While it sometimes seems like we are very department store and prestige focused around here, I do like to keep a healthy mix of reviews so you always have a choice. This week I've got a few good, bad, and otherwise drugstore products to share.

Sonia Kashuk Lip Glossing ($5.99) in Flirt
For quality makeup on a budget, the Sonia Kashuk line at Target is hard to beat. I use the powder and blush brushes regularly and just discovered this lipgloss during a recent shopping trip. Flirt is one of those MAC Twig, looks great on anybody, goes with anything sort of colors - a medium pink brown with just the right amount of shine. The texture is a bit on the grainy side, but I like the look and the color enough to get used to it. It wears pretty well, too, but it's light enough that I don't mind reapplying. All in all I've found this to be a very flattering product that I would definitely buy again.

Clairol Herbal Essences Skin Care
Before taking my current break from reviewing skin care - even my skin needs a rest from time to time :) - I picked up the Fresh Foam Mild Facial Cleanser, Alcohol-Free Toner, and Moisture Renewal Lotion for normal-to-dry skin. After putting all three to the test, both together and independently, I like the Fresh Foam Mild Facial Cleanser (around $4 for 5 ounces) the best. It has a light, airy texture and is a nice pick-me-up in the shower. Personally I find the texture too thin for using at night to remove makeup, but in the morning it's great. The Alcohol-Free Toner is about as basic as they come, and a nice choice if you use a toner. At around $4 for 8.5 ounces, you can't beat it. I was not too crazy about the Moisture Renewal Lotion (around $5 for 4.23 ounces) for my skin mainly because it's too thin and lightweight. If you have oily or normal-to-oily skin that needs a little extra moisture in the winter, this might be a nice choice, but for dry skin it's not enough. For those of you concerned about acne causing ingredients, this one is actually safe!

Oil of Olay Complete Radiance Compact Foundation ($13.95) in Fair Honey
This new makeup from Oil of Olay will be coming in March to a drugstore near you; I was fortunate enough to get a sample ahead of time. Oil of Olay is doing a great job of expanding their cosmetic line, and for the non-acne prone, this is a nice new choice in powder-based foundations. Complete Radiance powder has a soft, silky feel with medium coverage that is lightly oil absorbing. It also has broad spectrum SPF 15 sun protection and comes in 10 natural looking shades. I like that it doesn't emphasize dry areas of the face, and it doesn't get oily or shiny looking by the middle of the day. What did not thrill me was the pimples it gave me, thanks to tocopherol and dioctyl succinate, two acne-causing ingredients. This is yet another lesson that you can't always believe the product package - this one says non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic. If this is not a concern for you, then you might like the look, feel, and fairly reasonable price.

Alba Botanica Cream Shave ($5.50 for 8 ounce tube) in Pearberry
In a recent Cosmetic Report, I mentioned that I was using hair conditioner as shave cream (shame on me!). A helpful reader was good enough to recommend her favorite shave cream to me, so of course I had to give it a try! Alba Botanica is a healthfood store brand I had not tried before, but if their other products are anything like this shave cream, I will have to do a full review! The scent I tried, Pearberry, is described as "combination of summer-fresh pear and blackberry with just a hint of nectar," and I'd say that's right on the money. It also comes in Mango Vanilla, Coconut Lime, and Bengal Spice. The best part is the texture - more like a body cream than a shaving foam. It really clings and does a great job of eliminating razor drag and painful nicks. My legs are grateful!

You can learn more about Alba Botanica at albabotanica.com or image-style.com. Both have online ordering in case you can't find it in a store near you.