This week I've got two of your favorite things - foundation reviews and some new drugstore products. Coming up in future issues, I'll also be covering the new Metropolitan collection from Oil of Olay Cosmetics, new Clean 'n Go Cleansing and Makeup Remover Cloths from Avon, and Original Skin Pressed Makeup from Origins. I always like to hear your suggestions for reviews, so don't hesitate to email me. Enjoy!

Ilona Realistic True-to-Skin Foundation ($35)
Have you ever tried a new product and thought it was the best you'd ever used... until you found something better? That's what happened to me with this foundation. I was really enjoying the great coverage and blendability, but wasn't as excited about the slightly matte finish and the way it seemed to dry my skin out by the end of the day. For coverage, it seemed almost ideal, or at least the best I had found in a long time, until I tried MAC Hyper Real (read my review) and Prescriptives Unmakeup (review to follow). Both have more natural, luminous finishes, which I realized was what I really wanted from Ilona.

If you have normal or slightly oily or combination skin, this might be a good fit for you. True-to-Skin comes in 6 shades from ivory to cocoa, and while that may not seem like very many, the makeup does manage to blend and adapt well to variations in skintones. I use Real Ivory and found it to be a good match - neutral, not too pink and not too yellow. The other plus is the coverage - medium but with a lightweight feel. If you are trying to hide blemishes (this foundation is safe if you have acne), redness, etc., it works well without having to pile on layer after layer.

Again, if my skin were not more on the dry side of "normal", I think I would have been happier with this foundation. It was just too dry for me.

You can find Ilona products at ibeauty.com.

Prescriptives Unmakeup Invisible Finish Foundation ($25)
In my experience, foundation has to be one of the most difficult cosmetics to get right. Not only does the color have to be just perfect, but the formula has to work with your skin and give you all the benefits you want. Prescriptives' newest foundation, Unmakeup, has proven to be a winner for me.

Unmakeup makes some interesting claims, like being oil absorbing, oil controlling, and lightly moisturizing all at the same time. This would seem a strange combination, but it works. It has a natural, fresh, subtly dewy finish that doesn't look oily or get cakey. It also has mica for a subtle glow. After a full month of wearing Unmakeup every day, I also had no breakout problems.

My favorite aspect of Unmakeup is the feel - a bit like a cross between a cream concealer and a tinted moisturizer. Many other foundations claim to look natural on the skin, but this one really does. It goes on very smoothly and seems to bond with the skin, making it one of the few foundations I've tried that I actually prefer applying with my fingers (gives a softer finish). I would definitely, without a doubt, buy this again and again.

Unmakeup has SPF 15 sun protection and comes in 14 shades covering all of the Prescriptives color family groups. I wear the lightest, sheer cream (from the yellow/orange family). You can find Unmakeup at a Prescriptives counter near you (at major department stores like Macy's or Nordstrom). Prescriptives is not currently available online.

Almay One Coat Lip Cream
I've tried a few of the other Almay One Coat products and didn't like them, but I do like this lipstick. It has a nice, light, creamy feel thanks to the moisturizing center made with milk protein! The color also lasts fairly well. All in all, a nice basic lipstick with some pretty colors to choose from, like fresh lilac, pink me up, and pink coral.

You can find Almay One Coat Lip Cream online at drugstore.com (for $7.99).

Cover Girl CG Smoothers Hydrating Lip Color
This lipstick is very similar to the Almay One Coat in that it also has a lightweight, creamy feel that is nicely moisturizing. The color is fairly intense for such a lightweight product, so take care in choosing your shade.

You can find CG Smoothers Lip Color online at drugstore.com (for $6.89). You can also see all the colors at covergirl.com.

Maybelline Full n' Soft Mascara
As if we needed yet another new mascara formula, Maybelline has introduced Full n' Soft, and what a waste it is. My biggest complaint - major flaking. It goes on okay with minimal clumping, but barely touch your eyes and you get an eye full of mascara flakes. No thanks! I tried everything from switching eye creams to using no eye cream to using a setting powder on my lashes, but nothing helped. I would not buy this again.

You can find Maybelline Full n' Soft at drugstore.com (for $6.49).

Avon Hydra Finish Soft 'n' Natural Mascara
If soft and natural was what Maybelline was after, Avon beat them to it with this new mascara. I still think we have more than enough good mascaras to choose from, but if you must try something new, this is a nice one. Hydra Finish has a nice thin brush for applying the gel-like formula, so the look is natural, not thick or spidery. I had no problem with clumps, no flaking, no smearing, and it washes off easily with water.

Ask your Avon representative about the Hydra Finish products. Only a few are on the Avon.com website.