Spring is almost here, and I don't know about you, but my skin is ready for an overhaul. After months of miserable, rainy Oregon weather, my face looks about as fresh and smooth as a burlap bag! I've got a whole bathroom full of masks and scrubs - some good, some I should just throw away - but I wanted something new that is effective but also really gentle. To the rescue: Refining Facial Mask ($17.50 for 2 ounce tube). I love this mask! Although it says "for combination/oily skin", I found it to be surprisingly gentle on my normal-to-dry but acne-prone skin. The clay isn't overly drying, and there are plant oils like neem (healing), lavender (soothing) and cucumber (refreshing) that leave the skin feeling fresh and comfortable. The first time I was able to take a bubble bath alone after having my baby, I used this mask and felt like a new woman afterwards! My blemishes looked less red, and my skin had a rested glow that definitely did not come from sleep!

For regular maintenance of my newly smoothed complexion, I decided to also try Clarifying Facial Scrub ($15 for 2 ounce tube). It has sandalwood, rose, and aloe to soothe, along with almond meal, pineapple, clay and honey to exfoliate. If you like a really gentle scrub or use a scrub every day, this is a nice choice because it's not overly "scrubby" - it's less grainy than most scrubs I've tried. For those times when you want a fresh face feeling without over-stimulating your skin, this scrub from Better Botanicals is worth trying.

review: 3/12/99

My dried-out nails are always joined by dry, itchy hands. Better Botanicals, an Ayurvedic-based botanical skin care company from Washington D.C., just came out with a Kokum Butter Body Balm ($14.99 for 8 ounces) that is the best for dry skin. Not only does it make my itchy hands feel better, but, for all you expectant moms, it's been great on my pregnant belly! Kokum butter is rich in essential fatty acids (good for your skin), it actually penetrates better than shea or cocoa butter (less greasy, too), and this balm lotion is enriched with antioxidant and tonic herbs like watercress, betel leaf, and wild tumeric to help stimulate the skin and boost circulation. Did I mention it smells good enough to eat?

review: 11/06/98

For more information on these and other products from Better Botanicals, visit their website at betterbotanicals.com, or their shop in Georgetown, Washington D.C. (call 1-888-BBHerbs for details). You can also find Better Botanicals at Sephora.com.