I often have the good fortune of finding products that are worthy of a good word and enthusiastic recommendation, but I can't say the same for the products I'm talking about this week. Sure, you can make up your own mind (please do!), but if you ask me, these products need to go back to the drawing board.

DERMAdoctor Total Nonscents Ultra-Gentle Antiperspirant ($20 for 3oz)
I thought $12.50 was expensive for the Clarins deodorant I used to use, and then I found this one! Honestly, though, to knock out perspiration, I would probably pay $20, but not for this roll-on. The "ultra-gentle" formula gave me the worst breakout of cystic acne under my arms that I have ever seen. I can only guess that isopropyl myristate (a known acne aggrevator high on the ingredient list) has something to do with it, as my regular brand (Suave soft solid) has never caused a problem. Even though the antiperspirant protection of Total Nonscents was good, I simply can't recommend it because my reaction (and possibly yours) was so severe.

Maybelline Sky High Curves Extreme Length and Curl Mascara ($5.99)
Why, oh why, do we need so many different mascaras? The one that Maybelline was selling as the ultimate last month is now old news, and we are on to the next. Sky High is a waste of money for not delivering on any of its promises: it doesn't curl, it adds very little length, and as if that's not bad enough, it's wet and gloppy. Stick with these tried and true favorites: Rimmel 100% Waterproof, L'Oreal Voluminous, Lancome Definicils, or Bobbi Brown.

Prada Purifying Milk/Face ($60 for 5oz)
At such a ridiculous price, I pretty much assumed I would be disappointed with this cleanser. I mean, seriously, how much more cleanser can you get for $60 instead of $5 or $10? The milky lotion texture feels great, but it was breakout city for me. The first few ingredients are water, mineral oil, and isopropyl myristate (a known pore clogger). These ingredients don't cause problems for everyone, but if you are sensitive to them, they sure can do a number on a perfectly clear complexion. Considering that you can get a terrific lotion cleanser from Dove (the new sensitive cleansing lotion), Better Botanicals (the Calendula Cleanser is one of my absolute favorites) or One Face Natural Skincare (an organic lotion available from Green Valley Aromatherapy at onefaceandbody.com for a lot less money and without the breakouts, I can't recommend this one from Prada at all.

Smashbox The Makeup Room ($59)
Smashbox had a great idea with The Makeup Room: all the essential, basic colors and tools that any woman would need and could use to create a beautiful makeup application. You get Smashing Snap powder blush, Smashing Prep shadow, Smashing Strike shadow, Smashing Wrap shadow, Smashing Caviar/Deep Mauve Cream Eye Liner Duo, Smashing Exposure Lip Brilliance Duo, Smashing Tint Lip Pencil, and a makeup brush handle with interchangeable heads for blush, shadow, liner and lips. Sounds great, right? Well, most of the colors are nice and would suit a variety of skin tones, but I find the set to be flawed in several ways. First, the presentation: everything comes in individual pots set into a black mirrored box. Smashbox is thinking it will look nice on a counter or vanity this way, but I find the box to be unnecessary and cumbersome, trying to get the little jars in and out, and keeping the mirrored lid from shutting. I would rather just take all the containers out and throw the box away, but that sort of defeats the purpose of having the colors together as a kit. Wouldn't this be better as an extensive palette?

As for the products included, the colors and textures are great, just as you would expect from Smashbox, but what were they thinking with this interchangeable brush? I suppose it's a nice idea, but the heads do not stay on the handle, and the quality of the brush heads is totally underwhelming. The blush head is small and rough, like the kind you'd find in a cheap drugstore blush compact. The eyeshadow head is soft but too small, and the bristles get smashed and bent every time you put the brush back in the box. The eye liner head is fine, nothing special, and the lip brush is a miniature stand-alone version that is so tiny it can be hard to control. The size seems more in line with my daughter's Barbies.

While the colors in The Makeup Room are nice, I don't think the presentation is worth the trouble. You can find plenty of other nice shades from other brands that come in a set or palette that is much easier to use than this (Sonia Kashuk sold at Target, Rocket City Cosmic Cocktail large palettes, Hard Candy 6-Pack Compact, or Stila Bouquet du Jour or Confections for Eyes & Cheeks (all sold at Sephora.com).

I hope you enjoyed this issue of The Cosmetic Report!