This week I am pleased to feature new reviews from our Panelist Lisa. She has an interesting mix of bargain basement and high-end chic to share, so take it away, Lisa!

Greetings fellow cosmetic aficionados! I'm excited to bring you a wide range of reviews this week! There's a little of everything - from Jane Cosmetics to La Prairie, and lots of stuff in between. So, without further ado, on to the reviews!

Jane Cosmetics Brow Pencil in "Umber" (about $2)
This brow pencil ended up being such a delightful surprise! I've tried so many different brands and colors, but have never found what I consider to be the "perfect" pencil. When shopping for a good brow pencil, color, texture, and "endurance" are all attributes to consider. I have found a great many pencils that are the perfect color, but end up being too greasy and "crawling" down the face, or conversely have superb texture, but the color is either too golden or too grey, which ends up looking very harsh and fake. This pencil by Jane balances fabulous texture, and a perfect, neutral soft brown shade (which works very well with my red hair!). Brilliant! While most of us love to experiment with cosmetics, a brow pencil is not something most of us want to mess around with. This one provides perfect results at a bargain basement price. Add this to your list of must-have essentials.

Jane Cosmetics are available at Wal-Mart and other mass retailers.

Avon Lighten Up Plus ($15 for .5 oz.)
I really loved the original Lighten-up formula, but always lamented that it only attacked dark circles, and did not address other problems like puffiness. This new formula is an absolute goddess-send! While it still does a great job of lightening my dark circles (now mind you, it doesn't make them go away completely, but it does reduce them noticeably - the Avon literature says it lightens them by 38%, but my results suggest closer to 50%), this lightweight formula also goes to work on smoothing puffiness and plumping up little lines. The formula is totally non-greasy, absorbs quickly, and works perfectly under makeup. For best results, use it morning and night. For as effective as this product is, it has an even more attractive price point; in my opinion, Avon is constantly pushing the envelope with innovative products that are VERY reasonably priced. Peter Thomas Roth has a similar formula, but why pay upwards of $50? This stuff is an essential for anyone who doesn't get enough sleep, doesn't have a perfect diet, and has stress out the wing-wang. (Heh, I've narrowed to down to only 99% of you!)

While you can purchase all Avon products at avon.com, I think having a representative is so much more fun and informative. Not to mention, a good rep gives you all sorts of neat little samples to play with! If you are in the Greater Columbus, OH area, and need a good rep, email Stephanie Marxen at stephaniemarxen@avon.net, or call her at 877-avon-pls. She's the epitome of what good customer service should be, and she's an absolute hoot, to boot!

Peter Thomas Roth Power C Ultra-Lite Luminizer ($110 for 1oz)
This product is mighty pricey, to say the least. But, I've used a variety of PTR products in the past with good success, and I was hoping for a "mini-miracle." The PTR literature says that, "Using the most technologically advanced non-acidic vitamin C available, this greaseless lotion provides instant hydration and is an effective way to counteract skin slackening. It helps to visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while tightening and refining facial features." I'm still pretty young yet, but my hectic schedule really can take a toll on my skin. So, I thought this product might be a nice way to "tighten up and brighten up" my complexion. I used it at night, and found the texture to be a bit oily, despite the fact it's "greaseless." After a couple of weeks of consistent use, I noticed that while it did a nice job of smoothing and softening my skin, it was not nearly enough difference to justify the hefty price tag. If your skin is in its "mature" stage, you might have better results than I did, but for me, it just wasn't "the thing." While this product is clearly labeled "not for acne prone skin," it didn't give me any problems. If you have opinions about this product, just shoot me an email, and let me know what you think!

For all over skin brightening and refining, you can't beat Creme de la Mer (a veritable bargain at $85 an oz. - ha ha!) or Avon Luminosity ($20 an ounce). Both are super-performers, in my opinion.

You can find Peter Thomas Roth products online at whosthefairest.com, Beautydoor.com, Sephora.com, beautyhabit.com and beauty.com.

La Prairie Extrait of Skin Caviar ($100 for 1oz)
A friend of mine had a near-new bottle of this that she was kind enough to give me when she had a reaction to it. Since La Prairie is up there with the other "cult" brands like La Mer, Cle de Peau, and Sensi EX by Kanebo, I was very excited to try it! Touted as an "almost mini-facelift in a bottle," I thought it might be just the ticket to quickly infuse 8 hours of sleep, a week-long vacation, and 5 servings of fruit and veggies into my tired-looking complexion. All in all, I must say that I am pretty satisfied with this golden elixir. You only need one, pre-measured drop for your entire face, which you apply under a regular moisturizer, for smoothing and firming.

The best thing about it? It makes a remarkable, long-lasting canvas for makeup by smoothing fine lines and imperfections, and it does indeed visibly firm and freshen skin. My only real gripe? It doesn't add a rosy glow to the complexion (at least, it didn't do it for mine!) the way my beloved La Mer does. However, your makeup will look its best-ever when wearing Skin Caviar underneath. Another possible problem is that it does contain a fair amount of acne-causing ingredients, but my skin tolerated it very well, so you never can tell until you try it for yourself. If you have the money to throw around, this product is definitely worth a look-see.

La Prairie Cellular Treatment Foundation Satin SPF 15 formula ($60 for 60ml)
This certainly is a nice foundation - it covers smoothly, looks natural, protects with SPF 15, and moisturizes and protects without being greasy. However, I've found many a foundation that does exactly the same thing (uh, True Illusion by Maybelline, anyone?) and costs far less than this formula. Honestly, this is a status-brand, and if you're concerned with what names inhabit your cosmetic closet, I'm sure the La Prairie brand is a big draw. But, for those of us who care about quality, not name, and have a cheap-streak a mile wide, this isn't the brand of choice. Again, if you have the money to throw around, great, if not, don't sweat it, because there are numerous other alternatives. Some good ones to try? The aforementioned True Illusion, as well as various formulas by Prescriptives, Lorac, Stila, and Bobbi Brown are all excellent.

And with that thought, I wrap this one up. Food for thought: be good and kind to yourselves, and you'll find the glow you are desperately searching for in no time flat. I'm recently engaged (!) and find that happiness is the best skin treatment around!