As opinionated as I am about skin care and makeup products, I usually don't venture into fragrance advice. What smells like a meadow full of daisies to my friends often smells like stinky potpourri to me. Those of you who have emailed me asking my opinion of your favorite perfume get the same answer - "I don't review perfume" - until now.

It took something as universal and completely nostalgic as smell THIS, a line of roll-on "real scents for real people" ($10 each) to get my attention. Smell THIS redefines fragrance with a collection of real life scents that you can wear anywhere. I personally test-drove, and loved:

cut grass - a dead ringer for freshly mowed grass
clean wet laundry - very fresh
beach smells - think suntan lotion minus the coconut
salon shampoo - green apple all the way
soda pop fizz - amazing likeness to ginger ale
grapefruit - need I say more?
cake batter - tasty vanilla you can wear
campfire smoke - like a bonfire on the beach

Why wear ordinary perfume again? Smell THIS easily earns my affection and an unprecedented 5+ out of stars. Learn more or order online at smell THIS. In the endless pursuit to make my skin look its best, I decided to try Almay Time Off Revitalizer Daily Solution Pads ($18 for 112 pads). Different from a lotion or serum, these pads, which are soaked in a combination of gluconamide (a sugar-derived exfoliant) and salicylic acid (aka BHA or beta hydroxy acid), work invisibly without interfering with your favorite moisturizer. The gentle exfoliating solution, combined with soothing aloe, really made my skin look brighter and fresher in just a few days. After a full two weeks of twice daily use, my complexion is starting to look clearer and more even-toned. This is an easy and effective treatment for any skin type that I give 4 out of 5 stars.

Since perming my hair recently, I am now preoccupied that my curls will go flat or get frizzy. Most of the volumizing products I've tried just leave my hair dried out and frazzled, so it was time to find something better. My quest brought me to the new Botanical High products from vegan (no animal testing or animal ingredients) hair care line, Abba. For extra volume without stripping the hair, Volumizing Shampoo and Thickening Conditioner are a great pair. I was surprised at how well the lightweight gel conditioner worked on my chemically processed hair, making it look naturally full and soft. I wasn't as pleased with the Weightless Styling Gel - it defines and holds well but can make the hair feel stiff and rather "crunchy". I would choose a different styling product, then finish with the Finishing Spray for light hold. Here's how they rate:

Volumizing Shampoo               4 out of 5 stars
Thickening Conditioner           4 out of 5 stars
Weightless Styling Gel           2.5 out of 5 stars
Finishing Spray                  4 out of 5 stars

Calling all America Online subscribers! Bring your cosmetic questions to the Electra Real Chat room on Monday, March 30th at 11pm eastern and chat with me live online! From the best foundation to the hottest spring makeup looks, it's a great discussion and an open forum for your toughest beauty questions. Type keyword: electra and follow the links to Real Chat. See you there!