (Foxy red) or neutral and pastel (Baby Doll barely-there pink). Then there's the clear formula, for base & top coats. Just make sure to let your color COMPLETELY dry before applying the top coat to ensure a smooth finish with no little bubbles.

Retail Price: $20.00 (bellabeauty.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Warning - these scrubs are highly addictive and moisturizing, your shower will never be the same again!

We use only the finest ingredients and whip them together to create the ultimate sugar scrub! Fluffy and easy to apply, our Sugar Soufflés are made with coconut oil, which absorbs quickly and easily, leaving your skin moisturized and protected, without feeling greasy. Pure cane sugar crystals exfoliate dead skin cells while coconut oil, sweet almond and vitamin-e oils condition, moisturize and smooth you to perfection!

This is a highly moisturizing product that can be used in the bath or shower. The oils will literally melt into your skin as you exfoliate. We recommend this being the last thing you do, after you wash your body and hair, to get the full benefits.

We guarantee that if you use our scrubs you will never need to put lotion on after you get out of the shower! Enjoy!"

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I am not going to beat around the bush here. This scrub is simply incredible. The super-soft consistency makes it feel truly decadent. Well, that and the luscious scent, which left me saying "No seriously - I smell SO good!" the entire day, testing my husband's limited tolerance levels. But he agreed - and was as pleased as I was with the incredibly soft skin that resulted. I didn't feel that this scrub left me feeling as "oily" as some moisturizing scrubs do afterward, either.

Retail Price: $32.00 (at lalicious.com or beautyintuition.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "The NEW way of showering and bathing. For the first time ever, you can exfoliate, massage, cleanse and moisturize your skin with a single product and BE ABLE TO USE IT AGAIN AND AGAIN FOR many showers. Using patent-pending technology, SPONGEABLES™ infuses natural glycerin and olive oil-based soap into a hypoallergenic sponge for rich, creamy, long-lasting lather. Spongeables™ lathers and rinses clean in both hard and soft water! Shower with it at home and escape to your own private heaven."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: This sponge arrived to me in Peony-Cassis Infusion scent. It was a little overwhelming in the package - not unpleasant at all, just surprising in strength. In the bath, you soak the sponge to let it absorb the water before using it. The scent creates a wonderful energizing feeling, and the sponge is slightly exfoliating as well. The scent lingers on your skin delicately afterward for quite a while, and I kept saying "Honey, seriously, come smell me!" The bodywash does last in the sponge a long time as well. This is a really nice way to make the bath or shower routine more enjoyable.

Retail Price: $8.00 (at beautyintuition.com - don't forget to use your DeLush discount code at checkout - DELUSH20)

DeLush Rating:

Amazing Grapes Moisturizer and Positive Outlook Eye Renewal Cream
"These two products are phenomenal! I am constantly using them on the set and continue to be impressed with the results," says Sharin Helgestad, who uses the combo on celebrities like Molly Sims, Vanessa Marcil, and Nikki Cox on the show "Las Vegas".
..."The great thing about both Amazing Grapes and Positive Outlook is that together they act as a preventive as well as reparative agents," says Helgestad. Amazing Grapes prevents negative sunlight exposure while repairing damaged cells and Positive Outlook reduces fine lines and repairs skin's surface.

Bibo's Amazing Grapes Green Grape Oil-Free Moisturizer for Normal to Oily Skin SPF 15
What They Say: "Refine and de-shine skin with this lightweight, oil-free moisturizer that performs an amazing balancing act. Green grape promotes cell health and repair, and works with SPF 15 to prevent future damage. Skin looks fresh and healthy, feels soft and smooth."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I've been using this as my morning moisturizer for a while now, and I can't say I'm anything but impressed! First of all, the fresh scent is energizing, and the light, non-greasy lotion soaks right into my skin and helps it feel soft and calmed. I feel like my face is parched without it.

Retail Price: $11.50 (go to bibocosmetics.com to find a salon or Beauty Brands location near you that sells Bibo products)

DeLush Rating:


Bibo Positive Outlook Guava Enriched eye Renewal Cream
What They Say: "Renew the delicate skin around your eyes with this gentle all-in-one eye cream. Intensely moisturizing guava helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and dark circles, soothe puffiness and promote firmer looking skin. Eyes will look bright and fresh, skin will be soft and smooth."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: This cream truly is revitalizing. With its crisp but subtle fruit scent and its ever-so-slight brightening sheen, you get an immediate eye boost. You'll also feel a subtle firming of the eye area when it is applied. I like to use this as a morning eye cream mostly, because it's not heavy at all and is great for under makeup. One tiny drawback - make sure to carefully apply evenly, or you could get a bit of excess sheen under your eye after the product has soaked into your skin.

Retail Price: $11.50 (go to bibocosmetics.com to find a salon or Beauty Brands location near you that sells Bibo products)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Our oil-free, residue-free moisturizer scientifically synthesizes natural vitamins E and B5 and soothing chamomile with absorbent fatty acids. Gently and effectively hydrates and ph balances all skin types, unlike traditionally greasy pore-clogging oils, for an intensely nourishing treatment, reducing epidermal irritation for the most sensitive of skin. Perfect foundation for immediate make-up application. Natural fragrance and color. Easily integrated into daily maintenance and prevention regimen."

Jen's Experience: With winter on its way, normally I have to go for the really super-thick moisturizers so that I don't get skin that's downright flaky and scaly. When I first started using this face moisturizer, I didn't think it would hold up to my winter needs. It's creamy, but it's thin enough that I only have to use a bit to cover my entire face and neck instead of half the container. My face feels like it can breathe when I am wearing it, instead of feeling smothered under layers and layers of moisturizer. And amazingly, even though the air is cold and dry, my face stays moisturized from morning to night.

I love the way this moisturizer feels on my face, I love the way my make-up glides on when I'm wearing it, and I really love that my face has been clearer and more radiant since I've been using this in my daily routine. In short, Malin + Goetz's Facial Moisturizer is a tremendous find.

Retail Price: $45.00 ( MalinandGoetz.com )

Rating:

What They Say: "Fleur de Chocolat Orange-Chocolate Shea Butter is a sensual body moisturizer. It can be used on the face, body, and hair or as a rich lip treatment. Derived from the African shea tree, this 100% natural massage balm provides necessary essential elements for the renewal of skin cells."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: This may be the first time I've actually been tempted to lick my hands after moisturizing them. This time of year especially, I feel plagued by dry hands constantly. This luscious, smooth formula practically melts when rubbed into your skin and isn't at all greasy. The result is incredibly soft skin. Don't be afraid to use it everywhere else, too. I haven't used it on my hair, but I have used it on my lips (it's got a slight orange-sweet flavor, but not much) and my arms and legs and the comforting softness is a real relief for parched skin.

Retail Price: $38.00 (sephora.com - and you can also get a smaller travel-sized container in-store for $9.00 to try)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Our oil-free, residue-free body moisturizer scientifically synthesizes natural vitamin b5 and soothing bergamot extract with absorbent fatty acids for performance. Naturally hydrates and ph balances all skin types, unlike traditionally greasy, pore-clogging oils and wax and silicone fillers. No slick or slippery false sense of moisturize. A nourishing treatment that eliminates wait-time for dressing. Natural fragrance and color. Easily integrated into daily maintenance and prevention regimen."

Jen's Experience:As soon as the air gets cooler and drier, my skin starts getting drier and I have to break out some serious moisturizer for my body. I like the shea butter moisturizers because they seem to last a really long time. What I don't like is how they don't absorb into my skin quickly (if at all) so my clothes seem to stick to my skin.

Well this year, there's a new moisturizer in my cabinet to cure my dryness and ashy legs: Malin + Goetz's incredible Vitamin B5 Body Moisturizer. After I smooth it on, I can feel my skin drinking it up. It makes my skin feel so soft and it calms the redness that often accompanies dry skin. And it really lasts! If I put it on before I go to work, when I undress at night, my skin is smooth with just a trace of the moisturizer itself protecting my skin.

And the scent is absolutely wonderful. Not overpowering, or sweet or cloying. Just a very clean smelling, citrus-y scent that will inspire you to wear it all over your body.

Retail Price: $36.00 (Malin + Goetz) All DeLush Delivered subscribers will receive a 25% off code in this weekend's newsletter!

Rating:

What They Say: (About the scent: "A creamy touch with a warm wooden pulsation that counterpoints the vanilla sweetness.") About the Body Milk Product: "Rich in starch, a moisturising body milk with an exceptional powdery texture and a matte finish on the skin. The combination of provitamin B5, lanolin and Jojoba oil enhances the suppleness of the skin, while also providing long-lasting hydration. Active Aloe juice, extremely rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc and antioxidant enzymes, supports the immune system of the skin.
Contains: Starch powder, active Aloe, provitamin B5, lanolin, Wheat proteins, Jojoba oil.
Dermatologically tested
Mineral oil free - Silicone free
Enriched with active plant extracts
250 ml / 8.45 fl oz

Ideally combined with showergels and body waters in order to retain the fragrance much longer on the skin."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I almost have no words. That is how inept I feel at describing just how much I want you to - no, I think you NEED TO - try this lotion. You will then understand. Perhaps I picked the perfect scent for my tastes and that figures into my enchantment, but if you and I differ there, not to worry, because Korres has 7 other ways for you to experience it (Basil Lemon, Bitter Almond, Cedar, Mint Tea, Coriander, Nutmeg, and Citrus). But you know, let's talk about this Vanilla Cinnamon business. I struggle to describe the scent any better than they have, but I will try (because frankly, some of their verbage is a bit...wordy at times). First of all, you will NOT smell like a basket of Christmas cinnamon pinecones, so get that out of your head. I would probably describe it more like a slightly sweet, creamy hot drink sprinkled with cinnamon...on a cold winter night...in front of the fire...smelling absolutely delicious. It is definitely not overbearing, but makes me so excited I am catching myself sniffing my arms each time I wear it.

The formula itself is also fabulous - light, quickly-absorbing, and hydrating. It actually does leave a comfy soft touch on the skin (ever so slightly!) that I have also become quite spoiled by. My husband LOVES this scent, and the way it makes my skin feel.

I suggest that you RUN, NOT WALK, to try this product by Korres. And be careful, because I may knock you over on my way to try some more of their formulas and scents.

Retail Price: $15.00 (WORTH EVERY PENNY at sephora.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Smooth over wet skin and feel the heat — this deep-cleansing spa treatment automatically warms when it comes in contact with water. Natural sugar crystals exfoliate, kaolin clay detoxifies, and coconut extract moisturizes."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Okay, let's start at the beginning: a)I LOVES me some warming ANYTHING, period. b)I am also so much in love with the True Blue Spa line from Bath & Body Works and its fabulous, island-girl scents. This scrub is no exception. It warms immediately when you rub it between your hands and leaves your skin soft and smooth. Oh, and it smells like a sweet, coconut-y, tropical treat. I'm definitely a fan of this, and think you will be too.

Retail Price: $12.00 (bathandbodyworks.com and in Bath & Body Works stores)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "This non-abrasive liquid wipes-away spent surface cells revealing a smoother, clearer, more refined complexion beneath-and pores that are primed for maximum treatment and moisture benefits.
-Promotes skin clarity and smoothness
-Leaves skin looking soft, smooth and supple-with a healthy glow
-For all skin types"

Jen's Experience: For months and months, all I used to clean my face were products from Mario Badescu because they're so gentle. Now that I've pretty much cleared out all the breakouts, I thought I would branch out a little bit and check out some different brands. What better way to see if they irritate my sensitive skin than to start with a clean slate, right?

I'm still using Mario Badescu cleanser to remove all my make-up every day, but I've been following it up with Aveda's exfoliant, and I really like what I see. My skin has stayed breakout free, and I seem to have less blackheads and smaller pores. Just what you were looking for, right? Plus, it has a really nice smell (kind of like a margarita) and leaves your skin feeling like it can breathe!

I use this daily after I wash my face in the evening, and follow up immediately with a nice moisturizer.

Retail Price: $17.00/5 oz. (Aveda)

Rating:

What They Say: "For all skin types.

The first mask to combine the energy of wild arctic cloudberry and liposome-protected Vitamin C. A luxurious, velvety soft mask brightens, relaxes and invigorates your skin in just 5 minutes.

Helps your skin to recover from the week's fatigue and giving your skin long-lasting hydration and radiant energy. Also promotes skin renewal. Dermatologically tested.
Effect
Leaves your skin feeling irresistibly renewed and relaxed. Enjoy the aromatic fragrance of wild arctic berries.
Technology
• Arctic Cloudberry seed oil boosts skin revitalization by reinforcing the skin's natural protective barrier. Protects the skin from radical damage and enhance regeneration.
• Saccaride Isomerate, a combination of sugar derivatives, provides long-lasting moisture.
• Vitamin C boosts the skin's collagen synthesis, moisturizes, brightens and improves skin elasticity.

Test Results
Sensation on skin after use:
• soft skin 98 %
• moisturizes effectively 93 %
(user tests)

Application
Use once a week or whenever you skin needs invigoration. Apply generously to cleansed face and neck. Leave on for 5 minutes and remove excess with a tissue."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I have been really curious about several of the Lumene products as I've passed by its pleasant-looking display unit in the drugstore. And my mom says Vitamin C is great for your skin, so you know, I thought this could very well be worth a shot. Good news. It definitely was.

Just like Lumene's claim, this mask has a refreshing scent that is a great mini mood-lifter. The texture isn't thick, sticky or gloppy, which is also a plus. For an at-home spa moment, this is an amazing value with great softening benefits. *And you want to know a little secret? I actually like to apply this on my face before bed and leave it on through the night. My face ALWAYS looks a little more refreshed and brighter the next morning. For my combo skin, this soothes the dry areas and gives a nice glow.

Retail Price: $15.99 (drugstores everywhere)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: ""When four girls grow up in the same house, there are bound to be a whirlwind of emotions," says Emily Singer, President of Mixed Emotions. "My three sisters, parents and I have developed a unique line of bath and body products that celebrate the complexity of being a woman. Women and girls have such a wonderful, wide range of emotions. Why not make the best of them?"

After almost one year of research and development, the Mixed Emotions' bath and body products were created. Mixed Emotions' eight unique blends of natural extracts and fragrances are formulated to work with the female body chemistry to enhance the emotions all women feel. kiss me-creme brulee offers a mix of Passion Flower and Ginseng that evokes a mood of sensuality and romance. motivate me-tutti frutti combines Guarana and Echinacea to stimulate the body and its' senses. Camomile and Sage in relax me-vanilla cloud promote a sense of calm and well-being. Gingko Biloba and Gotu Kola are blended together to create focus me-sweet tea which offers women the mental edge they need in this fast-paced world. Change your mood from "semi-sweet" to "sweet as candy" by treating yourself to bite me-chocolate comfort which combines Sandalwood and Clary Sage and smells like yummy chocolate!

Mixed Emotions has now added 4 new, exciting collections…celebrate me-peach champagne, mellow me-marsh “mellow” mousse, wake me-café au lait, and bee me-honey nut!

Mixed Emotions uses a fun, mix-and-match approach by offering three bath and body products with a variety of natural extracts and fragrances. The products include an exfoliating body scrub, a hydrating body cream and a refreshing body cleanser. Both the body cream and body cleanser are enriched with Aloe Vera and Vitamins A, C and E.

Mixed Emotions is a family-run business. The four, twenty-something, Singer sisters have teamed with their parents to develop state-of-the-art products for women. Only the highest quality ingredients are used to create the Mixed Emotions bath and body line.

Mixed Emotions - Let ME take care of you!"

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I've tried each product (cleanser, body lotion, and body scrub) in three scents - Bite Me, Wake Me, and Bee Me. And can I just say, that as a product junkie I am completely thrilled with the Mixed Emotions line! The cleanser is luxuriously sudsy and a bit moisturizing; the lotion is rich but not too thick and smells great; and the body scrub is like using sumptuous big sugar crystals that leave your skin smooth and soft! My favorite of the three scents is Bite Me (chocolate, that's a surprise, right?) but all three I've used are delectable. And you get a fair amount of product in all three for the price.

If you like to indulge during bathtime, say hello to Mixed Emotions!

Retail Price: ranging from $20.00 to $30.00 each (www.shopmixedemotions.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "A Sheer Moisturizing Experience
Light Sesame Formula

The Sensual Moisturizer®

Experience Neutrogena Body Oil. Its light sesame formula glides on easily to moisturize dry skin. It's so sheer it vanishes into shower-damp skin leaving soft and silky, with a radiant, healthy glow. No moisturizer can touch this experience."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Whoa. Try this. I'm not kidding, lovelies. Now, the application may be a tad tricky - but that can be worked around. And contrary to what you might think...as long as you don't use too much, your skin really won't feel greasy and slick when all is said and done, just fantastically soft. And the smell - GAH - the smell is so wonderful. A true luxury from the drugstore, of all places.

User Tips from Neutrogena: "After a shower or bath while your skin is still damp, smooth on a few drops to help seal in moisture. Then treat yourself to a few pampering minutes while your body dries naturally, or simply pat dry with a towel. In the bath, add to water and soften your skin while you bathe." *And personally, I like to douse a cotton ball with the oil and then apply it that way - less messy and easier to control the oil.

Retail Price: $14.99 (drugstores everywhere and drugstore.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Neutrogena® Advanced Solutions™ Skin Transforming Complex Nightly Renewal Cream delivers the ultimate combination of anti-aging ingredients to help fight the multiple signs of aging and transform skin to look beautifully healthier and younger.
This replenishing anti-oxidant formula contains a unique Micro-DA Retinol complex, with the highest concentration of pure Retinol from Neutrogena, that works with your natural nightly repair cycle to stimulate skin's surface cell renewal process while you sleep, smoothing away the appearance of lines and wrinkles. It infuses skin with essential moisture to help restore elasticity and youthful radiance. See results immediately."

Jen's Experience: I've tried expensive department store moisturizers and other drugstore moisturizers, but I have never quite found the one for me. And normally, things that contain retinol turn my skin bright pink and cause more than a little tingle. But this one, I feel, is different - and better. I started using this about 8 weeks ago. Even during the first few days of use, I didn't have any problems with redness or irritation. In the morning, my skin always seems really soft, and I can tell in the shower that it is nicely moisturized. And my skin is definitely clearer since I've started using this.

Recently, this product even helped me through another round of poison ivy. Normally, if I am lucky enough to get any on my face, the redness lasts 3 weeks. By using the Skin Transforming moisturizer at night, I could see visible improvement every morning. That's enough to tell me that it really is transforming my skin every night.

Tips: Avoid getting any in the eye area. It will cause a great deal of irritation and redness that lasts quite a while.

Retail Price: $23.99 (Drugstore.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "This sheer moisturizer combines chemical-free, full spectrum SPF 30 sun protection with certified organic white grape and pomegranate juices, vitamin antioxidants, and essential nutrients to replenish and protect for optimum antiaging benefits."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I really don't know how to guage a sunscreen's main purpose - protecting against sun damage - without doing some sort of fancy schmancy scientific tests, of which I have no knowledge to actually complete. So I will take their word for it that if it says SPF 30, that I'm probably getting some serious sun protection. Now, it's the rest of the whole experience that I can atually tell you about.

With its citrus ingredients, this smells completely fresh and energizing, which is a wonderful bonus to applying sunscreen each morning. (It's also an incentive for us lazy types who can use all the incentive we can get.) The texture is so light and smooth, and doesn't leave my skin feeling or looking greasy. I love the pump; it's easy and mess-free. I really feel like my skin wakes up after I've put this on.

And if the idea of fresh, organic ingredients makes you excited, this brand which was recently voted the top Organic Beauty Brand by Style.com is a great way to go.

Retail Price: $29.00 (juicebeauty.com and sephora.com)

DeLush Rating:

I spend an unreal amount of money on moisturizers.   A lot of highly recommended moisturizers are so expensive, and you've got to have your day moisturizer with SPF in it and the night moisturizer with some kind of magical retinol-type ingredient in it.   I decided to stop the madness for once with this last moisturizer purchase, and pick out something from my drugstore's shelves. 

What They Say: "Designed for maturing skin. Revitalizes the skin's appearance with a hydrating complex of vitamins E and B3, pro-vitamins B5 and A and intensive Olay moisture. Provides broad spectrum UVA and UVB (SPF 15) protection to minimize, even help prevent age spots and future skin damage to keep your skin stay younger looking. "

Jen's Experience: I'm so picky.  But I have to be, because my skin dries up if I look at it funny.  On the other hand, if I get something too oily or harsh, I break out like crazy (and then I have to treat the acne and I get dry spots....you see the problem here).  This moisturizer claims to be for very dry skin, so I thought I would give it a shot.  A lot of rich moisturizers don't work well under foundation.  Lucky for me, this one works great.  When I first got it, I thought it would be too thick.  I applied it and my skin instantly felt more hydrated.  Yet within minutes, the moisturizer soaked into my skin, leaving it hydrated but not at all greasy.  And, although it is quite rich when I am slathering it on, I still feel like my face can breathe! I applied my makeup with no problems, and made it through the day without developing any patches of dry skin.  For dry, sensitive skin like mine, this product is a miracle.

Retail Price: $9.49 (Drugstore.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "A unique exfoliating cream to effectively remove dulling dead skin cells, polish and energize the skin. Tiny jojoba beads slough without irritation, while elderflower and shea butter soothe the freshly revealed, glowing skin. Pure, certified organic essential oils of rose, neroli, and sweet orange invigorate and uplift. Great for sensitive skin."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Tired of exfoliators that leave your face feeling dry, tight, and uncomfortable? I just hate that. I was looking for something gentle yet effective and came across the idea of jojoba beads in several brands that I was looking at. I chose this because I liked how gentle the ingredients seemed to be, and because I'd never used anything by Juice Beauty before.

This is a pure winner in my book. I love the light, fruity scent and the way my face feels afterward. What you do is rub some in a circular motion on a dry face, then rinse off. Afterward, my skin feels glowy, smooth, and healthy without the dry after-effect. I couldn't be happier.

Retail Price: $30.00 (sephora.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Get a healthy summer glow all year long just by moisturizing. Formulated with essential moisturizers and Erythrulose and DHA to gradually develop a soft natural tone and delicate shimmer, without any streaking or orange coloration you'd find in a self tanner. Noticeable change in skin color of up to one full shade in about one week with regular use. Ideal for fair to medium skin tones."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I have become phobic of ALL lotion/spray/gel tanners over the last few years. And not because the formulas haven't improved and that some don't look pretty great. For me, it's all about the Slacker Factor. I hate the exfoliating. I really hate the reaching. And I hate the surprise dark patches. That's why I'm a huge fan of the wet towelettes (i.e., TanTowel). They were MADE for people like me. So I've stayed away from anything more involved than that for a very long time. Until now.

The thought of a barely-there tanning agent that I don't have to think of as anything other than moisturizer was intriguing. Part of it was mental, I'll admit. I mean, think of it as a moisturizer and all of the sudden it doesn't seem so scary, does it? So I gave this a shot.

The one I got was for fair skin tones. Because, hello, I'm pale. Have we met? So what I'm about to say is specific to that shade for me. The lotion is white, and has a pleasant smell. I just took their word for it and slathered it on without worrying. I did make sure to wash my hands well afterward. After letting it dry a bit I'd get dressed and go on with my day. After 2-3 uses you can definitely see something happening, and after about 5-6 uses you're pretty much there with the whole glowy thing. And guess what? No patches, no unevenness, no orange nails. Since I have no desire to look like I came from a month in Hawaii, this works just perfectly for me. A nice glow that takes away the winter white blahs.

Retail Price: $5.79 (I know, right?) (Drugstores and others everywhere)

DeLush Rating:

Polina's Profile
Hair: currently have blonde highlights with dark brown underneath. My hair is very, very thick and a bit on the coarse side. Almost down to my waist and naturally wavy with frizzies
Eyecolor: blue
Age: 33
Skin tone: have no flying clue!! All I know is that I'm very pale...bluish??
Skin type: Combo with enlarged pores on and around my nose. Not generally prone to breakouts. Skin is becoming drier as more time goes by.
What They Say: “Try this amazing cleanser and you’ll see why it’s our most popular product worldwide. Dirt, excess oil, makeup—even waterproof mascara—and other pore-cloggers dissolve easily, leaving your face a grime-free zone that is soft to the touch. Its unique water-soluble formula rinses completely, so you’ll never see a greasy residue. Olive oil, rosemary oil, and vitamin E ensure you won’t see dryness either.”

To Use: With dry hands, massage 1-2 pumps of Deep Cleansing Oil onto dry face to dissolve dirt, makeup, and other impurities. Rinse with lukewarm water. Do not add water to this product until ready to rinse off.

Polina's Experience: (A little background) - Out of the blue, about a month ago, a DHC Skincare catalog appeared in my mail box. At first, I was going to pitch it, like I always do with unsolicited mail, but then I noticed that the catalog came with four little pouches of samples. And who doesn’t love free samples?? Because I had never heard of DHC, I went online and did a bit of research on this skincare line. (DHC is a Japanese company which has been creating beauty products for over 20 years.) I scoured several beauty product forums and wherever I looked, customers were raving. My interest was piqued because I have been searching for a cleanser/moisturizer combo that really makes a difference to my 30-something combination skin and have so far come up short. Things were about to change!

There were several products that jumped out at me both from DHC’s catalog and the user forums. One of them was the Deep Cleansing Oil. Luckily, the catalog also had a sample of this magical stuff, so I could try it first-hand.

I know what you’re thinking: “How in the world is oil going to help me cleanse my face?? Won’t it leave a greasy residue and make me more prone to breakouts and clogged pores?” That’s what I wondered as well and had it not been for the rave reviews, I probably never would have braved putting this stuff on my face.

I did as directed, pouring about a quarter-sized amount of oil into the palm of my hand. I then gently massaged the oil onto my skin, using both hands. It had a very light scent with a definite hint of olive oil aroma. (DHC uses 100% organic olive oil from Spain in many of their products, citing the olive tree’s restorative properties.) I used the tips of my fingers to wipe some of the oil on my eyes to see how well it would dissolve my mascara and eyeliner. Then I rinsed my face with warm water. There was no residue whatsoever. The oil washed right off my hands and face. Unfortunately, in trying to remove my make-up, I got some of the oil in my eye, which while not painful, made my vision blurry for a minute or so, until I was able to rinse the oil completely. After I was done, I still had plenty of mascara left beneath my eyes, but my skin was oh-so-soft! The last time my skin felt this supple was when I got a facial about two years ago! Wow! Not only was my skin soft, but it actually had a glow to it. I was sold!

A couple of side notes: I probably should have put some of the oil on a cotton ball and used it to wipe my eyes instead of my fingers. That might have helped with the blurry vision. As it is, for now, I’m just using my regular eye make-up remover to do that job. Also, DHC recommends that you follow up the Deep Cleansing Oil with a supplemental cleanser (they suggest their Mild Soap). The reason for this is that the Deep Cleansing Oil is primarily designed to break up dirt, makeup and oil while a cleanser, contains surfactants, which act to rid the skin of this broken down debris. They especially recommend using a follow up cleanser if you wear a lot of makeup or have oily skin.

Overall, I was so pleased with the Oil’s effect on my skin that I purchased the product even before my sample ran out and waited with great impatience for it to arrive. I have been using it for about two weeks now and am still very pleased with it, especially in combination with DHC’s other products that I’ll have to tell you about another time.

Retail Price: $24 (dhccare.com)

DeLush Rating:

One day a week I try to undo all the damage I've inflicted on my skin and my hair by bombarding them with layer upon layer of the products I'm currently testing.  On my detox day, I don't usually wear any make-up, and I use all the deep cleaning products that I can't use on a daily basis.  One product that I've added to the detox line up is Neutrogena's Advanced Solutions Facial Peel, and it's one of my favorite beauty treatments of the week.  I first heard about it in a magazine article discussing at-home peel treatments.  This was the top recommendation for sensitive skin, so I had to give it a try! 

What They Say: "Now get the dramatic results of a professional-level facial peel at home. In just ten minutes, see fresher, more youthfully radiant skin. This one-step Facial Peel formulated with breakthrough CelluZyme^TM gently lifts away dry, damaged surface skin cells to reveal a new texture, tone, and clarity while reducing the appearance of fine lines."

Jen's Experience:  This product makes me feel like I'm in a spa.  I like to put it on while I am lounging in a nice warm bath after I've thoroughly cleaned my face.  The texture is like a very fine exfoliator, but once it is applied, it dries more like a mask.  It tingles when you first put it on, but as it dries, the tingling largely goes away.  After 10 minutes, you remove it using your fingertips.  It smells absolutely wonderful, so the 10 minutes of waiting is absolutely blissful to me.  I was a little worried that it would irritate my skin since it did have such a nice fragrance, but that has definitely not been the case.  I am not sure that this peel is fully responsible, but I have definitely seen an improvement in my skin since I've been using it.  I have fewer breakouts and much less redness and irritation. 

Tips:  If you have very sensitive skin and you're currently using a retinol-based moisturizer at night, you will want to stop using your moisturizer a few days before using this peel, or discontinue use of your retinol-based moisturizer altogether.

Retail Price: $25.99 (Walgreens)

Rating:

What They Say: "A gentle, effective formula that thoroughly cleanses the skin, removing oil, make-up, pore clogging debris. Improves the skin’s condition with the Botanical Extract ingredient (Alpha Hydroxy Acid), while maintaining the skin’s natural moisture level."

Jen's Experience:  I received a nice size sample of this with my very first Mario Badescu order and since then I've been hooked.  All their products are so gentle, yet I really feel like my face is clean when I use them.  There's not a lot of lather involved, so it isn't really soapy, but it's effective.  My face is clean and I've yet to get a breakout from this product (or any other Mario Badescu product for that matter).

Retail Price: $12.00/8 oz (MarioBadescu.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "A residue-removing toner for combination-dry skin, made with Citrus Extracts (Alpha-Hydroxy Acid) and nourishing Seaweed Extract. Helps promote exfoliation of dead skin cells for a smoother complexion. Non-alcohol, gentle formula."

Jen's Experience:  This is the second Mario Badescu product that I have tried, and so far they are 2 for 2 on great products!  I've been using this cleanser, which falls into their toner category, for about 2 months, and I have been very pleased with my results.  I know I haven't used a toner since I was in 7th grade and Seabreeze was all the rage.  And I have sensitive, dry skin, so you wouldn't think I would find a use for it now, but I am a huge fan of this product.  First off, it is completely natural.  I tasted it once by mistake and was impressed that it didn't taste medicinal.  The ingredients list is only about 5 items long, and consists of things like extracts of aloe, grapefruit and lemon.  There's nothing medicinal in there.  It leaves my skin feeling extra clean and my pores feel like they can really breathe.  I also read in Allure this month that toner helps the skin absorb moisturizer, so I have been applying my moisturizer right after I use this product.    Now, you can probably go without a product like this in your skincare lineup and be okay, but if you've ever felt like there might be some soapy residue left from your cleanser or that your pores could use a little extra help, I recommend this product.

Tips:  I use this morning and night.  In the evening, I use after cleansing my face and before moisturizing.  In the morning, I skip the cleanser and just use this product before applying my moisturizer.

Retail Price: $15.00/8 oz (www.MarioBadescu.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "Last year, Mark, our top bod at Lush (he has no official title but we all know who's boss) asked the Lush forum for a list of beautiful words. Smitten was one of them. The forum members asked Mark for a lighter, daytime hand cream scented with the same deliciously mouth-watering fragrance as Snowcake soap. Fair's fair. Now we have a beautiful new hand cream with a beautiful name made with natural oils and butters for a longer term benefit for your mits. (Note to non-mother tongue English speakers: mittens are like gloves but with one big ‘finger' instead of the usual four so “Smitten” is a hand protector pun as well as a lovely name. Just so you know…)"

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Handcream, schmandcream... It's really hard to impress me with handcream, mostly because I haven't seen too many that stand out from the rest. That could just be me, I guess. And although I am a new devotee of Lush, I was still skeptic. Shame on me - because this deliciously-almond-scented cream feels...like a silk slip on my hands. That sounds pretty grandiose, I know. But it's hard to verbalize the way the oils in this product moisturize your hands and make them feel noticeably different. When you first apply it, you'll think it's going to be a little too slick for you to continue about your activities with it on, but give it about 15 seconds to penetrate the skin, and aaaahhhhh...that's the only way to describe the feeling. It goes from slick-feeling to baby soft. I think you'll love it!

Retail Price: $11.95

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Our refreshing body polisher combines naturally exfoliating sugar with an exotic oil blend to leave skin radiantly smooth and luxuriously soft."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I am not kidding, my mouth literally watered with this one. You would swear this was a nice cool margarita with salt that you were rubbing onto your body. It's amazingly refreshing, and put me in a good mood all day. Obviously very citrus-y, I would buy this for my friends just so they could try it - it's that indulgent and invigorating. Leaves your skin smooth and refreshed.

Retail Price: $12.00

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "You will recognize the scent of the Honey Bee Bath Bomb from the ultra mouth watering Honey I Washed The Kids soap and Ma Bar Bubble Bar Slice. So if you like to smell of honey mixed with caramelized sugar mixed with a drop or two of sweet orange and bergamot essential oils, then you will want these for your bath. The scent is only one of its attractions. Honey is beautifully calming for your skin, so we took this as a sign and added soothing Aloe Vera and Moroccan Rhassoul mud to help troubled skin feel better. This is one Honey Bee you must actively encourage to get closer to your body."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: If you're a bath girl, like me, anything fun you can put in there to make it feel more luxurious is a hot item. This bath bomb does just that. If you've tried LUSH products before, you'll know what I mean when I say the scent is absolutely amazing. Not perfume-y, just fresh and yummy. The conditioning oils made my skin super soft, in spite of my nasty hard water, and I even was able to shave my legs without any lotion! (I know, perish the thought. But it felt good!) The only downside? A bit of oil residue in the bathtub, but not enough of a hassle for me to not use it again or give it our best rating.

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Monoi oil, a centuries-old island beauty secret, blends moisturizing coconut oil with the fragrant Tiare flower. In our soothing bath milk, it hydrates dry skin and indulges your senses."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Whoa, baby. This stuff smells seriously amazing and, as nearly as is possible, takes you on a tropically glorious mini-vacation. I've typcially preferred bubbles in the past, but this bath milk is your basic luxury-in-a-bottle, and I am completely hooked. You'll want to soak until you wrinkle or the water gets cold, whichever comes first.

Retail Price: $15.00 (bathandbodyworks.com and in stores)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Your skin hasn’t a care in the world when stimulating Ginkgo Extract, firming Birch Extract and nourishing Soybean Oil fortify it with everything it needs to face the day in a positive way. Origins potent blend of UV protectors, including nature’s own Titanium Dioxide, defray the rays. Vitamin E stops environmental no-goodniks. Skin runs smoothly sun up to sun down. And one whiff of the gung-ho Grapefruit aroma gives you a sense of can-do optimism."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: This is one of my winter-time staples, for those days I want a thicker moisturizer to start the day with. It smells incredible and wakes up me AND my tired face.

Retail Price: $31.00 (origins.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "When skin faces a marathon of dehydrating circumstances, fluid levels can run too low. The steady sips of moisture that sustain it under normal conditions simply don’t hold water. Smoothness evaporates. Skin feels tight and flaky. What it needs is a great big gulp. It’s all you can drink as nature’s cocktail of caretakers drown dry skin’s sorrows. Thirst-quenching Algae Extracts deliver an extra helping of hydration while emollient-rich Apricot Kernel Oil acts like a “fountain of youth”. Feel skin drink in the softness, lap up the luxury."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Heaven. That's all I can say. It's pure heaven. Of course, being an Origins product, it smells amazing. And if you've got parched skin? This will be your new best friend. It truly does give you lasting hydration, and makes you feel like a princess while you relax and just let it soak in.

User Tips: The directions for normal use say to apply a nice layer, wait 10 minutes, then wipe off gently with a tissue or cloth. This is great, but on nights when my face feels especially dry, stretched, and tight? I put it on and go to bed - and wake up with a much happier face the next morning.

Retail Price: $18.50 (origins.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Gives a radiant glow and fights 7 signs of aging
With VitaNiacin®

1. Improves dullness for a radiant glow
2. Evens out skin tone
3. Lessens the appearance of dark circles
4. Visibly reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles
5. Intensively hydrates dry skin
6. Noticeably softens uneven texture
7. Minimizes puffiness.

This exclusive formula is: Dermatologist and Ophthalmologist Tested"

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Eye creams are abundant out there, and I'm always confused about which ones to try. Sometimes I'm wholly disappointed by the lack of noticeable effect, and other times, like now, I am thoroughly pleased. I am a fan of the Olay skin care line anyway, so I wasn't very apprehensive about trying this. The cream is very soothing, and has an instant lightening effect. I believe there's a slight tint that helps add to the brightness. My eyes feel incredibly refreshed after applying it.

User Tips: Use a light hand when applying. Dot it around your eyes with your ring or pinky finger and give it a few minutes to absorb into the skin before applying anything over it. I use this morning and night.

Retail Price: $18.99 (drugstore.com and drugstores everywhere)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Rich and emollient, Sephora's Brown Milk of Palm Bath Collection is sensuous, tender body care that is enriched with palm milk, known for its highly effective skin nourishing and hydrating properties.

Lock-in moisture as you impart a healthy glow to the skin with the luxurious body balm or velvety body lotion."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I love this lotion so much that I sometimes don't want to use it because I don't want to run out of it! It's SO silky and fluffy, yet has a wonderfully lasting effect on the skin. And the smell? OH. MY. It somehow becomes an incredibly chocolate-y/marshmallow-y/yummmmm-y smelling magical potion that puts me in the best mood. Definitely worth a try!

Rating:

*Update 10/08/05: Unfortunately, this item is no longer available from Sephora.

What They Say: "There is nothing sexier than touching satiny smooth skin. Almost like magic, this velvety body balm transforms into a silken moisture powder the moment it touches your skin. With a tumble of white blossoms, its scent is a pure aphrodisiac. Slip some on with Bathina’s velvet puff. . . It’s all you’ll want to wear."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I've actually been a fan of this for a long time, and am now thrilled to share it with you! If this sexy balm doesn't make you feel like a goddess, nothing will! It applies with a cute black velvet puff that is very retro, it smells like heaven, and makes your skin feel seriously healthy and pretty. It adds a lovely silky sheen.

Retail Price: $26.00 (benefitcosmetics.com)

Rating:

Melissa Tried It: This is part of the segment of Sally Hansen cosmetics inspired by TLC's "What Not to Wear" makeup artist Carmindy. I chose to try the Quartz shade, shown to the left. These compacts each include a lid, countour and highlight shade. These shadows are super-smooth (finely-milled), easily blendable/buildable and do in fact complement each other really well. They have lasting power comparable to many department-store brands I've used that don't necessarily claim extended wear. For anyone who doesn't feel adept at choosing individual shades on their own to create a coordinated eye look, this would take the guesswork out. For everyone else, it's a convenient all-in-one package that creates a put-together eye look. Overall, a pretty sure bet at a very reasonable price. Fragrance-free and paraben-free. $7.99, drugstores.

DeLush Rating:

Jen Tried It: I'm not normally a fan of loose powder. I have a hard time applying it evenly, and somewhere (usually the tip of my nose) ends up looking cakey (which I normally don't notice until I've been out of the house no less than three hours). But this finishing powder works so well to give my face a matte but not flat appearance with none of the application issues I've experienced in the past. It's easy to get nice, even coverage that seems to make my make-up last longer. I especially like it under my eyes on top of my concealer. It's so good I've had to completely rethink my stance on loose powder. And for me to make such a 180 and become so pro-loose powder...well, I definitely recommend giving it a try. Department Stores or MACCosmetics.com, $21.00.

DeLush Rating:

Melissa Tried It: This is touted as a gentle, oil-free/oil-controlling formula with a natural finish that helps erase signs of fatigue. Frankly, I have been surprised by how well it fulfills the claims. It's a bit more than sheer coverage, and does a fine job evening out skin tone while creating a (not-too) dewy finish. My skin tends to get oily on certain days in the T-zone, but while wearing this, I've not felt it necessary to blot (big bonus points). I'm impressed with how pretty and natural this looks, and a little seems to go a long way. (I tested shade Intensity 2.0.)

Jen Tried It, Too: After working long hours lately, I too was tooking for something that would be long lasting and leave me looking fresh, not exhausted. I've tried both the DoubleWear foundation and tinted moisturizer from Estee Lauder, and I thought this was a happy medium between the two in terms of coverage, and nearly as long lasting. (I also tested shade Intensity 2.0). As you know, my skin is on the dry side, so I needed to apply a moisturizer underneath to keep a nice glow throughout the day.$33.50, at Estée Lauder & select department stores.

DeLush Rating:

Melissa Tried It: This is my new "serious lip balm" addiction. Incredibly soft, not sticky or too shiny, and comfort that lasts quite a while are top reasons I love this tube of awesomeness. The tint is barely noticeable, but makes my lips look just a little more healthy. Also? No strange overbearing flavor. This one's an absolute winner. $14.00, at philosophy and in select retail locations.

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Silky-fine, shot with pearl, this blush inspires a subtle glow in tandem with a pure colour vibe. Ultra-smooth, delivers a light and alluring shimmer together with a sheer-colour payoff. Builds colour for ultimate effect. In every way luxurious. All are Limited Edition.

Eversun Shade description: Neutral peach bronze with gold pearl

Feeling Shade description: Dirty plum with silver pearl"

What Lisa Says: Looks like my Nars blushes may get a break for the summer! I love these MAC beauty powders and they're perfect for Spring/Summer. Both are very fine pressed powders that deliver buildable color with a pearl finish that is beautiful on the skin. The pearl shimmer is not overdone and just further enhances both of the colors I tested. Though they're sheer and impart a very natural "blush" on the cheek, they're high in pigment and it doesn't take much to deepen the color for evening.

"Feeling" had a bit more shimmer to it than "Eversun" (see shades here), but still; it was probably less than most blushes with the same. It is very natural looking and came across more rose colored on my skin than plum. Less is more when using this color. It imparts a natural healthy blush to the face but can look a little muddy if too much is applied. I found it to be very natural looking. Just lovely!

Eversun is my favorite of the two as I found it a bit more versatile a color this time of year. Like the name suggests, it gives you a gorgeous healthy sun kissed glow with a hint of gold shimmer. I used it as a blush and almost like a bronzer - following a "W" pattern across my cheeks & nose and hitting the high points of my forehead, etc. It looked like I'd had an afternoon of sun and my skin absolutely glowed. Just beautiful! This particular color is very natural looking - almost a neutral as it's description suggests. In spite of it being a true peach I can see this being versatile on many skin tones.

Most are already familiar with MAC products and for those faithful fans, you will not be disappointed. For the few who have yet to try the brand, this would be a great item to start with. For the MAC addicts out there who I know are wondering if this de-pots well, I experimented for you. I hesitantly warmed my flat iron and crossed my fingers. Mine de-potted beautifully. Just be extra careful with these. The Beauty Powder Blushes feel finer than most MAC blushes and if not handled with TLC, I think they could break-up a little easier. I did not carry this around in my purse for just this reason.

Retail Price: $17.50 (at Nordstroms or online at maccosmetics.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "The secret of captivation revealed to every redhead desiring super-luminous, breathtaking eyes. Three breakthrough crème shades that are creaseless, waterproof, and won't budge or disappear."

Jamie's Thoughts: I have to be honest with you on this one. This eyeshadow is awesome. It doesn't budge, it doesn't look trashy when you layer it heavily, heck - it even comes off easily with makeup remover. I cannot recommend this enough, and as a redhead, I'm confident in saying that ANYONE could wear these earthy shades.

I tested soufflé, a slightly metallic brown with just a hint of gold. Not only did it make a super sexy smoky eye (I only do smoky eyes in brown, I'm too pale for all that charcoal), but it looked lovely in the light of day - one layer was enough to add a light, discreet shimmer to my lids, more than appropriate for the workplace (and it stays in place all day).

And, there's more! It functions much like a smudge pot by you-know-who, if you get a wet, angled brush and use it as eyeliner. I heartily recommend this to all pale gals out there (ginger hair, or not) and also advocate this line of shadows to any other curious parties. You will not be disappointed.

Retail Price: $18.00 (special, down from $30! at justforredheads.com)

Delush Rating:

About the Summer 2008 Collection: "The season's most alluring getaway looks with a beautifully edited makeup collection of heat-baked sands, golden browns, sunset bronzes and an array of khakis."

On the new Rouge Hydrabase shades: "Long-lasting ROUGE HYDRABASE Creme Lipstick delivers deeply moisturizing colour in two new limited-edition shades: Leopard, a golden coral, and Rose Flamingo, a bright pink."

On the new Rouge Allure shades: "Iconic ROUGE ALLURE Luminous Satin Lip Colour offers lustrous colour and ultra-wearability in two new heat-seeking shades: Naïve, a pink nude, and Curious, a nude brown."

Jen's Experience: I tested out two of Chanel's new shades for summer, Rouge Allure in Curious and Rouge Hydrabase in Leopard, and I have to tell you, fair DeLush readers, I am really in love with these colors. My favorite of the two is the Rouge Allure in Curious. It's a nude color that looks great with pale skin, great with bronzer, great with a little make-up or a more dramatic look. It looks especially gorgeous with a coordinating gloss on top. Basically, this is the kind of perfect color that I like to stockpile and stash tubes in my purse and my desk at work.

The Rouge Hydrabase in Leopard looks more like a red against my pale skin, so I have gotten less wear out of it than the other shade, but that doesn't mean it isn't a fantastic shade. Those looking for a red that isn't too overwhelming might consider checking it out. I don't really like the formula for the Hydrabase as much. Despite the name, I don't feel like it hydrates quite as well as the Allure, but it does last an awfully long time, and that does mean a lot in my book.

Retail Price: $26.00 - Rouge Hydrabase, $30.00 - Rouge Allure (both available at Chanel.com or your local department store)

Ratings:
Rouge Hydrabase -
Rouge Allure -

What They Say: "This sheer, creme-gel blush hydrates and firms while giving cheeks a natural, radiant glow. Airbrush Effects Blushwhip has a unique air-like texture, with weightless, light diffusing pigments that create a smooth and flawless looking complexion. The easy-to-blend, ultra-hydrating formula diminishes the appearance of large pores and adds much needed moisture to dry skin during the winter months. ...It firms and brightens the cheek area, imparting a youthful glow."

Melissa Says: I am traditionally not a wearer of cream blush in general. Since I have skin that tends to get a little oily late in the afternoon, I've always relied on powder blush for my extra glow. I've always felt like cream blush has slipped off my skin after several hours or didn't blend well.

There are a few reasons this one stands out to me as different. First of all, it blends seamlessly, goes on smooth & silky, and creates a gorgeous sheer flush that stays true and lasts hours. (I prefer the Vida rosy pink shade a bit more for my skin tone - it seems to have slightly less of a pearlized finish than the Glow peachy pink).

Though I did feel the need to blot once or twice as usual, I didn't feel as if my skin necessarily became any more shiny because of the product. True, the look had more of a slight moisturized sheen than the powder blush I'm used to, but it looked healthy and supple, not messy or greasy.

User Tip: A little goes an incredibly long way. Seriously. One or two very small dabs on your fingertip (think 1/2 the size of a pea) to start will be more than sufficient on each cheek. The container also holds a very sufficient amount of product, enough to likely last many months.

*If you suffer from extremely oily skin, this would not be the best choice for you. However, if you have normal or dry skin, this could definitely impart some much-needed radiance to your complexion.

Retail Price: $28.00 /.48 oz. (at redpointbeauty.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "The art of perfect brows is simplified with this all-in-one brow kit. Features three powder shades, mini tweezers and mini brush for professional results."

Melissa Says: It feels a little decadent, in its shiny black case filled with three blendable brow powders and tiny perfector tools (tweezer, brow brush, and applicator brush), but seeing the end result is just about enough to justify the luxury.

The powders are the perfect sheerness to add depth to brows without making them obviously "touched-up". Utilizing a slightly lighter shade to do most of the filling in and then a shade up to finish creates an incredibly natural-yet-groomed look. The size of the applicator brush may seem ridiculous, but actually when you apply the powder a small bit at a time, you are less likely to go outside of your natural brow shape. Also, you can easily perfect even the tiny outer corners with no obvious shading showing.

This is a great tool for creating that perfect face frame with your brows. And there is plenty of product to last a very long time.

Retail Price: $65.00 (at Chanel online or in select department stores)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Mineral Power Naturally Luminous Blush with micro-minerals provides a soft, healthy glow to cheeks.

• Blends naturally with skin tone for a fresh flush of color
• Skin looks healthy and fresh
• Talc-free, lightweight formula
• Fragrance-free
• Oil-free

Melissa Says: This finely-milled powder goes on a little bit sheer and looks pretty and yes, a little bit luminous! Don't worry, it won't make your face shine...the luminosity is subtle and not shimmery. It also blends into the skin with ease and lasts well.

User Tip: A little goes a loonnnng way, so you only have to tap a bit into the lid before swirling your brush around. Fortunately, the way the interior is designed, not a lot of loose powder will get lost along the way.

Retail Price: $8.99 (at drugstores everywhere)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "BECCA Beach Tint is a beautifully blendable crème stain for cheeks and lips that suits all skin types. Kiss-proof and water-resistant, it dries to a perfect, streak-free, non-greasy and non-drying finish. Each shade is deliciously scented in its synonymous name.

• 2-in-1 crème stain for cheeks and lips
• Deliciously scented
• Oil Free, Streak Free, and Water-proof
• Contains anti-oxidant vitamin E
• Preservative and paraben-free"

Melissa Says: This does have a slightly sweet scent to it, but more importantly, it kisses skin with a gorgeous wash of color. Use just a little bit to create a lovely glow on the cheeks, and a little bit more for a perfectly-stained lip. (Pop on a bit of gloss on top of lips for a completed look.) This does stay very well for several hours, without fading or streaking, and when you apply it, it glides over the skin and blends very smoothly to help create a natural flush on the cheeks. It's also very easy to control the level of sheerness with this as well. This is a great low-maintenance product that applies quickly with the perfect amount of impact.

Retail Price: $25 / .24 fl oz. tube (at beccacosmetics.com or go here to find a retail location near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Stop searching for "something close" to your cherished shades - we can produce discontinued shades for the Lips, Cheeks, Eyes & Face or help you create your own from scratch! All formulas remain in our personal files for easy re-ordering.

If you would like us to re-create your favorite discontinued shade, we ask that you send us a dime sized sample. We analyze your shade for color, texture and coverage and create a formula that remains in our permanent files!

You can have us create your own shade ~ from a splash of nail color in a baggie, a piece of fabric, a paint chip, a photo from a magazine, two lips colors blended together to create the ideal shade... anything!"

Jen's Experience: I mentioned last week that I talked to Trae Bodge at 3 Custom Color about my biggest beauty challenges, and in addition to concealer, I mentioned that I am always in search of a red that doesn't look like too much against my pale skin and blonde hair. I learned from her that with my cool skin tone but blonde hair, that I can get away with a little bit of warmer colors in my make-up wardrobe than I usually gravitate towards. And then she mixed me the absolute most perfect red for me right there on the spot!

The color is perfect for me to wear to work or even out shopping; I just love the way it just works with my skin and hair. The lipstick itself is really long-lasting and wears evenly, so I don't have to keep checking the mirror to make sure that I don't look like a clown (this is a problem that I have frequently with my other reds). If you live in the New York area or are visiting, I would highly recommend making an appointment at the 3 Custom Color studio to get your own custom lipstick. Another option for those who are in love with a color but it's been discontinued or it's just very hard to find: they will blend you the color and texture of your favorites. It's super easy to order if it's already in their database, but you can also send them a small amount and they'll formulate a replica.

Retail Price: $45.00/2 tubes (Get more details at threecustom.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "Formulated with strobe pearl, this luxurious lip conditioner combines sheer soft-light-quenched colour with broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 15 protection and moisture."

Melissa Says: I am once again In Love.

These tubes of sheer, pretty color make lips look lush and moist, with a gorgeous kiss of pigment. Even when the shine goes away a bit, the lightly luminescent pigment still tints the lips. These are my VERY favorite new non-lipstick day go-to shades.

Pretty, lustrous, sheer and comfortable...what's not to love? Get them now while the collection is being sold.

Retail Price: $14.50 (at maccosmetics.com to purchase and/or to view the 5 gorgeous shades, or go here to find a retail location near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say:

• Helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, making the skin appear softer, suppler, and smoother
• Biopeptide-CL and hyaluronic acid help support and maintain the skin's natural production of collagen for skin that looks softer, smoother, and firmer
• Contains age-defying ingredients ubiquinone, DMAE, selenium, lipoic acid, soy extract, and Argireline
• Lightweight makeup covers flaws and imperfections
• Contains aloe, which helps moisturize the skin
• SPF 15 (UVA/UVB protection)

Unlike any other foundation, Ageless Skin Foundation contains Dr. Copeland's Age-Defying ERASE Complex, which has an exclusive blend of age-defying ingredients and SPF 15 protection. It not only covers up but also helps solve skin issues with powerful anti-aging ingredients like Argireline, DMAE, and Coenzyme Q10. Contains aloe, a natural moisturizer. Blends in easily and evenly to provide a smooth, natural finish.

Clinical Research
In an independent study, 26 women used Ageless Skin Foundation with Age-Defying ERASE Complex, provided in a white, unmarked container. After 6 weeks of use:

• 81% noticed the overall quality of their skin had improved
  
• 73% noticed improved skin firmness/better tone
  
• 80% noticed their skin was less dry
  
• 77% noticed smoother, softer skin
  
• 50% saw a noticeable lessening of fine lines and wrinkles

What Lisa Says: I'll get straight to the point - this is a LOVELY foundation! I received this foundation in "Natural" which was a smidge too dark for my complexion but still very workable. The only negative thing I can say is that I did not see any lessening of fine lines or wrinkles. I did notice that my skin looked and felt more hydrated, the overall look had improved (in terms of tone and hydration) and even my husband noticed an improvement in the softness. That's saying something!

As far as coverage goes, if you don't like to feel anything on your skin, this may not be for you; however, I felt like I was wearing a "protective glove" on my skin rather than foundation. The product is very build-able and while I tested application with fingertips, foundation brush and sponge, I found a brush gave the prettiest finish and the max coverage with the least amount of product. Very pretty! I have darkened areas due to sun damage and this product not only covered, but my skin glowed and it felt and looked like I had nothing on. I opted to wear this without setting powder and experienced no cracks or 'wrinkle lines'. Powder blush went on top just fine as did cream.

Retail Price: .5 fl oz./$55.00 (online at www.mcskin.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Unique powder blusher imparts a flattering radiance to cheeks. Remarkably silky texture for easy application and subtle shading. Accentuate cheekbones for a youthful look. Softer tones around the eyes soften expression and rejuvenate."

Jen's Experience: I have really had a hard time deviating from my normal routine of NARS Orgasm blush every single day, but this product has challenged my normal routine. This blush from Chanel is a beige with just a hint of rose, like a bronzer and blush all in one. The color is fantastic with everything in my wardrobe, clothing and makeup. It applies so nicely and blends like a total dream. I wear it pretty much everyday. This is a limited edition color for Chanel, so hit the counter and check it out before it's gone!

Retail Price: $40.00 (Chanel.com or your local department store)

Rating:

What They Say: "Best-selling LES 4 OMBRES Quadra Eye Shadow in new Bleu Célestes, a palette of navy and pale tones. Wet/dry formula delivers day-to-evening looks. Apply dry for subtle shadowing. Slightly moistened applicator gives a more intense shade. Organic polymer derivatives ensure smudge-proof long wear, particularly in high temperature or humidity. "

Jen's Experience: I have tried several of the CHANEL eyeshadow quads, some of which are staples of my cosmetic wardrobe, some don't work quite as well with my skin tone. I took one look at the Bleu Célestes quad and thought it would be way too gaudy for regular use with its one very bold navy shade, two lighter, brighter blues and a pink.

I used the lightest blue as a base for the entire lid area, not going too heavy so that it's little more like a frosted white. I use a tiny bit of the pink as a highlighter on the underside of my eyebrow. For work, the medium blue works in my crease, with the navy blue wetted and used as an eyeliner. It translates well into evening by using the navy on my entire lower lid. I am not sure if it would have the same effect for all eyecolors, but I have to say, the more of the navy I use, the more my blue eyes pop.

I don't know if Chanel recently changed their formula or if this selection is just very pigment-rich, but I don't think I've ever seen eyeshadow last this long. I do use an eyeshadow base, but I am still impressed that I can go out with the navy shadow and come back in the wee hours with it looking just like when I applied it. Between the wear and the way these colors look with my skin, this compact is a surprise favorite of this Spring collection from Chanel.

Retail Price: $55.00 (CHANEL.com or your local department store)

Rating:

What They Say: "CHANEL modernizes matte with a lightweight formula that delivers a soft, natural look with maximum staying power. Medium coverage looks impeccable and shine-free for up to 12 hours."

Melissa Says: If I ever wanted to give a product a 5-lip rating, this is it. Why? Well, because it has truly turned out to be perhaps the most fabulous liquid foundation I've personally used to date. It neutralizes redness, provides ample coverage without hiding the skin, blends invisibly, and gives a flawless radiant look that is still natural.

If I'm being very specific, it doesn't give me quite the 12 hours of no shine, but it comes as close as any liquid foundation has while still allowing my skin to look luminous and completely natural. True, my skin still gets a tad oily on the nose and forehead about midway through the afternoon, but this product does minimize it significantly. If you have very oily skin, this will not completely ease your troubles on its own.

Still, I have never used a liquid foundation that gives a matte sort of finish for several hours while still looking this radiant. I think for many women with normal to only moderately oily skin, you too will be pleased with this product's results. It is pricey, but the size of the bottle is ample and a little goes a long way. I would highly suggest asking the CHANEL consultant at the counter to prepare a small sample for you before you commit to the purchase if you're unsure. As far as liquid foundation is concerned, I personally believe this is among the best to date for those like myself.

p.s. I tested this in Clair, which melted invisibly into my skin. See other shades here.

Retail Price: $52.00 (on Chanel's website or go here to find a retail location near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Seductive and ripe for scandal. A colour collection daringly stripped-down, voluptuously finished, with everything you could possibly need to play up the nakedness of your look. Think of it as naked - with coverage."

(about the shadows): "Highly-pigmented powder. Applies evenly, blends well."

(about the lacquers): "Revolutionary new high gloss formula. Three long-wearing finishes - Cream, Sheer, and Frosted. Visibly different. Provides no-streak/no-chip finish. Contains conditioners and UV protection. Go hi-lacquer!"

Melissa Says:
(about the shadows): As usual, M·A·C's shadows are beautiful and long-wearing. Now, here is also a collection that would look gorgeous on practically any woman. They're so neutral and have just a hint of sheen (Rich Flesh is more matte), that they provide amazing all-purpose looks from the deeper brown to the perfect brow highlight.

(about the lacquers): I've reviewed these lacquers before as well, and though they tend to wear off the tips of my nails pretty quickly without a nice topcoat, these shades are very nice for this current nude trend. My favorite shade right now is Naturally Rich, but I can see myself falling more in love with the two lighter shades as the days grow warmer and my skin gets a little less pale! All are fairly sheer.

Retail Price:
(shadows): $14.00
(lacquer): $10.00
(online at maccosmetics.com or at a retail location near you)

DeLush Ratings:
(shadows):
(lacquer):

What They Say: "At last, you do have a magic wand, with NAO never accept ordinary® highlighter. Formulated to put a luminous, studio-worthy glow on your face, this clever concoction will quickly become your most guarded beauty secret. Here's your chance to shine with exceptional results that were - until now - the sole domain of the true studio makeup artists. Lighten up gorgeous!

• Looks great and adds highlights to virtually any skin tone.
• Multifunctional highlighter can be used to brighten up your complexion throughout the day.
• Use as a primer for your lip color to prevent feathering.
• Use around the perimeter of your lip line for fuller-looking lips.
• Use to neutralize rose undertones anywhere on the face, neck, or décolletage."

Melissa Says: I wasn't expecting what I found in this product at all. A highlighter? Okay, I've seen those before; they're often hit-or-miss, and rarely become makeup staples for me. However, this isn't what I would typically consider a 'highlighter' like most others. Instead of adding sheen or a silvery luminosity, it actually works more like a concealer.

Let me clarify that last statement: It works like one of the most fabulous concealers I've ever tried.

On the undereye area, this sits beautifully atop skin, brightening and lightening without settling into teeny-tiny lines at all, and it lasts all day. It keeps that delicate area hydrated without looking oily, and works WONDERS on my undereye dark areas (this in itself is somewhat miraculous). It also beautifully brightens the areas between the eyes, on the brow bones...everywhere.

I tried it a little as a lip primer and was pleased with that as well, but I don't believe that will be my primary use of this great little tube. I can't believe it, but I've found a new favorite undereye beautifier!

(p.s. - I tested this in Medium.)

Retail Price: $16.45 (at Quixtar.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Bobbi's sophisticated take on glitter. NEW, limtied-editon Pink Raspberry Glitter Lip Gloss features delicate flecks of glitter that reflects light to give lips a luscious look. Works well over your favorite Lip Color or a new Lip Sheer in the Pink Raspberry Face Palette. "

What Lisa Says: I'm not usually a fan of lip gloss, especially for daytime wear. I love the look but find that my lipstick doesn't stay on as long and that gloss usually tends to migrate and get gooey. That said, this little pink tube has won me over to daytime glossiness. I love this product!

I thought the tube small for the price but soon realized one little dip into this beautiful raspberry sherbet colored gloss was all it took to do both upper and lower lip. It's the perfect size for small handbags. Plus, I'm a big fan of brushes with lip gloss, as they can deliver more precise application and this little brush did not disappoint.

The gloss is tasteless and fragrance free. This pink is a lush warm pink and the glitter is more of an opalescent color including flecks of blue. Gorgeous! Used alone, the color is sheer enough to give a lovely pink tint and luster to natural lip. Over lip color, it can make the ordinary color pop, especially with pinks, nudes, plums and even coral lip color. It's just a great gloss with staying power galore - whether alone or over lipstick it stays on quite a bit longer than the average gloss. Just a note about the glitter: you can slightly feel the glitter on your lips so those who might be bothered by this be forewarned. Other than that, I highly recommend.

Retail Price: 4.2ml/$19.00 (available at bobbibrown.com, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "A hybrid of gloss and lipstick, chic colour and intense shine combine for creamy full coverage that feels soft and lightweight on lips."

Jen's Experience: There's a new offering in the Chanel lip color offerings, and I have to say, this might just be the best yet. When I first ripped open the package and applied it, I thought, "wow, this is like lip color and gloss all in one", and as it turns out, that's exactly what they were aiming for! The coverage is like a lipstick, super-saturated color that really pops. But unlike your average Chanel lipstick, they have a lot more shine. Both of the colors I tried, Plum Souffle and Madeleine, were on the pink side, and were great with my fair skin.

I was really impressed with the wear; it lasts for hours without drying out my lips, making it great for work or a night out. While this may be a little more expensive than your average lipstick, or gloss, it's less expensive than buying one of each from Chanel. Easier to apply, too. This is one of the best new lip products I've tried in ages.

Retail Price: $32.00 (CHANEL.com or your local department store)

Rating:

What They Say: "Our newest lipstick combines rich color, comfortable, long-lasting wear, and a soft, creamy shine. Glides on smooth, wears all day, and leaves lips soft and moisturized. Available in shimmering and matte shades."

Melissa Says: This truly is one of the more comfortable lipsticks I've used. It's incredibly creamy and supple, and manages the extra moisture without feeling tacky or sticky. The shades tend to wear a tad sheer, which is actually nice for building color. They also give lips a pretty shine.

The formula wears well - a few hours without fading away or feeling like you want to swipe on a quick touch-up; I'm not sure if personally I'd term it a super long-wear lipstick in terms of non-transference, etc., but of course, worn with lip liner these will have even more staying power.

Retail Price: $22.00 (at bobbibrowncosmetics.com or at a retail location near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Mascara X builds dramatically longer, thicker and glossier looking lashes. The softer fiber of the football-shaped brush delivers maximum payoff on the lashes. Mascara X doesn't clump or smudge, is ophthalmologist tested and designed to be long-wearing. It builds and strengthens lashes with a vegetable derived protein and contains Panthenol to condition the lashes. Easily removed with Pro Eye Makeup Remover, it's available in Black and Dark Brown."

Melissa Says: Aha - another fantastic mascara found! Part of the M·A·C Originals Collection (a grouping of the products that have stood the "test of time"), this formula goes on without clumping, creating nice separation and fullness with the heavily-bristled brush. I've been incredibly pleased with the clean look yet moderate amount of drama that can be produced with only a couple of coats. Also, I noticed no flaking or smudging, either. This one gets a definite seal of approval from me. If you want some fullness, length, and separation in a non-clumping and mess-free formula, give this one a try.

Retail Price: $12.50 (at maccosmetics.com or go here to find a retail location near you)

DeLush Raing:

What They Say: "Lip Polish and Lip Conditioner work together for softer, supple lips instantly.

The Lip Care Kit contains two products to create soft, supple lips. The gentle Lip Polish exfoliates and lightly buffs away dry skin cells from the lips while the Lip Conditioner's rich creamy texture moisturizes and hydrates the skin's surface. Together, the Lip polish and Lip Conditioner offer the ultimate protection without being heavy or sticky.

• Provides softer, smoother lip instantly
  
• Gently exfoliates lips
  
• Hydrates without being heavy or sticky
  
• Dermatologically tested

Melissa Says: Say hello to lip comfort with this duo. The Lip Polish feels like creamy sugar crystals and lightly removes dry, flaky skin from lips and leaves them revitalized, and the Lip Conditioner is incredibly emollient. A little of it goes a long way and it stays on lips to keep them comfortable for a long time (it is even glossy and pretty enough to double as a lip gloss). This set should last though many uses, and will keep your lips smooth and glowing.

Retail Price: $22.00 (online here)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "If you love bold, beautiful brows, this kit has it all. Our Brow Babe Kit contains our exclusive mix of Brow Boost, Brow Powder, and Gel.

Brow Boost will help strengthen and thicken your brows. Our smooth, easy to apply brow powder will enhance your brow line, giving your brows a beautiful, natural finish. Lock in your look and set your brow hairs with our silky Brow Gel.

Day: Apply brow powder and set with Brow Gel

Night: Use Brow Boost to help get brows healthy and thicker.

Brow Powders come in three easy to use colors:

Blonde: Very blonde to Dirty Blonde
Taupe: Light brunette to Dark Brunette
Raven: Very Dark hair"

Melissa Says: This is a great combination of useful products for anyone who's realized how important the simple act of making the brows look defined and healthy can do wonders for your look. The Brow Boost Gel is a nourishing and conditioning treatment that helps to re-stimulate areas of your brows which have been sparse. Though my brows tend to be healthy in the first place, I did notice some quicker growth when using this than normal. The Brow Powder is very smooth and can be applied with your current small brush (if you don't have one, the next kit up the price ladder includes one - check the website), and the Brow Gel is non-sticky and doesn't dry stiff, but makes hairs look neat and groomed with its tightly-bristled mascara-like wand.

I wouldn't doubt that for some of you this may be a bit pricey, but if you really long for a brow solution and want everything within easy reach in a convenient set, this could definitely be worth the cost for you.

Retail Price: $39.95 (at billiondollarbrows.com and at Billion Dollar Brows locations)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Keeps your eyecolor in place with 15-hour staying power. Extends the wear of powder eyeshadow and keeps it smooth and crease-free. Ophthalmologist-tested. Fragrance-free."

 

Jen's Experience: If you have trouble getting your eyeshadow and eyeliner to stay in place, or you're always rubbing your eyes and ruining your make-up artistry, you're going to LOVE this new product from Estee Lauder. Much like their fantastic Doublewear foundation and concealer, this base makes any eyeshadow wear better and longer. I was amazed when I came home from a long day at work (and a serious workout to boot) and saw my powder eyeshadows still in place, and even more amazed that even my gel and liquid eyeliners seem to stay in place throughout the day whenever I wear this eyeshadow base. The colors of my eyeshadows also look a little truer since they're applied over a neutral color. This is one of the best products I've tested in a long time and an absolute essential in my morning make-up routine.

Retail Price: $15.00 (EsteeLauder.com or your local department store counter)

Rating:

What They say: Make Nails Hard like Wraps in 1 Easy Step!

• Everything you want in a nail wrap...now in a bottle!
• This is the perfect nail polish solution for women who want hard, strong, beautiful nails but do not have time for salon visits and expensive nail wraps.
• Professional brush provides ultra-smooth, flawless application.
• Brush on strength and beauty in just one easy step!
• No DBP, Toluene or Free Formaldehyde.
• Available in 20 flawless shades.

Special Ingredients:
Patented formula with Acrylic Gel seals and hardens nails with an instant, long-lasting wrap-like surface and a smooth, shiny finish.

Melissa Says: I'm not one who likes to keep long nails, but I do hate when nail color starts to recede from the tips just a couple of days after application, so I wanted to give this stuff a try and see if it really was tough and helped to keep nails strong. I am happy to say that this formula is strong and lasts several days (for me about a week) with great shine and no chipping. I tried this is Sheer Beige Gloss for a super long-lasting natural look and have been very happy with it.

Retail Price: $4.99 (at drugstores and superstores)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "A long wearing lipstick and lip gloss all in one. The secret is a blend of patent-pending polymers that provide long-lasting wear with rich pigment that glides on like your favorite lip gloss. The tip of the pen is contoured to provide easy, precise application - hugging every curve of you lip. ...boasts extended wear time while keeping lips feeling soft and smooth - never dry!"

Melissa Says: A whole new way to make my lips prettier opened up with this product. This stuff smells sweet when you apply it, goes on super-easy and smooth (thanks to the perfect rounded tip that gives a great edge every time), and it feels so very light and comfortable. As if that weren't enough to make me love it, it can be applied sheer or layered for a deeper effect, and the color STAYS PUT, for hours.

Unlike typical "long-wear" lip products, this doesn't look or feel dry, and the "gloss" part of the product doesn't actually make it shiny or wet-looking, but keeps your pout moist and comfortable. I have never tried anything like this before, and as a lip product ADDICT, this is one that I'm more than happy to give my thumbs-up to. Honestly, I love it.

Retail Price: $18.00 (at sephora.com until the Stila Cosmetics site is finished being updated)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Multi-faceted creamy color provocatively clings to the curves of your lips for luxurious, lasting comfort. An exceptional blend of Micro silk powders™ creates a sensual, finely woven veil of rich color that glides onto the lips - dressing them like silk. Available in a palette of 18 signature shades with 3 must-have fashion top coat lip accessories to be layered for a matte, satin, or sparkling effect.

* High color cream lipstick
* Exquisite silk finish
* Luxurious lasting comfort"

Melissa Says: Not only is this formula (which I had never previously tried) incredibly soft and moisturizing, but these two shades (55 & 56) for fall from Armani's 2007 Leather Collection are beautiful and versatile. The deep red-burgundy has a gorgeous sheen that adds depth and is a perfect choice for a polished and sophisticated look, while the soft nude beige is a shimmer-free neutral to partner with fall's smoky eyes or your usual look.

This lipstick feels very comfortable and creamy, yet not thick or heavy. It's not particularly longer-lasting than other popular lipstick formulas, but then again it's not touted as long-wear by nature. Personally I had no issue with the wear and only needed to touch up once in a while. From the sleek casing to the contoured shape and super-soft feel, this lipstick fits right in with the glamour of the season.

Retail Price: $25.00 (online at giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com or go here to locate a select retailer near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "A lipcolour that fuses a high gloss wet-look finish with balm-style emolliency and conditioning. Delivers 3D-style dimension to the lips through an innovative combo-blend of extreme pearl and multi-reflective shine. Non-sticky, smooth to apply. Instantly moisturizing and comfortable to wear. The unique high-fashion look and finish lasts for hours. "

Jen's Experience: I am a long time fan of M.A.C. Lip Glass products, but let me tell you right off the bat, these limited edition lip glasses may be my favorites of the whole product line. The colors are universally flattering, and I found that even the brighter shades looked good -- on me as well as my friends. These 3D Lip Glasses are even more moisturizing than the original product, and I have found that they do more to moisturize my lips than most of my lip balms. And the wear is longer than pretty much any of the other lip glosses that are currently floating around in my purse. If you have an ongoing love for lip glass, or are just looking for a great, super-shiny gloss, visit your M.A.C. counter while they're still available!

Retail Price: $14.00 (MACCosmetics.com or your local department store M.A.C. Counter)

Rating:

What They Say: "Her smoke signals: intense blue, grey and aubergine shadows wafted over the eyes, bound by rings of creamy Eye Kohl..."

Gentle Fume Eyes: Eye Shadow x4 - "A monochromatic quad of four modern cool-toned Eye Shadows in the sultry spirit of Smoke Signals. Features three limited edition shades: Waft, Gentle Fume and Rondelle, matched-up with Carbon. Texturally: an intense mix of matte and velvet."

Smoking Eyes: Eye Shadow x4 - "A smoking quad of four warmed-over neutrals that at its deepest starts with a rich, dark black. Features three limited edition shades: Next to Nothing, Smoking, and Showstopper, complemented by Satin Taupe."

Kohl Power Eye Pencil (in Orpheus, a gold-flecked black and Raven, an intense black with red pearl that looks sort of like deep plum on the eye) - "A kohl pencil that has all the intensity and colour power of ultra-soft carbon. Specially formulated to provide deep, fully opaque coverage, provides an intense, smoked finish with duo-chrome pearl. Versatile in application: blend or smudge."

Melissa Says:
about the Eye Shadow x4 - These quad shades are really well put together in terms of compatibility with each other. My personal favorite is the Smoking Eyes set, but both include very pretty and of-the-moment colors that don't go over the top, but are in fact quite wearable. This was my first introduction to wearing M•A•C quad shadows, and I have been impressed. The pigments are always true and the formula is quite smooth, with pretty respectable staying power.

about the Kohl Power Eye Pencils - I also had not previously worn M•A•C's Kohl Power Eye Pencils, and honestly I always associate kohl liners with lots of smudging. While I found that these created a gorgeous line on my upper lids and remained unsmudged much longer than with other kohl liners I've tried in the past (several hours), on my usually more moisturized lower lids they did not fare so well. Obviously I typically wouldn't line both upper and lower with a bold pencil like this anyway, but I wanted to try it out for the sake of getting a feel for all aspects of wear. On upper lids, these two shades create a little extra drama and sexiness, but use caution when considering using them underneath.

Retail Prices:
Eye Shadow x4 $36.00
Kohl Power Eye Pencil $13.50
(both available at maccosmetics.com or go here to find a retail location near you)

DeLush Ratings:
Eye Shadow x4
Kohl Power Eye Liners

What They Say: Skinvigorating™ Benefits NEW: Rejuvelash Declumping Lash Exhilarator

• Treat: ProVitamin B5 and a cocktail of herbal hair restoratives (like aloe) improve the texture of eyelash hair to increase suppleness and prevent breakage so your lashes can reach their full potential.
• Protect: Proprietary antioxidant blend with Vitamin C acts as a film former to protect against cosmetic, environmental and free radical damage.
• Revive: give late day lashes a lift and get rid of clumps; unique emulsifying agents and this patented flexible bristle brush gently eliminate clumps.

Lights, camera, lashes! 4-in-1 Mascara

• Lengthening: Rice bran, carnauba & candelilla wax extend the length of lashes.
  
• Curling: Synthetic film formers hold in curl.
  
• Volumizing: ProVitamin B5 treats and thickens.
  
• Conditioning: Organic compounds derived from natural olive esters coat and treat lashes to protect against breakage.

Picture Perfect Eyelash Curler

• Breakthrough ergonomic design - no finger holes makes it easy to use.
  
• Curved angle suits all eye shapes without pinching or crimping.

Alissa's Opinion: I'm a total sucker for lash products and all things purple, so I was really excited to rip this set open and give it a try. The cute faux snakeskin and leather cases look like no other product on the market.

I started with the eyelash curler. It was easy to grip and gave me a nice round curl with no bends or kinks. Next up was the Exhilarator, which deposited a lot of gunk on my perfectly flipped lashes. I combed through the goop when it dried so I could get an even coat of mascara, but I ended up with dry white flakes on my face. After cleaning up that mess I applied the 4-in-1 Mascara and found that the end result was beautiful. The brush is full and holds a lot of product, so I wiped it of before applying. It gave me long, thick eyelashes that stayed curled all day.

I also tried the Exhilarator as a mid-day mascara reviver but found that it just gave me spider eyes again. I will continue to use the mascara, but that other little tube is gone. It might be useful if you are looking for a nighttime lash conditioner.

Retail Price: $40.00 (at tartecosmetics.com - for pricing for individual products see the site as well)

DeLush Ratings:
Exhilarator:
Mascara:
Curler:

What They Say: "Drawing inspiration from Armani's exquisite collection of leather accessories, the eye mania palette features four versatile shades encased in a luxurious black snakeskin print compact. This elegant eye shadow palette is an accessory all on its own; a unique expression of the Armani style. The collection of pink and violet hues in matte, satin, and shimmering finishes creates a sophisticated look for Fall 2007. Limited Edition.

Eye Shadow Shades:
satin pink beige
soft shimmering pink
matte deep purple
matte ashwood

Application Techniques:
Apply matte ashwood all over your eyelid, blending matte deep purple into your crease and soft shimmering pink above the crease. Finish by adding satin pink beige into the inner corners of your eye."

Melissa Says: It was as if this palette was created just to make me happy. The colors just happen to contain the shades that look best with my eye color, and they apply more smoothly than any shadow I've used. Not only does this shadow blend beautifully, but there is not a crease to be found after wearing it for hours. True, this is more than most of us are typically prepared to spend for shadow on a regular basis, but the luxury of the formula combined with the beautiful shades and pretty compact make this a splurge that's worth it if you're looking to spoil yourself. If this selection of colors doesn't work as well for your coloring, I would still highly recommend one of the other versions of Eye Mania palletes.

(Click pic to enlarge.)

Retail Price: $65.00 (at