THE ADVICE SISTERS "WHAT WORKS" WINTER 2003 BEAUTY REVIEW

"The holidays" are over.   In many part of the world this is time time to  We've put away our party clothes, and put on heavy sweaters.  Dark, cold and gloomy weather also brings dry, itchy, dull skin and sometimes...a "blah" feeling.  During the winter season your skin needs extra special care.  Instead of focusing on makeup and offering lots of photos of the products, this time we're just concentrating on great "mind & body" products.  Many of our selected products will appeal as much to men and they do to women (who says men want dry, rough, itchy skin?) Pick your favorites to help you look your best and perk up your spirits as winter transits into Spring, or for a great Valentine's Day gift.

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Body Smoothers (exfoliants): Body Exfoliators come in a staggering variety of types, from very gentle, to almost the sensation of  rubbing a brillo pad over your skin. They offer pleasing scents and offer additional,  skin-improving additives and moisturizers.   Gentle or heavy-duty, body smoothers, scrubs and exfoliators all do the same thing:  they  literally "polish" your skin, rubbing off the dull,dry, dead skin cells on the surface so your skin looks vibrant and feels soft.  The body smoothers we're reviewing here are all great. Pick the one that pleases you most. 

Archipelago Botanicals Mineral Mud Collection Body Scrub $15.00 comes in a generously-sized 16oz bottle. The gentle, grey lotion has a very soft, clean and energizing scent that effectively polished off the dead surface cells and left our skin feeling soft without feeling "raw" afterwards. The Archipelago Botanicals Mineral Mud Exfoliating Soap $18.00 provides another gentle exfoliator for those who prefer cake soap or who like to travel with their own "spa" items.

Spa salt scrubs can be rough enough to make you yell "Ouch!" but the Salt Esfoliante Salt Scrub by Borghese $37.00 is surprisingly gentle, and quite effective (and moisturizing). The generous 16 oz glass jar and light scent would make this a perfect spa night addition for you and your special guy. Borghese Dolce Luminosita Toscana Sugar Glow $42.00 is another alternative for soft, glowing skin. Brown Sugar is blended with almond and lemon oil. It's luxurious, fun to use, and highly effective. Use these special scrubs any time you feel the need to be pampered, or for your next spa night.

Bath Bloomers Exfoliating Latering Gel 20.00 is a moderately virgorous exfoliator that uses walnut grains and essential oils to remove dead skin cells, and soothe. It comes in eight "aromatherapy" fragrances. We tried "Orange Spice Halwa."  The slightly slightly spicy scent (and simple, clear plastic bottle showcasing the brown scrub) would appeal to men, too.

LATHER Almond Butter Body Polish $22.00   has a comforting, soft almond scent and contains almost protein and natural almost meal (plus a few other good-for-your-skin ingredients) to gently scrub away crusty winter skin.  Massage on while in the shower and rinse, or leave on a bit longer for extra moisturizing.  Add this one to your next spa night.  Your special man will want to try it, too.  

Helena Rubinstein has wonderful, pampering, high-performance spa products that will make you feel special every time you use them. The Helena Rubinstein Art of Spa: Sweet Sugar Body Scrub $30.00 is a bright orange gel with a clean, uplifting, orange-y scent that men would find pleasing, too.  It's a fairly energetic (and effective) scrub containing sugar and two types of deep cleansing micro-granules to energize and scrub off the dead skin cells.

Clinique is synonymous with good quality skincare and they have a variety of bath & body lines geared towards different type of skin.  The Clinique Soft Polish Body Exfoliator   $17.50 is a silky-soft, peach cream that comes in a clear plastic squeeze tube. It's very gentle but it still buffed away the dry, surface skin cells so that our skin felt smooth and looked "alive." Clinque Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliator $17.50 is a sea-green gel with a bit more "oomph" in the exfoliation texture, and a pleasant citrus scent. Clinique Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliating Cream $16.50 comes in an 8.5 oz plastic jar.  Within the silky cream, however, are tiny bits of exfoliating particles and work hard to slough off    the itchy, dry, dead and rough skin from elbows, knees and heels. It somehow manages to do this and still not make your skin feel "raw"--amazing!

SENSUOUS,SCENTED SOAPS AND BODY WASHES:

Laura Mercier's  Creme Body Wash $36.00 comes in four fragrances (Spiced Honey, Breme Brulle, Vanilla Creme Puff, and Tarte Au Citron). They all will make your shower or bath into an instant spa experience! We loved the satiny, rich body wash which left our skin clean and smooth, but not sticky. Tarte Au Citron softy smells like lemon sherbert.  Laura Mercier's  Creme Body Wash $36.00 also comes in four fragrances. Share this one with your special guy, too! Laura Mercier's Bar Soap $18.00 compliments thesame four fragrances. They're a generous 7.15 oz bar which produced rich lather and soft, scented skin!  it's perfect for travel, and for those who just prefer cake soap to liquids and gels.

The Thai Tea Body Wash from Philip B $35.00 comes in a thin, clear plastic squeeze tube. The liquid inside is a warm rust color.  Open the top, and the excitement begins! Just a little bit  of this heady mix of Thai Tea, Honey, Coconut Oil, Milk Proteins, Peppermint, Lemon Grass, Ginger Root and Citronella extracts stimulates and uplifits your senses, cleanses and moisturizes your skin, and makes your bath or shower into an instant oasis. Men will like this minty, sexy, spicy fragrance, too. Does your guy complain that your shower soaps and gels all smell too "girly" for him?  Try the Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Body Bar $5.95 containing Australian Tea Tree Oil (to stimulate and exfoliate skin).   It has an invigorating scent (hint of mint?) and lather rich enough to also be used for shaving. If you and your guy share shaving creams (or you're just sick of having two on the sink), try Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Shave Gel $8.95 with the same moisturizing, invigorating tea tree oil in a pump that creates thick, creamy lather. Tea Tree oil also has natural antibacterial properties to guard against infection and irritation.

Nifty, new and fun Noode Wash Me All Over Body Wash $15.00 pronounced "new day" has a young at heart look and feel, but serious ingredients (e.g. kava kava) to clean and stimulate skin. The hot pink liquid in clear, unbreakable pump bottle makes an attractive addition to your bathroom.

Donna Karan is known for luxurious, sophisticated fragrances for discerning men and women.  Her new scent:   Black Cashmere features an outstanding Black Cashmere Shower Gel $35.00.  Black Cashmere lives up to it's deluxe name:  it's soft, sensuous, luxe, and sophsticated, marrying light florals with dark woodsy and spicy accents. This sexy scent is meant for a sophisticated woman, definitely not a little girl. The fragrance just from the shower gel lasted subtly for hours.

BODY MOISTURIZERS:  After bathing and exfoliating, your skin needs to be soothed and moisturized.  This is particularly important in the winter, when skin is dry, itchy, and stressed. 

A basic body moisturizer worthy of special note is Laura Mercier's  Body Lotion $40.00 which we tried in the "Tarte Au Citron" Scent to continue the great fragrance we'd used in her body wash.  A simple, unbreakable (thank you!) bottle holds an effective, non-greasy, softly-scented body moisturizer that everyone in your family will want to use.

Clinique Deep Comfort Body Moisture $17.50 comes in the same, tote-able plastic squeeze tube as the body washes and exfoliators. It is a serious moisturizer both creamy and rich, and easily absorbed into skin. You'll take it everywhere you go! Ditto Clinique Cool Lustre Body Moisture $17.50 that moisturizes just-showered skin  very effectively, on contact. It absorbs fast and fully, and gives you skin a really nice, refreshing, cool feeling.   The company suggests putting the tube in the fridge for a real cool blast!

Massage Helena Rubinstein Energizing Power Booster Wake Up Body Lotion $35.00 into your stressed and parched skin and you'll simultaneously think "aahhh" and "mmmm." This  non-greasy, fast absorbing body moisturizer pampers beautifully and the spicy orange scent will appeal to your special man too (don't be surprised if your tube, disappears).

We love Clinique's Body Washes. They're in unbreakable Squeeze Tubes that you can easily tote to the gym or when you travel. Clinique Skin Cushion Body Wash $17.50 will make even the driest, most sensitive, and abused skin feel softer, moisturized, clean, and pampered. Clinque Instant Energy Body Wash $17.50 is an energizing, blue-green gel with a fresh clean scent that moisturizes, too. Your special man will probably want to use it, too.

When you think of cashmere, you think of something soft and luxurious.  Z. Bigatti Re-Storation Cashmere Intensive Body Treatment $135.00 is a top-of-the-line, super-luxe body treatment for all skin types that gently exfoliates, and then goes to work to produce soft, satiny, dewy skin. All sorts of hydroxy acids, antioxidants, and vitamins (too many to name) work together to create an unsually good product with no greasy feel. The classic, clear glass pump bottle and a gold top with black "ZB" logo on it will make you feel special every time you moisturize, and makes a status-y addition to your dressing table.

Prada is known for high-fashion,  coveted the world round. Prada Beauty is the designer's line of high quality beauty products.  The Prada Hydrating Serum/Body $60.00 is available in small dose bottles, in multi-packs or individually sealed packages. The sleek white tubes with  oval tops and a simple "Prada" in small black lettering lets you know you're going to find something important, inside.  The lightweight moisturizer is unscented and has high levels of collagen and elastin to firm and tone skin.  Another luxurious treat from Prada is the  Hydrating Cream Body $60.00 (5 oz in multi-dose bottle or individually sealed packages).   Again, a lightweight and highly effective moisturizer guards against very dry skin. It absorbs almost instantly with no residue or fragrance to compete with your own. We loved this rich and effective "designer" cream!

If your hands (or other body parts) are really dry and you want a no-nonsense (and affordable) cream to get relief, we suggest L'Oreal Body Expertise Nutrifit Intensive Firming & Moisturizing Lotion for Body & Hands (Normal skin & Dry Skin) $10.00.  Brand new to the marketplace, you'll reach for this pump-bottle cream over and over again. It's enriched with high-tech ingredients that the company claims will make your skin visibly firmer within 4 weeks. We didn't test it that long, but we can tell you that it made our norman and dry skin feel soothed and smooth and the more we used it, the better our skin felt!

Alex and Ani Formula 5 Face, Hand & Body Lotion is a non-greasy, after shower/bath lotion that absorbs fast, hydrates well, and leaves a sensuous mix of geranium, lavender, coriander and Patchouli fragrance on your skin. The bottle we reviewed had a cute black and photo photo of a sexy blonde.   For $100. you can upload your OWN photo for a special-order bottle of lotion that's yours alone, or a very special gift.

EmerginC Relief $17.00 comes in a simple grey squeeze tube. More than half a dozen good-for-your-skin ingredients ( vitamin c, E, aloe vera, etc.) work to quickly to provide dry, itchy, parched skin with immediate relief. It absorbs quickly, feels comforting, and will help you feel like you've been getting spa treatments, even if you haven't!  The Company also makes a great product that leaves your face instantly smoother and better looking:  EmerginC Complexion Perfection $69.00.  We're not actually reviewing facial products in this column, but this one has won the hearts of celebs such as Keri Rusell, Jennifer Anniston, and Sandra Bullock. Try it and you'll know why they've "fallen" for EmerginC.

Archipelago Botanicals has a lovely line of products called the "Milk" Collection.  Their Oat Lotion $25.00 was Self Magazine's 2nd Annual Healthy Beauty Awards Best Body Moisturizer. It comes in a hefty, 17.oz pump bottle and is a soft, non-greasy, very lightly scented super-moisturizing cream.  We've been pumping this product with increasing zeal on every part of our bodies and we agree with Self's readers:  this product is a definite winner!

BODY BUTTERS, OILS & AND SOOTHERS: For REALLY dry skin you need something even more moisturizing than normal.  Body butters and oils have  super-emolliant qualities to add that extra "ahhh" to dry, cracked and itchy body parts.

Laura Mercier's Souffle Body Creme $55.00 in "Creme Brulee" has got to be one of the most sensuous products we've ever used.  The super-moisturizing creme gives dry, itchy skin a luxurious blast of intense moisture, while YOU get to sniff the yummy, intoxicating, almost custardy scent of France's favorite dessert!  We loved the charming, vintage-style glass container, too.

Clinique Deep Comfort Body Butter $22.00 is a "big gun" the the war against parched, dry, irritated skin.   It's an unscented, super-rich, super-creamy product that is targeted  for the hard to moisturize areas such as elbows, knees, and heels (although you can use it anywhere you wish). We loved it's sinfully luxe feel.  Amazingly, it absorbed quickly and didn't leave us feeling like we'd been drenched in oil.  Our cracked, parched skin felt like it had been blanketed with silk.

New to our review is Pacifica Natural Skincare products. We're impressed! Pacifica Cucumber Cooling Body Butter $20.00 instantly smooths skin with a refreshing "tingle" that is sure to add a lift to your day. Cucumber extract, chamomile, sweet almond and safflower oil, and Japanese green tea extract (along with a few good-for-you vitamins) make a poweful and fun moisturizer. The Pacifica  Multi-Fruit Regenerating Body Mask $29.00 is a full body "mask" (why should your face have all the benefits?) to get rid of scales, bumps and other ikky things that do NOT belong on your skin!  Make it the centerpiece of your next spa night. After bathing,  massage the mask all over skin or on specific problem areas and leave it on 5 to 15 minutes (or even longer for a relaxing, deeper treatment). Then, rinse the mask off.  Follow with your favorite moisturize or body butter. Pacifica  Almond and Jasmine Intensive Moisure And Repari Body Oil $18.00 has the longest name but does something simple:  It uses avodado, soy and safflower oils to nourish and revivie skin without a greasy feel.  The jasmine scent will revive sagging spirits (along with stretch marks and dry, bumpy skin).

LATHER has a new product:  Kukui Nut Whipped Body Creme $22.00 that won our hearts right away. Kukui nut is the official state tree of Hawaii and is high in essential fatty acids to smooth and hydrate even the most sensitive skin.  Open the container and you'll find a sinfully creamy, non-greasy, fast absorbing body whip that instantly fixed our dry, itchy skin.   Better still it has an intense, sweet, floral (reminds us of honeysuckle) that made us almost feel like we were in Hawaii (instead of in our bathrooms). 

Noode Rub Me Body Oil $15.00 has a slightly pineapply scent and a unique formula that works with your body heat to norish and calm your skin, and relax your mind!  Reviewers also gave quodos to the plastic pump bottle that makes it easy to dispense just what you need.

We originally reviewed  Zum Rub Moisturizer $9.00 from Indigo Wild in our What Works 2002 holiday review.  The  all natural "Almond" zum rub lingers lightly on your skin for a calming effect, and the waxy body moisturizer instantly soothes our dry skin.   Warning:  your special man may take this 2.05 oz tin for himself (ours did...then refused to return it). Zum Body Lotion $16.00 comes in four great fragrances:   Frankincense & Myrrh, Geranium, Patchouli, or Rosemary-Mint. We tried the Rosemary-mint. This all natural, non-greasy cream with shea butter and shadowfoam seed oil smoothed dry skin but better yet, invogorated our senses and our spirits. Smells like "spa night" stuff to us!

Lierac Spary Eclat Corps The Vert (Hydrating Body Spray) $49.00 is a nice product that tones and improves the texture of your skin.  After showering, just spray a thin film of this luxue, sea-green moisturizing spray all over your body and feel soft and pampered all day. The light, fresh "clean" scent won't compete with your own fragrance and would be acceptable to men, as well.

Donna Karan Black Cashmere Body Lotion $40.00 moisturizes beautifully while adding another layer of this sensuous fragrance to your body after using the shower gel. It's high quality moisturizing properties and stylish,  black matte squeeze tube make every application feel like a pampering experience.

Yardly Apothary is a brand-new line from a well-loved British company.The concept behind Apothary is to blend fun with serious bath and body products, inspired by the appeal of spas and speciality products. A true affordable treat, nothing in the entire line is more than $8.99. We tried Serves You Bright Body Lotion with skin brightening Iris. The plastic pump bottle is easy to use and we loved the shimmery, pearly lotion that gave our skin a cooling effect and left it with a subtle, shimmery glimmer. This is an inexpensive treat to use every day, or for a special evening out. 

An affordable but effective product we really like is the new L'Oreal Body Expertise Hydrafresh  Express, Super-Light Moisturizing Body Spray $10.99.  A few pumps of this plastic spray bottle filled with moisturizers and good-for-your-skin ingredients refreshes and moisturizes dry skin up to 24 hours. It absorbed fast, didn't feel greasy, and smoothed our skin...a true gem!

PAMPERING PROBLEM SOLVERS (& A Few "Face Fixers"):

 Your nails & cuticles need special attention during the drying winter season, too.  Bobbi Brown Conditioning Hand and Cuticle Balm $19.00 is an intensive, non-greasy cream to smooth and re-hydrate hands and cuticles. Tje pure orange oil gives it a refreshing scent. We're keeping a tube nearby to use a few times a day for a moments' relaxation, and an instant pick-me-up. 

Bobbi Brown's Exfoliating Cream Wash"  $22.00 which not only gently scrubs off dead, flaky surface cells of your face, but can also be used to treat the rough skin on your elbows, knees and heels.Our reviewers loved the results, and liked the non-breakable silvery tube! Another Bobbi Brown Product that we really love is Bobbi Brown Extra Soothing Balm Hydrant $50.00 (originally reviewed in the "What Works Summer 2001 column). A small jar of pink cream has shea butter and beeswac to lock in moisture, soothe and de-stress.  A little goes a long way, hydrating anything on your body from severely chapped lips to the roughest heels and cuticles. We adore this product!   Bobbi Brown Extra SPF Moisturizing Balm ($75.00), keeps your face protect from the sun's rays (they're out in the winter, too) while offering a deeply moisturizing cream that helps minimizelines. Smooth it on before you go skiing,skating, or before any winter outdoor activity.Your skin will thank you!

We hadn't planned to review any facial products, but when a few, intrepid public relations executive slipped some more exceptional facial products in with their bath and body offerings, we couldn't help trying them...and got hooked on the following:  Osea Ocean Cleansing Milk $41.00 has got to be the most gentle but most effective facial cleanser on the planet (and we don't give out this kind of praise, lightly). It neatly whisked away all our makeup, cleansed, moisturized, and made raw, dry skin feel silky all day without breakouts or a greasy feel. Worth every penny, it's wonderful for sensitive, irritated skin. If yours has gotten waaay too much windburn or sun, you'll want to treat yourself to a bottle.

PAMPERING SKIN Solvers (cont.):

Lierac's Aqua Calm Anti-Fatigue Relaxing Mask $39.00 is an amazing anti-stress cocktail of lavender, almond and mallow that (after about 5 minutes) made our skinsoft and glowing. More importantly, we felt calmer that we had all day! Follow this pampering treatment with Lierac Aqua Lift Instant Radiance Boosters $39.00 (6 doses) as a special "pick-me-up" for tired, winter-depleted skin or before going out for a special night on the town.  Osea Ocean Cleansing Milk $41.00 has got to be the most gentle but most effective facial cleanser on the planet (and we don't give out this kind of praise, lightly). It neatly whisked away all our makeup, cleansed, moisturized, and made raw, dry skin feel silky all day without breakouts or a greasy feel. Worth every penny, it's wonderful for sensitive, irritated skin. If yours has gotten waaay too much windburn or sun, you'll want to treat yourself to a bottle. Another unique and new product is FACE Stocholm's Swedish Solution $38.00.  It's formualted with highly moisturizing ingredients that improved the appearance of our dry, tired skin including our neck (that's exposed to the elements, too).  Overall, skin felt softer, too.

Facial masks are supposed to improve the quality of your skin, but we really think they do something equally important:  they force you to focus on yourself for 5-10 minutes, helping you to you relax!  Lierac's Aqua Calm Anti-Fatigue Relaxing Mask $39.00 is a perfect example.  A anti-stress cocktail of lavender, almond and mallow soothes your skin as you relax!  After five minutes our skin was super-soft and glowing and we felt calmer that we had all day! Follow your pampering treatment with Lierac Aqua Lift Instant Radiance Boosters $39.00 (6 doses) as a special "pick-me-up" for tired, winter-depleted skin.

We weren't sure what to expect when we saw Borghese's Spa Mani Moisture Restoring Gloves and Spa Socks $46.50 each, but after we slipped them on and waited 20 minutes our reaction was "wow-this really works!"   Our hands and feet immediately felt softer and looked firmer. Both the socks and gloves are made with a special polymer lining designed to deliver intensive moisture to the skin. Used a couple of times a week,for about 20-30 minutes, the gloves and socks will last several months and give you the type of results you expect from professional spa treatments! smoother, and less "alligator-y" Facial masks improve the quality of your skin and do something equally important for your mind & spirit: they force you to focus on yourself for a few minutes.

We were eager to try the DermaNew Personal Microdermabrasion System $130.00 which is marketed as an at-home alternative to microdermabrasion treatments in a doctor's office, supplemented by costly facial peels.  Husband & wife team Dean Rhoades and Amby Longhofer developed a small, battery-operated machine that (aided with Dermanew Creme containing corundum crystal and good-for-your-skin vitamins) whisks away the top layer of flaky, dry skin on face and body, leaving it glowing, refreshed, and smooth.   Although we were skeptical (at first) and worried that the harshness of the creme would rip our skin to shreds, we discovered that even those with sensitive skin could use it successfully, as long as we didn't  press too hard or "overdo" the treatment.You can use this on other parts of your body besides your face. In fact, when you buy the entire system you get four applicators to serve different body parts.   The bottom line:  It's not as deep as the treatments you'd get in a doctor's office, but if you want a similar effect (or to maintain a professional treatment), it works amazingly well.

RX FOR HAIR:  Hair, like skin, tends to become dry and brittle during the winter.   Spritz a few drops of Phytolisse Relaxing Serum $24.00 into your palm and onto your hair, to tame brittle, flyaway tresses.  Your hair will have a smoother texture and you'll get the additional bonus of great shine!

If you're the type who loved to play in the mud, you'll just love Borghese's Fango Active Mud for Hair and Scalp $36.00.   Attractively packaged in a glass apothocary jar, this product features rich, natural volcanic ash to help revitalize dry, damaged hair. It's a genuine spa treatment "mask" for hair. After shampooing, we felt a dramatic difference in softness and shine. The 17.6 oz size gives you more than a  few  "spa night" experiences from one jar, Use it while you soak in the tub or are applying a facial. After showering you may find your hair never looked or felt better.

We gave a big thumbs-up to Garnier's newly-arrived-from-Europe Fructis shampoo $3.99 and conditioner $3.99 in our big Holiday, 2002 Beauty Review.  Now we're recommending another great product: Fructis fortifying Deep Conditioner 3 Minute Masque for hair. This  is an inexpensive alternative to pricey balms. Fruit acids and other good-for-your-hair ingredients help soften, smooth, repair, and nourish in just three minutes (and it smells like yummy fruit, too).  Time-challenged people will cheer as it transforms their straw-like tresses back into, well...hair. 

SPIRIT BOOSTERS (AND GREAT GIFTS): EVERYTHING ELSE TO BEAT THE WINTER BLAHS: Much as we'd like to, we don't have the power to prevent your from having bad days or stressful seasons, nor can we make Mother Nature speed Winter into Spring.   Instead, we're suggesting some tempting, "mood-lifting" treats to make any day or night of the year, special.

Light a candle and you've got instant romance and relaxation!  Laura Mercier has expanded her bath and body line of yummy, dessert-oriented scents to include the  Laura Mercier Collection Gourmande Candle $42.00. What a treat!  The oval-shaped candle in a simple glass votive comes in a pretty organza bag tied with a satin ribbon. It will burn for 40-50 (we didn't test ours that long). When lit, the intoxicating, buttery scent of "Sugar Cookies" (yes, really! filled our humble abode for hours...ahhhh! This would be a fantastic valentine's gift for a special man or woman.

Stimulate your body and mind with an Aromatherapy Candle from LATHER $12.00 (4 oz - there is also a 2 oz and an 8 oz size). We lit the intoxicating "Passion Flower" and instantly felt better. We also appreciated the simple metal "tin" container that makes it a natural for  travel. There are 14 fragrances to choose from.

We have been reviewing Tony & Tina products since almost the beginning of The Advice Sisters What Works beauty review columns. We love their innovative, fun, natural and spiritual approach to their high-quality products.  Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Tony & Tina Herbal Aromatherapy Bath/Shower Gel $10.00 called "Love Boost" made us feel uplifted and special. It includes nearly a dozen good-for-your-skin ingredients (eg Angelica, Apricot, Blue Mallow, Yarrow, Aloe, Bladderwrack, Kelp, Chamomile, Linden Tree, Honeysuckle, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin D, Vitamin D3, Corn Oil, Soy, Algae, Peony, Benzoin oil, Fir oil, Petitgrain Oil, Bakeri andMormordica). We love the curvy plastic bottle, the funky purple color of the cleanser, and the sexy, round, silvery top.   Best of all, our skin felt clean, soft and fragranced with a hint (not a whallop) of Jasmine.

We admit that we're not great fans of anything (probably due to embarassing past experiences where something got un-stuck at an inopportune time).  On the other hand, when winter's heat and cold have damaged your nails beyond salvation, or one of your "perfect 10" has snapped off just before a special event, press-on nails are an easy way to fix the problem. Nailene Manicurated: self-stick nails ($4.99-$7.99) give you an instant, perfect French manicure. The self-adhesive backing is so simple: just press onto a clean dry nail. If you don't do any heavy work with your hands, the nails can last a couple of days, but they're easily removed by soaking nails in warm water for about 10-15 minutes (giving you time to relax, as well)!]

BUYING GUIDE:  Here's where to get the products:

Alex and Ani : http://www.alexandani.com/ and   fine department stores (e.g.  Henry Bendel & Fred Segal)

Archipelago Botanicals:  http://www.spashoppe.com/pursimcolbya.html

Archive Just Add Water: http://www,beauty.com powered by http://www.drugstore.com

Awake Cosmetics: http://www.awakecosmetics.com/

Bath Bloomers: http://www.bathbloomers.com and fine spas.

Beauti Control:  http://www.beauticontrol.com/

Boom: http://www,beauty.com powered by http://www.drugstore.com

Bobbi Brown: http://www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com

Borghese:  http://www.borghesecosmetics.com/

Clinque: http://www.clinique.com