Every year there are new skin treatments, fragrance, body products and cosmetics that stand out from the rest as unique, unusual, or just plain interesting. This week I am excited to bring you what we consider to be the Best of 2001.

Cosmetic Connection Product of the Year 2001: Osmotics Kinetin Cellular Renewal Serum
Osmotics has an extensive line of anti-aging products, including quite a few copper peptide treatments, but it's their Kinetin Cellular Renewal Serum that really stands out. Kinetin comes from plants and has been proven to both prevent and repair damage in the skin due to aging and sun exposure. It has many of the resurfacing benefits of alpha hydroxy acids, but without any irritation. The best benefit of this lightweight lotion for me is simply this: I no longer have bright red marks on my face. I've been battling with old acne surface scars (red blotches where the pimple used to be) for years, and now they are gone. If ever I get a new blemish, I treat it with both my acne medicine and Kinetin to ensure no new red marks. Now I can actually leave the house with NO foundation on if I want! Not that I would want to, since there are so many great ones to try, but you get the idea :)

For the simple fact that Osmotics Kinetin Cellular Renewal Serum worked to get rid of my old red acne marks, I happily lay down almost $80 a bottle to keep it that way. For something to work that well and reliably, it absolutely earns our award for Product of the Year for 2001.

You can find Osmotics Kinetin Cellular Renewal Serum at Sephora.com (click on "Face" and then "Age Control" and scroll to the bottom of the list).

The Runners-Up
It was a long and thoughtful process to come up with my Product of the Year, and from that process came a list of fantastic products that all deserve a spot in your makeup bag or in your powder room.

Linda Cantello Forget Foundation
This is amazing stuff! If you like (or need) medium to full coverage but hate the feel of heavy makeup, you have to try this. One pump is more than enough for your whole face and the coverage is terrific. The lightweight fluid feels velvety but disappears into your skin, leaving it looking natural and glowing. I love the look and feel of Forget Foundation so much that most days I forget I have it on, literally - it looks and feels so much like I wish my skin actually looked that I almost forget I have to wash it off! The only downside is the small color selection - just four shades. I've found shade #1 to be a great match for me, even though it doesn't look like my "usual" shade, so perhaps there is a small choice of colors because each one works with a several skintones in the same range.

Renee Rouleau Triple C & E Complex
If you want to hit the aging process head on, using an anti-oxidant vitamin treatment and a sunscreen on your skin every day is a step in the right direction. This lotion has stable vitamin C (Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate) plus vitamin E and bioflavonoids to fight free radicals, plus sunflower seed oil, rose hip seed oil, and shea butter to hydrate and soften. I love how lightweight this lotion is (just one pump is enough for your whole face) and it has a tempting scent from its grapefruit, orange and lemon oils and extracts.

DDF Multizyme Resurfacing Treatment Kit
If you have minor acne scars or discolorations, or if you just want to boost the clarity and healthy glow of your skin, this enzyme treatment kit is the way to go. Each box contains everything you need for four individual treatments to use once a week for a month.

First you wash with the Marine Cleanser, which is very minty and refreshing (may irritate some sensitive skins, but I had no problem; just don't get it near your eyes) thanks to peppermint, lavender, rosemary, cypress and clay sage essential oils. Next, you make the mask using the enclosed measuring spoon by adding a measured amount of Pineapple Enzyme Activator Gel to the premeasured Enzyme Powder (in its own cup), and mix to make a paste. Using the fan brush, you paint the mask paste on your face, place the Cucumber Eye Pads over your eyes, and go relax until it dries. After it's all "cooked" I like to use a wet washcloth to help remove it, rather than just splashing water on my face to try to rinse it off, which can take forever. The washcloth also adds an extra level of exfoliation.

When all the mask is removed, you tear open one of the AHA pad packets and swipe it on your face; for someone with dry or sensitive skin, I'd skip this step or maybe try the pad on one little area to see if it irritates. The pad is soaked in a glycolic acid, witch hazel, SD alcohol, vitamin C, and lactic acid solution and can be pretty strong after all the other exfoliating. The first time I did the whole kit I had no problem, but the second time I did get a little dry around my mouth and nose.

The final step is a layer of the Ultra-Lite Moisturizing Dew, a very lightweight, cool cream-gel hydrator perfect for combination or slightly oily skin types. It has goodies like aloe vera gel, squalene, glycerin, beeswax, vitamin C, grapeseed extract, vitamin E, vitamin A and allantoin to protect and soothe without being greasy or heavy.

I found the whole experience surprisingly relaxing. I never realized that with most masks, when it says to let it dry for 10-15 minutes, I always busily go off to do something else while it dries, rather than relaxing and making it a real at-home spa experience. Because this kit has the premoistened eye pads, you pretty much have to go put your feet up somewhere and close your eyes for 15 minutes - and what a relaxing 15 minutes that can be!

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
This olive-oil based cleansing Oil is my new favorite fall/winter cleanser. When my skin is worn out and looking tired at the end of the day, this oil really lifts off all the makeup, rinses off surprisingly well, and leaves my face feeling clean and hydrated.

I hope you enjoyed this issue of The Cosmetic Report!