When I saw that B. Kamins had packaged three of their products into a Rosacea Kit, I couldn't wait to give it a try. The Rosacea Kit consists of the BioMaple vegetable skin cleanser, BioMaple sunbar sunscreen SPF 30, and BioMaple booster blue rosacea treatment. The total cost for the kit is $120. Each product can also be purchased separately (the a la carte price is listed with each product in the review).

BioMaple Vegetable Skin Cleanser ($32 for 8 ounces)
This is a very gentle, fragrance free, oil free, color free cleanser. It does not get very foamy or sudsy, but cleanses well and rinses away easily, leaving no residue. It comes in a pump-dispenser bottle and one pump dispenses just about the right amount of product for cleansing the entire face. I have found this cleanser to be completely non-irritating and yet incredibly effective. Unlike most ultra-mild cleansers, this one does not leave my face screaming for a deeper clean or exfoliation. It leaves my face well cleansed, soft and smooth. It even does a good job on most eye makeup (save for my toughest waterproof formulas). All in all, this is a fantastic, rosacea-compatible cleanser that I will be purchasing again and again. Since a very little bit goes a long way, a single bottle should last for a good long time.

BioMaple Booster Blue Rosacea Treatment ($59.50 for 1.7 ounces)
This is an anti-inflammatory rosacea treatment product meant to be applied to the red areas of the face after cleansing (and, in my case, just after application of my MetroCream). The purpose is to reduce puffiness and redness associated with the condition. The directions suggest twice-daily application with additional applications as needed. It is a creamy, bright blue formula that is also fragrance free and sensitive skin tested. I had no skin compatibility issues with this product either. The bright blue color of the product fades away instantly with application and the cream absorbs well without leaving a residue. While I did not notice any major change in my skin with daily application of this product, I have discovered that it is great for flare-ups. Frequent and liberal application in the early stages of a flare-up has been very effective in stopping the flare-up in its tracks. At $59.50 per bottle, I may not use this on a daily basis, but I've decided to always have a bottle on hand for treating bad days as they arise!

BioMaple Sunbar Sunscreen SPF 30 ($29 for 4 ounces)
This is a terrific oil-free, PABA-free, water resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen. B. Kamins markets it specifically for sensitive, photosensitive and rosacea type skin. It is smooth and creamy with a very light scent. It absorbs readily into the skin, leaving no greasy residue behind. It does not feel at all heavy and works great under makeup. I have been using it daily and have not had any sensitivity problems with this product either. If you have had difficulty finding a sunscreen that does not irritate your skin, I would suggest giving this one a try.

You can find these and other B. Kamins products at BKamins.com and BeautyDoor.com.

review: 10/01