I have often wondered about the skin care lines sold and used at salons and spas - are they really better than bargain or even department stores brands just because they are used by facialists? I recently had the opportunity to try Dermalogica, a salon line developed by "The International Dermal Institute". Dermalogica's claim is that their products contain "highly effective" ingredients that "correct skin problems and restore skin health". How different could it be from other lines? I decided to try a few of the products to find out for myself.

Special Cleansing Gel ($22 for 8 ounces) for all skin types
Considering that I typically have terrible luck with cleansers that lather or foam, I was pleasantly surprised at how well my normal-to-dry, sensitive skin reacted (or rather, didn't react) to this gel. It removed my makeup thoroughly and left my skin feeling clean but not dry or stripped. Unless you have very dry skin, this is a good, but not all that "special", choice for most skin types.

Skin Renewal Booster ($41 for 1 ounce) AHA serum
With so many reasonably priced AHA products on the market (Alpha Hydrox, Neutrogena, and Pond's to name a few), I find it hard to justify spending what Dermalogica is asking for this product. The serum texture is nice, but not worth so much money for such a small amount of product. If you want a lightweight serum AHA, consider Circle of Beauty's All Even AHA Serum ($15 at Sears) or Alpha Hydrox Enhanced Gel (around $9 at drugstores).

Skin Smoothing Cream ($29 for 1.75 ounces)
For dry, sensitive, or weather-worn skin that needs relief, this cream works and feels great. It's emollient enough to soothe without being greasy, a definite plus for irritated skin. Because it only has an SPF 6 level of sun protection, I would sooner recommend this as a night cream; even in the winter, you still need an SPF 15 sunscreen when you are outside.

Even though I enjoyed these Dermalogica products, they aren't so incredibly unique or different from many other skin care lines. With any line, buy products that you like and that work for you, not ones that simply seem better because they are expensive.

Our Drugstore Extravaganza continues this week with two great products to enhance your eyes.

I'm always looking for eye shadows in wearable colors that last all day without creasing, and that don't cost a fortune. I have had good luck with L'Oreal mascara, so I decided to try their Soft Effects eye shadow duo (around $4 at drug and discount stores) in "satin taupe". Both the taupe shade and the darker charcoal shade are wonderfully neutral, smooth and silky, and long wearing up to about 10 hours without creasing or fading. Great shadows like this make it almost a crime to pay more!

Several months ago, I finally got the hang of tweezing my brows without making a mistake! Now I can appreciate any product that will help me keep them nicely groomed. Revlon's new ColorStay Browcolor (around $7 at drug and discount stores; comes in blonde, auburn, brunette, and black brown) is a great find - a brow pencil on one end for filling in any sparse areas, and a matching brow gel on the other end, perfect for keeping stray hairs under control. If you aren't very adept with the pencil (like me), the colored gel works great by itself for color and control in one. For more information on Revlon ColorStay Browcolor, visit the Revlon website.

Ask The Makeup Diva! Plagued by those wonderful "monthly" breakouts? This week, Miss Diva reveals her personal secret weapons to make your skin a more pimple-free zone. Don't miss it!