Looking for something truly unique and different in skin care? I found some great new products from Philosophy this week that go beyond the ordinary. The Great Awakening skin rejuvenation treatment ($25; two versions: pink for skin that burns in the sun, blue for skin that tans) combines a powerful enzyme gel with an oxygen foam to give you a deeply exfoliating facial at home. Philosophy says you'll see smoother, cleaner, and brighter skin in just one use, and for the most part, I found that was true.

In Step One, you apply the catalase enzyme gel to the skin, which begins exfoliating the skin (you can feel it heat up). It then acts as a carrier for the oxygen foam in Step Two, which delivers both oxygen and water to the skin. You may be wondering (like I did) why you would want to put oxygen into your skin. After all, aren't the anti-oxidant creams we pay good money for supposed to keep the oxygen out? According to Philosophy, a deep infusion of oxygen allows for maximum exfoliation of the skin, revealing fresh, new cells and improving the rate of cell regeneration. Hard to prove, but my skin did look fresher and more alive after one use, and I haven't need a regular scrub.

The only irritation I experienced was from removing the foam; for really deep exfoliation, Philosophy recommends you either shave (yes, you read that right) the foam off, or use the enclosed spatula to scrape it off (I scraped). If you are sensitive, or the notion of scraping or shaving doesn't do it for you, you can also just rinse it off.

After using The Great Awakening, Philosophy recommends using an anti-oxidant to protect the fresh, newly exposed cells from environmental damage. I decided to try Hope and A Prayer topical vitamin C ($45), their newest, and most unusual, anti-oxidant product. Unlike other vitamin C products I've tried, you actually mix Hope and A Prayer fresh every time you use it; the kit comes with a bottle of vitamin C powder and a bottle of oil-free liquid solvent (great for any skin type, and made with algae and ginseng extracts). Not only does this method ensure the vitamin C is stable, but it allows you to choose how strong you want it to be. If you've tried vitamin C products that made you break out, were too weak, or too strong, Hope and A Prayer might be just what you're looking for.

For Philosophy locations near you, call 1-800-love-151, or visit their website at www.philosophy.com.

Wrapping up our series on vitamin skin creams, I have to admit, I am not easily impressed, but I was when I saw results with Estee Lauder's Diminish Retinol Treatment ($47.50 for 1 ounce) after just two days! Retinol is a vitamin A derivative that gently exfoliates dead and damaged skin cells, replacing them with fresh, new cells. This sloughing action can make wrinkles less severe and reduce splotchiness, age spots, and sun damage. On developing wrinkles around my eyes and those stubborn red spots left over from healed blemishes, Diminish made my skin look smoother and more translucent in the first few days.

After just three weeks of nightly use, my skin tone is more even with fewer red, blotchy areas. The retinol in Diminish is encapsulated in collagen to be gentle, so there's less chance of irritation (great for someone with sensitive skin), and it's lightweight so any skin type can use it. Diminish is rather expensive at almost $50 an ounce, but for its traditional lotion texture that doubles as a regular moisturizer, soothing green tea extract, and impressive results, I would recommend it to anyone looking for a smoother complexion.

I'm always looking for a truly long lasting lipstick that doesn't come off every time I have a cup of coffee or a snack, so when Clinique introduced their new Superlast Cream lipstick ($13.50), I was curious. After trying on all 14 lovely shades at my local Clinique counter, I selected "moonviolet," a medium brownish plum shade. I love the color, and even though it was not completely transfer-proof, most of the color did last through the day without a touchup. Compared to the other long-wearing lipsticks I've tried, Superlast is better than Revlon ColorStay, Maybelline Great Wear, L'Oreal Colour Endure and Cover Girl Marathon, just as good as Nat Robbins Stay Put and BeautiControl Color Freeze, but not quite as long-lasting as Avon Perfect Wear Double Performance.

Tired of ragged cuticles, brittle nails, and parched hands? Our new Feature for February on Hand and Nail Care is your complete guide to hand and nail treatments as well as fun nail polishes to try.

The Makeup Diva is In! Considering all the products I've reviewed, it's hard to remember which ones were good, bad, or just plain ordinary. This week our Makeup Diva puts together a list of cleansers we've reviewed complete with comparative ratings to make your shopping a little easier. Don't go to the mall without it!