Refreshing Complexion Gel ($17.50)
Gel blush is so perfect for spring and summer, and there are so many great ones to choose from. I recently tried this one from Alchemy and highly recommend it if you are looking for something very sheer and light. The gel comes in rose and orange, and has a beautiful shimmer and hint of color that is very flattering, completely mistake proof, and perfect for any skin type. I have used it over bare, moisturized skin, over concealer, and over full foundation, and it wears well consistently. I will definitely be wearing this one all summer long.

You can find Alchemy products online at Sephora.com, AlchemyCosmetics.com and Bigelow Chemists.

review: 4/02

Pressed Powder ($26)
Unlike most pressed powders that come in a mirrored compact, this one has a screwtop lid and powder puff housed inside. I like the unique design, and the powder's not bad either - except for the color I got. "Diffusion" seems like the lightest shade, but it's too sparkly to use every day. The texture is nice and light, but I would definitely choose a different color next time. Alchemy pressed powder comes in 3 colors: "diffusion", 25, and 33.

Eye Shadow ($15)
The two colors I tried are such different shades, it's hard to review this as one product. Ginkgo, a soft taupe gray, is a great all over color that goes on smoothly and lasts all day without creasing or fading. I can definitely see wearing this as an everyday shadow. Juniper, on the other hand, is a vibrant magenta that still has a sheer quality to it, but it's more of an accent color for light to medium skin tones, and a crease shade for darker skin tones. If you like color, this is a bright one! Other colors include Shittake, Celery, Lavender, Iceland Moss, and Catnip.

Sheer Lipstick ($16.50)
This is a light sheer lipstick that's nice for subtle color that looks like a stain but feels like lipbalm. I tried "juniper" (light grape purple), "henna" (light red brown), and "rhubarb" (light fuschia pink) and didn't really have a favorite. These are okay but didn't wow me enough to want to wear it every day.

Refreshing Lip Gloss ($15)
The packaging of this gloss is practically identical to Bobbi Brown and Revlon Professional (small, squarish, clear tube so you can see the color inside), except it has a sponge applicator rather than a brush. I actually prefer the sponge because it's easily to apply and doesn't get squashed in the tube like a brush can. The color I have, "heartsense," is a very pretty medium fuschia-pink, but it doesn't quite suit my complexion; I have very fair skin with pinkish undertones and some blotchy redness on my cheeks, so this shade of pink makes the redness in my skin really stand out. Not quite the look I am going for! The gloss itself has a fresh minty flavor and feels slightly tingly on the lips.

Lip Gloss ($15)
This gloss comes in a little screwtop pot and is shinier and thicker than the Refreshing Gloss. It comes in shimmery, gold, and silver shades that are designed to layer over regular lipstick. If you like to mix your own colors or add sparkle to your regular lipstick, this might be a fun product. For me, it's just makeup drawer clutter.

Medic Blemish Treatment Concealer ($15)
This lightly medicated concealer is designed to heal blemishes using salicylic acid while it covers. I couldn't really say that it had enough medicine it in to do very much, but it is a decent concealer that doesn't cake or turn orange when layered over a pimple. Medic comes in 4 colors (from lightest to darkest): 33, 38, 41, 74.

For more information on Alchemy or other products sold by Bigelow Chemists, call 1-800-793-5433 for a catalog, or stop by the pharmacy if you're in New York City - Bigelow is located on Avenue of the Americas (6th Avenue) between 8th and 9th Streets in Greenwich Village.

Besides Bigelow, Alchemy is available at Sephora stores in San Francisco, Southcoast Plaza in Los Angeles; South Beach, Miami; Virginia and soon in Las Vegas, Nev. and Rockefeller Center in New York City. You can also find Alchemy at Bliss Spa. Alchemy products also will be available in the UK in March and in Japan in May.