I am always excited to highlight the valuable contributions of our incredible Panelists. This week our Panelist Maria has found some products that are worth mentioning, so I'm giving her the floor to tell you all about them. Here is a bit about Maria:

Maria is a 30 year old freelance editor and writer, and "total cosmetics nut" with several years experience working for a major department store line as well as a cosmetic researcher. Maria is part Austrian/German, African American, and Native American, with wavy, dark brown hair with reddish-golden highlights, dark brown eyes, and a medium to olive skin tone (the foundation and powder shades she uses are normally toward the lighter end of the spectrum). Her skin is very oily and prone to breakouts, but she keeps it pretty clear with regular use of a BHA product and 5% benzoyl peroxide. Maria's favorite beauty products include Huggies Baby Wipes to remove makeup (strange, but very effective!), Clinique Clarifying Lotion #2 and Exfoliating Scrub, SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel, Revlon ColorStay Compact Makeup, Lorac Oil-Free Foundation, Jane Loose Powder, Lancome Concealer and Oil-Free Blush, Bobbi Brown lipsticks, Wet 'n Wild lip glosses, Ombrelle Sunscreens, and Paula's Choice 1% BHA Lotion.

Take it away, Maria!

Because I'm such a beauty nut, I am always on the lookout for unique makeup and skin-care products. I will try anything that looks interesting and I recently tested several products from different companies. Grab a pen and a sheet of paper: There are some terrific finds and great bargains listed below!

Bath and Body Works Bio Face Soothing Eye Gel ($12 for 0.5oz)
This eye gel is cool and lightweight but it doesn't offer enough moisture for me. (Even though my skin is extremely oily, I like to use a thick eye cream.) Someone who prefers a gel to a cream will like this one; it is colorant free, fragrance free, non-greasy, and non-irritating. My makeup went on smoothly over this gel and didn't crease. Also, the price is a bargain compared to department store eye creams and gels, which can range from $25 to $50.

Skin Biology Calypso's Oil ($39.95 for 8oz)
This is a moisturizing body oil that does not feel heavy or greasy. It's available in several different scents; I tested the jasmine, which is relatively light but not the type of scent I would wear on a daily basis. If you like body oils, this one is fine but the price is pretty steep. (Personally, I prefer Neutrogena's Sesame Body Oil which costs around $7 for 8.5 ounces.) If you're interested in trying this product, take a look at their Web site at skinbio.com.

Clinique Stop Signs Hand Repair ($15.50 for 2.5oz)
The older I get, the more concerned I become with aging. Since hands often show signs of aging much faster than any other body part, I purchased this product during a recent gift-with-purchase promotion. I absolutely LOVE this product! It is very creamy and luxurious. It absorbs quickly and is not at all greasy. I only wish that it came in a bigger tube so that I could use it as a body lotion! It has a slight scent, but it is very light and pleasant. As for the anti-aging claims, my hands do look softer and less crepy, but I suppose any good lotion could achieve the same results.

Clinique Superbalm Lip Treatment ($10 for 0.24oz)
For as long as I can remember, I have had to deal with dry, flaky, peeling lips. Because of this, I have been obsessed with having soft, smooth lips and, consequently, I own about ten different brands of lip balms! I have never found a lip balm that I really like - that is until now. This lip balm is very creamy (the first ingredient is petrolatum) without being sticky. It has a slight pinkish tint to it, but it goes on clear. I have been applying this every morning and evening and through out the day. This is by far the best lip balm I have tried. At $10, the price is a bit extravagant for a lip balm, but I'm willing to pay more for a product that actually works.

Lorac Sheer Wash ($24)
Oilier skin types will definitely want to try this liquid cheek and lip tint, especially if you have a problem with your blusher wearing off during the day. This product comes in a roll-on type applicator, which was kind of tricky to control. (The liquid sets pretty quickly and "stains" your skin, so you have to work fast.). However, this is a superb product - oil-free and non-greasy. I tried Sheer Magic, which is a wine/plum color. The color lasts all day long and does not fade. It goes on extremely sheer (you can adjust the intensity of the color by rolling on more of the product). Again, this type of product can be tricky to use, so here are a few pointers:

1. Apply Sheer Wash before your foundation and powder.
2. Blend it in with your fingers as soon as you apply it to your face (you don't want it to set in a weird place).
3. Don't let the word "stain" scare you. This product is easily removed with cleanser and/or makeup remover (plain old soap and water will remove the product from your hands).

Noxzema H2Foam Cleansing Cloths ($6.49 for 30 cloths)
Several companies have facial-cleansing cloths on the market, but this is the first one I have tried. These cloths foam up when activated with water. Noxzema's version cleanses thoroughly and removes makeup easily-including transfer resistant makeup! My Revlon ColorStay Compact Makeup, which is usually quite difficult to remove, came off in an instant! One side of the cloth is smooth while the other side is textured for exfoliation. Because my skin is oily and prone to breakouts, I was alarmed to see petrolatum in the ingredient list, but I have not yet encountered any problems.

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque ($2.99 for 8oz)
I have been singing the praises of this product to everyone who will listen. This clay-based facial mask is wonderful for oilier skin types. It's cool and refreshing and absorbs oil. It contains sulfur, an ingredient sometimes found in acne-fighting products. My skin looks and feels great after using this mask. And, can you believe the price? I am definitely making a permanent spot in my medicine cabinet for this little gem.

Tony & Tina Therapeutic Eye Base ($22)
This is a good sheer, lightweight concealer for the eye area (I tried the number 2 shade). It is non-greasy and doesn't crease. As it claims, it does help eye makeup stay on longer.

Tony & Tina Herbal Nail Mask ($12)
I know you're probably thinking exactly what I was thinking when I first saw this product: A mask for fingernails? What in the world will they think of next? This is a thick mask-like product that you apply to your nails and leave on for an hour or overnight for "a more intense treatment." After using this product each night for one week straight, I do think my nails seem a little bit stronger, but there is not a dramatic change. This product seems rather gimmicky to me, but if you have the time and money, it may be fun to pamper yourself with a nightly nail mask.

Wonder Cloth ($10-$15 for one cloth)
This white textured cloth is supposed to remove makeup with only water - no cleanser or makeup remover is needed - and the cloth will rinse completely clean in water. Unlike those single-use foaming cloths, you can use the same Wonder Cloth over and over again. Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? Well, it really does work! The Wonder Cloth took off all of my makeup and no stains were left behind on the cloth! I'm already planning future makeup purchases with all the money I am going to save on cleanser! FYI: I bought my Wonder Cloth at Ulta for $10 but they are selling it for $15 on their Web site (wondercloth.com).

- report by Maria of the Cosmetic Connection Product Panel