Lately I've found so many interesting products online, I can't stop shopping! Here are a few recent finds. Also, in Cosmetic Connection news, we've got a brand new feature story - a self tanner update. Self tanners are the only way to go if you dream of being a bronze goddess! Check these reviews before you shop.

Ellen Lange Retexturizing Peel Kit ($65)
I'm always on a quest for better looking skin, and to that end I try to give myself a facial at home at least once a month. If you are tired of plain clay masks and are looking for more action from your facial, this at-home peel kit is worth a look. You basically get everything you need for a glycolic acid peel at home in one handy kit. The peel starts with Peel Prep, an orange gel with scrub beads that you massage in after cleansing. Step two is a Peel Accelerator Pad, a textured, pre-moistened pad with glycolic acid, aloe vera, witch hazel, and menthol. Definitely not for sensitive skin, but it does feel refreshing and cool. The Glycolic Peel Solution is step three, which you pump into the enclosed measuring cup and apply with the enclosed fan brush (very handy and less messy than fingers). The peel solution also has menthol and lavender extract, so it feels cool like the accelerator pads, but not painful or stinging as you might expect.

The one thing I do not understand in the kit and refused to use is the final step, the Post Peel Cream. It contains isopropyl palmitate, glyceryl stearate SE, and myristyl myristate - all fairly high in the ingredient list and all known acne causers. Why I would pay $65 to try to get my skin as clear as it can be and then slather on cream that's practically guaranteed to make me breakout is beyond me. I ignored this step of the kit and applied an anti-oxidant cream instead (either Peter Thomas Roth Power C Instant Radiance or Philosophy Help Me Retinol Treatment).

I have only used the kit a few times over the course of two months, so I haven't seen a radical difference in my skin in terms of fewer lines, etc. What I do like is the rosy glow my skin has after the peel, and the way it seems to reduce and heal any pimples I currently have. It's also quite a bit cheaper than having a peel in a salon - this $65 kit is good for several peels.

Ellen Lange products are available from ibeauty.com and Sephora.com.

Vernon Sinclair soaps ($4.50 for each 3.75oz bar)
I love how the Internet is such a powerful vehicle for discovering products you might never have known about before. I was contacted by this family-owned bath product company several months ago about reviewing their soaps, and I was happy to take a look. Now I am hooked on these all natural soaps, especially for my daughter's sensitive skin. They lather really well but also rinse clean with no residue, and they leave your skin feeling soft. I also like the selection of scents - comfrey lavender, calendula blossom (my personal favorite, with real flower pieces), rose buttermilk (smells amazing), patchouli hemp, baby (has no fragrance), oatmeal, tea tree gardener's, and rosemary.

Vernon Sinclair also has a small selection of milk baths, salt glow scrubs, and a fizzing mustard soak for sore muscles. You can learn more about them and order products from their website at vernonsinclair.com.

Paul Brown Hawaii Wash Elite shampoo ($8 for 8.5oz)
Although Wash Elite is supposed to be for chemically treated, dry and damaged hair, I was not impressed with what it did for me. My hair is naturally on the dry side, but it's also highlighted, so it needs all the conditioning and gentle care it can get. This shampoo is pretty average and left my hair feeling dry and rough on the ends when it was still wet - so much so that I felt like I had to pile on the conditioner to make it soft and manageable. The kukui nut oil that the product label touts as being so nourishing for the hair really did nothing for me.

Paul Brown Hawaii Resurrect 3 Minute Reconstructive Ultra Conditioner ($15 for 8.5oz)
I think paired with a better shampoo, this conditioner could be a good find. It did leave my hair soft and silky, but I still had trouble combing through the tangles after towel drying. For the price it's not bad, but I think for a really great conditioning treatment I would sooner choose Terax Crema or Komenuka Bijin Hair Conditioning Treatment.