This week I'm pleased to have our Panelist Lisa L. contributing her review of Zia Natural Skincare and Aubrey Organics skincare.

Here's a little about Lisa:
Lisa L. is a 27 year old from Columbus, OH. She has very fair skin that tends to be "combination," and much oilier in the summer. Lisa's heritage is rather mixed - mostly Hungarian, with some Scottish and French mixed in with a dash of Native American. Strangely enough, her very fair skin tans like nobody's business, so she has to be careful and wear plenty of sunscreen. Her skin is also not really sensitive, except on her nose. Lisa has green eyes with lots of gold, and red hair (not naturally, though - she's been coloring it a subtle auburn since she was 15). Lisa's main beauty concerns are puffy, sensitive eyes, and blackheads on her nose. The best thing she's found so far for the blackheads is "Queen Helene" Mint Julep mask. It works great and has that fun retro packaging!

Take it away, Lisa!

Greetings fellow cosmetic junkies! For the past 4 weeks, I have been going "au-naturel" with my skin care regimen. I went to my local health food store (here in Columbus, OH, I like "The Raisin Rack") and picked up some items from Zia natural skincare and Aubrey Organics. Both lines tout themselves as "all natural," although I don't think any of us are exactly sure of what that means. At any rate, I did find some winners, as well as some losers. So, sit back with a nice glass of herbal tea and read on...

The Zia Natural Skincare line comes from San Francisco (no surprise there!) Aside from the "natural" aspect of their line, the company also has an activist philosophy (human rights is a biggie). It always gives me a smile to know that money from my little splurges is going for a good cause :) I also appreciate the fact that Zia offers a toll-free number that has estheticians available 6 days a week for a free skincare consultation. They also offer a 100% money-back guarantee if you aren't satisfied with their products. With nothing to lose, I jumped in and tried 4 products: Fresh Cleansing Gel, Hydrating Elixir, Ultimate Eye Cream, and Fresh Papaya Enzyme Peel.

Fresh Cleansing Gel (2 oz for $4.75)
This is an interesting formula with a clean, herbal scent. It contains sea algae extract, and is suitable for any skin type. The gel doesn't foam, but it does emulsify and expand so it slips easily across a damp face. I liked this cleanser, but only because I ignored the package directions - they suggested a pea-sized amount, which didn't remove my makeup. I even suspect it wouldn't be enough to cleanse a morning face. I used a dime-sized dollop (and slightly more if I was wearing eye-makeup) and had pretty good success, except for a few traces I caught with my usual toner. All in all, a fine cleanser, but nothing spectacular.

Hydrating Elixir for Normal Skin (4 fluid ozs. for $16.95)
I was so suprised at how much I loved this product! I was suspicious of this formula, as it promised to "treat skin problems at their source," and contained all sorts of essential oils and extracts which I though would irritate my normal to oily combination skin. Wow, was I wrong! A few quick sprays of this divine-smelling liquid seemed to calm redness and keep my skin hydrated, without making it shiny or greasy. You can use it under or over just about anything, and it is completely portable. I can't think of a better product for post-flight skin! It comes in formulas for oily, normal, and dry skin. Check out this product for yourself - it is a real friend to the girl on the go!

Fresh Papaya Enzyme Peel (.25 oz. size for $3.85 - about 4 applications)
This mask smells positively, well, green! Considering it contains mostly green papaya, that made perfect sense! This is a nice exfoliating mask, which is suggested for daily use. Here's the catch though - you have to leave it on 20-40 minutes. I found that 35 minutes was right for my skin. The mask left my complexion smooth and taut as promised, but if you are like me, you don't have that kind of time (daily) to devote to your skincare routine. However, it is nice for when you actually have a few rare and precious moments to yourself!

Ultimate Eye Cream (.5 oz for $29.95)
This eye cream is part of their "ultimate" line of restorative products. This product promised to penetrate deeply to reduce fine lines, and make the eye area smooth and plump. As I close in on 30, I am aware of how the skin around my eyes is changing. In the past year, I have added an eye cream to my nightly ritual. I also tend to suffer from "allergy eyes," which means that some days, I have dark circles and puffiness for which Boris Karloff would have paid good money. I really like this citrus-scented cream. The formula was not the least bit irritating, despite the delicious smell. I could apply it over the entire area (even eyelashes) without any redness or stinging. I woke up with fresh, well-rested eyes. This product presents serious competition to my favorite eye cream (Clinique "All About Eyes") but since the Clinique is a bit less expensive, we'll see.

And now, for the Aubrey Organics products! I only tried 2 of these products (even a Diva has to live on a budget!). Like Zia, Aubrey Organics claims it is all natural, with some formulas being "vegan" (lacking in any animal by-products). In fact, some of their products must be refrigerated after opening.

Calendula Blossom Natural Deodorant Spray (4oz for $8.15)
Some of you might have read about the possible connection between some forms of breast cancer and the use of traditional anti-perspirants, so, for the past year, I have only used various deodorants, and had good success. (So far, my favorite is the natural "salt rock" deodorant.) This Aubrey formula smells nice, but is only suitable if you are in a "low-perspiration" environment. It made it through my work day, but didn't last through my evening Taekwondo workout.

Jojoba and Oatmeal Facial Scrub and Mask (4oz for $7.75)
This is a really nice product! You can use it as a scrub or mask, depending on the length of time you leave it on. It has a nice whipped-cream texture and light smell. Because of the softness of the jojoba beads and oatmeal, it is perfect for those with sensitive skin. Despite the oil content in this product, I didn't experience any breakouts. A good, basic scrub for the price.