Over the past several months, I've been testing a wide variety of AHA (alpha hydroxy acid), BHA (beta hydroxy acid, also known as salicylic acid), and vitamin (A, C, and E) creams to see if they are really better than regular moisturizers. For the most part they are, and the difference many of them can make in your skin is just short of amazing.

Just about every brand, whether from a department store counter, specialty boutique, or drugstore, has an AHA product that can improve the look and feel of your skin. Each formula and texture is different, so it can be a real undertaking trying to find the right one for your skin. Personally, for my normal to dry, sensitive, and also acne-prone skin, I prefer a lightweight product that is reasonably priced and works gently but effectively. My search for something to fit those criteria lead me to Estee Lauder's Fruition Extra ($42.50 for one ounce, $70 for 1.7 ounces).

Fruition has been around for years and has quite a following (I get several requests every week for a review of it), so I decided to give it a shot. I used my one ounce bottle twice daily for six weeks (which just happened to be when the bottle ran out), and I liked the results. Fruition gave my skin the extra moisture it needed without being heavy or greasy. Unfortunately, Fruition's exfoliating power may be gentle, but it isn't all that extraordinary (especially for the price). The results that I usually notice in my skin from AHAs, like a smoother texture and improved clarity, I did not see with Fruition. As a moisturizer, it works well and earns 4 out of 5 stars, but as an AHA, I can only give it 1 star. For a real difference you can see, I like Alpha Hydrox, BeneFit Seven%, BeautiControl Regeneration Gold, and Philosophy The Damage is Done much better.

Over the course of the last several weeks, I've brought you reviews of various lipstains from Stila, The Body Shop, and Philosophy. This week I discovered the mother of all lipstains - Lip Ink ($45 for a two color kit). Not only does the color last and last, but it doesn't leave your lips dry or cracked. The Lip Ink starter kit includes a shine/conditioner that you can apply before your color, then again after for smooth, chap-free lips all day. You also get your choice of two Lip Ink colors and a bottle of Lip Ink Off, the only product that will remove Lip Ink, all in a handy carrying case. I followed the application directions to a tee, and the color really does last through meals, drinks, kissing - you name it. I still like the feel of regular lipstick, but for those times when I'd rather not think about retouching my color every few hours, Lip Ink is a great alternative that I readily give 5 out of 5 stars. For more information about Lip Ink, or to order online, visit the Lip Ink website.

For those of you with oily skin, finding products that control oil without drying or stripping your skin can be a real challenge. After recently stocking up on a few favorites from Lorac (created by makeup artist Carol Shaw), I decided to try her Oil-Free Face Wash ($20 for 8 ounces) and Alcohol-Free spray Toner ($18 for 4 ounces). The cleanser is a good, non-drying choice that really works best for oily skin (left my normal to dry, sensitive skin a little dry). Just a small pearl-sized amount lightly foams to remove makeup and leave the skin feeling clean and fresh. For oily skin, this cleanser gets 4 out of 5 stars.

Although Lorac's skin care is supposed to be best for sensitive as well as acne-prone skin, the spray toner is far from it - the intense odor and tingly feeling from the concentrated menthol crystals just about knocked me over! Some herbs and essential oils can be fine for sensitive skin, but this level of menthol doesn't benefit anything. This is the first product since we started our new rating system to earn no stars.

Ready to break out of those winter blahs and get your skin really glowing? Before you consider cooking yourself in a tanning bed (bad for your skin!), check out April's new Feature on self-tanners. You'll be surprised at how far they've come!

Miss Diva is taking a break from reporting this week (researching all those products and techniques can be tiring!), but she'll be back recharged and refreshed next week. See you then!