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WINTER FACE CARE HELPERS:

If your skin tends to be dry or sensitive (or both) and you are seeking an effective, deep cleanser that still offers moisturizing TLC,  The Universal Anti-Aging Cleanser $18.00 3.4 oz by Pat Wexler, M.D. is just the thing. The gentle, soap-free formula comes in a chunky tube with a wide cap (so it sits solidly on your sink). The creamy, white cleanser has olive oil to keep skin soft, and absolutely no soap. Still, it quickly cut through even mascara and a lot of thick foundation, and our skin still felt pampered and moisturized. A little goes a long way. Dr. Wexler is a genuine dermatologist in Manhattan, and her products include high-tech ingredients ("MMPi technology") that help skin fight the aging process. Every time you cleanse or moisturize with a Pat Wexler product, you're helping to protect and nurture your skin, with simple skincare routines. This is something we can all use!

To view previous "What Works" Beauty, Cosmetics, and Fashion Review columns, visit the "What Works Archives"   

BeautiControl has several complete lines of serious skin care to address the needs of women (and men) in their 20;s (Skinlogics), 30's (Skinlogics Gold) and Skinlogics Platinum for 40'+ and skin with more advanced skin damage. There are also products for acne-prone (All Clear) and sensitive  (Skin Equations) skin types.  One product I really like (because I'm a stickler for SPF protection) that hat can be used with all the different lines is Cell Block-C New Cell Protection with SPF 20  $25.00 1 oz. This non-greasy cream has the benefits of Vitamin C, and you can wear it under your moisturizer and makeup. The anti-aging line Platinum is our focus this column. Two new products are Platinum Regeneration Skin Renewing Serum $60.00 1.8 fl. oz and Advanced Eye Repair Creme $30.00 .5 oz.. These are sensitivity and allergy tested,  non-comedogenic, mineral oil and fragrance free. The Skin Renewing Serum  has been reformulated to help create smoother, brighter-looking skin (with regular use) increase skin firmness and elasticity, and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. The Advanced Repair Eye Creme is new. Both offer cutting-edge technology products that have anti-aging ingredients, powerful peptides and antioxidants, vitamins, and botanical extracts that can help fight the appearance of aging. There are also products with retinol and Vitamin K.  Regeneration Time to Go $35.00 1 fl. oz comes in a teal-blue and silver pump bottle. Coenzyme Q10 helps reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles and protects skin from the rigors of the environment, while Vitamin E and allantoin soothe irritated skin. This time-release formula is used only at night (be sure to use a moisturizer and always apply sun screen during the day).  Regeneration Time to Go Time Capsules $35.00/30 capsules comes in an attractive, mini-sized, teal-colored jar.  In just two days, if you use this product as directed, you can reduce under-eye puffiness and crows feet with visible results. Looking for a hope in a jar? These could be it! TIP: products with retinol may not be suitable for everyone. Retinol will increase your sensitivity to the sun, so be sure to use a sunscreen and limit sun exposure while using the product). We also liked the Skinlogics Platinum Cleansing Lotion $15.00 6.7 fl. oz, a light cleanser that can be used wet or dry (tissue off). Since you don't need water, this one is perfect for car and travel, too. Follow with Skinlogics Platinum Tonic  $16.00 6.7 fl. oz, a great, alcohol-free, clear liquid that refreshes and gets rid of residue and also helps to mattify and control oil! and a good moisturizer. One to try is Skinlogics Platinum Moisturizer, 3.5 fl. oz --light, oil, free product in a white tube with sea green cap has some of the same ingredients found in the Skin Renewing Serum to help firm, calm, and protect!

When I try a cleanser that claims to really clean away makeup, I always put it through it's paces to see if it can really stand up to it's claim. Foaming Cleansing Gel $22.00 6 oz by Avancé can!  The cool, blue gel looks chic in a frosted plastic bottle with a silver pump cap that delivers just the right amount of product. I like the light, marine scent, too.  Algae extracts nourish skin with ocean minerals that eliminate toxins and purify the skin. The product will work as a facial cleanser for just about everyone (including teens, and men), but does it really clean away even heavy, greasy makeup? Yes, it does--impressively so--as, in a flash! Avancé, new to our reviews this column, also has a good moisturizing Azulen Day Crème $33.00 2 oz which I also found impressive. A nice, slim, pump bottle holds a mixture of the Azulen flower, an Egyptian blue chamomile, that calms and soothes the skin. There are also humectants to add moisture, and seaweed extracts to help purify the skin. The bottom line is that this rich moisturizing product absorbed quickly, made our dry and irritated skin feel pampered, and (although we didn't try it) apparently this product also provides a protective barrier on the skin to block makeup absorption. That's a lot to ask from a product, but Avancé, delivers.

For daytime, we like Hydra Complete Multi-Level Moisture Gel Creme $40.00 1.7 oz. (photo) by Estee Lauder, in it's cool, frosted blue jar with shiny gold cap. This very lightly scented product is a super-light gel that absorbs quickly, but don't be fooled: the gel is a super-moisturizer created for skin or all ages, that helps your skin really lock in moisture, day-to-day, regardless of climate or temperature. We won't get into the high-tech descriptions, but the product creates what Estee Lauder says is a "biosphere for your skin." In plain terms, this means an environment on your skin that helps it adjust to whatever conditions it faces, be it overly-drying heat, wind or cold--whatever--your moisturizer will help you skin adjust and stay hydrated--up to 8 hours. Our skin felt--hydrated, comfortable, and non-greasy. If a little of a good thing is, well, a good thing, more should be even better. That's the thinking behind Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrate $90.00 1 fl. , It's an intensive, 21-night treatment that helps get your skin back on track after it has been exposed to stress,  extreme heat or cold, sunburn, windburn, or other things that can damage your skin.  It comes in the same squared-off coppery brown, white-stoppered bottle that has been a mainstay of women's dressing tables and makeup bags for two decades.  The little brown bottle at left is nothing less than a skincare icon.  The difference now, is that the formula is 5 times the concentration of the original. The Advice Sisters believe that results are highly subjective, and we don't have enough patches of skin between us to test anything for more than a day or so, but we hear the results are good. What's in this little miracle linoleic acid, cholesterol, wheat bran, olive extracts, hyaluronic acid and the anti-irritant Amento-flavone. The Advanced Night Repair products are so beloved, Estee Lauder has created a web site for it with it's history, product information, a night ritual page where women can learn 21 ways to relax, a section for testimonials, a science page (there's plenty of information, here) and even an E-commerce section.  In one year, Estee Lauder sold 3 bottles of Advanced Night Repair, every single minute--and the concentrated version is winning fans almost as fast. Call it a status symbol, or a must-have, we find this overwhelmingly impressive!

Institut Arnaud is new to our reviews, and we thought you might want to know about the line. The Absolute Hydration Serum $30.00 1.02 fl. oz, for example, comes in a pump bottle, which we like. It's primary purpose is hydration, and we can confirm that those with dry and very dry skin liked the moisturizing effects. Reviewers mentioned the light-reflecting ingredients and the serious moisturizing benefits. We couldn't get a lot of additional information about what is in it, but the box says that the company doesn't test on animals and it is "dermatologically tested." The fact that it hydrates it for up to 24 hours also gets our attention and a thumbs up.

A soft, smooth, fully moisturized face is yours, even if there is hardly any room in your budget for "extras." Fresh Face Total Moisturizer $4.99 3 fl. oz and Fresh Face Clear Skin Oil-Free Moisturizer by wet n wild provide good goods, in plastic, pump bottles.  The oil-free version has green tea (antioxidant properties), algae (reduces irritation) and Vitamin E. Total Moisturizer is quite rich and creamy, but it is easily absorbed into your skin. This one has green tea, aloe vera (a natural hydrator) and marine extracts that help to soften & smooth. Both have a light, fresh scent, and while the pump bottles aren't particularly glitzy, they're nicely designed and keep the product clean (dipping your fingers into the same jar over and over again might possibly taint the product if your hands aren't super-clean. Like any skincare routine, regular use will help your skin look and feel better, but these moisturizers also give you  SPF 15 UVA/UVB protection. For all, I give wet n wild a thumbs up.

Another interesting line of affordable skincare products is Virtual Laser by Woodridge Labs. All four of the products: Wrinkle Reducer, Collagen Boost, Age Spot Fade, and Redness Rescue, are just $24.99 in mass market retailers and drug stores. The simple bottles are simply packaged in frosted plastic bottles with pumps covered by tall, clear plastic caps that seem just a bit futuristic. These are nestled into a large, clear, cellophane pyramids with simple graphics in black and red. Despite the simplicity of the packaging and the modest prices, the products use state-of-the art technology to help revive, renew and restore skin. The idea is that with regular, relatively prolonged use, you may get some of the same skin improvement that you get with professional laser treatments. We weren't able to test the products adequately to substantiate claims (e.g.. Collagen Boost boosts collagen levels nearly $300% in 7 days;  Wrinkle Reducer reduces fine lines and wrinkles over 45% when used daily for a month; Age Spot Fade reduces age spots and brightens skin up to 25% in less than two months), but we did test the Redness Rescue, which is supposed to calm and soothe irritated skin within an hour. It did!  As with all skin care products, modestly-priced or luxury splurge, selecting the right products for your skin type and condition, and applying it properly, goes a long way towards improving and protecting your precious skin.  Based on what we experienced with just a brief encounter with Virtual Laser, if you have patience,  and use the right products for your skin as directed, over time, your reward could be younger, better looking skin.

Aging happens to everyone, but RoC has debuted a number of products that can help whisk away some of the signs that you're not a kid anymore. We're reviewing them "en masse" so you can decide what might be right for you: RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum #19.99 1 fl. oz.  works wonders to turn back the clock. The light pale yellow-tinted lotion goes on smoothly and absorbs immediately for instantly smooth, radiant skin (use after cleansing, day or night, and/or under makeup). The blend of pure Retinol and an essential mineral complex boost skin renewal, eliminate photo-damage, and reduce the lines and wrinkles that come with aging. RoC Protient Fortify Lift and Define Serum $19.99 is a good choice after cleansing, to help boost the same skin-defining and lifting benefits of the night cream, this time in a silky pink lotion that goes on smoothly and makes the skin feel ultra-soft. Use it under makeup, day or night. A face lift minus the plastic surgery? That’s essentially what RoC  says is inside it's jars of Protient Fortify Lift and Define Night Cream $19.99 1.7 oz. The creamy concoction is just begging to be touched. It has a subtle scent reminiscent of roses. Just apply it to the face and neck before bedtime, and you will immediately notice that the skin feels softer and quenched thanks to glycerin and Vitamin E.  The night cream’s DMAE technology works overnight to improve elasticity and make skin tauter, with fewer lines. Results are visible after just four weeks…the longer you use it, the more likely you are to get firmer, younger-looking skin. Another product to help your skin as you sleep, is RoC Age Diminishing Moisturizing Night Cream $14.99 1.7 fl. oz with a soy complex and Vitamin E that help to firm skin, reduce wrinkles, and even skin tone. The cream has plenty of hydrating emollients and a consistency that's rich and creamy. You might feel a slight cool, tingly sensation immediately after you apply this cream-- feel your newly-softened skin becoming firmer!  And don't forget your eyes. Mature skin, stress, and lack of sleep can really take its toll on your under-eye area. Using a powerful combo of pure Retinol and an essential mineral complex, RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream $19.99 .5 fl. oz. helps to fight the signs of aging including dark circles, wrinkles, and puffiness. The hypoallergenic cream has a light, fluid texture that is easy to apply with just a gentle touch. The cream absorbs quickly and can even be used under makeup. The cream smoothes the delicate skin around the eye, reducing crow’s feet, darkness, and other pesky problems, to create younger-looking peepers.

Many people are squeamish about using drying soap on their face, especially if they have sensitive skin.. The PURPOSE Gentle Cleansing Bar ($2.99 for a 3.6-oz. bar; $3.99 for a 6-oz. bar) is an oil-free formula that works well for sensitive skin because your skin won’t feel dried-out or irritated afterwards. The orange bar is the perfect hand-held size, lathers nicely, and leaves skin feeling fresh post-cleansing. It’s great for traveling too, if you don’t want to deal with leaky jars and washes. And be sure to protect your precious skin, too.  Purpose’s Dual Treatment Moisture Lotion with SPF 15 $8.99 4 fl. oz makes sun protection easy and pretty. This oil-free lotion comes in a pump and goes on in a lightweight, easy to blend lotion. It’s packed with broad spectrum SPF 15 protection, which blocks harmful rays while your skin gets nourished and moisturized. It’s also great for sensitive skin (especially those people who get irritated by heavy sunscreens). It’s rare for a combo moisturizer/SPF to feel this light--just another reason why reviewers loved it.

Exfoliating can be an uncomfortable, irritating process, but CLEAN & CLEAR Daily Pore Warming Scrub $5.99 is a pure treat. The scrub has a warming technology that heats up as soon as it touches your hands. As it reaches deep down to cleanse the skin and unblock pores, the scrub doesn’t get too hot--just enough to provide the type of relaxing warming glow you might get as you pamper yourself in a sauna. What’s more, the scrub is gentle, so it won't irritate skin as it exfoliates.  

Medique Beauty Pads $29.99/12 pads are touted by the company as the "original beauty pad." In fact, they're the first product launched by Medique, a new company developed by physical therapist Betty Saxe. She turned her pain of divorce into something positive that has beauty bennies for us: a new company called Medique! The Eye Contour Beauty Pads are made of soft, netted fabric cut in an anatomical shape that fits right under your eye, As they work, natural botanicals (From Italy, actually) are released into that delicate, dry area of skin underneath your eye, to penetrate deeply into the skin and provide nourishment and hydration. These pampering pads will stay put as you "relax" for the 30-40 minutes it takes for this treatment. Some of the key ingredients in these pads include glycerin and ginkgo Biloba extract, to provide anti-oxidant protection as well as rejuvenation. Reviewers liked the way their under-eye area looked refreshed after this treatment, which you can do up to three times a week if you wish. Spas charge a queenly sum for these types of treatments, but you can see a good result with Medique Beauty Eye Contour Beauty Pads at home, and at this reasonable price, you can afford it.

BeneFit has clever, effective skincare products, and we've reviewed them over the years, but one we haven't yet reviewed is a richer, thicker moisturizing face cream that will be particularly welcome in the Winter months and by anyone who has dry skin:  Dear John $30.00 2 fl. oz. Silky and  fluffy,  this cream offers moisturizing and skin smoothing ingredients like sodium PCA, vitamin E, and Provitamin B5 to nourish, protect, and tone. You will like the light and fresh fragrance, and they way it absorbs completely in a short while. No greasy film hanging around here! It might be a bit heavy for anyone with very oily skin, but it will comfort and soothe dry skin--it does exactly what the package suggests--satisfies you a lot more than an ex boyfriend! For BeneFit's always cute packaging and effective products, we give this "must-have" status!

 When I think about Elemis, I think "luxury." Many ultra-luxe spas, such as the Steiner of London spas on cruise ships, feature Elemis products. I discovered this wonderful skin and body-care line with spa-quality products on a cruise, years ago. I've been a fan, ever since. In fact, this past December I enjoyed Elemis products during an incredibly wonderful treatment (Pro Collagen Maine Facial & Body Massage $179/100 minutes) at the Mandara Spa aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's newest vessel, the Norwegian Pearl.  The treatment features a silk masque from Japan which smoothed my skin  and made it look so great, I had the ships' photographer take a close-up formal portrait so I could remember how great my skin looked. I love cruises, and always look forward to visiting the Spa for treatments as a pampering highlight of my cruise, but you don't have to go on a cruise to enjoy Elemis products...many spas on land and retail outlets have them as well.  As someone with really sensitive skin, I love the Elemis S.O.S. Emergency Cream $79.00 1.7 fl. oz. This rich, gel-type moisturizer is tailor-made for sensitive, irritated and/or dry skin, with a soothing and protective mix of ingredients that include willow, amino acids, lavender absolute, regenerative centella Asiatica, and myrrh. I love the herbal, calming, lavender scent and the way this cream deeply moisturizers without making my skin greasy. Hormonal factors, temperature, stress, poor diet, and a lot of other things can affect your skin and make it red and sensitive. This product will work well whether your skin is sensitive or not. I used it last night after getting off an airplane, and found a smoother, happier face in the morning! TIP: if the consistency is a bit thick for your taste, simply warm the gel in the palm of your hand a bit before applying it. For redness that you can really see, Daily Redness Relief $79.00 1.7 fl. oz is a handy helper. Brown algae and absolutes of honey and rose are combined with all sorts of unusual-sounding ingredients (e.g.. neurosensorial dipeptide amino acids), but the bottom line is that they will help reduce the red, blotchy look you don't want to see. As someone who suffers from broken capillaries, I really appreciate this product. It's effective and versatile, and it also makes a nice makeup base.  The rose scent is strong and authentic. If your skin is oily, controlling shine can be a constant challenge. Daily Shine Control $65.00 1.7 fl. oz is a moisturizing and soothing blend of silver birch, great burdock, watercress and other good-for-your-skin ingredients. This product not only reduces shine, it helps rebalance and refine your skin. Absolutes of lavender, jasmine and rose add a delightful scent that will entice you. When a product works, you want to know about it. Reviewers reported that their skin stayed shine-free and moistly matte, all day. We also like the attractive, silvery pump bottles that add a touch of class to your dressing table! '

From Moor Spa, Dragonfly, U.S. new to our columns, comes a natural skin care line of 17 spa-quality products that let you bring the pampering, home. We tried a number of these, and were very favorably impressed. The Pumpkin Peel Mask $42.00 2.9 fl. oz is an intense, enzyme peel treatment that exfoliates and smoothes skin in 10-15 minutes. The consistency and color is suggestive of pumpkin pie filling-yummy! The mask contains pumpkin peel (known to have high levels of healing Vitamin A), along with papain (an exfoliant) and bromelian enzymes (from pineapples) and glycolic acid (also exfoliants) and carrot extract, rich in Vitamins B, D, C, and E (good for dry and aging skin), along with more than a dozen other identifiable ingredients. TIP: masks are not "one-size-fits-all." Do a skin patch test first if your skin is sensitive. A better choice (for sensitive skin) and good for all skin types is the Moor Spa Facial Mask $30.00. This mask is gentle enough to use for skin repair following microdermabrasion, laser treatments and even plastic surgery.  The featured ingredient in this mask is 100% vital moor peat, which deeply nourishes and replenishes. Mix a teaspoonful of the dark mask with a few drops of water, and apply it to face and neck. Hide (you'll look like Al Jolson in "The Jazz Singer." for 3 minutes, eventually working up to a max of 10, and wash the mask off.  I could really feel an immediate difference: my skin felt soft, slightly glowing...glorious! We also tried the Eye Zone $43.00 0.5 fl. oz. This is fairly pricey as eye creams go, but there are a lot of exotic and unusual ingredients that go into this, including cucumber extract to soothe, silk protein to prevent dehydration and provide anti-oxidants, ginseng extract to revitalize and strengthen the cellular network, mushroom extract as an anti-irritant, and even hyaluronic acid to help skin retain moisture and a silky texture. We applied...we waited about five minutes...we looked. De-puffing had definitely occurred, and our fine lines looked less noticeable. We also tried the Plumping Serum $36.00  with horsetail extract (an astringent and good for healing and rejuvenating tissue), lactic acid (a mild exfoliant) and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-3, a patented small peptide that boosts the tissue growth factor necessary to produce collagen. The light liquid is easy to apply, odorless, and feel light on the skin. I don't know if this is really the "needle free" alternative to smooth crows feet and facial lines, wrinkles and creases, but it did smooth out some of our wrinkles a bit. The best way to know how well it's going to work for you is to try it...and at this price, it's a whole lot less expensive (and risky) than Botox!

When we think of Sephora, we usually think of retail/online stores that sell products from a wide variety of companies. But don't overlook Sephora's own products for value and quality. Our reviewers really liked the Sephora Eye Makeup Remover $5.00  1.69 fl. oz. Your eye area is delicate --rubbing and pulling on it to remove stubborn eye makeup isn't healthy. Sephora has two formulas so you can pick the one that's up to the right task: a general eye makeup remover or a remover that is specifically formulated to remover waterproof makeup! We also liked the Sephora Exfoliating Refiner and Radiance Mask $12.00 1.69 fl. oz from the new Sephora Face & Body Collection. The lovely lilac-colored ge  of this mask also has a faint scent of lilacs. It "speaks softly," but it is  the proverbial "big stick" when it comes to exfoliating dull, dry skin cells. There are no harsh or messy grains in this product--simply massage it onto your skin with a bit of water, then rinse it off or, if you wish, you can leave it on your skin (as a masque) "as is" for 10 minutes  I have sensitive skin, and only used it with water for a few seconds before I could see it working, but also creating some redness (do a patch test when trying any new skin care product if your skin is sensitive). But I couldn't deny it:  my skin was definitely smoother and softer and hydrated. Very Impressive!  We hope to review more of these products in future What Works columns.

Want the look of an endless Summer? self-tanners have come a long, long way since their early (and orange) days. Jergens has a new and nifty trio of Natural Glow Daily Moisturizers  $5.99/each 7.05 oz. that let you keep dry skin in check and gradually build up a natural looking tan. The key is erythrulose, a skin color enhancing ingredient that prevents streaking and (with another ingredient, DHA) lets you darken you skin by one full shade over a few days. There are three tones: fair, medium and medium/dark and even a formula just for the face: Natural Glow FACE Daily Moisturizers $5.99/each 2.05 oz. Reviewers liked the way the product absorbed and dried quickly, and reported that the light moisturizer worked well, even under makeup. These are moisturizing, multi-tasking moisturizing bronzers that won't wash off!  TIP:  When using any kind of self-tanner, do a patch test first, as the color will translate lighter or darker depending upon your chemical makeup and you want to be sure your skin won't react to the product. Exfoliating is also a must. It prepares your skin so the product can produce the smoothest, most natural-looking tan possible. You don't need to glob the product on--a small amount will go on evenly with your fingers. If you don't want a tint, but would like to try a new moisturizer, try Jergens Shea Butter Skin Enriching Moisturizer $7.49 8 fl. oz  flip top bottle, $7.49 16.8 pump bottle.  The packaging has been redone, in ivory plastic bottles with an iridescent finish and sophisticated brown, green and blue graphics. This super-emollient cream has shea butter, of course, which soothes, moisturizes and heals dry skin. It is also formulated with a light, slightly sweet and fruity scent, and ingredients that leave a soft sheen on your skin (much sexier than dull, dry skin). The press information says that this product will provide nourishment for your skin up to 24 hours. We say that it gave our skin immediate pampering bennies and that sheen that was promised in a light, silky lotion we could love. If you aren't a fan of pure shea butter but want some of the benefits, this is for you.

Breakouts never really go away, no matter how old you get, but  Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser $6.99 6 fl. oz can help. Packed with .5% salicylic acid, to fights blemishes, this hypoallergenic, oil-free daily face wash had the perfect cleansing consistency—not too foamy” not too lightweight, and not too heavy! Thanks to moisturizing soy extracts skin feels smooth post-wash but this is a cleanser that does more: it works to clear skin as it removes makeup and oil.  Fewer pimples could be in your future. Those with sensitive skin are buzzing about Aveeno’s Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15 $13.99 4 fl. oz., which promises to reduce redness while soothing irritated and sensitive skin. The moisturizer’s naturally calming feverfew ingredient also helps even out your complexion. We like the  pump (careful, a little goes a long way). One reviewer mentioned the richness of the moisturizer and the way the product instantly hydrates and softens. Since it's also hypoallergenic, non comedogenic (won't clog pores), and it's packed with SPF 15, it's one you’ve got to love.

Clean & Clear is known for inexpensive, healthy-face products. Although there's nothing fancy about the clear plastic bottle with turquoise, push-pull top, the Oxygenating Fizzing Cleanser $7.59 4 fl. oz. is a unique facial cleanser infused with oxygen, that starts as a blue gel and fizzes up on your skin, lifting away dirt, oil and impurities that can get trapped in your pores. We didn't get product information about this product, so I first wet some in the palm of my hand and then applied it to my face. The fizz, fizzled. But then I realized that you are supposed to put the gel directly on your face, then use water to activate and lather it up. If you wait for a moment, the fizz gets better. Either way, my skin felt soft, clean, and yet still pampered. It won't clog pores and is hypoallergenic. Follow with Oxygenating Ultra-Light Moisturizer SPF15 is a new facial moisturizer infused with oxygen and a unique technology that hydrates your skin while allowing it to breathe. This moisturizer  is emollient enough to give you skin immediate moisturizing and smoothing bennies, and it will work even more most complexions, but it is still light enough to use even if your skin is oily or acne-prone. We like the SPF 15 UVA/UVB sun protection. Reviewers gave it two thumbs up. What's not to like?

  Microquatic is the name that Sue Devitt has given her select series of luxury skin care products. The cutting edge technology called "microemulsion" is the way powerful anti-aging ingredients with the calm, soothing qualities of marine ingredients, and hydrating flower derivatives from nature, are delivered to your skin. The Microquatic Anti-Aging Facial Concentrate $125.00 1 fl. oz by Sue Devitt Studios is a precious blue plastic jar of face cream that is packed full of good-for-your-skin ingredients that work together to do a lot for your skin, in just one step.  Since the product is pricey, and we didn't test it long enough to see the type of results you may get, you can expect a products that will:  deeply hydrate, revitalize cellular tissue, promote circulation, increase collagen production, improve elasticity and firmness, create smoother skin, reduce wrinkles, create a more even complexion, and it's oil-free and suitable for all skin types. The cream is light and is unscented. It  absorbs very quickly and feels like but nourishing on your skin.  Follow with the Microquatic Blue Anti-Aging SPF 30 Primer $48.00 that gives you good protection against the sun's UVB and UVA rays, and of course, helps keep your foundation at it's best, all day. Microquatic Blue is infused with soothing blue algae and naturally-formed anti-irritant crystals from the coast of Spain. which help to combat irritation and redness.  We liked the graceful, glass, pump bottle with silver top, too. With this one-two punch, your skin will be looking great in no time.

 

BATH & BODY TREATS:

Just a few months ago, we reviewed  Armani Code For Women Body Lotion $39.50 6.7 fl. oz and Shower Gel $35.00 6.7 fl. oz.  We loved both, especially the silky, nicely scented body lotion housed in a sleek tube of ultra-light blue plastic. But there is one more new product we didn't have time to review in our December/Holiday 2006 column, and it's one we think you'll really want to treat yourself to this Winter:  Armani Code for Women Body Cream 6.7 fl. oz. $52.50. This stunning edition to the Armani Code For Women line is packaged in a large, frosted glass jar with a simple, shiny black top. The cream is richer and more fragranced than the lotion, and is a perfect fragrance companion to smooth, nourish and even illuminate, dry skin. Treat yourself to a bit of this luxurious cream, and watch as it literally melts onto your skin, adding a layer of wonderful, Armani Code fragrance to your body. A little goes a long way too in terms of moisturizing and scent, so one jar should last for a while, unless you can't stop applying it like some of our reviewers! If you've never tried this fragrance before, it is simply fabulous year 'round. It  fragrance starts spicy with a touch of vanilla, but quickly becomes a light, soft, floral spice (or a "floriental"). Top notes are orange blossom and two types of orange peel. The middle notes include Tunisian orange blossom absolute mixed with Sambar jasmine from India, with bottom notes of Madagascan vanilla and a hint of honey for an exotic touch. The entire fragrance is spicy, soft, chic and sensual. Armani Code for Women is one of my fave fragrances.  Make it yours, with this new Body Creme.

I knew I had really found a great scent when my husband (seemingly oblivious to the myriad fragrances I try for this column) suddenly commented: "I really like that scent--what it is it?"  Just like the signature, Missoni fabrics are woven with a kaleidoscope of colors, the Missoni Fragrance also embraces a variety of scent "colors. There is sunny yellow (Italian Bergamot, Nespolo, Magnolia Petals); Magenta Pink (Peonies, Dewy Rose);  Orange (Sparkling Mandarin, Bitter Orange, Juicy Kaki), and Chocolate Brown (Gianduia and Amber). This fruity-floral blend is light, but it broadcasts a softer and sexier side as it dries down. Missoni smells sophisticated, beautiful, feminine and expensive. Now you can use this fragrance and layer it in bath & body items too. Missoni has launched the Missoni Bagno Collection, and The Advice Sisters were fortunate to receive two products: Missoni Body Butter 6.7 oz/175 ml, $80.00 and Missoni Shower Gel 6.7 oz/200 ml, $45.00. The Shower Gel comes in a bright, orange-y red bottle (look carefully and you can see the signature "zip-zag" design lightly embossed on the bottle). A shiny gold top bids you to twist it open and closed. Inside, a raspberry-colored gel is scented with a nicely lathering body wash and of course, Missoni fragrance. The Body Butter arrives in a cheerful, magenta jar with a shiny gold cap that is eye-catching for your dressing table. Inside, you will find a  dense, rich, creamy moisturizer that has super-emollient shea butter to melt into your skin. The lovely Missoni fragrance lingers, as your skin is hydrated.

Maybe Baby Body Lotion by BeneFit  $26.00 6.7 US fl oz comes wrapped in a metallic bronze cardboard box, and in a flirty, peach-pink tube with a black top.  But inside there's something softly romantic about the blend of powdery white florals, fruits, and spice notes in this shimmery body lotion that includes lychee, white ginger, apricot, peach, bergamot, white musk and warm peach. You sense the sweetness of flowers first, but quickly you get a hit of fruit--then, a drydown that is more subtle and bright. This is a light fragrance but it lasts very well. The shimmery quality of the moisturizer adds just a bit of a sexy glow to your skin. There are other scented products with the Maybe Baby Scent as well. Defininitely, not maybe, this is a good time to get them, baby!

 

 

In our June, 2006  What Works Beauty, Cosmetics & Fashion Review Column, we ran our debut of Korner Skincare (KORNER should have two dots over the O, but we can't produce them with our typeface). We said: "a line that is simply, exceptional, sensational, and a "must-have." Korner now has introduced a product for the body: Embrace Body Cream $75.00 6.8 fl. oz./200 ml. Housed in a sleek, dove-gray plastic column with a pure, white top is a soothing, hydrating, daily treatment for more youthful and smooth skin that we simply call a "treat." Super-hydrating marine and plant bio-tech ingredients work with K9, The Korner signature compound, sourced from Australia's diverse ecosystem. There are more than two dozen good-for-your-skin ingredients packed into this treatment and we can't list them all, but most are natural moisturizers, Vitamins such as A and C, red marine algae, and Japanese camellia oil and shea butter (to name just a few) blended with essential oils of Moroccan neroli, myrtle and sandalwood to scent your skin with a light but exotically herbal, fragrance. The day I decided to try Embrace Body Cream I'd been suffering from a drug reaction, and my arms and legs felt like they'd been bitten by sand fleas. I (reluctantly) smoothed on a bit of this moisturizing cream, thinking that with my usual, dry skin and this new and itchy development, a good moisturizing cream could only help. Within less than a minute, the itching had stopped and my skin was soft and lightly scented. If it works this well on skin that is already compromised, imagine how well it will work on skin that isn't!

Some body washes smell great, but dry out the skin. Leave it to a drugstore brand to remedy that problem: Aveeno Stress Relief Body Wash $5.99 12 fl. oz. is thick and irresistibly creamy, and true to its “stress relief” claim, you can feel yourself relaxing with every drop. That’s thanks to the soothing blend of lavender, chamomile, and ylang-ylang oils, which also give the wash a light, non-overpowering, herbal scent. Oatmeal in the body wash provides so much moisturizing benefits that you might just skin your post-shower lotion. Reviewers loved it! If you're a bath, not shower person, you know there's nothing more relaxing than a nice, long hot bubble bath. Make your next one even better with Aveeno Stress Relief Foaming Bath $5.99 10 fl. oz. The soap-free/dye-free product comes out thick and lightly foams (think a soft coating of bubbles, not a little kid’s over-the-top bubble bath), emitting a soothing herbal aroma of lavender, chamomile, and ylang-ylang oils. Thanks to natural colloidal oatmeal, the foaming bath hydrates and softens skin for the ultimate in relaxation. Sounds stress-free (and a beauty bargain) to us! After cleansing, Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion $7.99 8 fl. oz. will help you quickly deal with dry Winter skin.   This fragrance-free lotion boasts a patented triple oat formula and shea butter extract that can hydrate itchy, extra-dry skin for 24 hours. Even  with this type of super-hydrating, the Aveeno lotion is surprisingly light and quickly absorbed, not at all like other rich lotions, that sit on your skin for what seems like forever before they soak in and you can get dressed.  Another bonus?  This one won’t irritate just-shaved legs so you can take your feet from I-need-a-pedicure-now status,  to silky smooth , in seconds!

Everyone has pores, they are openings into sebaceous glands that secrete oil to lubricate and protect the surface of your skin. Pores are good...unless they become clogged or enlarged. Your pores may be more noticeable if you have oily skin and they also can become bigger as you age. Bioré Pore Minimizing Collection has three products to help minimize pores and improve the look of your complexion. These feature a blend of natural extracts (eg. strawberry fruit, willow herb, and ginger), and cutting-edge, skin-smoothing tech. We tried the Pore Minimizing Foaming Face Wash $5.99 4 fl. oz and liked the foamy, mild, alcohol and oil-free formula. Little "massage beads" offer very gentle exfoliation, too. For more exfoliation, a Refining Exfoliator $12.99 3 fl. oz with cosmetic grade micro-crystals offers more intense exfoliation. Follow with Bioré Pore Minimizing Lightweight Moisturizer SPF15 $13.99 1.7 fl. oz. which not only moisturizes and softens, it acts as a primer for your makeup, and helps to protect your skin from the sun's damaging rays.  We like the pump bottle, the silky feel of this non-greasy, oil-free moisturizer.  and the fact that it has natural extracts and cutting-edge tech to help you skin look and feel great. Used regularly, this trio can send large pores, packing!

 

Every day we are assaulted with photographs of sleek women in barely-there swimsuits and gowns on the red carpet. In real life, achieving a thin, cellulite-free body isn't easy. One process that can help is Ionithermie. Over time toxins build up in between the skin layers --because they have nowhere to go but up,  they push against the surface of your skin causing cellulite and its “orange-peel” texture.  Ionithermie is a treatment that uses products, plus a low-level electric stimuli to cleanse the body,   riding it of all toxins, resulting in immediate, body sculpting results. Well this treatment uses gentle low-level electric stimuli to cleanse the body riding it of toxins where the treatment is done. It’s not an electric shock exactly, it's more like a tingly feeling. Treatments run between $175 and $300 (depending on the spa), but you can try the products at home. Try a Mini-Melt Home Care Kit $25.00 that will last for several treatments, or spring for the 30-day Body Melt Results Home Care Kit 285.00. The more you use it, the more results you should get.   The Dragonfly Spa, for example, suggests these kits to clients to help maintain their results. Created by Les Complexes Biotechniques in France, you get Metasysteme Body Cream, a soothing Body Milk, and something called Formula A&B--golden ampoules that you rub into your stomach, legs and hips. The all-natural products are designed to penetrate into the dermal layer of your skin, attacking toxins and helping to break them down and dispense the waste. All of these types of body care products are pricey, but many people just swear by them, especially since these are problem areas that cannot really improve on their own. We couldn't use the home care products long enough to report body sculpting results, but our skin did look and feel firmer, and that's good enough! TIP:  According to Diana Dubois, PR. & Marketing Director for Ionithermie/MoorSpa/Y-Spa & Binge Spa, When you have an Ionithermie treatment, the machine penetrates the products quickly, giving you instant inch loss, while the ionization from the treatment allows the product to keep working for 48 hours.  If you can't get to a spa for a treatment, you can still get good results just using the detox home care kits, along with a sensible diet and exercise program.

Sometimes, bigger is just better. Tahitian Renewal Silkening Body Wash $3.99 18 oz. by Caress gives you a super-sized bottle of body wash with natural ingredients such as pomegranate and Tahitian palm milk, to gently exfoliate and moisturize every inch of your body, every day.  Although this is "beauty on a budget," the coral-colored plastic bottle has a graceful , wave-shaped flip cap. The pearly, coral-colored body wash inside reminds us of a tropical island, with a pina-colada scent. For those who would rather No less enchanting (or large) is the Caress Cashmere Luxury Silkening Body Wash $3.99 18 oz.  This time, a blend of whipped white orchid milk and warm vanilla cleanse skin. This cleanser looks literally like liquid pearls, and all it leaves behind is soft, moisturized skin and a slight scent. this is fresh, not sweet, so everyone in your family can enjoy it. If all you can afford is a "little splurge," why not supersize it to 18oz? These are nice--and at a great price.

What I remember most about my first trip to the South of France was the lavender. Every shop had lavender in the window, and the stalls at the market were filled with it's fragrance. La Fleur Organique, part of the Walgreen's European Beauty Collection, brings me back to that scent, with it's Moisturizing Milk $22.00 5.07 fl. oz The recyclable packaging is done is lavender with delicate white flowers. Inside, a slim white bottle with wide pump top dispenses a blend of lavender gathered from Provence, and aloe vera, and a cocktail of floral waters, essential oils, and distilled lavender. I like the lovely lavender--that calming scent makes me more motivated to moisturize. La Fleur Organique does not use any: paraben, silicones, petrochemical oils, coloring agents, synthetic fragrances, man-made preservatives or animal-derived raw materials. Even if you are not an environmentalist, it's nice to know that the brand uses organic ingredients from sustainable farming techniques whenever possible. It is pleasant to use, but what is most important is how it makes you skin feel. Nourishing and protecting hazelnut, sweet almond and jojoba vegetable oils softened our skin and made it silky--exactly what a body moisturizer should do!

Also from the European Beauty Collection at Walgreens is Red Water,  a collection of products for bath & body created in Greece. This line is made in Greece, and features ingredients from the Med:  organic olive oil, and herb and red thermal spring water, from the Loutrochori Spring in Pella, Greece. This apparently has lots of minerals and trace elements, the powers of which have been known for a long time --they were even mentioned by the ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle! The Red Water Hydrating Shower Gel with Olive $14.00 8.5 fl. oz comes in a graceful, frosted clear plastic bottle with flip cap, which showcases the deep green gel cleanser inside. sourced from Pella Spring - first discovered by the philosopher Aristotle. The cleanser is nicely scented with a light, clean, herbal blend, which, if I got it right, contains active extracts of natural herbs such as flax, rosemary, ivy and vanilla  and the ingredients are balanced to suit all skin types. Everyone knows that olive oil is a superb moisturizer, and this cleanser is also free of parabens, mineral oil, silicones and genetically mutated substances. Another cleanser in the life is the Relaxing Shower Gel with Oat Milk $14.00 8.5 fl. oz. The creamy, white, mild shower gel has red thermal spring water, and oat milk, a rich source in proteins. Aloe and tillium, which I have just learned is the heart-shaped leaves of the lime-tree, used by ancient Greek doctors to treat snake bites and today, for other ailments. I am not sure if it's relaxing, but  the scent is a floral/herbal blend that is a bit exotic but light and pleasant. Both these cleansers are little treats.

Institut Arnaud Paris began offering products to the spa world more than 60 years ago. Now, we can get spa-style skincare treatments for home from Walgreens. The 100% Rehydrating Body Balm $18.00 10.2 fl. oz is an example. The first thing I noticed was the bottle: a  white plastic "pyramid" with a squared-off top featuring an orange pump top. Since this is a semi-liquid, gel/milk formula, you really do need the pump or you might spill some of the product. Once applied, the product will keep hydrating your skin for up to 24 hours, or until you wash or rub it off, of course. It absorbs quickly and leaves nothing behind, but a light, apricot scent. It is a nice product at a nice price.

 

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Shea Butter is an all natural plant butter extracted from the kernel of the karite tree, found in South Africa, has been used for centuries to help heal and nourish skin. It's safe and gentle, and very rich (a little goes a long, long way). If your skin is very dry, there's nothing more soothing than shea butter to nurse it back to normal. Those who love the super-emollient qualities of shea butter can't live without it. Some shea butters are bleached, deodorized, or treated with harsh chemicals, but the Shea Butter $19.50 3.5 oz from Purely Shea comes in a cool, squared, mint-green container and is nothing but100% pure shea butter. It works wonders on dry, cracked heels and elbows and any flaky, dry skin. You can even combine shea butter with shaving cream for a smoother shave.  Devotees use shea butter for everything from insect bites to muscle aches, poison ivy and even on the family dog! I think it's a good staple to add to your ;medicine cabinet. Case in point: recently I got a nasty paper cut on my finger that was really irritating, but one application of shea butter soothed it, immediately, and left my hands softer, too!

I remember using (and liking) Body Drench products by American International Industries for the first time as a guest at a friend's upscale gym.  The company has launched a trio of daily moisturizing lotions, but one, Hemp Daily Moisturizing lotion $17.00 16.9 fl. oz caught my attention, as it is blended with cannabis sativa. You may be more familiar with it's other names, including hemp, marijuana, bhang, ganja, hashish, etc. Most people think of cannabis as something smoked for hallucinogenic effect, but hemp is actually used for many other things including the production of paper, rope, twine and cloth (did you know that the original Levi's jeans were actually made from hemp?). You can eat the seeds as a high-protein grain, turn it into a tofu-like cheese substitute, or use it pressed to make oil for pants and varnishes. In this case,  it is blended with botanicals and oils that help nourish your skin and leave it effectively hydrated. The product left my skin silky smooth in a flash, without any greasy feel (and I wasn't hallucinating)! There is also a Sugar Cane and a Sun-Splashed Mango variety.