This week I am pleased to bring you my review of Renee Rouleau skin care. I reviewed Renee's tempting line of honey and tangerine bath products last year, so I was eager to have her take a crack at my skin care woes. Over the last year, Renee and I have spoken on the phone a few times, and I always impressed with her depth of knowledge, and, equally importantly, her sensible and honest approach. She is not a stuffy, overblown spa snob trying to sell you a cure-all in a bottle; instead, Renee's philosophy is straightforward and sensible. She doesn't use mineral oil, SD alcohol 40, lanolin, acetone, fragrance, or isopropyl myristate/isopropyl palmitate in any of her products, mainly because they can clog pores or otherwise irritate your skin. Renee also fully guarantees her products and offers a no-hassle return policy.

After about 30 minutes on the phone of asking questions about my skin's sensitivities, tendencies, etc., Renee prescribed the following products for me. The goal of the regime was to strengthen my capillaries (the tiny blood vessels under the skin) to decrease redness and make my skin more resilient, and to establish good, regular exfoliation to keep my pores clear and get rid of the superficial scars and discolorations I have from old breakouts.

MORNING ROUTINE
Gentle Gel Cleanser ($19.50 for 4oz)
I tend to shy away from gel cleansers because most foam (and the foaming agents can be very drying), but this one does not. A small, pea-sized amount easily cleaned my whole face and left it feeling clean and soft, not at all dry or stripped. A bit of cocoa butter makes it a nice choice for dry skin, but it would really be excellent for any skin type since it's not oily or filmy. I like the sweet fragrance and enjoyed using it in the shower every morning.

Bioflavonoid Toner ($19.50 for 4oz)
Renee selected this alcohol-free toner for me because its lemon bioflavonoids, lemon peel extract, and lemon peel oil would help constrict and strengthen the blood vessels in my skin, helping to make it less red. I didn't notice an immediate change from using it (the "system" as a whole seemed to help with my redness), but I still enjoyed the cool, soothing feeling from using it, and the delicious citrusy scent. My one quip is that I went through the small four-ounce bottle too fast; after several weeks of using it on a cotton pad, I switched to pouring a small amount in my hand and applying it to my face, to make the bottle last longer. I mentioned this to Renee and she said she is thinking about coming out with a six-ounce size.

Triple C & E Complex ($61.50 for 1.12oz)
If you want to hit the aging process head on, using an anti-oxidant vitamin treatment and a sunscreen on your skin every day is a step in the right direction. This lotion has stable vitamin C (Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate) plus vitamin E and bioflavonoids to fight free radicals, plus sunflower seed oil, rose hip seed oil, and shea butter to hydrate and soften. I love how lightweight this lotion is (just one pump is enough for your whole face) and it has a tempting scent from its grapefruit, orange and lemon oils and extracts.

Advanced Protection SPF 30 ($22.50 for 2oz)
Sunscreen is such an important step every morning, so it's a relief to me to find one that isn't overly white or pasty on my skin (I'm pale enough, thank you), moisturizes a bit, and doesn't smell like pina colada. The Z-Cote transparent zinc oxide in this cream eliminates that annoying white mask of many sunscreens, and combined with octyl methoxycinnamate and octyl salicylate, gives you full broad spectrum protection from both UVA and UVB rays (the ones that burn and the ones that make you wrinkle). While this product is not oil free, I think it would work well for any skin type (even acne prone) because it's not heavy or oily. One pea-sized dab is plenty to cover your whole face and neck.

EVENING ROUTINE
Ultra Gentle Cleansing Lotion ($19.50 for 4oz)
This is a terrific lotion cleanser for normal-to-dry or dry skin, both for overall cleansing and for makeup removal. I massage it on my dry face, then gently rinse using one of Renee's moistened facial sponges ($7.50 for pack of 2). All my makeup comes off, I get a bit of exfoliation and stimulation from the sponge, and my skin is left soft and clean, not dry or stripped.

After cleansing, I use the Bioflavonoid Toner again, then a treatment product before my moisturizer. At first Renee had me alternating weekly between her Glycolic Serum 15% ($45.50 for 1oz) and Skin Drink ($29.50 for 1/2oz), using one for full week, then the other for a full week, and so on. Renee's belief is that to best exfoliate, the skin needs a period of rest, to rebuild itself, so I exfoliate for a week, then "rest" for the following week.

The Glycolic Serum is one of the few I've tried that didn't irritate my skin is any way - no tingling, no burning, no itching, no redness. What a nice change! Unlike so many serums that start with drying alcohol as the primary ingredient, this one has aloe vera gel, chamomile and grapefruit, plus glycolic acid, so it works well without feeling like punishment.

During my "resting" week, I substituted the glycolic with Skin Drink, a serum hydrator made of whole leaf aloe vera gel, glycerin, allantoin, sodium PCA and hyaluronic acid (all moisture magnets to draw in and keep moisture in the skin). It has a light, refreshing feel that absorbs quickly without being sticky. I liked Skin Drink but wanted something with a little more "oomph" to work on my red discolorations (mainly on my cheeks from old breakouts) so Renee suggested Instant Calm Complex ($21.50 for .25oz). Its green tea, algae and kola extracts work to reduce inflammation, perfect for sensitive and reactive skin like mine. I also used it as a spot treatment on individual red spots and it did make a noticeable difference. I asked Renee about using it in the morning as well, so she recommended I mix 1-2 drops in with my Triple C & E lotion.

For my night moisturizer, Renee recommended Hydrating Vitamin Creme ($32.50 for 1oz). This lightweight cream packs another anti-oxidant punch with vitamins A, C and E, and it moisturizes normal-to-dry and dry skin without a greasy, oily feel. Like so many of Renee's other products, you only need a small dab of this cream for your whole face and neck, so don't go overboard. Renee has a clever 5 minute rule for moisturizers - if you can still feel it sitting on your skin 5 minutes after applying, it's too rich for your skin type.

Both morning and evening, I also used AHA/Vitamin C Eye CremeGel ($26.50 for .25oz). It's similar to Triple C & E Complex in that it also has time-released, stable vitamin C. The light cream-gel is perfect both morning and night for light moisturizing and de-puffing.

As a little at-home spa treat, Renee also recommended I use her Ultra-Gentle Green Tea Gommage ($25.50 for 2oz) and Aloe & Azulene Masque ($25.50 for 2oz) once a week as a mini-facial. The gommage product is a scrub alternative; you put on a light layer, let it dry, then rub it off with dry fingertips. The cream balls up, falls off and takes dead surface cells with it. I had never tried anything like this before, and although it was a bit rougher than I expected (it takes work to rub it all off), my skin was noticeably rosier and healthier looking when I was done. After rinsing off any residue, I apply a layer of Skin Drink, then a layer of the Aloe & Azulene Masque. I love the feel of this cooling gel - instantly relaxing - and am always amazed at how much of it absorbs into my skin. I only wish I had the time to do this "facial" more often!

After being on Renee's products for several months, I do notice an improvement in my skin. It bounces back better from environmental stress, gets irritated much less, looks less red, and generally looks healthier. I recently had to stop using the products to start testing something else, but I've missed Renee's products and how great they made my skin look and feel. If you are looking not just for something new for your skin, but also for someone who really understand skin and how to work with it, I highly recommend giving Renee a call.

You can read all about Renee Rouleau, her products, and her spa at reneerouleau.com, email at info@reneerouleau.com or call 1-888-211-7560 toll free or 972-248-6131 in Dallas.