Of all the product lines I've tried over the years, I have to admit that Clinique has never been one of my favorites. As someone with sensitive skin of one form or another, I've always had a hard time finding anything Clinique that didn't burn, dry out, or otherwise irritate my skin. In all fairness, however, I decided it was time to give Clinique another shot and make a real effort to find products that could really work for me. I think I'm getting close, too! My testing adventure started with a few basics, including part of Clinique's (in)famous 3-Step System.

Rinse-off Foaming Cleanser ($14.50 for 5 ounce tube)
For summer when my T-zone gets a little on the oily side, this cleanser is a nice choice that doesn't overdry. You only need the tiniest amount (the size of a small pea) to get all the lather you need to take off makeup in a flash. For normal, combination, or slightly oily skin, Rinse-off is a keeper that I give 4 out of 5 stars. My one gripe that has always bothered me about Clinique skin care is that they consider this cleanser a makeup remover only, then they expect you to wash your face again with their Facial Soap (as Step One of their "system"). The soap isn't special, it can't clean your skin more deeply, and it won't do anything this cleanser didn't do, except maybe dry your skin out. Skip the soap and move on to Step Two.

Mild Clarifying Lotion ($9.50 for 6.7 ounces)
All the Clarifying Lotions are considered Step Two, and all but one are really too harsh for just about every skin type to successfully use every day. Levels 1 through 4 all contain high levels of alcohol, salicylic acid, menthol, and chemicals you might find in nail polish remover or paint thinner. Yikes! Thankfully, this Mild version is much gentler (alcohol free) and still has the exfoliating properties of salicylic acid. The thicker liquid-lotion consistency may take getting used to if you are oily, but believe me, it's worth it! If your toner is too harsh and stripping, it will only make oily skin produce more oil. I give Mild Clarifying Lotion 4 out of 5 stars.

Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion ($10.50 for 2 ounces)
I hate to be cliche, but here goes - there is nothing dramatic nor different about this lotion. There! I said it! Seriously, though, DDML is basically water, mineral oil, sesame oil, thickeners, and preservatives. As a basic moisturizer for someone with normal to dry skin who isn't irritated by mineral oil, it's a fine choice that earns 3 out of 5 stars. For me, however, mineral oil always makes me break out, so I was not so lucky. With so many other Clinique moisturizers to choose from, I'm hoping there's one out there with my name on it.

All About Eyes ($25)
Clinique has a huge range of skin care products to add to your regular cleansing routine, including several eye cream choices. All About Eyes is the newest, and I think the best. It successfully combines the benefits of a gel (reduces puffiness, feels cooling and soothing on the skin) with the moisturizing and smoothing properties of a cream. The texture is very silky and makes a fantastic base for eye makeup without crumbling or creasing. All About Eyes is near perfection, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Coming up next week, I'm pleased to bring you reviews of the drugstore AHA line Aqua Glycolic. It's a reasonably priced alternative to the high priced brands, and hopefully just as effective or better. See you then!

Searching for a perfect sunscreen for summer? This month's Feature, Sunscreen Favorites, is your perfect summer shopping guide to some of the best sun protection products available.

The Makeup Diva is in! Confused about the best order to apply your skin care products when you do an at-home facial? Miss Diva makes it easy in this week's Ask The Makeup Diva column.