What They Say: "With naturally calming feverfew, a natural ingredient related to chamomile, this product is clinically proven to visibly reduce facial redness and calm irritation. It helps soothe dry, red uncomfortable skin. This hydrating cream moisturizes skin all night long to maintain healthy-looking skin and is shown in clinical studies to deliver visible skin improvements in as little as one week.

Use this moisturizing cream at night to reduce redness, calm and soothe irritations, and diminish blotchiness for even-looking skin. It is gentle enough to use every day and safe enough for the most sensitive skin, even those with rosacea."

Jen's Experience: I bought this cream to treat some red, bumpy areas near my mouth. Those have turned out to be dermatitis rather than just my normal skin irritation, and this cream, while it feels good, does nothing for a skin condition like that. However, I was pleased to find that it really did the trick on redness in other parts of my face in just one or two days, especially the redness from a recent breakout. The cream is cool and soothing, and lasts for a long time. If you're looking for a solution for lightly irritated or uneven skin, this is definitely a product to try.

Retail Price: $15.79 (Drugstore.com or your local drugstore)

Rating:

What They Say: "Delivering a new level of performance: SUBLIMAGE SÉRUM. Planifolia PFA, the customized precious oil extracted from the powerful botanical fruit at the heart of SUBLIMAGE, is now at twice the concentration of the cream. In addition, 100% of the water contained in the serum is distilled Planifolia Concentrated Water for unprecedented results."

Jen's Experience: As a huge fan of the CHANEL Sublimage cream, I was thrilled to get a chance to try out their serum as well. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to test the serum with the cream, which would probably have given extraordinary results, but I was able to see how this serum, when worn under my normal cream, really upped the intensity of the results. My cream applied more evenly and the moisture seemed to last much longer to the touch, but without being tacky like a lot of really thick moisturizers. My skin definitely looks more radiant and healthy.

So how great is it? Well, maybe not $385 worth of fabulous. I rarely let price interfere with my ratings, but for the cost of this cream, I would expect it to give me a foot rub and maybe pick up my dry-cleaning as well. In other words, I would have expected to have a life-changing skin experience. If you have this kind of money to throw around, it's truly a fantastic product (and if you don't have the Sublimage cream, by all means, pick that up first) but for the rest of us, it's probably not worth taking out a new line of credit.

Retail Price: $385.00 (CHANEL.com or your local department store counter)

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: "Your skin gets stressed in the night. If a late night juice fest is not your thing, try C Through the Night Moisturizing Cream.

Boosts the moisture level of the skin by promoting moisture retention. Enriched with carrot seed oil, carrot juice and cucumber juice."

Jen's Experience: I originally picked up this product because I normally gravitate towards organic and vegan skincare products and with a name like "Yes to Carrots", it seems like a given that it would fit into the organic category. Well, their website doesn't seem to indicate that at all (not even a hint on their animal testing policy), but all the same I have enjoyed testing this product overall.

The texture of it is fairly thick, making it good for fall to winter usage. It comes in a pretty big tub as well, so you'll get several months of use out of it with nightly wear. And I do like the natural, but pleasant, smell of the moisturizer. As far as promoting moisture retention in my face, or any kind of life-changing glow out of this moisturizer, I didn't really notice too much of an improvement in my skin just from using this, even after a couple months of wear. So, while it's not going to change your life, it's a pretty good mid-priced drugstore moisturizer that works for those with sensitive skin like me.

Retail Price: $14.99 (only available at Walgreens)

Rating:

What They Say: "A lightweight, easily-absorbed, moisturizing formula to help protect against premature aging caused by everyday exposure to the sun and environmental pollutants. Protects against UVA rays that cause long-term damage and UVB rays that cause burning. This non-greasy formula is excellent for all skin types including oily and acne-prone. May be used with or without makeup. "

Jen's Experience: I walked into Sephora looking for a daily moisturizer for my face that had UVA and UVB sun protection that did a good job of keeping my face hydrated without being greasy. I unwittingly walked out with a sunscreen that I believe is meant for the body, but as it turns out, it's fantastic for both. Sometimes sunscreens have a hard time soaking in, especially on the face, leaving a white overcast (or worse). This one soaks in evenly on both my face and body, and keeps my face from feeling the winter dryness that I often experience by this point. And it provides great sun protection even for my long runs outdoors. As a normal sunscreen, I'll admit this is pretty pricey. But as a daily wear facial moisturizer, I think this is worth every penny.

Retail Price: $28.00 (Sephora.com)

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:

• 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: A feather weight, easily absorbed active collagen supporting formulation of Rosemary & Pomegranate: hydro balancing natural stimulants regenerate your skin. Rice provides natural protective moisture. Pomegranate increases the effect of spf15. Use to restore and protect.

Melissa Says: I actually liked this a.m. moisturizer's light feel. Though not as quickly-absorbing as the oil-free version I'd been using regularly, of course, this didn't take too long to soak into the skin. Unfortunately, this made me break out. The first time I noticed a few pimples where I don't even usually get them on my "off" days, I just thought "hmm, I wonder if it's this stuff? naahhh...", but took a break from it just in case. The second time there were just a few random ones again and I thought "oh great, is it possible this is just a bad coincidence?". One more try after about two weeks off, and the third time there was no question. There they were, on my forehead and either sidE of my nose. ENOUGH.

This could just be a reaction because of my skin type, so just use caution when deciding to use this if your skin is reactive sometimes to certain ingredients. It seems like it would be a good moisturizer otherwise, so if it doesn't bother you, go for it. And remember, if it does cause you to break out, you can always return the product to the drugstore to get a refund.

Retail Price: $19.99 (in CVS stores or at CVS online or shop at the BeFine online store after their shopping area is complete)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "A.M. Moisture SPF 15 is for daily protection against UVA/UVB damage as part of a general healthy skin regimen. This broad-spectrum sunscreen, utilizing advanced biotechnology, encourages the skin to self-repair, moisturizes, and replenishes sun-depleted reserves of antioxidants, including Vitamins C and E. Patented liposome delivery system encapsulates key ingredients in microscopic spheres, which are engineered to deliver maximum benefit at the cellular level. Benefits include the most advanced approach to healthy skin that combines the best of two worlds: DNA repair enzymes (to cure past UV damage) and broad-spectrum sunscreen (to protect against future UV damage).

 

 

 

 
Key ingredients include:

• Avobenzone (Parsol 1789) - protects against photo-aging of the skin.


• Photosomes - derived from ocean plankton, they have the ability to harness light energy for defense and have been clinically proven to improve the appearance of sun-damaged skin.


• Ultrasomes - Liposomes that intensify the skin's ability to repair sun-inflicted DNA damage, speed recovery reaction, and reduce the appearance of post-sunburn peeling.


• Vitamins C and E (in oil-soluble form) - essential for stimulating collagen production, natural regenerating partners, vital to antioxidant levels.

Usage: Apply one meted dose in the morning to freshly cleansed face and throat. Not intended for recreational sunning or use in tanning booths. Recommended for all skin types."

What Lisa says: I'm not sure where to start with this product. I wanted to embrace this product after reading up on its ingredient list. I have my fair share of sun damage but am working hard to reduce the effects of too much "fun in the sun" from years past. This little bottle promises a lot and it may well deliver except for one huge factor: it tends to bead up on the skin even after sitting for 10 minutes or so. This made putting on foundation a nightmare. Powder foundations tended to clump up and go on unevenly leaving moist/dry areas. Crème/liquid foundations just rolled around and seemed to slough off. I tried putting foundation on immediately, waiting ten minutes and longer - nothing seemed to help. There was always this "film" on top of my skin and so I only used it when I was home and wearing no makeup at all. I'm an esthetician so I know my skin is properly cleansed and exfoliated so debris on the skin isn't a factor here. I'm afraid the "wearability factor" outweighed the "goodness factor" for me. I can't recommend.

Retail Price: 1.7 oz/$75.00 (Remergent is available through preferred dermatologists and plastic surgeons. Please visit www.remergentskin.com or call 800-590-4244)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "This lightweight pore-minimizing moisturizer for normal or oily skin hydrates, nourishes and helps reduce the appearance of pore size with an exclusive combination of natural extracts. High levels of pure vitamin E heal and protect while Brazilian sea algae deliver proteins, amino acids, and essential minerals to the skin. Daily Moisture contains burnet, cinnamon and ginger to help reduce pore size without leaving the skin feeling greasy."

Alissa's Opinion: Living with oily skin has taught me to generally avoid products that come in a jar (ie. thick creams). I can get a bad breakout just by looking at a spot of grease. That being said, this particular moisturizer, which is formulated for my skin type, does live up to its claims of being lightweight. After using it for a couple of weeks my face actually looked pretty clear! I really liked the smooth texture and quick absorption. Unfortunately I didn't notice any reduction in pore size, but my makeup went on smoothly after applying. The only thing it's missing is sun protection which should be essential for a daily moisturizer. I will continue to use this at night and on days I don't plan on getting much sun.

Retail Price: $50.00 (at dermstore.com or go to Skinceutical's website to find a retailer near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: " Neutrogena® Illuminating Whip Moisturizer SPF 20 delivers fast-absorbing, lightweight hydration while it brightens your complexion and helps safeguard skin from UV damage.

This light-as-air whip moisturizer imparts fast-absorbing, non-greasy hydration, leaving skin soft and silky. Skin-brightening minerals and optical light reflectors add incredible luminosity, so skin looks bright and radiant, even without makeup. Built-in SPF 20 guards against daily sun damage."

Jen's Experience: Of all the types of beauty products I've gotten at the drugstore, I've probably had the most luck with facial moisturizers. Yet I'm less than impressed with this one. The product had a strong perfume-y scent, which makes me suspcious that it's responsible for my current outbreak. And as far as moisture goes, I didn't find that it provided all that much. There are plenty of other great choices from the drugstore (search on facial moisturizers for more ideas), but this one is mediocre at best.

Retail Price: $14.99 (Drugstore.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "This Nourishing formula with hand picked aromatherapy scents is gentle enough to be used everyday. This technically advanced formula contains micronized Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide, Mica, Melanin, and Sunflower oil (which has natural suncreen protective properties) in combination with chemical sunscreens, we are able to obtain broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection while using less of the chemical suncreens (which can be irritating at higher SPF levels). Natural extracts of Ginko Biloba, Ginseng, Centinella, Chaparral, Mimosa, Green Tea, Meadowsweet, Bilberry, and Echinacea, along with Aloe, Allantoin (Comfrey) and Bisabolol(chamomile), further minimize any potential irritation and soothe and moisturize skin. The Antioxidant vitamins A, E, C, and Beta-Carotene act as free radical scavengers and bolster the skins immune defense systems."

Jen's Experience: I wasn't sure when I got this if it was for my face or body. I finally decided it was for the body, but I have to say, I used it on my face for a week and found it to be totally luxe for my dry, sensitive skin. Although it has a pretty strong fragrance, it didn't irritate skin on my face or body. As far as the fragrances go, I've tried all three flavors: Pink Parfait, a mixture of fruits and musk, Summer Sherbet, a cucumber melon scent, and Tropical Honey, a vanilla-based fragrance, and I have to say, the Summer Sherbet is my favorite. All of the fragrances linger for quite a while, and that one seems to conflict least with my perfumes. For those looking for a nice, scented moisturizer that just happens to also be a pretty stout moisturizer, this is an excellent choice.

Retail Price: $14.00/6 oz. (ShadySun.com)

Rating:

About the body moisturizer: “Neutrogena® Summer Glow Daily Moisturizer SPF 20 with Helioplex™ technology provides a healthy-looking glow and broad spectrum UV protection just by moisturizing.

This moisturizing formula softens skin with a light fresh scent, while advanced broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection stabilized with Helioplex™ technology provides daily UV defence. With each use, it enhances skin for a light, natural glow. Used daily, your maximum depth and intensity of color will be reached after about one week.”

Alissa’s Opinion: Let me start by saying that last summer I tried every single drugstore brand of gradual tanning moisturizer. I have pale, sun-hating skin, so I am on a continual quest for the ultimate fake tan. I used Neutrogena’s formula for medium skin tones, and found that it gave me a good hint of color after two applications. The lotion absorbed quickly and didn’t leave any telltale streaks on my skin. My only complaint is the scent. It is horrible and strong, and I felt the need to apologize to my coworkers who had to smell me all day.

About the facial moisturizer: “This unique lotion not only softens and smoothes skin with ultra-light moisture, it gradually enhances the natural color of your skin so it looks healthier, more even toned and radiant. Defined with a naturally derived complex, it gradually builds just a touch of color. Your skin will look subtly warmer with a luminous glow. Broad-spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 15 sunscreens help prevent premature signs of aging caused by everyday exposure to sun's damaging rays. ”

Alissa's Opinion: This product left me wanting more. I used it for a week straight and didn’t see any sign of a glow. It worked well as a light moisturizer and I love that it has sun protection added, but it just didn’t do what it was supposed to! Oh, and it made my face smell horrible too.

DeLush Ratings:
Body Moisturizer
Facial Moisturizer

What They Say: "This daily moisturizing treatment helps grant the beauty of brightness with alpha-arbutin, one of the most stable and effective brightening ingredients available. Its blend of botanical ingredients also increases resistance to other age signs. A light, easily absorbable formula, this milky moisturizer is ideal for daytime wear or complexions that show afternoon shine. Alpha-arbutin helps brighten skin, while olive oil, squalane, and rice germ oil condition."

Jen's Experience: I've tried a lot of products that claim to increase radiance or brighten the skin, and it's such a subjective term that I've almost taken it to be a synonym for "doesn't do a whole lot". That is, until I tried this one. I've been using this at night for about a month now, and I have to say, the change in my skin is dramatic. My skin is not just much clearer, but my skin tone is much more even, no redness, and my usual spattering of white and blackheads is virtually gone. Here's the catch: with all the great effects, it's making my skin a little on the dry side, enough that for my daytime wear, I have to give my skin a lot of TLC to keep it looking good. For me, the extra moisturizing and care is worth it, and if your skin is normal to oily, you probably wouldn't even have an issue. If you're in the market for a skin brightener, I can't recommend this one enough.

Retail Price: $45.00 (DHCCare.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "Rescue intensive facial treatment is formulated to dramatically reduce the appearance of deep expression wrinkles and to firm, tighten and lift slacken and lined skin. Rescue delivers a more radiant, even complexion, while visibly reducing wrinkle depth and crow's feet. The results are so dramatic, it's hard to believe it wasn't surgery!"

Melissa's Mom Says: I am 52 and have very dry, sensitive skin. I've been searching for a product like this, so I was excited when I was asked to try it out. Rescue Intensive Facial Serum claims to reduce the appearance of deep expression lines as it firms, tightens and lifts. It also claims to decrease sallow skin and olive pigmentation while increasing the pink undertones so the skin appears more luminous.

Typically, I find that I cannot use products that make claims like this one, because my skin irritates easily and becomes itchy. That's the issue I was most concerned about. I do believe that usually the best benefits are achieved by using a complete skincare line, however I only had the serum, so I used it along with the skincare line I'm currently using.

I first noticed a tingling and tightness to the skin. During the day, the tightness would almost give me the feeling that my skin was drying, but it was still moist to the touch. That feeling I had was just from the tightening effect I was noticing. After using this serum for 3 weeks, what stood out most was the tightening and toning of my skin, even under the chin! I also noticed a refining and reduction of pore size. I did see a reduction of fine expression lines, and even though I also noticed a reduction of the deeper lines on my forehead and between my brows, I was hoping to see them diminished more.

This product is full of botanicals and vitamins. I was quite impressed that I could use it without any irritation, and loved the tightening, refining and reduction of pores! This is really a great product for fine line expression lines. However, for the deeper lines you may need to have more extended use in order to see benefits. Overall, I believe anyone with aging issues would benefit from using this serum.

Retail Price: $135.00 (Nordstrom.com)

Rating:

What They Say: (about the Exfoliating Mask) "Exfoliating mask uses naturally extracted fruit acids to encourage cell turnover and leave skin renewed and refreshed. (Not recommended for active acne.)

• Formulated with bilberry, black currant and citrus fruit acids.
  
• Clears away cellular debris with ground rose hips seeds, apricot seeds and kernels, plus soothing almond meal and oatmeal.
  
• Moisturizes with white camellia, organic Rosa Mosqueta® and other herbal oils.
  
• Excellent care for lackluster skin and fine lines."

(about the Toning Moisturizer) "Unique toning lotion hydrates and gently exfoliates with herbal emollients and naturally extracted fruit acids. (Not recommended for active acne.)

• Helps clear away dead skin cells and debris and firm and smooth the complexion.
  
• Moisturizes dehydrated, dry and lifeless skin with organic Rosa Mosqueta®, white camellia and apricot oils.
  
• Contains natural fruit acids from bilberry, black currant and citrus fruit acids.
  
• Works best with Natural AHA Fruit Acids with Apricot Exfoliation Mask."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: (For the Exfoliating Mask) This surprised me at first with its thin consistency, and I was kind of skeptical when applying it. However, after rinsing it away I was quite pleased with the results. My skin was incredibly smooth and soft, and I didn't find that this irritated my skin at all, even after several uses. It separates a bit in the bottle, so you definitely need to shake it up before applying and they also recommend storing both of these in the refrigerator after opening.

(For the Toning Moisturizer) According to directions, this was something to typically apply after the exfoliating mask. However, I found that this formula tended to make my skin feel a bit tight, and not incredibly moisturized. It was also VERY thin, almost watery, which I found strange and wasn't too fond of. I just didn't see any sort of a positive effect on my skin to make this worthwhile.

Retail Price: $19.95 each - 4oz (at aubrey-organics.com)

DeLush Ratings:
(For the Exfoliating Mask)
(For the Toning Moisturizer)

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: A light textured, highly concentrated blend of natural ingredients and botanical extracts. The combination of multiple hydrating, revitalizing and anti-aging agents are encapsulated in our unique multi-layer Liposomes which balance the natural moisture factor of the skin with a continuous time-release action. Softens fine lines and minimizes the appearance of deep wrinkles.

Main Eastern Ingredient: Royal Jelly – regenerative & anti-aging
Main Western Ingredient: Vitamin E – anti-oxidant & healing

Other active Ingredients: Sweet Almond Oil, Soja Glycine, Olive Fruit Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Shea Butter, Rosehip Oil, Ginkgo Biloba, Vitamin A.

Lisa’s Experience: Avia Royal Night Complex comes in a 1.7 oz. plastic container with a pump dispenser and clear plastic top. The pump does turn and lock making it a no-brainer for traveling. Like the cream I reviewed a few weeks ago from the same line, the product itself is a thick creamy ivory colored moisturizer with a light “powdery” scent. I personally didn’t care for the smell but those liking something soft will love it. When it came to performance of Avia Royal Night Complex I did like it a little better than the Intensive Hydration, which is from the same line.

I could tell right away that this was going to be a “night time only” product for me just as the label implies. I smoothed on enough to cover my face, neck and décolleté and climbed into bed wondering what changes I might see to my skin in a few weeks. The formula is a bit waxy-feeling and I had my doubts as to whether it would soak in by morning, but soak in it did – at least most of it. My skin felt soft and hydrated with a very slight bit of product residue still on top. Nothing a good morning face cleansing couldn’t remedy. I primed and made up my face and did fine throughout the day with my regular moisturizer underneath but found I didn’t feel quite moisturized all day.

In all fairness, it’s been cold and windy all over the country - unusually so in many parts. It could be that Old Man Winter is just making it hard for us all to stay nice and hydrated or it could be that this product isn’t the right one for me. For the time being I think I’ll go back to my tried and true moisturizers that I know handle the weather, heating, wind, etc. but I did give this product an extra lippie for the softness I felt each morning upon awakening. Though I saw no difference in my fine lines or wrinkles, my skin was very soft after use.

Retail Price: $60.00/1.7 oz (at aviaspa.com)

Delush Rating:

What They say: (about the Facial Scrub) “Let healthy looking skin come out to play. Oxygenating Facial Scrub has unique scrubbing beads that gently remove excess dirt, oil and dead skin to reveal soft, smooth, beautiful skin.”

Alissa’s Opinion: Let me start off by saying that I am already a dedicated Clean & Clear user. I have been using their classic Daily Pore Cleanser for almost 10 years because I just haven’t found anything as simple and efficient as that. I had high hopes for this cousin of my current favorite, and while it didn’t really let me down, I have to say it didn’t really impress me either. The scent is very pretty and light and it leaves my skin feeling smooth, but as an exfoliator it falls short. Overall, I would recommend this as a daily cleanser but not as a good, gritty scrub.

What They Say: (about the Ultra-Light Moisturizer) “It’s time to say goodbye to dry. Oxygenating Ultra-Light Moisturizer is a light-as-air formula with breakthrough technology that gently hydrates dry skin while allowing it to breath. With UVA/UVB sun protection, you’ll also be protecting yourself from damaging rays.”

Alissa’s Opinion: Because I only use oil-free moisturizers with minimum SPF 15 (which this one has), I was really looking forward to trying it. My first impression was that it felt very thick when applying, considering that it is “ultra-light”. But it absorbed very well and that heavy feeling was gone almost immediately. The scent is like the cleanser, light and fresh. My only complaint is that it is mentholated so it stung a bit on my winter-dry areas. This would be a great moisturizer in the warmer months.

Retail Prices: $7.59 each (both at drugstores and superstores everywhere and online at drugstore.com)

DeLush Ratings:
(Oxygenating Facial Scrub)
(Oxygenating Ultra-Light Moisturizer)

"Every woman has a time in her life when she feels the most beautiful. You recognize the moment. When everything - your life, your looks, your skin - is most vibrant and at its peak. It's a time when you'd like to stay right where you are forever and put skin aging on pause."

Pause & Effect Cream and Lotion SPF 15
"This innovative moisturizing treatment with Biodormin™ technology works to visibly slow the effects of accelerated aging on the skin to delay the appearance of lines, wrinkles, loss of firmness and tone. Helps minimize imbalances in the look of skin caused by fluctuating hormonal and protein levels. The result: with continued use, skin looks younger longer ~ smoother, more vibrant and less lined."

Jen's Experience: I tried both the moisture lotion and cream while testing the INTERVENE line, and they worked very similarly. The line is new for Elizabeth Arden (it was just released this month), so I couldn't find any information online that would guide me to using one product or the other. So, I mixed and matched.

I tried the cream first, and was really impressed with the light, fluffy texture. It did a great job of moisturizing my dry, winter skin without making my make-up slide off during the course of the day. I tried the moisturizing lotion next, and while the effects were similar, it seemed like the thinner consistency absorbed into my skin more, whereas the cream sat on top of my skin.

My skin stayed moisturized and didn't develop any dry, flaky areas like it often would at this point in the year. Since I've started using the products from this line daily, I've had more than my usual number of blemishes, but I also haven't noticed any improvements in vibrancy and radiance. I realize those are pretty subjective terms. Given that the product was supposed to make my skin appear more vibrant...well...I guess I just expected more. I expected to look in the mirror and say, "wow, my skin looks really good." So, top marks for moisture, but perhaps the formula was just wrong for my sensitive skin.

Retail Price: $55.00 for either the moisturizing lotion or cream (SkinStore.com)

Rating:

3-in-1 Daily Cleanser Exfoliator Primer
"This NEW 3-in-1 Daily Cleanser Exfoliator Primer is a unique foaming formula that cleanses, gently exfoliates and leaves skin primed to receive maximum moisturizing and treatment benefits.

The ideal, multi-tasking first step before INTERVENE Pause & Effect Moisture Cream or Lotion SPF 15. "

Jen's Experience: When I was in college, I got on a major Elizabeth Arden kick, and I remember really liking their facial cleanser. I don't know why I stopped using it, but this product brought back fond memories -- it's very similar to the one I used to use, with the addition of an exfoliant. I like the pleasant soapy smell a lot, but what I love is it's effectiveness in removing my make-up. I've been using that Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation nearly daily since I started reviewing it, and it stays put like nothing I've ever seen, which translates to "very difficult to wash off". Previous (and admittedly, more gentle) cleansers that I've used would leave a trace of make-up that I would find when I used a toner. When I use this product, it removes every little bit of make-up. Since it's such a good cleanser, I worry a little that it's responsible for this last bout of breakouts. On the other hand, since this is such a good cleanser, it's definitely worth keeping in my beauty routine.

Retail Price: $20.00 (SkinStore.com)
Rating:

What They Say: (about the Winter Cleanser) "Balanced for winter use, our cleanser is infused with Chamomile extracts and algae peptides to create an antioxidant moisture wash that gently removes impurities while soothing and hydrating the skin. Daily use promotes softer, smoother skin and helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and surface dryness.

Key Ingredients and Benefits

Lathering Ingredients: