My first item of business this week is to say Thanks! I really appreciate all the email you've been sending asking about my pregnancy and wishing me well. Things are going great, and we are entering the "home stretch" with the due date (12/18) quickly approaching at just 4 weeks away! Needless to say, my husband Geoff and I are very excited.

As I enter this last month of pregnancy, I am still planning on bringing you The Cosmetic Report every week that I am able :) I have enlisted several of our devoted Product Panelists to assist me should the need arise, so in the coming months you'll benefit from a variety of opinions and expertise in the report. We have some great reviews planned, so I hope you enjoy it. Now on to this week's issue!

We're already well into the middle of November with Thanksgiving right around the corner, so I know many of you are starting your holiday shopping and wondering what to get for everyone on your list. For the cosmetic enthusiast in your life (even if that person is you!), Profaces, maker of those great makeup palettes that I reviewed a few weeks ago, has the perfect kit for giving to that someone special.

The 12 Color Brush Kit ($169.95) has practically everything you need to do your makeup. You get 12 mix and match colors that work great on all skin tones, 9 compact brushes to apply everything like a pro, and a 4 color travel compact with a velour pouch case.

Just like Profaces' other kits, all the colors are classic, neutral, and highly wearable by anyone. The 12 color kit is a great mix of neutral beiges and browns combined with some kicky pinks and peaches, all of which you can wear on eyes, cheeks, and brows. The colors are packaged in a larger, deeper box with trays rather than the more streamlined 10 and 15 color kits, making it perfect for a vanity or bathroom counter (see the photo on the product page at Profaces, mentioned below). This is another winner in my book! FYI - You can also get the 12 color kit with the brushes but without the 4 color compact for $149.95.

For more information and swatches of the kit's colors, visit the Profaces products page.

I get quite a few requests for information on the French skin care line Sothys, so I decided recently to investigate a few of their products. During a short break from my testing of Epicuren Discovery (see my review), I had a chance to try Sothys Desquacreme Deep Pore Cleanser, and Purifying Skin Lotion.

Desquacreme is like nothing else I've tried. It's not a regular cleanser, not a scrub, and not really a mask. Sothys claims that "due to its high content of lipo-amino acid salts, Desquacreme improves and regulates sebaceous secretions and clarifies the complexion by removing keratinic and cosmetic impurities that accumulate on the skin's surface." Huh? In plain English, basically they are saying that it will reduce the amount of oil your skin produces and clean the surface of the skin of cell build-up in the pores. I doubt it will affect how oily your skin is over time, but it does a really nice job of deep cleaning the skin. After using it a few times, my skin looked fresh and felt smooth, a bit like after having a facial. It's a bit spendy at $32 a tube, but you only need a pea-sized amount for your whole face. If you love that "fresh from the salon" feeling but can't get it as often as you'd like, Desquacreme is a nice choice for at-home treatment.

For the skin type it's indicated for - "oily skin with blemish problems" - Sothys Purifying Skin Lotion could be an okay toner. It is alcohol-free (always a plus) and has rosemary, sage, and camphor that might benefit someone whose skin responds well to plant oils; however, if you have sensitive skin or any irritated blemishes, this toner could make your condition worse. Plant oils like these can be too active and make blemishes more inflamed. While the toner isn't particularly harsh, you can definitely feel the astringent properties of the oils on the skin, making it an acceptable choice for someone with fairly tough skin. I'm just not one of those people :)

For more information, visit the Sothys website. You can also find a selection of Sothys products at the Steven Miller Skin Care site (where I got mine).

Looking for a particular review, or curious if I've ever reviewed your favorite brand of lipstick? We've got a brand new, updated search function on Cosmetic Connection that will make your quest easier. Simply click on the "search" button on the front of Cosmetic Connection, or use this direct URL: http://www.cosmeticconnection.com/search.html.

The Makeup Diva may have her own site (www.makeupdiva.com), but we've got her again on Cosmetic Connection for a Feature update of her Ultimate Product Picks from last September! Don't miss her all-new picks, including completely updated favorites in categories like best skin cleanser and best oil-free foundation. This is a must-print for your next trip to the counters or drugstore!

November Feature: The Makeup Diva's Favorite Products