Happy Holidays from Cosmetic Connection! We are happily in the midst of Hanukkah here at Cosmetic Connection headquarters, so whatever holiday(s) you are celebrating this year, have a great time! Here are a few reviews to enjoy as you take a break from the holiday merriment.

Joey New York Calm & Correct Gentle Soothing Cleanser ($24 for 8oz)
While many of the Joey New York acne products have been appealing to me, what I've needed more is a solution for my face's persistent blotchy redness and uneven tone. This new collection from Joey New York is designed just for people with sensitive skin, general redness, rosacea, broken capillaries, and dark under-eye circles. All the products contain Glycosaminoglycan (I believe this is a fish cartilage extract) and Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, which according to Joey New York have been proven to reduce redness and irritation.

The two things I like about this cleanser are spelled right out in its name: gentle and soothing. The apricot-colored cream-gel doesn't foam, removes makeup well, doesn't irritate or dry the skin in the least, and rinses off easily with no residue.

Joey New York Calm & Correct Gentle Soothing Toner ($24 for 8oz)
I'm not a toner user, but as part of a set like this, I figured what the heck. Unlike most that just irritate my skin and make it redder, this one noticeably reduces redness on my skin. It's not a necessary step in terms of removing excess cleanser or makeup, since the cleanser does a great job and rinses totally away, but if you like a toner step and want the maximum level of redness reduction, it's a nice option that is definitely gentle and soothing.

Joey New York Calm & Correct Gentle Soothing Moisturizer ($38 for 2oz)
Step three of the routine is this medium weight moisturizer. It delivers enough moisture for normal or slightly dry skin and is also excellent at reducing redness. I had no acne problems while using this cream, and it works well under makeup; just remember that for daytime use you'll need a separate sunscreen.

After using these three products twice daily for just two weeks, I already notice a significant improvement in the redness in my skin. In the past I had tried AHA, BHA and retinol treatments to get rid of the redness from old blemishes, thinking that exfoliating them away would be the answer, but this system has done what none of those products could - reduced the redness I had without creating new redness and irritation.

Learn more about Calm & Correct at the Joey New York site at joeynewyork.com. You can buy the set online for $85 at ibeauty.com. Calm & Correct is also available at Bergdorf Goodman, Henri Bendel, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, and Sephora stores.

blisslabs seaweed task mask ($45 for box of 10 masks)
This is such an interesting concept from Bliss: mask powders in single-use packets, freshly prepared every time you mask. All you do is add the liquid and mix. The mask texture is also unusual when it sets - rubbery and flexible enough to peel off.

While I like the concept and ultimately (after several tries) the result of this mask, it is the perfect example of a concept I can't stress enough - always read the directions! It took me three tries before I realized I was using way too much liquid. You have the option of mixing the mask with either water or one of bliss' task mask mixers ($23; enough for 10 masks), to give your mask an extra boost. Either way, you mix 90ml of liquid with the powdered task mask in a mixing bowl using the spatula that comes in the box of masks (or any kitchen tool). Just make sure you add exactly 90ml of liquid and no more or the mask simply won't set. This happened to me twice before I figured out I was measuring my liquid incorrectly. I also suggest that you try to use half the mask and save the rest for another day, since even with the correct amount of liquid mixed in you still get much more mask that can fit on one face. If you slather on too much, it won't set and won't peel off - you'll just have a goopy mess.

The seaweed task masks come in several varieties, including lighten up, bilberry + C (for sensitive skin), exfoliating, breakout busting, and instant lifting; the mixers come in orange (firming), kiwi (exfoliating), eucalyptus (anti-bacterial), grapefruit (antiseptic), mint (cooling), and bearberry (brightening). I tried the blemish busting, exfoliating, and bilberry + c masks all mixed with the grapefruit mixer. The blemish busting mask is fairly strong thanks in part to its tea tree oil, so this one is best for oily or resilient skin. Both the exfoliating and bilberry masks worked fine for me and left my skin comfortable and slightly rosy. I think if I were to purchase them again, I would get the bilberry simply because it's a bit gentler for sensitive skin.

You can find seaweed task masks and mixers at Bliss Spas, from the BlissOut catalog (call 1-888-243-8825) and at Neiman Marcus stores. They are not currently listed on the blissworld.com website.