Welcome to the Cosmetic Report^™ newsletter. It's our goal to bring you unbiased information about cosmetic products and trends so you can make educated buying decisions. If you've been searching for straightforward beauty information and advice, you've found it here. The Cosmetic Connection Panel of reviewers are consumers just like you who face the same issues and challenges, and look to the beauty industry to help solve them.

Lisa is in her early thirties, and hails from from Columbus, OH. She has very fair skin that tends to be "combination," with unexpected rages of sensitivity. Lisa's heritage is rather mixed - mostly Hungarian, with some Scottish and French mixed in with a dash of Native American. Her very fair skin tans like nobody's business, and produces a myriad of freckles, so she always wears plenty of sunscreen (Peter Thomas Roth Ultra-lite spf 30). Lisa has golden-green eyes, and mop-thick brown hair, which she keeps under control with Terax Conditioner. Lisa's main beauty concerns are puffy, sensitive, "circled" eyes, (which she remedies with Creme de La Mer applied at night, and Avon Lighten Up Plus in the daytime) and keeping her sensitive skin calm and clear.

Lately, I find that I've developed a bit of a sweet tooth when it comes to my taste in body care products. Being that I'm really picky when it comes to scents, they have to be just the right level of "sugar," with something else interesting layered in to keep them from being cloying. After spending ample time sudsing, sloughing, and smoothing, I've found some really great treats for face and body!

Mark Hollywood Pink Delushious Shower Syrup (8.5oz for $6.00)
This YUMMY-SMELLING body wash produces a ton of lather, and contains Oat extract, honey, and milk protein for extra moisturizing properties, which left my skin feeling wonderfully soft and healthy. But really, it's the scent that sold me. It is undeniably chocolate-based, but definitely more sophisticated and complex than you might suspect. Mark describes the scent as "Juicy mandarin and tangerine notes blended with a floral heart of muguet and freesia leaving the sensual notes of musk and Cacao." The result is a subtle, rich scent that hints at dessert without being too "candy bar" sweet. I love this item, and will definitely try more of the Hollywood Pink line in the future! The fact that it has an excellent price point is just the "icing," so to speak :)

Mark Self Sanctuary Shower Wash (7oz for $5.00)
Another winner from Mark! The Self Sanctuary line had appeared "here and there" enough to peak my curiosity, and the great price further encouraged me to give it a try. Self Sanctuary focuses on "natural" ingredients; this shower gel contains sage, ivy, melissa, fig, thyme, and orange peel extract, all reputed to have cleansing, healing, and softening properties. Since my skin did feel pretty great after washing, I think there might be some method in the madness. With three scents to choose from (Fig-Basil, Kiwi-Lotus, and Grapefruit-Ginger) I decided to go with the grapefruit-ginger (but with such a reasonable price tag, you could certainly try each one with zero guilt) The fragrance is tart and spicy, and is perfect for a morning shower. In fact, the zesty citrus might be a little TOO refreshing for a late-night wash. Unless, of course, you have a reason to stay awake. Oh la la!

Avon Planet Spa White Tea Cleansing Face Polisher (2.5oz for $5.50, on sale)
White tea has been a buzzword in skin care ever since Origins debuted their line a few years back. White tea is the youngest of the harvested tea leaves, and is reputed to have the most potent, anti-oxidant effects when it comes to aging and healing. This creamy scrub is gentle and nourishing, but not wimpy. You get an effective exfoliation from the silica, without the harshness of some "ground seed" scrubs. For my normal to oily complexion, I use it 3-4 times a week (apply, gently cleanse in circular motions, let sit for 30 seconds, and rinse) and I've had great results. It feels like a mini-facial; a Very Good Thing when I'm feeling stressed and harried - which is far too often, as of late. The herbal scent is light and pleasant, and doesn't irritate my "allergy-nose." And while my skin can be a bit sensitive, it seems to be reacting beautifully to this cleanser.

Avon Planet Spa African Shea Butter Hand and Cuticle Creme (2.5oz for $7.50)
Since I shake hands all day long, I wash them constantly - which can lead to cracked cuticles, dryness, and a serious case of the itchies. Consequently, I need a hard-working hand cream that won't leave me greasy. Shea butter just might be my favorite moisturizer, ever - nothing else seems to work as well! This cream is effective, without the heaviness you might expect. My husband tagged the smell of it perfectly as "sweet, buttered popcorn." Odd, but strangely attractive. If you hands need major help, apply a generous layer of this cream on hands before bed, and cover with cotton gloves, even socks will suffice. You'll marvel at your hands in the morning!

Sugarbaby is a really fun Aussie line that's just about as girly as they get. With pink packaging, and a beauty queen theme, these products are just really fun. All the products are scented with Sugarbaby's sweet fruity-floral fragrance. Definitely appealing to that little bit of tongue in cheek "princess" in all of us.

Sugarbaby Bomb Shell Satin Body Souffle (8.1oz for $11.00)
This body cream is very moisturizing, but not heavy or sticky. Thanks again to that uber-moisturizer, shea butter. It has a light, whipped texture, and contains a very subtle, champagne-colored shimmer that helps to deflect attention from skin imperfections. Don't worry about the sparkle factor, though the effect is very lovely in the evening, without being harsh or glittery. Definitely appropriate for big girls of all ages!

Sugarbaby Beauty Queen Alluring Body Lotion (6.8 oz for $11.00)
This lotion straddles the line between moisturizer and body makeup. It contains more light-reflecting pigments than the Satin Body Souffle, and has a golden, pinkish-apricot hue. You can use it anywhere, but I especially like it on legs. My skin usually looks as pale as soymilk, and this lotion gives it a more even color, and adds glow and dimension. It also looks incredible on self-tanner kissed skin, especially when concentrated on shoulders, arms and decolletage.

With both of the aforementioned products, it is a good idea to exfoliate first, since you wouldn't want too much pigment to collect on dry, flaky areas. I absolutely love the SpaCloth by Kutra. It is really different from most exfoliating cloths or sponges; nylon pleats are anchored by cotton thread on a cotton base, forming a really lightweight fabric that enhances the lather of almost any soap, and dries more quickly and completely than loofahs or sponges. Since the SpaCloth can be rinsed more completely than most exfoliating tools, they are less likely to become little cesspools of grime and bacteria. I used the Spa Glove design (which slips easily on either hand, so you can get every inch of your bod) and loved how well it worked, without being overly rough. Since much of my body is far more prone to breakouts than my face (my back breaks out constantly, and the backs of my arms are especially prone to clogged pores) I have been using it every other day, with really good results. Also a perfect way to prep your skin for self-tanner!

As an aside, if any of you struggle with acne on you back, and have found helpful products, please shoot an email to clanphillps@mindspring.com. I'd love to hear your suggestions and input.

I enjoyed trying all of these products, and would certainly buy any of them again. Until my tastes gravitate elsewhere, I'm hooked on these sweet body treats! Much better on my bod than my spoon :)

We hope you enjoyed this issue of The Cosmetic Report!