With such a great panel of dedicated cosmetic and skin care reviewers, I always enjoy highlighting all the great work they do. This week I am pleased to bring Radhika's collection of recent reviews. Enjoy!

Radhika is a 28 year old Business Analyst who works for a dot com in Cleveland, OH. She is Asian Indian, with long black hair that is generally straight. She has dark skin, which is oily no matter how cold it gets in Cleveland, and is prone to breakouts. When it comes to makeup, Radhika is on a constant search for the latest and greatest, and prefers colors and palettes that accentuate rather than stand out. Radhika is passionate about makeup, fashion and anything that has to do with style. Her friends and family have made her the "official" stylist, personal shopper and makeup artist for every wedding and major event. Aside from her professional career, Radhika is an Indian classical dancer with over 20 years of training and performances, designs Indian ethnic apparel, and is the ultimate shopper. Have a question for Radhika? Email her here.

Take it away, Radhika!

Estee Lauder Private Spa Collection Moisture Massage Silky Body Lotion (6.7 oz., $30.00)
When I saw the word silky in the description, I was expecting the lotion to feel like the rest of the "silk" lotions on the market today (Bath and Body Works, Victoria Secret, etc.), where you feel moisturized all day long, and skin actually feels smooth and silky (hence the name). But Estee Lauder's Moisture Massage is more similar to other "regular moisturizers". It lasts most of my workday, and the scent is very clean and crisp. The texture is light and does not leave a greasy residue. I am very happy with the product and religiously use it every day after my shower. I love the fact that the scent does not overwhelm you and take away from whatever else you are wearing. Due to the consistency of the lotion, a little does not go a long way and I will probably finish the bottle in about one and a half months. One great feature of the product is its portability. It has a great closing mechanism that snaps on and off. It handled great in my suitcase and didn't even leak on my favorite cashmere sweater when I traveled (don't ask me why I put lotion in the same compartment as my cashmere sweater). That is something very rare with most pump bottles. I'll probably make this a regular in my travel bag and stick to something that lasts longer for everyday use at home.

Estee Lauder Private Spa Body Spray - Calming and Refreshing (3.4 oz, $39.50 each)
These new Body Sprays by Estee Lauder come in two scents. Calming comes in a blue bottle and has a more breezy scent. Refreshing, which comes in the green bottle, has more of the "wake me up" scents like orange, mint, and freesia. Both were very light, with the perfect amount of scent that I like and expect in a body spray. I am one of those people who never leaves the house without some kind of perfume on, whether it is a light body spray or one of my favorite perfumes (Lancome's Miracle and Ralph Lauren's Romance for the moment). Usually I avoid the body sprays because they tend to overcompensate for the high amount of alcohol content with an overdose of fragrance. I still do not understand why a person would want to smell like an over-ripened raspberry, but to each their own. Anyways, both of these Body Sprays by Estee Lauder were perfect. They lasted as long as you would expect a light body spray to last. The best part was that even when I wore it all over my body, I didn't faint with perfume overdose! The scents were both very clean and crisp with the hints of citrus and floral. To those who want the scent to last all day, I would recommend they spend a few extra dollars and buy one of the many Estee Lauder perfumes. But if you are one of those people who like the lightness of a body spray but don't like the overwhelming, dizziness-causing fragrances that most body sprays have to offer, you will be thrilled with this new collection by Estee Lauder.

Aveda Hang Straight Straightening Lotion (6.7 fl oz/200 ml, $16.00)
Before I review this product, let me give you some background on my hair. I have basically straight, long black hair that I sometimes straighten to get the ends smooth and sleek. The day I wash my hair, I get lots of fly-aways that need to be tamed and on the flip side, the next day after I wash it, my roots are already greasy. The first time I used this product, I didn't really read the instructions and took a nice dollop, finger spread it through my hair and then blow-dried. Well, as soon as I finished blow-drying my hair (which I rarely do, usually let it dry naturally and then use the flat iron on the ends), my hair looked great. It was smooth, had a great shine, and still felt light and natural. But by mid day, my roots were slicker than an oil field. So I went back, did a little reading on the product and noticed it tells you to concentrate more on the ends and avoid too much close to the scalp and roots, which totally made sense. So the next time, I did what the instructions said, and pretty much used it only on my ends. The results were better and it did not make my hair greasy and looked good. But I think this product is better for people with a little more wave and drier hair than me. Since it is a lotion, it was a bit heavy and it took me a while to find the perfect amount for my hair. I now have my routine down pat and will finish the bottle, but I probably wouldn't buy this in the future for my type of hair.

DHC Acerola Lotion (3.3 fl oz., $15.00)
Like many people, I am still not convinced as to how essential a toner is in a my daily cleansing routine. I tend to go on toner kicks and use it now and then. When I take my yearly trips to India, the toner is essential to get deep into the pores and rid my skin of pollution, dirt and general sweat from the extreme heat. But on a regular basis, here in Cleveland, I can't say I am a regular toner user. The DHC Acerola Lotion had a very pleasant smell unlike the alcohol-based toners you usually see on the market. The first day I used it I broke out with little cosmetic pimples and contemplated using again. Well two days later, after my skin cleared, I worked up the courage to use it again, and give it a fair trial. Though my face did not break out this time, it left my skin with an oily feel and I never really felt fresh (the usual result I expect with a toner). This is more suited for people with dry skin who are looking for a toner that adds more moisture, not for people like me who produce enough oil on their own.

Smashbox Photo Matte Anti-Shine Pressed Powder in dark ($28.00)
My first impression when I opened the package was, "Wow, this is going to be too light on my skin!" The next feature, which caught my attention, was the cheap TINY sponge applicator it came with. Then I tried the product on. It went on splotchy and did not blend very well, so I decided to try it with my own makeup tools instead of the cheap sponge it came with. I was pleasantly surprised at how the powder gave my face a very even, finished look, and how the color disappeared in to my skin. It evened out my complexion and skin tone without making me look like I had just used my grandmother's pancake makeup. It does exactly what it claims to do: a matte finish that combats shine! The sleek compact fits perfectly in to even the tiniest of purses. This is a definitely a product I would buy again. Now, if they would only change the applicator...

Smashbox Diffuse Concealer in dark ($28.00)
Diffuse is a double-sided concealer with a "gold toned" (more like yellow) lightener on one side and a sheer but pigmented concealer on the other side. I just started using concealer this year. I turned 28 and saw the affect that my "all-nighters" in college (which I of course spent studying) has taken on my eyes and realized it was time to do something about it! I have been using Bobbi Brown's concealer/powder duo, and even though I love the color match and the finishing powder, I feel the concealer is too thick and settles in to creases I never knew I had. So when I tried this new product by Smashbox, I was thrilled by the lightness of the product and how easily it blends. It is perfect for people like me who just need a light coverage. The dark pigmented concealer was more of an ashy brown than a rich one like my skin, but when I used the combo and set it with my powder it did wonders. I am still not sure if it did the trick by "diffusing light" or just covering up some light circles. It seems perfect for people like me who are in need of concealer for the first time and want something lightweight to make their eyes look peppy after a sleepless night (for whatever reason!).

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Cleansing Cloths
I have used the Neutrogena Oil Free Cleansing Cream before, and these cloths are very similar. They didn't dry out my skin too much (but keep in mind my skin is naturally very oily), and left a very clean feeling on my face. Similar to other Neutrogena products, it has a very medicinal smell. When I started to use this product I was at the last stages of a monthly round of acne, and at that time the cloths felt harsh on my sensitive face. But now that my acne is cleared (till next month, of course), the cloths are the perfect texture and take away the dead skin and excess oil without stripping it of too much more. There is nothing outstanding about this product, but something basic that is useful, especially at the gym and other place where you need something convenient and practical.

Thanks, Radhika! I hope you enjoyed this issue of The Cosmetic Report!